Best Cookies on Pern

Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd May 2006

Characters: N'vanik, Gilsha, Arosil
Description: N'vanik takes Gilsha on a sweepride and they stop off at a friendly hold for treats.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 20 of Turn 3

N'vanik

"Well, this should be interesting," N'vanik said as he leaned against Loseth's arm.

"Good morning, bronzerider," Gilsha smiled as she pulled on her riding gloves. She had thought the name 'N'vanik' was familiar. "Fine day for a sweepride, I should say. Where are we going?"

"Just along the shore. Nothing exciting, but it'll help get you familiar with the area." He tried to hide his annoyance at being assigned to more or less give Gilsha a tour. Afterall, it was important that she learn the features of Dragonsfall's territory.

"Do you always get assigned to show us newbies around?" she asked curiously.

N'vanik snorted. "No. J'nus said it was my turn for sweep and he wanted you to come along. My lucky day, I guess."

"I'll agree with you there," she chuckled. "A lucky day indeed."

"Well, let's get going." He secured his helmet. My, he was in a hurry... "Are we stopping off anywhere along the way?"

"We'll pass over a few minor holdings. There's one at the end of the route we can stop at," he said. Then he added, "The holder's wife likes to give riders sweets."

"Well, a girl can never pass up a chance at sweets," the greenrider smiled. "Do you have a sweet tooth bronzerider?"

He nodded. "A little bit. That poor woman is under the impression I'm a nice guy."

Gilsha snorted. "Ah, well, she's feeding you. Of course you'd be friendly."

He knew it was only a matter of time before she started that wherry dung again. "Yep. That's how it works," N'vanik said.

"Well, don't worry. I won't blow your cover," she said with a wink.

He wasn't sure how to take that. "Ready to go?"

"Ready when you are, bronzerider," she said as she threw her braid over her shoulder and stuffed her riding helmet on her head.

"Good." N'vanik mounted his dragon and secured his straps. Turning, he checked to make sure Gilsha was ready.

She gave him the signal that she was, and Pali followed Loseth into the sky.

Loseth relayed an image to the green of a point along the southwest shore of the Sea of Azov. After a short trip /between/, they started along their sweep route. N'vanik relayed through Loseth important features of the land and pointed out the holdings they passed.

Gilsha for her part tried her best to remember all the names, especially of the smaller holdings. They might be the most hide-bound, but they may also be the most in need of a dragonrider's services since she doubted carriers made trips out to them often. The trip was breath-taking with the sea on one side and the mountains off in the distance. She would have to come this way again and just... fly.

As the landscape rolled beneth them, N'vanik had time to consider that doing something like this might have been a better way to spend his month, rather than staying in his weyr and drinking his way through his alcohol supply. They reached the small hold that marked the end of the route and N'vanik gave the signal to land. One of the children saw the dragons and waved enthusiastically before racing inside to alert the family.

Gilsha smiled as they settled on the ground next to the large bronze. The porcine in their pen and the ovine grazing on the far end of the field barely raised their head in curiosity at seeing the dragons land so close. They had no fear of the great beasts it seemed. Dragonriders must be frequent visitors. She slid down the side of Palialohath's neck and stripped off her gloves and helmet.

A middle aged woman came out of the cothold, shading her eyes from the sun and carrying a tray. A few children followed behind her. "Who's come to visit today? Oh, hello N'vanik," she said as the rider approached her, "we haven't seen you around for a while. I don't happen to recognize the greenrider with you."

"This is Gilsha. She's a new transfer and I'm showing her around the area today," he said.

"Pleased to meet you, greenrider Gilsha," the woman said with a warm smile. "Would you like a cookie?" She offered the tray.

"Thank you ma'am, I'd love one," she smiled as she reached for a cookie.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your names."

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Arosil, and this is Rilla, Wesil and Deroteg." She pointed out her daughter, a young son, and the boy who had seen them arrive. "My husband Wendur is working in the barn."

"Well, its nice to meet all of you. And thank you for the cookie," she smiled holding up the tasty treat before taking a bite.

"You're quite welcome," Arosil said. "Would you care for a cookie, bronzerider?" she asked, turning to offer the tray to N'vanik.

"You know I never turn it down," N'vanik said, smiling as he took one.

Gilsha tried to hide her smile behind bites of cookie. He really _was_
friendlier when he wanted something. "These really are delicious, Arosil."

"You're quite welcome, greenrider Gilsha. Would you care for something to drink? I have fruit juice, or I could brew some klah," the woman offered.

"No thanks," N'vanik said. "We should be heading back."

"Actually, I would _love_ a glass of juice," Gilsha smiled. She was not about to let the bronzerider answer for her. "I'm sure I have enough time for that. We'll just have to flap our wings a little faster is all," she said giving Arosil a little wink.

Arosil smiled at the greenrider. "Come along inside, then. You can sit for a moment while you have your juice, and perhaps another cookie." She turned, her children giving the riders a few shy glances.

N'vanik rolled his eyes when no one was looking, annoyed at Gilsha. But not too much - another cookie wouldn't be bad. He followed Arosil into the cothold and the woman directed the riders to sit at the kitchen table.

While the holder got down a couple glasses and filled them with juice, Gilsha leaned over to the bronzerider and whispered, "Well, none of the children look much like you, so I guess that means she hasn't seen the _really_ friendly side of you yet, huh..."

"I come here strictly for the sweets," he said. "Holders aren't worth that kind of trouble."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Gilsha chuckled. She had been in that kind of trouble quite a few times in her life and thoroughly enjoyed it...

Arosil set a glass in front of each of the riders. "So how are you settling in at Dragonsfall, Gilsha? I know moving can sometimes be difficult."

"Wonderfully well, thank you," the greenrider said flashing N'vanik a smile. "There are lots of friendly riders ready to help me settle in."

"I'm sure N'vanik has been very helpful." Arosil smiled at both of them.

After swallowing a mouthful of juice, N'vanik returned Gilsha's smile.
"Absolutely."

"Oh, yes, it was so sweet of him to _volunteer_ to show me around." She gave the bronzerider an appreciative, and rather forceful, pat on the back. They both knew it would not have been his first choice.

N'vanik gave her a look that was just short of a glare. "Yep, that's me.
Always willing to lend a hand."

"That's wonderful," Arosil said, oblivious. Gilsha just grinned back at him. "Well, I'm sure you know, N'vanik is one of the friendliest men in the Weyr. And you know, he expects _nothing_ in return for being so nice to everyone. He's such a gentleman."

"And Gilsha is quite friendly herself," the bronzerider said. "Not judgmental or anything like that."

"Oh," the greenrider chuckled, slapping his arm lightly, "he's such a _tease_! May I have another cookie? Those are so good! I haven't had home made cookies in so long."

"Of course you can!" Arosil slid the tray closer to Gilsha. "I'm glad you like them."

"Best cookies on Pern," N'vanik said as he took another for himself.

"Seems you've found this bronzerider's weakness," Gilsha smiled as she picked another off the tray. "And I thought his rough exterior was inpenitrable. Your husband better watch out, Arosil. I have a feeling N'vanik can be quite the charmer when he wants to be."

The woman blushed slightly. "Oh, no! N'vanik has been nothing but a gentleman."

"Bite your tongue, greenrider," N'vanik growled. "Oh of course he has been, Arosil," Gilsha grinned as she patted the woman's arm. "He's just so fun to tease sometimes. But he takes it so well, you know. He really is extremely patient that way." She turned her smile back on the bronzerider. "As patient as you are lovely," he told Gilsha. "As much as I'd like to spend more time here, we really should get going. We have duties to attend to."

"Yes," the greenrider smiled as she reached a hand out to shake the holder's. "My loveliness is at its end it seems. But it was very nice meeting all of you."

"And it was very nice to meet you, greenrider Gilsha," Arosil said.

"I'll stop by next time I'm on sweep," N'vanik said as he got up.

"Thank you so much for the cookies. I'll have to bring something for all of you next time I'm in the area," Gilsha said as she too rose to her feet. "After you, bronzerider."

N'vanik shook his head and smiled. "Ladies first."

"Mighty friendly of you, N'vanik," she nodded as she walked through the door. "Thanks again Arosil!"

"You're welcome," Arosil said. "Say good-bye, children." A chorus of good-byes followed the riders as they left.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2006

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