To Honor the Occasion
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Clancey, Dana
Date Posted: 6th March 2006
Characters: J'darin, Traelyn
Description: J'darin brings his Weyrwoman back to his weyr after the Hatching festivities are over to give her a present
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 3
The last of the newly Impressed and the families that had come had vanished from the dining caverns, and J'darin felt pleasantly tired and so very happy. He watched Traelyn bidding goodnight to a last few visitors, and made his way to her side quietly.
When he was there, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "You and your queen have done the Weyr proud, Weyrwoman. Please come with me to my Weyr? I've a present for you..."
Her gray eyes flickered to his blue. "A present?" Her voice was low, sounding almost breathless due to the excellent vintages she had had during the feast.
"Aye, to honor the occasion, yes?" the woodcarver took her hand gently.
"Come."
He led her to his Weyr, noting that Hasaarth and Nyith were curled together on her ledge, after witnessing the birth of their babies.
"Come in, I'll find some wine." He grinned at her. "As if we need any more!" He was a little unsteady himself, but still managed to pull the flat package from behind a chair, carrying it over to her and leaving it while he found them something to drink.
"How could I ever say no to one of your bottles, J'darin?" she called, chuckling as she relaxed back against the soft cushions of the couch. Looking down, she fingered package, her fingers smoothing against the rough paper and twine wrapped around to keep it closed. She hadn't been expecting a gift, and a part of her felt bad that she hadn't thought to give him anything.
Hearing him approach, Traelyn shook herself from her thoughts and looked up, giving him a smile.
He found wine and mugs and presented both to her with a flourish. "Well, Weyrwoman? Aren't you going to open it?" His grin was infectious, sweet and a little drunk.
Inside the package, she'd find a beautiful wood frame - carved by his hand to resemble dragon wings in the short time he'd had - protectively cradling a very life-like sketch of Nyith, gold reflecting off her wings, crouched proudly over her Clutch of 36, every color of dragons visible here and there in the eggs. You could almost feel the pride, strength, and love coming from beneath those great golden wings.
"In honor of what I hope is only the first of many beautiful Hatchings for us, my Weyrwoman." Was his soft whisper as he watched her open it.
She blushed softly as her hands slid the twine off, gently peeling back the paper. Then the gift emerged from its wrappings, and her breath caught in her throat. Never before had she seen such beauty in a portrait. Her blush turned into a flush of pleasure - she positively seemed to glow. "Oh...oh, J'darin," she breathed, her fingers tracing the hand-carved frame, unable to tear her gaze from it.
J'darin watched her, his eyes showing a longing he still felt, despite a young Harper being able to banish it sometimes. He had to remind himself that Traelyn was not for him that way. A thick swallow, his breath lost as he watched her glowing almost as she had when she'd come to get him several candlemarks ago.
"Your look is thank you enough, Traelyn. I am so pleased you like it. I wanted you to always remember this Hatching. Nyith will have many more, and I hope Hasaarth is her mate for them. But this Hatching is about Dolphin Cove, and its about you and I. Rebuilding from ashes to something wonderful." It was clear he meant both the people and the Weyr. Perhaps not the something wonderful he'd imagined, once, but there were many faces to wonderful, as he was learning yet again.
"We've come a long way in just a couple months, haven't we?" Her voice was soft as she finally looked up at him, her smile filled with sweet joy.
It seemed as though the differences between them had melted away today, just as this portrait and frame attested to. The words "thank you" seemed too insignificant for this, and the meanings it held behind it. Slowly she leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering briefly there. "It's so beautiful," she whispered.
The Weyrleader had come a long way too, and he nodded in response to her, pulling her in close for a hug as she kissed his cheek. "How many fresh starts can we make, Traelyn?" He said quietly, hoping for another. If he couldn't be her love, then he would be her friend.
"As many as we need?" Her tone was just as quiet as she gently rested her head on his shoulder.
He pulled her in snugly, relishing the feel of her against him. "Then I'll have another right now." Did he want her to stay? Yes, oh yes he did. Did he ask her? He wasn't so sure of that.
Her eyes closed and she brushed her cheek against him, but whether it was to acknowledge him or whether it was a simple caress for the pleasure of being able to touch him, she didn't know. Perhaps it was both.
Did he want her to stay with him tonight? After all that had passed between them, did he still want her here? Slowly her hands slid up his chest, her fingers trailing over the fine material of his tunic. Then she lifted her head to look at him.
He was caught. With a sigh that sounded suspiciously like giving in to a hidden desire, he let go of everything but his wish for her to stay with him. Maurgen's smile flashed once in his mind's eye, though he could not say why, or why he wondered if she would approve. But the words out of his mouth and the drowning dark blue of his eyes as he felt need well up showed his intentions.
"Stay with me, Traelyn? Let's celebrate in the best way possible.."
She gave him a slow, soft smile; a sweet smile, a gentle smile. A smile that spoke her reply. Tilting her face, the Weyrwoman brushed her lips lightly against his before she shifted, carefully picking up the portrait.
Her fingers caressed the woodwork again just as they had caressed him but moments before. Then with a tenderness, she set the beautiful gift down on the table and turned back to him, her dark eyes smokey with soft desire.
He reached for her once more, this time bending his head to kiss her with a purpose, vowing to make both of them forget anything but the joy of the Hatching.
Last updated on the March 6th 2006