Clearer Heads

Writers: Clancey, Dana
Date Posted: 31st July 2006

Characters: J'darin, Traelyn
Description: J'darin takes Traelyn for a surprise trip and gets is, in turn, surprised.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 3

J'darin

J'darin leaned against the wall of his Weyr, looking out on the ledge.
Hasaarth was soaking up sun and water in the lake; his large bronze form unmistakable amid the mostly green and blue dragons playing in the cool water. J'darin had promised him a bath.

Thoughts of his bronze always made him slightly misty eyed. }:I am here, even though I am by the lake:{ Hasaarth sent with even more than his usual warmth.

Suddenly his mind snapped, an image appearing in his thoughts of a place he hadn't been for quite some time. **Hasaarth, tell Nyith to tell her rider we're coming to get her, and dress warmly. Your bath will have to wait.**

He had not seen Traelyn for days, except in passing as they both carried on with the work of running a Weyr, or when they flew Thread. She drilled her Wing, as he drilled his, and they were at different times.
He knew something was bothering her, for she sometimes crept into his Weyr at night to just sleep with him, when Maurgen was not there, or when he was not with Maurgen, or elsewhere. That reminded him to go and visit Dyaera too, later, and he smiled once at the thought of his young greenrider friend.

It was time for the Weyrleaders to take a second breath, though. And maybe Traelyn would open up a little to him. Maybe.

By now the answer was coming back from his bronze, who had returned from the lake to be readied for flying. J'darin hurried back into his Weyr to grab a jacket and a couple of furs. They would need warmth where they were going.

Traelyn left her queen preening vainly in the sun on Hasaarth's ledge as she came into his weyr. "J'darin?" In her arms were her gloves and the heavy, fur-lined jacket. "Nyith told me..." she paused when she saw what _he_ had in his arms. Those were a lot of furs. "Where are we going?"

"Good day, Weyrwoman. I was thinking I needed a day away from here, and I thought you might want to come along. I have a special place in mind. Trust me, you'll be glad you have the furs." He went to her, leaving the furs in a pile on the table to tie to Hasaarth. The bronze was crooning at his mate and J'darin smiled as he went to Traelyn.

At least one pair of mates was happy in the Weyr!

"As to where.. " he said quietly as he kissed her cheek in greeting.
"..that is a surprise."

"You men and your surprises," she smiled. "Do you want me and Nyith to take half of those?" She nodded to the piled furs.

J'darin's smile faltered where she couldn't see as he turned away to gather up the furs. Apparently he wasn't the only man who'd surprised her lately. With a barely audible sigh, he wondered why it still bothered him when he knew she did not want him _that_ way. And there was lovely Maurgen, who _did_. He shook off those thoughts with his usual demand for perfection.

He was beginning to rethink his idea as he turned back to her. "I'm sorry Traelyn. If you'd rather do something else today, Hasaarth and I will go on our own." He smiled, though, to show that she could choose whatever she liked. "I know I'm not your usual companion for adventures." A faint chuckle, his mind dark with thoughts of the sadness at his former Weyr.

Hasaarth bugled his disagreement with that statement from the ledge.
He, at least, wanted to spend the day with his mate!

The Weyrwoman stared wearily up at him, a bit shocked at that remark. Shards and shells...not this. "Did I give off the impression that I _didn't_ want to go with you?"

He shook his head. "I didn't exactly give you a choice." His smile was sheepish, asking forgiveness. "Never mind.. it sounded as if you'd been getting surprised a lot lately, and I, of course, want my surprise to be the best."

He paused, considering her for a moment. His blue eyes darkened with all the emotions that were between them. She knew, and he knew. He didn't think, though, that words would help anything. Those words, anyway.

"We'll go, then. I hope you like the mountains!" And he handed her two of the furs to put on Nyith, while he lugged the rest out to his bronze, who was already rigged for flying.

Surprises? She didn't think so... Brushing it off, she quickly fastened the thick furs to Nyith. The queen fanned her bright wings and gave an airy warble, turning her head to look down at her rider. }:It will be good to get away! We will enjoy ourselves. Do not let the past get in the way today.:{ Then she oblidgingly bent a forearm.

J'darin smiled once at her, and hoped they could get past his moment of foolishness.

**Give her the image, Hasaarth!**

He pumped his arm in the traditional symbol of Wingleaders and Weyrleaders all over Pern, as unable to stop it as he was unable to stop the sun rising.

The two shapes, both shining bright - one gold and one bronze -
disappeared over the bowl. Cold descended around them for longer than normal, and didn't immediately abate when they came out of /between/.

The vision, at first glance, was as breathtaking as the cold of /between/.

Mountains reared ragged blue and white heads all around them. Far below was the bright, silver shining of a mountain river. In that river, J'darin knew, were some of the best fish he'd ever eaten.

But they headed instead toward a break in the mountains, beckoning whitely from the air. The pass ahead of them was a wide swath between jagged peaks, and once landed on it, you could see long distances in every direction, and the view was very much worth the cold.

Nyith followed Hasaarth's lead, her huge wings snapping open to their full extent as she glided through the whistling winds. }:The air here reminds me of Dragonsfall,:{ she remarked, still a little unsure if she liked the drastic change from the warm and balmy winds of home to the chilling ones of this pass.

Traelyn grinned at her dragon's tone. **But the scenery is breath-taking, isn't it? And you'll get to play in the snow. You remember snow, don't you?**

}:Of course I remember snow.:{ With a smooth twist of her lithe body, the queen flapped her wings once before alighting on the cliff's boulders beside her mate.

Hasaarth arched his neck toward Nyith possessively, while J'darin dismounted with a bundle of furs in his arms. There was a small cave in the side of the pass. It was very small, more of an overhang. But there was no snow beneath it and it was there he headed. He piled the furs and started a small fire with supplies that had been tucked into one of them.

"I know its cold, Trae, but I have always thought the heights are the best place to clear your head." He eyed her suggestively. "If it needs clearing?"

She approached him, a knowing smile spreading across her lips. "I might need help clearing it, J'darin..." She was very close to him now, her mouth near his.

He pulled her into his arms, and dropped them both down onto the furs with a warm kiss pressed to her so close mouth. He hadn't completely intended for them to wind up in bed together, but he would not say no. He was spending more and more time in Maurgen's company, and he had plans for her the next few Restdays, but it was no surprise that Traelyn tugged at his heart and body. "You called me Trae," she murmured softly later on as they lay entwined, buried beneath the heap of furs. "I don't think you've ever called me that before."

He made sure they were both carefully wrapped up in furs as he held her, his head definitely clearing. At her comment, he turned one surprised eye to her.

"Why, you're right, Trae.." He chuckled as he did it again, now being aware of it. He hadn't truly noticed it the last time. "I didn't even realize I had." He was quiet a moment, thoughtful.

"Perhaps we're going to get along after all." He teased her, tucking her in even more closely to his side. It was not possessive, though. He had long since given up 'possession' of her. It was, instead, very protective. He would always have a special place in his heart for her -
they were learning to lead Dolphin Cove together. But the feelings had changed, grown to what he thought was more appropriate. And, it turned out, she seemed to agree.

She chuckled, nuzzling against his shoulder. "Perhaps we will. Just as long as we can shove our pride out of the way every once and a while." Idly she ran her fingers through the hair on his chest. "Or at least try," she grinned.

"Oh I don't know, Traelyn.." He turned to wink at her. "My pride is often my undoing. And I do love our spectacular arguments."

It was beginning to be cold and the small fire that had been built in what looked like a very well-used firepit was dying. "We ought to think about getting back... its too cold to stay here too long, and you might have a bit of a shock when we get back over the Weyr."

"So you brought me all the way out here just to take me to your bed?"
she teased, resting her chin on his chest, looking at him with an impish expression.

He laughed, shaking his head at the look on her face and tweaking her nose. "I .. umm... actually hadn't intended to take you to bed at all!"

His cheeks actually colored slightly. J'darin was quite capable of controlling that part of himself, and he had just not even tried. "I was hoping for us both to get clearer heads, though, and we certainly managed that!"

"Hmmm..." Shifting, she moved until she covered him. "Remind me again why we have to leave so soon?" Shards...it felt good to be in his arms.

The cold was hardly noticible in here, under the piles of furs, with his body around hers... And besides, spring _was_ coming... It certainly wasn't as cold as it could be... Traelyn bent her head to kiss his neck. "Because I really don't want to move."

He held her for a moment, chuckling at her question. "Well, if you put it that way.. and you promise neither you nor your lovely Nyith are too cold, we can stay a while. It is a Restday after all.." He made pleased noises at her attention and moved his hands along her back to invite more of the same.

"It's hard to get cold when you're...moving..." She ran her hands down his sides, lowering her head to kiss him as she inched further down his body. "Don't you think?" She grinned as she lightly nipped him.

J'darin growled softly in response and tucked his arms tight around her, rolling so fast that she couldn't stop it. They ended with him on top of her, pinning her to the bottom furs. "What were you saying about moving?"

Last updated on the July 31st 2006

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