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Strange Pairing	By : AbstractRainbow Category: A through F > The Dragonriders of Pern Views: 4575 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Dragonriders of Pern series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Strange Pairing
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 4
- 5
- 6
.............................. Time Gap Notice..................................

They watched curiously as the lightly colored bronze landed gracefully, his hide akin to a bronze mixed with silver. She was in the middle of grooming Fynnalth’s forepaw, and the queen complained annoyingly as her rider was distracted. “Fynnalth, shush. Is that who I think it is? She’s been gone for almost an entire turn.” The queen looked up and rumbled a greeting to the bronze, who responded quickly.
>Dreakenolianth and Rider Lysceander. Yes, it is them.< Came the soothing voice in her mind. >Now please finish.<
Diece’s mind was only half on the grooming job as she watched across the bowl as the Weyrleaders and Queen’s Rider Heinley walked over to greet the rider and dragon. She watched in curiosity as someone removed their helmet and let long waving blonde hair fluff slightly, held back mostly in a long ponytail. The rider slid down, boots probably thunking or clicking on the ground as she landed, clad in all black. The tall, lanky figure hugged Heinley, then shook the hands of both Weyrleaders. They were walking in her direction now, and she quickly finished what she was doing, standing and wiping her hands off.
“So, Lys, I see you’ve matured a lot in your turn away.” Beyrille was saying with a laugh. “No one will be mistaking you for a lad now.”
“A pity that, easier to get along as a bronze rider that way.” Lys said with a happy laugh, her eyes shining. “It seems that the Harpers helped me to figure out what you three were doing with me though.”
“I’m sure that you’ve forgiven us though, haven’t you Lys?” N’kell said with just as happy a laugh, chuckling really, and clapping her on the back. “You do make for quite an impressive sight. Do you mind to much that we’ve turned you into a front-man… er… front-woman?”
“How could I possibly refuse my noble Weyrleaders?” Lysceander asked with a jovial smile, stopping just in front of Diece as she bowed to them deeply, sweeping one arm out. The other three laughed. There was a small croon behind them, and as Lysceander stood straight again, she turned. Deep eyes locked onto Diece’s, and the smile faded. “Oh… er…”
“I’m not sure if you’ll remember…” Heinley began.
“… Diece. The rider who was gifted with the queen from Dreakenolianth’s clutch. It’s been a while.” She smiled and bowed her head lightly to the girl. “How have you been?”
“Well enough…” Diece said, still looking a little shocked. “You were gone a long time. We were all told that you were only going to the Weyr by the Harper Hall for a half turn… it’s been almost an entire one.”
“Things got caught up.” Lysceander said with a soft, sad smile, nodding. “You’re looking well. I assume that you and… Fynnalth are part of the Queen’s Wing now? You must be wonderful flyers in it.”
“One of our best, actually.” Heinley offered with a broad grin, putting her hand on her fosterling’s shoulder. Lysceander bowed her head again and turned back to the others, walking off with them again. “Hm… that was an odd smile you were wearing.”
“I’m sure that you remember my interaction with Diece during Weyrling trainng, Momma-Heinley. How else was I supposed to react to the girl that I had a crush on for so long?” Lysceander asked with a shy smile, gaining herself a chuckle and elbow from N’kell for it. “Oh come off it. I’m sure that you weren’t as confident in yourself as you are in me at my age, Weyrleader N’kell.”
“Quite the contrary. I was devastated when he first flew my queen.” Beyrille said with a broad grin. “He was the most arrogant rider I had ever met. Believe me, being shoved into this responsibility has sobered him out. Not having a son to spill it off onto though, I imagine that he’ll be treating you in such a manner.”
“Well she’s beautiful and a bronze rider! Of course she’ll be a heartbreaker. She’s obviously got a Harper’s charm now, instead of that suspicious little thing I first saw running around.” N’kell said with another chuckle. Lysceander blushed. “I assume that you have forgiven us for your parents now, child?”
“As much as I can.” Lysceander answered sadly. “I understand that it happens, and that you did as best you could for an unpredicted rain… but it still hurts that they are gone. Oh well, I don’t mind too terribly. I’m happy to be here now, I’d have never been searched by Groith if I hadn’t stayed behind because of their deaths. The Harpers helped me with that…”
~
“That certainly was her…” Diece said with a small frown. Fynnalth crooned again. “Oh, I’m alright. I just kinda expected more of a warm greeting. She seemed so happy to see the others, I had just hoped she would be with me too. I was as close to a friend as she had back when she was here before. I did miss her. The bronze riders from the clutch just got really cocky and annoying after she left. I think she was the only one that reminded them that they weren’t the best out there.”
Someone approached at a brisk walk, grinning widely with a short crop of wild hair and handsome looks. H’velle had only grown extremely good looking over the turn or so that they’d had their dragons, and used it to his full advantage, flirting and bedding with any woman he could. She raised a brow and watched him with a tolerant expression. They were friends, but she had absolutely no plans to fall into his lines. “Well who was that beauty over here with you. I could see her golden hair all the way over from my bronze. And was she with the Weyrleaders too?”
“High hopes, H’velle?” she asked with a smug smile, walking away from Fynnalth with a pat to the leg. “Well, I’m surprised you didn’t recognize her.” He was pouting, and now it turned into a genuine, confused pout. “That, my old friend, was Lysceander. You remember, the female bronze rider, with the pale bronze. They trained with us before she was fostered out to another Weyr to learn under the Harpers as well.”
“That was Lys?!” He nearly shrieked, staring at the direction they’d gone. “Did she really grow as beautiful as Hyth let me see, or was it just the distance and her having grown out her hair?”
“Why should it matter to you H’velle? She never liked you before, what makes you think that she’d fall for your false charms now?” Diece asked with a chuckle. He looked briefly insulted, before prodding her on. “Yes, she is beautiful. Shells, you’re such a womanizer.”
“But you love me for it.” He winked, then trotted off to oil his bronze into a shine. There was a new prize to conquer. V’keth would love this race. It meant different methods, since she was a fellow bronze rider… or did it? She was a girl after all. “Hyth, that was Lysceander, from Weyrling training.”
>I’m aware of that. Dreakenolianth is quite polite now. I do believe their time away has done them well. He is telling me of some of the things they did while gone.< Hyth said in lazy conversation, starting to doze under the slightly hurried oiling.
“And of course you just happened to neglect telling me. Ah well… can you get anything out of that bronze… what kind of rider she likes?” He asked almost urgently.
There was a brief pause as his bronze conferred with the other, and Hyth’s mind-voice was confused and a little insulted when he finally replied. >He… he just laughed. I asked what kind of rider Lys likes to mate, and he just started laughing.<
“That’s a bit rude…” H’velle said with a small frown, then continued oiling. “Perhaps she hasn’t bedded yet. She did seem the prudent type when we knew her before. And they had her in special training. Perhaps that’s why he laughed, the thought of his rider having bedded anyone yet and having a type.”
~
When Lysceander started chuckling in the middle of their meal, all three of her companions stared at her. She swallowed quickly and waved at them to continue. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry. It’s just funny.” She chuckled again, and they continued to stare. “A bronze that Dreake and I used to know just asked him… just asked him for his rider… what kind of rider I like to mate!” She started chuckling again. They paused for a moment before laughing as well. “I’m sure that we all know that I am the only female bronze rider!”
“Oh, be nice to the lad, whoever it is. You’ll be turning enough heads.” Heinley teased. “I’m afraid you’ll turn more male than female, unless it’s in envy. Did Dreake fly any of the younger queens while you were away?”
“No, only a green.” Lysceander sighed and shrugged. “But mostly because the first queen to rise was the Weyrwoman’s. I swore to Dreake that if he ever flew a Weyrwoman’s queen, I’d never speak to him again.”
They all stared at her for that, shocked again. Beyrille cleared her throat then. “Why is that, Lys? Are we too old for you? Not your tastes?”
“Oh shells no! I’m afraid that the Weyrwomen I have seen are some of the most beautiful riders I’ve had the privilege to lay my eyes on!” Lysceander laughed lightly again, winking at Beyrille this time. “However, I for one am far too young to take on the duties and obligations of a Weyrleader! Besides, people aren’t even used to me being a regular bronze rider, just out of training. Imagine the reaction across the lands if I became a Weyrleader! Oh, we’d never hear the end of it! Imagine the uproar… I’m sure the Harpers would love it though. Mischievous scamps.” She chuckled more. “Trust me, mi’lady, age and beauty have nothing to do with it on the queen rider’s side.”
Beyrille found herself blushing, and N’kell stared laughing in loud guffaws. “She really has learned well in her training! The charm of a harper and a bronze rider combined! Lysceander, you shall make life very interesting here. I assume that your attraction to my lovely partner will not dissuade you from keeping the same rules with Dreakenolianth?”
“Well…” Lysceander seemed to consider it, then gave them a broad smile. “I suppose that I’ll do it, for you. Since I like you so much. However, please, tell me what’s been going on with the rest of the riders from Dreake’s clutch. Diece seemed to be doing well, but I know nothing.”
“Diece is a wonderful member of the Queen’s Wing now.” Heinley reported quickly. “And the bronze riders are all doing well in slowly rising positions. Unfortunately that cocky boy that impressed one of the blues, B’nor I think it was, died in his first fall. Terrible threadscore. His dragon went between almost minutes after we determined that he was dead.”
“That’s terrible.” Lysceander sighed and frowned. “It’s never good to hear such news. The others?”
“Usual for just out of being Weyrlings. You’ll not be joining them in usual wing assignments however.” N’kell said conversationally after a moment. Lysceander looked at him curiously, though the others had already known and thus kept eating. “As you guessed, you’re our front-woman. You’ll train to fight thread and work up in status, yes, but you’ve other duties. As you were a messenger in your clan before coming here, you’ll be delivering very private messages and missions to contacts, playing chuffer to lords and ladies for gathers and such. You’ll be the one to go back to the Harper Hall most often when needed. Our emissary to many of the other Weyrs and Holds. We’ve five others like you that you’ll meet. Two browns, a green, a gold, and another bronze. The gold is actually about to retire to the Queen’s Wing permanently. There was going to be a meeting in the next few sevendays to determine which queen rider would replace her. They all received similar training to yourself, simply not as advanced.”
“Well, I shall treat this as the privilege it is, and thank you most graciously.” Lysceander said with a small smile, bowing in her seat. >Dreake, they’re turning me into a courier. Fire and rain, all that training and I’m becoming a courier!<
Her dragon burbled slightly from outside. >I’m already talking to some of the other dragons. It seems that this is a highly respected position, as you pretended to assume, Lys. I am being told that only the most trusted and well trained are allowed to do this, very secret work. Hush-hush. Apparently, it’s not the same messages that they convey by drum and runner, and the transport of personages is mostly busy work, though spying as well. It looks as if our Weyrleaders have their hands in the workings of many things.<
Lysceander smiled again as she finished her meal, nodding to them. >I’m still not sure… but if you say so my friend.<
~
“Well, I must say that you have one of the most beautiful dragons that I’ve ever seen.” One of the girls said with a grin, staring up at Dreake from where she stood. There was to be a gather at the Weyr, and she had somehow gotten an invitation. Lysceander still was unsure which one this was, the Lord Holder’s niece, or the best friend she was bringing along. Their escorts were running late of course. “It is a bronze yes? I didn’t know females could impress bronzes.”
“Dreake is the only bronze to be impressed by a girl that the Weyrleaders have heard of.” Lysceander said with a bright smile at the girl, checking the straps, then looking about for the two girls’ escorts. She wasn’t dressed as finely as the other girl, who sat patiently as they waited. Lysceander gave a cordial bow, smiling again, and touched her forehead to the girl’s knuckles after taking her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, miss. I am Rider Lsyceander. Would you happen to know where your escorts are? I am afraid that I must stay on schedule, else the Lord Holder I am picking up next shall be cross.”
The girl blushed and smiled again. “Oh, don’t mind Zallere and Byron. They’re never on time for anything. I’m Xeora, that is the young Lady Jerra. It is my pleasure to meet such a polite and friendly rider. I’m afraid that the few I’ve met previously were rather distant and professional.”
“I would never be so distantly ‘professional’ to such a lovely young woman.” Lysceander bowed again, smiling, then looked up as the boys rushed up in an undignified run. She raised a brow at them, which seemed at the time more of a rebuke than any words she could have said. “Welcome, gentlemen. We may depart now?”
“Yes, yes, of course. Lord Hadler wishes to send his apologies to the Weyrmasters for his absence, but there is a small emergency with trade in the Hold that he must attend to.” One of the boys said with a curt nod, helping Jerra to her feet. He paused in the middle of it though, and took in the sight of the pale bronze dragon, and female rider. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“Pardon me sir, but I’m afraid that I do not understand?” Lysceander said with that same kind smile as she practically walked up the side of Dreake’s shoulder, then aided Xeora and her escort to climb up.
“Is this a joke? Girls do not ride bronzes. It is unheard of.” He snorted, then walked the girl with him over to the dragon.
“Didn’t you know, Anthen? She’s quite known all over for her impression of the bronze. Only one known to do it for who knows how long, perhaps since we started impressing dragons.” Jerra finally spoke in her haughty tone, then smiled at Lysceander and the other two as she was helped up. “Rider Lysceander, would you please be so kind as to introduce us to your bronze?”
“Mi’ladies, sirs, this is Dreakenolianth. Dreake, say hello to the kind ladies and sirs.” Lysceander said with that same smile still plastered to her face, helping Anthen to climb up finally. It was timed perfectly, just as Lysceander reached to latch hands with the boy and pull him up, Dreak rumbled a dragonic hello, which of course made Anthen’s sole way of remaining up there Lysceander’s help. She pulled him fully up and made sure that everyone was hooked in tightly. “Now, is everyone ready? Yes, ah good. Thank-you very much. We’ll be off…” And Dreake shot into the air, jolting most of them. “We’re going Between now!” she shouted as a warning, and they all held their breath, save for Lys, who was far too used to it by now.
“That was so exciting!” Xeora exclaimed as they landed and Lysceander quickly slid down to help catch the girls. Both young men refused her help, but Xeora gleefully slid into her arms to brace her landing. “Rider Lysceander, will you be flying us back?”
“I am unsure, mi’Lady Xeora, but I shall surely see you during the gather. Now I’m afraid that I must be off to pick up that Lord Holder I have waiting. Have a wonderful gather.” Lysceander bowed, then quickly scaled the dragon’s shoulder. She could hear both girls scolding the boys for taking so long and keeping a Lord Holder waiting. She grinned as they shot off, and told Dreake to time it just so that they would arrive exactly on time.
“Ah, so I was to receive the services of that marvelous girl who’s already become legend!” the Lord Holder she’d come to collect said with a broad grin, holding out his hand for her to take, as if she would have it kissed as any other girl might. She quickly clasped his wrist and shook his hand instead. “I requested to be flown to the gather by you personally. It is a pleasure to meet you. Glad to see that times are changing so wonderfully. I say it’s about time we have more diversity in the ranks. I do hope that your magnificent impression of your bronze didn’t cause you too much fuss, did it?”
Lysceander bowed deeply in a sweeping, graceful motion, putting on her brightest and most charming smile for the man. “Of course not, Lord Holder Myket. My Weyrleaders were quite open to it, and have trained me wonderfully. It is common knowledge that you cannot change dragon choice.”
“Too true, too true!” He declaired, laughing loudly and clapping Lysceander on the back. “Now, introduce yourself and that grand beast of yours.”
“I am Bronze Rider Lysceander, and this is Dreakenolianth. Our most honored pleasure, mi’Lord.” She said with another sweeping bow after gesturing to her dragon. Dreake, in turn, bowed his head low as well, amusing the lord no end. “Dreake, this is Lord Holder Myket.”
“Wonderful to meet you big guy. If only all other dragons were so well received!” The man laughed, then allowed himself to be helped up the dragon’s shoulder, as well as the two men accompanying him. “Now, I’ll expect you to find me at some point in the Gather to discuss this. Very eager to hear, very eager.”
“Of course, mi’Lord. I shall come if I have the chance. I’m afraid that I may be on duty for the Weyrleaders, but if I may come, I shall.” Lysceander said with a nod, Dreake jumping into the air then. “We’ll be going Between now.”
Myket continued rambling happily about the polite manners of the rider and dragon all the way through Between and into landing, and how he so approved of the pair. He insisted once again that they find him during the Gather before Lysceander took off. >Loud, rambunctious man.< Was Dreake’s only comment.
>I quite agree.< Lysceander nodded as they turned to land at their last stop. The harper hall. There were two other dragons there, a green and a blue, for the other harpers attending. She had only to pick up the Masterharper and his guests. >I’ll be happy to see them again.<
“Lys! Oh, I’d hoped they’d send you for us!” The man laughed, gesturing her over quickly. She held out her hand for the customary shake in greeting, but the tall man pulled her into a friendly hug. “How are you? I’d heard that you got a special position back at your home Weyr.” He discreetly put a finger to his nose and winked.
“Well, with training such as yours, it was expected. Why else bother to foster me out to this particular Weyr when they could have easily given me their own training.” Lysceander replied with an equally conspiratal grin. “Dreake is eager to see you again, Masterharper.”
“Lys, you’re not going to say hello to me?” Came an insulted voice from behind the tall, aging man. She looked around the Masterharper to his highest journeyman, who held out his arms for her to hug as well. She indulgently hugged him, then stepped back. “Much better. They’re not putting you on over there, are they?”
“No more than to be expected. We both knew that I was going to put up with something all of my life.” She shrugged non-commitally, then led the three of them toward Dreake, his apprentice new since she’d last met him. “Not going to introduce me to your little friend?”
“This is Gindam. He’s the most wonderful voice.” The Masterharper said with a broad grin, gesturing for the boy to come forward as they stopped at the foot of her dragon. The boy stared up at the pale bronze, then at her, then back at the bronze. “Say hello, don’t just stare my boy.”
“Good to meet someone he deems worthy of apprenticing under him.” Lys said with a charming smile, holding her hand out for him. The boy held his out absently, clasping at the wrist and shaking. “I’m Lysceander. You’ll probably hear about me eventually if you haven’t already.”
“You’re the girl that impressed the bronze.” He said in hushed awe. She nodded. “You’re the girl that impressed the bronze.”
“Can he say anything else, Willeng?” She asked with a laugh, turning toward the journeyman, who shrugged in a joking manner. “Alright, we’ll try this. Say hello. Can you say hello?”
“I can say hello…” the boy said, blushing.
“Oh good, we got that out of him. Now, try, It’s nice to meet you Dreake.” Lysceander said, nodding.
The boy rolled his eyes, “‘It’s nice to meet you Dreake.’” At that the dragon brought his head around to look at the boy and nod a greeting. “Fire and rain!”
“Well don’t yell in his face boy, none of us are deaf.” Lysceander said with a small frown, patting her dragon as she climbed up, then started helping them to do the same. “Alright now, we’ve got to leave or we’ll be late. I’ve got to report to the Weyrleaders that Lord Holder Myket has a strange enthusiasm over my little situation, and has requested I join him for part of the Gather.”
“Well, my suggestion would be to give what you get, and make sure you’re getting good for yours.” The Masterharper said with a broad grin, sandwiching Gindam between himself and Willeng. Lysceander only gave a nod, then shot into the air, not giving warning this time before going Between. They were soon arriving in the bowl along with several other dragons, and dismounted to go about their business. “I’ll expect that you’ll find me at some point during the Gather to share a wine?”
“I wouldn’t dream of skipping out on you, Harper.” She said with a wink, then trotted off, Dreakenolianth flying off to a perch where he could sun himself comfortably. She smiled as her Weyrleaders gave her much the same warning that the Harper had, then turned to go enjoy herself at the Gather.

TBC
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