Just This Once

Writers: AL, Emma
Date Posted: 27th June 2008

Characters: Kailatan, Ivane
Description: Kailatan and Ivane discuss what happened on the way to the weyr.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 6 of Turn 4

Ivane was quiet as they began to unpack and settle in their new quarters.
Kailvan was playing happily with a ball, rolling it until it hit a wall, then running after it happily as it bounced off in random directions.
From time to time, he would come and 'help' by unpacking something and putting it on the bed, only to get distracted by his ball once more.

She hadn't expected that to happen - not at all. Even when the dragon had shown such interest in her, she hadn't thought about _that_. The rider hadn't said anything until they landed and Ivane had hardly said a word since. She glanced over at her husband. They needed to talk about it, that was for certain, but she couldn't tell his feelings on the matter and she was afraid he might be upset.

"Come on," said Kailatan as he picked up his son. "How about you go lie down on your new bed for a bit, it must be nearly bed time"

"Da," the child pulled a face, bed was a word he knew. But anyone could see that the boy was fighting sleep. Kailvan was laid down gently on the bed, and it wasn't long before he relaxed, and allowed sleep to catch him.

"Ivane," he began as he came back over to his wife. "What do you think about what the rider said?"

"I've been wanting to ask the same thing." Ivane kept her voice low. Her gaze fell upon her son, but she didn't linger long nad moved back to the bag she had been unpacking. "I'd like to know your opinion on the matter first, I think."

"It is a great honour, you know that. From what I hear the dragons don't search anybody and everybody," he tried to make it a joke almost, wanting to keep it light so that she could say what she really felt.

"Oh yes, I understand that." The girl went silent for a moment, refolding some shirts that Kailtan had helped to unpack. When they were done, she picked them up. "I...I'd like to stand."

"You would?" He couldn't keep the note of surprise out of his voice.

"Well, just once." Ivane turned to the chest of drawers and placed the shirts inside. "I mean, as you said, it is an honour. And I've never been to a hatching before."

"Me neither," he said.

"Would you let me?" Ivane asked, her voice so soft that it was almost a whisper. "Would you allow me to stand?"

"If you really, really want to."

"I do." Ivane nodded, then added, "But not if it would make you unhappy."

"It'd make me more unhappy to see you unhappy," he replied moving over to her and putting an arm round her. He knew that not everyone impressed, that they needed to have more people than dragons. Maybe she'd leave the sands alone and come back to him.

Ivane leaned into her husband, turning a smile up to him. "Then just this once. If I don't impress, I won't try again, but...I'd like to stand at least this time."

"How could I deny you that chance to try at least once?"

"How could I be so lucky?" Ivane turned to encircle him with her arms.
"I have such a wonderful husband."

"And I have a wonderful wife."

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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Just This Once