DCW-HH: Nowhere to Run

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 28th May 2007

Characters: Larken, M'tone
Description: Larken finds M'tone so she doesn't have to ride out most of the storm alone
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4

Thunder clapped outside, echoing through the stone corridors of the Weyr,
drowning out for a moment the loud noises of people rushing around to help
with certain duties. Ojisan, Larken knew, was caught in another throng of
people a few levels below, helping his fellow Harpers. A wild tangle of
emotions whirled inside of her as she shoved her way against the flow of
people, wrapping her arms tightly around her body to keep from hitting
anyone. Anxiety was the prominent emotion inside of her. Anxiety,
brought on by fear that she wouldn't allow herself to admit. She
couldn't. **I'm not afraid. I have to be strong, like Ojisan. I can't
be afraid...**

Again, thunder boomed, and Larken's heart pounded faster. The tension in
the air was nearly tangible, she could taste in on her tongue, feel it
burn down her throat. Everything that was happening right now reminded
her of the fire at Emerald Falls--the reason why Harper Hall had come to
the Weyr in the first place. Everything. It brought back memories of
destruction and despair...it felt like she was reliving it all over again.

But this time their enemy wasn't fire. It was water.

Larken suddenly paused in front of a familiar weyr door, trembling, blue
eyes large with emotions she couldn't suppress. Ojisan had told her to
help where she could. But wherever she went, she felt like she was
underfoot, getting in the way of the people who knew what they were doing.
And that stung. She'd thought about going back to her own rooms, but she
didn't want to wait out the storm alone. Ojisan wasn't there. And she'd
needed him. But what was raging around them was more important than her.
Larken knew that, but it still hurt that he wasn't with her. And she
didn't want to be alone--couldn't be alone. Not now. Not while she was
feeling like this.

Which was why she was standing outside M'tone's door. Sucking in a
breath, she raised her hand and knocked. Loudly.

M'tone opened the door with a glass of wine in his hand. He had done what
he could, but they had wanted to keep most people away from the affected
areas for safety sake. His only job had been to find a way to entertain
himself while the storm raged on. The brownrider hadn't been expecting a
visitor. "Larken? Are you all right?"

She wrung her hands nervously. "I don't want to be alone. Can I...can I
stay with you for a while?"

"Of course you can," he said softly, reaching out for her.

Larken didn't hesitate. As soon as she felt him take her hand, she came
close, holding on to him tightly, burying her face against his chest.
"It's like Emerald Falls all over again," she whispered. "But at least
there we could get away from everything. Here...we're trapped here.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to go..."

"No, Larken," he said gently, rubbing her back with his free hand. "We're
not trapped here. We're protected here."

She closed her eyes. "It feels the same."

"I won't let anything happen to you." He pulled her gently inside and
kicked the door closed behind them. "Let's sit down."

The moment they were seated comfortably on his sofa, Larken leaned against
him, resting her head on his shoulder. Now that she wasn't alone anymore,
she felt a little better. The anxiety was still there--she could feel it
beating faintly, making its presence known in the back of her mind--but it
wasn't as prominent as it was before. M'tone wouldn't let anything happen
to her. She was safe here. But only here...

The brownrider pulled her close, running his fingers through her hair
soothingly. "You won't be missed?"

She shook her head. "Ojisan is helping the rest of the Harpers. He said
he wouldn't be able to come home for a long time."

"He left you alone?" M'tone asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

Despite the feeling of rejection, Larken still felt the need to defend
him. "They needed his help, M'tone."

"_You_ needed him." **I would never have left you like this...**

She shrugged a shoulder. "A Harper's wife gets used to being put second."
Larken couldn't help the resignation in her voice. It was just the way
it was. Gently she rested a hand on his chest, feeling his warm skin
through the thin fabric of his shirt. "But sometimes, it's harder to
accept than other times."

"Well, if I ever have to put you second, its not because I want to." He
lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. Of course Encourth was
first in his life, as was his duty to the Weyr. It wasn't a choice but a
necessity. But just how important was a instrumentalist's job that he
would put such an amazing woman second to it?

Larken lifted her head to look up at him, and she carefully reached past
his light grip to trace his upper lip, fingertips dropping then to his
lower lip, then to caress his jawline. "Your dragon comes first. I've
lived in the Weyr for half a Turn now." A smile touched her lips. "I
know..."

He leaned down and kissed her softly. "It doesn't mean I care for you any
less."

Touching the tip of her nose to his, she nuzzled him. "I know that too,"
she whispered. "Every time we...fly...your eyes say it."

He smiled, gently nipping at her lip. "You're the most wonderful woman
I've ever known, Larken. Do my eyes tell you that?"

She blushed, locking her hands behind his neck. "You're teasing me,
aren't you?"

M'tone pulled back slightly, his face turning serious. "Look in my eyes,
Larken, and tell me if you think I'm teasing."

She gazed up at him, feeling suddenly very shy and very vulnerable all at
the same time. Shards, his eyes were so intense. She only saw that look
sometimes, when they made love. And for her to see it now... Slowly she
shook her head, fingers burying themselves in his soft hair.

He sighed as he cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently caressing.
**If only I had met you first...** Not even a little hurricane could
have pulled him away from her side.

Last updated on the May 30th 2007

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DCW-HH: Nowhere to Run