Evening at the Tavern
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 27th September 2011
Characters: D'ale, Yanley, Puwul
Description: D'ale visits the Tavern for a little break.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 6
This time when he went to the tavern, he told himself it was just to
take a break and practice his performing. He rarely had the
opportunity to play for strangers but the instrument he'd found there
was very nice and he wanted to make it sing again.
He didn't really fool himself as to his reason for coming and his eyes
kept flicking to the door any time it opened. He was singing a ballad
about the "dark haired lady, in the dragon green gown." When the door
opened once again.
Yanleyn had heard of vintner hall's Tavern so much that she had to
check it out herself. When she entered the Tavern, she found it packed
full. Dragonriders, hold folk, crafters from both hall. Walking across
the room to the bardesk, she nodded greetings for those whose faces
she recongnized.
"Greetings Ma'am, did you want to eat?" Puwul greeted her.
"Yes, I would like to eat."
"Unfortunately all the tables are full just now. If you wait, one will
be freed sooner or later," Puwul apologized.
Yanley nodded, "I'm not in a hurry." The tavern master asked is she
liked to drink something while she waited for a free table and she
ordered glass of white wine. After she had received the wine in
crystal glass, she turned around to observe the Tavern's patrons.
He spotted her the moment she walked through the door. Well of course
he did he'd been watching for her. He even had a small table with his
food and drink next to where he was sitting singing.
He finished the song with a flourish then he beckoned Puwul. "Ask
Lady Yanley if she would like to share my table. We are acquainted and
she's more than welcome." He smiled encouragement.
"Of course I accept his offer," Yanley replied when Puwul brought her
the message. The Tavern master escorted her to the brownrider's table.
"D'ale, nice to meet you again," Yanley greeted when Puwul hold the
chair for her. She gave him her food order and the tavern master left
them alone.
D'ale put down his gitar in the stand to some disappointed groans.
Pulling out his own chair he sat opposite her. "Nice to see you as
well." She was exactly as lovely as he remembered. "Are you settling
in well at the hold M'lady?"
"Yes, I am. I'm making myself useful," Yanley replied with a warm smile.
When she smiled like that it was like the sun coming out from behind a
cloud. He couldn't help but smile in return. "That's good," he said.
"I'm sure they can use your help."
"Either that, or I'm making myself pesky. But I just can't sit idle,
it's not me," Yanley replied.
He chuckled. "Well, that's not a bad thing." He noticed that her drink
was quickly disappearing and caught the tavern keepers eye gesturing
for a refill. He wasn't quite sure how deeply to pry and settled for
an innocent question. "How are your flits taking to the change in
location?"
"With excitement, they've been curiously exploring every nook and
canny," Yanley replied. "They won over my young relatives."
He grinned. "Flits do seem to do that." Just then her food arrived and
another pint for him. "Oh that looks very good. I think I'll take a
plate as well."
"This is delicious," Yanley said after taking few bites of her food.
"So, did I see you playing?"
"Yes," he said warmly. "I was a harper before I Impressed. I still had
time to progress after weyrlinghood. Mostly I play gitar and sing."
His plate arrived and he tasted the fare. "The innkeepers wife is
quite the cook. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, she is," she agreed wholeheartely. "I have to come here to eat
more often. Not that there wrong with the hold's food, but it's often
cooked in large quantities and the taste does suffer a bit."
He smiled with what he thought was his most charming smile. "Yes it
is nice to see new faces now and then too.
"It is", she agreed. His smile made her pulse beat faster.
He leaned forward a little. "It was especially nice to see _you_ this
fine evening," he added softly.
"Now you're making my blush like a innocent maid," Yanley said.
"And very lovely it looks on you," he said in the same soft tone. The
delicate rose blush on her cheeks complimented her dark looks in such
a lovely manner. If only he could sweep her up and steal her away for
some private time. But she was a Lady with a capital L, and deserved
someone who could remain by her side and care for her.
"Would you like me to sing?" He turned and reached for his gitar
trying to break the effect she'd cast on him.
"That would be lovely," Yanley said, trying to get he composure back.
She was feeling like a teenager. She never been courted, not truly.
Her marriage had been arranged between their fathers. She and Golansin
had taken liking of each other at the first meeting. In that regard,
they had been lucky.
He lifted the gitar and began a ballad. A very old ballad:
Black is the color of my true love's hair
Her eyes are something wondrous fair
The sweetest smile and the gentlest hands.
I love the ground whereon she stands...
His eyes roamed the room as he sang not wanting to make her
uncomfortable. His rich baritone had been the envy of some of his
Harper teachers in turns past. They'd even tried to send him to the
Harper Hall to study, but he'd wanted to stand and had never regretted
that decision.
Yanley leaned her chin to her hands, watched him singing with dark
eyes and just...daydreamed.
Last updated on the October 7th 2011