Understanding (Part I)

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 27th November 2008

Characters: J'gen, Irlani, Calliea
Description: Irlani and J'gen talk about things.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 8 of Turn 4

Calliea slid from her green's side and stumbled towards the dragon
cavern. Her father would understand, her father would comfort her and hold her
and tell her everything would be alright, as he had when she was a little
girl. She had fallen so fast and hard for V'ril, they had been so happy this
past month, after the flight they had stayed a lot closer than some riders
did.

He had been so happy to discover she was pregnant, had asked that she
seek a Queen's Wing appointment - that she give him a child. And now, she
didn't have either had lost both in a matter of days. Her eyes, swollen from
her tears searched the cavern from the entrance but her father was no where
in sight. She turned and made her way back to Harith's side, climbing her
quickly and asking her to take them both to her fathers ledge.

*****

"Gyta's asleep." Irlani stated as she came back from the alcove where
the child stayed. She slid down onto the settle next to J'gen, "Ravyan was
a little wild thing today."

"I'm sure you and Gyta managed to keep him in order though. Or are you
still feeling weak?" he asked in concern.

"No." Irlani assured him, shaking her head. He had asked that before
and she had given the same answer. "When are you going to start believing
me?"

"I believe you. I believe you." he laughed, "I'm just making -"

"Daddy?" the door opened and Calliea entered the room and stopped, her
whole body becoming rigid. "What is _she_ doing here?" her voice rose as her
eyes locked on Irlani. The old distaste of Irlani had flashed to the
surface.

Irlani turned toward the voice, rather surprised. Calliea wasn't
expected - was she? "Hello, Calliea." She stated softly, turning to face the
greenrider. "I didn't realise you were coming."

"Obviously!" she spat out. Whenever she wanted to see her father this
woman was always around. How dare she be here today. "Daddy, I need to talk
to you - alone."

"Calliea, keep your voice down, to start with, and Irlani will not leave unless you learn to ask politely."

Perhaps Irlani saw something that J'gen didn't. She nodded to Calliea
and stood. The foster mother wasn't telepathic like the dragons, but she
could tell that there was more to Calliea's visit then to simply say
hello. There was something in her face beyond the irritation, something in the manner she
held herself. "It's okay, J'gen. I'll leave you two to talk and see
you in the morning."

"So you're not sleeping here, yet?" she asked, her eyes swivelling
around to the woman again, "I don't need you to pity me!" she said harshly.

"And when, exactly, did I say that I pitied you?" Irlani raised both
eyebrows at the woman. What was her problem? "Your attitude is
unjustified, Calliea. I've done nothing to you. I'm ready to let you
have time with your father for I understand that perhaps you _need_ to have
time alone with him and yet you verbally attack me as if I _have_ done
something."

"Just your presence here is enough." Calliea screamed. Even as she did
so she realised she was being completely unreasonable, but she couldn't
help herself.

"Calliea!" J'gen stood, and blocked her view of Irlani, "If you want to
see me, that is fine, but you have no cal-"

}:She lost her mate:{ Suuth's voice was low and guarded. }:And
something more... Harith is worried:{

"Calliea..." he could feel the wind knocked from him at Suuth's
words. His daughter had always been the difficult twin, and he was used to her
outbursts, but right now he knew he had to tread carefully. He reached
out his arms, and pulled her towards him. "Irlani, I'm sorry. Can you go
and check on Gyta for me, please?" he didn't want Irlani to feel as if she
had been sided against, he hoped he could explain shortly, to her. But for
now he had to calm his daughter down. If what Suuth had told him were true,
then Irlani was the one person who could probably understand more then
he.

"Of course." Irlani didn't say another word but turned and made her way
to the alcove. To be honest, she thought it would be best if she just
left, but for some reason J'gen hadn't suggested that. Well, she would go
along for the moment.

"You lost your mate?" he asked, surprised to hear she had had one. "In
Fall?"

Calliea broke down at her father's gentle tone, her sobs echoed around
the room. "You ...you... you would have liked him." she sobbed out. "He he
he was a lot ... like you, daddy."

"/Between/ or an injury?" he asked softly. Hoping it had been /between/
and not by injury.

"/Between/.." came out on a hiccup. "But daddy, I was to have his child." Another torrent of tears broke out, splashing down her face, as her body shook against his. "Everything was .... was going so well..." she shook her head in disbelief.

Last updated on the December 1st 2008

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Understanding (Part I)