A Dance Between Friends

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 5th April 2012

Characters: T'nom, Meledei
Description: The two friends share a dance and a rather interesting chat at the Hatching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 11 of Turn 6

T'nom

T'nom spied her from across the room, looking radiant as always. Today
was her day and he was glad to see her so happy. Having been so busy
with his own training and Taldeth, T'nom had seen far less of Meledei
than he would have liked over these past few months. Sure, they still
talked, but not as much as they had before his Impression. He hoped
once all his training duties were over, he'd have more freedom to
actually enjoy her company again and his craft as well.

Deciding that now was as good a time as any, the young man scooted
across the floor, his eyes on her. She was alone for the moment.
Something that hadn't happened all too often.

"Meledei," T'nom said with a genuine smile as he touched her shoulder.
"Congratulations my friend. Today has been amazing. You deserve it."
The evening was wearing on and he knew the celebration would be ending
soon. "Might you have time for a little dance with an old friend
before the night comes to an end?"

"T'nom!" Meledei's smile brightened when she saw the bronzerider. He
was among her other friends that had come to congratulate her - and ask
her for a dance. "I always have time for a dance with you." She
assured him. The last dance had been with T'aesh and her wine had been
set aside. This time she was found with cheese, but she just popped
the last bit into her mouth, giggling a little. "I was hoping I'd get
the chance. It's so nice to dance so much." Especially now that she
was better and could actually do it again!

He offered her his arm and guided her back out to dance amid the
others. "It was a great hatching, Meledei. Elleth laid quite a fine
Clutch." He said as they moved together. He'd missed being able to
spend time with her like this. Life in the Weyr had kept them both so
busy of late that they'd hardly had much time for talking and enjoying
each other's company as they used to.

In his mind, he still found himself feeling as though he wasn't worthy
to dance with her, but then he remembered the great bronze dragon that
was now his. No longer was he just a nobody who lived in the Weyr, but
rather, the rider of bronze Taldeth, clearly worthy of spending some
time with any goldrider, but especially one whom he had called friend
for many Turns.

"It's definitely been a busy day, and a busy time for us both. I miss
the time we used to have together," he remarked, thinking back to his
own special day many months ago when he'd been chosen by Taldeth. That
moment had changed his life forever and today other lives had been
changed in much the same way.

"It will get better, especially now that you're getting further along
and it won't be that long til you graduate." Meledei reminded him.
Then they would have more dragonriders to fight Thread. Of course,
that also meant they put themselves in danger. Still, they were
dragonriders. It was what they were born for. "Maybe we should try
and see if we can do something together on a rest day."

"I would like that Meledei. I have missed spending time with you these
past months." T'nom gave her a spin on the dance floor, smiling at her
and feeling a slight tug on his heart. She truly was radiant. She'd
always been his friend from his earliest time at the Weyr. She was his
_friend_, yet he felt something more having her in his arms. It felt
so right in so many ways. He tried to clear those thoughts from his
mind. She was his friend. He was happy with that, wasn't he? He'd
tried for so long to convince himself that he _was_ happy with that
fact. Could he even imagine anything more between them?

"I have too. It seems a lot of us have fallen away." Meledei sighed
softly. "I need to resolve to do better. I've let my schedule get
away with me and I don't want to ignore my friends." She missed them.
Z'ku, Cosani, T'aesh, and yes, T'nom. "I'm going to try and do better."

"You're doing a find job. little lass," He winked at her and grinned
at the special name he'd used for her for quite some time. She wasn't
so 'little' anymore, having become such a prominent leader in her own
right in the Weyr. A fleeting moment of feeling unworthy passed
through him once again, until he heard a certain voice in his head.

}:We are more than worthy of the golden Elleth and hers. We will fly
them someday. They are magnificent.:{ T'nom felt the bronze's thoughts
and feelings. It was clear that Taldeth was _truly_ maturing as he'd
begun to comment more and more on flying the other dragons in the
Weyr. T'nom had to try and clear the image of winning Meledei in a
flight from his mind as he looked down on his dearest friend. How was
it that the bronze knew so well what T'nom really wanted and hoped for
yet T'nom found it so hard to admit himself?

"Well I try." Meledei worked hard. She didn't just do it because it
was her duty as a goldrider, but because she loved the Weyr and the
people in it. In the back of her mind Elleth purred, though no actual
words were spoken.

[[Feeling good about the hatching?]]

}:Among other things.:{

[[Such as?]]

}:Things.:{

Her dragon was being cryptic. Meledei wasn't going to push - it wasn't
like Elleth would _truly_ hide anything from her. The dragon was just
in a good mood. "You are a Senior Weyrling now. How are you enjoying
the difference in training?"

"It's nice to feel more useful and to actually be doing things that
_feel_ more important. I know caring for Taldeth was my main job for
those many months, but now I feel ready to join the fight." T'nom
paused and gave her a sheepish grin, "well, almost anyway. Things are
definitely more exciting in training now and we have lots more freedom
than we did, which is good." **I've even been able to sneak in a few
candlemarks on craft and that special gift I was making for you
before,** he thought to himself as he turned her slightly on the
floor.

"You, on the other hand, have truly come into your own here in the
Weyr. Elleth laid a fine clutch. To think, Meledei, someday _you_
could be a Weyrwoman yourself!"

"Not any time soon though!" Meledei wasn't ready for that - far from
it. She needed time and more experience, a lot more experience, before
she would be ready for that sort of responsibility. "And you, you
could be Weyrleader some day." She reminded him.

He almost tripped them both at that as he sputtered a bit. He'd begun
to realize the ramifications of riding a bronze, but being
_Weyrleader_ someday? T'nom had to take a moment to stop staring at
her in shock.

"I don't think I'd ever be the one picked for _that_," he finally
managed, though in the back of his mind he felt Taldeth's feelings and
pride that _he_ could in fact do such a thing.

"Never say never." Meledei countered with a gleam in your eye. "You
may not see it _now_ but it could happen."

It was hard to image such a thing ever happening, but it did give
T'nom a feeling inside him that he couldn't explain. He hadn't really
considered that possibility, but now that Meledei had mentioned
it....well, he just didn't quite know what to think.

"I'd best not monopolize what's left of your time this evening," he
stated quietly as the current song began to stop. Even though many
people were already gone from the festivities, he saw some watching
them, as though waiting still for their chance to catch the prized
goldrider in their arms for just a few moments.

"You really looked radiant today, Meledei," T'nom added as he leaned
in and gave her a rather chaste kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations
once again on an amazing clutch and hatching."

"Thank you. And I expect one more dance before the night is over."
Meledei's eyes twinkled in a mischievous manner. She might have said
something else, but at that moment someone else took her in her arms
and she was swept back onto the floor.

Last updated on the April 11th 2012

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A Dance Between Friends