New Beginnings (part 2)

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

Firsa hadn't stayed in the tent to watch Daremek and the petite, lovely Jyoti exchange their vows. Instead she'd sullenly drunk glass after glass of the Beastcraft Hall's fine wine and lurked in the shadows just outside, obscurely resentful of K'far's company but at the same time glad that he was with her. Inside the guests began to cheer - it was done. She glanced at K'far. "I'm not very good company, am I."

"Well, I don't suppose I expected you would be." K'far refilled her glass and topped his off as well. "I'm sure its not all that easy to be here."

"Doesn't excuse anything." Firsa realized that she was somewhat drunk
- she'd never have said it out loud so clearly if she hadn't been.
Instead she held out her hand to the dragonrider. "Come on. We'd better go inside. Dancing will start soon, and I need to say goodbye before we go."

"I am your willing servant," he said taking her hand and squeezing it slightly. It wasn't quite the way he had hoped to be spending the first actual _wedding_ he'd ever attended, perhaps the only wedding he'd ever be likely to attend. But perhaps there was something to be said for the custom of weyrmating. It seemed a lot less...
contrived.

Firsa pushed aside the tent flap and was immediately blinded by glows hidden behind coloured paper. People were laughing and good-naturedly moving their chairs to one side to clear an impromptu dance floor, even as other mobbed the banquet tables set up in the back. Domes were lifted off platters and the air was thick with the scent of spiced herdbeast, rare roasted fowl, and tender lamb. Up on the dais a trio of harpers were tuning their instruments, and beneath them, in the rapidly clearing dance floor, stood Daremek and Jyoti. They gazed lovingly at each other as the opening chord was played. Firsa leaned in toward K'far and whispered, "I can't believe how sharding _tiny_
she is. She looks like she'd snap in half if a breeze came up."

K'far snorted his agreement, mostly to appease her. He didn't think he should admit he thought she was a rather pretty little thing. It was obvious why Daremek would be attracted to her. But that would certainly not be what Firsa wanted to hear.

The newly wedded couple whirled past and Firsa hid her scowl behind her hand. She wished for more wine. She wished she was anywhere but here. K'far was a stolid presence beside her, and she tentatively reached out and laced her fingers with his. She was drunk - she knew she could blame it on the wine if he ever brought it up.

The music ended and the guests applauded. Daremek bowed, his eyes glittering as he caught Firsa's gaze. Jyoti was flushed and beaming.
Firsa nudged K'far with her elbow. "I'm still thirsty. Come with me back to the wine table?"

The brownrider gave her hand a gentle squeeze in acknowledgement as he turned to follow her.

There was a small crowd around the drinks table, but it parted when those gathered saw Firsa's and K'far's shoulder knots. Firsa weathered the scowls and disapproving looks with as much good grace as she could manage as she snagged two glasses and pressed one into K'far's hand. Acutely aware of the Beastcrafters watching her, she tipped her glass toward where Daremek and Jyoti danced. "To the happy couple."

"To happy couples everywhere," K'far said, gently tapping her glass with his. He knew they didn't quite fit that description themselves yet, but here was to hoping.

"Ever been in love?" she asked.

"I suppose," he shrugged. "Hasn't everyone?"

"Who was your first?" "The first woman I ever loved? Let's see." He considered it a moment, sipping at his wine thoughtfully. "I'd have to say it was probably Aiyani. She and I were weyrlings together."

"What happened to her?" Firsa asked.

"Ultimately? I can't say. She moved up North when they re-opened the Weyrs." He had heard she had been killed in one of the first Falls. It was just a rumor, but one that could easily be true. They had lost too many those first days of the Pass. "As far as her and I, well... I guess we just didn't fit."

The Journeywoman nodded, not sure what to say now that she'd brought up the topic. **I'm horrid at this,** she thought miserably, and hid her discomfort behind a large swallow of wine. It burned going down.
The music changed, and a few couples surged forward to join in the dance. Firsa got jostled and glared daggers after the man who'd bumped her, but he was oblivious. She turned to K'far. "Do you dance at all?"

"I thought you'd never ask me," he chuckled and held out his arm. "I'd love to dance."

Firsa slipped her hand into the crook his elbow and led him onto the dance floor. She proved to be a somewhat reserved dancer, capable, but a little stiff and wary when the dance brought her in contact with anyone but K'far. They danced through two sets before a tap on her shoulder caused her to swing around - and come face to face with Daremek. "I believe you promised me a dance?" he asked, smiling.

Firsa glanced at K'far.

The brownrider inclined his head slightly towards her. It wasn't his decision, it was hers. She was free to dance with whomever she choose. If she wished to dance with her former lover on his wedding day, who was he to say anything?

"Fine. But just one dance," she said, turning back to Daremek.
K'far's response was permission enough for her. "My feet are sore."

Daremek grinned and took her hands in his own. "Just one dance. For old time's sake." He stepped back into the crowd, taking Firsa with him and leaving K'far alone.

Or, almost alone. A rustle of yellow fabric heralded Jyoti's appearance at the brownrider's side. Her expression was pinched and her arms were crossed as she watched her new husband and his former flame step smoothly through the complex figures of the dance. "Don't bother."

"That's all right, I don't much feel like dancing anyway," K'far muttered as he watched the pair through the crowd of merry-makers. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you. But I wasn't asking you to ask me to dance, dragonman!"
Jyoti smiled and waved a negligent hand in his direction. "I was simply going to offer you a bit of advice. From an old married woman."

"Oh? What advice would that be?" he asked curiously. Surely she hadn't had much chance to sow too many kernels of wisdom in the candlemark she'd been married.

Jyoti was silent as she watched Firsa and Daremek dance. Glowlight glanced off the Journeywoman's sun-reddened hair and turned her eyes dark; Daremek held her as if she was about to blow away with the wind. "Don't fall in love with someone whose heart is already taken,"
she said softly, then smiled and held out her hands. Her eyes remained sad. "You know... I think I'd like to dance after all."

K'far glanced at the pair turning around the floor. There was more to this little wife of Daremek's than he would have given her credit for. Offering her his arm, he gave her a small, understanding smile. "It would be an honor and a pleasure, ma'am."

Last updated on the October 30th 2006

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New Beginnings (part 2)