It's a Mystery

Writers: Ainsley, AL
Date Posted: 11th February 2009

Characters: Meledei, Ri'len, Afkica
Description: Meledei gets flowers from an anonymous admirer.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 5

As the weyrlings entered the barracks a strong, sweet almond aroma wafted out to greet them. It was not hard to pinpoint the pleasant smell, either. Nestled in a simple pot there was a substantial bit of nicely arranged dark green fern-like foliage with bunches of fragile, dainty creamy-white flowers. This pot sat squarely on a piece of hide which sat squarely in the middle of Meledei's bunk.

A low whistle escaped the lips of the greenrider who was entering just before Meledei. Afkica leaned in to take an appreciative whiff of the aromatic flowers before commenting, "Who'd you spend Turns End with?"

"Hm?" Meledei arched an eyebrow toward Afkica and once she was sure that she was the one the greenrider was referring to, Meledei drew closer. "Lots of people. I lost count of how many dance partners I had. Why?" It had
been fun, practically dancing the night away only to collapse into bed, almost too wound up to sleep then diving head first into slumber despite it all. The end of the old turn and the start of the new was always the biggest celebration and the most fun.

"Oh, how pretty!" The gold weyrling declared as she reached out to gently caress the flowers. "Where did you find these?"

"Right there on your bunk," the other girl answered. "Meadowsweet I think it's called. Looks like there might be some writing on that hide that they're sitting on."

"Oh?" Meledei looked down, then tugged the hide from underneath the flowers. She opened up the scrap and read it.

_The sweet scent of these flowers in nothing compared to the sweetness of the Weyr's newest Goldrider_

Meledei blinked at the words that spread across the hide. "Oh...wow."

"So? What does it say? Who are they from?" Afkica demanded impatiently.

"It doesn't!" Meledei turned the hide over but there was no name written on the other side either. "Just this." She handed the scrap to Afkica, embarrassed to read it aloud.

The weyrling's eyes widened as she read the note. "Well somebody thinks your pretty special! So do you have any idea who it might be from?"

"No." Was it someone from Turn's End celebrations? Or someone completely different? She didn't know. Who would have given her the flowers? No one had ever taken notice of her before - so why now? Because she impressed a gold? Meledei had to admit it was nice to have the attention, but did she want attention just because of her new status? "You didn't see anyone enter or leave the barracks?"

"I didn't, but maybe someone else did," Afkica offered looking around for anyone that might have entered prior to themselves.

"Maybe." Meledei wished the person had signed the note, but alas, that was the whole point, wasn't it? It added to the mystery. When she looked up, Ri'len was just entering the barracks and so the goldrider called to him. "Hey, Ri'len, would you come here for a minute?"

The young bronzerider closed the distance between them without protest and looked between the girls. "Is something wrong?"

Afkica grinned, "Meledei seems to have an admirer."

"Oh?" Both of the girls seemed amused by this. "Who is it?"

"We don't know, that's just it." Meledei gave Ri'len the hide to peruse. "It's not signed."

Ri'len let his eyes scan the writing and smirked. "Cute. No signature...don't recognise the handwriting."

"No one was around, and Meledei doesn't have a clue who it might be," Afkica added, eyes full of amusement.

"Did you happen to see anyone hanging around the barracks today?" Meledei asked.

Ri'len shook his head. "I'm afraid not - not anyone who isn't normally around here. I'll let you know if I hear anything though." How he would hear anything, however, Ri'len couldn't guess since most of his interaction was with the other weyrlings.

"Okay...thanks." Meledei had hoped that maybe he had seen someone. It was odd, though quite sweet. Ri'len nodded politely and took his leave, letting the girls ponder the mystery on their own.

"Well not just anyone is allowed in here so it's either from a weyrling, a weyrling staff member," here the girl giggled, "Or someone who knows someone well enough to have had them put it here." Afkica's brow furrowed thinking that the last bit still left quite a few options open. Maybe whoever it is will come clean later today or tomorrow."

"Maybe." Would he? Who was it? Meledei honestly couldn't fathom. _Was_ it someone from Turn's End? Or someone else? Another beastcrafter? Had this person harboured interest before she impressed, or had she only been noticed because she impressed? It was impossible to say. "I guess we'll simply have to wait and see, won't we?"

Last updated on the February 16th 2009

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It's a Mystery