A Meeting of Leaders

Writers: AL, Ames, Devin, Chelle, Clancey, Paula
Date Posted: 30th March 2011

Characters: Corowal, Felyna, Sarban, N'vanik, Janani, Meledei
Description: The Dolphin Cove Weyrleaders visit Emerald Falls.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 6

Felyna

N'vanik

She stood in the center of the weyrbowl, her riding gloves slapping
impatiently against her hands. Janani had no reason to be nervous, but she
_did_ want to get this day moving and hopefully over with. It was her duty
as the new Weyrwoman to make her rounds to the holds and introduce herself.
Emerald Falls, being one of the largest of the territory, was their
destination today.

Angdelouth shifted her weight, sensing her riders anxiety as they waited for
N'vanik and Meledei to arrive. For once she found herself needing to defer
to the younger goldrider, but that did not trouble Janani, for she liked
Meledei. Apparently she had been handling much of the hold relations in
recent times. }:They come.:{

Elleth appeared in the sky even as Angdelouth spoke. She curled
through the sky, then looped down to land near the much larger gold.
They were about ready to leave, so Meledei didn't bother to climb down
from her perch. Instead, she flashed Janani from where she sat.
"Good morning Janani. Are you ready?"

Loseth circled down from his ledge and landed close to his new mate.
"Hello ladies," N'vanik called. He wasn't looking forward to this.
Formal meetings were so boring.

"Morning, Meledei," Janani replied, moving to mount up as well. By the time
Loseth and N'vanik arrived, Janani was ready. "N'vanik," she said in
greeting. "Let's get a moving on, shall we?" She motioned for them to lead
the way and she and Angdelouth would follow /between/ to the hold.

"Good morning N'vanik!" Meledei raised her hand and waved to the
Weyrleader.
"I'm ready to go when you are." Meledei shifted to get into a more
comfortable

position, then urged Elleth into the air. The picture was formed in
her mind and
moments later, the two blinked /between/ only to emerge in the air
above the hold, their destination stretched out beneath them.

A gold dragon appearing above the Hold was news. The watchdragon
bugled a greeting and it wasn't long before Sarban knew that something
was going on. "Corowal, we have visitors! You better break out the
fine clothing!" he warned his cousin even as he sent someone to tell
the Lady Holder.

"Coming!" Corowal yelled back and hurried to change. It didn't take
him long to pull on a better tunic and quickly comb his hair.

Janani had made the jump /between/ just moments after Meledei.
Angdelouth broke forth in the skies above the hold. With the two gold
dragons floating in the skies above, it was truly a sight for all to
see.

When the drudge came with a message for her, Felyna smiled in delight.
She loved visitors, and she had dearly wanted to meet the new
Weyrwoman at Dolphin Cove. She had not had much interaction with the
Weyrleaders prior to this, and that had been fine. Really, Corowal
was the one who must deal with them more often than she. But all the
same, it was good to have company.

She, of course, needed no touching up, always looking the impeccable
Lady Holder even when she chose to work beside the kitchen girls.

Knowing Corowal would go straight from his office, she went alone to
the courtyard, arriving just as the the dragons began to circle for a
landing. Smile coming without any help at all, she looked for her
husband, thinking he might have had to stop and change before coming
outside.

Loseth followed the queens circling down to the Hold and all three
dragons landed. N'vanik gave his bronze a pat before sliding off his
neck. }:They're all admiring me, and my mate and my hatchling.:{
Loseth shifted a little to catch the light better and N'vanik couldn't
help laughing.

Angdelouth butted her head into her mate's with a snort. }:They are admiring
_me_.:{ She unfurled her wings a bit just to show how magnificent she truly
was. **Alright, enough Ang, before you hurt someone.** When she felt the
gold's protest, Janani turned from where she'd dismounted and stared
directly into those whirling eyes until Angdelouth settled down. In a matter
of moments she'd walked to stand beside N'vanik.

Elleth helpfully put out a forearm, and Meledei used it to dismount.
She paused at the feet of her dragon, looking around while she tugged
at her gloves, one finger at a time. She tucked them into a small
back attached to her dragon's straps before wandering over to Janani.
Elleth didn't try to get into a contest with the bronze or bigger
gold, but Meledei couldn't help but think that the brilliance of the
smaller dragon was worth admiration.

Corowal joined Felyna with a noded and apoletic smile. He had missed
the landing. "They really are magnifient," he breathed silently. When
the riders had dismounted he stepped forward. "Welcome to the Emerald
Falls hold, Ladies, Weyrleader."

Felyna nodded in definite agreement with her husband, tucking her arm
into his automatically. A moment after he spoke, she added her own
welcome. "We are pleased to have you all here. Please do come in and
enjoy our hospitality." Her smile was bright, curiousity tinging the
look in her eyes as she admired both the goldriders and their dragons.

"Thank you," Janani said, stepping forward slightly, hoping N'vanik did
not mind her speaking first. "I'm sure you know Weyrleader N'vanik and
Goldrider Meledei, but I have not yet had the pleasure of making your
acquaintance. I am the new Weyrwoman at Dolphin Cove, Janani. It is a
pleasure to meet you both and we would be most grateful to share in
your hospitality."

N'vanik didn't mind. If Janani was good at the social niceties, he was
happy to let her take the lead.

Not waiting for Corowal, Felyna stepped in to take the lead. He would
probably expect her to, anyway. She had told the same drudge that had
fetched her to ready a reception in one of their meeting rooms, and it
should be just about ready now, if the young girl had known to get help and
what was good for her. Which, being trained by Felyna, she did. With
complete confidence, the Lady Holder turned to lead them into the cooler
depths of the Hold, trusting that their dragons would amuse themselves.

"Welcome Weyrwoman Janani. We are so pleased to have you." Felyna offered
her a smile, turning from Corowal to the Weyrwoman. "This way then, I sent
for some small refreshments to be prepared." She looked around for Sarban
too, knowing the Steward would have seen to something himself, if she had
not.

After informing the Headwoman and making sure his understewards knew what
they needed to do, Sarban headed through the Halls to intercept Corowal and
the others. He made it around a corner just as they came down. Slowing his
pace, he approached the group. Making a small bow, he stopped and looked up.
"Welcome Weyrleaders. My Lord and Lady, would you wish me to join you or
shall I see to other matters?" It sounded odd coming off his tongue, but he
was capable of organized speech when he needed to be.

Meledei inclined her head as she was introduced and remained near her
Weyrwoman and Weyrleader. Truly, she was just an observer on this
trip, she would watch and learn from Janani. Not that Meledei hadn't
had any experience in hold relations, but it hadn't been with any
other goldrider. Besides, this was really Janani's thing and she
wasn't going to try and take over from her. She followed as they were
lead into the hallways, eyes darting about, taking note of
surroundings that weren't completely unfamiliar to her. She'd visited
Emerald Falls before, but it had been some time since and Meledei
hadn't visited since Impressing.

"We have been waiting for you to visit us, Weyrwoman Janani," Corowal
said. "You don't get two goldriders and the Weyrleader to visit
everyday," he contined with a light smile.

The smile came easily to her lips. "So true, Lord Corowal. In fact,"
she glanced at N'vanik and Meledei with a twinkle in her eye. "I
daresay this is a very rare occasion indeed, but we felt Emerald Falls
deserved such fair attentions." She moved to follow the others,
nodding her acceptance of the welcome from those they passed including
the one she assumed must be the Steward. "Perhaps later," she said to
no one in particular, "you would grace me with a tour of the Hold
itself. I've never been to Emerald Falls before and I think I would
enjoy seeing what wonderful accomplishments you have achieved here."
Janani had learned from the best how to handle those around her. It
was by no means her favorite task, but she could make almost anyone
believe they were the most important person to her in that moment if
she wanted to.

Felyna dropped back to walk by Sarban with a smile to him. "Why don't
you join us, Sarban? This is just a social call, for the most part,
and you can enjoy our visitors as well if you choose." Normally she
would have left that to Corowal, but he was chatting up their guests,
so she took it upon herself.

They arrived at their destination to a nice spread of refreshments.
Felyna nodded in agreement with Corowal's previous statement as they
all took seats. "Indeed, our Hold is special, indeed, today. " She
paused to let everyone get settled with their chosen treats before
starting up the conversation again.

"Have there been any exciting developments since my last visit?"
N'vanik asked, looking between Corowal and Felyna to include both of
them.

Oh ho! She was noticed! Not that Meledei was really bothered. Just
seemed odd that she was hardly looked at. She shrugged it off though.
After all, she wasn't a leader, just a junior goldrider. So why
should they care? Maybe she could separate from them and going
exploring around the hold later. THe last time she'd been there,
she'd stuck to the area of the Gather which had been the reason she
had come in the first place.

Sarban took his seat by Meledei. He leaned over to her. "Free from the
Weyr for a little bit hm? They probably don't let you out much."

"No, nothing particular. The Harper Hall's construction is progressing
nice and Red Rush hold is back on it's feet after that terrible fire,
althoug they also have some rebuilding still to do," Corowal answered
to N'vanik. He was still grateful of the help dragonriders had
provided during the fire.

"Keep letting us know when you need dragonrider help for Red Rush.
We're happy to give you a hand," N'vanik said. No politics in that, he
really did want to help.

"Thank you for the offer, we don't need dragonrider help there right now,"
Corowal said with grateful bow of his head. "Tell me, have you seen our fall
up close?" the question was directed to all dragonriders. "It's a grand
sight."

Meledei grinned as Sarban sat beside her. "I actually travel around
quite a bit, visit the other Weyrs. I've even visited a hold in the
last month. I get out from time to time." She winks at the Steward.
"I don't believe we've been formally introduced though." She'd heard
the Lady Holder call him by his name, but Meledei hadn't been
personally introduced and thought it was only polite to do so
formally. She held out her hand to the man. "I'm Meledei."

He took it and gave it a small shake. "Sarban, Steward and Lord Holder's
cousin,
among other things. Former seacrafter. Pleased to meet you, goldrider."

"We'll be here to help as we can Lord Corowal," Janani supported
N'vanik. She ate from the sweets that had been given to her, smiling
at the lady holder. "Delicious." Janani remarked.

"I've seen the falls, but I'm pretty sure Janani hasn't. Have you seen
them Meledei?" N'vanik asked.

"We could go to sightsee them after the meal," Corowal suggested, "It's a
pleasant walk and the sight is worth the while."

"A pleasure to meet you, Sarban." Meledei tilted her head and regarded
the man. "Former seacrafter? What made you switch from that to Steward?"
That intrigued her, to make such a huge jump from one sort of life to a
very, very different one. N'vanik's question pulled her attention away
briefly,
however. "No, I haven't seen the falls. I pretty much stuck to the Gather
grounds
the last time I was here." She'd had a lot of fun though. "I wouldn't mind
going sightseeing!"

"I had to end my sailing days to care for my mother. Corowal offered me a
job
and it gave me a roof over my head and food to eat so here I came." He
shrugged.
Sarban was simple.

"May I suggest a toast for the Weyr's health and upcoming Hatchings,"
Corowal lifted his glass up.

Felyna raised her own glass to the toast. "To the dragonriders that protect
us." She offered her own addition, then took a sip.
"I think a tour is a fantastic idea. We have not been to the Falls for a
few sevendays, that sounds wonderful to me." They really had no _business_
to discuss, other than to reaffirm their relationship as Weyr and Hold. The

tithe always left Emerald Falls on schedule and it was always their best;
this Hold did not skimp on its duty at all.

Sarban's reply tugged Meledei's attention back to him and she nodded. "Your
mother was very fortunate to have a son like you." Then Corowal's sudden
call for a toast caught Meledei off guard. That was...odd. But she lifted
her glass and gave Janani a questioning look. Maybe it was just protocol
and she just wasn't used to it.

Janani raised her glass as well, giving a nod in Meledei's direction when
she glanced her way. She had learned many turns ago to follow the hosts'
lead.

"Very nicely put," she remarked as she sipped from her glass. "And I would
definitely enjoy a tour of the falls. They are, after all, what makes
Emerald Falls so unique."

"And I'd like to see them again. It's been a while," N'vanik said as he set
down his glass.

"That's settled then," Corowal said with satisfied smile.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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A Meeting of Leaders