A Small Victory

Writers: Ainsley, AL, Cali
Date Posted: 22nd April 2009

Characters: Meledei, F'gol, Eyvindur
Description: F'gol goes with Meledei to meet her secret admirer.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 14 of Turn 5

Eyvindur shifted nervously from foot to foot, regretting he had ever listened to his silly sister about making his interest in Meledei known. Meledei had always been beyond him, but even more so now that she had impressed a dragon, and not just any dragon, a _gold_ dragon. What had he been thinking? He took deep breaths and tried to remain calm. He wouldn't be able to get a single word out if he kept this up. How embarrassing would that be?

~ ~ ~

"We're coming up to the meeting place." Meledei was surprised to have been asked to meet in the stables. Was it because she had been a beastcrafter before impression? Perhaps a place she was more comfortable with? She couldn't be sure. The girl glanced at her friend beside her, glad that F'gol had been willing to take part of his rest day to accompany her. She felt much better with him around. "I'm beginning to wonder if this is a good idea."

F'gol silently hoped it wasn't. If this guy was a creep, then Meledei wouldn't ever want to see him again and she wouldn't think all his gifts were so wonderful. As they approached the stables, he saw several people moving around, but all looked busy and industrious... except for one.. "Is that him?"

"I...I don't know." Meledei paused as they came into sight of the inner part of the stables. _Was_ that him? She had not been told much other than that her admirer was waiting for her.

Brushing his hand through his dark auburn brown hair, Eyvindur tried to remain relaxed. His light brown, almost amber, eyes scanned the area, thinking that maybe she wouldn't even show up. Perhaps that would be for the best. How was he ever going to speak to her? Oh, Faranth, there she was! But she wasn't alone! It took all Eyvindur's courage not to slip away and forget the whole thing. His confidence had been battered over the turns, and he really didn't want to do this in front of another person. Drawing on some source of inner courage, the apprentice stood up straight and smiled giving Meledei a little wave. Would she even recognize him? They had both been beastcraft apprentices so of course she had seen him before, but they had spoken rarely if ever, and only about craft matters.

"Wait a minute...that's Eyvindur!" Meledei was surprised to see the familiar face. "Surely it's not him..." Was it? The boy was so shy, it didn't seem the sort of thing he would do. The gold weyrling gave F'gol a sidelong glance. "Maybe you should wait here while I go talk to him."

F'gol was conflicted, he didn't want to be pushed aside for this boy since it appeared that she knew and liked him. He was however a bit relieved that she _did_ know him, and that he wasn't some old creep that he might have to fight to protect her. "Sure. If you need me to come rescue you, tell Elleth to tell Tealth. I'll go look interested in some animal or something over there." he pointed to the pens on the far side.

"Thanks. I'm glad to know you're nearby." She doubted that she would need him, but Meledei _did_ feel better knowing that F'gol was within calling distance. Impulsively, she took his hand and squeezed it, then released it to walk over to Eyvindur.

Meledei paused a few feet away from the beastcrafter and shifted from foot to foot. "Hey."

"H-h-h-hi M-M-M-Meled-d-dei," he replied flushing when his stutter ended up so pronounced. He'd been doing better of late, with some help from his sister and a harper friend, but when he was particularly nervous it was worse than ever. Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax. "W-w-we've m-missed you a-arou-oud h-here," a little better. "I-I-I've m-missed y-you." Despite the red blush creeping all the way down his neck, Eyvindur, kept his shoulder's back and stood tall.

For a moment, silence was all that Meledei gave in reply. Finally, she asked softly, "Were you the one to send those gifts?"

For a moment the apprentice looked down at his boots, but he had come this far, he had to face her, "Y-y-y-yes. I-I-I w-want-wanted t-to t-t-talk to-to-to y-you b-b-b-but...." his voice trailed off. It had to be obvious! By the first egg why had he ever decided to do this?

"They were very nice." Meledei spoke the truth and now that she knew who the admirer was, she wasn't so creeped out by it was. "Did you do the drawing yourself?"

He nodded. "M-my b-brother did the c-carving, though," he said quietly pleased that the last had come out far more smoothly. "I-I knnnew y-you liked to c-carve."

"Yeah, I do." Meledei wasn't sure what to say. The gifts had been truly nice and appreciated, but she wasn't sure if she was able to give Eyvindur what he so obviously wanted. "I didn't know you could draw, especially not so well. I'm surprised you're not a harper." Of course, she had been told the very same thing when people found out how well she could sing.

"Wwwhen I w-w-was y-younger p-people thought I w-was a dim-glow," he shrugged. "B-but a j-j-journeyman is h-helping me improve m-my drawing nnnow. I like it, b-b-ut I"m I'm still g-glad I-I chose b-b-beastcraft." He paused. This whole thing was awkward and he didn't know how to make it more natural. "S-s-so it m-must be great to h-have impressed. I w-was sure y-you you would one one day."

Meledei's expression relaxed into a warm smile. "Yes, it is great...and thank you for your confidence in me. To be honest, it had begun to waver after trying for so long."

"W-wavering con-confidence is s-s-something I c-can re-relate to," he answered with a grin. "To b-be honest, M-Meledei, that's why I-I-I d-did this even though it w-w-was prob-probably v-very si-si-silly of me. If I had had hadn't ever t-told y-you how I f-felt, I-I-I w-would have al-al-always felt the the c-coward. I know w-we are h-h-headed for v-very dif-dif-different lives, and I d-don't w-want or or expect anything from y-you. J-just know know that I al-al-always thought you were special. M-m-maybe once y-you are finished tr-tr-training and-and I-I-I'm a j-journeyman, w-we c-c-can have have a d-d-drink or s-something. J-just as f-friends and f-fellow crafters."

The weyrling relaxed quite a bit at that bit of news. He didn't really want anything from her other than friendship? Meledei was certainly glad and willing to give that. She wasn't really in a position for anything else from anyone at that point in time anyway. "I would like that." She answered sincerely, adding a firm, "A lot."

"Me too," Eyvindur said with a smile. To him Meledei was the most beautiful, talented, and special girl on Pern and honestly he would like to be a whole lot more than friends, but life had taught him to be realistic. He had gotten up the nerve to speak with her and he would accept their friendship as a great victory.

Last updated on the April 27th 2009

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A Small Victory