Favours to ask

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 14th October 2010

Characters: Aileyan, U'kaiah
Description: Aileyan tries to get a favor from U'kaiah...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 9 of Turn 5

U'kaiah glanced over at the candle he had set in the corner. It looked
like he still had a good half candlemark before drills were set to
start, and he was already finished with all the paper work had put off
for the morning. He was already on his feet and dreaming of that extra
cup of klah he had time to snag from the kitchens when he heard a knock
on the door. "Come in," he called as he shifted a stack of hides over
to the 'done' pile.

"Wingleader," Aileyan greeted, this was wing business not personal.

"Greenrider," U'kaiah's brows raised slightly, but the pleasure at
seeing her that shown in his smile was genuine. "Now that we have our
roles established, I was thinking of getting a cup of klah. Care to
join me?"

"Sure, why not," Aileyan agreed, flipping her braid to back.

"Do you mind if I steal a kiss, too?" he asked, wondering why she was
acting so formal. They were alone, after all.

"Maybe later. I need to ask a favour," Aileyan replied.

Her answer amused him. Leave it to the greenrider to schedule a bit of
spontaneous passion. "Sure, what is it?" he asked, crossing his arms
over his chest and leaning back against the corner of his desk.

"Can I have few days off from wingduties," Aileyan asked.

He cocked his head to the side. "What's going on?"

"Ravyan has caught a cold. I would like to stay and take care of him
until he feels better," she was giving him the big, apealing eyes.

"It's just a cold? It's not more serious than that?" he asked, honestly
a little confused.

"He's running with bit of a fever," Aileyan said. He was her son, she
wanted to take care of him, wanted to cuddle with him under blankets,
read books and try to make him dring hot juice.

"Is he in danger?" U'kaiah asked, bending slightly to look her in the
eye.

"No, not that I know of," she replied.

U'kaiah was torn. He knew how much she loved her son, and the fact that
he did care for her made it so hard to refuse her. But she had to know
what he would say. "You know I can't let you have the time off,
Aileyan."

"Why not?" she asked, crossing her arms. She was being stubborn.

"But you and I _both_ could loose everything." His voice and his look
was stern. "You have been given more time with your son than most
dragonriders ever get, even the ones that have a weyrmate to help them.
You have been given that privilege because up to now, you've been able
to prove that you know where your priorities lie - Lifemate, Pern, Weyr,
Wing and _then_ family. You can't just leave your duties to take care
of your son for a cold when his foster mother is more than capable.
Aileyan, you _know_ that. And if I let you, they would all wonder if I
was giving you special treatment because I care for you, and they
wouldn't be all that wrong. I suspect at the very least they'd wonder
if you weren't taking advantage of our special relationship. And I'd
have to wonder, too."

Aileyan knew he was right, but it didn't make it any pleasant. For a
moment she considered using some sort of blackmail or womanly viles on
him, but that really wasn't her. her shoulders slumped and she let out a
disappointed sigh. "All right then," she just said.

"Hey," he said, reaching out to grab her arm lightly. U'kaiah could
tell she was less than pleased with the outcome. "I know you love your
son, but you knew this was the deal when we agreed you could keep him at
night."

"Yes, it was. One can always hope," Aileyan smiled but it didn't reach
her eyes.

"Aileyan, look at me, because I'm serious now." He took her by both
shoulders as he looked her square in the eye. "Don't ever do this to me
again. Don't ever try to take advantage of my feelings for you. It
puts me in a horrible position, and if you care about me at all, you'll
never do this to me again."

"I won't," Aileyan promised. See if she ever asked him a favour anymore!

There was something so cold and unapologetic about her response.
U'kaiah's arm pulled back to lock over his chest once more as he leaned
back against his desk. "You blame me, don't you."

"I don't" she disagreed.

"Then what is it, Aileyan?" he asked spreading his hands helplessly.
"You're acting like I've done something wrong, or done something to
disappoint you."

"It's a woman thing, don't mind it. I'll get over with," Aileyan
replied, managing a real smile this time. "I just want to be with my son
and I know I can't and it makes me frustrated. Sometimes it just
conflicts, being dragonrider and a mother."

"You knew it would be this way," he said, though his tone was gentle.
His brows furrowed slightly. He still wasn't quite sure that he hadn't
done something wrong. Women blamed a lot of things on it being just a
"woman thing", only to find out that he was somehow mixed up in it.
"There's no meeting today. You can go back as soon as drills are
finished."

Aileyan nodded. What can she say? That she got jelous when she saw
Ravyan ran to his fostermother?

He couldn't quite tell what that meant, but he knew one that he could
do. Holding his arms out to her he said softly, "Come here."

For a moment she hesitated. Perhaps she should make him suffer and stay
away from him. But she couldn't. She went to those arms willing. She had
been clutching straws and knew it. She couldn't blame him for being
Wingleader, as much as she would like to.

Kissing the top of her head, he said softly and sincerely, "I'm sorry I
couldn't give you what you wanted."

"I'm sorry I asked for something I shouldn't," Aileyan said.

He held her silently for a moment, knowing there was nothing more to be
said. But he would definitely have to watch her more carefully in the
future. U'kaiah couldn't afford to give into her, not even once. He'd
have G'nir breathing down his neck so fast...

"Come on," he finally said, pulling back to give her another soft kiss.
"Let's get some klah."

"I think I could use a big mugful," Aileyan said.

Last updated on the October 23rd 2010

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Favours to ask