A Ride to Always Remember

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 23rd April 2011

Characters: J'ren, Lisadi, Trewlin, Dareera
Description: J'ren meets the foster mother while visiting Emerald Falls and take her and the children on an unforgettable ride.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 1, day 21 of Turn 6

"It was good to see you. Varet." J'ren clapped a hand warmly on his
friend's shoulder and squeezed in a hard, but friendly fashion. "I wish you
had more time."

"Ach, so do I, but I'm a bit behind that I can't honestly dedicate my entire
rest day to rest." Varet gave his friend a lopsided grin. "I can't
complain. Commissions have been good, but I fear it does take time away
from pleasant visits."

"I understand. It was good to see you for a while at least." The two men
clapped each other on the back, then Varet hurried through the hold to get
back to work.

Which left J'ren with the rest of the day. He turned on his heel and
clasped his hands behind him. He hadn't been to the falls in a while. They
were quite enjoyable and it would be worth a trip. His eyes skipped over
the halls. He hadn't wandered through the Hold in a while, though that was
a little less interesting and he'd probably seen everything already anyway.

The laughter of children soon filled the corridors. "Come on, Dareera. I
want to go outside and _play_," the child's voice was loud as he called to
the others he was with. So intent on his plans, Trewlin nearly barreled
right into the man in the corridor. It didn't help that he'd been running
ahead while looking behind.

He landed with an umpf against the man and then found himself sprawled on
the corridor floor. He looked up with startled and almost fearful eyes. He
_knew_ he wasn't supposed to be running in the corridors.

"Trewlin, slow down so we can catch up," came a woman's voice from around
the corner. Trewlin looked back and quickly darted to his feet. He knew he
was going to be in trouble the moment Lisadi saw what had happened. "I'm
sorry," he quickly stated. "I know I should have been paying more attention.
Please don't tell on me," he whispered, his eyes wide and pleading as he
glanced back just as the woman, with a young girl emerged around the corner.

J'ren reached down and helped the lad up, his eyes lifting to fall upon the
woman and other child not too far behind. "Don't worry." He whispered as
he began to brush the boy off, though there was little to worry about - they
were inside, after all. "Sorry about that son." He stated apologetically,
"I should have been watching where I was going." He straightened, then took
a step back as if to get a better look at the child. "Are you all right?"

Trewlin gave J'ren the most grateful look you could possibly imagine as he
shook his head in answer to the man's question. Lisadi, who was watching the
scene, moved forward.

"Everything alright?" She asked, looking between the boy and the man. "I
hope Trewlin hasn't caused any problems. He can get a bit over-eager
sometimes." She turned her gaze to the boy, looking at him so intently as
though she could read his mind and know exactly what happened. He did his
best to hold his gaze and not reveal his inner turmoil.

"No, he wasn't causing any problems. I was wandering physically and
mentally and unfortunately I was not watching where I was going." J'ren
patted Trewlin's shoulder, then clasped his hands behind him. "I should
know better by now." He glanced at the child. "So your name's Trewlin?
Mine's J'ren." He offered his hand first to the boy child, then to Lisadi,
then to the little girl.

The young boy took the man's hand, his eyes gazing at him with an intense
interest. Lisadi, too, accepted the handshake and introduced herself. "I'm
Lisadi and this little lady is Dareera, and you've already met Trewlin. I've
not seen you around here before. Are you new here or just visiting?"

J'ren turned so that his knots were more easily visible and marked him as a
bronzerider at River Bluff. "Just visiting." He stated with a grin, his
eyes dropped back to Trewlin and he gave the boy a half wink before looking
back to Lisadi. "J'ren, rider to bronze Kenaranth, at your service." He
swept a playful bow, then straightened. "A pleasure to meet you all. Are
you residents of this hold?"

"You're a bronzerider?" Trewlin asked with an almost astonished tone. His
eyes were huge as he gazed up at the man. "You have a dragon?"

Even Lisadi found herself curious, though she rested her hand on the boy's
shoulder as a sign that he should not pummel the man with questions. "Yes,
we live here. Trewlin and Dareera are my fosterlings." She looked closely at
his knots. "You're not from Dolphin Cove?" She was surprised as the few
riders they ran into were normally from the local Weyr.

"Sure am." That was to Trewlin and J'ren nodded, then addressed Lisadi's
question. "No, I'm not. I'm actually from River Bluff, but I have a friend
who lives here." The questions were not unusual, he'd gotten them before.
"I like to keep in touch, so I come here on occasion to see him. J'rens
finger flicked the side of his nose twice, as if wiping something off the
bridge. "Would you like to see Kenaranth?" And that was a question posed
to all three.

"Yes!" Trewlin all but shouted, looking quite sheepish afterwards. "I'd love
to see your dragon." "Dwagon," Dareera repeated, looking rather happy with
herself. Lisadi smiled at them both, then towards J'ren. "That would be
lovely. Are you sure we're not keeping you from something important? We were
just heading out for a nice walk and picnic," she indicated the basket.
"You'd be welcome to join us if you wanted."

"Nah, not really. I came to visit Varet but unfortunately he's behind
enough on his work that he has to work today. Today! A rest day of all
days!" J'ren threw up his hands, then placed them on his hips. "Well, if
it's a dragon you three want to see, then by Faranth, it's a dragon you'll
get. Come on."

The trio followed him through the corridors and out onto the grounds of
Emerald Falls. It was a lovely day outside and Lisadi was looking forward to
spending the time with the children and simply enjoying the fresh air.

J'ren had to admit, Emerald Falls was nice to visit. He didn't care for any
of the holds' policies on women and some of the views on dragonriders were
less than desirable, but some of them were nicer to visit than others, just
for the scenery. Those falls came to mind. Yes, he'd have to go see those
again before he left.

The sun was bright and it reflected off of Kenaranth's hide as the group
came into view of the creature. The dragon turned his head, his brightly
coloured eyes whirling happily and he stretched out his neck to get a closer
group at the new humans. "Dareera, Trewlin, Lisadi, this is Kenaranth." He
stretched out his hand, letting it rest upon the muzzle of the great beast
who gave a groan in a sort of rumbled greeting.

"He's gigantic!" Trewlin gasped out as he darted forward before Lisadi could
stop him. Kenaranth really was a large dragon, even Lisadi couldn't deny
that. She, with Dareera were a bit more cautious.

"Hello, Kenaranth," Trewlin said quickly. Then he looked up to J'ren. "Can I
touch him? Could I get on him?"

"Trewlin!" Lisadi tried to reign the boy back in, but even she was smiling.
Her eyes scanned the bronze dragon as she too made him a greeting and
thanked him for allowing them to meet him. "I've always wondered what it
would be like to actually ride a dragon," she said quietly, almost more to
herself than anyone else.

J'ren couldn't help but laugh! "Nay, it's all right, I assure you!" He
held up his hands in defense of the poor boy. Kenaranth barely moved,
barely even breathed, though surely one blast of his breath would topple the
child over - maybe even Lisadi! He was big, but quite gentle and had no
problem with the boy drawing closer.

J'ren crouched down so that he was on a better level to the children. "If
your mother says that you can, then yes, you may, but I think it would be
better if you asked her politely for permission first." He motioned to
Lisadi and when Trewlin turned away, gave the woman a wink. "And, of
course, the invitation is open to _any_one, he added when he caught her
last, soft comment.

"She's not really my mother," Trewlin stated quietly, "my mama died in the
fire. 'Sadi takes care of us now." Then he turned and said for her, "Can I
_please_ ride him?" Lisadi looked from the boy to the man. Trewlin was so
very excited, yet would it be dangerous? "I...I don't know," she looked to
J'ren, uncertainty showing on her face. Yet, as Trewln all but begged her,
she felt her heart twisting inside for him. He hadn't looked this excited in
months. How could she deny him this? "You're sure it's safe? For him I
mean?" She asked him, her eyes meeting his for a moment.

"Oh yes, very safe." J'ren stepped toward Kenaranth's back and the dragon
lifted his wings to reveal the saddle and straps that were around him.
"See, he'll be buckled in tightly so he can't fall off. There's a way to
rig it for multiple riders, if you'd all like to take a spin around in the
air for a few minutes." That smile never wavered, never faded the slightest
bit, he drew back over to the trio and extended his hand, waiting for Lisadi
to accept or deny his invitation.

Even Dareera was bouncing with excitement, and though Lisadi might not wish
to admit it, she too was eager to feel what it would be like to soar through
the air on a dragon's back.

"Alright, we'll all go if you're sure there's room," she smiled and accepted
his hand. "I must say this was _not_ what I was expecting today." The picnic
basket they'd had was left on the ground as they all seemed eager to fly
with Kenaranth. "Tell me what we should do," she stated, looking to the
rider for guidance.

"Well, first, I think you should go up." J'ren gently tugged Lisadi closer
to Kenaranth who crouched down, then extended a helpful foreleg. "Careful
now, there you go. Children, if you'll please stay there, I'll get her
settled then come back for you." He guided her upward, and then motioend to
the straps. "There's plenty of room. I had half expected to take Varet and
his family on a ride, but alas, it was not to be today." But that didn't
mean he couldn't take _them_ on a ride. "See the straps to your left and
right and slightly behind you, cross them behind you, then bring them around
to the front."

Lisadi did as he instructed, climbing up on the dragon _very_ carefully. She
kept glanced back towards the bronze head, as though she expected him to get
angry that she was climbing on him. "It's very high," she breathed as she
settled into the seat and tried to pull the straps on her. Somehow she got
them tangled. Frowning, she reached down and tried to fix the riding straps
into position. "I think I got it now," she declared, looking up with a
hopeful expression on her face.

J'ren wasn't going to leave things to 'I think'. He checked the straps and
then nodded. "Yes, very good." He reached out, taking them and working them
in the proper buckles, making sure they were snug, but not too tight.
"There we go. Now you're secure, and I'll bring the children up. They'll
sit in front of you and behind me." That explanation given, he climbed back
down to help first Trewlin, then Dareera. He then double checked the
straps, a habit he'd just gotten into when he was a weyrling, before drawing
into his spot and securing his own. "Everyone ready?" He asked, turning as
much as he could so he could grin at them.

Lisadi's expression was a mixture of pure anticipation and uncertainty. She
wrapped her arms around Dareera as though that alone could help her protect
the little girl. Trewlin, sitting behind J'ren was wide-eyed and eager. He
looked over the side and all but whooped in excitement. Lisadi glanced down
as well and for a moment felt panic course through her. They were already so
high, what if something happened? What if their straps didn't hold? She
shoved the panic thoughts down and held to Dareera more closely.

Trewlin answered for them all. "Let's do it!" He thrust a fist into the air
eagerly. "I'm dragonrider! I can't wait to tell all my friends at harper
class!" Lisadi merely gave a nod for she wasn't sure she had the words to
speak right now as he heart pounded and her mind whirled. So many things
could happen...

J'ren laughed, his head thrown back in amusement at the boy and his
exuberance. "Then here we go! Up, Kenaranth!" The vocalisation of the
command wasn't necessary, but J'ren found that it helped passengers when
they heard it - they were less surprised than if they would be should the
dragon just tense, then jump into the air.

Powerful legs launched them upward and equally powerful wings pounded
through the air, pulling them higher, and higher, and higher. The dragon's
head twisted and then his body followed, turning and spiraling, until
finally there was a draft and the going was a bit easier. **Not too high.**
J'ren cautioned. **We don't want them panicking.**

Lisadi gasped and clung even harder to Dareera. Her stomach seemed to do
flip-flops as she felt it jostle the moment the bronze dragon took to the
skies. **Oh, please don't let me get sick and make a fool of myself,** she
thought as she realized she'd closed her eyes. Opening them, she gasped
again, this time in wonder, not in fear. Her hold on young Dareera loosened
as she turned her head in both directions. "Oh, my," she breathed, "this is
magnificent."

The whistle and rush of the wind stole away Lisadi's words, but perhaps the
dragon was able to hear her, for he rumbled, a gentle tremor beneath the
riders giving warning before it eased forth. J'ren instructed his dragon to
turn a little one way, then go back the other. A little higher, but not too
far. Then straight so they could see around some of the lands. They turned
back, able to see the entire hold from the air, the buildings solid and
solemn. Finally, the bronzerider instructed his lifemate to ease down and
they spiraled toward the ground, slowly, again so as not to frightened those
who were not used to riding.

Lisadi was simply speechless. Everything around her was astonishing. It was
as though she had come to life for the very first time. The world she knew
and loved was so different from up here. **If I had a dragon of my own, I'd
never want to land,** she thought as she hugged Dareera who was happily
giggling, pointing and enjoying the ride. Her eyes moved to Trewlin, who for
once was just as speechless as she was. His eyes were round as saucers, and
his head whipped so quickly back and forth she could have sworn it would
snap off from the workout. He wanted to take in everything all at once, for
this was a moment the boy would never forget. **Nor,** she thought with a
smile, **will I.**

Last updated on the June 14th 2011

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A Ride to Always Remember