Missteps

Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 8th August 2025

Characters: Thiseta, Teigan
Description: Teigan has some explaining to do over his letter to Saibra behind Thiseta's back.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Saibra, Tsaera
Notes: Follows 'DFW: Meet the Family'

Teigan

The ride back to Barrier Lake Weyr was silent. Thiseta waited until she'd closed the door to their weyr and unwrapped the scarf from her neck before turning to Teigan. Imbeth, being the wise dragon she was, took off to sun herself by the lake and well out of the way. "So. What do you have to say for yourself."

After four Turns together, Teigan knew Thiseta pretty well. He'd known, even back at his parents' weyr, that although she was 'playing nice' and valiantly fulfilling the role of a weyrmate, under the surface, something was amiss.

"Why don't you tell me why you're angry, so I don't have to guess," he suggested.

She scowled at him. "Fine. You wrote to Saibra."

"Ah."

"Ah? That's all you have to say, when you undermine my competence to the Weyrwoman of Dragonsfall? And Tsaera?" Her pitch rose with each question. "They think that I'm going to fail Barrier Lake because of you! You can't do that, Teigan. It's not just _me_ anymore. It's the entire Weyr."

"Don't you think you're exaggerating a little?" Teigan said in a calm, annoyingly measured voice.

She narrowed her eyes. "No. I don't. Whatever possessed you to think that writing to Saibra was a good idea?"

"I love you and I care about your health. What if she had planned for you all to enjoy the wet, snowy outdoors during your visit?" Teigan felt that his logic was sound. He was Thiseta's weyrmate, and formally her healer before they'd been involved, and letting the Dragonsfall Weyrwoman know that Thiseta's health demanded a dry, warm place seemed his duty.

"And you don't think that I could have told her myself?" Thiseta asked.

"Honestly? I was afraid you wouldn't because you don't like anyone to think your prior illnesses have any bearing on your current fitness." This was said in the same irritatingly tranquil manner. Like a healer to a patient.

"I know exactly how _fit_ I am." But the fear blossomed anyway. That she'd break, choke for each breath as her body withered around her-- the Weyrwoman startled as her green flit cheeped in distress from her perch on the couch.

}:You are healthy and well,:{ Imbeth's mindvoice cut through the swirling doubts. }:I can feel you, and you are strong. _We_ are strong, together. Tell your weyrmate that if he says that you are not, I will-- I will drop him into the lake and tell no dragon to save him:{

Thiseta smothered a laugh, then looked at Teigan and tried to regain her righteous anger. "Imbeth disagrees."

Teigan knew Thiseta's humor returning meant the heat of the argument had passed. Cross the room, the healer took her hands in his. "I overstepped. I shouldn't have sent that letter. I apologize. It won't happen again."

"You're right, it won't." She squeezed his hands. "I'm... angry and hurt that you didn't trust me. I'm not weak. But I understand why you did it. Just please don't go behind my back like that again?"

"I promise. Next time, I'll make a stink about it up front, in the privacy of our Weyr... to your face."

She smiled and decided to stir the pot a little. "So, when are we inviting your parents to dinner?"

"Ha. Ha." He tapped the end of her nose. "As soon as my mother has another scarf finished for you. Now that the door has been opened, you can expect we will be hearing from them."

"Good. I can't wait." Perhaps she'd invite them over the next rest day without telling him first. That would show him not to undermine his Weyrwoman.

Despite her lightened heart, though, she still worried that the damage was done -- and irreparable. Her reputation and the Weyr's were knotted together, and if Saibra thought she was too weak to be here... well, there wasn't much she could do about it now except hope that the letter, and its implications, would soon be forgotten.

Last updated on the August 17th 2025

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Missteps