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Writers: Dana
Date Posted: 3rd April 2006

Characters: Traelyn, Atreyn
Description: Atreyn comes to visit Traelyn at last, but ends up asking for something they both will regret
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 11 of Turn 3

**Slow down, my love. There isn't any hurry,** Atreyn gently told her
green as Onesanth swooped down to catch a lower thermal.

}:My wing does not feel strained. It feels fine!:{

**Nevertheless, you heard what the healers said. No fancy flying. And
_that_, dearest, qualifies as fancy flying.** Atreyn kept her mental tone
soft, but firm.

Reluctantly, the large green eased into a glide. }:And you mustn't do any
fancy walking.:{

A wry half-smile curved Atreyn's lips and she tenderly stroked a hand down
her green's neck. **No...no fancy walking for me.** Not that she could
even if she wanted to. Shaking herself from that thought, she looked down
and surveyed Dolphin Cove Weyr – her sister's Weyr.

It was beautiful. Her father had been right: the Weyr was situated right
on the shoreline. The long stretch of golden sand glittered, and the blue
waves sparkled, beckoning invitingly as they rolled in with the tide and
out again. A genuine smile replaced the wry one. **Is Nyith here?**

}:She is. And her rider. She says hers is in her office,:{ Onesanth
replied before bugling a greeting to the watchdragon.

Slowly they spiraled down to land in the Weyrbowl. Onesanth backwinged
and gingerly landed on her hind-legs before slowly lowering into a crouch
position. In the bright sunlight, the hideous Threadscore running down
her right back leg and right wing was quite visible.

}:It does not ache,:{ Onesanth informed her rider before she could ask.
}:But I think I will rest in the sun for a while.:{

**Of course, my love.** Atreyn took off her helmet and smoothed the
errant tendrils that had escaped from the braid back from her eyes. She
waited a moment, gathering herself, before dismounting carefully. She
couldn't quite conceal a grimace as her 'scored leg hit the ground.

Onesanth turned her jeweled eyes on her rider and gave a soft, worried croon.

"I'll be fine." She gave her dragon an encouraging smile, not liking how
she had to force it. "You go lounge in the sun for a while."

}:I will rest beside Girifith.:{

Atreyn swallowed past the sudden thickness in her throat as she watched
her dragon take wing.

Girifith. That meant B'ram was here. Right now.

Shards.

~*~

"And here you probably thought that I'd forgotten about you, Trae!" Atreyn
laughed as she clasped her sister into a tight embrace.

"I didn't think that," the young Weyrwoman grinned as she hugged tightly
her back. "How could I?" Her expression then sobered a little as she
pulled back to look at her. She knew Atreyn would have come here to
Dolphin Cove far sooner if she hadn't been laid up in the Infirmary for so
long. Shards... "I know you've been through...something rough, Atreyn."

Dark gray eyes so very similar to Traelyn's own stared back at her for a
moment before flickering away. "Yeah. It's been a bit rough." Though
the word "bit" was a bit of an understatement. Then she turned her face
back to her younger sister and gave her a soft smile. Atreyn had
pretended not to see the shocked look – swiftly covered – on Trae's face
when she'd entered her office, pretended not to see that flash of pity in
her eyes as she walked slowly across the room. Everyone seemed to look at
her like that now. It would take some time for them all to get used to
the slight limp.

It would take some time for her to get used to it as well.

"It tore through my muscle, Trae. I'm lucky to even be standing." Then
she made a face, wrinkling her freckle-dusted nose. "I was never very
graceful to begin with, so really, nothing's all that different." Atreyn
had learned over these past months that making light of the situation
helped.

To a point.

Traelyn squeezed her hand gently, leading her over to the sofa. "Are you
sure you should even be venturing so far from home?" she asked quietly as
they sat.

"This little excursion is part of helping me and Onesanth recognize our
limitations. We did fine coming here, and I did fine walking all the way
to your office, so you can wipe that concerned look off your face, missy."
Atreyn squeezed her hand back to take the sting from her words. "Really,
Trae. I'm doing all right." Her soft smile suddenly grew. "I heard
about Nyith's Hatching of thirty-six eggs. Congratulations! You must be
so proud."

Traelyn knew a deliberate attempt to switch the topic of discussion when
she heard one – and she couldn't blame her. But even still... She smiled
back, her gray eyes brightening at the mention of the successful Hatching
– her first as Weyrwoman of Dolphin Cove. "We're so proud, Atreyn.
J'darin and I. I swear – he was glowing as much as Hasaarth!"

"So you've been getting along with him, then, Trae? I know that things
weren't...easy for you. At first."

She nodded. "He's a good man. And a very capable Weyrleader."
Traelyn's expression turned a little distant, briefly remembering the
night of the Hatching and how _good_ it had felt to be in his arms. It
was as if she had almost forgotten what it could be like without being
driven by frustrated, angry lust. _Shards_... She kicked the thought of
the brownrider away. She wouldn't think of him now. Not here. She
shoved down the sudden guilt. Not with her sister sitting right next to
her.

Atreyn reached for Traelyn's hand again. "I'm glad for you. I can't
imagine what it would be like...to not get along with the man you have to
work so closely with." And, by the look on her sister's face, she could
tell that the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader were more than just working
partners. Or so she thought if she was reading her correctly. Perhaps it
was because she hadn't seen her in so long, or perhaps it was for a
different reason, but Traelyn seemed older. No...matured. Yes, that was
the word for it. But she was still the same Trae she'd grown up with, and
obviously much more comfortable in her role as senior Weyrwoman.

"Speaking of men...how is U'falo?"

"He's doing well." The greenrider's smile grew soft. "And so is Dezirth,
that great big bronze of his. And before you ask, Trae, yes he's been
watching out for me. Taking care of me." She wrinkled her nose again.
"Not that I really _need_ the pampering..." Atreyn bit her lip.

She'd said that same thing – in that exact same tone – to B'ram once.
No...more than once. Oh shards...why were all these sharding memories
coming back _now_?

But she knew why.

"How's... How's B'ram, Trae?" The words came out shakier than she would
have liked, and she mentally cursed herself for even _asking_. Who was
she to ask after him? Who was _she_ to do that?

"B'ram?" Traelyn managed to get out, keeping her voice calm, and
collected. **Show nothing.**

"Y-yes. You've seen him? Surely you must have..."

"I – yes. I've seen him, Atreyn." Traelyn forced her face into a smooth
mask of neutrality, all the while keeping her voice low, and steady.
**Show nothing, Trae...**

"I... Is he – can you..."

**Please don't ask me to do it, Atreyn. Please don't...**

"Can you...would you...call him in for me?" **Shards, Atreyn, what are
you doing?** "Please, Traelyn?"

~*~

Traelyn tried to lose herself in the conversation with Atreyn that
followed her request to Nyith to bespeak Girifith, but it was sharding
impossible. What had _possessed_ her to call B'ram in? It wasn't just
because Atreyn had asked her to.

Oh no. It wasn't just because of that.

A part of her - the part of her that she was beginning to know too well -
the part of her that she hated - wanted to inflict this pain on him. To
witness his reaction - his humiliation.

And it made her sick.

Unable to keep still any longer, she rose to her feet and went around to
stand behind the arm of the couch, her hands braced against it.

B'ram didn't deserve what was about to happen. Especially after she'd
come to him that night when N'vanik had left her alone on her ledge.
_She_ had come to _him_. And _this_ is how she repaid him?

A knock came on the door. Once. And then it swung open.

Traelyn slowly straightened, her expression unreadable as Atreyn turned
her head at the sound.

Then Atreyn said his name, and slowly rose to her feet, the limp barely
concealed.

Then she said his name again.

Last updated on the April 6th 2006

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