New Beginnings (part 1)

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 30th October 2006

Characters: K'far, Firsa
Description: K'far takes Firsa to Daremek's wedding in Opal Cove Hold's Beastcraft Hall
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows SWE:Past Lives

"You look lovely tonight, Firsa," K'far said as he took her hand to help her up onto Torth's neck. Though she had plenty of experience mounting a runner, a dragon was a bit trickier. Especially when dressed for a wedding!

"Thank you." Her words were clipped as she reached for the riding straps. In truth, the Journeywoman didn't really believe him; she knew that she wasn't a pretty woman, and pretty fabrics and the gleam of silver weren't going to change nature. Her mood, though, was soured further by a case of nerves, and she didn't know what she hated more - the thought of flying, or of seeing Daremek married.

"Don't worry, Firsa. Torth will get us there in one piece." The brownrider turned around to help her fasten her straps properly. "Just hold onto me and everything will be fine."

"Ha." Firsa let him fuss, then checked herself to make sure her straps were tight as the brownrider strapped himself in. She had faith in Torth's ability to fly - that's what dragons did - but that didn't lessen the primal horror she felt as the ground fell away beneath her, or the sick swoop her stomach did every time they turned. As soon as she could without embarrassing herself, she wrapped her arms around K'far in a stranglehold and closed her eyes.
"Alright. Let's go."

K'far chuckled as he covered one of her hands with his. He gave Torth the silent command to take them aloft and within moments they were enveloped in the cold of /between/, only to pop in again above Opal Cove Hold's Beastcraft Hall. The brownrider noticed the Gather field was full of people. "I can't tell which field isn't being used for grazing and I don't want to scare any of the animals. Do you know where we can land?" he called back to the terrified journeyman wrapped around him.

Firsa steeled herself, then forced herself to _see_ instead of blindly staring at the horizon. Although she'd only been to the Hall once, the patterned sprawl of fields and pastures was easy enough to read. "There," she said after a moment's hesitation, pointing at a fallow field between two that rippled with grains that was a bit of a distance from both the Hall and the small Gather tent set up for the wedding. The walk would settle her nerves. Hopefully.

He instructed his brown to land him in the field she had indicated. K'far reached up to help her off once he had dismounted. "This sure is a pretty place. Have you ever been here before?"

"No." She stepped clumsily off Torth's elbow and landed in the soft grass, thankful to be back on solid ground. The Beastcrafter closed her eyes and let the soft air, redolent of cut grass and animals, reassure her. Shards, but she hated flying. After a moment she realized that she was still holding K'far's hand, and quickly let it go before turning to the dragon. "Thank you for taking us."

The brown rumbled his acknowledgement of the statement and waited for he humans to be far enough away before he launched himself into the sky to find a sunny, uninhabited spot to sun on.

As they started toward the tents, music could be heard piping across the fields carried by the breeze. "Actually, I lied. I have been here once or twice, but the Craft Ban makes my presence awkward at best, and an insult at worst."

"Well, I'm not so sure a strange brownrider is all that more welcome." Luckily he had made sure Torth understood to stay far away from the animals. The brown had eaten earlier and wouldn't be hungry again for another couple days, but still, he didn't want to make the herders nervous.

"Dragonriders are welcome everywhere. And if they aren't, people at least have the grace to pretend that they are."

"Or are too afraid to show otherwise." There was something about a dragon that evoked fear in many, though they had been taught since childhood dragons did not harm humans unless their lifemate were attacked. "Perhaps we should have found you some greenrider knots to balance you out."

Firsa smiled slightly. "I'll take my Journeyman's knots any day, thank you."

As they approached the brightly dyed canvas tents, the music grew louder and the sound of laughter reached their ears. Firsa tugged at the bottom of her tunic uneasily, then ran a hand through her hair before lengthening her stride and hurrying toward the gathering.
Ribbons hung off trees and glows stood on long poles, waiting to be lit when dusk arrived to pool indigo shadows across the fields and stone buildings. Most of those in attendance were Beastcrafters in their Gather best, although there were a few standing in awkward knots who were obviously drudges or family. A gaggle of young wives clung to their husbands' arms and ogled Firsa's billowing orange trousers and K'far's knots shamelessly. For a moment she was embarrassed that she'd chosen the elaborately embroidered outfit over a more traditional skirt and bodice, but then, she wore her knots openly. "You must be Firsa." Firsa spun around and was confronted by an older man with a handlebar moustache and a cane capped in silver. He smiled broadly, revealing a gap where a front tooth should have been.
"Daremek's told me all about you. I'm Journeyman Rian. Welcome to the Beastcraft Hall!" Firsa grasped his offered hand in her own; his grip was strong, and she returned it. "Thank you, Journeyman. Daremek's mentioned you in his letters."

"Just Rian, please. And this is...?" Rian looked past her shoulder to where K'far stood, and raised his eyebrows slightly. "Another relation?"

"No." Firsa coloured slightly as she followed his gaze. "This is K'far. A friend from the Weyr."

"Naturally." Rian held his hand out to the dragonman. "Welcome as well. I hate to have to ask, but your dragon won't bother the animals, will he?"

"Not unless they bother him first," K'far smiled as he gripped the man's hand. Really, as if he wouldn't have more sense!

"Hmm." Rian gave K'far an opaque look before turning back to Firsa.
"Well... Daremek wanted me to let him know when you arrived. Last I saw he was over- ah! Daremek!" The Journeyman waved his hand in the air and Firsa felt her heart give a little flip. She plastered a smile on her face and turned to where Daremek was shoving his way through the crowd toward them. He was a tall, stocky man with dark hair and a beaky nose, and was dressed in navy blue touched with russet. "Look who I found!"

"Firsa!" Daremek grinned and swept her into an embrace. Firsa was stiff for a moment, then put her arms around him. Shards, but to be so close... his scent resurrected a thousand memories, a thousand nights and as many days... "How are you? I'm so glad you came!"

Firsa disentangled herself and took a step back. "I'm- well."

"Loquacious as ever, I see." He chucked her under the chin, and she scowled. "Who is this?"

"K'far." She slipped a possessive hand around the brownrider's waist, partially to remind herself that Daremek was no longer hers, and partially to let her ex-lover know that she was no longer available.
She saw Daremek's expression stiffen somewhat as she did so, and was glad of it.

K'far slipped a long arm around her, equally possessive. He knew who Daremek was, and the place he had in Firsa's life. His grin was almost smug as he reached a hand out to the beastcrafter. Daremek may still occupy a larger part in Firsa's life than the brownrider liked, but he hoped he was posing some sort of competition. "It's a pleasure Journeyman Daremek. I hear you spent a little time in our Weyr."

"More than a little." Daremek met his eyes briefly, then turned back to Firsa. "You look well."

"Thank you."

He hesitated a heartbeat, then: "How are the animals? And Irris? Last I heard you'd bred her..."

Firsa nodded, thankful to be on safer ground. "She's got a healthy colt by Brew from the food pens. He's got the same coat she has."

"Beautiful." Daremek grinned, then reached hesitantly toward her.
"Firsa, I'm really glad you came..."

"Daremek!"

The party turned as a pretty young woman flounced up in a bright yellow gown. Her hair was elaborately arranged with ribbons and flowers, and a gold chain glittered around her neck. She slipped her hand around Daremek's elbow and the beastcrafter stiffened slightly.
"Won't you introduce me to your friends?"

"Ah- Jyoti? This is Journeywoman Firsa. From Dragonsfall Weyr. And-
ah," Daremek peered at K'far's shoulder knots, "Brownrider K'far."

"It's a pleasure. I've heard _so_ much about you, Journeywoman,"
Jyoti said pleasantly, but a hint of ice rimmed her voice and made it clear that what she felt was far from pleasant. "Daremek, there's a few things I want to go over with you before the ceremony..."

"Of course." Daremek looked resigned, but offered a small smile to Firsa and the brownrider anyway. "If you'll excuse me..."

"Of course." Firsa inclined her head graciously, already hating the slim, pale, petite Jyoti. Still, Daremek hesitated. "You'll stick around afterward, right? I'd like to reserve a dance-"

"Daremek!" Jyoti tugged his arm. "Please! We've got to speak with the Harper!"

The Beastcrafter held his ground. "Firsa?"

Firsa glanced at Daremek's bride, who looked blandly back at her from beneath her pale eyelashes. Something hitched in her middle, and she found herself smiling. "Of course."

"Good." Daremek offered his arm to Jyoti, who took it graciously.
"K'far, it was a pleasure. I'll look forward to seeing you both shortly."

"Congratulations." Firsa watched as the couple turned their backs and disappeared into the gathering throng. Her stomach did a little flip as Daremek's familiar profile retreated, leaving a sour taste in her mouth. "Think they'll be serving wine somewhere?"

"I think I saw some over there," the brownrider said, steering her off towards the tables. He found he was rather in need of a drink himself after his quick dismissal by the groom. This was not going to be fun.

Last updated on the October 30th 2006

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New Beginnings (part 1)