A Special Day (Part 1 of 2)

Writers: AmajoS, Estelle
Date Posted: 12th April 2019

Characters: L'keri, Benna
Description: L'keri surprises Benna with a trip out of the Weyr
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 9
Notes: Part 1 of 2

L'keri

L'keri had swapped duties with a wingmate to make sure that his free day
would coincide with Benna's, and he headed for her weyr with a basket
under one arm and a picnic blanket under the other. Rather than being
rolled up, the blanket was wrapped around an object that he was very
proud of, since he'd spent the morning hunting through the storerooms of
the Weyr for one just like it.

**She's definitely free?** he asked Rhalith as he climbed up to his
dragon's back for a lift to the weyr ledge.

}:Yes,:{ Rhalith replied tolerantly. He was enjoying sharing his rider's
sense of anticipation at the thought of spending the day with Henerath's
rider. }:Henerath said so.:{

**And you didn't tell her anything else?**

}:No.:{ The brown crouched and leapt into the air for the short flight
to the green's weyr.

Benna was leaning against Henerath's side when they arrived. Henerath
gave Rhalith a rumbling trill and Benna grinned up at L'keri, "So,
what's this big mystery? Rhalith is a brave dragon, keeping secrets
from Henerath, she hates not having questions answered."

"I get the feeling he likes to arouse her curiosity," L'keri said,
earning himself a snort from Rhalith. He slid down from the brown's
back. "But the mystery was my fault this time. I've come to spirit you
away for the day...and I'll give you a clue about where." He presented
her with the blanket.

"Oooh," Benna took the blanket and ran her hand over the soft, yet
sturdy material. "Well, this has a few possibilities and I think I
like all of them." She grinned at the brownrider. "I assume there's
more clues in that basket you've got there?"

She noticed, as she ran her hands over the blanket that it seemed a
bit lumpier than it should and turned her attention from the basket on
L'keri's arm, to the blanket she held. Glancing up at him with
curiously raised eybrows, she unfolded the blanket to reveal a
slightly squished, very floppy hat. It looked like it was made of
woven reeds or maybe grasses and had a bright green ribbon woven into
it so that the ends hung down and could be used to tie under the chin.
Her grin grew even bigger, "It's a hat! Is this another clue?" She
knew it was and tried to think where a blanket and a hat would be
necessary, liking more and more where this seemed to be headed.

"It's a special kind of hat," L'keri said playfully, enjoying himself as
he drew out the mystery. "A sun hat. Made specially for redheads, so
they won't burn in the hot sun...reflected off the sea..."

"The sea?" She her grin turned into a delighted smile. "Well, now that
does sound promising." The hat was a thoughtful touch because she did,
in fact, turn a very interesting shade of red if she spent more than a
few minutes on a beach without some sort of cover. She'd always envied
girls whose skin darkened in the sun instead.

"Yes. There might even be swimming. I hope you've got a bathing
costume..." The brownrider grinned wickedly. "Though it's not compulsory."

"Swimming! Just where is this beach you're taking me to, L'keri?" She
asked, over her shoulder as she headed to the chest she stored her
warm-weather clothes in. She had a few bathing costumes in there, but
which one did she want to take?

"It's along the coast a way from River Bluff, towards Sunstone," L'keri
explained as he fastened the basket and picnic blanket to Rhalith's
straps. "One of my wingmates showed it to me when we were sweepriding
together, back in the old days when I'd just graduated to the Wings.
It's very peaceful. Secluded..." He hoped they'd have it to themselves,
at any rate. "If we're really lucky, there might be dolphins. I think
they know that dragons come there."

"Really? You think there might be dolphins?" She stopped digging in
the chest to beam at him," I hope so too! I love watching them and
Henerath just adores them." She went back to searching and finally
found where they were packed, down at the bottom. She had three in
there and picked up two of them. Both were one pieces, but one of them
had a deeply scooped back and the front dipped pretty low as well. It
didn't even have proper shoulder straps, just a green string that went
around the back of her neck. It was green, so it would match the hat.
She also looked very good in it, if she did say so herself. But, she
burned so easily. She usually only wore this suit late in summer, when
she had as much of a base tan as she ever got.

Finally, she decided and put the blue one back in. As long as they
din't stay out -too- long, she should be fine.

"Ready to go?" L'keri handed her the riding jacket and helmet that he'd
collected while she was searching her clothes chest. "Rhalith and I can
visualise the beach, if Henerath will follow us."

She took the gear from him and stuffed the bathing suit into a pocket
of the jacket before putting it on. "Did you pack towels?" The blanket
was nice, but the underside of it would get all sandy and that
wouldn't be fun when she was ready to dry off.

L'keri hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. "You see, this is why
I need you." He'd brought the blanket and thought that was enough. "I'll
run down to the bathing room and get some."

"No need for that," Benna said happily. "I keep a few in here in case
I come in wet from rain or bathing Henerath or whatever." She went to
a cabinet hanging from a wall in the corner of her bed chamber and
opened it to reveal a small stack of fluffy towels. She grinned over
her shoulder at L'keri.

"I thought it was greenriders who were supposed to be flighty and
disorganised, and brownriders who were solid and reliable," L'keri
teased, coming up behind her to reach over her shoulder for the towels.
He leaned in close, a mischievous note in his voice. "But I do like a
woman who's prepared for any eventuality..."

"'Flighty greenrider' is a viscous stereotype." She mock-glared at him
before grinning again. "I was the only girl in a whole family of
brothers. My mom counted on me to help keep things in order. I might
not have been very good at being a proper kind of girl, but making
sure everyone had their lunch and knew where their shoes were and so
on, I could do." Her grin turned nostalgic as she explained.

"Well, I remembered lunch," L'keri said cheerfully, tucking the towels
under one arm. He could be relied upon for that, at least. "And my boots
are on my feet, last time I checked, so it sounds like we're ready to
go." He was eager to get to the beach, not least to get a glimpse of
that bathing costume.

She giggled and nodded, "I think we are!" She followed him back out to
the ledge where both their dragons were waiting. Henerath was closer
to the mouth of their weyr and already wearing riding straps. Benna
had put them on the green per the mysterious instructions that had
been passed along to her from his dragon to hers.

}:I am ready. I want to see dolphins.:{ Henerath said, both to Benna
and Rhalith at the same time. She rumbled and blew a puff of air at
L'keri.

L'keri smiled as her warm breath ruffled his hair. "Just follow Rhalith.
We'll see you there!" He went to stand by Rhalith while the brown
politely edged to the side to give Henerath room to take off first, then
swung himself up into the riding straps and secured the towels next to
the basket of food.

Rhalith watched the green ascending with interest as he crouched at the
edge of her ledge and spread his wings. }:She is very clever, and
elegant. I think she would lead me a fine chase.:{

**I'm relying on you,** L'keri said cheerfully, reaching forward to pat
the brown's neck. Rhalith didn't often mention mating flights apart from
in the moment he was participating in them, so the green must have had
quite an effect on him. He did hope Rhalith might win Henerath when she
rose next. There was nothing quite like that rush of passion shared
through the bond between dragon, rider and mate. **Let's get going, or
she'll leave us far behind.**

The brown leapt into the air, his wingbeats sending them ever upward
until they caught an air current above the Weyr and hovered in the
chilly air. L'keri looked out to his left where Henerath waited for
them, and waved to her rider while Rhalith spoke to the watch dragon,
confirming their destination. Then they winked /between/.

(continued in part 2)

Last updated on the April 16th 2019

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A Special Day (Part 1 of 2)