Another Turn Gone and Good Friends

Writers: Ames, Len, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th November 2010

Characters: Cardella, G'wen, D'ale, K'ale, Odyne
Description: Cardella's friends surprise her with a little celebration in honor of her birthingday!
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 8 of Turn 5

Cardella

D'ale

K'ale

She was tired and ready for the day to end. Cardella hadn't wanted to
seem unfriendly to her fellow kitchen workers, but she just wasn't
feeling herself. It was, after all, her birthingday, and no one had
even said anything. True, she hadn't told many people since her
arrival. It just wasn't her way. She never liked to make a big deal
about herself. It had been easier back home. Her family had always
outdone themselves with a special meal and songs and dancing. They had
made the day extra special for her. But here, she didn't really have a
family, not like what she'd had at Three Mounds Hold. To boot, no one
had made _her_ a special meal, instead she'd made treats and sweets
for everyone else to enjoy.

Looking around her, she realized even they were all gone. She hadn't
even had one. **What a birthingday this has been,** she sighed to
herself, swiping the counter one last time.

"Good night," she said to the few others still in the kitchens. As she
made her way out into the dining area, she noticed that the glows had
all but gone out for the night. The hall was almost empty. She thought
she heard a shuffling sound nearby, but shrugging, kept walking. She
could go and curl up in her own space and forget about the fact that
there had been no one to help her celebrate like she would have back
home. Life at the Weyr was far different than life had been back home.

From his hiding place, Galwen watched the dejected girl walk closer.
Being the shortest, he had been drafted in to be the look-out man for
the little party. He almost felt badly, seeing the sag of Cardella's
shoulders and knowing from the look on her face that she thought she
had been forgotten. Well, soon that would change! He signaled to the
others that she was coming ever closer.

Odyne had to cover her mouth with her hands to keep her giggling out aloud.
Kendale held a finger up to his lips and glared quickly at Odyne, he
was sure that noise was enough to get the girls attention unless they
were lucky. Then he just smiled and shook his head.

Trying not to laugh at the looks on the two candidate's faces, Galwen held
his hand behind his back and slowly held up one finger, two
fingers....three fingers.

"Sorry," Odyne murmured. She had learned to know Cardella since they
both worked at the kithcen. She had been Searched for the previous
clutch and had Stood once already.

D'ale had been keeping his hands on the strings of his gitar but as
the fingers counted down he placed them for the first chord and when
it reached the time he strummed and began the song in his strong
baritone.

Kendale grinned at Odyne and his father singing along and enjoying the
surprise for his new friend.

As she'd walked across the cavernous space, Cardella had thought she'd
heard something. She'd paused and looked around her, but with the
glows so low, she couldn't see anything except the space right in
front of her. Not wanting to get caught in a sticky situation like she
had with Galwen and that bully, Cardella turned and picked up her pace
a bit. That was when she'd heard the strum of a gitar and the first
notes to a song she knew all to well.

She whirled around and her mouth opened in surprise as some glows were
opened to reveal some of her closest friends of the Weyr not far from
where she'd stood. They _had_ known it was her birthingday and they
had surprised her after all. With a huge smile lighting up her face,
Cardella moved to join them as they finished their song.

Galwen grinned at Cardella as his light tenor harmonized with D'ale's
baritone. She had that look as she had walked across the floor like
she had been forgotten about. He was just glad that quite the
opposite was true.

Kendale didn't have his fathers voice but he clapped and sang along
with a big grin when she finally realized they hadn't forgotten.

Odyne added her soprano to the song. She had a beautiful voice, even
is she missed a note here and there.

Cardella was grinning widely as she joined her friends. "You surprised
me!" She exclaimed. "Thank you all so much. You've made my day!"
Cardella meant it. Up until now her birthingday had been nothing out
of the ordinary, but now it was a special day and she knew she would
remember it.

"I only wish I still had some baked goodies for us all to share, but
they were all eaten up at the evening meal!" She said the words, even
as she moved around the group of friends giving each a hug to show how
much it meant that they had all come to help her celebrate her day.

"All except this tray Galwen and I stole." he laughed triumphantly and
he pulled it from a cupboard.

"I took care of the drinks," Odyne grinned and pulled out few skins of
wine. She had practically seduced a dragonrider with Vintner's knots
to get them (and enjoyed every minute of it.)

D'ale smiled at the ability of the young people to put a party
together as he accepted his hug. Then he struck up another tune for
the small group to begin to dance.

"You are all the best!" Cardella declared, smiling from ear to ear as
she happily clapped her hands in excitement. Reaching for a sweet and
a drink, she tapped her foot to D'ale's music and then quickly rose to
start the dancing. "Come dance with me!" She beckoned them all, her
eyes bright and happy as she laughed and giggled like a young girl who
had the whole world in the palm of her hand.

Feeling shy with the large group, Galwen hung back with D'ale,
continuing to harmonize with the man, their singing voices
complimenting one another's. Since the focus was on Cardella, he
didn't feel the usual suffocating self conscious that kept him from
joining in when music was about, even though he secretly loved all
things to do with the Harpers.

Kendale grinned and grabbed Odyne's hand swinging her around to the
lively toon. Soon he had her in his arms grinning and enjoying the
party atmosphere as they moved around the tiny floorspace they'd
cleared.

Cardella was happier than she had been in quite a long time. She
grabbed each of her friends' hands in turn and twirled them around
happily laughing and giggling. By the time she was done, she flopped a
bit breathlessly onto one of the chairs and called out, "Come on,
everyone has to have a treat and we'll celebrate." Grabbing her pastie
she held it up and said as though toasting, "To another Turn gone, a
new home and good friends forever!"

Last updated on the December 15th 2010

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Another Turn Gone and Good Friends