The Evening Sun

Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 14th December 2025

Characters: H'run, Esiah
Description: H'run and Esiah go on their long-awaited date.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 8 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'mai

H'run

Esiah

"There you are!" H'run rose to his feet with a smile as he spotted Esiah walking toward him and Calcifeth where they waited near the entrance to the Dining Hall. It was late in the afternoon and the sun poured over the Weyrbowl and made it shimmer like a mirage. It had rained that afternoon, a torrential cloudburst with lightning and whistling winds. He'd been worried that it would ruin the entire evening but the rain cleared up well before sunset, leaving the Weyrbowl smelling fresh and new.

When Esiah was close enough, the bluerider kissed him on the cheek in greeting. "Ready to go?"

"Absolutely." Esiah had a small sketchpad tucked into his shirt pocket for their adventure - just in case. "Calcifeth, thank you for the ride," he said to the blue as they approached.

"He says that you are very welcome."

}:I did not say that!:{ Calcifeth huffed indignantly just to muss up H'run's hair. }:I said nothing!:{

**Oh hush. You would have if you'd thought of it.** H'run smoothed his hair back and offered Esiah a hand up as Calcifeth crouched low. "I thought we could head down the coast a bit. There are a few taverns near the sea that I've been eyeing up on sweeprides that I thought it might be nice to go to. If you'd like?"

The Master Harper grabbed the bluerider's hand, settling himself in front of H'run with a small wiggle of his hips. "A seaside tavern sounds perfect. And romantic. I approve," he shot a smile over his shoulder.

H'run smiled. "I thought you might."

Calcifeth's muscles bunched beneath them as he spread his wings and leapt into the air. H'run used the opportunity to snake his arms around Esiah's waist. "Sorry. For balance," he said into the Master Harper's ear as his dragon surged toward the Star Stones. "We are going /between/ now."

Black, blacker, blackest. /Between/ flickered like a bad dream and dissolved into blue skies streaked with crimson and a white sand beach nestled between high stone cliffs. Small slate-roofed homes clung to the cliffside along winding cobbled stone paths and nearly two dozen fishing boats bobbed in the harbor next to two heavy-bellied sloops. Avians called in the trees and took flight as Calcifteth's shadow crossed their perches. The blue dragon landed on the beach and was promptly mobbed by children.

"Give us space!" H'run laughed as he dismounted, then held a hand out to Esiah. "Welcome to Cliffside Seahold."

Esiah looked around with the hungry, appreciative eyes of an artist as he took H'run's hand and dropped to the ground. "Wow, H'run, this place is beautiful. I'm envious that you can take Calcifeth any time and find beautiful places like this."

"Darling, all you ever need to do is ask. Calcifeth and I are your beck and call! This is Calcifeth," he said to the children, tearing his gaze from Esiah's. The Master Harper's obvious delight in the little cove was a beautiful thing to behold. "You may unbuckle his straps and hang them _carefully_ somewhere where they won't get sandy, and he will be happy to spend time with you while Master Esiah and I are in the tavern."

Calcifeth rumbled happily as he knelt, his faceted eyes reflecting the sunset's glow and childrens' smiling faces. }:I think I will get many scritches here.:{

**As you deserve,** H'run told him, then held his arm out to the Master Harper. "Care to visit the tavern? They are rather used to dragonriders here with the Weyr being so close."

The harper's hand found H'run's as they walked, fingers twining, toward the tavern. "What's the best thing to eat here?" he asked.

"I hear there's a shellfish bed somewhere nearby and they feed them to you raw, with just a bit of citrus. Or if you're less fond of raw, they have a nice fish poached in wine. They even have tables overlooking the sea so that we can see the sunset." H'run winked as they stepped from sand to a wide stone staircase up the cliffside. "Or so I hear."

"A table with an ocean view sounds amazing," Esiah said as they entered the establishment.

It only took a sweet word to the server who greeted them before they were seated on the dock that overlooked the gently lapping waves of the sea.

Esiah ended up with the fish poached in wine and was pleased that it lived up to its reputation.

"How much longer are you going to be at Dolphin Cove?" the harper asked H'run.

"So anxious to be rid of me?" H'run tone was light as he looked out over the ocean. "I have rather overstayed my welcome, haven't I. The orders from both Dragonsfall Weyr _and_ Dolphin Cove are becoming quite difficult to dodge."

"Quite the opposite," Esiah confessed. "Dolphin Cove is going to be awfully dull once you leave."

H'run smiled briefly. "Naturally it will. Can't be helped, though. Oh! I have an idea - you should come visit me." He lowered his voice. "I'll bundle you in furs, if you wish."

The harper's eyes glowed a bit at the thought. "Hmm, being snowed in with a handsome bluerider, bundled in furs... That does sound like a treat."

"You'd love it. As much as I've loved Dolphin Cove, you can't be properly cozy when it's always the height of summer. Or enjoy a good hot spring, or wear a decent sweater." H'run sighed. All good points, but he sensed that he was trying to convince himself of the snowy Weyr's benefits more than he was trying to convince Esiah.

"If it's so lovely, why the sigh?" Esiah asked after the server topped off their drinks.

The bluerider's smile turned rueful at being caught out. "I suppose I am sad to leave. Who wouldn't be, when the company here at Dolphin Cove has been so charming?"

"You could stay," the harper suggested softly.

"I shouldn't. My Wing needs me." H'run toyed with his fork. Perhaps they didn't. They certainly hadn't come calling in droves or sending letters begging for his return. Just K'mai, but he didn't want to admit that to Esiah. "I also have some business that I have to finish. The duties of a Harper call as clearly the drums on the hill. You understand."

"I do." But Esiah's understanding did not diminish the disappointment he felt. "We'll just have to make the time you have left count, then," he said to brighten the mood that had become a little glum.

"And I have tonight with you." Esiah had been hinting that he'd like more than a friendship with H'run, but until recently, the bluerider had wanted a friend more than a lover. Something uncomplicated. Until now, until it was almost too late. "All night, if you wish."

The harper's smile was slow, his eyes sparking with desire. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Last updated on the December 30th 2025

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The Evening Sun