Just a Dance

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 2nd February 2011

Characters: U'kaiah, Aileyan
Description: U'kaiah and Aileyan share a dance at the Hatching Feast
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 8 of Turn 5

As the Weyrleader ended his speech, congratulating the new weyrlings,
consoling the ones left Standing, welcoming the guests, and all the
other customary pleasantries, U'kaiah raised his glass and downed it in
one long swig. And then reached for another one.

The thought that kept running through his head was **It could have been
me. It _should_ have been me.** Though forcing a smile as he was
greeted by
Lord Holders and their Ladies, Master Crafters, and other supposedly
important people, that thought still nagged at him. Watching G'nir with
Hygalia on his arm making the rounds, trying oh so hard to look the
part, it was all the bronzerider could do not to spit. The man looked
like an idiot.

Music began and couples began pairing off - Lords with their Ladies,
Crafters with their wives, bronzes with the ladies, male greenriders
with blueriders which scandalized more than one holder, and the losing
candidates with whoever would have them. U'kaiah didn't feel much like
being some Candidate's consolation prize, and it was too early to think
about being some visiting lady's bronze trophy. Instead he slipped with
his drink back into a dark corner.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see another figure standing in the
shadows. A small, petite young woman that he recognized in an instant.
Curses escaped his lips. Of all the people to run into right now...

By this time, though, the alcohol had started having it's effect, and
even though he knew it would probably end up being a mistake, he decided
there was no way to pretend he had not seen her. Truth be told, he
didn't want to look for an excuse. He missed the little greenrider with
her serious pout and tumultuous hazel eyes.

"Not in the mood for dancing either?" he asked, a slight smile curving
his lips.

Aileyan nearly jumped out of her dress. Her heart was suddenly pouding
like the drumms harpers were playing. "Shards, you startled me. And no,
not in a mood for dancing," she said after she had gathered her wits
back. She had been following the dance.

"Do you _usually_ dance?" U'kaiah wasn't entirely sure he had ever seen
her on the dance floor.

"No, I don't." To be honest, nobody has ever taught her to dance. She
could manage the simples ones but she always felt like she was tripping
to her own feet.

"You don't like the dancing? Or the choice of partners?" He knew how
picky she was. U'kaiah had actually liked that about her.

"I'm a terrible dancer," Aileyan mumbled and stared the tips of her
shoes. She threw a furtive, sideways glance at him. He look so good in
his bests.

There she was, being all hard on herself again. He didn't miss the
appreciative look in her eye. She was looking pretty stunning herself,
with her beautiful
curls and that serious pout he had grown so fond of erasing from her
face. "Dance with me."

A flicker of emotions crossed her face. One second she looked frozen by
terror like a heardbeast seeing a hunting dragon, then her face softened
with the temptation.

"Just a dance," he assured her, holding out his hand. "I promise. We
don't even have to leave this little dark corner."

"Oh, all right. You blame yourself then if I step on your toes," Aileyan
said. She just couldn't say no to him, not when he looked like that.

"I'm not afraid of you, greenrider," U'kaiah smiled, putting a hand on
her waist and lacing his fingers with hers. "Just listen to the music,
and
follow me."

"I'm always following you," she said before she could stop herself.

She always said the most endearing things, he mused as he looked down at
her. Always so sweet. It warmed him every time he was near her.
Shards he had missed her. Pushing those thoughts aside he continued his
coaching. "I'll guide you with my hands. Just listen to the beat a
moment. Hear it? One-two-three-four-and-one- two-three-four-and-...
Hear it? One-two-three-ready-and-go."

Aileyan was naturally graceful and she had grown in Harper hall. She
nodded and whispered: "Can follow the tune, but where I put my feet?"

"Don't think about your feet. Don't even look at them. Just look at
me." He gently pushed against her hand, simultaneously guiding her to
the right with the fingers on her waist. "If you step on my foot once
or twice, so be it. You wouldn't be the first."

"All right," she just said. After a clumsy start, she forgot her normal
self-consiousness and fall into the rythm. It was so easy with U'kaiah,
just loose herself and let him lead.

For his part, he smiled down encouragingly, not saying a word as she
stuttered at the beginning. She soon found herself, and he could just
enjoy looking down into those familiar hazel eyes. "You look beautiful
tonight, by the way."

"Thank you. You're quite handsome yourself," she replied. Way too
handsome for her aching heart.

"Kind of you to say." He gently turned them both, adding a new element
to the dance. Before she could think too deeply about where her feet
should go, he distracted her with a question. "Did you enjoy the
Hatching?"

"Yes, I did. It's always so nostalgic moment," she replied.

"For all of us," he agreed. "But what are you doing hiding in a corner?
If you didn't want to be here, you wouldn't have gotten all dressed
up."

Aileyan just shrugged. She did want take part of the feast, but just had
gotten so shy.

He snorted softly, his lips turning up in a gentle smile. "Always so
serious." Shards, he wanted to kiss her, just to see
that smile on her face again.

"That's how I am," she replied.

"Yes. I know." Although he also knew how she could be when she allowed
herself to relax. He liked both versions of the greenrider. He missed
them both. As the music wound down, he took the bold step of gently
turning her under his arm. "See. I knew you could dance."

"Only with you," she said and blushed when she realized how that
sounded.

He shook his head, grinning despite himself. She made it so difficult
to stay away from her. If he didn't know her, he would have thought it
was on purpose, just a game of 'catch me if you can'. But he _did_ know
her, and he knew she couldn't help it. And that made it all the harder.
Bowing deeply, he brought her hand up to his lips. Lifting his eyes to
her face, he couldn't help but notice just how close they were now. It
would be so easy to lean down just an inch or two further and touch
those same lips to hers. Shards, he wanted to, and he didn't bother to
hide that thought as his gaze met hers. "Thank you for the dance," he
murmured, before mustering his resolve and turning away before he did
something really stupid.

"You're welcome," Aileyan said, wishing she had the courage to ask him
back.

Last updated on the February 12th 2011

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Just a Dance