The Important Decision

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 4th June 2013

Characters: U'kaiah, Aileyan
Description: U'kaiah finally asks Aileyan the big question...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 6 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Tavia

U'kaiah paced back and forth in Aileyan's weyr as he waited for her to
return from drills. He had talked to Ravyan's fostermother, who had
agreed to keep her son for the night. It was not the first time he had
made arrangements so he could be alone with the greenrider, but usually
it was so the two of them could be together in bed without fear of
waking the boy. Today, however, he had much more serious reasons to
want to be alone with her. It was time to ask her if Tavia could come
to Dragonsfall. This was not going to be an easy conversation, for
either of them. He had sent her word that they needed to talk. Now he
just had to wait, which in itself was proving excruciating.

Aileyan tried to hurry after the drills, which had dragged on longer than expected. The problem with queen's wing was that the wing riders tended to shift a lot, coming and going. Adjusting to the changes meant drilling until they got it working.
She entered her weyr, fresh from quick bath. "Hey, U'kaiah. Sorry I kept you waiting. Hygalia didn't let us go until she was satisfied with wing's performance."

"It's fine," he said with a quick wave. "I wasn't waiting long." It just _felt_ like eternity. U'kaiah reached for her hand and pulled her close for a quick kiss. "How was your day?"

"We had some new wingmembers, so it's been quite hard," Aileyan replied.

"Always a bit of a turn over, isn't there." And Tavia would be another new member if they could get her over. Time to get it over with. "Sweetheart, there's something I really need to talk to you about. Let's sit down."

"All right," Aileyan sat down, curious and wondering if she should get nervous.

He turned his body so he could look her in the eye, placing his hand on her knee. Taking a deep breath, he began. "Aileyan, you know I've been going back and forth to Dolphin Cove for about a Turn now. I'm sure you've noticed how it really wears on me."

"Yes, of course I have," Aileyan replied. Shards, she just hoped he was not going to tell her his was moving to Dolphin Cove Weyr. She wouldn't able to bear that.

"And you know, when I go, a quarter of the time, Kaiavin's asleep, another quarter of the time _I'm_ asleep, and half the rest of the time he's at his foster mother's." He and Tavia had needed _some_ time together, after all. "I want to be a part of my son's life, and yet, each time I see him he's bigger, he has new teeth, he's doing something new... And no matter what Tavia says, I swear when he first sees me he's not entirely sure who I am."

"Yes?" now she was getting impatient _and_ nervous.

"So," he said, taking another deep breath, "Tavia and I have been talking about her and Kaiavin transfering to Dragonsfall. And she is willing to come if I ask her."

"Oh," she said with small voice. Tavia in a same Weyr with her? She had liked Tavia, but truth was, they were competing for a same man. When they were in a same place, it would be much easier to U'kaiah to compare his two woman. Aileyan was afraid she would lose that comparison. After all Tavia had given him a son...and no matter how much U'kaiah loved Ravyan, Ravyan was not his son.

"Well, I've told her that I can't ask her until I talked to you. I won't ask her to come if you can't accept it." U'kaiah reached for her hand and locked his eyes on hers, willing her to understand his sincerity. "I love you, Aileyan. I will not risk losing you, even for them. If you say that you cannot have her here in the same Weyr, and the same Wing, because that's probably where she would be, than that's it. I'll just visit them at Dolphin Cove." He waited for her answer, his guts tying themselves into knots. This was a lot to put on her shoulders, he knew. But all of their futures now depended on her answer.

Aileyan turned her eyes to stare their hands, locked together. He sure wasn't making it easy for her. If she said no, she would seem like small-minded, petty and jealous. If she said yes, well, she wasn't sure what would happen. U'kaiah discovering he liked Tavia better? It was her fears and insecurities talking now. "Can you promise it to me, that you don't just discard me like used rag, when she's here?"

"Oh sweetheart," he sighed, leaning his head against hers. "Do you really think I could _ever_ do that to you?" Didn't she know him at all?

She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust him. But life had made her wary. She had grown up being the unwanted child, the painful reminder of a shame. No wonder she had difficulties to trust people. Aileyan reminded herself that U'kaiah was not her mother, or her father. U'kaiah was U'kaiah and she would never go anywhere if she didn't let down her guards and try.
"I suppose I don't have anything against it in that case," it wasn't the most confident of answers, but that was best she could do.

U'kaiah turned to kneel down in front of her, still holding the hands that she had been staring so intently at as she answered. Looking up into her face, he said with total conviction, "Aileyan, I swear on Kalamath's hide and the Egg that Hatched him, I will never leave you for her, or for anyone. I promise you that." He knew it was not in her nature to be so trusting of other's feelings of her, but come Fall or Fog, he kept his word. "Please tell me that you believe me. Please tell me that if I bring her here, you won't doubt me."

"I believe you," Aileyan breathed out. It was impossible not be impressed after such a gesture. She found it very romantic.

"I know it will be hard for you, but can we try to make this work? I won't do it without you." As deeply as he cared for Tavia, he was not worried about her. He knew they could make due. But he needed to be sure Aileyan could, too.

"Yes, we can try," Aileyan replied.

Last updated on the June 18th 2013

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The Important Decision