A Flight Interruption
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 22nd August 2006
Series: Saving Each Other
Characters: N'vanik, Talryne
Description: N'vanik leaves Talryne alone in his weyr when Loseth decides he wants to chase a rising green.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 12 of Turn 3
Loseth's loud rumble interrupted the silence. }:She's _mine_!:{
**Uh-oh.** "Talryne, I think I should take you to the infirmary for a while," N'vanik said.
Talryne looked up from the book she'd been pretending to read, her eyebrows coming together. "What? Why?"
**Are you sure?** he asked the bronze.
Another rumble. }:Yes!:{ "Loseth wants to chase," N'vanik told her.
"Oh." She continued to stare at him in a slightly distracted manner, her face displaying her pain, worry and confusion clearly for anyone to see.
"You don't want me to be here while you're gone?" It stung a little, and that was obvious, too. She'd thought he might at least trust her that much.
Why did she have to look at him like that? "You don't want stay here alone, do you?"
She shook her head, not wanting to upset him enough that he wouldn't let her come back. "Not if you don't want me to. I just--everyone stares at me in the infirmary. I don't like it."
Loseth was shifting his feet impatiently. "If you want to stay here, that's fine. You know I might be gone for . . . a while."
"I know," she replied quietly. "I'm tired. I'll take a bath and then sleep."
Her voice went up a little at the end, making the statement into an uncertain question, as if she needed his approval for even so simple a decision.
"Alright," he said, not noticing the question in her tone. "I'll read to you when I get back, if you'd like." Shards, why was he feeling guilty about this? She said she would be fine by herself.
Setting her book aside, Talryne rose and offered N'vanik one of her small, barely there smiles. "I'd like that, N'vanik. But you should go." }:Yes!:{ Loseth agreed. }:Hurry!:{ "I'll be back." Still, N'vanik hesitated for a moment before turning and hurrying toward Loseth.
Talryne watched him leave, staring blankly at the empty ledge for a long time after he was gone. Part of her wanted to go to the ledge, to see if she could catch sight of the flight. Most of her ached with loss at the reminder of what she no longer had.
***********
N'vanik brushed his damp hair away from his forehead as he walked down the hall. The drudge he'd grabbed after the flight was one he knew liked it quick and rough, and most of his dragonlust had been spent quickly. Still, he'd left Talryne alone for a while and he was worried. }:She's fine,:{ Loseth assured him. The bronzerider reached his door and stepped inside, seeing that Talryne was not on the couch. }: She's sleeping :{ N'vanik found her curled on his bed.
The residue of dragonlust stirred in him, but he pushed it back. He briefly debated letting her sleep, but he wanted her to know he was there. Standing beside the bed, he shook her gently. "Hey, I'm back."
She turned over, her damp hair clinging to her face as her eyes fluttered open. "You're back? Did I fall asleep?"
"Yep. And it looks like you did fine on your own." He gave her a smile.
A tiny smile tugged at her lips in return as she pushed herself up. "I didn't mean to fall asleep... I hadn't even combed my hair. The bath was really relaxing, though."
"That's good," he said. "You want me to read to you, or do you want to go back to sleep?"
"Could you read to me?" she asked hopefully. "I just want to get my comb, first. Unless you want to end up tangled up in my hair tonight." It was the closest thing to a joke she'd managed in a long time, weak as it was. She was just pleased that N'vanik had come back to her.
The dragonlust stirred again, and again he pushed it away. It was harder this time. "No thanks," he said smiling. "I'll go get the book."
Talryne slid from the bed, not bothering with clothing as she crossed to pick up her comb. When she turned back to him, the look in her eyes aknowledged that it was entirely deliberate. There was no demand or expectation in her gaze as she moved back to the bed, just a willingness to do whatever he wanted as long as it would make her feel like she wasn't alone. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted her, wanted to tangle his hands in her hair and run his lips along her skin. But he wouldn't do it.
No. Not when she was so . . . broken. Swallowing thickly, he said, "I left the book in the main room." And he went to get it, trying to push those thoughts from his mind. He knew he wouldn't be able to resist it for long, but he wasn't going to give in today.
She wasn't sure if she was disappointed or relieved as she watched him leave. But she ran the comb through her hair enough to braid it and had slid back into the bed already by the time he returned. If he changed his mind, she'd be happy enough to help him with his leftover flight lust. If he didn't--well, the sound of his voice reading to her was her favorite way to fall asleep.
Last updated on the August 25th 2006
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