January 7, 2003
A'son returns to Ista Weyr.

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You head through the narrow tunnel and into the bustling living caverns.

Evening draws into night, and R'hyn - barefoot, his shirt hanging loose over top of his breeches - trots across the living cavern, ducking behind a few people as Ismaye crosses to the kitchen. Safe, apparently, he resumes his course towards the serving table, where he pours himself a glass of juice.

Linnelei looks up from the food in front of her as R'hyn enters and gives a questioning look at the man's state. She shakes her head and resumes eating but still wondering.

It's still busy enough that R'hyn, once he's poured himself a glass of juice, has to search to find a seat. By coincidence, there's one nearby Linnelei, and this is the one that he ends up in, juice set down in front of him as he settles down into the smooth wood of his chair.

Linnelei smiles across at the other rider as she swollows her bitefull and tries to talk finally, "Hellos." She inclines her head slightly and gives him the same questioning look she was before, "Just wondering, where are your shoes?"

"My shoes?" repeats R'hyn, who pulls back his chair to peer at his feet. "Oh." He blushes. "I, uh, left them at home. Didn't even notice it."

Linnelei shakes her head again with a little chuckle, "Very observant, and what could keep you that distracted?"

"Uhm," says R'hyn, pulling his chair back into the table, fingers wrapping about his glass. "Things. You know. Uh, Weyrleadery stuff."

Linnelei nods this time and takes another bite before saying, "Well I wouldn;t know but I've heard." She grins and shrugs, "Sounds like fun."

R'hyn wrinkles his nose, expression slightly surprised. "Fun? Uh, maybe not quite." He looks quite flustered, at least for a few moments, then goes to sip at his juice.

Linnelei raises an eyebrow and has to ask, "So what is all the latenight work about?"

R'hyn swallows, then rambles, quickly, "Oh, lots of things. You know, tithe reports, and sweep reports, and sorting out formations, and making sure that all of the wings are at full stregth, and--stuff."

Linnelei nods her head at the weyrleader, "Oh okaies..." She shrugs again and sips the glass of cool klah that was sitting at her elbow.

Serriena comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

Serriena walks into the cavern holding a handkerchief up to her face. Her eyes are bright, slightly red and she looks like she may have been crying. Except she doesn't look sad. She stops halfway through the door and sneezes.

"Yeah. Just-- weyrleadery stuff." concludes R'hyn, lamely. It's late evening, and he's not got shoes on, nor is his shirt tucked in - he's sitting nearby to Linnelei, at a busy table. Serriena's sneeze draws his attention; he turns. "Serri? Uh-- are you all right?"

Linnelei looks over at the weyrwoman as she enters now and frowns slightly, "Yes are you okay?" She gives R'hyn a wink then and says quietly, "With an untucked shirt and no shoes...just weyrleadery stuff."

"Allerdies," Serri says dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. "A ca-ca- fe-fe-*ACHOO* felide got ind by weyr," Serriena's words are nasal sounding as she explains about the feline in her room. She glances at R'hyn hearing Linnelei's words and asks, "Where'ds your shoeds?" Must be an explanation for a shoeless weyrleader.

R'hyn flushes again - he does this a lot. "Well... yeah," he concludes, with a shrug. Serri's got more of his attention, and he wrinkles her nose. "Oh, I'm sorry! Have you seen the healers? Can they do something?" Another glance down at his feet, and he shrugs. "At home. I forgot them." He blushes again - what's wrong with not wearing shoes?

Linnelei looks concerned and offers the other woman a seat, "Do you want me to get you anything?" She rolls her eyes in R'hyn's direction but so only Serri can see and not the man himself.

Serriena sits down. "Nope. I just haf to ged away from da source of da prodlem," Serriena wipes her nose and sniffs. Her eyes stop watering, but she sneezes again. "Thank you dough." She smiles at R'hyn then turns away to sneeze.

"Is your weyr being cleaned out? I mean, you'll need to have it cleaned out before you can go back, so you should get someone to do it now. Not because you have to go back, but because it's good." babbles R'hyn, ignoring Linnelei's roll of the eyes.

"It's under my bed," Serriena says wiping her nose again. She sniffs, but her voice is sounding clearer. "I think it will come out sooner or later. Can't stay in there forever." She looks at R'hyn. "It got in because Niaryth is with him again." No need to ask who /him/ is.

Linnelei does however ask who him is, "Oh who is Niaryth with." You see she knows nothing about what goes on in the weyr since she isn't talked to that often by thoose who know. She shrugs and waits incase someone answers.

R'hyn winces, and looks at the floor. "I'm sorry." He continues - babbling again, face pink with embarrassment - "But it will leave hair. On the floor. And you'll sneeze again, even after it's gone." His attention turns quickly towards his juice, rather than answer Linnelei.

"Arisvath of course," Serriena says to Linnelei with a smile. "She's enamored of Arisvath. Always has been." She looks at R'hyn. "You think it will leave hair?" She sounds worried. "What if it stays in there all night?"

Linnelei grins at the answer and nods her head, "I guess I should have guessed that. I guess I should just be glad Arrieth hasn't tries chasing females yet..." The last word is said with a worried face.

"Um," says R'hyn. "It might. Um. You can, uh, stay with me. I mean, if you need to." A glance towards Linnelei, then he quickly adds, "I'll sleep on the floor." A wry, half-hearted smile is made towards the bluerider: "He will. You, uh, get used to it."

Linnelei shakes her head at him, "Sometimes I wonder, all he does is be overly pretective of me." She rins at this though, "He nearly wanted to get at Trebor when..." She cuts herself off with a blush and quickly turns to her drink like the weyrleader did before.

"He'll get interested in his own time," Serriena promises. "And if he doesn't, then you'll be lucky to not have him distracted. Inkynath, Hana's brown is way too fascinated by any female dragon. He needs to keep his mind on his work more." She grins. "Oh ho-" she didn't miss the change of subject. "What did Trebor do?"

R'hyn's brows raise - changing the subject is always good. "Yes, indeed," he murmurs. "What did Trebor do?"

Linnelei blushes and then says with a little confidence, "Oh it was nothing, I'm just going for a boat ride with him in exchange for a ride on Arrieth." She shakes her head, "arrieth wasn't a happy camper but has agreed to do it."

Serriena grins. "Sounds like a good trade," she grins. She looks over at R'hyn. "I think I will stay if that..c-c-" her nose crinkles up like she might sneeze. She presses her fingers to her nose and says, "Animal is still there."

"Sounds like fun," agrees R'hyn, though his gaze goes back to Serriena, and he nods. "Do you, uh, want something to drink? Water. It might help?"

Linnelei shrugs again and stops talking as she focuses on her drink and the remaining plate of food.

"That'd be great, thank you," Serriena smiles at R'hyn. "So how was the boat ride Linnelei? Did Trebor take you out on the ocean?" She sniffs a bit again but doesn't seem as bad as when she first came in.

R'hyn pushes his seat back, and wanders across to the serving table, carefully jumping over a sticky spot on the floor. He fusses about, filling a glass with water.

Linnelei shakes her head, "We haven't been able to go yet but when we do it will be my first time on a boat." She gives a half smile and feels all of the sudden so much shyer...

"Ooh I remember my first boat ride. It was from Cove Hold, coming here. It was really long," Serriena grins, "Seems like it's been forever, but that was ten turns ago." She's lost in memory, for a moment until she sees the water, "Ooh, thank you R'hyn." She gives him a big smile, very happy.

R'hyn returns, extending the glass to Serriena, then sits back down. "I'm not much of a sailor," he admits. "But it can be fun."

Linnelei nods at them both and look over at Serriena again, "You've been at Ista that long?"

Serriena nods at Linnelei and grins, "I've been here since I was sixteen turns old. I came here to be with my aunt Teema." Serriena settles back in her chair. "Sweet stars, I can't believe I've been here that long." She looks a bit amazed.

"Time flies," remarks R'hyn, head shaking. "It's more than ten turns since I /left/ Ista." He looks vaguely rueful, then picks up his own drink again, sipping quickly.

Linnelei ohs at the weyrwoman, "I've been here since I was the same age as you were...but I've only been here for 4 years." She shrugs and grins, "It's probolly been the best time I've ever had though."

Serriena grins and takes a drink of her water. "It's amazing isn't it?" she queries, "How life throws things at you?" She points to R'hyn. "See him Linnelei?" She leans forward and whispers conspiratorially to her, "It was fate I was going to meet him I tell you."

R'hyn promptly goes scarlet. "Just because of the timing, Serri." His fingers play awkwardly with each other, atop the table top.

Linnelei grins at this, "Well was it good fate or bad fate then?" She questions with a slightly evil smile.

"I think it was a good fate," Serri grins. "But I find it unusual, that R'hyn left Ista to go to Southern Weyr --," she gives a big dramatic pause, "Where MY MOTHER lives," and then she adds, "And I came here to Ista Weyr --" another pause, "Where HIS MOTHER lives." She has this really big cheshire cat grin on her face, mostly because she's teasing, "It's fate I tell you ... we would have met sooner or later at either Ista or Southern."

R'hyn's head shakes quickly, eyes -- well, not quite rolling. There's amusement there. "Good fate. We're friends. And imagine Arisvath and Niaryth /without/ each other."

Linnelei grins again and nods her head, "I personally believe all fate is good fate. I would probolly be ajourneyman now without Arrieth but I still wouldn't enjoy it as much as having my storytelling blue around."

"Hmm I can't imagine Niaryth not annoying Arisvath every day now," Serriena grins. She nods to Linnelei, "Absolutely it was fate. If you weren't there, Arrieth might not have found anyone and then he would have --," another pause, "Well it's good you were there." She grin.

"I can't imagine having grown up at Ista, been a Harper here," says R'hyn, in little more than a whisper. "And I wouldn't have Arisvath, if I hadn't. So things happen for a reason, I guess."

Linnelei looks over at the weyrleader again, "Oh were you going to be a harper as well?" She gives a concentrating look, "I honestly can't see either of you as anything but what you are..." She trails off with a grin.

"I worked in the records room because I have beautiful handwriting," Serriena sounds smug, "if I do say so myself. And it helps me now because I'm used to copying stuff for the Weyrleader." She grins. "R'hyn needs all the help he can get with those hides piling up day and night."

R'hyn looks rueful, and flushes again. "I /was/ a harper. Just an apprentice, though. 'til I was searched, and Arisvath found me. I-- I guess I'm happier, now." He nods, enthusiastically, at Serriena's words. "She helps me with everything. I bet she'll be thrilled if Arisvath loses a flight, and she gets a weyrleader who can cope."

Arisvath> Niaryth curls up to you, rumbling softly. << They are talking about us again >> She sounds smug as if that is exactly how it should be.

Dragon> Niaryth senses that Arisvath's tail twines about yours, and, satisfied, he rumbles in response. << They are. We are special to them. >>

Linnelei grins at R'hyn, "Ah but you can cope, even without shoes." She shakes her head then, "I was only an apprentice harper myself but I was going to try and be a journeyman the second the clutch had hatched if Arrieth hadn't scooped we up." She grins, "I'm still a harper at heart though as you probolly can tell..." She does still carry a guitar around and all.

"Will you play a song for me?" Serriena requests. "My boys are learning their instruments at the hold each day." She grins, "Jorrien plays the pipes, Derien plays the guitar and Ginta is taking up drums."

"Do play," agrees R'hyn, quickly. "I should like to hear you."

Although Linnelei doesn't play, one of the harper apprentices at a nearby table hears the request and offers timidly, "I can play for you." He picks up his flute and puts it to his lips, beginning to play. As the soft melody flows through the cavern, Serriena smiles across at R'hyn. "That's a nice melody." She smiles.

R'hyn's smile curves slightly; he hums along, then pauses, at Serriena's smile. "It is," he agrees. "Nice and sweet."

"You know you don't have to sleep on the floor tonight," Serriena offers in a quiet voice. The flute melody changes from soft to slightly staccato rapid. "I think we know each other better than that," she teases.

"I know that," says R'hyn, in little more than a murmur. "But I didn't think I wanted Linnelei to." There's a wry smile on his face, as he picks up his mug again.

"Ah I see," Serri says with a smile on her face. "So it's a secret is it?" She picks up her water glass and takes a drink. "Perhaps I should have a c-c-" she sneezes, "That thing in my weyr more often... we'd have less hide work." She winks. The flute music stops so she retains a more normal voice. "How's your mother been doing?"

R'hyn flushes, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know. Not a secret. Just..." Red, red, reddest - that's his face. "Maybe we would," he agrees, "But I don't think I recommend it. Uh-- she's all right. I think she's really enjoying her discussions with the weyrlings."

"I'm glad she's doing better," Serri grins. "By the way," she leans forward, "I don't think I'd be happy if Arisvath lost because then I'd have to learn how to work with another weyrleader. And you're doing quite alright. Niaryth's happy."

R'hyn flushes again - or perhaps it's just one long continuous flush. "I'm trying," he admits, with a smile. "Really hard. I'm, uh, glad. I mean, that you don't want to replace me. I think."

"Really R'hyn, I'd have thought you'd be more decisive by now. Look at how you command the wings in threadfall," Serriena encourages. "You have no hint of bashfulness while doing that."

R'hyn shrugs his shoulders, and admits, "That's different. It's-- important. I don't have time to think about anything else. You know?"

A'son comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

A'son stretches, a smile faint upon his Igen-tanned face as he takes his time while entering the living caverns of Ista Weyr. "Man... You're right Aitanth..," the former Weyrleader murmurs, shaking his head in wonder, then adds, "Too long.." He pauses at the cavern's entrance, smiling somewhat wider, "Home, sweet home."

"I know, I just point my flame thrower and watch for fallers," Serriena suddenly looks pained, remembering a certain 'fall'. She looks down at the table for a moment. "I sometimes wonder what would have happened if T'rrent hadn't died. Would we be where we are?"

R'hyn nods, setting his mug back down upon the table, his right leg crossed over his left. "I don't know. Well - if Llilian had still been injured..." he trails off, head shaking. "Who knows. We can't really say." His head turns slightly, and, in a low voice, he murmurs, "That's-- not A'son, is it?"

Serriena glances at the entrance, her dark blue eyes widening. "It is A'son!" she says in a low, amazed voice. Then she raises up out of her seat, "A'son! What are you doing here?" She waves the bronze rider from her weyrling class over.

A'son's name is called and turns in R'hyn's direction, smiling faintly. "R'hyn...Serri." The smile widens some as he takes in the pair of leaders, "I'm back for good. It's been way too fardling long." He pauses, and rambles on (apparently he's not kicked that particular habit), "Besides, I wanted to come home." He pauses and salutes the pair swiftly, "Permission to come home?" A quick grin is added.

"Uh," says R'hyn, master of eloquence, "Of course! Did you even need to ask?" His fingers grasp at his mug again - perhaps a comfort object, then, grinning, he adds, "Welcome home."

"You don't even need to ask. Of course you can come back home," Serriena grins, "Niaryth will be pleased. She's often asked what happened to you and Aitanth. Have you been well at Igen with Tresia?" Serriena sits back down opposite of R'hyn and indicates A'son to join them. "Please sit. Talk with us."

A'son gives the current Weyrleader a big grin, "Good to be back. You wouldn't believe Aitanth. He wanted to come home last night, but I told him I had a few loose ends to tie up, not to mention him... He found a gold he liked...It reminded him of a piece of coral I have from the beach here..." He snorts once, again rambling with ease. "Once we had them tied up, we came back. Aitanth wanted me to come here first... He didn't even go into the ocean yet." He glances to Serri and smiles, "It'll be good to see Niaryth. I've got a lot of people to see again. And dragons too. I want to see how much Kytara's blue has grown up, give 'rala some samples of Igen fashion, fardles, so much to catch up on." He gives Serri a quick grin and sits down. "Igen was great. I mean, it was my home, originally, but Ista has always felt like my first love."

R'hyn's smile is not quite shy, though his voice is quiet. "It sounds as though you've missed us," he remarks, quietly. "It's been-- nearly four turns? A long time. It's good to see you again."

Serriena blinks, "Has it been that long?" she wonders aloud. "Yes I suppose it has. Sirrala will like those fashions. She's still trying to get Belena to add more to the Ista Weyrling uniform." She grins. "Aitanth attached to one other than Isyrath? He was fickle in his loves. Much as his rider." Serriena teases, "Well A'son you could not have picked a better time to come back. We need more fighters in our wings." She glances at R'hyn, "which wing do you think would fit him? Not the queen's wing certainly. Aitanth would have the gold's wrapped around his talons in no time."

A'son nods, "Like I said. It's been way too long, R'hyn." He smiles to R'hyn, "I see you have the Weyrleader's knot.." he pauses and smiles again, "I've heard a few amount of news from Igen, but not all. I'll definitely have to go to Sirra about that too..." He pauses, "Or Shi.." he pauses once again and winces at Serri, "I'll have you know I've changed... Well, not drastically, of course, but enough that I'm not some skirt-chasing bronze rider any more." He pauses, "And put me in any wing that you need a good fighter. You know as well as I that Aitanth knows Threadfall defenses the best in Pern..." Of course, A'son's biased..

"Not Niaryth, I hope!" teases R'hyn, setting his hands down in his lap. "Well, I just promoted Kymberli, so there's a space in our formations-- will you ride in my wing, A'son?" He flushes slightly, at mention of his weyrleadership, nodding. "Perhaps not 'best', A'son, though I don't doubt his capabilities."

"I think we know our defenses as best as we can know them and we hope no one will get hurt," Serriena amends so that feelings don't get hurt. "Oh there is room in your wing. That's a terrific idea R'hyn!" Serriena grins, "A'son does know the particulars of the Weyrleader wing. And he'll be comfortable I'm sure working with you and Shiae." She smiles at A'son. "What say you?"

A'son takes his time in listening to btoh Serri and R'hyn. Apparently he has changed some. The younger A'son would have brashly moved forward and agreed. The A'son of now, the older A'son, seems to take everything slower, listening to every word and inflection of each person's voice. "I'll do it. But..." He pauses, "On the condition you allow me to give you my scrolls. If you remember, I had amassed a baker's dozen of experimental defensive maneuvers within the tightness of a wing, while I was Wingleader in Igen, I amassed more. In fact, I've got over 25 now." He smiles once, a glimmer of pride showing on the past weyrleader's face before it sobers. "So?"

"I would - honestly - appreciate that very much," promises R'hyn. "I'm always interested in getting more ideas on how to do things. You won't mind me asking for advice, every so often, will you? I'm still reasonably new to this." And more than a little unsure.

"A'son would probably be happy to share his experience with you, wouldn't you A'son?" Serriena asks the bronzerider. "R'hyn is still settling into Weyrleader. You know how rapidly the changes happen in the weyr with that, although I'm hoping to keep him around for a while. I like his style," Serriena grins at R'hyn.

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