Treat Her Like a Lady

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 4th February 2014

Characters: K'lvin, Bahji
Description: Bahji escorts K'lvin to dinner
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 19 of Turn 7

K'lvin was just coming from the communal bathing pools when he spotted
Bahji nearing the Weyrbowl. Kylena was with her fostermother so there
was no danger of the girl destroying Bahji's knitting this time.
Crossing the Weyrbowl, K'lvin approached the woman casually, "Miss
Bahji, mind if I walk with you?"

She turned, her cane in her hand. She no longer needed it much, but
found that it was invaluable for searching the ground in front of her.
She had decided to keep it, though often thought it was a bit bulky to
carry around. "Oh.." Her brow furrowed as she listened to the voice.
"Bronzerider K'lvin, right?" She offered a polite smile. "No, I don't
mind. Can I help you with something?"

"I was just heading in the direction of the Dining Cavern. People tend
to think a bronzerider looks less pathetic if he has a lady on his
arm." K'lvin chuckled, "So could I beg you into letting me escort you
there?"

Her lips curled up in a soft laugh. "I've never heard of a pathetic
looking bronzerider, but I suppose I could find it in my heart to help
you this time." She held out her hand. "You'll just have to walk a
little more slowly until I get used to your pace."

"Oh, I can take it slow and easy, and before long you'll be fussing at
me to keep up." K'lvin told her as he took her hand and folded it into
the crook of his arm, "Now that is much better. I can now look at
other lonely dragonriders with pity." He teased as he directed their
steps into the direction of the Dining Cavern.

There was a soft laugh from Bahji as she shook her head. "I'm so glad
to be of use." She followed his steps easily, but still counted
silently to keep track of exactly where they were at in relation to
where she had been. She wasn't as open with her smiles as she had been
when she had first arrived, but it was slowly getting easier to use
them again; and K'lvin was proving so far to be good company. "Where
is your daughter?"

"She is with her fostermother tonight. My duties keep me busy a lot so
Kylena spends at least four nights out of the sevenday in the cr?che.

I would take her more if I could. That's hard for a lot of
dragonriders to comprehend because the gloom forward to sending their
kids to a fostermother." He thought back to the way the Weyrwoman had
seemed to dislike his time spent with Kylena. "But you know, I at my
age I should see her as much as possible so she'll remember her father
later." That teasing glint was still in his eyes. As a dragonrider he
was still very much in his prime.

Bahji seemed to consider that as she walked. "You don't seem that old.
Burst made you appear to be what...in your late 30's? " She turned
her head towards him. "And your voice isn't worn from age either.
So..." Her teeth flashed with good nature. "I'm sure she'll remember
you just fine. But perhaps that will be a good balance for her,
especially if she's used to the creche from your old weyr. It gives
some stability, doesn't it?"

"Late thirties, huh? Maybe it _is_ a good thing you can't make out
this face then." K'lvin grinned as they stepped into the Dining
Cavern, the delectable aroma of fresh food wafting out over the small
crowd that had already gathered inside to eat. He wondered how Bahji
would manage with her cane and trying to serve herself food.
Instinctively K'lvin wanted to offer to take at least the cane or the
tray, but he didn't want to offend Bahji so he remained quiet on the
matter.

"I'm not used to going by faces anymore." She offered a wry smile, but
at scent of dinner, her nose twitched. "Smells like stew, tubers and
fresh bread." She inhaled deeply. "You know, I almost miss fish
sometimes. I had it nearly every day at home and never thought I would
miss it before I came to the weyr." She shook her head and allowed
K'lvin to guide her towards the smell. "How many people?"

"There's about fifty people seated and five in line." K'lvin answered
as he steered her to the back of the line. At his height, K'lvin was
able to look over the heads of the people in line in front of them,
"And you were spot on, of course, stew, tubers and bread." It made
sense that Bahji's ability to smell would have become sharper with her
blindness. He bet that she had amazing hearing as well. K'lvin gave
her a nudge forward as the line moved, "Whenever you are wanting fish,
Miss Bahji, you tell this bronzerider." He gave her hand a pat, "I
love fish and I'll take you to a great spot for some."

As he led her, she took small steps, her head turning slightly to
catch the sound of footsteps and to tune out the background
conversations."Thank you." She nodded and then tilted her head.
"Really? And you'll clean them too, right?" Her smile flashed dimples.
She knew perfectly well how to clean them and like any good
fisherman's daughter, she was skilled, but it didn't mean she couldn't
pass up the opportunity for someone else to take up that task. As they
got closer to the food, she released his arm and tucked her cane's
hook over one elbow. Her free hand found the edge of the table and
lightly slid over it until she found the plates.

K'lvin silently watched Bahji and then let out a low whistle, "You are
one impressive lady Bahji." He followed behind her, putting tubers on
his plate before stacking a bowl onto his tray and ladling in some of
the stew.

She blinked, surprised at the compliment as she picked up a plate. Her
head tilted to the side as she searched and found a eating knife and
laid it on her plate. "What do you mean?" Guided by her nose and the
heat of the food near her fingers, she was careful as she found a bowl
and then the ladle. With careful, but precise movements, she pressed
the bowl against the large stew pot and put a ladleful of stew in her
bowl. She placed her bowl carefully on her plate and slid it along the
table until she found a spoon and a hunk of bread. Arranging her
selections carefully, she picked them up and waited for him.

"I would have made a complete mess of getting food for myself,
especially with a cane dangling from my arm. You are fearless." He
commented as he took her bowl and placed it on his tray, "I have got
your soup. Is there a place you usually sit?"

At that, Bahji blushed, but shook her head. "Thank you, but really,
it's not something I even think about. I'm definitely not fearless by
any stretch of the imagination." She paused as her bowl was taken and
was about to interject, but allowed his help, appreciating the
thought. "Thank you again. " She picked up her plate and then shook
her head. "I usually just find a seat, really. I come later when
there's not such a crowd and no one really minds where I sit. You'll
have to guide me, if you don't mind."

"It would be my pleasure." K'lvin assured her. Taking Bahji's hand he
placed it in the crook of his arm and the picked up the tray, "We are
going about twenty paces to the right. There's an empty table there
along the wall." He told her before guiding her in that direction.

She nodded and followed, counting the steps silently as they moved
through the crowd of people. The echo of conversation was a little
distracting, but it was not enough to have her completely ill at ease.
As they came to the table her hip nudged the edge. "You're very kind."

K'lvin sat down their tray, "You stay where you are," he said as he
circled behind her, "a gentleman gets the lady's chair." He said as he
pushed the chair to the back of her knees.

"Oh!" She blinked at the courtesy and sat as he directed, her cheeks
flushing with surprised pleasure. "Well, that's a first. Thank you."
Relaxing a little bit more, she settled in her chair. "You didn't have
to do that, but...I like it."

K'lvin laughed, "You are quite welcome." The bronzerider was getting
the distinct feeling that no one had ever treated Bahji like a lady
and that was a shame.

Last updated on the February 9th 2014

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Treat Her Like a Lady