DISCLAIMER: None of this is mine, except the random side characters, which don't do much in any case.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As someone pointed out, I left crafthalls and craftmasters out of my synopsis. This was so I could focus on the dragon riders. Well, here I'm going to have to put in a note on them. Craft halls carry out the various crafts on Pern, Healercraft handles healing, Tannercraft tanning, Weavercraft weaving, and so on. Most of the names are self explanatory. The only craft that I think really need a special note is Harper craft. Harpers are apparently musicians, and they do play music, and sing, and offer training in such. But they also serve many other roles and it perhaps best to say Harpers deal with information. They are teachers to the young, instructing in history, language, reading and so on. They also have the task of turning important historical events into songs and ballads, so that they are recalled by future generations. They are often involved in politics, and even espionage. And, they, with all the major crafts, are very important at gathers.
Fai twirled the journeyman healer girl enthusiastically about the dance square. This might just be, he reflected wistfully, his favorite part of gathers. The dancing was always marvelous. Or perhaps, it was the wine he liked best, since there was little that could compare with Benden wine. If only K'rogane would actually allow himself to participate in dancing more often, he thought with a sigh, in spite of his pride, he was sure that dancing would outdo wine easily. However, it was his nature, and Fai forgave him for it, after all, it was not as though there were a lack of able willing partners at a gather, such as this flushed, smiling redhead. He had picked her from the crowd for her pretty looks and pleasant face that he hoped meant that she'd make good company, and she had proved as sweet natured as she'd appeared. Not to mention she had been more than pleased when a dragonman had asked her to dance.
Fai realized as the harpers played the final notes of their tune and the dancers ceased their revolutions around the square, that by the end of this, their third dance, he was as flushed as she, and panting at the exertion. Whatever K'rogane said about personal pride, this was most certainly an exhausting and superb form of exercise.
"Fancy a glass of wine? I've a decent white," Fai asked the young woman, Hallina, giving her an enthusiastic grin.
"Oh, thank you! I'm parched," she answered him, fanning her face for a slight dramatic emphasis.
Do you think K'rogane will like that? Mokonath queried.
Well, he can get over it, if he does mind. He hardly ever dances at gathers.
It bothers you a lot, the green observed.
Fai nearly snorted a contradictory chuckle, Kuro-mine never dances!
He felt the dragon rumble slightly, disliking the evasion in his tone. That does not, she added, mean that it does not bother you.
You're far too perceptive, aren't you dear? Fai chuckled, still unused to the fact his every thought was known to the dragon, even after two turns of partnership. Is it too cold for you on the heights, now that it's dark?
The rocks hold the heat from the sun, she answered, and I have Ginryuth to warm me.
Then go to sleep, dearest.
All the while, as the exchange had taken place, the green rider had been leading Hallina through the throng, weaving his way back to the table he'd left K'rogane at with the wine. As they approached, he shouted for the other rider, who pointedly ignored him, and his companion.
"Kuro-bronze!" he chided in exasperation as he fetched a seat from a nearby table for Hallina, "You can be a bit more welcoming, when I've brought you such pretty and charming company!"
K'rogane simply scowled, glancing upward at the pair, causing Fai to add to Hallina, "He acts like some crotchety old uncle, but he's harmless. And actually, only a few years older than I am."
Fai flirted openly and playfully with all the pretty girls at the gathers, but he was never deceptive. He always made sure they understood he was a green rider, and that he was all that his status entailed. He simply sought pleasing company, given that K'rogane would not oblige, and nothing more. Not to mention, it never hurt to make the man a bit jealous.
"Who're you?" K'rogane stared at Hallina, taking in her appearance. Pretty, yes, but not beautiful; there was something off in the proportions of her nose to the rest of her face. And surely not as charming as Fai claimed she was.
"I am journeyman healer Hallina, bronze rider K'rogane. Fai's told me that you don't much enjoy gathers," she announced politely.
"I hate crowds," K'rogane mumbled, glairing at the woman.
"Do you see what I mean?" Fai gave an exaggerated sigh, making the woman giggle, "this is why I'm forced to seek other company at gathers."
"I can't possibly imagine hating gathers! The dancing is so fun and the clothes you see are lovely," Hallina chattered back, "And it is ever so nice to have time away from duties. Surely even a dragonrider thinks as much."
K'rogane gave her a stare as if to say that the girl had no right to know what a dragonrider might think, and she should know as much.
Well, I like the rest, Ginryuth commented smugly to him. K'rogane chose to ignore the dragon.
"Hallina!" a voice suddenly called. The tree looked up in time to see a young woman about the age of their guest making her way through the crowd, "Hallina, I thought the dragonriders had stolen you away! Meaning no offence, dragonmen," she inclined her head toward Fai and K'rogane.
"Ah, none at all, I assure you," Fai answered smoothly.
"Is something the matter, Prina?" Hallina asked the woman.
"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head enthusiastically, "it's just, Tremen was asking about you. He wants to dance a set with you. Tremen!"
"Dragonrider, if you would excuse me?" the girl said, courteously inclining her head.
"Ah, it is a shame that I'll be denied your company," Fai sighed, "But do as you must, I'll get by. Good luck with Tremen," he winked conspiratorially.
The girl blushed lightly, betraying her feelings toward whoever Tremen was, before rushing of to join her friend in a flurry of green gather dress. K'rogane was not upset to see her go.
"Kuro-dragon, don't you think you might have been a bit nicer, or at least not so scary?" Fai sipped his wine leisurely.
"Do you think you might have avoided introducing me as 'Kuro-bronze'?" K'rogane countered with much more vehemence.
"Ah, but that's much less frightening, and easier to remember than K'rogane is!"
K'rogane stared at Fai a moment, and then droned sarcastically, "You actually know how to pronounce it?"
Fai smiled brightly and seemed about to give an equally teasing answer, but stopped when the first few notes of the Harpers instruments sounded. It was obvious immediately what the tune was, from the jaunty tempo and excited cheers from the young among the crowd. Fai's own blue eye's practically sparkled with mirth as he recognized it, crying exuberantly, "The toss dance!"
He looked at K'rogane expectantly, as this was his favorite, his very favorite, and the bronze rider knew as much. The other man was pointedly avoiding eye contact with Fai's pleading gaze, starring at his wine glass, dark bangs hiding his eyes.
"Kuro…" the thinner man said, brushing a lock of his blond hair back.
"What?" the bronze rider demanded.
"The dance, silly; you can't have forgotten that it's my favorite. It always has been," the green rider answered. "Please?"
K'rogane heaved an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes before rising from his seat and offering his arm to Fai.
The dance itself was quick, favored by the young and agile, as it involved the smaller partner being tossed about. But then, neither K'rogane nor Fai was past twenty-four turns in age, and both were fit from riding such frequent falls. If they were among a minority in being a pair of men, Fai couldn't be concerned, for he was too swept up in the dance itself, and scarcely minded such things anyway. It was hardly shocking, after all, to anyone but close minded holders. K'rogane himself cared little for others' opinions, and could tolerate dances, when required; if only for the lovely look on Fai's face.
You seem much happier now, Ginryuth interjected.
Why aren't you asleep? K'rogane asked, annoyance masking a slight concern.
I was listening; I like the music the harpers play, the dragon replied, in a contented tone.
They play well enough, I suppose, the man conceded. You should sleep.
I am not tired, Ginryuth replied.
The dance soon ended, the pair just barely finishing, and both feeling exhausted. They returned to their table, a wide satisfied grin on Fai's face, even K'rogane admitting that it had been enjoyable, if only just. The lithe man grasped his cup, drinking down the reminder of the wine in it, and then reached for the wineskin.
"Thank you, Kuro-love." The other simply responded with an inarticulate grunt, causing Fai to laugh at him. "You are much sweeter than you seem, you know."
Fai chuckled again, when the only response he received was another noncommittal sound.
They did not take long to finish off the rest of the wine, while chatting pleasantly about the gather. Or rather, Fai talked; K'rogane mostly grunted and responded with various monosyllabic answers, as was his character. It did not offend the green rider in the slightest, as he knew this was a serious conversation by K'rogane standards. Towards the end of the wineskin, however, Fai was giggling, and looking rather flushed, as one a bit far gone in drink was apt to. It made sense; he had been drinking most of the evening. Fai reached for the wine again, and found that it was empty, breaking off mid sentence with a frown.
"Oh? We're out of wine!" He said, with overly dramatic surprise. He stood, perhaps a bit unsteadily, declaring "I shall venture forth and retrieve more!"
"Oi, you sure?" K'rogane asked, not sure how far gone Fai was, and not really liking the idea of him wandering about drunk. He had a disconcerting habit of disappearing when he did that.
"I'll be fine, Kuro-Kuro. Surely I can make it to the wine stall and back to my table at a gather! Now, you just wait here, I'll see if I can get a red this time," with that, Fai turned, and slipped into the crowd before K'rogane could raise any further objections. With nothing more to do, he had to simply sit and wait.