When Things Were Better

Writers: Miriah, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th July 2016

Characters: K'ale, Lanniya, Puwul
Description: Lanniya remembers some pleasantries before she went /between/
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 6 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Yanley; Flashback post

K'ale

Lanniya

Lanniya stared glumly outside as she settled on the ledge next to
Anaeryth. Her gold was resting and slowly healing from the severe wing
sprains, but Lanniya couldn't even enjoy the lack of pain from the
gold. She was stuck in the Weyr and kept so busy that she scarcely had
time for visitors. She hadn't even seen K'ale since she got back. Was
he mad at her too? Their last outing had gone so well.

~*~
She was excited and nervous all at once. Lanniya fiddled with her
skirts after climbing down Anaeryth; riding in skirts was always iffy,
she learned, but she wanted to look as nice as she could. She could
already see Imalkyth settled nearby, so K'ale should be inside or
nearby the tavern. She patted Anaeryth, sending her off to settle
beside the brown.

Taking a deep breath, she walked to the door and opened it, peering
inside. She'd never been here, but it seemed friendly. She glanced
around, brows rising. It was indeed very nice, not rowdy like she had
imagined.

K'ale rose from his seat and hurried over to her taking her hand and
leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You look beautiful tonight," he smiled
and led her to their table. He'd set up a special place by talking
first to his father who'd courted Lady Yanley here and then the Tavern
Master who he saw approaching. He was certain the man would never pass
up the opportunity to impress a gold rider.

"Sir, M'lady, welcome to Vintner Hall's Tavern," Puwul greeted them
with a smile and bow. He was carrying a chilled bottle of wine.

"A little sparkling wine to wake your appetite?" he held out the
bottle for inspection.

"That sounds wonderful," K'ale smiled and nodded toward Lanniya.
"Lanniya this is Puwul the Tavern's Master." He turned back to
complete the introduction. "Puwul this is Lanniya, Junior Goldrider of
River Bluff Weyr."

"Your presence honours us, goldrider," Puwul said to Lanniya before
pouring the wine to the glasses.

Lanniya blushed a little at the compliment, but gave Puwul a bright
smile. "Thank you. You have a lovely tavern."

K'ale lifted his glass knowing the Tavern Master had far better taste
in wine than he could ever hope to attain. He smiled at Lanniya then
at Puwul. "What's on the menu tonight Puwul?"

"We have riverfish in white sauce with greens and fried tubers,
meatstew with garlic bread, roasted ovine with herbs and tubers with
steamed vegetable, meatroll with butter tubers...those will melt on
your tongue. There's also wherrysoup with garlic bread. You can always
switch the tubers to rivergrain or ask for smashed tubers," Puwul
listed out the selection.

K'ale tasted the wine and nodded to Puwul just as Yanley had taught
him was proper. Then he waited for Lanniya to make up her mind.

Lanniya listened and was unashamed when her stomach audibly rumbled
her appreciation of the choices. She picked up her wine and took a
careful sip. "The riverfish sounds nice with the greens. May I have
rivergrain instead of the fried tubers?"

"Excellent choice," Puwul complimented and wrote it down. "If I may
suggest, I know a good white wine that goes perfectly with it"

Lanniya glanced at K'ale and tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.
"Uhm...thank you. I guess that will be okay."

"You're welcome, mylady. And you, sir, what will you have?" Puwul
replied and asked from K'ale.

"I believe I'll have the ovine," he nodded at Puwul. He'd had the
version Yanley cooked after her adventures here at the Inn and it was
one of the most delicious herbed dishes he'd ever had.

"You won't regret that choice," Puwul promised. "Now, what would you
like to drink with it?"

"Perhaps a crisp and fruity white?" K'ale knew a bit about wines but
obviously the Tavern Master would know much much more which is why he
framed his selection as a question.

Lanniya looked over at K'ale, her eyes shiny with enjoyment. She'd
never been to eat anywhere like this and she found that she was
enjoying the luxury. Before she came to the Weyr, she mostly ate at
her family's fires or occasionally at a Hold when they stopped. The
Dining Cavern was where she ate most of her meals now, but it was
usually full of noises and she had to constantly keep her mental
guards up to screen out random dragon conversation. This was relaxing.
She reached for K'ale's hand on the table and just held it. "Thank
you."

"Most prefer fruity red wine with this dish, although rosé also goes
well with it," Puwul replied to K'ale.

"I think I'll go with the rosé," K'ale smiled and covered Lanniya's
hand with his own. He'd been saving up for this particular date and
it was worth every mark for that look on her face. "You're very
welcome." Mentally he thanked his da for the suggestion.

"Very well, sir. I'll be back when the food is ready," Puwul said and
discreetly withdrew, leaving the couple alone.

She really didn't know anything about wines, so she let K'ale make his
own choices without comment. She let her fingers twine in K'ale's. "I
feel kind of like a Lady Holder." She breathed softly. She loved her
grandparents, but no one had ever done something so sweet for her and
her heart fluttered at the thought.

~*~

The meal had come an gone and K'ale sat next to Lanniya in the small
booth and his fingers threaded through hers while his other hand toyed
with the stem of his glass. "That was a very good meal."

"It was perfect." Lanniya took the opportunity to slide closer to
K'ale, nestling beside him. She laid her head on his shoulder and
sighed happily, her face bright from both pleasure and a bit of wine.
She had told him stories of her life on the Trade routes and some of
the pranks she had pulled with both pride, mischief and not a hint of
shame. And she had listened to him talk too. She had no idea what time
it was, but she didn't want the evening to end. She tilted her head up
to look at his face. Her eyes were warm with affection. "You're
wonderful."

"Why thank you ma'am," K'ale said with a softly and leaned in to kiss
the top of her head. "You're pretty wonderful yourself." He didn't
want the evening to end any more than she did but he did feel the
responsibility to get her home safe. "We should probably get you home
though," he said.

Her lower lip thrust out in a little pout. " Do we have to? I don't
want to leave." She sighed and snuggled against him for a moment
longer. She'd had a few more glasses of wine than she was used to, but
the warm and rather lovely glow that she felt was from more than the
delicious beverage. She sighed and then nodded. "Stupid
responsibility." She pulled away regretfully and wiggled around to
rise to stand by the table.

He rose from his own seat smiling and brushed a thumb across her pouty
lips. "It's cute when you do that. But yes we have to. It's late and
you need your rest for your duties tomorrow. So do I." He put the
required marks on the table and then took her hand to lead her
outside.

It was dark outside, but the night was cool and pleasant. With a full
stomach and holding K'ale's hand, Lanniya sighed happily. She turned
as they approached their resting dragons and tilted her head to the
side. "I loved tonight."

"Me too," he said lifting her fingers to his lips. "We'll have to do it again."
~*~

Lanniya sighed at the memory, wishing she had been daring enough to
give K'ale a really good kiss that night. For all she knew, she wasn't
going to be getting another from him. She curled her legs up, resting
her chin on her knees. It just wasn't fair.

Last updated on the July 29th 2016

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When Things Were Better