In Over Your Head

Writers: Emma, Heather
Date Posted: 29th July 2014

Characters: Judassa, I'lan
Description: I'lan teachers Judassa how to swim.. because she "didn't know how".. at least, that's what she said.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 26 of Turn 7

Judassa, with a little help from the Headwoman, had managed to find a
bathing suit that she didn't think was completely hideous. She wasn't
that worried about showing her skin, but she had a part to play and if
she wanted I'lan to think that she was a Holder, through and through,
then she needed to play the part correctly. She had been taking her
clothes off in front of boys since she was sixteen, but no one at
Dolphin Cove needed to know that.

With her bathing suit on underneath her skirt and blouse, Judassa had her
hair long, golden hair twisted back and clipped up out of the way.
Satisfied that she looked suitable, the midwife's assistant left her
weyr and traveled the short distance to I'lan's weyr. Knocking on the
door, she fidgeted momentarily with the hem of her blouse before the
door swung open.

"I'lan," she smiled, and then laughed as a familiar furry face
appeared, "and Bubbly!"

The canine gave a little 'woof' of greeting even as his owner smiled at
Judassa. "Come in a moment, I just need to grab a towel. Do you need one
too?"

Judassa stepped into the bronzerider's weyr, "Oh shoot! A towel!" She bumped
the heel of her palm against her forehead, "I complete forgot." She supposed
her mind had been busy with other details.

"I have a spare, don't worry." I'lan grabbed a bag and shoved a second towel
into it. "Now, I can bring Bubbly with us if you want. He needs a bath." The
canine gave a yip as he talked, almost as though he recognised the words.

"Well we can't leave him behind." She looked down at the canine and
scratched behind his ears, "Can we?" Judassa smiled at the pooch.

"No, we can't," the bronzerider knelt briefly to attach a lead to his
collar. "Just until we get to the water, then you can show Judassa about
swimming."

"Good, I will at least have two faithful men there to save me should I start
to drown." Judassa teased as she stepped out into the hallway.

"Neither of us would let that happen." I'lan said as he grabbed the bag and
the canine's lead. "You just have to trust me, and trust yourself that you
can do it."

Judassa felt confident that neither Bubbly nor I'lan would let anything
happen to her. It was rather nice being able to trust someone that
explicitly. "I trust you." She said as they walked down toward the beach
together. For one horrible moment she felt a pang of weakness and guilt
about what she was trying to do to I'lan but... She needed someone to help
look after her while she was pregnant. None of the other men she had met at
the Weyr had seemed as trustworthy as I'lan.

"We can take this as slow as you need, I'lan said as they reached the
water's edge. He sat down to remove his boots and outer clothing, revealing
an old pair of shorts that he occasionally wore to scrub Naath. Bubbly was
released from his lead, and the canine gave a 'yip' then headed for the
water at speed. "It looks like he knows what to do," he joked. "You'll soon
be able to chase after him."

"Or maybe I can rig a float to him and he can just tow me around like a
boat." Judassa said with a grin, squinting against the bright sunlight as
she pulled off her skirt, and then tugged her blouse over her head. The one
piece suit was a dark green and complimented her dark golden hair and brown
eyes. "Is the warm usually warm here?" She asked as she tilted her head and
looked at him, meanwhile stepping close enough to the water to let the waves
ease in and over her feet.

"It's easily warm enough most of the turn round." I'lan came to stand next
to her. "Ready when you are," he said offering her his arm. "We're going to
go in slowly, just as far as you feel comfortable to start with."

Judassa took hold of his arm, finding that she was surprised, but pleased by
the strength she found there as they waded out into the water. It was not as
cold as she had imagined it would be, but bumps still rose up over her skin
as they moved out up to their waist, "Well, Trainer, what are you going to
teach me first about swimming?" She smiled.

"That you can float, just like Bubbly," he pointed at the canine who was
gently paddling about. "I'm going to show you, then you try." He let go her
arm for a moment, before proceeding to lie back in the water, looking up at
her for a moment or two, befor getting back to her feet. "If I stand beside
you as you try. All you have to do is just lie down in the water, I'll hold
you, you don't have to worry about anything, just let yourself go with the
water."

The woman raised an eyebrow, "Just lay down in the water, huh?" Judassa gave
him a dubious look before carefully lowering herself in the water. The fact
that she had spent countless days floating about in the lake back home with
men much older than she when she was a teenager was of little
consequence.She purposefully let herself dunk beneath the water, spluttering
as the water rushed over her nose and mouth.

The bronzerider reached for her instinctively, pulling her close to him as
he helped her find her feet. "You're okay," he said. "I'm here." He could
feel her body close to him, and was pleasantly surprised by how soft and
gentle it was compared to a female rider. Fit yes, but she had definite
curves, and the way they were outlined in her wet suit was somehow
incredibly appealing.

Judassa leaned against him as she wiped water from her eyes, successfully
pressing all of her curves to his side. "Not as easy as it looks." She
said, her blond hair now a shimmery wet curtain over her shoulders.

"Do you want to try again?" I'lan said. "Or, wait for another day?"

"Let's try again." Judassa said with a nod of her head.

"Whenever you're ready," I'lan said. "Just take it slow."

Judassa began to lower herself but then put a hand to I'lan's arm, "Will you
hold me in place until I am ready?"

"Of course," he moved a little closer, so that he could support her. "When
ever you're ready, you don't have to worry, I'm here and I'm not going to
let you go under."

Her brown eyes were locked with his, "I know you won't. I trust you." And it
was clear that she was talking about more than just swimming. Her entire
future hinged on this young bronzerider.

Last updated on the August 1st 2014

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In Over Your Head