Care To Dance?

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd December 2005

Characters: B'ram, Larken
Description: B'ram asks Larken for a dance
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 28 of Turn 3

B'ram

Ojisan was playing wonderfully. Larken smiled fondly as she watched him, his fingers flying over the instrument, his foot tapping in time to the steady, quick beat of the drums. He seemed to be enjoying himself tonight. He usually did when preforming for large audiences. He especially loved to play gathers...and play for the dancing numbers.

Dancing...

Her eyes scanned the area. Couples, young and old, dragonriders and harpers - even children and shy youths - were whirling about the dance floor, smiling and laughing. Ah, there was the Hallmaster. And who was that with him...the Weyrwoman? My, but she was a lovely woman...

Shards, but she wanted to _dance_! Perhaps if Ojisan took a break, he would dance with her again... Larken adjusted her long blue skirts, crossing one leg over the other, her foot bobbing with the rhythm, wishing she could be out there amongst the whirling pairs.

"Excuse me, ma'am. But would you care to dance?"

Larken glanced away quickly from the dance floor to find herself staring up into a pair of striking green eyes. Eyes that belonged to a dragonrider. Who was standing before her, looking at her in question. Her blue eyes widened slightly. "Me?"

"Yes, you look like you want to dance," B'ram said as he looked down at her with a smile.

"Oh, I _do_." Realizing how bold her tone was, she blushed. She knew she should probably accept his proposal demurely, like the proper lady she was raised to be - and was. But instead, she found herself smiling back up into his face, her want to dance rising above all other proprieties.

The brownrider offered her his hand. "Shall we?"

Her hesitation was very brief as Ojisan's face flashed through her mind. But he would want her to enjoy herself tonight...and she enjoyed dancing so much! Larken slipped her hand in his, her eyes bright as she rose to her feet. "We shall."

B'ram smiled as he walked her onto the throng of dancers. Just as he put his arm around her the music stopped. With an appologetic smile he said, "I'm sorry. I guess I was not fast enough. Will you wait with for the next or are you promised?"

She shook her head. "I'm not promised..." She realized that she didn't know his name. Her eyes darted shyly to his. "What was your name?"

"I am B'ram, rider of brown Girifith."

"B'ram... I'm Larken."

An short uncomfortable silence stretched between them as they waited for the music to start again. "You're with the Harpers?" B'ram finally asked.

She shifted slightly. "Yes. I've never been to a Weyr before this..." Her voice held the awe she still felt in being here, and her smile held her excitement. "It's so different than Hold or Hall..."

The brownrider shrugged a shoulder almost appologetically. "That's what I hear. But I was born in the Weyr. I know no other life."

"Here?"

"No, at Far Island Weyr." B'ram cocked his head as a new song began. "Ah, sounds like a slow song."

Her arms rose, hesitating briefly before resting lightly around his waist.
"I've danced to this one many times."

"I'm sure at the Harper Hall you could dance all the time. Forgive me if I'm not quite up to your usual standards," the brownrider said with a teasing glint in his eye.

Larken glanced up at him, and blushed. "Oh, I think you will be...but I'll be sure to let you know if you're not." A slight, teasing smile curved her lips.

B'ram noticed her blush, but thought better of mentioning it. No need to scare off the harper ladies right from the start, after all! "So how do you like our Weyr?"

"I like it very much. And the dragons...they're incredible, B'ram."

The brownrider laughed. "Please, don't say that where _they_ can hear you. They are already convinced of it."

"Can they really hear us in here?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly as she looked up at him.

"Our lifemates can hear us wherever we are." That thought brought a soft light to B'ram's eyes. It was a constant comfort to know that Girifith was always there, always listening. It meant he would never be alone again.

"Oh..." There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but she knew she would sound like such a _child_ if she did! Larken shoved down those thoughts that kept bubbling to the surface, trying to do her best to act the harper lady. Women should never ask _too_ many questions...

B'ram could see in the way she glanced up at him, her mouth almost twitching as they held back the words that threatened to escape. "You look you have something on your mind."

She lowered her eyes, blushing. _Now_ what should she do? Was she just so transparent, or were all dragonriders so perceptive? "I'm just..." Should she? Well, why not? There was no one here to gently admonish her if she did... "I'm just so curious about everything." The expression in her eyes was beseeching, almost innocent in a way, when she finally glanced back up into his face.

Being raised in the Weyr, B'ram was more accustomed to women that spoke their minds freely. His head cocked to the side slightly as he asked, "Well, then, why don't you just _ask_?"

She flushed. "Well..." she cleared her throat softly, "what are Hatchings like? The queen rose to mate already, didn't she? We'll be able to see one?"

"Yes, she already rose. You'll see many Hatchings, I should think." He almost wished he could understand a Hatching through the eyes of one who had not been raised by them. They always looked so awestruck, so amazed at all they had seen. "For dragonriders it has a bit deeper meaning, but for the people just watching, it is still very exciting. You can cheer on the candidates, which is especially fun if you know some. But usually its just an excuse to have a really wonderful feast and more dancing."

Larken's smile turned into a grin at that. "And that's always good, isn't it?"

His eyes sparkled. "It _is_ wonderful, especially with such good music and beautiful dance partners to look forward to."

She blushed. "And such handsome ones..." The words came out before she could stop them, and her eyes widened and she glanced down to hide her embarrassment and sudden mortification. What was she _doing_, flirting with a man like that? A man not her husband...

B'ram watched her as the color filled her face, and her eyes fell to the floor. He regarded her for a moment. "I know you're married, Larken. Don't worry, I will take your compliment as it was intended." The brownrider knew it was harmless flirting, and yet she seemed to think she had done the unthinkable. He gave her a reassuring smile to let her know that it was all right.

Still embarrassed, the young woman nodded, and then gave him a small smile as the music finally began to reach the finale.

When they music ended B'ram released her to applaud the harpers for their beautiful song. He turned to offer her his arm. "Shall I escort you back to your seat?"

Larken nodded as she took his arm. "Thank you for the dance, B'ram."

"You're welcome," he smiled as he guided her out of the dancing area. "I hope I can dance with you again. Maybe at the Hatching?"

She smiled up at him. "I'd like that."

Last updated on the December 2nd 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Care To Dance?