Disclaimer: I don't own Pern. I do, however own most of the characters in this story.

Chapter Two: Music

W'lam folded up the music sheets and prepared to leave from the lesson. Nairyry stretched; she had been sitting in the chair through his teaching for the past two hours. "So just when is 'our friend' going to show up?" she asked again. It was four days past the first time she had seen the new music for the Impression day and the person the Weyrsinger still referred to as 'our friend' had not put in an appearance.

"Our friend had sent a message, by fire lizard, that we'll all practice together two days from now." W'lam still refused to name the mysterious harpist who was to join in.

Nairyry hoped that 'our friend' knew the music so they could mostly work on fine-tuning it –she smiled slightly at the pun on string instruments– perfectly for the Impression, likely to come within the week. W'lam picked up his guitar while the Queenrider slipped her lap harp into its wherhide case.

Thyrath rumbled as the Weyrsinger passed her, and he bowed to the gold dragon, who nodded to him, eyes whirling gently.

He is a good bronze rider, Thyrath told her rider. I like him.

So do I, but that doesn't mean he likes me back. Nairyry sighed at the understatement. She had come to realize that, despite the Threadscore scar running in a pattern down his cheek, he was not all that hard on her eyes. Truth be told, she thought, knowing her dragon would likely know what she was thinking, truth be told she liked him more than a friend.

If she was honest she thought him the best man she had met. It was still a lie to herself and her dragon.

If her dragon was to rise to mate she wanted it to be with Jurcath. She wanted it to be W'lam who was beside her then, not a strange, distant ma. But she couldn't really feel anything besides fear towards the dragon's mating flight. Not since…

I like Jurcath too. He like me. So does W'lam, Thyrath said, eyes whirling gently in understanding at her rider.

Everyone like you, silly, she thought back with a grin. You're a queen!

And they like you too. Not just because you're my rider- they like you for who you are. So does W'lam, she added slyly. And I like Jurcath very much too.

Really? asked Nairyry in surprise.

Her dragon nodded with a satisfied rumble.

She turned her attention back. W'lam was watching her, and amused expression on his face. "What?" she asked him a little defensively.

"It's just funny to see a rider's face as she talks to her dragon," he explained, and she shrugged. "See you and 'our friend' later," he added and turned with a wave.

"W'lam?" she asked the Weyrsinger tentatively. "What-" she swallowed, the started again. "What is a mating flight like?" She stood, biting her lip, twisting her fingers together and rushed on. "I think she's due to rise soon. I'd like to know what to expect."

The bronze rider looked at her for a moment.

He came back in a set his thing on the ground next to his chair, inviting her to sit as well. "My Jurcath once rose and caught a green dragon. It –for me– was loosing myself with Jurcath. Their emotions" he waved to Thyrath " fill the riders, until the riders can no longer resist. They are too caught in their dragon's feelings to notice anything else. They are together as their dragons are. It is impossible to stop. When the woman accept the man, it is wonderful."

He paused, eyes bleak. "Sometimes the woman resists, but the man is too carried away with his dragon to notice. Then it is as good as rape." He blinked.

Both realized they were blushing. W'lam cleared his throat self consciously. "Perhaps you should get another Queenrider to explain. I'll make a botch of the woman's side."

"Thank you," she told him, still very aware that he was quite male. He nodded, cleared his throat again and strode out of the room, still pink.

000

The day after the next she was sitting, waiting for her lessons with the Weyrsinger and for 'our friend' to show up.

W'lam came soon after noon. He was alone.

"I thought you said that you mysterious friend was coming today," she complained, frowning a little at him,

"Later, Nyr. Our friend will join us today. After one more round just you and me." W'lam grinned as the Queenrider threw a withering look at him and pretended fright.

After running through the song with harp for Nairyry, guitar for W'lam and voice together she looked expectantly at the doorway. No one came in.

"Let's start again," he suggested. She sighed, but started strumming the harp in the opening phrase.

Halfway through a violin cam in. Nairyry kept her attention on the harping and singing. When a rather deep but clear and emotional woman's voice sang the part they had always left open she kept her eyes divided between harp and music, making sure she got it right.

The song ended with a flourish on each instrument. Then Nairyry eagerly looked up at the tall woman.

She wore her long black hair in a braid down her back, and held her violin carefully in a slender hand as she smiled at the Queenrider. The woman wore brown pants and a silver-gray shirt with a forest green tunic over, like the others, though Nairyry's was deep violet. At her side was a belt knife, and she wore hard-soled tan boots, as did the other two.

"This is the friend I spoke of. Nyr, may I present Talsan, granddaughter of Weyrwoman Lessa and Weyrleader F'lar, daughter of Bronzrider F'lessan and Lady Greenrider Tai. Talsan is also the rider of golden Sanmyth."