Intimate Friends (Part 1 of 2)

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 2nd April 2011

Characters: Tavia, Vandor
Description: Tavia is frightened of the storm and turns to Vandor
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 30 of Turn 5

Tavia

Vandor

His shift was done and Vandor lounged in a chair, drinking a nice
hot cup of klah. He eyed Tavia who was still finishing up then let his gaze
wander about the room. The winds still howled outside, but people,
for the most part, were calmer. Riders who had been given duties and
had weyrs inaccessible by stairs were pretty much stuck, but others
had offered to put them up for the night. Others decided to grab some
blankets and camp in the dining hall. Most of the quarters that were
available didn't necessarily have beds, so the few that did were taken
pretty quickly. He found it amusing to see various dragonriders
carting down pillows and what not to prepare for sleep.

Tavia had been up a long time and she was tired. First a shift on
watch and then another with the healers. She finished with stacking
the bandages where they could easily be reached and then looked around
the room to see almost every spot taken. She knew how these things
went too, she was sure every bed would already be full even with the
constant noise outside. She saw Vandor against the wall and there was
a small spot next to his chair so she grabbed her bag and plopping it
down next to him gazed longingly into his cup. "Is there more of that
somewhere?" she asked.

Vandor lifted his hand and motioned to a drudge. The girl hurried
over and Vandor requested a second cup of klah and then pointed to the
chair next to him. "Sit down. You need to rest."

She turned and sank into the chair next to him and leaned her head
against his shoulder "Yeah, I'm about done in." she murmured. That was
followed by a big sigh.

"I hate to say this, but you look about done in." Vandor allowed
himself another sip of his klah before comment, "You're in a higher
weyr, aren't you? With no stair access?"

She shifted her face up to look at him but didn't take her head from
the comfort of his shoulder. "There's access but it's exposed and I
can't go out there in this weather."

"So what are you going to do?" The drudge hurried back over with the
klah and Vandor took it only to pass it along to Tavia. "You look
pretty knackered."

She snorted, "You're pretty comfortable," she said "but I'll probably
find a corner of the floor." She sat up as the drudge came back with
her cup of klah and she wrapped her hands around it half awake.
"Thanks," she called after the girl.

"I always wondered if I would make a good pillow." Vandor chuckled,
the sound rumbling low in his throat. "Why don't you stay at my
quarters? My couch is pretty comfortable. Definitely more so than
the floor."

"Oh that sounds lovely actually Vandor. I don't want to inconvenience
you though but I really do need to get some sleep."

"It's not an inconvenience." Vandor shook his head and finished off
his klah. "I could do with some myself. Whenever you're ready, we can
head on up. There's a closet on the way, we can grab some linens
there."

She nodded and pushed to her feet. "That's perfect." Sleep sounded so
good even with the sound of the wind and rain outside. She kept the
cup in one hand and picked up her small bag. "Sawauth is sound
asleep," she said. She'd never been to his rooms before so had no idea
which way to go. "I'll just follow you if that's ok."

"Of course." Vandor kept a brisk pace, his long legs allowing for a
longer stride which made moving quickly easier. Of course, he had to
force himself to slow down, to keep from practically running off
without those who weren't quite so quick of foot than he. So he was
used to glancing back and making sure whomever he was walking with was
still with him.

It wasn't far to his quarters. There was a brief stop at a nearby
closet where he gathered a couple of pillows and coverings. Once they
got to his rooms, he opened the door and motioned for Tavia to go
through before he did. "Please, make yourself at home."

The quarters weren't huge, but they were larger than some might be
afforded. His sleeping area was separate from a sitting area, in
which there was a couch, two chairs and a desk with a separate chair.
It was cozy, though seemed a bit small for such a big man. He began
to arrange the linens on the couch. Occasionally, a grumble of wind
moaned through, but for the moment there seemed to be a calmer point
of the storm. "Is there anything I can get you?

She was practically dead on her feet and couldn't keep her eyes open
much longer. "No thats ok," she murmured dropping her bag next to the
couch. She sat in one of the chairs while he worked her head nodding
even though the sounds of the storm made her a little jumpy.

"No, not here." Vandor stood up and crossed over to where Tavia sat,
gently guiding her up. "Come on, you get the bed. I'll crash on the
couch." He glanced at the bag, then scooped it up on the way to the
bedroom. There was another creak or groan, but softened by the stone
that surrounded them. Vandor seemed undisturbed as he walked Tavia to
his bedroom, tossing the bag next to the bed.

She was so tired she didn't have the energy to protest. She went where
she was directed and as soon as she saw the bed began to strip to
crawl in.

"Good night Tavia." Vandor inclined his head and then turned to leave
as the woman began to remove her clothing. He wasn't going to stand
around and watch, as much as he might enjoy it. Let her have her
privacy.

Going back into the other room, the big man pulled off his tunic and
tossed it on one of the chairs. Normally he kept his space pretty
clean, but he was almost as tired as Tavia. He'd take care of it in
the morning. Normally, too, he'd strip down completely, but with
company in the other room, he decided it might be better to afford a
bit more modesty. So, shirtless, Vandor sat heavily upon the couch,
lay back, pulled up his covers and shifted until he was comfortable so
that he could drift off into sleep.

Tavia's clothes ended up draped over the foot of the bed. She crawled
between the sheets and snuggled under the covers falling into a deep
slumber. The pillow smelled of Vandor and the herbs he habitually
used. It was a manly and comforting scent.

An interdeterminent time later a crash and boom from the storm startled
her awake, heart pounding. The darkness and unfamiliar surroundings
added to her panic. Another crash sounded and wind howled. Tavia
screamed.

The scream sliced its way through the narcotics of sleep and Vandor
was awakened so suddenly, that he thrashed and found himself spilling
out onto the floor. He didn't remain there long, heaving to his feet
and pushing off to rush to his room, catching himself in the doorway
to keep from falling over again. As soon as he caught his balance, he
hurried over to the bed. "Tavia! Are you all right!?"

His voice and his presence helped to calm her racing heart. She
couldn't put her panic into coherent words and only managed and
apology the covers fell away from her torso but in the dark she didn't
care. "Stay please Vandor?" she begged pulling at him and scooting
toward the other side of the bed. Another crash sounded and she jumped
with a squeak "Please?"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down." Vandor slipped an arm around her, pulling
her close to him. Her skin was warm to the touch, and smooth as he
let his hand slip up and down her arm in a comforting gesture. At her
jump, he arched an eyebrow. But he didn't poke fun at her. Instead,
he shifted a little further onto the bed, not lying down, but sitting
up and drew Tavia further into his arms. "Shhh. It's all right.
You're safe."

}:I can't come to you mine, I can't go where you are.:{ she heard the
distress in Sawauth's voice. **Vandor is here, he's helping. Stay
where you are love. Stay.**

She buried her face against his chest trembling. Each bump and bang
making her jump. Gradually she relaxed slightly against him striving
hard not to let the tears come. "Please don't go Vandor. Can you just
stay here and sleep with me please?" The rumble of his voice deep in
his chest somehow made the storm less scary.

His hand wandered up and down her arm, then slipped back to make a
trail over her back. "I don't know Tavi..." Vandor murmured,
shifting a little with the intimacy the closeness brought. It made it
far too easy to think about things he probably shouldn't. "I'm not
sure it would be appropriate." His last word was punctuated by a
resounding BOOM that almost shook the room.

She was just relaxing even though Vandor seemed uncertain when the
boom made her practically leap out of her skin. She eeeeep'd with
surprise and clung to him harder. "Just... just stay til I c-can get
to sleep please?"

"Okay! It's all right. I'll stay, I promise." Otherwise she'd never
get back to sleep. Not to mention, Vandor wouldn't feel good leaving
her trembling there, all alone. The storm was bothering her, a fact
he found half amusing, and half concerning. "Let me just get into a
little more comfortable position." He gently guided her to a seated
position and shifted. His eyes swept over her naked form that was
uncovered by the sheets with a bit more appreciation than he should
have allowed himself. Quickly he lifted then and drew her back into
his arms, picking up where he left off, his fingers grazing her back
in long, sweeping strokes. "It's all right." His voice rumbled
pleasantly in his chest, soft as if soothing a child. "I won't let
anything hurt you."

Her head sank against his shoulder and the rumble of his voice
comforted her somehow. Still she trembled but her fingers didn't
clutch so desperately. "Thank you Vandor," she said. Her hand splayed
against his chest and near her face while his fingers ran up and down
her back just soothing her and helping calm her fears. She began to
doze.

"You're welcome." Vandor murmured in reply as his hand continued its
caresses, up to her neck, down lower. He sighed and closed his eyes.
He needed sleep as much as she did. Her body was warm against his, so
soft, so supple. Sleep was not going to come easily.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Intimate Friends (Part 1 of 2)