It's You, At Last Pt 2

Writers: Chelle, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 13th March 2016

Characters: Nokala, A'kua, Firelloa, Bellarria
Description: This meeting goes much better than expected.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 7 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Eionen, Ninaine, Jessmyr, Ilyssia; Part 2 of 3

The girl's mother nodded to Nokala. "I think that settles it," she said simply and a little sadly.

"Aye well, we can see the headwoman about that. For now, I'm sure they want to visit and ask questions of each other. A'kua, maybe she wants to meet Zeiranth?" Nokala could follow them out into the Bowl easily enough. And that would give the women space to observe. Inside, she was happy for her boy, but she knew this would need to go slow.

A'kua drew back slightly, and Firelloa beamed at him. "Hey, you're not allowed to cry. We're supposed to be happy," she scolded, wiping his face for him.

The redhead caught her hands, giving them a squeeze. "I just feel so much right now," he said huskily.

"Me too, but it's mostly happy," Firelloa chirped. "So Nokala said we can meet your bronze, right? Take me to him, c'mon." She darted behind him and clambered onto his back, making him momentarily tilt before he caught her knees under his forearms and stood. "Whoa! I'm so tall! Mother, look!" Firelloa cheered.

The woman laughed gently as A'kua carried his sister over. "Thank you for bringin' her," A'kua said. "I know it couldn't have been easy for you, choosin' to trust the word of a stranger- uh-"

"Bellarria," the woman said, inclining her head. "And it was a little easier than you think. Eionen didn't make a secret of his many women when I was with him. I gathered there was a possibility of other children once I realized I was pregnant."

A'kua shook his head. "I'm sorry for what he did-"

"Don't be. I went to him willingly." Bellarria's eyes softened. "And I got a wonderful daughter from it."

"And I've known for a Turn now, or something like that," Firelloa said. "It's okay. Daddy was my daddy, not him." She stated it very matter-of-factly.

Bellarria nodded. "Now, let's all go outside. Nokala- I mean, journeywoman, will you join us? It would be nice to have you."

"Oh sure, the weather's just fine too." Following along behind, the tall harper kept glancing over to the young people. Thankfully this girl hadn't had the misfortune that A'kua had had. She was quite intelligent, too.

"I like your voice," Firelloa was saying to A'kua, leaning over his head. "Where are you from?"

"Some small, worthless hold I don't like thinkin' about," A'kua said. "I hated it so much I ran away."

Firelloa laughed. "Just like a character in a harper tale! Did you mean to come here?"

"No. I got here by accident, but I'm glad I did. I would never have found you otherwise."

"But Nokala's family found me."

"They found you on my behalf, and that's a debt I can never repay," A'kua said as they stepped into the open air of the Weyrbowl. He mentally called for Zeiranth, and very soon, the bronze galumphed toward them, slowing down just in time to cover the rest of the distance at a more sedate pace that didn't kick up dust. He nosed Nokala in greeting, then sized up everyone else. Firelloa gasped, staring wide-eyed at the baby dragon. A'kua knelt again, letting her down, and put a hand on her shoulder to bring her to his side. "Zei, this is my little sister, Firelloa, and her mother Bellarria," he said aloud for everyone's benefit. "Firelloa, Bellarria, this is Zeiranth."

Zeiranth studied them, then sniffed about Firelloa curiously. She held her breath, waiting. Then the bronze looked at A'kua questioningly, who laughed. "Zei wants to know if you sing too."

Firelloa instantly lit up. "I love to sing!" she enthusiastically exclaimed. "I want to be a singer so badly, but I was never allowed."

The bronze crooned in delight, lifting his wings slightly before folding them again.

"He wants to know if you'll sing now," A'kua said, vastly amused. "You don't have to-"

"Of course I do!" Firelloa drew a proper deep breath from her gut and started with a hum, one that slowly built into words carried by a lovely soprano that conveyed longing and confusion. "Been a long road to follow, been there and gone tomorrow,
Without saying goodbye to yesterday.
Are the memories I hold still valid?
Or have my tears deluded them?
Maybe this time tomorrow, the rain will cease to follow,
And the mist will fade into one more today.

Something somewhere out there is calling....
Am I coming home? Will I hear someone
Singing solace to the silent moons?
Flying endlessly, what's it like?
Am I alone? Is somebody there beyond my heavy, aching feet?

But the road just keeps telling me to go on....
Something is calling me:
I feel the gravity of it all."

A'kua's throat closed up as he felt a rush of pride and pain and acceptance, and Bellarria smiled as Zeiranth happily bugled, drumming his forepaws on the ground. }:I like it! I like her!:{ he caroled to his partner.

"Well m'dear, at the Weyr you can be a singer if you want to," Nokala announced with a smile, mentally thinking she might just have another student. There was time for that though. And someday, Eionen would likely be back. Hopefully not anytime soon, but it would happen.

Last updated on the April 4th 2016

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It's You, At Last Pt 2