Sincere and True

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 22nd March 2009

Characters: Meledei, Z'ku
Description: Z'ku offers Meledei some help and she gives him the same offer.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 5

Z'ku

Meledei settled on the couch and pulled out the hide upon which she had made notes as well as a drawing. She looked over the formations they had been studying, taking note of where people were and how they were supposed to move in and out of the formations. How different would it be once they were on their dragon's backs and flying? Probably a lot harder as the dragons would have to expend more effort to keep themselves steady.

Z'ku saw her as he walked past the door and ducked inside. He peeked over her shoulder and saw her studying formations. "Need help with that?"

"Not really." Meledei understood the concept, she just needed to memorize the positions and that was simply just going to take time and looking over it again and again. She smiled to the young bronzerider. "But thanks for the offer. Are you studying too?"

"Not at the moment, but I will be shortly."

"A necessary evil, I guess." Meledei could spare a moment for chitchat. She hadn't really had a chance to breathe since the morning, though she had expected to spend most of her free time studying anyway. "How are things going for you, do you think?"

"Very well. Although I could use a little more sleep." He smiled. It was a common complaint. "And I'm a little impatient to get to more advanced drills."

"I can't blame you." They were all impatient, but Meledei knew that the timing of specific things they did was for good reason. "But we don't want to skip over the basics either."

"Of course not. And not everyone learns at the same pace." Which Z'ku often found frustrating.

"No. And not everyone has the same background." Meledei had an advantage over most of the weyrlings. She had lived at a Weyr her entire life and had a dragonrider for a father. That wasn't necessarily that unusual, but there seemed to be a lot of hold and craft bred in the latest batch of weyrlings. "You seem to be doing just fine though."

"I did a lot of studying when I was a Candidate." He stepped around the couch to sit beside her.

"I did a lot too - five turns worth." It had proved useful once she finally impressed, though Meledei could have done without so much repetition. She honestly thought that after a certain time, candidates ought to be allowed to simply return to normal duties and skip the classes all together. Either that or be the one to teach them!

"Then you should have a better advantage than me. I stood for a little over a Turn." She was serious minded. Z'ku liked that.

"Sometimes it seems like it was longer than five turns. It seemed like forever." And once she had Elleth, Meledei wondered how she ever could have lived without her lifemate. How could she have not seen the void that had been so obvious when she thought about her life before she had her dragon?

"Waiting is hard," Z'ku agreed. "But it was all worth it, in the end." He touched Xemroth's sleeping mind and smiled.

"Oh yes, you I have no disagreement with that!" Even though not all of the weyrlings got along, none of them would dispute that statement. "I'll be glad when we can graduate, though."

"Yes. I'm not exactly eager to risk my life, but I do want to do my duty." And prove himself.

"I don't think anyone really _wants_ to fight Thread." The...thing, whatever you could call it, was the dread of all Pern. Yet dragons and riders were born to fight it. "But I understand what you mean. I'm sure you'll be one of the best of us."

He ducked his head a little, surprised and pleased at the compliment. "You too, Meledei. You're intelligent and kind, and already a fine example of a goldrider."

The compliment brought a flush of colour to her cheeks along with a ripple of pleasure. "Thanks, Z'ku, though I think time will really tell about that."

"And humble, too." He smiled.

"Realistic." Meledei corrected. "I've done nothing to prove myself yet. No sense in tooting my own horn without a melody to play."

"Maybe not prove yourself, but you've already shown initiative."

"Initiative can only carry one so far." Meledei knew there was a lot more to being a goldrider than simply initiative. She just hoped she proved herself worthy.

}:If you hadn't been worthy,:{ Elleth commented, }:I wouldn't have chosen you.:{

**I know, dear heart, thank you.**

"But it's a good start," Z'ku said. "If you need help with anything, I'll do what I can. And maybe you can help me, too."

"I appreciate the offer and will remember." Meledei was sincere in her statement. "And I'm always willing to help out if you need it, so don't ever hesitate to ask."

"Thank you." Meledei was nicer than he expected her to be, and he'd meant his compliments to her. It would have been awful if she'd been selfish or dimwitted. He didn't know if he would have been able to keep up false compliments and pretended interest for very long.

Last updated on the March 25th 2009

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