I Want To Try

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 16th July 2008

Characters: Nialyn, K'lar
Description: Nialyn and K'lar have dinner together and they both come to an understanding of sorts
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 5 of Turn 4

"Why don't we head off to that corner in the back. It seems a little quieter there," the brownrider said with a nod in the general direction. His hands were full with both their trays which made pointing rather difficult.

Nialyn obediently began to wind her way through the throng of rowdy dragonriders and scurrying drudges to get to the table. Throwing a grin over her shoulder, she asked, "Can you handle those trays okay?"

"They're just fine," he smiled back. K'lar had been more than a little pleased that Nia had sought him out to have dinner with her. They had seen each other a few times and it had always seemed like she enjoyed his company, but there had always been a small feeling of doubt in the back of his mind. That perhaps she had only thought of him as an understanding friend. It wasn't that he didn't want to be her friend, but he was hoping for more. The more time they spent together, the stronger that desire grew. That Nia would ask him to dinner, dressed the way she was, it sparked a hope that she might be feeling the same. "You know, I'm really glad you invited me tonight," he said as he set the trays down on the table.

"I'm glad you were free," she replied, slipping into the seat across from him. Really glad. She didn't know if she could've faced Biri the next morning if she _hadn't_ seen the dragonrider. "I know it was sort of last minute..."

"I don't mind," he assured her. "I've always been a bit of a spontaneous person anyway. You look beautiful tonight, by the way."

To hear that phrase come out of another man's mouth....shards, it was strange. But a pleasant strange. Blushing, she picked up her fork. "Thank you. And so do you. Well, not beautiful, but, well....you know...." Shards! One innocent compliment shouldn't fluster her _this_
much!

"I don't mind if you think I'm beautiful," he gently teased, pleased that he had made her blush.

She bit her lip against a grin as she glanced up at him. "A compliment's a compliment, right?"

"I'll take what I can get," he said, looking at her from over a steaming spoonful of soup. K'lar loved that she was not vain. She was beautiful and alluring, and yet she didn't know it which drew him in even more.

Nialyn took a couple bites of her breadroll, feeling a little awkward, a little shy. Time to switch the subject. "How's your dragon doing?"

"He's good. He's flirting now, I think." His dragon had always flitted from one green to another, very much the opposite of his rider. "Would you like to meet him sometime? Maybe we could go somewhere together, for a picnic or a swim?"

She gazed at him, considering. Nialyn wasn't stupid. She knew he was interested in more than just being her companion. And if she was honest with herself, she could admit that there was certainly an attraction on her part too. A part of her wanted to explore that attraction and see where it would lead, but another part of her hesitated--that was the part of her that was still loyal to Biri, even though she knew, logically, that he didn't deserve it. They were finished.

She finished chewing the small chunk of bread and swallowed, stubbornly pushing thoughts of Biri away. It would do her good to see other men, and K'lar was nice. "I'd like to meet him. I really would. But, K'lar....I have to be honest with you. I'm afraid of heights." Her smile was rather guilty. "I've never been on a dragon before."

"Never?" he asked, genuinely surprised. "How is that possible living at a Weyr? Riding on a dragon is really quite safe," K'lar assured her, though he was sure she already had heard that before.

"Trust me, I've heard it all," she laughed. "It still doesn't make me any less nervous!"

He shrugged, knowing that was true enough. "Well, a little nervousness can sometimes make it that much more exciting."

"Absolutely," she agreed. "Just promise me that I won't fall off?"

"You'd be holding on to me, so if you fall off I'd fall off," he promised, pleased that she was at least willing to try. "And we'll go nice and slow, and not too high until you're ready."

"Slow is good. I like slow."

K'lar paused a moment as he sopped up his soup with a piece of bread. He wondered if she was still talking about riding a dragon. "I see nothing wrong with slow. Sometimes caution is a good thing."

"Caution's a very good thing." She hesitated, then said quietly, "I've been...burned too many times for not being cautious. I've learned my lesson." She gave him a small, self-conscious smile.

All right, now he _knew_ they weren't talking about flying. "Your daughter's father?"

Nialyn bit her lip lightly, then nodded. But shards, she wasn't here to talk about him. "Sorry," she murmured.

"It's all right. I don't mind." In fact, it was good to know what kind of memories he was up against. It was obvious that she had been hurt, and he desperately wanted to prove to her that he didn't want to do the same.

She tilted her head slightly to the side, meeting his eyes, a quiet smile in hers. "You're sweet."

He tilted his head to match hers, the smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "You're luminous."

Blushing she flicked a crumb playfully at him. "Oh stop."

"I mean it, Nia," deciding to be honest rather than teasing. "I really like you. I like you a lot."

At first all she could do was stare at him. Then, realizing that it was considered rude to stare, she lowered her gaze, knowing that now was the time to be just as honest with him. "I like you too, K'lar. I do. I just.....I've only done this once." She risked a shy glance at him. "And I think I'm ready...to do it again."

A look of pure relief crossed the brownrider's face. "I don't want to rush you into anything. I just wanted to be honest with you from the start. And I hope you know you can be honest with me too. I really like you and I really want to try..."

"So do I." And she realized that she _did_ want to try. It would be better for her if she did.

Last updated on the July 16th 2008

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I Want To Try