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 Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:42 pm
E'lai and Eltimioth had barely emerged from between with their passenger when the green sent an excited trumpet, followed by an equally excited mental squeal. TERETH TERETH I FOUND YOU A HARPER FOR YOUR COLLECTION!
E'lai shook his head sadly at the ruckus, but what could he really do? Don't dump us over in your excitement, please, he gently scolded his dragon, who paid him little heed except to tease him with her favorite aerial maneuver--a quick sudden drop that elicited gasps from their young passenger.
"Eltimioth!" he said, really upset this time. The green landed without any further tricks, but her eyes whirled impatiently and her tail swished from side to side as E'lai disembarked, then helped the young Harper girl--now Candidate--off the dragon. "Really, I'm sorry for all the trouble, Akaya..."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all," the girl said contentedly, reaching up to pat Eltimioth on the arm. "I don't know why, but it does seem as if she's excited to be home."
"In a manner of speaking..." E'lai said, wondering if he should explain what was really going on.
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Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:12 pm
"Shards!" S'ren exclaimed in surprise at the unexpected mental shouting from E'lai's green. Having been so close to Tereth (he had just finished oiling the brown) and having had contact with Eltimioth on a fairly regular basis, he was privy to occasionally receiving messages sent to the brown that weren't especially meant to be hidden. "Collection? You're collecting them now?" He couldn't help but arch an eyebrow at this odd turn of events.
Tereth let out an amused rumble. So it would seem, he replied, standing up slowly and stretching before walking outside. S'ren wasn't far behind. There is no dissuading Eltimioth when she gets an idea. Come, let us at least greet them.
The brownrider sighed and shook his head. "I suppose we might as well." He climbed atop of Tereth's back, and a moment later the two were airborne and flying toward where the others had landed.
It wasn't exactly a very long trip, even without having gone between. Fortunately the other were close enough for the distance to have been easily flown. "Good afternoon," S'ren greeted after he was back on the ground. "Heard Eltimioth's enthusiasm just a moment ago." Turning to the young woman with a smile, he said, "You must be a new Candidate? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is S'ren, and this here is Tereth."
The dragon gave the trio a polite nod of greeting before looking over the new harper with interest. Have you heard her yet? he asked the green curiously, still watching the teen with interest.
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Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:25 pm
E'lai had politely obfuscated the reason for the wait, and he winced the slightest bit when S'ren made it obvious they'd been called over somehow by Eltimioth. Still, it didn't seem as if anyone was paying any attention to the greenrider at this point.
"Akaya, of Eron Hold and more recently of Harper Hall," the sixteen Turn year old said with an easy smile of her own. "It's pleasure to meet you and Tereth both." She seemed blissfully unaware of the dragons' attention to her--blissfully unaware of events in general, truth be told. There was a dreamy quality in the way the Harper apprentice held herself, her eyes roving without any particular focus.
A little! She is just an apprentice but she writes music. This seemed to be a key component of Eltimioth's assessment of the girl.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:11 am
Music composition is important too, Tereth replied with just the slightest nod of his head. He wasn't entirely sure what he thought of this girl just yet. She didn't seem to be quite all with them at the moment. Then again, perhaps she was simply looking dreamy like because she had never been to a Weyr before? Perhaps that was it.
"Eron Hold? Well, we certainly hope that you will enjoy your stay here at Trine."
Mine, ask her about her compositions. How much has she written?
His eyes unfocused ever so slightly as he replied back to his dragon. Now? The girl just got here! However, he quickly found that he couldn't deny the brown his request and spoke on his behalf anyway. "Ah, Tereth here wished me to ask how many compositions you have made. He rather loves music," he explained as he patted the brown's neck.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:02 pm
The girl's response to the inquiry would have been alarming to E'lai at least had he not been witness to it before--she went from dreamy to strict attention in scarcely the space of a breath, her brown eyes focusing and searching first the rider S'ren, then the brown dragon. "Only a few I would be willing to share in front of an audience," she said, with a smile that somehow seemed more sincere now that she was paying close attention. "I think I've heard of your Tereth before. There were whispers in the Hall about a dragon at Trine known for listening to the Harpers--your reputation precedes you, sir," she said, with a wider grin, offering the brown dragon a graceful bow. "I fear I'm only a senior apprentice, but I've been told I'm not completely terrible, if it's any consolation. I'm somewhat better of a writer than I am a singer, but I'm fair passable at both."
The humans at the Hold said she was good--she may not be a Master but then she would be too old to Stand, Eltimioth said matter-of-factly, still rather pleased at her accomplishment of bringing Akaya in.
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:59 pm
Unlike E'lai, S'ren had no prior experience with the Harper girl's attention swings and was caught a but by surprise at the sudden and intense focus. Tereth on the other hand seemed amused by it. Even more amused when he found that the girl had heard of him before. They speak of me? I hardly understand why. Music is appreciated all over, is it not?
You are a special dragon, S'ren replied, smiling a bit at the brown's inaudible words. "I'm sure that you are more than just passable," the rider replied.
I'm sure she is, Tereth remarked, echoing both Eltimioth and His' statement. To the green he asked. How did you two come upon her?
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:49 pm
She was taking a set at the Gather when E'lai was visiting his sister, the green said excitedly, eyes whirling merrily. And she played and sang!
"I thank you for your faith in me, dragonrider S'ren, but you probably ought to hear me before making a judgment one way or the other," the Harper girl said with a chuckle.
"I doubt you'll hear the end of it if you don't offer to play soon," E'lai advised, almost apologetic. "Now--S'ren, I have to go make this formal, so if you wouldn't mind..."
"If it's too much trouble to nursemaid me, I can go--" Akaya attempted to interrupt, only to be cut off by E'lai.
"Oh, no, you're fine! I'll be back in a bit to show you to the Candidate Barracks, so as long as you don't wander too far from Eltimioth, I can find you," the greenrider reassured her, before hurrying off to find whomever was Candidate-master this week. Akaya watched him go with an amused look.
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Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 4:58 pm
"I guess I'll just stay here then," S'ren said with a light shake of his head at the other's retreating back. E'lai could be a bit of an odd sort sometimes, but he was a good guy and a good friend.
Hm, I should like to hear that, he replied thoughtfully before turning his attention back to his rider. Mine, might you ask her if she wouldn't at least mind something short? It is always nice to hear a new voice.
I was wondering how long before you asked that, he thought back wryly. Regardless, the rider favored the Candidate a polite smile before speaking. "Well then, I hope you don't mind if I ask for a small number? Tereth here is rather eager to hear you sing."
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:04 pm
"Not at all," Akaya said, with a cheerful laugh. "I've never been asked to sing by a dragon before, even via his rider. Let me see--something simple, I think." She pulled a small set of pipes from her belt--a Harper was never without some kind of instrument, after all--fingering the openings as she pursed her lips in thought. After a moment, she began to drum her fingers lightly on the pipes before starting into a stirring rendition of "The March of the Wings", playing her pipe in the appropriate verse lulls. She was something better of a piper than a singer, but she wasn't half bad either. She finished with a long, complicated flourish on the pipes, before bowing both to dragon and rider. "I hope that met your approval," she said, eyes bright and cheeks flushed with the adrenaline of performing.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:49 pm
Both dragon and rider listened on with appreciation while the young harper sang and played the familiar tune. After she had finished, S'ren smiled and applauded whilst Tereth let out a deep sound of approval. "Very well played and sung. We certainly both approve."
Pleasant song choice, the brown remarked, his eyes whirled a pleased shade of blue. He rather liked most of the well-known tunes. Turning to Eltimioth, he asked, Did you enjoy it as well?
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:33 pm
I told you so, was the green's smug reply. Of course she'd liked it, she'd brought her in, hadn't she? Though the Harper girl was good for more than just songs--with two clutches hardening on the Sands, the duty-conscious Harper was a more than adequate choice to Stand. She knows her duty and she will be a good rider if she Impresses. Until then, she can play you music. Maybe after too!
Akaya beamed at the applause--though she'd certainly done a ditty or two in passing to a dragonrider, this was the first time she'd performed in such an intimate setting for one (and dragons too!), and to be met with enthusiasm...well, what more could a Harper girl want for? "I thank you for your attention. Anything else I can play for you? Perhaps something you could join in on?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:49 pm
The brown nearly gave the dragonic equivalent of a chuckle. Only when she is free and willing perhaps. I couldn't possibly horde the girl to myself. After all, music was for everyone. There would be no sense in taking up her time when others could be enjoying the pleasant sounds as well.
"Join in on?" S'ren questioned, shaking his head with a smile. "I'm afraid that I'm not much of a singer. Tereth, do you have a particular song request?"
Despite his conversation with Eltimioth, he had still heard the suggestion of the harper girl and rather liked it. How about the Duty Song? he suggested, eyes whirling with a mix of mischief and amusement as he lightly nudged his rider with his snout.
"Do you listen to me at all when I speak?" he asked with a laugh, lightly pushing back at the other with one hand.
More than you know, the dragon replied, not at all bothering to hide his amusement. His tone and eyes swiftly turned more pleading. Please? I love to hear you sing.
The rider let out a soft sigh. "Cruel. You know I can't deny that face," he muttered with a faint smirk as he rubbed his dragon's eye ridges. Turning back to Akaya, he said, "Tereth would like to ask you to play the Duty Song if you wouldn't mind."
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:58 pm
She is a Harper. She is always free and willing for the cause of making music, the green said with an amused tone to her mental voice.
Akaya was likewise amused (and a little jealous!) of the interaction between rider and dragon, though of course she could hear only S'ren's side of the conversation. Despite the rider's protests, when she heard his brown's request, she immediately understood the dragon to be on her side on this matter. They'd have S'ren singing in no time! "Not at all," the Harper said with a deferential nod, picking up her pipes yet again to lay down the melody for the old, familiar tune.
"Oh, we must give honor to those dragons heed
In thought and in favor, in word and in deed
For our world will be lost or our world will be saved
From those dangers that are by the dragons braved.
Weaver and farmer and miner and smith
Tanner and herdsman, all lord holders with
Our harpers attuned to the lessons we learn-
Remember our duty to those who save Pern."
She made a flourishing gesture to S'ren at the end of the phrase, signaling the rider's turn in the traditional ballad.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:06 pm
You do realize that I'm only doing this for you, right? S'ren remarked telepathically as the song started. He honestly couldn't think of a time before when he had ever sung in front of anyone but his dragon before (not counting in a group gathering; Group singing was different).
And I thank you for it. I would gladly return the favor if I could, Tereth remarked, eyes whirling with happiness and amusement.
The rider might have laughed at the mental image of his dragon attempting to sing had his turn not been coming up right then. Well, here goes nothing.
"We'll nurture our dragons, the queens rule their bands;
Their clutches will shell on the Hatching Ground sands.
We'll Search out the riders who will love and endure
With their dragonmates keeping our planet secure.
We rise from the Weyr on our dragonmates bold,
Aloft in the sky, Bronze, Brown Blue, Green and Gold.
Wheeling and turning, the hungry Threads burning
A dragon must fly when there are Threads in the sky."
It really was a rather nice song. S'ren smiled and returned the flourish back to the harper once his part was over.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:23 pm
The brown rider had a nice voice, she mused, as she took up the pipes to lightly weave a background tune as he sang (and hoping he might think she wasn't listening so closely, as clearly this wasn't something he was used to doing). And it was nice to have a rider to properly sing the rider's part--it always struck Akaya as awkward when this wasn't the case. She piped along merrily until it was her turn once again, and launched back into the ballad.
"Oh, Lord of the Hold, you must keep your charge sure
Behind metal doors, with your people secure.
See well to the herdbeast, keep cellars well stored
Lest Fall leave you hungry and Holdless and scored."
As she started the last line, she waggled her fingers at S'ren, trying to indicate they should sing the last verse together. The Duty Song always sounded nicer with a more vibrant, resounding group chorus at the end.
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