Diferent, But Good

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 14th February 2007
Series: Saving Each Other

Characters: U'kaiah, Talryne
Description: U'kaiah comes to visit Talryne in her new weyr, and they manage to re-establish their friendship.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 20 of Turn 4

Talryne

When Talryne opened the door to her new weyr, she was expecting a healer. Her surprise at finding U'kaiah on the other side of the door was obvious in her expression, though she struggled to hide it behind a strained looking smile. "Hello, U'kaiah."

"Hello there, Talryne. I heard you had a new weyr and I brought you a... well, some sweetrolls." Shards, but this was awkward.

"Oh. Well, come in, then..." She held the door open and stepped aside so he could walk past her.

"Thank you." He slipped into the main room. "Well, I was going to offer to help you unpack, but it seems you have already taken care of that."

Talryne glanced around at the room, which she and N'vanik had spent several days setting up. Each day she'd managed to drag out the unpacking process had been one more day she could stay in his weyr, after all. "N'vanik did most of it," she admitted, inviting U'kaiah to take a seat with a gesture.

"I'm glad he's been so helpful." Who would have thought. U'kaiah still wondered just how that was working. Knowing just how rocky the bronzerider's relationship with Trae had been, he doubted it would last. "I'm sorry, I don't really have any wine or anything," Talryne admitted as she sat down on the edge of the couch. "I might have some water or juice left, if you want it. Or I could make some tea."

"Oh on, I'm fine. I'm not here to wet my thirst." Though a drink did sound really good right about then. "I just wanted to see how you are settling in and ask if there was anything I could do for you. I remember you were a real help to me when I moved weyrs. I thought perhaps I could return the favor somehow."

Talryne hesitated for a moment and then sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't come to see you, U'kaiah. I just... haven't been myself." "It's all right. I only wanted what was best for you. If you weren't ready..." he shrugged, not knowing what else to say. It had kind of hurt that she would chose N'vanik, _N'vanik_ of all people to hide behind. He had thought they had been better friends than that. But it was his own sharding pride, not her fault.

"It wasn't just that. I was... tired a lot. I mostly just slept." She gave an awkward sort of smile. "The healers told me I needed to find something else to do, so I've been trying to."

"Oh? What have you been doing then?" he asked, hoping that she would relax and open up a bit more.

"Well..." Talryne's cheeks flushed a little. "You're going to laugh at me."

"There's nothing wrong with laughing," U'kaiah smiled, but he wanted to reassure. "I promise, I won't laugh, no matter what."

Talryne reached down beside the couch and retrieved a basket full of yarn. "I'm... knitting."

U'kaiah was a bit surprised, but he didn't find it amusing. He had thought only little old ladies and Weavers learned to knit, but it seemed... fitting somehow... "Are you going to make anything for me?"

She lifted the lumpy looking mess out of the basket and held it up dubiously. "Maybe you should wait until I remember how. I haven't done much knitting in the last few turns... My father brought several boxes of my mother's knitting things to me when he moved to the Vintner Hall, but I never wanted to open them."

"Well, is it ok if I laugh at that tangled mess?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Talryne's lip twitched upward. "I guess."

"It is a bit of a mess," U'kaiah grinned with a bit more confidence. "It can only get better though, right?"

"I _used_ to be good at it!" she protested. She pointed to the blanket thrown over the back of the couch. "I made that when I was twelve!"

"And you will be again," the bronzerider reassured her. "You just have to get your touch back."

After a moment, Talryne reached over to slide a hand over U'kaiah's.
"I'd like to see you sometimes, if you like. I missed you."

He covered her hand with his other, a relieved smile touching his lips. U'kaiah had been afraid he had said something to scare her away again. "I'd like that. I've missed you too, Talryne."

As scared and uncomfortable as she'd felt facing him at first, the quiet acceptance of her words relaxed something that she hadn't even known was tense. A small bit of her old life had fallen back into place, and it felt good. Different, but good.

Last updated on the February 17th 2007

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Diferent, But Good