Bringing Home a Gold (Part 2 of 2)

Writers: AL, Anika
Date Posted: 29th May 2015

Characters: Meledei, R'taran, Rizpaulen, Marcina, Tarantonia, Toniapaulene
Description: R'taran and Meledei visit Merry Brook and R'taran's family.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal (Indirectly),
Note: Part 2 of 2

Before they had gone inside she'd been introduced to his brother
Lenton who was twenty-two, his sister TarIzzia who was sixteen, and
the baby of the family, Tarpaulen, who at seven turns was rambunctious
and full of energy. Some of the extended family had gathered around
as well, hoping for an introduction to their esteemed guest, but
R'taran was quick to suggest that they move inside before the rain
came. They were ushered into the large, two-story gray stone
building that served as the main Hold and brought into the dining hall
which had been arranged into a more cozy reception area with nice
linens and some comfortable chairs. Platters of fresh fruit, meat
rolls, breads, and sweets sat next to pitchers of juice and klah.
Much to R'taran's surprise even a carafe of wine had been placed with
the beverages though he knew his mother would have one of the old
aunties guarding that particular delicacy.

He cast a glance at Meledei, wondering if she would be overwhelmed by
all the gawking people, but if she were she hid it well. She looked
quite fetching in that blue dress. Somehow he'd not noticed how
pleasing her heart-shaped face with naturally flushed cheeks and
dusting of freckles really was. Of course he'd always admired her
green eyes and of course her long brown hair, how he wished it were
free of the braids like two days past. He stopped that train of
thought immediately.

"Do come sit down," R'taran's mother said to Meledei. "What can we
get you to drink?"

Marcina had a tight hold of her husband's arm when they followed all
the rest inside. If he thought he get to flirty with the goldrider, he
better think again.

"Thank you." Meledei allowed R'taran and his family to escort her
inside. With every step, she studied her surroundings and the people
who accompanied her. What would it have been like to grow up in a
hold with such a big family? While it was an interesting thought,
Meledei didn't really think she would have wanted that. If she had
been holdbred, she might never have made it to the Weyr and Impressed
Elleth. "When was the Hold established?" Meledei didn't know much
about the hold itself and she found history fascinating, so she might
as well learn more about R'taran's birthplace.

"There was a cothold here right from the beginning of Emerald Falls,
just three turns after the last Pass. Within ten turns of Emerald
Falls being granted major Hold atatus, Merry Brook had been recognized
as a minor Hold," Rizpaulen answered with obvious
pride. "There were some setbacks. Entire Hold nearly burned down
about seventy-five turns after t'was established. Rebuilt with stone,
but no electricity. Then of course the plague pretty much wiped us
out."

"The Lord Holder just granted minor Hold Status to Merry Brook once
more," R'taran explained. My father is a cousin of the original
Holder here."

The plague pretty much wiped out quite a few holds. Although the
Southern Continent had its many trials, they still managed to remain
strong despite it. Unfortunately, some of the ways to help regain
strength included making women out to be as incapable of anything save
for bearing children and managing a household. Still, times were
changing, and with it were the people. "Quite a history. Do you know
anything about your cousin who founded the hold?"

"Boy misspoke," he stated gruffly, forgetting that the "boy" was a
grown man and dragonrider. "My cousin was the last Holder here,
though don't know, maybe that amounts to the same thing. Hold stayed
in the family all that time. Founding Holder came in with the very
first Lord Holder of Emerald Falls and was a beastcrafter. Don't know
much more'n that. Some say he had dragonrider blood," the massive
Holder flicked his deep set gray eyes toward R'taran and shrugged.
Though he'd been disappointed to lose his son to the Weyr he was still
proud of the man he had become.

"And you, Lady Meledei, were you born in the Weyr?" Tarantonia asked.

"I was born at Thayan Peak, but after its destruction, my father and I
relocated to Dolphin Cove." The Weyr was wiped out, along with her
mother. Although Meledei had been young, she still held on to some
memories. Fortunately, she and her father had been away visiting
friends of his. Unfortunately, their mother had not been with them
due to the fact she hadn't been feeling well. "Have you been to the
Weyr? Perhaps to attend the hatching where R'taran Impressed?"

"We didn't make it to R'taran's," Tarantonia answered, but we just
recently came to see our son P'ton Impress his bronze." There was
obvious maternal pride in the woman's voice. There might be much talk
against the Weyr right now but that didn't negate the prestige of
Impressing a bronze dragon.

R'taran, looked at Meledei, thinking this might be an opportune time
to invite them to Elleth's Hatching, but he knew that the invitation
would mean more coming from her.

Perhaps Meledei was psychic - or she had simply used the opportunity
as a door through which she could pass. Regardless, she seemed to be
on the same wavelength as her escort. "Well now, that's a shame.
Perhaps you guys would like to attend Qharterioth's and Elleth's
clutch hatching? Meledei's gaze passed between both mother and
father, indicating that the invitation was not merely for the
patriarch. "I'm sure I could arrange for transportation for you and
any others from the who would like to attend."

"Qharterioth's? And Elleth's?" Rizpaulen asked, brow furrowing. "I
thought only bronze dragon's flew golds," the concern in his voice was
evident. Anything non-traditional or out of the ordinary proved
concerning to the hidebound Holder.

Well aware of his father's proclivity for tradition, R'taran was quick
to explain. "Actually, that's a common but untrue perception. Both
brown's and bronzes chase during a gold flight, but usually the
bronze's win. They are generally larger and have more stamina for the
longer queen flights. Qharterioth is large for a brown, though. As
large as some bronzes, in fact, and he won Elleth's flight. We have
every reason to believe Elleth will lay a fine clutch," he assured the
man, glad to see his father's rugged features relaxing.

Young Toni was unable to restrain herself and clapped with excitement,
running to give her brother a hug. In the girl's mind an entire
clutch of baby dragons was far more exciting than the one little baby
that Marcina was expecting and she was determined to beg her father
for permission to attend the Hatching. She'd been horribly upset when
she hadn't been allowed to attend the Hatching where P'ton Impressed.

Marcina refrained from rolling her eyes at her childish behaviour. She
also wanted to roll her eyes for the ignorance of her new family. She
had know that browns could caught golds, it was just rare.
She wanted to say something smart to show she had brains and beauty,
but she was stuck to play the part of good little holdwife. She was
watching and listening though, observing. As her granmother always
said: Listen and learn (and don't be too obvious about it, she added
later when she caught Marcina and her cousin eavesdropping behind
closed door).

Tarantonia recovered far sooner than her husband, "It seems
congratulations are in order," she smiled warmly at Meledei in a way
R'taran had never quite seen. His mother had never been a very
demonstrative person, but she looked nearly ready to embrace the
goldrider.

"This is wonderful news. Rolpha, pour the wine we should
have a toast." The gray-haired woman, who had indeed been set to guard
the single carafe, poured it sparingly into glasses for only the
adults in the immediate Holder's family and of course for Meledei.
The old auntie then took the glasses around, but Tarantonia took the
glass for Meledei and handed it to the goldrider herself. "We really
are very happy with your news and will of course attend Elleth's
Hatching," she said.

"Congratulations to you R'taran and to your dragon," she said sweetly,
"I wish I could travel but.." she patted her belly. She declined the
wine, naturally, and asked for juice instead.

"Thank you, Marcina," he said with a smile for his brother's lovely
young wife. "I understand. You need to take care of yourself and my
new niece or nephew."

Rizpaulen had processed the information more slowly, considering
carefully before offering any comment, but he finally gave his son a
look filled with pride as he accepted the glass of wine. He then
turned his stormy gray eyes upon Meledei and a corner of his mouth
even turned upward as he nodded his head. "To Elleth's clutch, may it
produce fine dragons."

Meledei accepted the glass with a smile and inclined her head. When
Rizpaulen offered the toast, she lifted her glass, murmured an
agreement, then sipped at her drink. "Congratulations to you as well
on your new addition. When is the baby expected?" The goldrider
allowed her gaze to flit over the others at the table in an attempt to
include them in the conversation, even if the question was directed at
the parents specifically. She noted the almost sullen expression on
Marcina's face before letting her gaze rest upon the pregnant woman.

"Thank you, during the month 2," Marcina replied with sweet smile. She
did enjoy attention and she enjoyed people fussing around her because
of her pregnancy.

Observing those gathered around, R'taran felt the release of
underlying tension that he'd not even been aware he held. The
brownrider could tell that Meledei had been well received and any
animosity toward the Weyr had been put aside at least for the time
being. With a smile, he realized that the goldrider's idea to come
for a visit had indeed been a good one.

Last updated on the June 6th 2015

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Bringing Home a Gold (Part 2 of 2)