Wind from the West (Open, F'dan? )

[LyricalBlue]

The season was changing, Lyrai could feel it in the core of her being. She stood, leaning against the rock wall that was the entrance to her weyr from the outside. She closed her eyes a moment and let the feeling of the wind blow through her. The season was changing indeed, the wind was hot and dry, promising of long hot days and frigid nights. The Weyrwoman wore only a simple white shift and as she watched the sun setting along the ridgetop of the Weyr, she looked nothing like the woman her position was supposed to look like.

From her couch, Zhariath watched, the glows half bathing her form in an eerie, dancing light that played along her dark gold hide. The dragon's multifaceted eyes glittered like jewels in the dim light as she watched her rider. And seeing the both of them, one might have been minded of an old Arabian tale, had they the knowledge of old earth's folklore.

The wind blew steadily from the west and after a long moment, Lyrai stepped away from the entrance and back into her weyr. She paused, and the barest hint of a grin escaped her face. Then she began to dance, slowly, bending with the wind. It had no scent of the sea like the wind she had grown up with, this was hot and dry, arid. Her shift flowed around her hips and legs as she danced to a tune that none but she could hear.

Zhariath shifted slowly, catlike and lithe, so that she could better see the woman she was eternally bonded with. They were shameless in how they admired each other, the visible other half of themselves. Lyrai continued to dance, bending with the breath of the wind, and looking all together surreal under the glow lamps.

[hrsegrl]

He had been restless all day. So much so that he knew he had to go see the one person he knew who could make him feel he had a purpose here. It was frustrating being a Bronzerider and a Lord's son and not leading anything. He was talked to as if he were just some greenrider. That wouldn't work for him for long. F'dan was ambitious.

The handsome man made his way through the caverns toward a familiar Weyr. He made certain that very few people saw him prowling the corridors. His clothes, as usual, were the finest any man could afford at the Weyr. His tunic was black and his pants tan and fit loosely about his trim waist. He felt a chill crawl up his spine as he approached the Weyrwoman's Weyr.

With any luck, Lyrai would be alone and there would be no need to keep up false pretenses around N'mos. If the man didn't know it already then he was the last to know of F'dan and Lyrai's affair. If one wanted to call it that. F'dan had never felt pulled to a woman the way he was to her. He couldn't help himself. Even if he was Holdbred, he had his own, albeit loose, morals on his associations with women.

He arrived to find the weyr quiet. He poked his head in to see if anyone was there. At first glance he saw nothing. A movement in the corner of his vision caught his attention. Lyrai was dancing, in nothing but a shift. Sometimes dreams could come true. He smiled and waited till he deemed enough time had passed to say anything. "You know some people don't believe me when I say you are more beautiful than the sunset...." He wondered at her reaction. In fact he thrived off of her own quick remarks.

[LyricalBlue]

Spinning around with a startled squeak, the Weyrwoman managed to loose all of that former grace and almost trip over herself. She caught sight of the Bronzerider threw up her hands in utter disgust. Of all the people to walk in on her like that, it had to be him. She'd never hear the end of this one that was for sure.
"F'dan! You scared the daylights out of me!"

The hands went on the hips and she glared at him, choosing to altogether ignore the compliment. he was far too smooth and she unfortunately likely to blush. Thus, it was ignored entirely. "And here I thought a holdbred man like you had manners! Really F'dan! Charging in on a half naked woman in her own Weyr! You're like a wherry in a pottery shop sometimes." Tirades always did the trick, best way to slip around those compliments she found and it always took them off guard. Besides he really had scared her, so it was only fair.

A low snort issued from Zhariath, who watched on with more than mild amusement. She would have shown if Lyrai had really been angry, the Queen had threatened more than one human on occasion.Though, as usual, Lyrai forgot to account for the dragon as she continued on, she really did enjoy getting to rant and she hadn't the opportunity to do so much today.
"So much for lordly training and manners! Thats the last time I ever allow you in this weyr!"

[hrsegrl]

He kept a cocky grin on his face as she feigned anger. F'dan thought it fun to get under her skin like that. "I didn't charge in and as I recall you don't care for well mannered men." He could argue his case but if she wanted to pretend to be angry that was fine. Besides he liked challenging women.

Though he had meant to come here to talk, it was looking more and more likely that he would have to wait on that. "The last time?" He pouted like a little boy. Why shouldn't she want to keep him around? Everything was going well so far. Except for the fact that N'mos still thought she was his mate. That was easily remedied.

"I best make the most of this then." He winked. Roderith mentally snorted. The things his rider said sometimes amazed even himself. He didn't care if his rider was having fun, he was leaving out the most important person in that weyr. Think of the Gold, not having attention and praise lavished upon her made him speak up. Had to make up for his rider's ineptitudes. Zhariath, would you mind if I came to your ledge? I can think of no greater pleasure than to be beside you on such a beautiful evening.Laying it on a little thick, don't you think?What would you know?touche`... I am the one being scolded.

[LyricalBlue]

She stopped and stared at him, open mouthed for a moment. Had he actually said that? The man was better at tripping her up than she expected, Lyrai was almost impressed, almost. She crossed her arms and glared at him, still half unbelieving. That was something to be said to a serving drudge for sure... but hardly to a Weyrwoman. Of course her origins weren't that much above a drudge and she'd really had nothing to do with Zhariath's choice, but... she was still a Weyrwoman. Slowly a smile spread across her face, she really was almost impressed with him. He thought on his feet and there were few that could keep up with the Harper-trained Weyrwoman.

Zhariath nearly purred at Roderith's mental touch and Lyrai looked back with a shocked expression at the sudden change in the gold's attitude.
Of course you are welcome. The gold turned her head towards her rider with a feline grace. I would not object to your choice. They are both stronger.
Lyrai blinked then laughed softly and shook her head.
"Who said anything about a confirmed choice my love, that remains to be seen."
Indeed, even he may not keep up.

The Weyrwoman glanced back to F'dan and grinned, waving a dismissing hand towards Zhariath.
"Sorry, just had to refute any ideas that seem to infest. She seems to think the choice has well and truely been made."
Well it has.
Not yet love, not yet.

[hrsegrl]

He watched her reaction and held back a laugh. F'dan was well mannered as could be in public but he only let himself misbehave around certain people. "Oh come now. You and I both know she has no intention of being caught." He grinned, Queens seemed to think that they flew for freedom from the Bronzes who pined after them. Roderith would fly among those who followed her but it was never decided until after the Queen was caught who would be Weyrleader.

F'dan wanted Lyrai, yes. He would do anything she asked him to. The position of Weyrleader was something he wanted as well but he often thought himself too young and inexperienced to make a good one. He had no wing position and as of yet had made little impression on the other Bronzeriders except one, and that one hated his guts.

Flight had been weighing on his mind more and more. He loved Lyrai, which was a hard thing to admit. There was nothing he could do about it now. Still the thought of her being caught by someone else made him cringe. He would be heartbroken at best. Roderith was the best Bronze in F'dan's eyes but he had to admit there were larger, stronger Bronzes out there. There was a seriousness about him now. Thoughts of flight made him serious and he didn't like dwelling on it. Instead of thinking more about it, he walked to her and gave her a hug that was more reassuring than anything.

Roderith landed on Zhariath's ledge. Zhariath you are more beautiful than last I saw you. Surely you outshine even the brightest stars. The bronze meant every word. She was more beautiful every time he saw her. He was a suitor and he intended to remind her of it.

[LyricalBlue]

Blinking slowly, she reached her arms back and returned the unexpected hug. F'dan was not normally any sort of demonstrative man, well, he was if it was a means to an end. So Lyrai simply stood there for a few long moments, leaning her head against his. She closed her eyes and spoke softly, that came out as more of a long sigh than any really intelligible words.
"F'dan... are you alright?"

Zhariath turned her head and blinked at the bronze dragon in a manner uncannily like her rider. She watched Roderith as he landed, then arranged her forepaws crosswise and laid her head back down. You see me all the time. Not that she was refuting his statement, but it was always good to have such praise reinforced so there wasn't any doubt in the matter.

The Queen closed her eyes and once more relaxed, at nearly the same instant Lyrai did. For some reason the hug had thrown the Weyrwoman more off balance than anything else could have. Perhaps it was the contact or the sudden, unexpected affection, Lyrai really didn't care to delve into it. Zhariath for the most part thought that humans were unnaturally silly. They should compete and mate as dragons did, it made much more sense. Catching that thought of course made Lyrai flush.
Humans are not dragons love.
Pity.

[hrsegrl]

Somethings were meant to be left unsaid, that was what he had learned. This was neither the time nor the place to say what needed saying. F'dan had always been cocky to the point of arrogance. This was the first time he had had to reevaluate himself and found that he may not be the best man for the job. His confidence was not shattered but there was a slight crack in it. This had bothered him all day and until now he had not known where the irritation had come from. He wasn't about to admit that he was concerned either.

"I've been waiting all day to see you and now that I have I don't remember what I was going to talk to you about." His speech was also softer and more lover like. He'd never felt this way before, he knew it as surely as he knew his name. F'dan wasn't always so good with words around her, not as good as he was the rest of the time. He was assuredly better than many men where words were concerned even at his worst. "Do you have plans for the evening?"

Roderith settled himself next to the Queen, his hide lightly touching hers. Not all the time. I would spend more time with you if I was able. Roderith spent much of his free time now doting upon her. For he wanted her to know that nothing else occupied so much of his thoughts.

[LyricalBlue]

The barely audible trill that issued from Zhariath's throat was akin to the one that issued from Lyrai's. Both Weyrwoman and dragon found themselves slightly at a loss, but being who they were, they both handled it.
Then you should see me more often.
Lyrai caught her dragon's comment and stifled a giggle, the Queen's logic never failed to amuse her.Would that humans had such a straightforward look on the the world. F'dan was lucky, she noted inwardly to catch her now, a few hours ago she had been running around the Weyr like a wherry with its head cut off. Now thought, well now so few were up that little more could be accomplished.
Of course, he'd probably planned it that way, knowing F'dan.

"Not a thing, aside from dancing in my shift to no music." Grinning wryly, Lyrai glanced back at the pair of dragons and arched an eyebrow at how they lay. That was not how a weyrmated dragon should rest next to another, their noses were almost touching. But then, neither she nor Zhar were well mated were they. Like dragon, like rider, as the saying went; she'd best give some serious thought to the leadership of the Weyr. After all, it wouldn't be too long now before that decision would be made one way or another.

She leaned away from F'dan and looked up at his face, he'd be as good a candidate as any; better considering* the present circumstances. But that choice couldn't be made out of.. lo.. personal preference. That was one choice that had to be made for the good of the Weyr.
He is better than -him-.
Truth love, but N'mos wasn't so bad at the beginning.
Well he is now.
Ahhh dragon logic.

[hrsegrl]

Roderith issued no reply for it seemed to him that the future could well take care of itself. He needed only to concern himself with now. His present situation was very good. Zhariath wanted him to visit her. That was enough of a confidence boost for any dragon, but for one already as cocky as Roderith it might have pushed him onto the verge of arrogance.

F'dan found his dragon's behavior very interesting. The Bronze had never spent much time doting on other dragons, after all he was somewhat self absorbed much like F'dan was. Even before chasing a green he didn't spend time lay with her. The way they were laying also gave him something to ponder. You worry too much. Roderith said to F'dan, I worry just the right amount. If you think because she's being encouraging to you now doesn't mean she won't change her mind later, you are mistaken. She can choose whomever she wants. You can't be sure that it will be you. Besides, none of the other Bronzeriders really care for us. We can't lead people who hate us. Theres plenty of worrying that needs to be done. Lucky for you, you have me. The Bronze grew very silent. Which he did when his rider was right.

F'dan felt Lyrai looking at him and looked down at her. "Would you like someone to dance with my lady?" He took her hand and backed away slightly, giving the most sincere bow he could under the circumstances. His hazel eyes were intent on her face. He was after all, much like the other Bronzeriders of the Weyr, a suitor.