But First We Dance

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 3rd December 2005

Characters: U'kaiah, Traelyn
Description: U'kaiah and Trae dance at the Harper festivities
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 28 of Turn 3

Almonteo looked between the smiling Weyrwoman and the smiling young man.
He had heard that name before... Looking at the knots it all fell into place. A wingleader from Dragonsfall Weyr. And a journeyman harper too!
Grinning at the bronzerider he said "But of course, Wingleader U'kaiah."

Turning back to the beaming young woman he gave her a bow and wink, "If you will excuse me Weyrwoman, I think I must claim my wife for a dance."
He leaned in to whisper into her ear, "Now that the handsome bronzeriders are occupied."

"Oh, you," she whispered back, grinning, glancing at him briefly before turning her gaze back to U'kaiah.

Almonteo saw the soft light in her eye and nodded almost imperceptively.
He would have to ask more about this Wingleader of Dragonsfall later.
But for now he would place a whisper in the musicians ear and grab his wife for a nice slow dance. "Wingleader."

"Hallmaster," U'kaiah bowed again. Once the Hallmaster made his exit he reached out his hand. "Care to dance, Weyrwoman?"

"You know I do," she grinned, taking his hand.

He grinned as he pulled her closer. The harpers played an introduction to a beautiful old slow dance song. "You look beautiful tonight." He would complain about how thin she looked later, but now he just was happy to see her. It felt like more than just a few sevendays since he last saw her and he had so much to tell her.

She smiled at him, then studied him from the top of his head to the toes of his boots. "And you look especially handsome, U'kaiah. Harper blue becomes you, you know." Shards, but it was so good to _see_ him! Her fingers tightened around his.

"When I heard the invitation I had to come. It's not often that common Dragonriders who were never apprenticed to the Hall are invited to a special affair such as this." He wrapped is arm around her waist and began whirling her around the floor along-side the other dancers. "You seem suprised to see me. Did you forget I was a harper? Or did you just think I wouldn't come?"

"I just thought...well, because you were still recooperating, and I wasn't sure if you'd be _allowed_ to come out here..." She shrugged an eloquent shoulder as she lifted her arms around his neck.

"Trust me, I'm well recooperated. I'm even back in charge of my wing," he said as he bent his neck and leaned his cheek against hers.

She rubbed her own cheek against his affectionately. "I'm glad..." she murmured softly in his ear. She slipped a hand down his chest to rest against is heart, feeling the strong, steady beat. "And you're heart's not strained...everything's fine..." Her voice went quieter.

He covered her hand with his. How he had missed he these last few weeks! As much as he cared for Jaela, they had not yet reached the same level of easy affection he and Trae had enjoyed. He knew it was only a matter of trust and time. "Yes, love," he whispered, "everything is just fine."

Traelyn closed her eyes, gently moving her head so it could rest near the bend of his neck and shoulder as she let herself just sway in time with the melodic sounds. It felt as if she had let loose a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. It was so nice to be able to talk and dance with someone she _knew_. There was no uneasiness between them at all.

U'kaiah, however, was fighting down uneasy feelings of his own. Part of him had hoped that he would find her too busy to have time for him. That she would have been claimed for the next five dances and he would have to add his name to the list. The way she clung to him now made him feel on hand touched by how much she had missed him, and on the other knew it meant she had been missing him _too_ much. She didn't have to say anything. The way she looked at him, the weight she had lost, the way she was holding him all told him the truth - this had not been an easy adjustment. He smoothed the hair down on her back and rubbed his chin gently against her forehead, almost guilty that he had spent such happy days with Jaela in recent weeks while Trae had been struggling along.

"You've been staying out of trouble, I hope?" she asked with a teasing smile, glancing up at his face.

"Only in the company of corrupting blueriders," he winked. "And speaking of which, I stole a little something from his cabinet for us to share tonight if you can slip away later."

"Oh, you sneaky pick-pocket," she laughed. "For N'klar's wine, I'll do _anything_! And how is my favorite bluerider doing? Have you drank him under the table again? Or he you?"

"Well, we haven't had much chance to drink each other under anything the last couple weeks," he admited sadly. But not _too_ sadly since he had spent most of the days with much more interesting company. "But he's doing fine. He misses you, you know."

She lowered her head, trying to hide the sudden sadness she felt. "I miss him too."

U'kaiah gently lifted her chin until her eyes met his. Shards, but this was not the Trae he wanted to find. Ignoring the glances and whispers of those around them, he kissed her forehead gently. "I want you to tell me everything, Trae. But first we dance."

Summoning a soft smile, she nodded. She was _not_ going to wallow in any self-pity tonight. She was not going to back-track to the mindset she had had four sevendays ago. She was beyond that now. She _should_ be beyond it. Sighing her slight irritation at herself away, she rested her head against him.

Last updated on the December 3rd 2005

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But First We Dance