RCW: Weyrwoman’s 2nd finds out

Posted on Fri Jan 2nd, 2026 @ 1:47pm by Gold Rider Lana & Gold Rider Jena & Bronze Rider A'ren

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M3 D24

Jena looked at the Weyrleaders as she stepped into their weyr. She was surprised by the invitation let alone the wine glasses that were set up. She did not think it was to welcome Lana back but maybe they just needed a catch up and it was getting towards evening. It was not like she could go anywhere else with Zalyith as egg heavy as she was suddenly.

“Wine?” She asked A’ren as stood there holding the door open.

A'ren knew they should have done this sooner but there had been so much going on that this was the first free moment. He gave Jena a smile. “Have a seat Jena. I'll pour the wine.”

Lana was too exhausted to rise to greet the woman but indicated the chair next to her. “What is going on Weyrleaders?”
She wondered, deciding to just ask what was going on instead of beating around the bush.

“We just need to talk about why I went to High Reaches.” Lana indicated the seat making the woman sit down slowly.

The Weyrleader poured wine for the three of them. Thankfully Lana was back in one piece but K'ron was still in the infirmary. “We should have said something sooner but time has slipped away from us.”

Lana raised an eyebrow at his phrasing but took the wine. She smiled as Jena narrowed her eyes with a whispered thank you for the wine. She took a sip. “We discovered that Nerlyn had discovered something dragons could do.” Lana started.

A'ren hadn't even realized what he had said until Lana raised her brow. He cringed a bit. That had been a bad choice of words. He sat down himself so they could talk. “We figured the north would have older records then we do.”

“Nerlyn?” Jena questioned before she sighed. This had to be why K’ron and the Weyrleaders had argued and why the older man looked like he wanted to rip their head

“Yes, when she was a weyrling. She had discovered that dragons can go between time.” Lana said gently trying to explain it so there was no blame.

A'ren nodded. He was still surprised K'ron hadn't acted any worse then he did. “It seems that the northern Weyrs had known about this ability but that knowledge had been lost to River Cove.”

“Most likely because like the other southern Weyrs we came from Southern and they were not a fighting Weyr in the last pass.” Lana said, taking a large gulp of the wine.

“I don’t understand.” Jena said quietly.

“Which part?” A'ren asked gently. “I know it's a lot to take in.” He wanted to make sure he was answering the right question before trying to explain.

“So Nerlyn discovered this trick when she was a weyrling? But that was turns ago?” Lana nodded. “So how did this all come up now? How did you guys discover it? This was why K’ron looked like he wanted to murder us all?” She knew she was among far too many questions but she needed to get it all out there.

A'ren hadn't expected so many questions and blinked. “Yes that is why K'ron was angry. Lana found an old journal of Nerlyn’s,” he tried to explain. It really was odd how it had all come to happen.

“When Nerlyn lost her green all her dragon riding pharaphelia was put into storage. I went looking for items that might explain why search numbers were down and well I found it and asked her what system she used and it all came out.” Lana admitted wishing she had not started on that task.

Jena wanted to ask more questions but she could see that Lana felt so guilty over opening those wounds. She leaned out and touched her fellow Queen riders hand. “You did not know.”

It had been a bad time. And that wound had affected a lot of people. He still wasn’t sure if K'ron had completely forgiven them and Nerlyn barely talked to them. “It certainly wasn't what we expected.”

Lana downed the wine and started to pour some more. “And how do we know this is the truth?” Jena asked bluntly.

A'ren glanced over at his mate, not expecting those words. “We can't exactly prove one way or the other. We know Nerlyn did it.”

Lana looked at the younger woman and smiled a little. She had gone straight to disbelief which was logical for the woman. Lana went over to her desk and pulled out the notebook and held it out. “Nerlyn used to use fall as a point of reference and then go back to search elsewhere at those times.” Lana explained.

The Weyrleader nodded. It was a lot to take in and he couldn't blame Jena for being skeptical. He sat back as Lana got the journal. “She did a lot of research while trying it.”

“Shards…” Jena held out her mug for more wine without comment. “But how come you went north?” She wondered.

“Because I needed more research than this notepad and a traumatised woman who can no longer show us how she did it. The North knows how to do it and High Reaches Weyrleader has agreed to show me… us… when we are ready to learn.” Lana said pouring it without comment or looking at A’ren. He was very much against it but time literally would tell if he would thaw on that.

A'ren sat with his arms crossed. He still didn't like this idea and he liked it less after K'ron was hurt. He knew Lana was determined to do it though so they were going to have to come to a compromise.

Jena looked at A’ren and looked away quickly seeing how unamused he looked by the mere suggestion. “I… this explains so much.” Jena said quietly. “Shards this is why K’vin told me just to wait until you caught up with me.” She half murmured to herself and half to them.

“Yes. I asked him to give me until this afternoon. I went to bed early last night, which is why you did not know yesterday.” Lana admitted. This was on her that Jena was in a state of shock.

A'ren sighed softly. “It has been a lot and we're still not completely sure what we are going to do with this knowledge.” He was grateful K'vin had kept quiet. He just hoped Lana gave up the notion of digging into it more.

It looked like it was a lot, both Weyrleader and Weyrwoman looked like they could use more sleep. “What can you do with this information?” Jena wondered. Lana stayed quiet; she knew that herself and A’ren were at odds over it.

He frowned a bit. “I would rather bury the information again,” he admitted. He didn't see how timing could be good. It seemed like it had nearly killed Nerlyn.

“But with so many northern riders here now that is unlikely to happen.” Jena admitted daring to glance at him, seeing the frown. She could see how much he really did not want to know any of this.

A'ren slowly nodded. Jena was right. They did have a lot of northern riders now and timing was a known fact in the north. “I just don't want anyone trying it,” he said, pointedly looking at Lana.

“Please don’t Lana.” Jena requested seeing the way the Weyrleader was looking at Lana. “I was so worried you were not going to come back.” She admitted.

Lana sighed a little and narrowed her eyes as A’ren before she softened a little at Jena. The girl was like how she imagined her and Ariana would be in turns to come if Lana could let her in. “I have already said I will not.” Lana reminded.

A'ren was grateful Jena felt the same way. He knew Lana had said she wouldn't but it still worried him. “We are still trying to figure out what to do with this knowledge now,” he admitted.

Of course the pair would be on the same page just like Ariana and A’ren, Lana fined for a moment before she realised it was her own fault for being too much sometimes. “Nothing is happening right now with it all so we do not need to worry about that knowledge or me.” Lana said sitting back more onto the couch sipping the wine.

He breathed a sigh of relief. “Do you have any other questions, Jena?” He asked. He knew he and Lana still had a lot to figure out themselves.

“No. But if I do, I will come back and ask them.” Jena assured as she downed the wine and put the glass down carefully. “Thank you for finally sharing what has been going on and sharing what has been troubling you both.” The younger woman said grateful that she was finally included.

A'ren nodded. At least K'vin would be able to speak with his mate now. It was a lot to take in. He still hadn't figured it out.

“I will leave you to… to … whatever this is.” Jena said rising from the couch quickly to leave the pair to discuss and to fix the tension that was between them.

“Thank you, Jena.” He glanced over at Lana. They still had a lot they needed to sort out.

Lana looked at A’ren before looking at Jena rising to walk her out. “I will come and check on you and Laliy later on.” Lana said gently knowing she needed to be a little more involved with them both right then and there.

A'ren kept quiet. The other two gold riders were Lana’s responsibility. He just hoped she wasn't too angry at him.

Jena nodded and opened the door to leave. She turned at the last minute. “Don’t argue again please.” She whispered to the woman. “He made friends with F’cone in his worry over you.” She added before running out the door. Lana closed her eyes and leaned her head against the door after she closed it and took a moment to savour the silence.

A'ren quietly sipped on his wine. He wasn't sure what else to say at the moment and he didn't want to argue. He just wanted her safe. Although he knew Lana didn't always think the same way as him.

“I am going to request dinner be brought up here. Are you eating here?” She wondered finally pushing herself off the door to face him.

He looked up at the gold rider. “If you are okay with that I'd like to eat with you,” he said. If it would cause an argument he wouldn't push it.

“We’ve both drunk some wine. It’s responsible that we both eat something,” Lana commented as she yelled down the shaft and heard a squeal from some unsuspecting candidate that had been given communication duty.

A'ren nodded. That was a good point. He leaned back, trying to decide how angry she was at him.

Lana said nothing as she potted around the weyr tidying the stuff she had come back from High Reaches with. She paused as she spotted him watching her intently. “Yes?” She questioned.

He sat up straighter when he realized Lana caught him watching. “Just trying to decide how angry you are at me.”

“I am angry that you are using another queen rider to get me to tow the line when I already promised you I would not do it.” She pointed out shaking out the dress she had worn the previous day before coming back.

“I was not using Jena, but I know you Lana. You want to know as much about timing as you can learn. And I know you won't let anyone else try it if you don't.”

“You did. You know she won’t want to disappoint you so will pick your view out of fear,” She rolled her eyes. “I promised you I would not try it. If you do not believe me or believe but promise then we have a bigger issue.” She commented quietly raising her chin defiantly to look at him.

He blew out a breath. “I do believe you mean to keep that promise right now, but I also know this won't just disappear. Sooner or later you're going to want to try.” He narrowed his eyes. “She has no reason to fear me. She outranks me as a gold rider.”

“Of course but right this second… I won’t.” The woman shook her head. “A’ren… She does not fear you. She does not want to disappoint you. How do you have this effect on women?” She demanded quietly before sighing as the food came with a rumble. Lana got the tray and set it on the table that was somehow clear from random items that they brought in.

He nodded. He trusted her at the moment. He knew she would keep her word for a little bit. Until curiosity got the better of her. A'ren shrugged. “I honestly have no idea.” It was just his personality.

“Calarya, Jena, Tula, your daughter.” Lana rolled her eyes as she slumped into the chair and looked at the cheese, butter and bread on the trays with a selection of fruit. It was simple but what they both needed.

A'ren really hadn't considered it before. “Hmm, don't know.” Did that bother her? Had he messed up without even realizing it?

“Doesn’t matter.” Lana said, picking at a red fruit before biting into it properly. It was a sweet fruit which was nice when her mood was sour.

He sighed and grabbed up some bread. “Did I do something wrong again?” He questioned. He seemed to be good at that lately.

Lana shook her head. “No.” Lana said simply. “You are sharding perfect.” Lana admitted reluctantly. “Perfect Weyrleader, perfect mate. Perfect rider. I want to slap you in all honesty.” Lana said begrudgingly.

A'ren blinked in surprise, not having expected that. “Then I think I will stay on this side of the table. Your slaps hurt,” he said, trying to make her smile.

It was most likely for the best that he stayed there, she did not want him close when she was feeling so beaten down after that conversation. “I have never slapped you? Unless it was in a moment of passion.” Lana said looking up at him and his attempts to get her to smile.

He gave her a gentle smile. “No, you have not but it got you to think of something else.” He twirled his wine glass in his fingers. “I do apologize, Lana. I shouldn't have done that.”

“You did.” She had to smile at that before she sobered at the apology. “No. I am not someone who needs controlling. If I get the urge to test timing I will talk to you.” Lana said gently as she picked up the knife and cut some cheese to put on her buttered piece of bread. “But until then please stop.”

A'ren nodded. He knew she would talk to him. The only time she hadn’t was when she had aborted the baby, but that wasn't something he was going to bring up. “Okay, I will.”

Lana nodded and settled down to start eating the bread and cheese. They needed to get back to being them and being a team as they had a wedding celebration to attend tomorrow.