To Many More

Writers: Devin, Clancey
Date Posted: 24th February 2006

Characters: D'ren, Dysali
Description: D'ren spends his birthingday with Dysali, and they touch on a serious subject.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 22 of Turn 3

A special day it was, and she intended to see that he enjoyed it. In a brown paper wrapped parcel, she carried his birthingday gift. She had asked one of the Harpers to paint Menanth on to canvas. The bronze glittered and shined on the paper and she smiled as she held it to her chest. It was in a frame and there was even a hand-written dedication on the back. There were to have dinner in his Weyr tonight and spend it with each other, and then in a few days, a larger celebration with all their friends.

When the knock came, D'ren walked to the door with a bit of a bounce in his step. He opened the door and greeted Dysali with a smile. "Hi." Every day with her felt special, but today with it being his birthingday and having a romantic dinner, it felt more special.

"Hi you. Happy Birthingday!" Excited, she grinned at him. Sometimes the way they spoke to each other without saying much amazed her. Grinning, she stepped inside and up to him, standing on tiptoes to give him a kiss, while hiding her present behind her back. "Are you sure don't mind just you and I, D'ren?" Her eyes twinkled. They were still somewhat new to loving each other fully, and she really wanted all she could experience of him and his arms, beyond spending time with him.
When she was with him, she was the happiest dragonrider on Pern.

"Mind it? I wouldn't have it any other way." He gave her a quick kiss.
"It's a little difficult to have a romantic dinner with your friends around," he said as he led her toward the table.

Dysali grinned sideways at him. "True enough. They're nosy, and keep sitting between us." Her hand tucked into his arm. "Do you want your present now or ... " She paused when she saw the spread on the table.
It was wonderful! Her eyes rounded and her smile broadened. "OH!
D'ren, its lovely."

"Thank you," he said. "A lovely dinner for a lovely lady." He pulled out a chair for her. "Have a seat. And give me my present," D'ren added with a boyish grin.

She handed him the parcel first. It was obvious from its shape it was a portrait of some kind. It had been hard too, for her artist to find Menanth in one place long enough to paint him. But he had! She sat down then, watching him. Her cheeks colored slightly from his comment. "Thank you, but we're here to celebrate _you_ being a turn older..16... " she paused then, not going on with her thoughts, instead focusing on him opening the present.

"It feels a little strange to be--" he stopped talking when he saw what his present was. "Oh, Dysali. It's beautiful!" D'ren admired the painting with shining eyes. After a moment, he set it carefully down and went to hug her.
"Thank you!"

She hugged him back happily, eyes shining. "He's about full grown now, so I thought it would be a good time to capture his likeness..." Her smile broadened to a little mischief. "If you look on the back, there is something else.. "

The handwritten dedication said only this:

"Our dragons give us wings and lifemates, but you are my heart. And I will come always come back to you. Always, Dysali " D'ren had to blink back tears. He kissed her, full and deep. "I love you," he said when he finally pulled away. His eyes settled on her scar, and his thoughts turned darker. "I don't ever want to lose you."

She met his kiss gladly, pouring all of her emotions into the touch of lips to lips. For younger folk, they had this part well done. Her voice was soft, laden with seriousness. "I love you too, D'ren." She paused, her blue-gray eyes searching his, the same dark thoughts swirling there. "And I don't want to lose you." She swallowed thickly, not sure the words would come. "One of the reasons I chose this day to give you such a gift is because we don't know how many days we'll have." Her voice faltered, then strengthened as he tightened his hold on her. "And you'll be in a fighting wing soon. A whole turn sooner than I will." Faranth.. she never wanted to sit beside him, the way he'd sat beside her. But Thread must be flown. "And .. you ride a bronze..." Her voice quivered again, fear, hope, pride, worry, wonder, and promise all tangled into the soft alto timbre. He nodded. "It's a lot of responsibility. And a lot of danger. I want to fly in Threadfall, I want to do my duty. But I'm still afraid." D'ren had been thinking about his upcoming transfer to the fighting wings a lot in the past few sevendays.

Reality had invaded their romantic evening, but she was sure she didn't mind. They needed to talk about this. Dysali reached for his hands, holding them tightly. "I'm afraid too. After being in a Threadfall on a dragon that couldn't flame, I'm not sure I want to be in a Threadfall with one that can. But we have been trained. _You_ have been trained."
She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince; D'ren, or herself. She paused, a faint smile twitching at her lips. "Just don't go and get scored like me, bronzerider. I'd hate to have to beat you."

He laughed. "I'll do my best not to." He moved his elbow and bumped one of the plates. Looking down, he said, "We should eat before the food gets cold.
Some of this took a lot of pleading to get."

Dysali nodded, her eyes still dark with deep emotions. But she did sink to the table to begin. Her smile grew and she reached for the first plate. "Here is to many more birthingdays together, D'ren." She raised a meatroll in tribute. They could discuss the serious part of his birthingday after they paid appropriate attention to the dinner. "To many, many more," he agreed.

Last updated on the February 24th 2006

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