Transfer Meeting Pt 2

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 1st August 2013
Series: It takes Time to Love

Characters: Hygalia, U'kaiah, Tavia
Description: Tavia meets with her new Wingleader
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 21 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Aileyan, Cyradis, G'nir; Pt 2 of 2

Tavia

The bronzerider ducked his head into the door. "You asked to see me,
ma'am?" His eyes rested on Tavia, and his lips spread into a warm
smile. "Hello there."

"Hello U'kaiah," Tavia smiled back at him. Glory even joined the
greeting with a chirrup of her own.

"Come in, U'kaiah," she said waving him in and asking him to pull up a
chair next to the greenrider. He did so without hesitation, reaching
for Tavia's hand without thought. Hygalia just smiled, though her mind
was taking note of the way he touched her, the ease with which sat
beside her. She could understand why Aileyan was worried, but knew it
was because the young greenrider couldn't see herself with U'kaiah. He
had the same confident ease and attentive look when he was with her, as
well. There was no playing favorites as far as Hygalia could tell. But
she would be watching him this meeting. It was why she had invited him.

"Do you want anything to drink?" she asked. "Tavia, do you need a
refill?"

"Just water would be fine." U'kaiah turned to look at Tavia. She
didn't seem uncomfortable or nervous, but just in case, he gave her hand
a squeeze.

Tavia smiled and squeezed back. "I'm fine thank you ma'am," she said
to the Weyrwoman but her smile was for U'kaiah.

The Weyrwoman poured a glass of water and passed it over to the
bronzerider. "Now, Tavia and I have been discussing her transfer
request. I am certainly not opposed to the idea, U'kaiah, but I don't
think it's anything that needs to be rushed into. There is a lot to
consider before the transfer is finalized."

His brow furrowed slightly. He had hoped to have Tavia in Dragonsfall
sooner rather than later. "Such as?"

Hygalia could understand his rush, but she was never hasty. "Such as
how you will divide your time between two women, U'kaiah. Have you
three even discussed that yet?"

Tavia attempted to hide her discomfort with the question by recrossing
her legs in the opposite direction. She didn't know about U'kaiah but
that question seemed _too_ personal for the Weyrwoman to ask, even if
it were rhetorical.

The goldrider didn't mind at making them sweat a little. It was a
rhetorical question. By the greenrider's reaction, it was obvious that
discussion had not yet taken place. "Or what will you do, Tavia, if
things don't work out? Will you stay here or go back to Dolphin Cove?
Have you that about that yet?"

"It's going to work," U'kaiah assured her with conviction. "We're both
committed to working through the rough parts." He gave Tavia's hand
another squeeze to let her know that it would be ok. "As for your other
question, no, we haven't discussed that yet. But we will. We just
haven't had time yet."

"Exactly," Hygalia said with a nod, getting to the point. "That is why
I don't want to approve this transfer right away. I want all three of
you to have time to adjust to this big step. I want it to be as smooth
a transition as possible. I want you to have these hard conversations
_before_ Tavia comes. I don't want you distracted, U'kaiah, and Tavia,
adjusting to a new Weyr and a new Wing is hard enough, but if you are
having to begin adjusting to having Aileyan around at the same time, it
could cause distraction in _my_ Wing as well. I am a Wingleader, too,
don't forget." Her tone softened as she looked between the two of them.
"I believe you will make it work. I can see how much you both care for
each other, and I know how much you care for Aileyan, U'kaiah. But I do
think rushing the transfer through without giving you all time to make
the arrangements you need would be rash on my part. Do you understand
my reasoning?"

After all the Turns Tavia had spent in the Queens Wing at Dolphin Cove
she'd served a rather spectacular succession of Weyrwomen. Each had
their own style and priorities. If nothing else, it had taught her to
adapt to new leadership. "I'm flexible," she said with a nod. "I can
bend. But I see your point and understand your concerns."

Personally, she didn't see how they could possibly work through all
the possible distractions but she understood the need even though it
was frustrating. Her duties at Dolphin Cove didn't end until she moved
and that would make the discussions difficult to say the least.

U'kaiah just nodded his understanding. He hadn't really thought it
would be all that difficult. In his mind, the challenge was getting
Aileyan to agree to it. Now that was done, he had wanted Tavia to come
as soon as possible. The idea of _how_ it would work hadn't even
crossed his mind. He just knew it would. Obviously, more difficult
discussions were in store, he realized with a heavy sigh.

Hygalia gave them both a small, almost apologetic smile. She knew this
was not what they had wanted to hear, and it was very possible she was
not endearing herself to a new potential rider. But she had to think of
the peace of the Weyr first. "I would recommend, Tavia, that you spend
as much time here as possible in the next month. I will have a chat
with Cyradis and see if we can work something out so you can have a bit
of time. I'm sure she'd be grateful to have you a bit longer. But that
could give you time to find a foster mother, look for a weyr that will
suit you, find the furniture you need. And, if I may make a suggestion,
perhaps Aileyan can help you with some of that. The more time you can
spend getting to know her, I think the easier it will be for you both to
work together in my Wing. I would hate to have to send one of you to
G'nir's Wing."

Though not as much as U'kaiah hated that idea. "We'll get things sorted
out," he quickly promised the Weyrwoman. Turning to look at Tavia, he
smiled at her reassuringly. "It would be good to have you around more,
even if you can't transfer right away."

Doing the job in the queen's wing was about watching for stray clumps
that fell through the upper wings and protecting the queens. Not
interpersonal relationships. So, the 'not so veiled' threat felt like
the Weyrwoman was meddling in her life which was a rather new
sensation. She wasn't quite certain if she liked it or not. After all
it looked to her like they were almost the same age and the woman was
making her feel a bit like a recalcitrant teen who was getting blamed
for something that hadn't yet happened. Her contributions and
performance were appreciated at Dolphin Cove and it looked like she'd
have to prove herself all over again here.

"Right," she smiled at U'kaiah. But even though up to that point she
hadn't really felt threatened by Aileyan it was clear to her where
Hygalia would come down if there were any difficulty. She tried hard
to see Hygalia's point of view but there was still a little underlying
resentment that she'd be the one removed if there were an issue.
Adding that to the disappointment that she couldn't just move to
Dragonsfall now that the decision had been made, she was feeling less
optimistic than she had just moments before.

She redirected her thoughts toward the duties she could shed or
transfer here, and the possible ways to make more time for Dragonsfall
and while her mind was whirling with all of this she squeezed
U'kaiah's hand and nodded.

"I don't imagine Cyradis will argue."

Hygalia shrugged a shoulder. "Perhaps a little. She speaks very highly
of you, you know. I'm looking forward to having you in my Wing, Tavia."
She set down her mug. Enough for now. "Don't worry," she said,
looking between the green and bronzeriders. "If this is truly what you
want, it will happen. But for now, unless you have any questions for
me, I'm sure you both would like a little time together while you're
here. We will discuss your transfer again in a couple sevendays."

"Shall we go?" U'kaiah asked Tavia softly, wondering if she had anything
further to ask.

Tavia rose and smiled at Hygalia, "Thank you," she said. Then she
turned to U'kaiah and nodded.

Last updated on the September 3rd 2013

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Transfer Meeting Pt 2