Never, Never, Never Give Up

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th May 2013

Characters: D'ale, U'kaiah
Description: D'ale and U'kaiah talk of women over a pint...
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentions Tavia, Aileyan, Kenza, Yanley, Traelyn

D'ale

D'ale stuck his head in the door of U'kaiah's office. "Hey," he
called. "I'm heading over to the tavern for a beer. Join me?"

They hadn't really spoken much other than on work related issues since
the whole business regarding his son K'ale. But D'ale was an easy
going kind of guy so he figured it was about time to move on.

It took U'kaiah a moment to register that his Wingsecond wasn't talking
about work. That had been the main focus of their conversations for
some time now, so he had to process the question a moment. **Good old
D'ale,** he thought with a slight quirk of a smile. "Which tavern?"

"Vintner Hall," he said with a rather enigmatic smile.

"Sure, that's sounds like a plan. I'll meet you there soon. I just
have to finish this last report." They were the bane of his existence,
though he understood their importance. He had planned to take a stack
of them home with him that evening, but a drink sounded much better!
"Order me a beer and I'll be there before the froth dies down."

D'ale nodded and in only a few moments they were on their way. He
waived to the barkeep when he walked in and received the greeting for
a frequent patron. He held up two fingers and the nod told him the man
knew what he wanted.

Soon two frothy beers were on the table in front of him and he picked
up one to quaff through the perfect head.

He hadn't even set his mug back down on the wooden counter when the
Wingleader walked through the door. "Now that's what I need," U'kaiah
said as he slipped onto the stool next to him and lean on the bar. "To
clear skies," he said, clinking his cup against his Seconds'.

"Clear skies," D'ale echoed and brought the mug back to his lips. It
was fairly clear the bar keeper had expected someone else entirely and
smirked at the brownrider. D'ale ignored him and turned back to
U'kaiah and the reason he'd invited him here tonight. "Have you ever
gotten involved with a holder woman?"

"Involved? I don't know about involved. I've slept with plenty of
them." That had usually been as involved U'kaiah got with women up
until the last couple Turns. "Aileyan's Hallbred," he threw in, though
he didn't know if that was quite what D'ale was asking.

"Well, thats not quite what I meant." He shook his head. "I know it's
crazy but I've fallen in love with a Lady."

"You wouldn't be the first dragonrider to fall for a Holder woman,"
U'kaiah said reassuringly. Though, those relationships could get
complicated.

"Yeah, well..." he took a drink. "It gets worse. She's pregnant."

"Ooooo," U'kaiah said with a pained expression. "Holder families don't
like that."

"Ya think?" He shook his head, "but she's resisting my suggestions for
her to come to the Weyr. I'd happily weyrmate her."

"How does Kenza feel about all this?" And how would his new woman feel
about him working so closely with a woman he fathered a child with, and
still had strong feelings for?

He smiled, "She's happy for me. Shes a good friend." He nodded and
took another drink. He remembered when he'd told her about Yanley.
She'd been nothing but supportive.

**Yeah, right, just a friend...** They certainly seemed more than just
good friends when they were ganging up against him. But U'kaiah wasn't
going to bring that up now. There was no point talking about it.
"Bringing Holder women to the Weyr is complicated. You have to be
prepared to give up a lot."

"She's worth it," he said staring at his glass.

U'kaiah snorted softly, but not in ridicule or disbelief of his friend.
More that he saw himself in D'ale. Wasn't he in his own messy situation
for the very same reason? Tavia and Aileyan... They were both worth it,
too. And what would U'kaiah not give to make it work! "Then," he said
clapping D'ale's shoulder and giving it a shake, "you better get your
Holder girl to the Weyr as soon as you can. Woman can drive you mad,
can't they?"

"Yes, well there's the rub," he winked. "She's not sure she wants to
come. I think she's afraid."

"Afraid of what?" She obviously wasn't afraid of dragonriders since she
had bedded one!

"I'm not exactly sure," he shook his head. "I've tried to tell her we
have babies here and have healers to take care of all that but she's
just afraid to leave the Hold."

"Holders are afraid of the strangest things," U'kaiah said with a shake
of his head. "Maybe if she actually _went_ to a Weyr, she'd see it's
not such a scary place."

D'ale lifted his beer. "That's what I've been _trying_ to tell her."
He took a sip and set it down. "But don't worry, I'm not ready to give
up yet."

"That's the thing, isn't it. You can never give up." **Not if you
really love them...** U'kaiah had made that mistake with Trae. He
would not make it again.

"Aye," he said then he lifted his tankard. "To not giving up!"

Last updated on the June 4th 2013

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Never, Never, Never Give Up