An Offer of Lessons

Writers: AL
Date Posted: 24th February 2010

Characters: Z'ku, Meledei
Description: Z'ku and Meledei dance at the gather.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 21 of Turn 5

Z'ku

"Do you think I could steal you away for a dance, Meledei?" Zku asked.

"Sure. F'gol's getting me a drink, but I don't see why you can't keep
me occupied while he's gone." Meledei stood up and stepped into
Z'ku's waiting embrace. "Though I hope you can keep up."

"Is that a challenge?" He grinned and led her to the dance floor.

"Only if you want it to be." Meledei returned his grin with her own,
her eyes sparkling with mischief.

The harpers were playing a traditional tune with a bit of speed to it.
Z'ku found a place for them among the dancers and fell into step.
Dancing at gathers brought back fond memories, but he'd never had
someone like Meledei as a dance partner. He'd half expected her to say
no.

For a few moments, she merely glided in his arms, going along easily
with the music. She wasn't as graceful a dancer as some, and really,
her specialty was the speed more than anything. Still, she was good
enough to keep up at it and she enjoyed it well enough. Z'ku was
actually better than she was, his form much more suited. That was all
right, he'd make her look good. "You dance better than I thought."

"It was part of my training." He smiled and spun her.

"Your training?" Meledei's eyebrows shot up. "As a dragonrider?"

"As a Holder's son. My father has a minor hold."

"Oh, that's right! I didn't think about it being a part of your
training though." Meledei supposed it made sense, as dancing was
considered a genteel thing to do, particularly in holds. "Maybe I
should take some lessons from you. I enjoy it, but I'm not as good as
I should be."

"I think you're doing just fine." He pulled her a little closer. It
felt so good to be dancing with her. He wished it could be like this
all the time.

"I don't have the gliding grace you do though. I kind of bounce."
Meledei giggled, then glanced up at the harpers as the song ended and
the one after it took a slower turn. "Not very good at the slower
dances either."

He lifted an eyebrow. "We can start your lessons now, if you like?"

"Are you offering to give me lessons?" Meledei's grin grew rider.
"Funny, I was giving Cosani some lessons, but maybe I should have sent
her to you."

"I'm not sure she would have liked that." Cosani didn't seem to like
much of anything.

"Probably not." Meledei agreed, "But you dance better than me so you
could have helped her more than I could have."

"Well, I can give you lessons, and then you will be perfectly
qualified to train anyone else." Since she hadn't confirmed or denied,
Z'ku had started moving them to the dance.

"That actually sounds like fun. Maybe you can help me be more
graceful." Meledei was a lot more noticible now that she was a
goldrider. People paid attention to her more. It wasn't necessarily
that good of a thing, but there was little to be done about it. "I
can certainly use the practise."

"I'll do my best to have you perfectly graceful by your Hatching
Feast." Z'ku hoped he would be celebrating that day with her, although
he knew the chances weren't great.

"I'm going to hold you to that promise." Meledei warned him with a
laugh. "I'd better be the best dancer there! Next to you, of
course."

"You will be the most graceful and beautiful woman there, I promise." He smiled.

"Now that's a bit of at all order. Graceful, yes, beautiful, gonna
have to do a lot more than teach me to dance better." He was sweet
though and Meledei couldn't help but flush a bit in pleasure. "I
think both you and F'gol need to get your eyes checked."

"Maybe you should have your mirror checked," he countered.

"I don't have a mirror." Meledei clicked her tongue. "Now hush and dance."

"Yes, ma'am." Z'ku felt light and happy. Although it wasn't rational,
he let himself pretend that he and Meledei would stay together after
the dance. That things were as they should be, that they were a
couple. Reality could crash down around him in a few minutes. For now
he was happy to live the fantasy.

Last updated on the February 28th 2010

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An Offer of Lessons