The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) 1967.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of
Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti
(piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH.
This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log Date:
	11/14/96

Log Cast:
	Mehlani, Skye, C'vadan, Bob (NPC), Caran (NPC), Lily, Talia (NPC),
Sayla

Log Intro:
	Having encountered Skye in the Benden Weyr Lower Caverns, Mehlani
was persuaded by the Weyrharper to sing for her -- and apparently Skye
liked what she heard, for she invited Mehlani to come and sing with her
a few times a sevenday, inwardly hoping also to encourage the shy young
girl to go to the Harper Hall to study for real.
	Although the notion of leaving Benden Weyr unnerves her, Mehlani
does love music, and so, shyly, she shows up one day at Skye's door....

----------
Mehlani, barely more than a slender little shadow, peeks around the edge of 
  the door.

Weyrharper's Office
Smooth stone walls rise up to a height of about 12 feet. There is a row of 
  glow baskets that line the walls. At night, when the room is lit merely by 
  these glows, it has an unearthly look to it because of the height of the 
  walls. While there is no window, there is an opening at the top of the door 
  which lets in a different flavor of light, especially in the early morning: 
  diffuse. Along one wall is a tall bookself filled with scrolls and even a 
  few books. There is a wooden bench and two wooden chairs which sit upon a 
  finely woven and brightly colored rug in front of a small and intimate 
  hearth. In addition, there is a fine wooden press to one side of the little 
  hearth. There are opaque screens which probably partition off Skye's 
  sleeping quarters.
The room smells faintly of lavendar.
Contents:
Skye
Obvious exits:
Wooden Door  

Skye who is sitting on a way-cool ledge in the stone, looks up from her day 
  dreaming when she hears the door creek open. "Good morning, Mehlani." Her 
  own voice is quiet, like watercolor on a sheeted paper. Welcoming.

Mehlani creeps more into view, accompanied yet again by her little bronze, who 
  chirrs. The child straightens up as she is acknowledged.

And Skye's glimmering golden firelizard is perched upon a chair not too far 
  from the door, cooing almost dovelike to the child and her little bronze. 
  The harper hops off the ledge (more shelf, really) and says, "I have a 
  little tea. Would you like some? And then we can sing a little?"

From afar, to C'vadan and Mehlani, Skye hears a knock on the partially opened 
  door and calls in a gentle voice, "Come in."

C'vadan steps in from the inner cavern, closing the heavy wooden door behind 
  him.
C'vadan has arrived.

The little girl's blue eyes shift slightly towards the door at the knock, and 
  she blinks, taking a step back from it as the brown rider comes in.

C'vadan peeks in. "Afternoon, WeyrHarper. Mehlani."

Mehlani considers a moment, then bobs her head up to C'vadan, once. On her 
  shoulder, Holl coos.

Skye says, "Good afternoon, Cav. Mehlani and I were just thinking of doing a 
  little singing. Come on in. I have some tea there, if you'd like it." There 
  aren't any other children here right now, though there might be some coming 
  in a few minutes. 'Riel chirrs at C'vadan in welcome. She recognizes him.

Mehlani asks tinily, "It's alright that I didn't come in the morning?"

C'vadan comes and and takes a seat. "Just wanted to see if there is anything I 
  could do to help with the children today, WeyrHarper."

Mehlani blinks again. Child_ren_? She cranes her little head towards the door 
  a moment, brow furrowing, as if she wonders whether anybody else is going to 
  show up at that door.

Skye touches the child lightly on the shoulder, "It's fine, Mehlani. I'm here 
  and you're here." Her head turns to Cav, expression welcoming. "I have a 
  class coming in soon, that you can definitely help with. Not allthe children 
  are as gentle as Mehlani." As Cav will soon find.

Mehlani nibbles her lip, then nods slowly up at the Harper. Holl flitters a 
  bit, eyeing that hand that touches his child's other shoulder, then settles 
  as he seems to sense the adult means no harm.

C'vadan chuckles. "They never change, do they?"

There is another knock at the door, but before Skye can do anything about 
  answering it, two young boys, the twin sons of an infamous blue rider barrel 
  into the room, tusselling. One, young Bob, falls at Cav's feet with a loud 
  oof.

Mehlani's eyes go round, as her fire lizard flitters again at the arrival of 
  the twins.

The other, Caran, starts to laugh boisterously. Nothing like a quiet moment 
  being interrupted.

C'vadan leans down to help the child up. "Careful now," he says softly.

Skye takes a step away from the boys, saying, "Come now. None of that. This 
  isn't the weyrbowl." She gives Cav a look and says, "I do need a little help 
  with discipline. This is a small class, but still."

C'vadan puts on his stern brownrider expression. "Behave," he says to the 
  boys, tone indicating he would broach no excuses.

Caran and Bob /blink/ at C'vadan. What's he doing here? Caran pipes up, 
  smart-aleky, "Don't you have some dragon to fly." why this is humorus, who 
  knows, but it makes both boys guffaw at Caran's giving Cav 'lip'.

Skye looks down at Mehlani, "We'll sing for the boys, ok?"
Skye looks at you for a moment.

As she eyes the boys, Mehlani's hand lifts, surreptitiously, to her collar, 
  touching a tiny glittering pin there. Holl cranes his head over and nuzzles 
  the same hand. At Skye's question, though, the girl looks startledly up at 
  the Harper, meaning evident in her gaze for all that she doesn't actually 
  say anything: _sing_ in front of the boys?!

C'vadan places a strong hand on each boy's shoulder. "Let us listen quietly," 
  he says, squeezing lightly. There is no way they are getting out of that 
  grip.

Skye frankly looks relieved that Cav is here. She takes a step back again, 
  silken skirts swishing on the ground with a pendulum grace. It's not that 
  she can't handle two boys, she handles more than that. However, it's nice to 
  have the freedom to relax her guard and concentrate on more important 
  things. "We'll sing the Weyrwoman teaching balad. You know that one, don't 
  you?" It's just a list of all Pern's senior weyrwomen, with funny little 
  things about them adn which weyrs they're at. Kinda like the ABC song.

Mehlani bobs her head slowly, still clearly anxious.

C'vadan leans back to listen, hands steady on the boy's shoulders.

The boys look a little frozen. Nothing like a brown rider to put a damper on 
  making fun of Mehlani, hmm? And she looks so anxious all the time. Perfect 
  boy bait. Caran gives Cav a stoney look. You just wait, brownrider.

Lily steps in from the inner cavern, closing the heavy wooden door behind her.
Lily has arrived.

Skye and Mehlani are standing near one wall, Cav is nearby, his hands on two 
  boys shoulders, making them behave.

On Mehlani's shoulder, Holl pointedly croons, lavishing a fair amount of 
  nuzzling on Mehlani's right ear. Don't worry, beloved bondmate, he'll 
  protect you!

Lily enters with her toddling daughter, smiling pleasantly to Skye. "I know 
  she's a bit young, but would you mind if Talia and I sit in on your cklass 
  for a little bit?"

C'vadan smiles at Mehlani, then turns and nods to Lily. "Afternoon, Master 
  Lily."

Mehlani, as Lily and her child come in, blinks yet again. More people?

Talia, held securely in her mother's arms, blinkblinks her little eyes and 
  waves a pudgy little fist to the bigger people. "Hi!" she says in a clear, 
  tiny voice.

C'vadan smiles at the little girl. "Hello, Talia," he says softly.

Skye smiles, "Certainly, Master Lily. Mehlani was just going to sing the 
  Weyrwoman song."
Skye leans over to pick up her gitar. She leans on the back of a neaby chair 
  and picks out the notes of the song, eyes looking at Mehlani, to see if 
  she's ready. She's playin an introduction, and her experienced journeyman 
  touch upon the instrument can make an introduction last a long time, if 
  necessary.

Lily smooths back her daughter's jet black curls and smiles first to C'vadan, 
  then to Skye. "Thank you," she says quietly before turning her full 
  attention to Mehlani.

This singing concept is getting more unnerving by the minute -- though, 
  perhaps she'd better obey the Weyrharper before anybody else shows up, like 
  Father's Wing, or the entire kitchen staff. Mehlani's stance subtly changes 
  as she squares her shoulders, and with a sucked in breath, she comes in at 
  an appropriate place.
  
C'vadan reminds the two boys to behave with a gentle squeeze on their 
  shoulders.

Talia smiles at C'vadan, the smile widening as the pretty music begins and the 
  bigger girl starts to sing.

The girl's voice is soft, high and clear, delivering the names of the 
  Weyrwomen as requested. Darci. Germaine. Vivian. Shandra. Jehrina (and on 
  the Jehrina verse, it might be noted that Mehlani relaxes a little, and a 
  bit of a shine enters her gaze).

C'vadan turns his attention to Mehlani and her beautiful voice. His grip 
  relaxes just a little, but is still a constant reminder to the boys that he 
  will not let them interrupt.

Lily smiles, appreciatively, as Mehlani sings. Talia, for her part, is 
  transfixed by the voice, cooing softly, and in tune.

The song is of moderate pace, each stanza naming a senior weyrwoman, the weyr 
  she's from and a little about her. There are nine weyrs to go through, so 
  the song is of moderate length as well.

The bronze on Mehlani's shoulder would glow, if he could; as it happens, his 
  eyes whirl bluely and he leans in adoration against the girl's head. Mehlani 
  finishes at last, mouth immediately going firmly shut.

And as the song finishes up, the harper gives a final strum of the gitar, just 
  as Bob yells, "Way to go, Mehlani." Hehe. He'll be touble. You just wait.

Mehlani eyes Bob with a notably wary look, then glances up at the Harper.

Lily gives Bob a decidedly disapproving look, then smiles to Mehlani. "That 
  was very well done dear. Both Talia and I agree."

Skye shoots Bob a look, especially as he's tryin to escape Cav's grip. She 
  says to Mehlani, with a gracious nod, "Well done." And she has a summery 
  smile to match. It seems Skye has found a favorite with the young Mehlani.

C'vadan waits to see what the WeyrHarper says before disciplining the boy.

Mehlani doesn't smile, but she glances at Skye and at Lily in turn, and gives 
  a single shy nod.

C'vadan would applaud, but his hands are full.

Bob tries to pull away from Cav.

Skye says, "You know, I had only about twelve turns, when I became an 
  apprentice at Harper Hall." This is said to Mehlani. Skye is counting on Cav 
  to keep the boys in line, see?

One facet of her attention still on the boys -- and Holl watches them 
  guardedly from her shoulder -- Mehlani slowly nods.

C'vadan squeezes Bob's shoulder just a little.

And while Bob distracts Cav, Caran makes a break for it. Of course he'es going 
  to try and tackle Mehlani, if he gets a chance. Bad Bad boys.

Lily shifts her daughter slightly and smiles as she watches Skye and Mehlani. 
  Talia is far too interested in all the new interesting things. She lets out 
  a loud gurgle as Caran tries to get away from C'vadan.

Caran finds out how quick and strong C'vadan is when the hand grips him 
  tightly. "Stop," is all he says.

Mehlani goes quite white, and her bronze hisses, a quite uncharacteristic 
  sound for him.

C'vadan stands, lifting both boys by their belts, their feet dangling. 
  "WeyrHarper," he says with great respect, "should I remove these two?"

Skye doesn't see Caran, she's too busy trying to convince Mehlani that it 
  might be time to go to harper hall, to notice Caran, though she does look up 
  when she hears the brown riders voice. She says, "Behave or its off to do 
  chores." Cav has a different, better way, of discipline. When he stands with 
  the boys raised in the air, it is very difficult for her not to laugh, 
  though she is expert at hiding her feelings. "Perhaps takin them to the 
  headwoman to peal tubers would be a good idea, Cav."
Skye's eyes are twinkling, though maybe only a few notice.

C'vadan nods. "As you wish, WeyrHarper," he says softly, though his deep voice 
  carries well. He nods to Lily. "Master Lily," he says, also with great 
  respect. Winking at Mehlani, he takes the two struggling boys out.

Bob says, "I'll get you for this, Mehlani!" as he's dangling.

Not a sound out of the little girl, as she shies back a bit, one hand lifted 
  to her collar pin.

C'vadan shakes Bob a little, just to remind him of his situation.
C'vadan steps out into the inner cavern, closing the door behind him.
C'vadan has left.

When Bob makes that threat, though, Skye frowns. She says, "I'd like to talk 
  to you later, Cav."

Skye tells the girl, "Nothing to worry about. They're just boys and will grow 
  up." She turns to Lily, "Talia certainly as a fine little voice, too." She 
  strums the gitar, idly, but is playing yet another teaching song, maybe 
  warming up her fingers for it.

C'vadan steps in from the inner cavern, closing the heavy wooden door behind 
  him.
C'vadan has arrived.
C'vadan returns.

Mehlani, ever so slightly, frowns at the word "boys".

C'vadan quietly retakes his seat. "The Headwoman was quite happy to have 
  additional hands to peel tubers," he reports.

The harpers quarters are now boyless, for the present. Well, Cav doestn' count 
  since he's a man, right? Skye nods to him as he returns, but is thinking of 
  focusing Mehlani's attenion to Not On Boys. "How about another song. Not a 
  teaching ballad. Maybe something different? Hmm? A duet?" For the 
  entertainment of Lily, her daughter, and Cav.

Mehlani glances out the door once more, then hesitantly bobs her head.

C'vadan sits quietly, ready to enjoy the concert.

Lily goes home.
Lily has left.

Skye's fingers, gentle on the strings, bring the gitar to life with warm 
  hollow music, the first measure of the Lay Of Moretta, a popular tune, "Do 
  you know this one, Mehlani? I can sing alto to your soprano..." Silvery grey 
  eyes watch smile, more relaxed. No badly behaved boys.

Mehlani relaxes a little at the chords, and her brow furrows. "I kind of know 
  it," she murmurs. "I saw it in the Records."

Skye says, "I'll help you over the rough spots. We'll go slow, Ok?" She shifts 
  her position from leaning on the chair to standing.

Mehlani nods again, timidly.

Skye glances very briefly at Cav, then back tothe girl. She begins the 
  introduction, slowing down the tune and closing her own eyes briefly as she 
  lifts her voice in song. Skye can have quite a bit of volume when she 
  chooses, but now her voice is quiet and dreamy so that it will blend with 
  Mehlani's child-like soprano. It is a romantic tune, which first tells of 
  Moretta and how she came to be weyrwoman, and her bond with Liri.

Mehlani stands straight now, fire lizard still perched loyally on her little 
  shoulder. It is evident at once that the child does know the tune, though 
  the words occasionally trip her up.

C'vadan gets a far off look and then stands, excusing himself quietly.
C'vadan steps out into the inner cavern, closing the door behind him.
C'vadan has left.

Skye continues the song, hardly noticing that Cav has left, but her eyes are 
  open when the door opens and closes. Her wrist curls around the neck of the 
  gitar as the key changes when the lyrics peak. Moretta on Liri's dragon, 
  betweening too much. And she is lost.

Mehlani stumbles across a few of the more difficult phrasings, but where she 
  does not know the words, she hums, trying to match her noises to the notes.

And then the song closes, with a final fingering of complicated notes. She 
  weyr harper stands for a moment, silent. "You know the song well enough, 
  Mehlani. Nothing a little practice wouldn't fix, I'm sure. " She sits again.

Unsurely, the child nods, and for an instant, gives a bit of a smile.

Skye suggest, "Perhaps someday you'll go live at Harper Hall with your mother."

At that, Mehlani's brow crinkles a little, and she whispers, "I don't know 
  yet."

Skye sits near you, saying, "You don't know if you want to go to The Hall yet? 
  But you have such a pretty voice, it is easy for me to hear you have harper 
  in your blood."

Mehlani answers timidly, "I'd have to go away from Benden Weyr if I went to 
  the Harper Hall..." The concept apparently worries her.

Skye says, "Yes, but you could come back. Maybe someday as the weyr harper." 
  Just like Skye. "And I'm sure your father would make sure you came to visit, 
  often. But it's probably too early to think of it. Maybe."

Mehlani confides plaintively, "I help Father with his dragon and his fire 
  lizards."

Skye says, "But I'm sure your father would want you to..." Hmm. "He'd want you 
  to be happy. I'm sure if he thought becoming a harper was what you wanted.." 
  Hmm. "I do'nt know your father very well to say something like this with 
  surity. I know you'd miss Benden. I'll miss it too, when I leave since I 
  love it here, too. But sometimes duty and passion calls us elsewhere." Duty 
  rears its ugly head again. Perhaps Skye will have a talk with F'hlan.

Mehlani, little face screwed up in intense thought, murmurs, "I'd have to 
  leave Tsornin, too, and Adonith." _That_, too, seems to distress her.

Skye nods, arms resting upon the music box of her gitar, which leans into her 
  body, cradled there. "Yes, but you'll be able to come and see them, too. I'm 
  sure they would not for get about you, Mehlani. And sometimes missing 
  people, or missing dragons, well, it only makes the love stronger."

The child's hand lifts yet again to the pin at her collar, and she whispers, 
  "My sister is at the Hall with Momma. And my brother is at Healer Hall."

Skye nods to that voice, gentle, "And it might be nice to see your mother and 
  sister, hmm?"

Mehlani skritches Holl, who coos happily, and murmurs consideringly, "Harper 
  Hall wasn't scary with Momma there and I met an apprentice."

Sayla steps in from the inner cavern, closing the heavy wooden door behind her.
Sayla has arrived.

Skye is talking quietly with Mehlani. She looks up to see who has opened the 
  door.

Mehlani lifts her gaze, looking briefly frightened before she realizes that 
  this isn't one of the boys who were here before.

"Um...I thought there were clastheth today?" Sayla inquires.

Skye says, "You're a little late, Sayla, but please come in and I'll tell you 
  what I went over. It was just a short class. And I didn't give out any 
  assignments.

Sayla smiles a little, then smiles at Mehlani, and slides into a seat. "Okay. 
  I'm thorry for being late."

Skye says, "We were just going over all the weyrwomen today. Do you k now them 
  all, Sayla?

Mehlani relaxes a bit, and climbs carefully into a seat herself, as Holl flits 
  on her shoulder.

"Um, all of them?" Sayla asks. "Or jutht the oneth at Benden?"

Skye says, "All the Senior Weyrwomen. Let me sing the song for you." Skye sits 
  down then, not too far from the girls. This necessitates a short move, but 
  it's accomplished quickly with a swish of skirts and the faint smell of 
  lemon and lavender. "You can sing along if you like. Mehlani knows the 
  words." The tune is of moderate tempo and catelogues all the sr. Weyrwomen 
  of Pern, which weyr their at, and a little bit about each one.

Sayla ohs! "Yeth, ma'am, you bet I do...but I'd like to help thing anywayth. I 
  like to thing."

[And with Sayla arrived, the lesson continues, albeit off-camera, for Skye
 had to log off. End log....]