Checking On A Friend

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 11th April 2011

Characters: Z'ku, Meledei
Description: Z'ku comes to check on Meledei and they avoid talking about their real issues again.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Follows "He Didn't Love You"

Z'ku

Z'ku knocked on the door and took a step back. Was it too soon? Did she need
more time alone?

From within one could hear the sound of a gitar, but it stopped when the
knock interrupted. There was a moment or two of silence, but then the door
open and Meledei peered out. She smiled a little and stepped back,
motioning for Z'ku to come in. "Hey."

"Hello." He stepped inside. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine." Meledei closed the door behind her, then moved back into the
sitting area. There was a gitar resting against the couch which she bent
down to pluck from its place. "You?"

"I'm fine. I was worried about you after the way you left the dining
cavern."

"You're very sweet, Z'ku."

He looked down. "Thanks. So are you feeling better?"

Meledei nodded and sat back down on the couch. "Yeah, a little, thanks.
You want something to drink?"

"Juice would be nice if you have any."

"Um, I'm afraid I don't." Meledei shook her head. "But I've got some wine."

"Wine will be fine, thank you." Maybe wine would give him the courage
to bring up what she clearly didn't want to talk about.

Meledei moved over to a small sideboard to pull from it two glasses
and a bottle. It had already been opened, only a glass or two taken
from me. She poured a glass for Z'ku and handed it to him before
pouring one for herself and settled down on the couch, leaving the
bottle open. "So any plans for the upcoming rest day?"

"No, how about you?" He took a sip.

"Not sure. Might go swimming or something." She shrugged and sipped
at her wine. "I think there's a gather coming up at one of holds. At
least, I heard rumours. You heard anything?"

"There's always a gather somewhere. I could ask around if you want to
go to one?" Maybe a gather would cheer her up.

"That might be an idea. I'll ask around too." Meledei already
cheered up at the thought, a small smile appearing. "Gathers are
usually fun. And it's a chance to get out of the Weyr for a while."

"Yes. And so easy to get to on a dragon." He took another sip.

Meledei's smile warmed a little. "Yes. That's one of the advantages
of being a dragonrider."

"One of many." He searched for something to say. He wasn't this unsure
around other people. Well, he knew what he wanted to say, but he
didn't want to hurt her by bringing up F'gol again. "How do you like
the new Weyrwoman?"

"Oh I liked her the first time she came here." Meledei lifted her
glass and sipped at its contents. "And I think she'll be good for the
Weyr. It's nice to finally have a Weyrwoman who's involved."

Z'ku nodded. "I know you were having a tough time with Traelyn." He
felt guilty speaking ill of her after what happened, but it was the
truth.

"No, actually, I wasn't." Meledei was definitely more relaxed, though
whether it was the wine or the friendly company was hard to say.
Maybe it was just the fact they weren't talking about F'gol. "I
didn't have _any_ time with her. I barely saw her after the hatching
feast."

"Well, at least now we know why. Or at least, we have an idea." There
were some wild stories going around, but he'd gotten a more direct
explanation from Meledei.

"Yeah, I guess." Meledei still couldn't help but feel slighted. The
woman had pretty much abandoned her Weyr and that had been bad. Very
bad. But what she had tried to do with her _dragon_...that had been
unthinkable and Meledei honestly wasn't sure she could forgive the
woman.

"Well, now we have a fresh start with a new Weyrwoman, and there will
be eggs on the Sands soon."

"Yes, there will be." Meledei brightened at that as well. New eggs,
new dragons, new riders. It was always exciting, no matter how many
times she attended a hatching. "I wonder what the count will be.
When I look at the eggs, I always like to make a guess."

"I think everyone does. And someday, Elleth will have her own eggs."
He wondered what that was like. Watching a Hatching was wonderful
enough, so how much more amazing would it be if those hatchings
belonged to your dragon?

"Yeah." Meledei smiled, the sight a true thing, warm and her
expression went a little distant as her mind brushed with her
dragon's. "Now that is something to look forward to."

Her smile made him smile. He held up his glass. "To Elleth's future hatchlings."

Meledei chuckled but didn't hesitate in lifting up her own glass. "To
Elleth's future hatchlings. May she have many of them."

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Checking On A Friend