Something For the Girls

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 28th November 2009

Characters: F'gol, Ri'len
Description: Ri'len and F'gol go off on their own at the Gather.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 28 of Turn 5

The man at the beverage stall had been most helpful when the boys had inquired about the upcoming races and purchased drinks. He'd told them that races were actually scheduled all throughout the day, but the finals were all to be held at the end of the afternoon before the feast. That gave them a few hours with which to wander.

Ri'len purchased some cider and thanked the man for his help. He offered one cup to F'gol as they strolled away from the stall. "So what shall we do now while the women are shopping?"

F'gol shrugged. Whenever he'd been at gathers as an apprentice, he was always either playing or listening. Both had consumed most of his time so he didn't really know what to do with himself. "What do you want to do?"

"Not sure." Ri'len sipped at his cider then motioned diagonally across the grounds. "I saw some archery back there. Pay a bit and you can try it, see if you can win something."

The small framed bluerider looked at Ri'len incredulously. "Do I look like I'd be any good at archery? I'll watch you though if you want to give it a go." Ri'len had much more the body type for the long bows.

"I've seen men smaller than you make perfect shots." Ri'len stated with a dry smile. "You never know."

"I suppose I'm not above making a fool of myself." F'gol replied with a grin. "I'll give it a go."

"Well then, let's go." Ri'len led the way through the crowd which thinned then thickened as they walked along. They approached the stall, a rather large one, located on the very edge of the Gather. Six people were set up to shoot at targets. Ri'len took out a quarter mark and passed it over when the two got to their turn, effectively paying for both of them.

F'gol didn't stop him, he didn't have much by way of marks, and if the Holder boy wanted to flash his around then who was he to stand in his way. "Thanks. You go first."

Ri'len took up a bow and handed it to F'gol before taking one for himself and two of the small quivers the held the arrows. He walked over to the last target in the row and passed over F'gol his quiver, then slipped his over his shoulder. "Me first, hm?" Ri'len drew an arrow, nocked it, then lifted to sight. A moment later he let it fly. Ri'len didn't get anywhere near the bulls eye, but he was on the target at least.

F'gol watched the bronzerider and tried to copy his set-up. He'd never actually shot a bow before, though he'd seen it done several times. He'd always been more of a wrestling man himself, his small size doing him well against the larger slower apprentices at the Hall. The arrow slipped twice as he pulled it back, but eventually he got it steady and released it. It fell short of the target, skittering to a stop in the grass.

"Situate it between your two fingers." Ri'len lifted his bow and knocked an arrow in order to show F'gol what he meant. "And you want the arrow on the side closest to your face so you can sight down the arrow. Once you're comfortable, you just need one finger for the arrow to rest on top of and the rope will do the rest."

It took several more tries and another quiver each from the vendor, but eventually F'gol was able to get them near the targets. Ri'len had done better, but F'gol didn't mind. The Hold boy had probably had turns of casual practice so it was only natural for him to do better. He took perverse pleasure in knowing that if Ri'len had been given an instrument the situation would be much reversed. "Should we go find the girls? I don't think Meledei would think to look for us down here."

"Sorsha might, but let's not find them just yet." If Ri'len had any pride in his accomplishment over the other, he didn't make it visible. They returned the quivers and bows and Ri'len led them away from the stall before explaining. "I want to get something for Sorsha. Besides, they're probably not done knowing how females are."

"Okay." F'gol said without much enthusiasm. He supposed it made sense. You could find things at Gathers that you couldn't find in the shops at the Weyr.

"Any suggestions?" Ri'len had a couple of things in mind, but who knew, maybe F'gol would come up with something better. "I thought about getting her some nice fabric and making a special dress, or a necklace."

F'gol grunted, "You're a dressmaker?" So much for bronze manhood claims.

That brought out a loud burst of laughter from the bronzerider. "No. I can mend things, make pants if I had to, but that's about it. No, I would select the fabric and then have someone make it to her specifications."

"You can do that at the Weyr though." F'gol reminded him, "They have better selections than any Gather. If you're going for something different, it should be something local."

"Good point." Yes, it was a good idea to get input from others. "What do you suggest?" They were coming to a row of stalls that boasted various merchants. Perhaps they would see something.

He shrugged, scanning the stalls himself. He had _maybe_ a quarter mark he could spend on a gift for Meledei if he still planned on buying her bubbly pies. He was saved on dinner since the Lord Holder provided the feast for all. "Let's just look around, something will catch your eye."

Ri'len nodded and led F'gol down the roll of stalls. The first one was, in fact, a weaver stall with fabric in all sorts of colours. Ri'len didn't pause but moved on past a woodcarver. There he did stop, but nothing seemed to catch his eye. So they continued.

F'gol saw a bowl of glass jewels that were cheap enough, but he didn't know what Meledei would do with such things. "We'd better keep an eye out for the girls. Won't do for them to see you buying your surprise."

"Very true." Ri'len agreed with a chuckle. They continued until they came to a stall where a woman sat weaving baskets out of reeds. Some boasted the natural colour of dried weeds, some had coloured reeds, and some were mixes of both. "These are nice."

While Ri'len talked to the woman, F'gol slipped back to the woodcrafter stall. He saw a vase filled with small wooden flowers, some of them were cruder than others so he assumed most if not all were apprentice made. Still, that just meant they would be affordable. Selecting one, he haggled the price and was back at Ri'len's side before he'd finished talking to the weaver.

"Do you think Sorsha would like this?" Ri'len asked as he picked up a basket of green and purple. It was nicely made and sturdy, but pretty at the same time. Still, he didn't want to get her something she wouldn't like.

F'gol raised his brows at Ri'len. "How would I know? She's _your_ wife." Saying the word 'wife' reminded F'gol of how much he was jealous of the fact that Ri'len and Sorsha had been able to have their courtship and marry before becoming riders.

"Well, _I_ think she would, but isn't it good to get other opinions?" Ri'len grinned and evidently already made up his mind for he took the basket over to the woman. "She can put some of her things in it." He paid the woman then walked out of the store. "I should get some flowers to put in it before we find them."

The bluerider rolled his eyes, Ri'len was as bad as any girl. "Let's just go. She can pick out her own flowers."

"Why don't you go?" The bronzerider suggested. F'gol didn't seem interested. Ri'len had simply wanted to do something special for Sorsha, especially since she had hurt herself and was going to be held back. "I'll catch up."

Last updated on the November 30th 2009

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Something For the Girls