Mountain Meadows

Writers: Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 8th November 2010

Characters: R'enh, Petriv
Description: Petriv sees a familiar face and remembers their first meeting.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 5

R'enh

Petriv looped the reins of his runner and put them to hang from the
peg. He bent to check his hooves. Old Charlatan aka Charlie was
getting old. Perhaps he should let him retire and spend time in the
pasture with the mares. He patted the animal fondly. He had been a
good partner, almost as good as his dam. Now, old Charm, she had been
a real top runner. Petrv shook his head and walked out of the stable.
Charlie wasn't only one who was getting old. At the age of 64, he was
starting to feel the wear and tear of Herder's life. He stopped at the
treshold to look at the trafic at the hold's yard. On person, riding
in, caught his attention. Wasn't that holder Roarlenh? His heart was
suddenly beating faster. Shards, he could still draw out this reaction
from him.

The stallion he led was nothing if not flashy. This runner was a
special gift for the Lord Holder as part of his tithe. His gait was as
comfortable as a rocking chair and his mouth was tender. He liked to
show off a little too much but Roarlenh was fairly certain that might
be to the Lord's taste. The short string of runners he led with him
also included a mare with almost identical coloring but a very placid
and gentle nature for the Lady's pleasure. Black as night both had a
white blaze and a single white sock. He was proud of this string but
even his preoccupation with the runners didn't keep his eyes from
scanning the area as he rode in.

A single wave and nod as to a simple acquaintance was all he gave. Yet
his heart pounded in his chest to see Petriv again.

Petriv nodded back. He wasn't sure which he was admiring most, him or
the runners. He could still remember when they first met...

~*~ flashback begins ~*~

They had taken the herds to that distibuted meadow near Rock Ravine
beasthold. Petriv felt it was wrong, an unnesessary provocation, but
at that time, he was just a journeyman and the Master Herder Keivol
was in charge. You didn't talk back to Keivol, if you did, you found
yourself watching caprines in some distand mountain side.

It was one of those silly arguments that sometimes cropped up between
minor holders and the main hold. Who was rights to what piece of land?
Was it Rock Ravine's ground or part of the major hold's lands? The
original contract of holding rights would quickly settle the issue but
in this case, it was missing. The Stewards were frantically searching
for it, or so Zelanka had told him and her best friend was married
with the Steward.

So, here he was, overseeing a fifty heads of hold's finest herdbeasts
who were eating themselves fat on grass and feeling like he was doing
something wrong.

His father was going to kill him if he let that herder and those
herdbeasts eat up the entire meadow. His runner was restless and
prancing on the heights above the meadow. He shook his head and dug in
his heels as the surefooted runner descended the hillside.

"You're going to have Rock Ravine's riders down on you if you stay
here with that herd." he called as he came closer to the man with the
intruding animals.

"I wouldn't want that, but then I wouldn't want Master Keivol's bad
side on me either," Petriv replied.

Roarlenh laughed and as he rode through the heardbeasts and they moved
out of his way. He swept his hat from his pale curls in a mock bow,
blue eyes twinkling. "Well then we are between a rock and a hard
place, arent we? I'm Roarlenh of Rock Ravine."

"Aye, we are," Petriv agreed. "I'm journeyman beastcrafter Petriv,
from Amber Hills hold," he introduced himself.

"Petriv" he said tasting the name. Then he used his hat to fan
himself. "a bit warm up here today." He looked around for some shade.
A broad tree offered a pool of cover from the sun. He indicated with a
tilt of his head before reseating his hat and clucking to his runner.

"So it is," Petriv answered. He wasn't one to fill the air with idle
chatter. When you watched the herds, you learned the art of silence.
He prompted his runner to follow Roarleanh's.

When they got to the shady spot he dismounted and looped the reins of
the well trained runner over the saddle leaving him room to graze but
not get entangled. Then he walked toward where the other man was
coming in. "So, Amber Hills Master Herder claiming this meadow before
the charter matter is settled?" he asked the question without
accusation.

"Oh, yes, he's flexing his muscles," Petriv sighed and wondered if the
Lord Holder was aware of it.

"So what did you do to deserve the beating you're gonna get up here?"

"I don't think I did anything," Petriv said innocently. "Nobody
deservs a beating," his tone turned more sharp.

Roarlenh smiled, "Yeah, neither do I, but that doesn't stop my cousins
when they get it in their head." He squatted and picked up some grass
watching the herdbeasts. "They're well cared for beasts."

"Hold's finest. And His lordship has more guards than you have
cousins," Petriv replied. He really didn't like making threaths. He
was a man of peace.

He looked at the other man a bit specutively "you don't need to worry
about me or his Lordships's guards, you only need to worry about
yourself and what might happen if my cousins find out you're up here."
He wasn't planning on telling them if he had any say about it. That
face was too nice... well he shouldn't be thinking things like that.
He rolled his eyes away.

"I can move the herd closer to the Amber Hills, they would be still
grazing this meadow, but not so close to your hold," Pertiv was
looking for a compromise and tried not to stare the other man too
much. He was very handsome.

Roarlenh found himself staring rather intently into the other man's
eyes. He'd felt the urge before but always had driven it down, driven
it away. His family, the minor hold he was living in wouldn't either
accept or even tolerate what he was thinking. He knew that. He shook
his head and looked away "sorry" he said rather softly. Then louder
as tho the word hadn't been uttered he said "Sure, that would probably
be a good idea."

Petriv just nodded. He curled his hand to a fist to prevent himself
reaching out to him.

Maybe it was just something in the air, or the way he stood there in
the shade of that big tree. Roarlenh stepped closer watching his eyes
for any sign.

Petriv was unable to hide the pure physical attraction he felt for the
other man. It was visible in his eyes.

Roarlenh finally saw the reaction he'd always wanted to see in another
man's eyes. His heart thumped in his chest as he stepped closer and
placed a soft kiss on his lips. His own body felt a rush like he'd
never known and his arms went around Petriv.

Petriv answered the kiss with heat.

Roarlenh's knees almost buckled at the passionate response. Never in
his life did he think to experience this. Sure things were different
in the Weyr but not for him, not out here. His hands began to move and
stimulate.

There was no need to words, their bodies were doing the talking.

~*~End Flashback~*~

Roarlenh approached the Master Herder with the magnificent runners in
tow. "Rocky Ravine's tithe to be presented to the Steward." was all he
said.

"I'll find an empty stable for it, sir," Petriv said. "Magnificent beast."

"Thank you" he said with a small smile.**Yes you still are
magnificent.** he thought, even though their hair was mostly grey
these days the fire still burned. He carefully kept his face turned
away from his older son who led another pair. "Good to see you" he
said in his mellow baritone as he put a leg over and slid off his
mount. Then he untied the stallion from his saddle horn to lead him
into the stable. "Where would you like the others?"

"Good to see you too. The paddock should be fine. I'll get some wraps
for them," Petriv said with tightly controlled voice.

Last updated on the November 20th 2010

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Mountain Meadows