A Weyr Could Be A Very Small Place

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th December 2005

Characters: Larken, M'tone
Description: Larken enjoys meeting a brownrider a little too much...
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 5 of Turn 3

**Go take a walk outside today, my love,** Ojisan had told her.
**You're looking far too pale.** Then he had stroked her cheek.
**You've been indoors too much.**

And so here she was. Outside. The path she had taken had led her straight to the beach - straight to a beach full of dragonriders, men and women both. Larken flushed as she tried not to stare at the half-naked men lounging on the sand. Shards, but they were so handsome though!

**Larken!** she chided herself firmly, ashamed that she would be looking at a man other than her husband that way.

She was aware suddenly that a few of the dragonriders were looking her way. Maybe...maybe she should leave. Maybe she should go back the way she came and...

Too late. One of the half naked men was already on his way. The well tanned rider with bleached blonde hair and deep hazel eyes sank into the sand beside her, full of confidence and flashing a friendly grin. "My name is M'tone, rider of brown Encourth. What's your name?"

She stared at him. Then, when she realized how _openly_ she was staring at him, she quickly looked away. "Larken," she murmured. Shards! Were her cheeks as red as they felt? Shards, shards, shards...

M'tone grinned at her crimson glow. "Larken. That's a pretty name."

She risked a glance at him. "Thank you." Shards.

"You're not from the Weyr, are you. Originally, I mean."

Larken blushed. "Is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, a little," the rider nodded knowingly. "That's my dragon, Encourth, over there sunning himself. Have you met a dragon yet?"

She shook her head. "Not yet."

"Oh, well then," he said as he got back to his feet, "you must meet mine!" M'tone reached his hand down to help her up. "Shall we?"

Before she knew it, her hand was in his, and as he pulled her to her feet, she was very conscious of how _close_ they were. Blushing, she dropped his hand - perhaps a little too quickly than would be deemed proper. But, shards... Hoping that he wouldn't precieve it the wrong way, she gave him a smile. "He's that one?" she asked, pointing to brown who had suddenly raised his head.

Shards. She felt like a foolish girl.

"That's right, the handsome one there," he replied as he put his hand on the small of her back to lead her in the right direction. "Don't be nervous. Remember, dragons would _never_ hurt a human unless you pose a danger to their rider. And you don't seem to be much of a danger to me." He gave her a sideways smile. "At least, not yet."

Her teeth caught on her lower lip and she glanced at him, her eyes wide.
He was so _bold_! Both in his words and in his touch. That hand on her back was _far_ too personal. Part of her wanted to shrug it off -
the part of her that thought of Ojisan. But another part of her took a smug, feminine delight in it. Shying away from that thought, she chose not to reply to him.

Her sharding, flushing cheeks spoke loud and clear enough for her anyway.

"Oh...he's quite handsome..." she murmured in true awe as they approached the dragon.

The brown extended his neck towards the young woman in response to her flattery. M'tone laughed. "He agrees with you. Encourth, this is Larken." He smiled at her wonder-filled eyes. "He likes it when you scratch him like this. Here, I'll help you." Taking her hand he guided it to the perfected spot. "Don't worry, you won't hurt him."

"His hide is so soft! I had no idea that dragons felt like this..." she breathed, her wonder overcoming her nerves as she scratched the huge eyeridge. Then, it suddenly seemed as though the ground began to rumble, and she started, staring at Encourth. Was the _dragon_ making that sound? "Is he...?"

"He's telling you how much he likes it," M'tone laughed. "You have a good touch apparently."

"Oh." She blushed. "That's...that's good then." She glanced up at the brownrider, giving him another, almost shy smile. Almost.

M'tone moved a little closer to her, reaching across her to scratch the brown on a different spot. "Do you want to ride him, Larken?"

"Do I want to..." she trailed off, her blue eyes seeming to light up as she looked at him. Then, she shook herself. What was she _thinking_? Riding _alone_ with a dragonrider? Without Ojisan? Her fingers stilled over the dragon's hide briefly as she looked away. "I can't... I mean, I want to. But I can't. Not without my husband..."

"Not even _just_ a ride?" he asked with a convincing grin. "I would be sitting in front of you the whole time. I couldn't do anything improper even if I wanted to."

Larken wavered for a moment, temptation warring with her responsibility as a wife, then she shook her head, giving him a rueful smile. "Maybe next time?" she asked. As if there would _be_ a next time - she knew there probably wouldn't be. This was a Weyr, after all. It was a big place.

"Is it a promise? Next time?" he asked with his most charming smile.

What were the odds? "Sure," she murmured, going back to scratch the content dragon.

He grinned at his success. Larken did not yet understand that the Weyr could be a very small place...

Last updated on the December 6th 2005

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A Weyr Could Be A Very Small Place