Too many toasts

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 30th March 2011

Characters: Hygalia, G'nir
Description: Hygalia helps her Weyrleader sober up a bit before the next party
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 5

G'nir

Nirreth landed on their ledge after the Turn's End tour in various
holds. G'nir dismounted and realized that his step wasn't quite steady.
Actually, he almost landed face first to the ledge. "Shards, too many
toasts!" He never been a heavily drinking man. He rather enjoyed the
feasts more with clear head. Even as young lordling in his father's
hold, he rarely had over indulged. Watching everyone else loose the
supper next morning had always filled him with feeling of superiority.
Leaning against the wall, he tried to strip off his flight jacket. He
still had one feast to attend, the Weyr's own and he was already this
drunk!

Hygalia had also always been the sober one. And even though she had a
fair amount to drink herself, her first thought was to get the
Weyrleader back on his feet. She was already dismounted and shrugging
out of her jacket. "Hold still a minute. Let's get that jacket off you
and then I'll call down to the kitchen to bring us some klah and food
before we head down."

"Yeah, good idea," G'nir grunted. "Next toast I'm going to do with a
juice!" Shards, he couldn't remember last time he was this badly off.

She reached for the fastenings of his jacket. "I think that would be a
good idea. But I think no more toasts without food." That was probably
what was really the root of the problem. Too much drink with too little
else in his stomach could doom him.

"Dancing was fun," G'nir said and wrapped an arm around her, leaning bit
too much on her.

"It was," she lied. Hygalia knew she was one of those rare freaks that
got bored with dancing rather quickly. But she knew she would be
expected to spend at least another candlemark dancing with dignitaries
and Weyrfolk. Grabbing the edges of his jacket, she gently but firmly
told him to turn around so she could pull it off of him.

G'nir find himself staring the cliff wall while she pulled the jacket
off. "Now, this is interesting position," he murmured.

"You don't look at your ledge wall so often?" she asked with an amused
snort. Shacking out his jacket she reached around to hang it on it's
peg and took his hand in hers. "Come inside. I'll get you something to
eat."

"I wasn't thinking that," G'nir said but he wasn't so drunk he would
actually tell her what he was thinking.

She ignored him, knowing that he was too drunk to think clearly anyway.
Hygalia would soon have him back to mostly normal. "Here, sit down,"
she said with a woman's authority in her voice. After calling down for
some food and a bit pot of klah, she took a seat herself, glad to have a
moment of peace. "That Amber Hills wine was amazingly good."

"Too good," G'nir said after he had seated himself. He started to rub
his temples. He was about hit the downward part of being drunk.

Hygalia recognized the signs. Standing up she poured them both a glass
of water. "Here, drink this."

"Thank you," G'nir drank the glass in almost one swallow. "Now I
remember why I don't drink much."

"You'll feel better when we get some food in you," she assured him,
though she hoped it wasn't a great mistake. The last thing she would do
would be drag him down in front of the Weyr just to have him embarrass
himself. As she refilled the glass with water, the drudge arrived with
the small meal she ordered. "You should use the water closet before you
eat. I'll have it all served up by the time you're done."

"Right," G'nir said and staggered towards the toilet. He was away from a
long time. When he came back, he was bit more steady on his feet. "Well,
now I could use that food."

"Then come and sit," Hygalia said with a wave of the spread she had set
down. "And there will be plenty more at the feast, remember. How are
you feeling?"

"Slightly better, but I'm not going to touch any more alchol tonite,"
G'nir said with groan.

"I think that's a good idea. A lot of water will help you feel better
in the morning." Teaching Hygalia how to help a man get through a rough
night had been one of the things her aunt, Lady Colara, had taught her.
"Try not to stay longer than you need to."

"Yes, ma'am. You do sound like my mother sometimes," G'nir said, his
respectable tone indicating it was a compliment.

"Well, I was practically raised by a Lady Holder myself." She poured
them both a mug of klah, sweetner and cream for herself and black for
him.

G'nir nodded and sipped carefully the klah. "We are lucky to have a
Weyrwoman like you."

She gave him a genuine smile. "That's very sweet of you to say, G'nir.
I'm certainly trying to do the Weyr proud."

"You are making us proud," he said matter-of-factly. He had finished his
klah. "Now, shall we make one final appearence for our people's sake?"

"Yes," she said, pushing herself back and reaching out a hand to him.
"You look ready now."

"I hope so," G'nir responded.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Too many toasts