KH: Leadership and Rumours

Posted on Tue May 6th, 2025 @ 4:55pm by Gold Rider Lana & Gold Rider Jena & Bronze Rider A'ren

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D29

Jena had danced with many holders but she needed a break from being a diplomat and smirked as she noticed the Weyrleader coming in her direction carrying two glasses of wine. She knew they welouks be for the Weyrwoman and she was going to be distracting him but she needed a moment especially with K’vin off somewhere with his wing mates for a moment.

“A’ren? Stand with me a moment and scare off everyone?” She requested politely hoping he would agree.

A'ren had promised to get Lana some wine and be the one to work through the crowd. He stopped though when another rider said his name and he quickly smiled.

“Think I can handle that,” he answered Jena as he handed her one of the glasses. “Lots of people huh?”

The woman took the glass, relieved and smiled while taking a sip. “Yes. I do not know how you and the Weyrwoman do all of this and do it so well.” She admitted. She was not clueless, they had taught her well but it did not come easy to her.

A'ren took a sip of his own wine. “It has taken a lot of Turns,” he answered. “And we still mess it up sometimes,” he chuckled. It had taken a while and the Holders didn't always make it easy.

“I have not seen either of you mess up.” The young gold rider assured. She was sure that A’ren could cause a scene, be rude to a Lord holders wife and still be able to charm the Holder and crafters without looking flustered. It was a skill that she was not sure she would ever develop.

}: You will! :{ Her golden queen assured without hesitation.

A'ren chuckled softly. “Oh you should have seen us a few Turns ago,” he assured her. “We have learned a lot and don't hesitate to ask us anything.” He knew he and Lana had caused a few issues in their early Turns as Weyrleaders.

“Thank you. You and Lana have never steered me wrong.” Jena admitted thankful for the pair. “Even when you weren’t Weyrleader you were kind and looked out for me.” He was the one bronze rider other than K’ron, I’han and K’vin who did not look at her like she was a prize and she was grateful for that.

The Weyrleader inclined his head. The girl was sweet and was a fast learner. “I tried. You've always been willing to learn and a nice person to talk to.” Lana had a good second in Jena.

“You more than tried. You’ve always been the safest bronze rider.” She said quietly watching as Lana came through the crowd confused that A’ren had not return. Zaylith was the first queen from Kalaith and Zarminth’s first clutch together which had always made Jena wonder if the pair were a little protective due to that.

“Safest? Well I am glad to hear that.” He wanted the riders and weyrfolk to be able to approach him. He cringed a bit before smiling. “Think I'm in trouble,” he chuckled, waving to Lana.

“You do not want to sleep with me for what a Queen Rider can bring by having a clutch on the sands bring them.” The woman commented, waving to Lana as she started to weave through the crowds to join them. “Let’s join her… find her some wine.” Jena instructed

“Hmm guess you are right there,” he agreed. He had never viewed Jena that way. Of course he had never viewed Lana that way either. Sure he had wanted to be Weyleader but he wanted to be with Lana for much different reasons. “Yes let's. I do owe her a glass of wine yet.”

“Not that K’vin thinks that or is like that…” The woman explained awkwardly before Jena smiled up at the man and weaved her wave through the crowds until they reached the Weyrwoman who looked at them both confused. “The Weyrleader saved me and gave me your wine apologises,” Jena said before the older woman could even open her mouth.

“Okay?” She raised an eyebrow at rhe woman.

“He saved me from more dances.” Lana’s features softened at those words as she remembered before she become Weyrwoman and had to go to events like this.

A'ren held up a hand. “No need to explain. I get it,” he assured her before working his way through the crowd. He smiled when they reached Lana. “Couldn't let her suffer,” he explained. “But here. You take my glass and I'll go grab another. Do you two need anything else?”

Jena quickly shook her head as A’ren passed the glass over. Lana smiled and shook her head at him. “You have drunk from it.” She laughed. “I will go search for my own. Neither of you move. I want to tell you about the wedding I have just been told about.” Lana said, disappearing into the crowd with practice ease despite the heels that she was wearing.

“I already know about the wedding if it was Lord Bensen. I was there and made sure it was entered into Weyr records as it was our harper doing it.” Jena admitted.

He raised a brow at his mate. “Afraid I have some disease?” He teased her before she disappeared into the crowd. A'ren chuckled as Lana easily disappeared.

He turned to Jena. “Lord Bensen has gotten married?” He asked in surprise. the Weyrleader hadn't heard those tales yet. “no wonder Lana is excited.”

Jena grinned at the surprise in his voice . She knew it was a big thing as the man had only announced his engagement earlier that day. “Yes I know you told me about his engagement earlier but he married that woman tonight,” she laughed not sure why things moved quickly but it had.

A'ren shook his head a bit. “Definitely didn't expect that,” he admitted. “How did they pull that one off?” He couldn't imagine pulling a wedding together that quickly.

It was mostly down to Halia, she thought to herself but she would explain that properly when Lana was back as she was the one who brought it up. “I’ll wait till the Weyrwoman is back. She seemed pretty excited to talk about it.” Jena said thinking of the woman and she did not want to have to explain it twice.

“That is a very smart idea,” he agreed. Lana would not be happy with them if they didn't wait for her before talking about the wedding. “There she comes now,” A'ren said catching sight of Lana weaving back through the crowd.

Despite her height it was hard to miss the Weyrwoman in her pale dress against much darker colours. She was carrying a large glass of wine and smiled at A’ren as she caught him watching her. Jena smiled her self, she did not think she had ever seen them so at ease with each other. “So yes, wedding. I’ve just heard that Lord Bensen has gotten married despite his engagement only being announced today.” Lana whispered.

A'ren couldn't keep a smile from his face. Things were finally settling for them and becoming normal. He shook his head a bit. “That's moving fast even by Holder standards,” the Weyrleader commented.

“I think that might be down to Halia?” Jena revealed.

“Halia?” Lana wondered softly.

“Well we were all coming in and Bensen and the woman were talking and I’han got talking. They joked about eloping and Halia offered to do it and well it happened.” Jena explained. Not sure whether the Weyrleaders would be happy with them or not.

A'ren laughed a bit. “That is certainly one way to do it,” he smiled. “And as long as they are happy. I'm sure skipping the big wedding was much appreciated actually.” He remembered Rena's wedding to Oseben.

“Oh?” Jena asked confused.

“The woman who he married is his brother's widow.” Lana explained gently making Jena make an oh face. It all made a little more sense now.

“She was the woman you saved at the last gather.” Jena asked A’ren remembering that night. She had only just arrived not having left her golden queen yet when Kalaith had ordered her back to the Weyr and safety.

A'ren nodded. “She is. Unfortunately I couldn't reach her husband in time.” That still haunted him but he couldn't change it. He was glad Rena was safe though. “It still surprises me that those two got married.”

“Holders.” Lana said gently. A’ren was weyrborn whilst the queen riders were crafters and holders. “She is a widow with a baby due. It makes sense to me.”

“And now I know it all me as well.” Jena agreed. “I wish them well though. It’s not easy.”

The Weyrleader shrugged a shoulder. “I will have to believe both of you,” he answered. “I'll never completely understand Holders.” He tried but they were all so different in certain ways.

“Why you have me my dear Weyrleader.” Lana assured stepping up to him grinning as Jena rolled her eyes. She liked seeing them so in love but it just made her want to see her own mate.

“You two being soppy is my que to find K’vin.” Jena grinned squeezing Lana’s shoulder and inclining her head to A’ren with a whispered thank you.

“I do, don't i?” He grinned wrapping an arm around her. “You're welcome,” he answered Jena. A'ren had no doubt Jena would find K’vin.