This takes place several decades after my other stories.

L'san opened his eyes wearily. The room was dimly lit but he could still see his loved ones round him. Jassenthe of course sat beside him. Her hair was more grey than brown now but to his eyes she was still as beautiful as ever. Beside her was J'than, his weyrmate, around them his children, all of them grown now, Lissenthi a queenrider, Luca, Lord Holder since old Lord Tomas had passed away,and all the others, every last one a rider or a master craftsman. And his friends, J'vor and Z'kiel, looking as old as he. Hestia and her children. His sister Crisanne a master healer, brother U'friec, Cassie and Carradoc.

He coughed, gasping for breath, the pain wracking his body. It was almost more than he could bear but he would not accept the fellis the healers offered. He refused to spend his final days too drugged to know what was happening. He knew he was dying, the disease that had first attacked his lungs had spread to other organs and there was no cure. He wanted only to be with his family and his beloved dragon. He didn't want to leave them, but he knew his time was short.

"Tired," he whispered, "so tired."

"Sleep, love," J'than said softly. "We'll be here when you need us."

L'san closed his eyes and slept for a while. When he awoke only his lover was there. The younger man smiled.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Like I've had enough. This is no way for a rider to die. I want to go between with Carynth, together to the end. Help me to do that."

"I can't," J'than whispered tearfully. "I can't let you go."

"Please, love, it's my right to choose my end. Don't deny me that."

With tears streaming down his cheeks the green rider helped his weyrmate to dress in his old worn wherhide riding gear. L'san bent his head to share a last kiss with his lover

"Be strong,"he whispered.

J'than helped him walk to the outer room where the others were gathered. They turned towards him with sorrowful eyes. He'd spoken to all of them over the last days, they knew what he wanted, none would try to stop him. Each in turn bade him farewell with a hug or a kiss. Last was Jassenthe who clung to him weeping.

"Please don't be so sad, my love. We've had a good life together. I don't regret anything."

He kissed her long and tenderly before giving her into his brother's care. He took the last faltering steps to Carynth's side.

"Are you ready for one last flight together?"

[I am, my rider.]

Side by side they walked out onto the weyr's ledge and looked out across the Weyr bowl. Below them were gathered ranks of men and women, among them so many of the hundreds of former weyrlings he'd trained, and everywhere, in the bowl, on every ledge, on the heights above their dragons, all gathered to pay their respects to their beloved weyrling master. Tears blurred L'san's vision as J'than helped him to mount. He took hold of the single harness strap, it wouldn't look good to fall off in front of so many people.

He glanced back at his family with a last sad smile.

"Goodbye," he said, his voice strong at the last.

'Let's go, my love.'

Carynth launched himself into the air, as agile as ever, and made a circuit of the Weyr as all the riders cheered. He gave one last bugle of triumph, and as he felt his rider's grasp weaken he went between.

Every dragon in the Weyr raised their voices, keening their grief for their lost companion.