Disclaimer: I don't own the Dragonriders of Pern. All rights belong to Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey.
AN: This is a fic from the Harper Hall Trilogy.
"I want you to take some music to Half-Circle Hold. You, Sebell, and myself are to stay four sevendays. While we are there you will be helping with the nightly singing, and teaching the new songs to the children of the hold." Menolly looked at Masterharper Robinton in shock as his words echoed in her head. "We will be leaving tonight."
"Yes, Master Robinton." Menolly answered calmly. "Is there anything specific I will need to bring?"
"No, that is already taken care of."
"Thank you for the heads up. And coming with us." Menolly whispered to her master. He just nodded and smiled.
"Let us get ready for supper then." She smiled and waved goodbye as she headed towards the kitchens to get supper for her 9 fire lizards. She walked in and motioned to Camo to follow her with the meat bowl, and stepped out to the courtyard to feed her fair. After they fed the lizards she directed Camo back inside to finish helping in the kitchens and turned to the dinning hall. She quickly joined her friends, Sebell and Talmar, at their customary table.
"Hey what is a bronze dragonrider doing here?" One of the apprentices called out in confusion. "I thought that no one would rank a bronze."
"I didn't know that journeymen were being posted today." Another called.
"Who cares let's eat, we will find out when supper is over." Piemur stated above the din. Dinner was then promptly served and when everyone had eaten their fill, a gong was sounded and the Masterharper rose to speak.
"I will now announce the newest postings. Journeymen Menolly and Sebell will be taking four sevendays away to carry songs to the rest of Pern. They will be traveling to one of the most remote areas we have on the main continent, Half-Circle Sea Hold." Robinton announced to the shock of those who knew where Menolly had been raised. "I will be accompanying them, so I expect you all to behave while I am gone." He ordered the apprentices. With those words he, Menolly, Sebell and the dragonrider rose and walked out after gathering the bags at the front of the room.
"T'gellan, isn't it kind of funny that you are delivering me, once again to a place I am reluctant to go to?" Menolly asked the bronze dragonrider teasingly. "I was reluctant to come here and now..." She trailed off as she began to think more seriously about how she was returning to her former hold. "I never thought I would go back there." She stated softly to her friends, shaking her head. She followed her fellow harpers to the dragon that would return her to Half-Circle. A few minutes later she saw the hold below her and knew that this was going to be a rough visit. Monarth (the bronze dragon) landed close to the main hold and his passengers disembarked quickly. Harper Elgion stood with Sea Holder Yanus, his Lady Mavi, and their son Alemi waiting to see who it was that was to grace their hold.
Elgion stepped forward and introduced the harpers, one whom had their hood up, to the Sea Holder and family. "Yanus, Mavi, Alemi, this is Masterharper Robinton, Journeyman Sebell and..." he trailed off when he realized he didn't know the third person. Menolly looked at the masterharper, who nodded and pulled her hood back, causing her family to gasp in shock.
"Journeyman Menolly, at your service." She stated proudly. "Not that we need to be introduced, seeing as I am from here originally." Mavi looked at her youngest daughter and felt a pang of relief, her lost child was safe. Yanus's face was tight with anger and Alemi had a look of relief visible in his eyes. Before anyone could react to her bitter statement they heard a shriek from the main door, and upon turning to see what was wrong they saw a woman staring at Menolly. "Sella, how are you?" Menolly asked her older sister calmly.
"We thought you were dead, now where have you been?" Sella shouted. "Have you been running around to get out of helping here?" She demanded angrily.
"Sella, I have been in Harper Hall." Menolly answered. "I have been writing songs." At these words Yanus seemed to shake off his shock and he grabbed Menolly roughly by the arm and started to drag her into the hold, so that he could punish her for disobeying his direct orders.
"Sea Holder, release my Journeyman, now." Robinton's voice cut through the air angrily.
"I have every right to discipline my daughter for going against her hold." Yanus stated in a rage. "She was told not to tune-make, and now she will pay the price for it."
"She is a composer, one that is desperately needed. And she is a harper, first and foremost." Sebell answered.
"Father, you have no right to be angry at me." Menolly stated raising her voice. "I left the hold so that I could continue writing and enjoying music. I have survived Threadfall, living holdless for several sevendays, and have Impressed 9 fire lizards. I have been a help to people all over Pern and there is no reason you should 'punish' me." She snapped. "I am not afraid of you anymore."
"Menolly, calm down." Sebell stated placing a calming hand on her shoulder. She sighed, and nodded.
"Shall we go and get everything set up?" Robinton asked Elgion who nodded.
"Welcome home Menolly." Mavi said softly, "For however long you wish to stay you are welcome." Yanus turned and walked back into the hold and everyone followed. A cry went up from many of the people in the hold when they recognized Menolly, as many were happy she was back. After the singing that night many people came up to the 'new' harpers and stood around talking to them. Menolly walked away from the group and went over to Old Uncle. She stopped in front of him and when he recognized her she gave him a hug.
"We missed you, you know." One of the Aunts stated.
"I know, I missed some of you as well." Menolly softly answered. "Would you like to meet some fire lizards?" She asked bringing a smile to many of their faces.
"Fire lizards are only a myth." Old Uncle stated.
"Are you sure? Cause I have 9." The group with the masterharper gasped in shock as Menolly raised her voice and called out to her fair. "Beauty, will you and the others please show yourselves?" Several fire lizards winked into view and all but two were flying around Menolly. "Calm down and settle." Beauty landed on her shoulder, while the others found 'perches' on someone or something else, be it chairs or tables. She motioned to the blue lizard to land softly on Old Uncle. "I named this one Uncle because it acts a lot like you." She informed the old holder. He smiled at her in wonder. "He likes it when you softly stroke his eye ridges." Old Uncle did and got a crooning noise out of the lizard. Menolly turned to her parents and motioned for Rocky and Diver to fly towards them. "Yanus, meet Rocky, Mavi, meet Diver." She introduced. Kimi and Zair both protested loudly at the lack of attention they were getting causing Robinton and Sebell to laugh at their jealous reactions. Once they were all introduced the group all were watching them in amazement. "Masterharper, I suggest that we turn in for the night." She said softly.