Zanese and Asilanyth

Zanese has Impressed beautiful Light Green Asilanyth!!!!!!!

Smiling, she worked her way through the tunnels. Most people would think her life boring and her talent wasted, but Zanese was happy. She was happy with herself and happy with her work. The weyr afforded her a lot of opportunities that hold and craft could not. If she had chosen either of the other routes, she'd probably be handfasted by now, and that wasn't something the raven-haired beauty wanted... at least not right now.

Zanese's smile remained as she headed into the next weyr. Her job was simple. All she had to do was change the linens. That had led to many interesting sights and events. Some of which weren't all that unpleasant.

The lower caverns worker had learned many lessons as well. "Is there anyone here," she called out. If someone was, she had to make sure she wasn't interrupting anything.

"Come in," called a male voice. His voice was rather pleasant to the young woman's ears, and Zanese smiled inwardly as well as outwardly.

The young woman adjusted her white top and black skirt then walked into the weyr and quickly spotted it's occupant. Her green eyes scanned him taking in the sight. His chestnut hair was medium length and hung down to his chin. His light brown eyes were soft, and his face held a certain gentleness that appealed to Zanese. "Good afternoon," she greeted him cheerfully. "I'm just here to collect your linens."

The dragonrider returned her smile from where he sat at a table pouring over some hides. It was echoed in the depth of his eyes. "The bed is right through there. You aren't the usual worker who comes. What happened to Shalla?"

Zanese laughed softly. It was a light fluttery sound with a certain lilt that could draw anyone's attention. "The silly thing broke her leg, so I've taken her route until she's well. My name is Zanese," she answered with a flutter of her eyelashes. "I'm at your service." The young woman gave him a little bow that was more than sufficient to provide him a look down her dress at her abundant cleavage.

The dragonrider ignored the obvious pass and commented,"Sorry to hear about Shalla. How long will she be gone?"

"Playing hard to get," the lower caverns worker thought to herself and grinned. She always had the most fun with the ones who resisted. Zanese moved closer to the dragonrider and laid a hand on his shoulder. "At least six sevendays, but there's no need to fret about her. She'll be fine, and meanwhile, you'll have me." She slipped further behind him and began to rub his shoulders. She leaned down so her chest brushed against his neck and blew softly into his ear.

R'del arched his back and stood up quickly. "Ummm...Zanese. It is Zanese, isn't it? Could you do me a small favor and take a look at my dragon outside?"

"Anything for you," she grinned though she didn't quite understand the request. Why would he want her to look at his dragon? Zanese gave his butt a squeeze and giggled as she walked by and out toward the ledge. Her grin broadened and then quickly fell as she spotted the green on the couch. She cursed under her breath and headed back into the weyr. "Well I've made quite the fool of myself, haven't I?"

"Not completely. It's partially my fault for not wearing my knots. How could you have known? Anyway..." R'del broke off, and his eyes clouded over as his dragon Aalyith spoke to him. He shook his head as he slowly came back to the present. "Hey, Zanese, have you ever considered being a candidate for bonding a dragon? Aalyith and I are in the process of training to be Searchriders, and she just informed me that you could be a candidate."

The young woman's features twisted into a scowl. "Absolutely not! I lost both of my parents to Thread! Not all the marks on Pern could convince me to stand for a clutch and to share their fate! I don't care how much you say a dragon's love is worth. I will not stand!"

R'del's shock at Zanese's vehemence was evident in his face. "I didn't mean to upset you, but you are needed." He continued quickly before she could start up again. "Wait a second. I haven't finished. I'm terribly sorry for what happened to your parents, but just because it happened to them doesn't mean the same will happen to you. Also, Thread doesn't fall as often or as heavily as it used to. There are even some places where it doesn't fall at all. So, there's no reason for you to fear that you will share your parents' fate."

"Thread still falls here, and you expect me to believe there are places where it doesn't fall at all. You expect me to say 'Okay, I'll be a dragonrider, so long as the big bad Thread can't get me.' Is that it," she raved. Her green eyes flashed her upset, and memories of her parents' deaths surged to the fore of her mind. Even now, ten years later, it seemed like yesterday.

R'del sighed. Convincing her was going to be very difficult. He picked up some skins from the table. "Would look at these for a second?" he asked handing her the skins. "Those are the lists of the numbers of candidates needed at other weyrs, caers, and hatcheries. It's what I was working on when you came in. Do you see how many empty spaces there are? Do you know what happens to a dragon who doesn't bond? Most of them die. Some bond with other dragons, but they never have the love that is shared between a rider and his dragon. That is why you are needed so much," he said indicating the skins.

Zanese took a couple of deep breaths trying to push away all of the negative thoughts and feelings that had surfaced since he'd asked her to become a candidate. "I'm sure," she began slowly, "that there are other people out there for the dragons. People better suited for that life. I'm quite content to work in the lower caverns for the rest of mine. I doubt a dragon would want me anyway."

"That's the point, Zanese. Dragons don't just bond with anybody. It takes special types of people. People like you. Besides, a dragon would want you to bond with. That's what being Searched is all about. Aalyith said that you would make a good candidate because she senses that you probably would bond with a dragon," he said smiling. "One of the places on the list is Ryslen, and I think that you would like it there."

The young woman turned the thoughts around in her head. Her parents would have wanted her to stand. She could remember her mother telling her when she was younger about the life of a dragonrider. Zanese shook her head. Her dark braid fell over one slender shoulder. "All right, greenrider. You win. I'll stand at Ryslen, if they'll have me, but only if you and Aalyith will be the ones to take me there."

"Agreed. I'll have to ask first since I'm not technically a Searchrider yet, but I'm sure Weyrwoman Rhiannon won't mind. By the way, for future reference, my name is R'del. I'm glad that you have decided to change your mind, and I'm sure that Ryslen will accept you."

"Well, we'll just have to see about that. For now, I have duties to take care of. I'll be back to see you again soon. Hopefully, Weyrwoman Rhiannon will have given you permission to take me to Ryslen," she replied handing him back his skins. Zanese went and gathered the linens pausing at the entrance to R'del's weyr before continuing on. She turned back. "R'del, one last thing. Can we please keep the rest of this incident to ourselves?"

"Of course," he said with a laugh. "It serves me right for not wearing my knots. I guess I've learned my lesson."

"Indeed. Good day, Greenrider R'del. We shall meet again soon," the young woman said with a bright smile. Then she left the weyr to continue with her duties. If she ran too late, Natarana would have her head.

Special thanks to my little sister Jess for helping to write this story.