Teach them to think
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Dana, Emma
Date Posted: 6th March 2006
Characters: K'sedel, Ciara
Description: K'sedel goes to see Ciara and they talk about their feelings
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 2 of Turn 3
"Ciara?" The bronzerider knocked on the door to the greenrider's weyr, hoping she'd be there. It wasn't like they had arranged to meet or anything, and without having asked Nikornath to bespeak Ellianith first...
"K'sedel," she smiled when she'd opened the door. "This is a surprise.
Come in?" She stepped back, opening the door wider.
"I thought, perhaps you might like to go for a walk?" he suggested tentatively. This was still somewhat new to him, with Meree, well they had been together for a while before the children came along. This time it seemed a little upside down. Perhaps a walk and a talk might help.
Something about the way he asked... There was something in his voice she'd never heard before. Ciara gazed at him for a moment before giving him another smile, hers turning as tentative as his tone. "I'd like that."
"Good," he said coming into the weyr proper, and leaning back against the wall. "Down along the beach?" he suggested.
"That sounds nice." She remembered the last time they'd gone walking down on the beach together. Shards...that seemed so long ago now. And the way he'd kissed her...
"Whenever you are ready, I can wait."
"Got tired of hidework?" she asked with a small smile, sitting down on the sofa and pulling on one boot. She glanced up at him. He'd never come so early in the afternoon to her like this.
"You could say that." He wasn't going to mention Tsaera's prodding in that direction.
Ciara nodded as she pulled on the other boot. "All right." She stood.
"Shall we?"
"Lets," he said, offering her his arm. He held the door open, allowing her to pass through.
"I'm glad you came," she told him once they were on the path that wound its way down to the beach.
"I'm glad you were free to join me," he replied, truly meaning it.
She offered him another smile before turning her eyes to the path. "Are you starting to get used to the idea, K'sedel? That I'm carrying your child?" Shards. Even though her tone was soft, the words sounded harsher than she had meant them to sound. She winced, a slight flush rising in her cheeks. But she had to ask. Things between them had gotten a lot more serious, and even awkward since they'd gone to the healers. And Ciara didn't like the distance between them. Not at all.
"It has been something to think about," he admitted slowly. The thought of another child at his age, and with times being what they were... He took a deep breath, trying to organise his thoughts. "I can't deny it came as a surprise, and I wasn't to sure what to think at first. But now, I'm thinking that maybe a child would be a good thing."
She crossed her arms, her eyes focusing on the shoreline. "You know that you wouldn't have had any obligation to help raise the child, K'sedel. And I knew that too. The child will be raised mostly by the foster parents when the time comes... But that wasn't what I was worried about. What worried me was your silence."
"It's just," he paused gathering his thoughts once more. "I couldn't help thinking of Naishea. You know Naishea died from the plague, and she was carrying my child at the time. I wasn't sure I could face the potential loss again."
"But the Plague isn't here." Ciara looked up at him. "And you were silent, K'sedel. You didn't talk to me about how you felt, and I didn't know how to take your silence. I didn't know if you were just confused, or if you...or if it was rejection..." She turned her eyes away again.
"It's just with the animal disease, I was worried, worried that it might get to people. Maybe I should have said something. I, I didn't realise you felt like that."
"You must have forgotten some things about women, Kes." She smiled to take the little sting from her words. "We tend to think a lot. And when their lovers suddenly go quiet on them..." She shrugged a shoulder.
"I didn't think, and I should have done. Maybe we can teach our child to think?"
That brought a laugh out of her. "An excellent notion, Weyrleader." She reached out to take his hand in hers.
"I'm glad you agree Greenrider," he teased gently. The air seemed to have cleared between them somehow. Maybe things would only get better from now on.
Last updated on the March 7th 2006