A Shift in Leadership

Writers: Clancey, Dana
Date Posted: 28th September 2005

Characters: J'darin, Traelyn
Description: J'darin and Traelyn wake up together after Nyith Rises. Now what?
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 3 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "A Flight to Bring More..."

J'darin

Sense was a long time returning to the bronzerider.

Dimly, a memory trickled in and he opened one eye as he became aware he was curled around one very amazingly curvaceous woman. A Flight then...
but what Flight?

Contented sounds from the ledge told him the mated dragons were still outside, and then Hasaarth's voice sounded sleepily contented in his head.

}: We caught her. She Flew high, and beautiful... but she is mine! And the Weyr is our's! :{ Startled by this statement, J'darin awoke all at once. The WEYR? It all came rushing back then, and he turned his full blue eyes on the woman beside him. She was lovely, and other memories were returning now; how well they fit together, how many times they'd been pulled back into each other's bodies. For hours, until they'd collapsed like this, tangled together.

A gentle kiss to her cheek to wake her as the bronzerider - Weyrleader? -
decided they'd better find out what was going to happen _now_.

She made a soft, sleepy sound as she felt his kiss, and then she shifted in his arms, her eyes slowly opening. She blinked as she came to, realizing that she wasn't alone. The flight... Oh, shards and shells, the flight!

Traelyn tilted her head up, her dark gaze meeting the bronzerider's blue -
and she blushed as suddenly some very different emotions began to conflict within her. Pleasure, and embarrassed shame, were the two she was most aware of. Shame, because she had taken her proddy queen out when she should have recognized her condition and kept her at Dragonsfall, and pleasure, because this flight had been one of the most intensely-physical, satisfying flights she had had in a long time.

Her name... What was her name?

}: Traelyn, and her queen is Nyith. My beautiful gold mate.. :{ The absolute pride and pleasure in his accomplishments colored Hasaarth's thoughts and they gave the smile to his lips as he grinned down at his bed partner. He suspected their ..intense .. physical activities for this Flight had been tied directly to Hasaarth's long-awaited dream of catching a gold. His very first.

"Traelyn?" His voice was soft, cultured, but husky from exertion and sleep. "My name is J'darin, and I do believe this is the nicest way I know to meet someone." He smiled at her, that charming smile that came so easy.

"And have you gotten to know many people this way?" Her low tone still held a hint of the sultry passion that her queen had brought out in her.

The effects of the flight still hadn't worn off, it seemed, as she returned his smile, slowly.

The carver thought it over for a full minute. "Honestly, you're the first." Unable to keep from responding, he bent down to kiss her gently once more, feeling some tenderness in his lips as he did. "That.. was amazing." He offered finally, then went on in a softer, love-filled tone.
"It was his first, you know. His first gold."

One pale brow rose just slightly at that in quiet surprise. Then she gave him another slow smile. "She's pleased with him." Trae shifted again, and this time, it was so she could touch him. Her fingers ran gently down his side, exploring the taut muscles there. "Quite pleased, in fact."

J'darin responded easily to her touch, needing nothing of dragon-lust with this lovely woman, though he did have a nagging desire to get to know her somewhat better. At the moment, however, all that seemed to matter was she was willing and beautiful, and not _mad_ at him, like the other goldrider in his life.

A gentle caress of Traelyn's side greeted her own fingers, and he grinned down at her. "And you, goldrider? Pleased as well? Although surely what we've done here today will shake up the other Weyrs..."

Her eyes grew troubled. "I know I shouldn't've taken her out of Dragonsfall..." She shook her head, her embarrassment returning to the forefront of her thoughts. "This is the first time I've ever completely neglected to notice her condition..." But surely the Weyrleaders wouldn't be so angry with her? She knew that they would be...displeased - and disappointed in her - but angry enough to shake them up?

"Oh, lovely..." J'darin said softly, settling her more comfortably in his arms. "Apparently its much more than neglecting to notice her condition, though you certainly should have. That was a near thing, Rising in a Weyr not her home.." He paused, his tone having taken on a faint scolding for a moment. Superior bronzerider. Arrogant Arse.

"Apparently, Hasaarth thinks I.. and he.. I mean.. we, are Weyrleader at Dolphin Cove now. And do you know what that means for you?" J'darin hoped she was intelligent. She seemed to be, though it was hard for both of them to tell anything about each other through this haze of dragon-lust only just now lifting.

Traelyn stared at him. Then the implications of his words began to dawn on her. "Surely you don't mean..." **Nyith?**

}:These dragons are _mine_ now,:{ the queen fairly purred, her mental tones full of smug pride and pleasured contentment. }:Moriath will not rise. We are senior now, Trae.:{ She didn't know that her mouth had opened just slightly in disbelief until J'darin brushed his fingers across her chin.

"Close your mouth, lass. You're a Senior Weyrwoman now. I'm not sure how Nyith managed to hide her own Rising signs, but Hasaarth says that our queen, Moriath, will not Rise again." J'darin's voice broke a little on the last comment, his heart aching for the love he still bore Kalina, despite being comfortably curled with Traelyn.

"T'moran is a very good Weyrleader, and I'm not certain I want this job...." without Kalina, he thought to himself, "..but for better or worse, it is mine, and your's, for now. We are going to have to meet with T'moran and quickly. No one is going to understand how this could possibly have happened."

Traelyn bit back a protest. She? A _senior_ Weyrwoman? She couldn't possibly... But perhaps this meeting with T'moran would straighten things out. Perhaps the dragons had overreacted...perhaps Nyith was being too persumptuous. **But dragons cannot lie.** The thought disturbed her, and she rubbed her forehead with a hand, suddenly feeling cold even though she was wrapped in the bronzerider's warm embrace. "Yes," she managed to agree, her voice quiet, "we need to meet with him."

Oh Shards! J'darin thought absently. She's not too bright is she? She just keeps repeating what I say. Swallowing a little, J'darin lifted her chin and gave one quick kiss to the end of her nose. "You need to gather yourself, lass. Act like the goldrider you are." He said shortly, beginning to roll away from her to find his clothing. One thought was paramount in his mind. How had she missed the signs, what was T'moran going to say, and what kind of Weyrwoman did he have here?

Last updated on the September 28th 2005

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A Shift in Leadership