AN: Anne McCaffrey is the genius that holds the rights to the Pern Book series. I only dabble in the sandbox and claim nothing for myself. If someone want's to continue this one-shot feel free. As for me, I just wanted to exercise this plot idea out of my system. Beware of grammar bugs, I hear they are mixed in here liberally.

Ruatha Hold, 29 turns after the death of Robinton

Jaxom stood mute as the coffin was interred into the ground. Tears streamed silently down his rugged and lined face. Sharra. The love of his life and mother of his children was gone. Taken by a virulent disease she contracted while serving as healer. Many had died and still many more were on their death beds at Fort Hold and the surrounding area. The disease had struck hard but the quarantine was rapidly put in place by the weyrs preventing all egress from the hold's lands. Those allowed in included a handful of healers of which one was Sharra his wife. He wasn't the only one to suffer as Menolly was said to have never left Sebell's side and was expected to pass at any time. His passing would mark a period when all of Pern would mourn. Though that did not seem to mean as much in the face of his own personal tragedy. Too many had died; luckily, the disease seemed to have little effect on children so that at least was a blessing.

His own children and grandchildren surrounded him. There was always a hand of support on him in the last few days. He supposed it was the need to share grief, but Jaxom was still not ready to share this grief. Instead he knelt down and dropped a wreath of exotic southern flowers onto his beloveds' casket and wept.

Harper Craft Hall, One Week Later…

Menolly was unmoored from her life. Sebell's passing left her in a state of non-comprehension of the daily minutia. Nothing seemed to matter anymore and the pain of daily living seemed to be unceasing. She even considered suicide to relieve herself of the ongoing suffering. She was a sensitive soul and the keen loss she felt kept her in that state. She was unable to break herself out of the looping nature of grief; one second you forgot and the next it came back all the more painful when you remembered. It was made worse as everthing that surrounding her reminded her of her loss. Not just of Sebell but her master as well. The twin pain was eating at her sanity. If not for her fair of fire lizards she suspected she would already be in the land of the dead.

She knew she was not experiencing the pain alone and had heard that her friend Jaxom was also failing to move on from his grief. His loss of Sharra was said to have destroyed the man. She had heard that he was now a pale image of the man she had known for so long. She found that hard to believe as Jaxom always seemed larger than life, not unlike her former master, another spike of grief embroiled her. It never seemed to end even the most innocent of thoughts rounded back to those whom she loved and lost.

Ruatha Hold, One Month Later…

He sat at his reading table in the Lord's study and was about to open a letter from Menolly. He suspected that it was a twin to the condolence letter that he had sent to her upon hearing the death of Sebell.

Jaxom,

First, thank you for the thoughtful and considerate words. I know, as do you, the pain you must be enduring even as I attempt to endure it myself. This is so hard my friend, to try to put into words how sorry I am for the passing of Sharra. She was without a doubt the most wonderfully kind person and dedicated healer on all of Pern. When she came to our Hall in the midst of the quarantine I knew you must have been wracked with worry and concern and then have it born out into loss. There are no words I can give to truly express my gratitude for Sharra's sacrifice and yours. Please know that you are always in my heart as one of my oldest and truest friends.

I have to say Jaxom, I know its selfish of me, but I don't know how much longer I can do this… The pain and loss are affecting me more than it should. It took so much for me to gather myself enough to even write this missive to you. I want you to know how much I loved you my friend and if I can't overcome this sorrow please know that I am sorry.

Yours Friend in Loss,

Menolly

Jaxom sat in shock, he had experienced the listlessness of loss but apparently Menolly was far beyond him. The thought of Menolly suiciding galvanized him into action. He started making plans… "Hold on Friend" he whispered to himself.

Ruatha Hold, The Next Day

"I trust you son to carry the burden as Lord Holder of Ruatha and to do the family proud" Jaxom intoned to his eldest son. "Father, why are you retiring now? You are still relatively young you could go on for several more decades."

"Jarrol, you may understand one day son; however, I need some time alone to process your mother's death and I can't do that surrounded by our life together." Jarrol sighed and tried to understand his father's motives; to be honest, he was also worried about shouldering the responsibility of being Ruatha's Lord.

"Father please don't disappear south forever; remember you still have family that needs and loves you." Jaxom grasped his eldest in firm hug, shook his head decisively. "Son you are ready now and I am needed elsewhere. Whether for a month, a year, or a lifetime I cannot say how long I will be away. That said, know that I love and support you and I am only ever a dragonflight away."

With that he retreated to Ruth's side loaded his travel gear on his winged companion and departed between to the cries of farewell of his loved ones.

Harper Craft Hall, Same Day

Jaxom descended into the craft hall to a warning bugle from the fire-height watch dragon. Ruth, please let the watch dragon know the reason for why I am breaking quarantine, remember we will not be dissuaded from our course.

Ruth had been greatly saddened by the loss of his rider's mate. Not just because of the mourning of the rider but because of the decades he had spent building a close friendship with Sharra; even to the point of taking her on her rounds throughout Pern at need of its people. Sharra for her part, never held back signs of her affection for the dragon; even caring for him as Jaxom had taught her.

Ruth bugled in return and was telepathically calling out, I am Ruth, I am Ruth, we come to help Master Menolly with her own sickness. Jaxom smiled at Ruth's own interpretation of their trip's purpose. Jaxom would probably hear no end to the breaking of quarantine at some point but at this time he really didn't care. He waited as Ruth flared and landed gently in front of the harper crafthall.

Jaxom dismounted with a grace that was easy to see. As a man in his mid fifties who enjoyed excellent health he still moved with a youthful vigor. That purpose of movement carried him into the craft hall and past others who would normally stop and question interlopers.

Jaxom had been one of the primary leaders of Pern for more then a decade after the passing of the previous leadership. As an elder Lord Holder and shaper of global events for most of his life everyone was familiar with the man. No one questioned him or his reasons for being in the hall or breaking quarantine; partly due to who he was but also in part due to a presence that he had carried within himself as he aged. Gravitas was a skill that was acquired through experience, and Jaxom had learned his lessons well.

As he approached the Masterharpers suite he was stopped by one of the Masters. "My Lord Jaxom, welcome!" he pandered. "Farner, I wish to see Master Menolly with all haste". Farner was an obsequious toad, but surprisingly he now stood up to Jaxom. "Master Menolly is in mourning and not receiving visitors."

Jaxom smiled, but not in a pleasant way; instead, it was a smile that incurred a threat.

Menolly was on her bed not having risen to even take care of her daily hygiene. She was disconnected from the world around her. That door kept the world that wanted to race ahead at bay for the time being. She knew abstractly the world continued without Sebell and that some would expect her to step into the role of Masterharper now. The very idea sickened her. There might have been a time in her youth when ambition would have made the concept desirable. Now in the face of her loss, it was the last thing she wanted.

Her firelizard's now spent most of their time outside; however, Beauty alone remained devoted to her, she was a lifeline that currently kept her in the world. The others did not understand a Menolly that did not move about, that did not sing, that did not "live". The behavior reminded her of her and Sebell's children that could not come for the funeral due to the drastic quarantine measures that were in place as they were all out in their respective assignments away from the the craft hall; thus preventing them from coming to support her and say goodbye to their father. They did write such lovely words to her, but not having her family present was hurting her all the more.

She was thinking on her time with Sebell a decade ago regarding a particularly romantic retreat that had gone on in the south, just them and their fire lizards. The time they had spent with each other had been magical. She recreated the scenes from her memory and immersed herself in them closing out the world around her again.

A disturbance brought her mind out of her reverie and back into the painful present. Her door was then pushed open roughly; she was bracing herself to give a verbal lashing when through the door she saw a man she hadn't seen in years. She breathed, "Jaxom, what are you doing here?"

"Jaxom, what are you doing here?" she breathed. Before he could respond she waved away the other Master, "thank you Farner, please close the door behind you." Jaxom took in Menolly from just inside the doorway and evaluated her current state. She was worse than he had thought; she appeared to be thoroughly exhausted, nothing tires the body more than mourning. Still, she was beautiful to him as when he had first met her, though silver locks now threaded through her dark hair and the subtle lines of age had begun to appear. "We're leaving, is what I am doing here," he stated.

As though struck by lightning Menolly was galvanzied by the strange idea that she stopped reclining in the bed and sat up glaring at Jaxom. "I will be doing no such thing; this is my home!" she battled back. Jaxom smiled at the newly rekindled life in her, "That got a reaction, good. You have to leave though, just like I had to leave," not stopping, "we are being haunted by our lives."

Menolly took in what he said and it made sense in a way but she was not convinced, "No, I will not leave my home." Jaxom only shook his head, "When a new masterharper is selected you will need to move out anyway. Its time Menolly, for us to strike out and build a new life in the south. Its time to retire Menolly." His words and argument had her tied up inside. She struggled under the weight of his argument and surety. She realized what he was saying and continued, his unsaid thought "with you?". He nodded, "Yes, with me."

"Its too soon for me, I am wracked with sorrow for Sebell." she complained. Jaxom nodded understandingly, "and I for Sharra." He continued, "that said we both need new surroundings and more importantly our friendship shall continue to be until we are ready for something else." He said quietly.

Menolly shook her head, though it made sense to her in a way that few things had since she lost her husband. Jaxom was offering her companionship without intimacy. He was offering friendship without entanglement. He was offering a new start far and away from everything. It was an enticing offer, she had always had an unrequited crush on Jaxom and it appears that he, Jaxom, had one on her as well.

"Where would we go?" she wondered aloud.

Jaxom smiled and stepped forward to take her hand, "I have a plan."