Promise Me?

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 9th February 2006

Characters: Larken, M'tone
Description: Larken goes to give M'tone his tunic back - alone.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 9, day 22 of Turn 3

Shells...she hoped that this was the right weyr. Asking others had been embarrassing enough, and if this turned out to be the _wrong_ weyr... Swallowing, Larken raised her hand and knocked softly.

The brownrider opened the door and smiled as he saw the young woman standing out in the Hall. "Larken. What a surprise! Come in?" He opened the door wider for her.

"Oh, um... Thank you." She hesitantly took a step inside. Her eyes flickered around, discreetly taking in her surroundings. "I accidentally stole your tunic, M'tone." She held it out to him with a shy smile.

"Oh," he chuckled, "I was wondering where that went. Thanks." He threw it over the back of a chair nearby. "Excuse the mess. I wasn't expecting company. Have a seat." The brownrider picked up the towel that had been left on the couch and threw it into another chair nearby.

Her hesitation was brief before she sat, cradling the small platter of warm cookies in her hands. "I brought these over too." She held the plate out to him.

"Cookies? Wow! What's the occassion?" he asked as he took the plate in his hands and took a seat next to her on the couch.

She blushed. "They're...to say thank you. For helping me the other day."

"Did you make them?"

"What? Oh, no. I got them from the kitchens earlier. But they're fresh."

"Still warm!" He took a cookie and bit into it. "Shards those are good.
Here, try one."

She took one and began to nibble on the corner as her eyes drifted around the room - and wondered how a man could live in such disarray. A small grin teased at her lips. She supposed all men were like this if they didn't have a woman to clean up after them. "These are good..."

"Well, we have some of the best bakers on Pern here." He grabbed another off the plate. "So how are you liking the Weyr now?"

"I like it." She smiled at him. "There are so many things to do, and to see... And we're right on the shoreline. It was never this beautiful at Emerald Falls..."

"That's were you're from? You and your husband?"

Larken nodded. "I was born at the Harper Hall." She took another, small bite of her cookie. "And what about you? Were you Weyrborn?"

"Yes, ma'am. I lived here all my life! Well, of course I was at Theyan Peak and after the great earthquake we moved here." He shuddered at the thought of the earth moving, the sound of stones falling, people screaming, dragons keening... "You're lucky you weren't here back then."

Her expression grew sad. "It must've been terrible, M'tone..."

"We lost a lot of good people in that earthquake." He shrugged. "But death is part of being in the Weyr. Of course, that was before Thread and we deaths weren't common."

"Deaths weren't common at the Harper Hall either," she murmured softly, her blue eyes looking straight ahead, but seeing nothing. She could remember the tongues of fire leaping high, the shrill cries of men and women, the fightened wails of children, and the bitter taste of her own tears as she had stood in her husband's arms, watching everything burn. A shiver ran down her back.

"Hey," he said gently, reaching over to put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Nothing can hurt you here, Larken."

Shaking herself from the memories, she turned her head to give him a small smile. "With all these dragons about? I wouldn't think anything could."

"Speaking of which," he smiled, "when will you let me take you flying?"

Startled, she glanced at him. She'd thought he'd forgotten all about that. "Oh. Mmm..." Flushing slightly, she looked down at her hands. "I'm not sure. I mean, I can't go without Ojisan..."

"Well, when will you ask him?" he asked, catching her eye.

Larken couldn't look away. "When I know he has time to think about it. His schedule can go pretty long some days..."

"Why can't you and I go if he's so busy? I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, you know." He gave her a hopeful smile.

"I know." The words were out before she had a chance to consider them, and she realized that she _didn't_ know. She hardly knew him! And yet, somehow... She shook herself, and gave him a hesitant smile. "It just...wouldn't be proper, M'tone."

"But I wouldn't do anything you wouldn't... well, anything you wouldn't _want_ me to do." His eyes held the barest hint that he would be more than happy do _anything_ she wanted.

Her blush deepened at what his words implied. "It's considerate of you to say so," she managed to murmur. "But...but I can't. Not alone."

"All right," he nodded. "Promise me you'll ask your husband soon? Or that you'll tell me if you ever change your mind?"

She tilted her head slightly, looking at him as she said softly, "I promise."

"Good," he grinned. "Now have another cookie."

Last updated on the February 9th 2006

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