U'val's Favorite Lady

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th December 2006

Characters: T'voal, Gaiya
Description: T'voal finds Gaiya visiting U'val, and tries to comfort her like his grandfather would have.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 6 of Turn 4

Gaiya sat next to U'val's bedside, his hand held carefully in his. "I really don't know what to do about him, U'val. I really don't. I feel so trapped in this relationship, and I know that I shouldn't. It's not his fault. You told me that over and over. But when I can I say enough is enough? I wish you would just open your eyes and tell me what to do.
Who's going to tell me what to do if you're not here?" She caught a tear with the tips of her fingers. Shards, she'd give anything to have that sweet bluerider open his eyes and sweep her up into her arms like he always did and tell her that everything would be ok. Who would she unburden her heart to if he did not come back to her...

She opened her mouth, preparing to say more but quickly shut it again when she saw the brownrider walk into U'val's infirmary room. "T'voal.
Oh, I'm sorry." Gaiya stood and wiped the rest of her tears away. "I'm sorry, I should leave you two alone."

T'voal managed a sad looking smile. "Don't go, Gaiya. U'val would never forgive me for depriving him of the company of a pretty lady." Stopping behind her, he slid a gentle hand onto her shoulder and urged her to sit back down. "You should know that."

She laughed though the tears came faster. "Yes, I know. He always said if he had been fifty Turns younger..."

His hand rubbed her shoulder soothingly. "He adores you. And when he wakes up, he'll tell you so again."

She nodded as she sniffed in a rather embarrassing way. Why did she always have to look like a blubbering idiot when she cried! "I know,"
she finally whispered.

T'voal walked around her chair and knelt in front of her, one hand coming up to brush the tears from her cheek. "Oh, Gaiya. Don't cry, sweetheart."

"I know, I shouldn't, should I. I just... Wish I knew he could hear me..." She tried to give him a brave smile, despite the fact that she felt even more the fool now that he was getting the full few of her puffy eyes and runny nose.

But T'voal just smiled at her and rose to his feet, returning after a moment with a soft handkerchief. "U'val woul--doesn't want you to be sad." As hard as he tried to stop it, the past tense kept sneaking into his conversation about his grandfather. But he wasn't going to give up on him. Not yet.

"I know," she blubbered even worse at this thoughtfulness. "I'm sorry. I should go..." Hide in a lavatory somewhere and regain her composure...

Watching her cry tore at T'voal. He should be the one sobbing at U'val's beside... the man was _his_ grandfather, after all. He covered guilt by settling onto the floor and tugging Gaiya gently forward into his lap, letting her soak the shoulder of his tunic with tears. Gaiya silently cursed him as she collapsed into his body, unwillingly letting go. Didn't he know it wasn't fair to be so kind? Didn't he realize just how much like his grandfather he was when he was so caring and understanding? She wrapped her arms around him and gave into her grief. What would she do without U'val?

"Shhhh..." It was awkward, sitting on the floor in the narrow space next to his grandfather's cot. There wasn't enough room for him to stretch out his legs, but he didn't want to let go of Gaiya to find a more comfortable position. Not when she was sobbing on his shoulder like she was never going to stop.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there curled up against him, accepting his gentle comfort. Finally, her breath still coming in small gasps, Gaiya felt she had no more tears to shed. Leaning back slightly, knowing there was no way to avoid the fact that she looked like a wreck, her reddened eyes met his. "I... made your... tunic... wet..."

"It will dry," he replied quietly, smoothing a thumb over her cheek to wipe away any stray tears. "We need to go somewhere and wash your face."

"Yeah." After one more shuddering sigh she reluctantly stood to her feet. It suddenly felt very cold and lonely without his arms around her. She wrapped her arms around her middle in as a pathetic consolation. "And maybe a drink. I have wine in my rooms."

Feeling guilty about what he'd set off, T'voal wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. "Want me to walk with you? U'val wouldn't like it if I didn't look after his favorite young lady."

"Would you?" Shards she just didn't want to be alone. And she certainly didn't want to have to deal with Ar'lis just to have a little bit of human compassion. Knowing him, he'd find some way to twist it back to him and his problems. Or just turn it into sex, because sex was his solution to everything.

"Of course." T'voal glanced over his shoulder. "You hear that, U'val?
I'm going to take good care of her, so no scolding me when you wake up."

Gaiya smiled a little and wrapped her arm around his waist, leaning into his side. It was a bit of a relief to know someone would still be there to take care of her.

Last updated on the December 31st 2006

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U'val's Favorite Lady