An Arrangement They Agreed To

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd April 2006

Characters: Birigundi, Nialyn
Description: Nialyn and Biri come to a sort of hesitant understanding
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 12 of Turn 3

Birigundi

Nialyn was thankful that the sun was out today. It made the standing
about a little easier to bear. She crossed her arms over her chest,
turning her face up to the skies, letting the pale light of the sun warm
her cold nose.

Shards...what could she _say_ to him? She didn't even know. But she
_did_ know that it just wouldn't do to keep up this terrible silence. No.
It wouldn't do at all. A sevenday had passed, and it had been
so...lonely. _She'd_ been lonely. Nialyn hadn't realized how much she
really did depend on Birigundi's companionship - despite the horrible
things he'd said to her, and her reaction to them.

Hearing the noise of faint footfalls at last, she looked down the path
that circled around the lake. Yes...it was him.

Birigundi was concentrating so hard on the road ahead, he almost ran right
past her, but as soon his brain registered just who it was standing at the
side of the road he stopped mid-stride, almost sending him headlong into a
bush. "Shards, woman, are you trying to kill me? I didn't mean that," he
said still trying to catch his breath. He held out his hands passively,
afraid he might have offended her again. "I'm just surprised is all."

She shook her head, a slight half-smile touching her lips. "No, I know,
Biri," came her quiet reply. Shards - was she really so unpredictable
now? Did _everyone_ see her like that? "I was hoping I'd see you
here..."

"Oh yeah?" he ask, resting his hands on his hips as he tried to catch his
breath. "Well... here I am..."

"I think I'll let you catch your breath first. Before I say anything
more." She gave him a small grin, trying to cover how awkward she felt.

"All right," he nodded. Great, awkward silence. She wanted him to catch
his breath before she said anything? Was this a good or a bad sign? Did
she just want to talk, or did she want to give him a chance to prepare
himself? Was it bad news? Had she decided it would be better to take a
short trip /between/ and take care of the problem once and for all?
Shards, he hoped not.

That had been his greatest fear since their fight, that she would decide
it just wasn't worth it and end her pregnancy. It had surprised Birigundi
just how deeply that thought bothered him. But at least now he would know
for sure. At least now he didn't have to wait to find out the answer
anymore.

Her small grin fell and she looked down. Shells... It just wouldn't be
easy, would it? No, of course not. Not with what he'd last said to her
that night ringing in her ears. Nialyn wondered if he regretted any of
it. She knew she did.

Birigundi wasn't thinking of regrets, or even of their last meeting. He
was wondering just how he would tell his mother if she decided to
terminate the pregnancy. She would be so sad. And maybe even angry at
_him_ though it wasn't his choice. He had done his best for Nia. He had!
His mother would just have to accept that.

Hearing that his breathing was quieting, Nialyn glanced up at him - and
the expression on his face shocked her. Everything else was momentarily
forgotten. "What is it?"

He crossed his arms across his chest protectively and wouldn't quite meet
her eye. "Are you... Well, what I want to ask... You'll still keep the
baby, won't you? 'Cause I'll promise you anything..."

She blinked. That was the _last_ thing she'd been expecting him to say to
her. "Of course I'm keeping the baby. Why would you..." Her voice
trailed off.

Birigundi breathed a sigh of relief. He felt like a huge weight had just
been lifted from his shoulders. "Nia, I never meant to hurt you," he
finally said, looking up to meet her eyes.

A resigned sort of smile curved her lips. "I know you never mean to,
Biri." There was a slight - very slight - emphasis on the "mean". Then
she shrugged a shoulder and looked away. "It's not...it's not just you. I
get so _emotional_ these days, and sometimes I find it easier to run with
it instead of trying to fight it all...down..."

"Well, I understand that you get emotional. But this is the arrangement
we _both_ agreed to." He frowned slightly, wishing that he could be the
man he knew she wanted him to be. But he just wasn't that way anymore.
"It's not that I don't care about you, Nia. I do. I really do."

"But it's just not enough, is it, Biri?" It wasn't an accusation.

"Enough for _what_, Nia?" Birigundi really couldn't figure out just what
it was she wanted from him.

Nialyn shook her head. Why bring it up again? Why bring it up when she
already knew that it would solve nothing between them? "You're right. We
both agreed to this arrangement."

She didn't sound convinced, and Birigundi knew he was failing her
expectations somehow, but what more could he do for her? "You know I will
come any time you need me. Shards, I'll come even when you don't need me
if you want me to. And I will help you any way I can. You know that,
right?"

Nodding, she looked up at him finally and gave him a small smile. "I
know, Biri."

"All right then," he nodded. An awkward silence stretched between them.
"Well... do you need anything?"

Well. Maybe... "Come to my weyr later?"

Birigundi nodded. "I'd like that."

Last updated on the April 9th 2006

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An Arrangement They Agreed To