Getting Familiar

Writers: Dana, Clancey
Date Posted: 2nd November 2005

Characters: Traelyn, J'darin
Description: J'darin comes to check in on Traelyn, and things get a little awkward
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 21 of Turn 3

J'darin

J'darin was growing more comfortable in his role as Weyrleader finally, and also, oddly enough, growing more comfortable with his Weyrwoman.
Sometimes it almost seemed they were getting along, though he could shake her for taking such poor care of herself.

Sharding woman, didn't have the sense of a wherry, and she wasn't eating. He'd seen her last night in the dining caverns grabbing a cup of klah and that's it.

Upon asking Hasaarth, he found she was working late in her office every night and that Nyith was a little worried about her rider, especially with Nyith coming close to clutching soon.

**Where are they, Hasaarth?** He asked his bronze, finishing up his own work for the day. Or at least as much as he could get done.

Finding her in her Weyr was a bit of a surprise, but it was there he headed, and it was his bronze was currently curled up next to his mate anyway.

**Let her know I'm coming, and she better be eating.**

~*~

Traelyn was just getting herself settled in a nice hot, steaming bath when her queen suddenly announced Hasaarth's rider was coming up. Both her eyes snapped open. **He is?**

}:Yes. And he also relays that you had better be eating.:{ She frowned slightly as she rose reluctantly from the water. **I had some food earlier, Nyith, as you well know!**

}:I do. But just because you're not hungry anymore doesn't mean that you shouldn't eat. You need to eat more, Trae. Remember what the healer said. And what Hasaarth's rider said!:{ Hearing the knock at her door, Trae grabbed her robe and shrugged it on, tying the sash tightly around her waist before going to answer it.

J'darin's eyes widened somewhat when he saw she was clad in just a robe.
"Taking a bath, hmm?" His charming smile flashed briefly, thinking of what she would say if he volunteered to join her. "I suppose I could come back later, but I need to talk to you."

"Come on in then," she smiled, though somewhat warily as she gestured for him to follow her inside.

He paused to admire the view for a moment, then his smile turned down.
"Traelyn, you're still not eating enough." Might as well say it right out.

She'd been waiting for that. "I'm eating, J'darin," she told him with a sigh and a small smile as she sat down on the sofa. "I swear to you I am..." She looked at him as he sat down. "I had a nice lunch earlier today..."

"Traelyn, its well after sunset. And you think lunch will hold you all that time? I cannot afford to have our new Weyrwoman get sick, especially with all that is going on and Nyith going to clutch soon." He sat down next to her. "For the good of the Weyr.." He trailed off, frowning at her.

"I was going to call for some food to be brought up after I took my bath,"
she told him. "It makes me sick if I try to eat when I'm not hungry, J'darin. Stress has always affected me this way... Everything will settle though, as most things usually do..."

J'darin slipped his arm around her for a brief moment, in an unusual gesture of caring. "Its going to be alright, Traelyn. But you have to take care of yourself if you're going to survive being my Weyrwoman."

She leaned her head against his shoulder - a natural reaction, and she closed her eyes, surprised, but grateful, for the touch. Then she nodded.

He held her for just a moment, unwilling to grow too used to that feeling.
One goldrider had been enough for _his_ heart! With a faint sigh of lost chances, J'darin went on in a softer voice. "What has you so stressed? Is it beyond your normal duties?"

"No...not really. Not anymore," she replied just as softly.

His eyebrow arched up curiously. "Not anymore? What has changed, Traelyn?
Or would you rather I not poke into your business?"

"I'm just... Things are getting a bit more familiar now. And I've been getting to know others, which helps too..." It was strange - she was sharing this with _J'darin_. They never really discussed their lives outside of their duties. Hardly ever.

He nodded quietly, looking at her for a moment. They did not ever talk like this, and he didn't know why he was talking to her now. "Traelyn, I just want you to stay healthy, for the good of the Weyr." As if he was afraid of it being for some other reason, and perhaps he was, as they had done little but work together. "I know you would rather talk to someone else about this type of thing, like your U'kaiah or some other friend. The health of all my wingleaders is my business, though, and you are one of them."

She looked away, noticing the distance he had just put between them, and regretting it. But this was the way it was. This was the way _he_ was.

"Of course," she replied quietly.

He turned back to her then, his charming grin surfacing as he chased away emotions he did not understand. "Do you promise me you will eat, or must I order something for you and sit by your bath?"

Trae glanced at him, tilting her head slightly to the side, wondering. "I promise I'll eat, J'darin. But if you want to stay...well, that's up to you."

J'darin sighed. "You certainly don't sound as if it is my company you wish for, Traelyn. So I'll leave you to your bath. I apologize for intruding upon it, but I was worried.. " He frowned at her. "As a woman, too, not _just_ a Wingleader." Too many memories were flashing up to drown him - the jealousy, the pain from loving a woman who left him, just when he decided to trust her.

**It sounds like you don't _want_ to stay here, J'darin...** But she wouldn't say that to him. "Thank you...for coming to see me." Before he stood, she reached out to lightly touch his hand.

Oh, he wanted to. He had asked, after all. But perhaps it was just too soon for them, because she always seemed to be distant, out of his reach; not like the usual women he spoke too. With a very faint sigh, and a sad smile, he clasped her smaller hand in his calloused one for a moment. "I don't want to lose you so soon." He said finally, one last offer.. of something.. before he stopped all together.

"You won't." And she offered him a smile, almost hesitantly. Almost.

J'darin looked at her for a long moment, and wished that he knew how that made him feel. For now, he was just glad if she listened and took care of herself.

Last updated on the November 19th 2005

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Getting Familiar