What You Always Prepared For (But Never Wanted to Happen)

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 1st August 2024

Characters: Saibra, I'serin
Description: The unexpected happens for I'serin
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'yerel, R'enh

Saibra

I'serin

Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~

He returned to his humanity in finger-lengths. His heartbeat resuming
its normal beat. The texture of the sheets against his skin. The
internal, mental separation of him and Aluneth, a divider drawn
between two beings, each occupying their own space once again. He was
no longer in the air, no longer giving chase, no longer entwined...

"Congratulations, _Weyrleader_ I'serin."

He snapped back to consciousness with a startled breath. "No," he
murmured, nearly inaudible. No. This was not reality. This had to be a
dream.

Instinctively, he reached for Aluneth, scrambling inwardly for
gravity, for foundation. But what he found was the confirmation he
didn't want -- gold and bronze interwoven, radiating satisfaction. A
satisfaction his body felt but his keen mind did not.

Weyrleader. Everything he had always planned for, yet the one thing he
had never wanted to be.

I'serin exhaled slowly, giving himself precious heartbeats to recover
more of himself, but shifting his position so that he could meet
Saibra's eyes. "Weyrwoman," he said with nervous politeness. He could
only focus on her face, while his mind raced with a dozen questions
that refused to find voice.

Saibra was always "the Weyrwoman" when she woke up from a flight, so
she couldn't imagine the sudden adjustment that I'serin had to be
going through as he took up the mantle of Weyrleader.

"I bet you didn't wake up today thinking you'd be the Weyrleader
before it was finished, did you?"

His expression said it all. "I..." he started to say, then his eyes
slid away. "I have never expected to be anything that I have become in
life," he admitted. There was a long history behind his words but that
was a story for another time. "Least of all this." His eyes met hers
again. For all of his thirty-odd Turns, he looked boyishly vulnerable
in that moment, a youth unexpectedly shoved into being a man. "One can
prepare for something for Turns and yet, when the moment comes, still
find oneself completely unprepared."

"I was about your age when I came here to be Weyrwoman. I _thought_ I
was prepared but found out I still had some maturing to do." She had
resented the cold cliffs of Dragonsfall for a while, but now the place
had become her home. The resentment of the location had led to bad
feelings between her and the Weyrleader at the time - G'nir. In
hindsight, Saibra admitted that G'nir had been an exemplary
Weyrleader. Looking down at her feet, she saw I'serin's shirt.
Retrieving the garment, she tossed it to him as she looked for her own
clothing.

He caught the shirt with a quiet, "My thanks," but did not put it on.
His fingers rolled the fabric between them for a moment as thoughts
consumed him, none of which had to do with the naked goldrider in
front of him. "It will be a steep learning curve for me, then, but I
will do my best not to be problematic," he promised her, meeting her
gaze for a moment before slipping into his shirt. He looked around for
his pants. "And you need not worry about me seeking your bed," he
added. "I'll not come between you and your weyrmate." If anything,
I'serin wished that it hadn't even taken this sexual act between them
to cement his position. He thanked Faranth that at least he would not
remember the details.

Saibra smiled, the first untroubled one since waking. "No worries
there, Weyrleader. I'm sure R'enh is being well taken care of by
someone else right now." At least, she hoped he was because that would
mean Mnoranth's injuries weren't severe. "All the same, I thank you
for your honor." She pulled her dress over her head. "K'reyel's things
were cleaned out of the Weyrleader's weyr some time ago, so it is
clean and prepared for you to move in when you wish. Your office is
furnished as well, but Oselle can help get anything else you need."

At the mention of his new rank, I'serin's mind took another momentary,
dizzying dive. He tasted that word in his mouth, struggled to swallow
it. It settled into his stomach in a thick, dense knot. "I'serin," he
said, softly but firmly. "Please. Though this will be a partnership of
rank in order to ensure the success and harmony of the Weyr, when we
are alone, please, call me I'serin." He understood the need to use,
and hide behind, titles. He had been doing so for many Turns. But he
did not want this leadership to be one of cold formality. They could
-- and would -- lead this Weyr as amiably as possible.

Crossing the room, Saibra held out her hand to I'serin to shake. "Then
I expect you to call me Saibra in return. How about we meet up for
lunch tomorrow and we can get to know each other a little better?"

Her offer seemed to hit the right angle. His expression relaxed a bit
as he took her hand, gave it a firm but friendly shake. "That would be
appreciated, thank you." As he released her hand, with a little bow of
his head, he said, "Though if something transpires before then,
please. I am at your call."

"And I am at yours." Saibra shrugged into her jacket, sweeping her
long black hair out from under the collar as she did. "I'd better go
check on Mnoranth now." She made a little face, showing what she
thought of how Chioneth had used her talons on the bronze dragon.
I'serin's own expression was conflicted as he tried to think of what
to say to that.

"Send my...concerns, please," he eventually decided. Because 'regards'
seemed like it could possibly be translated as a jab but as
Weyrleader... Well, there were a great many things that I'serin would
need to be involved in, no matter how delicate or complicated. He was
sure that Saibra and R'enh needed some time alone in order to process
everything that had just occurred. **Aluneth, release Chioneth long
enough for her rider to attend Mnoranth please.** There was a low,
unhappy grumble from the bronze but he did so. I'serin exhaled. Good,
no butting heads over that this time then. "Until tomorrow, Weyr---
Saibra," he said with a nod of farewell.

Last updated on the August 29th 2024

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What You Always Prepared For (But Never Wanted to Happen)