Her Promise

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th February 2009

Characters: Traelyn, B'ram
Description: B'ram questions himself and Traelyn's intentions, but they reach a hesitant understanding.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 4

B'ram

Shards, where was it? Traelyn frowned at all of the fine clothes hanging in her closet. Shards, she really needed to clean it all out. She had too much stuff that she never wore anymore--stuff that was taking up valuable closet space. Sighing, resigned that she would have to go through each section to find the gown, she began rifling--and stopped suddenly when her fingers touched beadwork. Shells... Her teeth caught at her lower lip as she slowly pulled out a very familiar green dress.

It was the color of the darkest emeralds, and made of a very light, almost watery material. Amber beads had been sewn into the scooping neckline, a beautiful complement to its rich color. The front of the frock was quite simple--it was the back of it that held all the fine and precise detailing worth the marks she'd spent commissioning it. The same amber beads that were used on the front were used on the back, swirling around to shape the form of a golden dragon in flight. The queen's wings swept up, the tips just touching her shoulder blades, bordering the intricate lacings. The tail coiled down to end with a glimmer at the small train in the back.

Traelyn ran her fingers down the beadwork. She had worn this exactly a Turn ago. And she could still remember the look on U'kaiah's face when he saw her in it for the first time...when he had laced her up. She could remember when he had shown up to Dolphin Cove's celebration wearing a commissioned a shirt to match her dress. It had been made of a beautiful black material, and on the back of it an outline of a stylized dragon had been stitched in bronze thread. She could remember tracing that stitching, caresses that had seemed innocent then, but really, they hadn't been. Faranth, how they had fooled themselves. Those caresses hadn't been completely innocent, just like the kiss they'd given each other that night--that chaste, sweet kiss--hadn't really been a kiss for luck.

Traelyn remembered grinning at him, white teeth flashing in the dark. You're not scared, are you?" she had teased gently, brushing the tip of her nose against his. But despite her outward calm, she could remember her heart beating just a little faster, and that her hands had settled on his hips nervously...hesitantly.

"You're very intimidating, Weyrwoman. I'm a shy boy," U'kaiah had grinned back as he had leaned in closer to her, his eyes flickering to hers, almost as if he had been seeking her permission. And she had lowered her lashes, had closed that small distance between them, and had pressed her lips to his.

Their friendship had changed slightly that night into something a bit more. A sad smile touched her lips.

But as it often happened, her remorse brought on by reminiscing on the good times they had shared abruptly turned to sudden resentment. Shaking her head, she carefully put the dress back in the closet, hiding it behind the folds of other gowns. The last thing she needed tonight was to think about him.

~~~

It was some time later when Traelyn finally decided that she was ready to make her public appearance. The gown she'd commissioned for this Turn's End wasn't as elaborate as the green frock, but it was still quite lovely in its unique, deep purple hue with the various intricate designs stitched in silver thread along the scooped neckline and elegant sleeves. She had swept up her white-blond hair into simple, silver combs, leaving the tawny skin of her neck and shoulders bare. Traelyn knew a few heads would be turned her way tonight--something that her battered ego was quite pleased about.

She hadn't noticed as her eyes traveled over her gown reflected in the mirror that she had an audience. B'ram stood in her doorway, admiring her from behind. Trae looked stunning. There would be no doubt who ruled this Weyr, and every male eye would turn towards her. Shards, he hated that. He knew they all wanted her. And for once, for sharding _once_, every one of those men would see that she was not available. The brownrider was resolved that this time, she would be on his arm and would stay there!

Suddenly she heard the soft scrape of a boot shifting on stone, and she turned around to look at B'ram. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in..." her voice trailed off. Shells, he looked good.

B'ram could see that his chosen outfit seemed to please her. The brownrider had never been too concerned with clothes, but tonight he would be escorting the Weyrwoman, and he wanted to look like he belonged with her on his arm. He had worked carefully with a tailor to find just the right shade, a perfect blend of red and brown, to dye the leather vest he wore over a crisp new white shirt. On the crafters recommendation he had used the same dye for the boots that peaked out from under his crisp black trousers. The Smithall had contributed his silver belt-buckle - a stylized version of Dolphin Cove's crest. "So, do I meet your approval then?"

She came closer. "Shards, yes," she murmured, dark eyes flickering to his. To know that he'd gone through so much effort for tonight--for her.... Well, she was flattered. More than flattered, really.

"Good enough to be seen on your arm?" His face was serious as he locked his eyes on hers. "Because you _will_ be on my arm tonight." And he would not take argument to that statement well.

The intensity of his tone made her bite her tongue and double-check her response. She searched his gaze. Was that what his fine clothes were about? Because he felt, in some way, inferior? Faranth's name, he didn't have to prove anything to her! But maybe...maybe he needed to prove something to the people who would see him tonight. Maybe he needed to prove something to himself. She'd give him the response he needed, but he had to know that she didn't appreciate him doubting her previously-given word. "Yes," she growled softly, her voice low and intimate. "I will
be."

She was already trying to fight him. He knew she wasn't going to like it, but he'd rather have it out now than in front of the whole Weyr, because this time he would not hold back. "I won't be pushed to the side again, Trae. When someone asks you to dance, I want them to ask my permission too. And I want them to know that you're coming back to my arm when it's done. I'm just a man, and I don't care that you're a Weyrwoman or a goldrider. If you're with me, you're with _me_."

Her eyes narrowed. "I told you I'd be with you tonight, B'ram. _You_. And I want to be with you." He had to know that.

"Do you?" he asked quietly. B'ram knew how many men, men in positions of power far beyond his own, would be vying for her attention tonight. Even men without a chance... She looked every part the Weyrwoman, and they would all want to possess her. Shards, how he wished she would have looked a little less the part. All eyes would be on her tonight. He knew how intoxicating that attention was for her. B'ram knew her better than most, knew how she fed off of male attention, knew how she enjoyed flitting from man to man. Could he _really_ be enough for her?

Of course she wanted to be with him. Traelyn knew there would be men wanting to claim her attention tonight, and that knowledge assuaged her smarting pride. But just because they would want to be with her didn't mean that she returned those feelings. She didn't want to start the new Turn with a casual acquaintance or an old lover. She didn't want to start the new Turn flitting from man to man, acting like the girl she had been at Far Island. She wanted to begin the new Turn with a man she cared for, deeply, and one who felt the same way about her.

Disappointment pricked at her. She thought he would have known that, especially after the Hatching--and especially after the long nights following that evening. Shards, would he ever stop seeing her as the foolish girl she had been? But then again, could one Turn of an understanding between them really erase twenty Turns of what he had known her to be? Maybe...maybe it was too much to ask of him. And because it was, she needed to reassure him. Reaching out, she curled her fingers around his hand. "I do."

He believed her. He had to. But sure as Thread fell from the sky he would keep his eye on her tonight. She had given him her promise. B'ram would hold her to it. "Well, then, we'd best be going." He offered his arm. "Wouldn't want you to be late to your own party."

No, she supposed she wouldn't. So Traelyn slipped her hand through his arm...and kept her promise.

Last updated on the February 20th 2009

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Her Promise