The Secret Place (1/2)

Writers: Avery, Paula
Date Posted: 26th August 2016

Characters: Lenala, A'kades
Description: It's her birthday and Lenala decides to show A'kades her secret hideout.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn
Notes: part 1 of 2

Lenala

A'kades headed down the corridor to carried a wrapped bundle under his
arm, and a kitchen's basket in his hand. When he arrived at his
destination, he knocked on the door of Lenala's weyr, hoping she was
in and free.

"Yes? Come in," Lenala called. She was sitting, wearing a gather dress
and fiddling a letter in her hands. It was her birthing day and the
letter was from her mother. It had came with small gift. The letter
had left her with pensive mood. While it was always good the hear news
from her folks but her mother's boasting about the number of new babies
her siblings had produced during last Turn had cut deep to the not-yet
healed sorrow of losing hers.

A'kades came in and smiled when he saw her. "Are you heading out
somewhere? You look lovely."

"Rhosyn and I talked about going somewhere and getting drunk," Lenala
replied and smiled at him.

"I wouldn't want to keep you from that. But I did bring you something
in case you wanted to spend some of it with me," he said, setting the
basket down on the floor, keeping the bundle in his hands.

"I would be happy to spend some time with you," Lenala replied,
Anything to take her mind off from dead babies. Besides, she did love
him.

"I brought gifts," he said, holding out the wrapped bundle to her. It
contained a pair of soft new leather gloves he had made for her
himself.

"Thank you," she rewarded him with bright smile and unwrapped the
bundle. "Oh, there are lovely!" she tried them on right away.

"I've been working on them in between classes," he informed her. "I
figured I knew enough about your hand size for them. Do they fit?"

"They fit like gloves," she laughed at her own pun, wrapped her arms
around his neck and gave him a proper thank you-kiss. This is what she
needed. Something merry, something to take her mind off from gloomy
thoughts.

The bronzerider was pleased by Lenala's obvious enjoyment of the gift.
He'd hoped it would brighten her day. He responded to the kiss by
deepening it and running a hand down her back, thinking about how
nicely her gather dress was fitting.

"I live to serve," he said.

"That's very dangerous thing to say for a woman," Lenala teased him.
"So, what else you have in mind?" she glanced towards the basket.

"I asked Cook to make your favorite sweet and I got some wine."

"If we are leaving a Weyr, can I choose picnic place this time?" Lenala asked.

"I thought we'd go anywhere you like, since it's your day. Out the
Weyr, in the Weyr, your favorite spot..."

"There's a place I've been wanting to show you. Although I better
dress more for, it can be bit chilly at this time of Turn," her eyes
twinkled with excitement.

"I look forward to following you, then. Should I change as well?" He
was in standard riding gear for this area but he had layers for colder
regions.

"I think you'll do, it's not that cold," she said after eyeing him up and down.
After quick change and strapping up their dragons, they rose to the air.

Vilarth sent the visual to Volaith and then blinked /between/.

They came out again over breathtaking landscape: rugged mountains
rose from the dark green sea of evergreen trees. The air was much
colder than in River Bluff Weyr, the mountain sides covered with snow.
The valleys were still green although the golden spots here and there
in the forest told them what the season was. Vilarth picked her
direction with confidence of familiarity. The flew over a what looked
like a major trade-road. Sea glittered at the horizon behind their
tails. Vilarth started to circle downwards. At first it looked like
she was going to land at the middle of the forest. Then the glade was
revealed. A small fall cascaded to a crystal clear pond. The pond's
shores were rocky and trees threatened to overcome the small meadow
that surrounded it. When Vilarth landed, her bulk crushed some of the
small saplings. Between the trees one could see a moss-covered stone
hut. It showed signs of decades of neglect: wooden door had fallen off
and was now rotting on the ground. Windows were boarded and chimney
was now nest for avians. Grass grew on the roof.

The visual was beautiful. The bronze dragon was excited to spend time
with his favorite gold, and his rider was intrigued to see where t
were going. The descent down into the glade was slow and as it was
revealed it was gorgeous. A'kades drank in every detail of the
unfamiliar place.

}:This is a lovely spot, but your hide is lovelier,:{ Volaith
complimented the gold.

}: Thank you. We come to here when she wants solitude. We don't show
this for just anyone, :{ Vilarth replied.

"Here we are, my hide-away. I sometimes come here when Orlaith Rises
and I don't feel like visiting the other Weyrs," Lenala dismounted and
looked around. "We're at the edge of my father's Holdings."

"This is absolutely gorgeous. I imagine you were here a lot as a
child?" he asked as he dismounted and unpacked the food box.

"It's along the road to Main Hold, so we used to stop here when we
went to visit the Lord Holder. The cabin was in better shape back
then. I don't think anybody comes here any longer. It's too far aside
from the road to be used Thread shelter." Lenala replied. She took
straps off and Vilarth flew to perch on the cliffs above the small
fall.

"That makes it sound nice and private, a nice secret spot." He took
off Volaith's straps and the bronze followed the gold.

Last updated on the August 29th 2016

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The Secret Place (1/2)