Absolutley Delightful

Writers: Estelle, Yvonne
Date Posted: 21st May 2021

Characters: Ashela, H'run
Description: H'run congratulates Ashela on her Hatching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 9 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Saibra, Ki'ben, R'enh, K'mai

Ashela

H'run

Ashela loved her Hatchings. This one had gone beautifully, with a bronze
first out of the shell, and no injuries to dragonets or Candidates or
other disasters despite the presence of Chioneth on the Sands. Now she
and her gold were free to return to their weyr and their duties - but
before that, for one evening, everyone was lining up to congratulate her
and Aglayath. The incident at Barrier Lake might not be forgotten, but
the thirty-five new dragons and riders had gone a little way towards
restoring her reputation.

And her new crimson gown was earning some very welcome attention.

With a charming smile, she excused herself from one rather dazzled
master crafter and, finding her throat was dry from talking, looked
around for a likely rider to fetch her a drink.

H'run materialized out of the crowd and linked his arms with hers before
someone else could snag the goldrider. "I was right about that gown. You
look stunning."

"Oh, how sweet of you to say so!" Ashela fairly preened, much like her
dragon. "I knew I could rely on your judgement, H'run. And you don't
look half bad yourself." She ran her fingers lightly over the fine
material of his jacket. "This color suits you beautifully."

"Doesn't it just?" The jacket was made of a rich blue and tailored to an
exquisite fit. Deep yellow embroidery ran along the lapels and cuffs,
and he wore a matching yellow shirt beneath with a touch of lace at the
wrists. He'd even changed his usual green earrings for matching lapis
drops that brushed his jaw when he laughed. "Come have some wine with me
and tell me what you thought about the Hatching. Are you happy with the
Candidates? I bet Saibra's disappointed that her son Impressed from your
Clutch instead of hers."

**Not as disappointed as I am,** Ashela thought, irked by the fact that
everyone was talking about the Weyrwoman's son Impressing at _her_ Hatching.

"I'm sure she can't be that upset, after that bronze headed straight for
him," she replied, unable to keep the faint trace of resentment from her
voice. "Really, once the Hatching is over, the Candidates don't interest
me until long after they've graduated."

The bluerider took note of her tone and filed it away for a later date.
"Mmm. They _are_ rather dull, aren't they. But I do like that you and
Aglayath stole that Impression from her. If it happened at Saibra's
Hatching we'd hear nothing else for _months_."

"There is that," Ashela admitted as they approached the table where
drinks were being served. The endless gushing over the Weyrwoman's
offspring grated on her nerves as it was. At least she wouldn't have to
heard about Chioneth's clutch being the larger any more. It had only
been _one_ more egg.

She accepted a glass of sparkling wine with a sigh of delight and
clinked it against his. "To freedom from the Hatching Sands! I've never
been so grateful to return to the Wings."

"Freedom indeed." H'run hid his smile behind his wine glass. "So tell
me-- in that dress you have your pick of the men here tonight. Thinking
of taking any of them back to your weyr to celebrate more thoroughly?"

Ashela turned around in a half-circle, pretending to consider what was
on offer. "I've been thinking about some of them a great deal. There is
one..." Her gaze passed over the Weyrwoman and the handsome Wingleader
whose bronze had sired Aglayath's clutch, and she sighed. "Oh, I
couldn't. It would be too naughty of me."

"It's _your_ Hatching party." H'run leaned close to whisper in her ear.
"I think that if you want someone, tonight's the night. Who could
possibly deny you?"

"His weyrmate," she sighed. Not that that had ever stopped her before,
but when the woman in question rode the senior queen, even she had
second thoughts. "It's so unfair. I'm younger and _far_ more stylish
than she is."

**How delightful!** The bluerider smiled as he followed her gaze. "That
is true. Such a pity that their weyrmating isn't more flexible..."

"Isn't it?" Ashela pouted for a moment, then brightened. "At least I'll
get to dance with him first." It might not be as fun as stealing him
away to her weyr, but it was very public. She turned back and nudged the
bluerider. "And what about you, H'run? Is there anyone here tonight that
catches your eye?"

He sighed, his eyes automatically searching for K'mai in the crowd. He
didn't see the other bluerider. "I have my heart set on a bluerider of
my acquaintance... have you met K'mai? He is utterly delightful."

"I haven't had that pleasure." Ashela sipped her wine. "But now I am
simply dying to hear all about him! Tell me more..."

H'run smiled. K'mai was one of his favourite topics. "Well, he's
handsome, of _course_. And clever. He's Weyrbred, and his shoulders...
and lower..." he waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Oh - lower?" she replied, her voice amused and intimate. This K'mai
sounded like someone she should meet. "Does he have magnificent...toes?"

"Absolutely." The bluerider sighed. "He's absolutely delightful in every
way."

A gleeful peal of laughter burst from Ashela's lips. "H'run, you're
besotted!" Now she definitely wanted to meet this man. Perhaps, one day,
she might let slip a rumor or two about H'run at Dream's End... For now,
though, she rested a hand lightly on his shoulder and smiled. "I'm
thrilled for you."

"I can't help myself. Just wait, once you meet him... perhaps I'll have
a party and introduce you. Or-- here's a better idea, darling. _You_
have a party. Your weyr is ever so much bigger."

"What a simply _marvelous_ suggestion." Ashela seldom hosted parties,
since she preferred not to fill her weyr with tipsy riders tromping in,
spilling drinks over her furniture and splashing around in her bathing
pool. Still, cleaning up the mess was what drudges were for and perhaps
she could slip away with a certain bronzerider... "You have such good
ideas, H'run. But you must promise me you'll sing. Perhaps a love ballad
for your handsome bluerider?"

"I think I can manage." He clinked his glass against hers. "Just
remember that you promised."

"If I should forget, I know you'll remind me." She sipped her wine, then
tugged at his arm. "Come with me to greet some holders. It won't be half
so crashingly dull if you're there, and afterwards you can tell me all
about what you think of them."

H'run grinned. There was nothing better than picking apart some dull
holders behind their backs. "Lead on, my Lady."

Last updated on the July 21st 2021

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Absolutley Delightful