In All The Weyr (2/2)

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 31st March 2007

Characters: Eleada, R'mer
Description: Eleada drops in on R'mer, and learns something he'd rather have kept hidden....
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 28 of Turn 4

"Anyway," he sighed, tired of talking. Listening was so much easier, and so much more comfortable. "Why was it you came?"

"Honestly?" She grinned faintly at him, feeling slightly embarrassed to admit it after the argument. "I finished my hidework a little early, and wanted someone to talk to."

"Well, I think you did more listening than talking," he said with a slight grimace. "Maybe its your turn to talk."

"When I said I wanted someone to talk to, I had more than a one-way conversation in mind." She admitted dryly. "Unless you really want me to lecture you on flirting specifics."

"No," he chuckled softly. "I want to talk with you."

"Got something in mind?" She asked, settling back into the sofa cushions again. "I know my day wasn't particularly exciting, unless you like hidework and drills."

His day hadn't been that much more exciting, so he asked the first of many questions that had come to mind. "Where are you from?"

"Recently? My weyr." She answered flippantly, then laughed when he looked at her. "Well, I was born at Thayan Peak, before the earthquake.
We moved here afterwards, and I Impressed Gliorith here, so I guess you could say I'm from Dolphin Cove. But I spent the last seven turns in High Reaches."

R'mer was impressed. Dolphin Cove was as far from his family's farm as he had ever been. "Is the North as different as they say?"

She thought for a moment. "Not really." She said at last. "It's a lot colder, especially in High Reaches, and I think the mountains are more dramatic. No jungles either. But the people are the same as anywhere else, except that women are allowed to craft and they aren't treated as breeding stock."

"Some women are really smart. My sister, Imrie, she's one of those. I think she could be a crafter some day." Once he brought his family to the Weyr, at least. "I thought you said your family was at a farm?" She asked curiously.

"They are," he nodded. "But some day I will bring them here. After I have established myself in a real wing."

"Really?" She was surprised. She hadn't thought of R'mer as the type who'd want his family at the weyr. "What do they think about this?"

"I don't really know about Ma. I think she knows its necessary since I'm not there to take care of the farm anymore." Her garden would get them through the growing months, but not another winter for sure. "My brother and most of my sisters seem excited. Imrie... well, she's stubborn sometimes, but she'll come around."

Eleada raised an eyebrow. "So you mother and Imrie don't want to? Is it really necessary then? You don't have neighbors or someone who could help them with the farm?" She asked curiously, trying to remember what little she'd heard about how farms worked.

R'mer shook his head. "No. My uncle was our neighbor and he and I ran both farms for turns, but he died a while back. It was just me working both. We could marry Ma or Imrie off to someone who would be willing to work the farms, but... Well, Ma doesn't want that and Imrie deserves better. She's too smart to just be some dumb farmer's wife."

She smiled. "I'm sure she appreciates that you think so. So what will happen to the farm after you bring them here? Do you think they'll like the weyr?" She shifted, stretching her arm out along the back of the sofa behind R'mer.

"I don't care what happens to that rock-strewn desert," R'mer replied, surprised himself at the vehemence in his voice. He had always hated the farm. He hated the long candlemarks, the isolation, the back-breaking labor, the loss of a normal childhood. R'mer hadn't realized just how much it had taken from him until he came here and saw what being a child _could_ have been like. "The sooner I can get my family out of there the better."

Eleada was startled. R'mer had never shown that much passion for anything except Hanunth before. "Sounds like you aren't very fond of it." She observed dryly. "But I look forward to meeting your family when they get here."

That brought a small smile back to his face. "They'd like you."

She laughed at that, grinning as she replied "I'm not sure about that.
Your mother might not appreciate a strange older woman -and a greenrider to boot!- teaching you how to flirt."

He shrugged, with a slightly shy, amused smile. She was right of course. There was a lot he had done that his mother might not understand. "But I don't mind. She'll get used to it."

She moved her arm from the sofa back to slid around his shoulders, her eyes sparkling as she gave him a brief conspiratorial squeeze. "I'll tell you what. If you need help bringing them here, I'll do it. That way it will be harder for her to complain!"

"You know, I might take you up on that offer," R'mer grinned, liking very much just how close she was. "Then you can see for yourself just how good it will be to leave that piece of the back of /between/ in the dust."

"I'll look forward to it." She assured him, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair like she would her nephews. R'mer wouldn't appreciate it for the friendly humor it was meant in, not when she could see the extra shine in his eyes when he looked at her. Although it might not hurt to dissuade him... She yawned suddenly, and caught herself in surprise.
"Where did that come from?"

"Well, I guess it is getting a little late," he shrugged, still trying to smile though he wished the time hadn't passed so quickly.

"It's not that late yet." She protested, smiling apologetically. "If you don't mind, I'd rather stay awhile longer. Unless you have other plans.
I don't have anyone waiting for me except for Gliorith."

"No, I don't mind." In fact, he would have been sad to see her go.

"Good." She said with a grin. "Gliorith gets annoyed when I interrupt Arieoss playing."

R'mer was glad she decided to stay. They easily drifted into discussions of pets, lifemates, weyrling training and life in the wings.
He fought against the sleepiness that finally came, not wanting to miss a word or a moment. Their replies began to sound more like grunts and mumbles as they both relaxed back into the cushions. His mind snapped awake, though, when a gentle weight pressed into his arm. Eleada had finally drifted off. Carefully he pulled his arm free and wrapped it around her, turned slightly so he could tuck her closer against his body, and pillowed her head against his shoulder. Snuggled close together, they slept peacefully at last.

Last updated on the April 1st 2007

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In All The Weyr (2/2)