A Really Nice View

Writers: AL, Mirren
Date Posted: 12th June 2012

Characters: Meledei, D'shiel
Description: The two riders share a pleasant picnic.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 6

The day was a bit cool, but it'd be warm enough in the sun. D'shiel was
feeling a bit awkward, but he had decided that both he and Meledei
deserved a break without duty interfering. If the conversation he'd had
with her a couple of days ago had taught him anything, it was that he
was concentrating too much on life and not enough on living it. And how
better to love than to have lunch with a friend? It didn't hurt that
the friend was intelligent and pretty either.

He'd asked Meledei, via their dragons, if she'd like to join him and
organised a basket of food, and a blanket and had organised to meet her
and Elleth in the Weyrbowl.

"A picnic." Meledei grinned broadly when she saw D'shiel and what he
carried in his arms. She did enjoy picnics. It was nice to get out
rather than eating in the confines of the Weyr. She reached up to pat
Elleth before straightening to face D'shiel. "Do you have a spot in
mind?"

"As a matter of fact..." he said, smiling. "You'll have to wait and see.
Don't worry, I won't lead you astray. Unless you want to be of course,"
his smile broadened before he turned to tie the basket onto Padraith's
flight straps. He climbed up and waited until she was ready.

"Now now, none of that." Meledei mounted Elleth and secured her straps.
Then she gave D'shiel a salute. "Onward and upward!"

Well, he'd been told. Perfect gentlemen it was then.

Padraith leaped skyward and sent an image to Elleth. }:We go here.:{ He
disappeared /between/.

Elleth followed suit and appeared just after Padraiath. The gold waited
for her fellow dragon land before she did so, then chose a spot nearby.
Meledei slid down from her lifemate, gave her a pat, then turned to
D'shiel.

It was perhaps not the most exciting location, but D'shiel liked it.
They were standing on a high plateau, surrounded on three sides by
trees and on the fourth by a stunning view over fields and mountains
beyond.

"What do you think?" he asked, gesturing toward the view.

"It's gorgeous." Meledei stood at the edge of the plateau, unafraid of
tumbling downward. Before her the fields stretched out, rolling hills
undulating with green while the mountains rose up, tall, silent, and
solemn guardians. Purple-grey haze made them misty eyed in view, the
tops capped with white. "Where is this exactly?"

"Ah now, that would be telling," he grinned. "We're a couple of hundred
kilometres inland. I don't think too many riders come in this far just
for fun."

"I don't know. Seems like a good view though. A nice place to just
relax." Meledei turned her grin over to the man. "I'm starving. Let's
eat!"

"As you wish," he smiled. He untied the basket and took Padraith's
straps off so the bronze could stretch out and relax. He took the
basket over to a spot under a tree but where they could admire the
view. He opened the basket and pulled out the usual picnic fare- bread,
cheese, fruit, juice and wine and laid them out on a wide woven blanket
for her.

Meledei plopped down on the blanket, reached out for a piece of bread,
then topped it with a slice of cheese. "How often do you come here?"
She queried before taking a bite, and she turned her eyes to the sight
that arched beneath them.

"Not often enough," he said regretfully. "I haven't been here for at
least a half turn. I'd forgotten about it until I spoke to you the
other day." he smiled, thinking what a shame it'd be if he'd never
remembered.

"A shame. It's a really nice view." There was a steady breeze that
teased them as they ate, not too strong, but a pleasant companion to the
picnic, even if it did try to whisk away the napkins from time to time.
Meledei downed another piece of bread and cheese. "I enjoy going to new
places. Sometimes Elleth and I just fly around to see what we haven't
seen yet."

"That's how I found this place. A lot of riders seemed uneased by open
spaces like this," he spread his arms wide to indicate the whole
plateau. "I suppose that's why other people don't come here. I can't
say I mind." he grinned.

"Really?" That was a first. "I find that hard to understand. I
mean...I've never had a problem with open spaces." Meledei had to admit
it made her curious...maybe she'd ask some of her friends.

He shrugged. "Everyone is different I suppose, but if you live in the
confined space of the Weyr with so many other people so close, it's
bound to feel different for some people."

"Probably. I guess I never gave it much thought. My father was always
willing to take me places." There were advantages to having a family
member who was a dragonrider, even if you weren't one. "Do you explore
often?"

"I used to. I think I may be doing a lot less exploring now I've taken
over the wing." He didn't look too concerned. "I can't complain, I get
to serve the Weyr and it keeps me busy."

"Yeah, finding time can be rather difficult." Meledei knew that well,
but she tried hard to keep her rest days open for things like this - or
just take the time during dinner and afterwards. Sometimes dinner
wasn't viable since there was so much hidework, but thanks to Janani
finally doing what a Weyrwoman was supposed to do, that was better than
it used to be.

Of course, Janani was no longer doing what she was supposed to be doing.
Meledei's expression darkened briefly and then she pushed away the
thought. She didn't need to get herself down. She was still angry, but
she knew she couldn't dwell on it. She just needed to move on. It just
hurt a lot still - especially since it was the second time...and that
time, she thought she'd had a good relationship with the Weyrwoman.

D'shiel watched her expression darken and frowned with concern. "Are you
all right?" The moment seemed to last only briefly, but he had wanted
her to relax and leave her concerns at the Weyr, as he was trying to do.

"I'm fine. I'm just...thinking about things I shouldn't." Meledei
waved her hand as if she were dismissing her thoughts. "Especially
when I have pleasant company and am in such a nice place."

"The mind does that sometimes, makes us think of things we shouldn't."
he was speaking from experience. "But you're right, it's too nice a day
and place for thoughts like that. And the company is far too good to
waste!" he raised his juice cup in a toast.

"That we can both agree on." Meledei laughed as she lifted her own
glass to accept and join in the toast.

"It's a nice place to walk too," he added after a long pause. "Through
the trees there's almost a track down to the meadows below. Getting
back up can be challenge though. On foot anyway," he smiled in
Padraith's direction.

"Well, that doesn't mean it's not worthwhile." Meledei sipped at her
drink. "Let's do it. I like exploring. We should walk around."

He nodded, glad at her response. He finished his juice and put his cup
down. "Whenever you're ready then."

"Let's finish eating first!" Meledei laughed as she picked up some
meat and cheese to add to a piece of bread. "Don't want to starve
while we explore, do we?"

"That we don't!" he agreed, tucking into a piece of fresh bread.

Last updated on the July 1st 2012

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A Really Nice View