Won't You, Will You?

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 12th July 2016

Characters: Corran, Nohria
Description: An innocent invitation from Corran makes Nohria build another, more personal plot.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 20 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran

Corran hadn't seen Nohria for several days, ever since the incident in
the tavern the one evening in the tavern and what had followed. It was
a shame that he hadn't seen her around or had a chance to speak with
her. Even before that incident, he thought that they'd begun to
develop a rapport with each other. She'd helped free Warden. She'd
been pleasant to be around.

He swore to himself his thoughts weren't _only_ turning her way
because of what he'd seen that one morning, their last encounter the
one where he'd seen her unclothed in the guard's bathing area. It was
an image that he'd had a hard time not thinking of recently. After
all, Nohria was a very attractive woman.

He hadn't been sure how to go back to talking to her. He certainly
didn't want to come across as though he was just interested because of
what he'd seen. So he tried to figure out something appropriate. When
his twin sent him a message that the Hatching would be soon and he
would have a ride, an idea struck him, and he found himself wandering
the halls of the Hold that evening, looking for her.

Nohria had just put away her usual cart of cleaning supplies and was
looking forward to a nice, quiet dinner in the Hold's dining hall.
Someone had promised mulled cider was on the menu, and she rather
liked cider. She was trying to figure out how to swindle three
servings from the servers when when she turned the corner and ran into
someone. "Oh, I'm so- C-Corran!" Her cheeks flamed bright red, which
was a feat considering her dusky skin, and she quickly looked at the
floor, completely flustered.

He smiled at her. "Ah, Nohria. Were you heading to the Dining Cavern?
Maybe have time for a bit of dinner?"

Nohria's head snapped up. "With you?" she asked stupidly, voicing the
first thought that came to mind. She cursed herself for such an
assumption seconds later, but it was too late to take it back.

"Yes, if it's not a terrible thought," he teased.

It wasn't terrible, yet it also wasn't a thought she needed at all.
Nohria smoothed her skirt. "Very well, Guard Corran," she said, as if
it had been an order. And to a drudge, it might as well have been. She
fell into step with him, trying not to display how unsettled she was.

"Nobody else has troubled you at the Tavern, have they?" he asked.

The woman shook her head. "I haven't gone since that night." Why did
he have to be so nice and concerned? She was supposed to dislike him,
damn it all.

"I hope that man has learned his lesson about harassing women," he
said, shaking his head as they entered the dining hall. He sniffed
appreciatively as he inhaled the aromas of rich stew and mulled cider.
"Seems the cooks have outdone themselves," he commented as they fell
in line.

"Men like him never learn," Nohria muttered darkly, reaching for a
bowl of stew and a plate of bread slices. There were some stewed
greens with chunks of bacon further down, which she eyed
appreciatively.

"It's a pity, but I suppose it gives me more work," Corran said with a
shrug. He piled stew on his own plate and took only a few of the
greens when he got there. But he took a large mug of drink. "I know
I'd rather the idiots than anything worse."

The drudge shook her head over Corran's dietary choices. Men needed
their greens too. But she said nothing of it, instead getting a big
mug herself and looking for a place to sit. "May I ask why you have
invited me to dine with you?"

He waited until they'd found seats before he spoke up. "I had an
invitation to present to you and this seemed a good time," he
answered. "Have you ever been to a Weyr?"

Nohria gave him a wide-eyed look. Where had that come from? "No,
never," she answered honestly. "Why do you- oh. This has something to
do with your brother, doesn't it?" she hazarded.

He was pleased by her insight. "Yes. I imagine word got around when he
became Weyrleader unexpectedly. He told me that he thinks the Hatching
would be soon and he'll be sending someone to come collect me. I was
wondering..."

Corran hesitated and dragged his spoon along the bowl before he spoke
again. It made a small screeching noise. "Would you like to go with
me?"

Nohria was absolutely staggered. Having a brother as a Weyrleader was
a significant lift in status for Corran, and yet he had apparently
done nothing to take advantage of it. Why? And also- "Why ask me? I'm
just a drudge. As a guard, you could pick nearly anyone with a higher
rank to take with you."

He half-shrugged. "I'm not going to invite someone who I don't really
like just to have someone on my arm when I go," he explained. "I
rather like talking to you, and I thought you might like a change of
scenery. I imagine a drudge doesn't get to travel much," he added.

Nohria bristled. That sounded so condescending, but unfortunately it
was true. Drudges were generally stuck in one place their entire
lives, unable to risk leaviing to find a better job elsewhere. Corran
was also being unexpectedly flattering. He liked talking to her, even
though they barely knew one another? He thought she might enjoy a
party?

The sad thing was, she would. It had been so long since she had been
able to feast and dance with the bandits after a successful raid. It
would be wonderful to escape her dreary routine for an evening, to put
on the long-unused blue gown that was her Gather best and flattered
her because it actually fit in the chest. And it really would be a
novelty, and if Corran truly wanted _her_....

Wanted. The seed of an idea stirred in her mind. She could use that.
"If it would not embarrass you or your brother, I would be honored,"
she said. "But I will not lie about my occupation or my past just to
make a good show." Not any more than she already was, anyway.

"I wouldn't ask you to," the guard said, and meant it. "I think you
would like meeting my brother. He's the most un-pretentious person
you'll ever meet."

"I look forward to it," Nohria said, even if it wasn't for the reasons
Corran might think. "This will be a fun time." Perhaps it would, anyway.

Last updated on the July 15th 2016

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Won't You, Will You?