The Night Is Young

Writers: AL, Heather K
Date Posted: 26th May 2011

Characters: E'ril, Meledei
Description: Share a cup of klah and some chatter
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 6
Notes: Takes place in the wee hours of the morning. Mentor approved by Emma

Rubbing his face with his hand, E'ril groaned. He'd once again only been
able to sleep for a few candlemarks before waking up again. **This has to
end. I want and need sleep.** His discomfort had even managed to bring his
blue into a state of groggy wakefulness. Dawenth yawned and blinked heavily,
the bright green eyes a spot of light against the darkness of his hide and
the surrounding nighttime atmosphere of Dolphin Cove.

}: It would seem that we are not alone. Look.:{ And the blue motioned
towards the Bowl where a petite gold dragon could be seen gliding in to
land.

**I wouldn't mind some company and a warm cup of klah might just do the
trick anywho. If you would be so kind, sir?** After all their Turns
together, that was all that needed to be said for Dawenth to bespeak Elleth.

}: Pleasant evening, Elleth. Mine would like to invite yours to join him for
a late cup of klah in the kitchen. You can share my ledge as well if you'd
like. I've kept it warm.:{

Meledei patted her gold's hide as she glided toward their weyrledge. She had
just landed when Elleth craned her neck to look at her before she could even
reached down to undo her straps. }:Dawenth's own has invited you for some
klah in his weyr.:{

**E'ril?** Her hands paused where they were and tapped against the hide that
made up her straps, then she nodded and released them. **Sure, why not. Tell
him we'll be there in just a moment.**

Elleth turned around and launched back into the air, then angled toward the
weyr of a certain bluerider. She landed gently and settled down. Meledei
undid her straps and dismounted, then pulled off her jacket and gloves. "Hey
E'ril." She called before stepping through the curtain that separated the
ledge from the weyr proper. "It's Meledei."

The bluerider had been getting mugs ready for the klah that would be
finished brewing any minute now when he heard Meledei's clear voice in his
weyr. Instead of calling back to her, he went to the curtain and motioned
for her to come in. "I hope you don't mind my invitation. What keeps you
awake and moving at this small hour?"

"Oh, I was visiting a friend and lost track of time." Meledei shrugged and
slipped through the curtain. She found a place for her things that would
keep them out of the way, then stretched. "But I wasn't paying as careful
attention since it's a rest day tomorrow. Well, I guess it's technically
_today_ now."

"Ha, it is indeed," he said as he went off to pour the klah. "Have a seat
anywhere. It's not the most tidy weyr but I make do." That was being
generous. E'ril's weyr was, in fact, what you would expect for a middle-aged
bachelor. Jackets, shirts, and boots were in various places throughout the
weyr. E'ril had managed to dust a few things though if only out of boredom.
He returned with two mugs of steaming klah and handed one to the goldrider
as he took a seat. "Thanks for stopping in. I've been a having a time of
things this evening."

"Trust me, I've seen worse." Meledei had seen a _lot_ worse and just
couldn't understand why people kept where they lived so cluttered. It would
make her feel so crowded if she did. She shook her head, smiling a little.
Oh well, _she_ didn't have to live with him! Meledei accepted the mug and
took up a shirt that was spread out over the arm chair and tossed it on a
pile that was next to it, then sat down. "So what are _you_ doing still up?
What do you mean having a time of things?"

"I've been having trouble sleeping lately and I can't figure out why. It's
crazy and...ugh, incredibly annoying. So, I've been up for the last
candlemark or so for no apparent reason. Dawenth has been weathering it with
me though, but a dragon's got to sleep sometime," E'ril explained. "How was
your visit?"

"It was good. A nice time, though I made plans for the rest day or I
probably wouldn't have come back." Though that didn't mean Meledei had to
get up early. She tried to make sure she could sleep in on rest days - just
so she could stay up late the night before! "You're having trouble sleeping?
Does your mind just not settle or...?"

The man shrugged. She knew just as much about why he wasn't sleeping as he
did and that wasn't much. "You're guess is as good mine. I get to sleep at a
normal time but end up waking in the middle of the night unable to return to
sleep. I keep pretty active so I am tired but, evidently, my mind has better
things to do." He took a long drink of his klah. "Perhaps, seeing as
tomorrow is a rest day, I'll focus on relaxing and catching up on sleep. Why
else would they call them rest days, right?"
"Be careful." Meledei cautioned, one finger uncurling from her mug to point
at him. "Sleep too much during the day and you won't sleep tomorrow night
either." She'd been caught in that trap and wound up even more exhausted for
it! "Then you really will have a strange sleep schedule."

E'ril clicked his tongue against his cheek and winked, "Got it. Shells, I
can't remember having this sort of a problem since...well, since I was a
younger man. I certainly hope this isn't age coming to bite me. I can't
stand the thought of getting older. You enjoy your health and youth, m'dear.
It's funny how you wake up one day to find wrinkles and gray hairs." If
there was one perk to being on the Weyrling staff it was hanging around the
younger folk. E'ril supposed it at least kept him young inside even if
nothing could be done on the outside.

"Oh I do enjoy myself! I can assure you of that." Meledei giggled and sipped
at her klah once, twice, then set it down. She found herself not wanting it
for some reason, though she was more than happy to have the company. "I'm
sure I'll get grey hairs soon enough. I figure being a dragonrider makes
that happen earlier, right?"

He smiled when she laughed. His rather dreary night had turned out pretty
alright after all. He drank from his mug and replied, "Oh, I'm not sure what
riding a dragon's got to do with it. Now, being a _Weyrwoman_, that might
make things move a little quicker. I'd wager that you ladies put up with a
lot more stress than I do. I'm sure there's some beauty secret out there
only known to you beautiful women that you'll be let in on when the time
comes to keep those types of things at bay."

"I'm not a Weyrwoman yet!" Meledei held up her hands in a defensive
position, but there was another laugh behind them. "Just a goldrider. It's
really not too bad. I mean, I'm doing different things than I was when I was
a crafter, but I'm still busy. Well, busier, but busy and it's not really
_bad_. As for beauty secrets, don't ask me, no one's told me anything yet!"

The bluerider laughed lightheartedly, his light blue eyes twinkling. "That
doesn't surprise me. A young beautiful woman like you needs little help in
that arena," he flattered. He said this more in a friendly way than anything
else. "You do like to keep busy. I've seen you roaming the halls of the
Candidate Barracks a time or two. Nice bunch of kids we have this time, huh?
And then, of course, there are the few left from your class."

"Now you're just flattering me." Meledei didn't consider herself beautiful
though she had been told she was. She just couldn't see it, but it was nice
to hear it occasionally. "Yes, we do have a good bunch. I have high hopes
for quite a few of them." And one in particular. "There area few...but
getting fewer." Either by getting to be too old or Impression.

He raised his mug, "May they all find what they're looking for on the
Sands." After swallowing what was left in his mug he continued, "Hatching
should be any day now, I would think. Then, you won't be the only busy one."
Before he could stop himself, he yawned widely. "Pardon me. It would seem
this klah is having quite the effect on me."

"Usually it _keeps_ people awake." Meledei stood up and stretched. "I should
probably get going and get some sleep. I didn't sleep well last
night...though it's hard to imagine in now." She'd stayed up a very long
time - she had a feeling as soon as she got into her bed, she would be gone.
"Thanks for having me over, though."

"My pleasure. Thanks for keeping me company," he said as he saw her off.
Once the pair had left the ledge, E'ril stretched and managed to make it all
the way to his bed before falling on to it and collapsing into a much needed
sleep.

Last updated on the May 29th 2011

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The Night Is Young