Gather Day
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 6th February 2010
Characters: Benani, Zathris
Description: Benani and Zathris head out as the Gather begins.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 21 of Turn 5
"Are you ready my dear?" Zathris offered his wife his arm and kissed her forehead after she took it. They were both bundled up against the cold that would surely assault them as soon as they stepped foot outside. Inside were some stalls, but outside was where most of the activities would take place until the feast and dance that evening. "You look ravishing."
"You clean up nice yourself." Benani replied happily. She had commissioned a matching fur lined jacket and cape for the occasion. The dark brown hide was set off nicely by the klah colored fur that edged her cape and hood and accented his cuffs and collar.
Zathris glanced down at his own finery. His tunic and coat were of a brilliant blue - not quite harper, but just as bright. "Bah. You make me look like a stable boy. Come my dear, I want to show you off." He led her out of their quarters and into the hallway. Even there the scent of food cooking greeted them.
Benani could see some of the vendors set up as they decended the stairs. While most were outside, she'd seen to it that enough were inside so that people wouldn't need to bundle back up to get a refill or sweet to satisfy them in between dances. "There are already quite a few people here. I can't believe so many travelled with these temperatures." She was sure it would be a quite small gather since it wasn't a summer one.
"It's my charm." Zathris winked at his wife and gave her hand a squeeze where it lay upon his arm. "Has to be." He cast a glance at the various vendors, already the smells making his stomach rumble. "Even the cold can not keep those who wish to have fun away."
"Let's make the rounds then. I want to make sure all the paths got cleared of snow before all the men scatter and we can't track them down again." Benani suggested.
"Surely they have a better sense of responsibility than that." Zathris hoped so anyway. He turned down one hallway and then another that lead to the main doors. Then he guided his wife out into the bitter cold.
"Brrr." Benani pulled her cloak tighter against her. "Oh but the banner colors do pop against all this white."
"Aye, that they do." The banners barely moved as the wind was low, but they stood proudly and bold against the starkness of the snow. outside people already mingled. As they drew closer to the Gather grounds, they could smell the food. Already a snowball fight was in progress and Zathris guided his wife around the battle ground. Not on the grounds proper, the snow maze was already being traversed by visitors. It cleverly wound around so that one entered at one end of the fair grounds and came out at the other. "Where the snow fights are being held is where the snow sculpture contest will be held later." Zathris commented.
One of the first stalls they passed sold fruitballs, balls of snow put into cups and flavoured with different fruit juices - there was even a wine ball. "We'll have to try one of those later." Zathris suggested as they passed, "Maybe after we eat something a bit more hardy."
"And warm." she added. She could smell the spits going and looked forward to the banquet tonight. Not that she ate poorly as Lady, but the cooks didn't create the same caliber of creations for just any old meal. "Was the pond solid enough for skaters?"
"Yes, thankfully. We've not had warm enough to thaw at all. They tested it this morning." It would have been a shame had they experienced a cold snap. Zathris hadn't lived in the area long enough to know if that had ever happened - perhaps she should ask an auntie. "Are you going to skate with me?"
Benani nodded. "Of course, though I was never good at it, so you'll have to hold my hand."
"My dear, I have no problem holding your hand - or any other part of you for that matter." Zathris grinned and picked up his pace - the cold certainly gave motivation for that.
Last updated on the February 5th 2010