Visiting Encouragement
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 1st October 2019
Characters: F'lin, Lanniya
Description: Lanniya visits F'lin at DCW and provides encouragement
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Jeyme, K'ran, D'hol, J'nus
The first between after being restricted from doing so was
surprisingly refreshing, she thought as she climbed the stairs at
Dolphin's Cove. After seeing her sister and discussing her pregnancy,
Lanniya now faced why she had come here. She knew where his weyr was,
but felt uncertain about intruding there, especially if he had grown
uncomfortable with her. So, instead, she made her way to his office,
didn't alert his bronze, and approached the door on quiet feet. It was
open and his back to the door. "Hello F'lin."
The bronzerider jumped and turned to face her with a grin on his face.
"Lanniya?!"
The grin caused a hiccup of breath to explode from her. He was happy
to see her! A relieved smile wreathed her face and she stepped
forward. "Hey. Did I interrupt anything?"
"A little, but--" he set aside the weather forecastings in his hand as
his gaze travelled briefly to her abdomen. "Is everything all right?
How come you're here?"
She held back a little watching his face. "I'm fine. It's safe to
between now. Anaeryth's calm and with her eggs, so I decided to
come and visit while I could." She looked down, her hand
automatically sliding over the small, but evident roundness of her
belly. She chewed on her lower lip. "I hadn't heard from you. I was
worried."
"Oh Faranth, it's been a month!" F'lin stepped forward to hug Lanniya
hello. "With K'ran at Barrier Lake most days now, I'm leading the Wing
_and_ doing half of what I used to be doing as well. Jeyme's been
picking up the rest-- I'd be lost without her."
"Time went by fast." At the hug, she sighed wrapping her arms around
him tightly and returning the squeeze. "I've missed you, F'lin." She
kissed his cheek, then pulled away. "Oh, Jeyme. I remember her. Nice
woman. Is she your.. uhm... are you seeing her now?" That would
explain many things. She felt a surge of irrational jealousy, but
tamped it down; she had no cause for it at all. Of course he was
seeing other women. It should be expected. But, she reminded
herself, she didn't have to like it!
The bronzerider laughed at that. "We don't have that sort of
relationship. She's Rapids Wingthird."
"Oh." Well that was a bit embarrassing. "Well...good. Not that I
wouldn't blame you or expect you not to." Lanniya kept her arms
loosely around F'lin's neck, not wanting to release him just yet. "Are
you busy right now or do you need to concentrate on the weather?"
F'lin glanced at the hides. Since he was mostly leading Rapids, he
_should_ finish what he was doing... but it was hard to make that
decision with a goldrider pressed up against him. He shook his head.
"Nah. It can wait. I haven't seen you in ages and I'd rather find out
how you are doing."
She smiled brightly up at him, evidently pleased by his answer. "We're
doing good. The healers say that I'm healthy and I'm not sick any
more." She looked down at the small bump between them, then back up. I
can only between for for a couple of months though before I'm
grounded. But I'm hungry all of the time too. I'm eating weird things.
Did you know that redfruit smothered with wherry gravy is actually
really good?"
He made a face. "I'm going to have to take your word on that. Do you
think this means that redfruit and gravy will be the baby's favourite
food?"
Lanniya laughed at his expression. "I don't know! I've never done this
before either. I also ate pickles covered with jam. I think I've
driven some of the cooks a little nutty sometimes." Her fingers
tickled purposefully along the nape of his neck.
He let his arms settle a little lower around her waist, pulling her
close. "Pickles covered in jam. That sounds _really_ bad."
She liked the press of his body against hers. Faranth, she'd missed
him! "It's not really. Sweet and sour all at once." She tilted her
head back while fiddling at his collar. "Have you missed me?"
"Yes." F'lin bent to kiss her. This felt more... normal. Like it had
been between them. After their last meeting at Dragonsfall Weyr, he
wasn't sure if she'd ever come back to him like this. Not with a baby,
and K'ale... and a family. It made him feel mildly guilty, but not
enough to stop.
Sighing against his mouth, she returned the kiss gladly and felt the
familiar heated thrill his embrace always gave. "I missed you too,
F'lin. Very much. " She kissed his chin lightly. "Can you spare this
evening for some time with me?"
He did have to prepare for Threadfall and drills... but it was hard to
say no when Lanniya. "How could I say no to an invitation like that?"
he said.
"You could if you want to." She grinned, dimples flashing. "And I do
want to talk to you too, not just the other. Though the other is
definitely on my mind. " She allowed her hand to trail down his chest
with interest, then lower, but just briefly. "You never said if you'd
be going to Barrier Lake or anything."
"I'll go to Barrier Lake." He sighed. "It's hard... I was offered a
Wingleader's knots here. I want that, but I don't think that I'd be in
the running for a Wingleader's position at Barrier Lake. Too many
bronzeriders will be going there to compete for whoever's gold rises
first. I'm not going to lie, a big part of me wants to stay here and
wear those knots..."
"Hey," She cupped his cheek with her hand. "You've more than proven
that you deserve them, F'lin." She frowned and made a soft offer. "I
can talk to Kapera. Maybe she can talk to D'hol, K'ran, or J'nus. Even
if her gold doesn't rise first, maybe they'll listen to her. You're a
_good_ rider, F'lin. A great one. You deserve those knots."
It felt good to hear her say that, and that she'd offer... but F'lin
shook his head. "Thank you, but no. If I'm offered knots at Barrier
Lake, I want it to be because I earned them. Everyone already thinks I
have my knots now because of my grandmother." And maybe it was true.
He looked down at his feet. "I need to... I want to know that they're
_mine_."
"I've never heard a single person say that about you." She scolded
lightly. "Not a one. If I had I would have kicked their butts. Or...I
would have tried to. And I don't think anyone would have offered you
knots here because your grandmother is a goldrider. N'vanik, D'hol,
and K'ran wouldn't do that. They're too dedicated to their wings to do
that. And anyone who thinks that's how you have them is stupid." Her
voice was firm. "You," she poked at his chest, "need to believe in
yourself more."
He caught her finger in his hand and placed a kiss on her palm.
"Thanks for thinking that."
"I don't just think it. I know it. You just need to listen to me."
Lanniya's fingers curled to touch his cheek, her eyes sparkling with
honest affection for him. "Maybe you should start."
"Start listening? Depends on what you have to say," F'lin said.
She eyed him. "Right now I'm saying you are stubborn and hard headed
and a good rider even though you doubt it. So listen."
He cupped a hand around his ear and gave her an innocent look. "What
was that? I couldn't quite hear..."
Her toe connected lightly to F'lin's shin, just a little tap of her
foot accompanied by a wry smile. "And deaf too, looks like."
"See? Totally unfit for knots." He smiled at her. "And I still want to
go to Barrier Lake Weyr."
She couldn't but laugh at him. "You're an odd odd man, F'lin. But
Barrier Lake _is_ closer. I can't complain about that. I could see
you more often, if you want."
"Of course I want. Although I will miss the beach..." he sighed. "I
haven't ever lived anywhere that didn't have an ocean beside it."
Her nose wrinkled. "Try to think about the good things about it
instead of the bad. You'll have three goldriders there and plenty of
opportunities. There's hot springs there, too. Maybe you'll love it
there." She laid her hands on his shoulders. "It can't ever be
Riverbluff, but you can make it your home."
"You know, I've lost two homes to disasters. This will be the first
time I've moved without being chased out by something." He gave her a
lopsided smile. "But don't get me wrong. I'm happy to go. I don't have
to make it home. It's my territory. It's already my home."
She laid her hand on his cheek. "Good. Hearing that will make me
worry less about you. I really want you to be happy there, F'lin. I
want to see you succeed in everything you want. "
He put a hand over hers. "And what about you? What do you want to do
with your life?"
She blinked, not expecting that question. It wasn't something she
often had to think about. She opened her mouth, closed it, then
frowned in thought before speaking "You know, I'm pretty happy
already. I guess just to be a good goldrider and a good person. " She
shrugged a little. "I need work on the goldrider part, but I'm
trying. Maybe to see you more than I do. I do miss you an awful lot,
you know."
"Me too," F'lin said softly. It was too bad that Lanniya wouldn't be
able to come to Barrier Lake. There were too many goldriders there
already. With a pang he realized that they'd likely never live in the
same Weyr again. He smiled. "And you're here now."
"Yes, I am. And I have about three candlemarks before my ride has to
leave." She grinned up away him, waggled her brows and tugged
playfully at his belt. "So, what do you think we're should do to pass
the time?"
He let himself be tugged a little closer. "I get the feeling you've
already got our time together all planned out."
"Would I do that?" Lanniya grinned up at him. " We could play a board
game or dragon poker if you really wanted to do something new."
F'lin pretended to think about that for a moment. "Nah," he said, then
set about proving just how much he appreciated Lanniya's original
plan.
Last updated on the October 14th 2019