Neglected

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 19th May 2010

Characters: Aileyan, U'kaiah
Description: Aileyan opens up to U'kaiah about her past
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 8 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentions: Eilomar, Traelyn

The bronzerider rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "I really should have
shaved this morning."

"Yes, I noticed," Aileyan said and rubbed her shoulder, where U'kaiah's
stubble had left red chafe-marks.

He winced slightly, reaching over to touch the spot softly. "Sorry. I
guess I wasn't thinking." His brow furrowed slightly. "I've been
thinking of growing it out to a full beard. It should be a bit easier
on the skin, I should think, when the hairs are longer."

"Might keep your face warm too," Aileyan said. "Although I can't imagine
you with a beard," she added thoughtfully.

"Me neither. I've never grown a beard out. I thought it might be time
to try." He looked over at her, curious. "Do you like beards on a
man?"

Aileyan actually had to thought it over before replying, since the
question had never popped up before. "Well, depends on beard probably,"
she finaly said. "I don't have much experience of them. Most men I know
are clean
shaved."

He turned on his side towards her, propping himself up on his elbow.
"Some women seem to like them. They think it makes a man looked
distinguished, or something."

"Might also make one look scruffy. Some women like scruffy," she
snorted.

"Do _you_ like scruffy?" he asked with a curious smile, running a finger
down her arm.

"Not really. If man can't look after himself, how could he look after
anything else?"

Luckily no one had every accused of being scruffy. Except, of course,
when his hair grew too long. And even then women seemed to think is was
rather attractive. "What do you like, then?"

"Well, you don't have to be showy, just kind of normal and clean," she
replied. She suddenly giggled. "I was reather scruffy as a child, or
more like feral. Now I like to look neat and tidy."

"I would never have guessed. I think I would like to see you a little
wild," he grinned, trying to imagine her with that kind of flash in her
eye. Trae had such a spark sometimes. He had liked it.

"I think the correct word was neglected," Aileyan said. It really wasn't
a happy memory. "Took me forever to comb the tangles out of my hair. I
didn't want to cut it." she rather liked her hair, long, thick and dark
as it was. It was tendious to take care but she liked it way it was.

U'kaiah was a little surprised to hear her give such a personal detail.
She usually tried to keep everyone at arms length. He lifted a tendril
off the pillow and smoothed it down across her skin, caressing it
softly. "Was it really so bad?"

"If only you knew," she sighed and pulled a bedfur across her face. It
was some sort of primitive, childish gesture, hide from the pain.

The bronzerider was a little taken aback. He had never had a bedmate
hide from him under the covers before. It was a rather childish thing
to do. No, not childish - young. And vulnerable. It made him feel
rather protective of her all of a sudden. Reaching up, he gently pulled
the covers down to her eyes. "Nothing bad will happen if you want to
tell me."

She was very quiet for a very long time. "I don't know. Why would you
want to hear?"

He considered it a moment. Listening to a friends problems came
naturally to him. It was something friends just did. But he especially
wanted to hear because he was sure she said nothing to anyone else. It
made him feel... special. Wanted. Important. "I want to hear because
I care, Aileyan."

Again she was quiet and thougtful for a long time. Then she started to
speak. "You see, my mother hates me. I'm a constant reminder of her
lapse."

"How's that?" he asked, gently laying his hand down on her stomach and
nodding for her to go on.

"She was married and had an love affair with someone else than her
husband. I was the unfortunate result. In Emerald Falls, that is very
big no-no," she stared the ceiling. "Every time we hosted visitors, she
told me to stay out of sight. She couldn't hide me from neighbours and
friends. I look very much like my biological father, you see. I suppose
she lived
in constant fear that someone found it out."

"Sharding Holdbred ways", U'kaiah said with a scowl. He would never
understand them, especially when they tore up the heart of an innocent
child! "And what of her husband? Did he know?"

"I don't know, I don't think so. I think he knows it now. Eilomar isn't
very sharp," Aileyan replied.

"And the man who sired you?" Surely someone must have shown this girl
love.

"A Weyrbred journeyman who spent only a short time in the Hall," Aileyan
said.

Weyrbred. At least he wouldn't flinch at a 'bastard' daughter. "Did
you know him? Did _he_ care for you?"

"After I had impressed Kjarliheth, yes. He was actually here in Weyr for
a while, working as a Weyrharper," Aileyan replied.

"Well, that's good," U'kaiah said with a bit of a hopeful smile. At
least not all was lost.

"And then his wife caught him cheating and... can you see the pattern?"

He nodded. A very painful pattern for such a young heart. "I wish
there was something I could say, Aileyan."

"What there's to say? I pretty much had to look after me myself as a
child," Aileyan replied. "Sometimes I wonder how I managed to turn out
all right at all," she mused.

"Better than all right," he said, slipping his arm under her head and
pulling her close. U'kaiah might not be able to say anything to change
her painful past, but he knew holding a woman could do more than words
ever could.

Aileyan let out a content sigh. In her mind she wondered, when did I
start to trust him this much?

Last updated on the May 28th 2010

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Neglected