Maybe They Would

Writers: Clancey, Dana
Date Posted: 18th October 2005

Characters: J'darin, Traelyn
Description: J'darin and Traelyn have a passingly successful conversation, despite private misgivings.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 5 of Turn 3
Notes: Takes place later the same day as "Beware Her Charms"

J'darin

A day had passed since their meeting with T'moran had gone so well.

The bronzerider decided that if she wasn't coming to him, he was going to go to her. He _had_ to get to know his Weyrwoman. She was not Kalina, and while that made his heart ache, he only wanted to be sure she could _be_ the Weyrwoman in Kalina's place.

}:If you can be Weyrleader, you mean! :{ Hasaarth commented, causing J'darin to wince and frown in the general direction of his bronze. **Hush!**

Long legged strides carried him to Traelyn's Weyr, or what would be her Weyr, and he found her there, trying to sort through a few boxes.

"Good evening to you, Traelyn. I thought we might talk for a bit?" He called, rather without asking if he could see her; just assuming it was fine to barge right in unannounced and uninvited.

She certainly hadn't been expecting anyone to pop in on her like this! If she'd have known he was coming, she would have tried to make herself look somewhat decent - or look like how a Weyrwoman _should_ look when speaking with her Weyrleader. But he _hadn't_ warned her.

He didn't even have Hasaarth bespeak Nyith.

One brow rose and she sat back on her heels to gaze across the room at him, wondering what he thought. Trae was only wearing the coolest and most casual clothes she had (she still couldn't believe how _warm_ it was here), and her hair was piled messily atop her head, held in place by a couple clips. She lifted her chin a bit and gestured for him to come closer. The organizing could wait. "Sure we can talk... If you can make it across all of those!" she grinned a little, gesturing to all the boxes scattered every which way across the room.

J'darin looked her over for a moment. While the lushness of her body was hard to ignore in those clothes, he managed somehow, and decided to make no snap judgements. If this is what she did in her spare time, well, at least she wasn't lounging about idly.

"I can return at a more convenient time, if you like." He offered, though he did step over a few boxes, pausing to pick up one of what looked like portraits and put it closer to her.

"No, no... We can talk now, J'darin..." She rose to her feet, gesturing for him to follow her to the couch - which wasn't, for once, covered in her clothes she had yet to organize.

With B'ram's opinions fresh in his mind from this morning, the newly made Weyrleader settled with his new Weyrwoman on her couch. His long legs folded beneath him comfortably and he smiled at her as she joined him. They _had_ enjoyed a very good Flight..and _after_ the Flight.

Distracted momentarily, he finally spoke again. "I think we should discuss a few things - what we expect from each other, and so on. And perhaps get to know each other a bit."

Feeling a little awkward, she smiled at him to cover it. "I think you're right." She curled her legs up onto the sofa, leaning back into the cushions. "Where would you like to begin?"

He smiled at her, trying to put her at ease, and relaxed a bit himself. He had to get to know her, to see what kind of a Weyrwoman she would be. He wasn't sure what he thought yet, only that he'd had little of positive comments from B'ram. "We'll leave how Nyith managed to Rise aside for now, I'm sure there is a very good explanation for it.. But how about your experience? Where are you from? I know Far Island, but that's all. Had you been Weyrwoman Second long?"

"I was for about two months at Dragonsfall, but I started handling duties like that when I was still at Far Island." She looked at him, her gray eyes honest. "I take my work very seriously, J'darin. And I do work hard."

J'darin looked her over again, considering the honest appeal in her eyes and voice. Despite his initial misgivings, he found the honesty there a good place to start.

}: Nyith is a very good queen. They will do well. :{ That surprised him. He privately thought Hasaarth was blinded by catching his first gold, and that made him smile to himself.

Turning his blue eyes to her, he nodded. "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, Traelyn. We are both going to have to work very hard.
T'moran was a very good Weyrleader, and I do not know if I can follow in his traces, but if you and I can somehow manage to get along, we will be doing better than he and Kalina. She would not stay out of his business. The Wings are my business, the running of the Weyr is your's, and that's the way it should be."

Her head tilted slightly to the side as she considered him. "What would she do?"

"She constantly argued his decisions, sometimes in public in front of the other Wingleaders." He frowned to himself, his eyes distant. He missed her still, for all of that. "She was quite .. passionate.. about her views, especially for a woman, even a goldrider."

He focused back on her. "If we are going to argue, I would prefer to do it privately." He said quietly.

Trae shook her head. "I don't want to argue with you, J'darin. I'll want to disuss issues if any come up...but not argue."

"Well, we are probably going to argue, Traelyn." He said drily. "I have very traditional views, and I don't know where your's fall, but I have a certain level of order I would like to continue in the Weyr. T'moran and I agree on many things."

He peered at her curiously. "I had a hard time shaking the image of a woman who did anything but bear children, even a goldrider." And it wasn't entirely gone yet. But why on Pern was he telling her all this? He'd come prepared to _dis_like her due to B'ram's warnings.

"You were holdbred?"

J'darin nodded. "I was. I am." He smiled faintly, shrugging. "It took me some time to adjust to Weyr life, but Hasaarth helped. You were not, were you?"

She shook her head. "I was born and raised at Far Island. I began standing at the Hatchings when I came of age, and Impressed Nyith when I was seventeen." A loving smile whispered across her lips at the memory.

J'darin recognized the wistful look that comes of a dragonbond on his young Weyrwoman's face and smiled himself. "The dragons always know, so she must have known you'd be a good Weyrwoman. Let us hope both she and Hasaarth were correct in putting us together at this time. We've a Weyr in chaos, Traelyn, and we need to be more responsible and more aware and more of everything. Do you think you can do that?" His question was serious, his gaze intent upon her own. He and Hasaarth had been preparing for this since the moment his bronze chose him, although sometimes it did not feel like he was prepared at all.

She returned his level stare. "I know I can." She may be younger than most Weyrwomen, but she wasn't incompetent. Traelyn knew this flight of Nyith's would hang on her reputation for quite some time, but she would prove herself. In time, she would.

}:You will. Hasaarth and I know you will.:{ J'darin returned her gaze for a moment, before nodding once. "Jyramikah is the 'Second." He didn't add the obvious, that she should have been Senior, but went on instead. "I know you two have been working together a little, or so I hope. She can show you the ins and outs of the Weyr far better than I can! I am handling the Wings and trying to get enough to fly Fall and you should get to know the rest of the Queen's wing. Have you led that wing before?"

She nodded. "When Calyth was clutching."

"Well, its good you have some experience anyway. We have a pretty serious situation on our hands here at Dolphin Cove, as you know." J'darin sighed softly, then turned back to her. "The Harper Hall is also moving here, and soon."

She inclined her head. Trae knew of the fire - but who on Pern _didn't_
know? "What day does the Hallmaster arrive?"

"Around the eighth or ninth day of the month, I believe." J'darin answered, looked speculatively at his Weyrwoman. "Perhaps we will work well together.." He pondered that statement, and what B'ram had said.
"...as long as we can agree not to argue in front of the other Wingleaders."

"You sound as though you expect we will be arguing a lot, J'darin," she said quietly.

"I expect we will. Unless you plan on leaving all the decisions up to me?" He smiled though, to take the sting out of it, and to show he was teasing.

Traelyn smiled at him in turn. "Arguing is not the same thing as disagreeing."

J'darin chuckled softly, shrugging. "That depends on who you ask, goldrider."

The bronzerider started to rise to his feet, not sure he could continue the small talk with this woman, though she seemed at least more intelligent than he first thought.

She hesitated, watching him. Then, shoving that ridiculous insecurity down, she asked, "I have dinner being sent up as we speak... Did you want to stay?"

J'darin peered at her for a moment, shock and surprised evident in his bright blue eyes. They barely knew each other, and he was prepared to think the worst of anyone who brought her queen out so close to Rising, but the honest appeal in her own eyes made him pause to reconsider.

He had long regretted the many and ..vocal.. fights T'moran and Kalina had shared, and even moreso the _very_ noisy fights he himself had had that goldrider. Perhaps he would try to be friends with this one?

That thought gave him pause. Did he really want a woman - even a goldrider - for a _friend_? They did have to work together, and there was so much work to be done.

After several seconds of silence as the pair stared at each other, the bronzerider slowly nodded. "Perhaps I will stay, if you don't mind? I know I interrupted your moving in though..." He waved a hand at all the boxes still unopened around them.

She shrugged a shoulder, a hint of a smile curving her lips as she stood.
"It'll get done in time, J'darin."

"I'll send some handsome Senior Weyrlings over to lend a hand, and whatever else you need, too." He outright laughed at that, though it trailed off as he looked seriously at her. Did she have the same ideas as Kalina? Sleep with as many bronzeriders as possible? Although, toward the end Kalina was not doing that any longer, and she had had reasons.

Trae returned his gaze, tilting her head slightly to the side as her smile, too, faded. "Something on your mind, J'darin?"

"Nothing, Traelyn. Just a passing curiousity." He smiled a little wider, winking slowly at her. "You promised me dinner, I believe?"

That brought the smile back. "It's on its way up here. If you have a seat at the table, I'll grab the wine..." It felt as though a small weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Perhaps they _would_ get along better than she had first thought.

Last updated on the October 19th 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Maybe They Would