Win Or Not

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 8th March 2006

Characters: T'voal, Shayla
Description: T'voal comforts Shayla after she hears rumors about the Weyrwoman Second's unfortunate flight experience.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 3

Shayla was silent as she watched him bending over a small table, no doubt working on those riding straps that he'd been grumbling over for the past day or so. "T'voal?" Her voice was soft.

"Mmmm?" T'voal didn't look up, his attention focused on one bit of leather that had been troubling him. He bent it one way and then another, then finally sighed. "Shards, I need to have this replaced."

She came closer, then hesitated, wondering if she should just forget it. But how could she? What she'd been hearing around the Weyr...shards, it _scared_ her. "Replaced? I'm sorry to hear that," she managed to tell him in somewhat of a normal tone as she went around to sit across from him.

T'voal looked up at her, eyebrows coming together. "Are you okay, Shayla?"

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she was fine. After all, rumors could be exaggerated. But even still... And he would see through her lie.
He was so sharding good at reading her face... "I..." Swallowing, she shook her head.

"Obviously not." He set the strap down and patted the seat next to him.
"Come over here and sit by me. Tell me what's wrong, Shayla."

"I've been hearing things," she told him softly once she sat beside him.
"Things about...the Weyrwoman Second's flight."

"Oh." T'voal wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissing her forehead softly. "The rumours have been all over lately, haven't they?"

"Is that all they are, T'voal? Just rumors?" Her tone implied that she didn't believe it. How _could_ she believe that they were just rumors?

T'voal sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know, Shayla. If you're asking if something like that _could_ happen? Yes... probably. But I've won a few flights and it's never been like that."

Her brown eyes were stark as she stared at him. "Flights can be rape?" She felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her at his confirmation.

He winced at the phrasing. "It's not that simple, Shayla. It's not like that unless the riders are fighting it--fighting their dragons or themselves. And there's no reason for anyone to fight it... it's just the way things are.
They tell you that in Candidate classes."

She rubbed her arms, looking away. "I know... But they're grown up, T'voal... How could they fight it if they've been riding for so long?"

"I don't know," he said after a long pause. "It's not about the flight though. Sometimes people have their own problems."

Shayla wrapped her arms tighter around herself. "I... I didn't know that...misgivings...could inhibit a flight like that. I mean, sure, they told us things in Candidate classes...but..." The very thought of something going wrong during one of Kiranth's flights made her feel sick.

"I'm not talking about _misgivings_," T'voal said firmly, pulling her tighter against him. "Shards, Shayla... you _felt_ what the flight was like.
Did you have a chance to resist Kiranth's feelings?"

She shook her head, huddling into his arms.

"And that's how it should be," he said firmly. "Don't worry so much about it, Shayla. We don't know what really went on, and the story has probably gotten wilder each time it gets told. You _know_ what flights are like, and they're not so bad." He kissed the top of her head again. "Besides, Myarth and I are planning on winning your next one if we have to spend the next several months romancing our respective ladies."

She felt something inside her ease as she felt his lips against her hair. A soft smile touched her lips and she tilted her face up to look at him. "I want you to win, T'voal." She reached up to brush her fingers through his hair.

"Whether we win or not, it doesn't matter," he said firmly. "It's one time every few months... as long as we get you the rest of the time, I'm happy."

Her smile grew at that, and it dawned on her just how much she did trust him
- how his words could wipe away lingering doubts and anxieties. Just his words alone. Not every person could do that. "Does that mean you're gonna romance me tonight?"

"It was certainly on my schedule," T'voal replied, his lips finding her ear.
"I suppose if you're feeling impatient, we could start a little early..."

She nestled against him, her cheek rubbing against his shoulder, the motion guiding his lips to her neck. "I wouldn't complain..."

T'voal glanced briefly at the riding straps he'd wanted to finish that evening, but they weren't nearly as interesting as the woman snuggled so comfortably into his side. Threading his hands through her hair, he grinned down at her. "In that case, let's get to romancing."

Last updated on the March 8th 2006

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Win Or Not