Bedtime story

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

Characters: U'kaiah, Aileyan
Description: U'kaiah checks in on Aileyan and her sick son and decides the greenrider needs a little break
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 9 of Turn 5
Notes: Follows "Favours to ask"

U'kaiah only knocked softly, not wanting to wake the boy in case he was
asleep. Not waiting for an invitation, he opened the door, and not
finding the greenrider in the living area, he quietly ducked his head
into her sleeping quarters. "How's he doing?" he asked softly.

Aileyan had been reading a book for Ravyan. A sore throat kept him
awake. "And the little flit said: but I don't know which way is home!"
She lifted her gaze from the pages. "He's miserable and sick, what did
you expect?"

**Ouch,** the bronzerider though as he walked across the room towards
the bed. Obviously she was still upset with him for not giving her
special time off. "Keep reading. I'll listen."

Aileyan nodded and continued: "Don't worry, the feline cup's mom said.
We know which way. And the led the little flit through the long grass to
the edge of the woods. This is as far as we know the way, she said."
Ravyan yawned and his eyes fell closed, little head resting against his
mother.
Aileyan softened her voice even more. "We know the way from here, the
little wherry and his mom and siblings said."

U'kaiah hitched a leg and gently sat back against the headboard beside
her, sneaking his arm across the pillows beside her but being careful
not to make enough noise or movement to call the boy's attention to
himself.

"The little flit followed the wherry-family across the woods." Something
in Ravyan's body language told her he had finally fallen asleep. Perhaps
it was him slumping even more or the rhythm of his breathing.
"Finally," she murmured. "Help me to lift him to his bed."

"Don't move. I'll get him." U'kaiah slipped back off and walked around
the other side. Bracing one knee on the bed, he leaned his long body
down to gently lift the boy up and into his arms. "Is his bed ready?"

"Yes, just waiting for him," Aileyan replied with hushed tone and picked
up Ravyan's toy from the floor where it had slipped during the story.

U'kaiah carefully carried the sleeping boy to his bed area, being
careful not to jostle or shift him in any way that he would wake up.
Laying him carefully down, he noticed a little stuffed dragon,
or "Dagon", as the boy had called him. He placed the toy next to him on
pillow and carefully pulled the blankets up around him. "I think he's
really out," he said softly, smoothing the boy's hair back from his
forehead.

"No wonder," Aileyan said and put the toy she had picked up into a shelf
above Ravyan's bed. "I read three stories for him."

She did look awfully tired, he though as he stroked her cheek with the
back of his fingers. The greenrider had put in a long day. "I brought
you some dinner."

"Thank's, that's very thoughtful of you. I'll brew some chamomilla for
me, do you want some?" she asked.

Wine would be better, but he doubted that she'd have much of that laying
around. "Sounds good. I'll dish us up."

Aileyan nodded and went to put the kettle on fire. While she waited the
water to boil, she started to unbraid her hair.

"Is ovine stew all right?" he asked, pulling a small covered ceramic pot
out of the basket.

"It's fine," she replied and shook her hair, so it fell like curtain
around her.

"Listen, I talked to R'stal and told him your son was sick. I hope you
don't mind." He watched as her hair cascaded down her back, admiring
the curls. "He said he'd switch sweeprides with you, if you'd like."

"I could do that," Aileyan said. Sweeps usually took time.

"That way you can spend your evenings with Ravyan." He placed his hands
on her shoulders and leaned over to see her handiwork. "How's it
coming?"

"It's comming, almost boiling," she replied.

"Why don't you sit down at eat something? I surprisingly do know how to
make tea." He kissed the top of her head, hoping she would take his
words in the joking manner in which they were meant. She could be
rather moody at times, especially that day.

"All right, " she agreed with rather docile tone and rubbed her eyes.
Shards, she was tired.

He followed her with his eyes, noting how exhausted she looked.
Sometimes he wondered if she didn't take too much on herself. But this
was not a good day to bring up the idea. "Go ahead and dig in. You
don't have to wait for me."

Aileyan nodded and filled her plate with stew.

"You're very quiet. Are you feeling ok?" He put the tea leaves to
steep, bringing the whole pot and two mugs over to the table.

"No, I'm terribly tired. I hope I'm not going down with Ravyan's cold,"
Aileyan replied.

"I hope so too." He handed her a mug of steaming tea. "Get a little
bit more in you and we can put you to bed as well."

"Will you tuck me in?" Aileyan's lips curved up to a whimsical smile.

"That was my intention," he said, rewarding her with his best
bronzerider grin. "I'll even read you a bedtime story if you like."

"As long as it isn't the "Little lost Flit", I can recite it from
memory," Aileyan said with groan.

"Shards, and that was the only book I have," he said with a forlorn
sigh. "I guess I'll just have to think of something else."

Aileyan smiled. The food and the hot tea was making her feel better.

His smile softened as he looked across the table at her. She was
obviously feeling more relaxed now, which pleased him. The serene look
on her face made her look even more beautiful. He hoped to see more of
it. "You know, I had an idea, and I was wondering how you would feel
about it."

"What kind of idea?" she asked curiously.

"Well..." He stood up and walked around the table. Laying his hands on
her shoulders again, he began to gently massage them with his thumbs.
"When Ravyan is feeling better, of course, I was thinking, maybe on a
restday we can ask your foster mother to watch him, or Kaiafel's mother,
and you and I can spend a whole day together. Just the two of us. I
think we could both use a bit of a break."

"Sounds lovely. Out of the Weyr?" Aileyan asked.

He tipped her head back and kissed her softly. "Anywhere you like."

"I don't think I've been anywhere outside the wingduties for few
months," she replied.

"I _know_ you haven't." After all, he had known her schedule fairly
well. "So think about what you want to do, and we'll do it. Anything."

"I'll think. Maybe there's Gather somewhere," Aileyan said almost
dreamily.

"A Gather, a runners race, hot springs, a Lord Holder's wedding,
whatever." Just somewhere they could enjoy a day together without Wings
or babies. "And now little lady, I think it's your bedtime."

"Yes it is," Aileyan agreed and yawned.

"Come on," he said, taking her hand and helping her up. "Let's get you
to bed so you can dream about all the nice things we'll do together."

"Yes, sir," she made a playful salute.

This girl was a real mystery him, he thought as his lips spread into a
smile. One moment she looked like a tired, overworked mother, and the
next like a normal nineteen-turn old without a care in the world.
Taking her face in his hands he murmured, "You think you're so cute,
don't you?" Trouble was she absolutely was adorable. He couldn't help
the impulse to kiss her lips softly.

"I hope so," she murmured.

Last updated on the October 23rd 2010

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Bedtime story