RCW: Time and Time Again (1/3)

Posted on Sun Nov 10th, 2024 @ 8:40pm by Gold Rider Lana & Apprentice Nerlyn & Bronze Rider A'ren & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: MD 2 D5

Nerlyn looked around the deserted cavern as she ate a very late breakfast now that she had done everything she needed to on her return. The walk with the Weyrwoman had thrown her but she would discuss that with K’ron later before she committed to anything which the Weyrwoman had suggested having noticed her confusion and questioning gaze. She sighed shaking her head as she returned to the porridge leaning over to put some more sweetener in it.

“Well look what the feline dragged in…” Nerlyn called as she saw a familiar person walking in looking like she had earlier - tired and hungry.

K'ron tried concentrating on his hidework but once Nerlyn had left with Lana it just wasn't easy. He worked for a while longer at least trying to get some work accomplished. Once it became apparent that he wasn't going to get any work done he shoved the hides away.

He quietly made his way to the dining cavern, feeling worn out and just wanting to find Nerlyn. When he heard a certain voice he perked up. He quickly grabbed some food and headed for her table. “Well hello to you too.”

Nerlyn watched him carefully as he perked up and hurried to join her sitting across from her. “Hello. Did not think I would see you until this evening.” She admitted quietly spooning some of the porridge into her mouth.

The bronze rider slid onto the seat across from her. “Figured when I started seeing cross-eyed it was time to stop,” he admitted. “Not to mention I wasn't getting much done anyhow.”

Nerlyn smiled a little at him seeing the weariness around his eyes despite the earliness of the day. “Sorry, did I distract you? I should have waited until later. Sorry.” She wondered quietly gulping down some klah to clear her throat. The porridge was tasty but thick from being in the hearth too long. “Porridge is thick.” She warned.

“Love you're always a distraction but a very good one. I'm glad you came by.” He yawned again before taking a sip of klah. “Hmm that's good to know. How was your walk?” He asked curiously.

Nerlyn blushed at what he said and ducked her head suddenly interested in her food. “Old flirt.” She commented before sighing at his next question. “It was a walk.” She asked not able to ignore his curiosity for long as she looked up at his gaze was there waiting for her. “Me, you and the Weyrleaders need to have a talk.”

“Guess some things never change,” he chuckled. Although when it seemed like she was going to avoid the question he started to get worried. “We do?” he asked gently.

Nerlyn just stared at him and nodded. “Can you get Tyreth ask Kalaith and Zarmainth if they are free please?” She decided she needed to do it there and then and get her final secret off of her chest. She pulled out a very old looking notepad that had seen better days. She knew K’ron knew what it was as he had gotten rid of it turns away along with other rider related items.

“Of course,” he answered, having Tyreth do just that. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the notebook. “Ner?” He asked gently. Why had she dug any of those old things up? “Ty says they are free.” Just what was going on?

“Finish up and we will go.” She promised putting her spoon down. Her stomach felt wobbly now that she had brought it all up. She offered a sad smile sliding the notebook back into her pocket. “I didn’t. Lana brought it to me. Where did you put all those things when you cleared the weyr of anything of mine that was rider connected?” She wondered.

He pushed his bowl away. “Think I'm done.” He was pretty sure he couldn't eat anything now. Not when the past was coming up to bite them. K'ron sighed softly. “Buried them in an old storage closet. just in case,” He admitted.

Just incase was most likely what the Weyrwoman had been looking for when she had asked the weyrlings to clean out storage closets. Nerlyn nodded and silently cleaned up the table, discarded the contents and put the bowls in the pile to be cleaned. She took several deep breaths and nodded - she could do this, she was sure. “Where are the Weyrleaders?” She wondered when he joined her at the entrance.

Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to keep everything. He just hadn't been able to bring himself to throw it all out. He pushed to his feet as Nerlyn collected the bowls. “Heading for their offices,” he answered.

Nerlyn nodded. She wasn’t quite able to make out what emotions were flicking across his face at all but she knew once she had finished explaining things to the Weyrleaders he was going to be very cross. The silence was deafening by the time Nerlyn raised her fist to knock on the door.

K'ron quietly followed. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like anything that was about to happen. Well, time would tell. He stood beside Nerlyn as A'ren opened the door.

“Thank you both for coming,” he said, motioning them inside.

Lana rose from the table and looked at Nerlyn as she slipped into the office. She had not expected the woman to come back to her so quickly but there they were.

“Nerlyn? I did not expect you so quickly after our walk to come back to me and the Weyrleader” Lana wondered, indicating one of the chairs.

“I decided that it could not wait for you all to hear my final secret.” Nerlyn looked at the men and lowered her gaze sitting down as she pulled out the notepad again, flicking until she showed a sketch of an island and what looked like a settlement.

A'ren closed the door behind K'ron. K'ron didn't like the feel of this at all. What had Lana talked to Nerlyn about and why did they have an old notebook?

K'ron moved closer to Nerlyn. “What is going on?” he asked in confusion.

“Nothing bad. K’ron… we just have a couple of questions for Nerlyn from what we found in a box.” Lana said gently, seeing the protective stance that K’ron was taking.

Nerlyn leant out and touched his hand.“Which question would you like me to answer first Weyrleaders?” She asked gently knowing they both had questions that she had answers to.

K'ron still wasn't so sure. “Nothing bad?” He asked. “Yet you have that notebook.” Nothing good could come of this. Bringing up those old memories couldn't be good. He tried to relax his hand as Nerlyn touched it.

A'ren shook his head. “We wouldn't do anything to jeopardize either of you. It truly isn't bad.”

“They want to know how I was such a good search rider,” Nerlyn said, staring at them both.

K'ron didn't like it. Not one bit. “Why would you bring that back up?” He demanded. No, he had just gotten Nerlyn back to almost normal. He didn't want to lose her again because of some stupid question.

“K’ron…” Lana started as Nerlyn just carried on.

“I discovered a trick when I was a weyrling. I discovered how to not just go through between locations.” Nerlyn felt the atmosphere change as everyone looked at her confused. “Dragons can go between time,” Nerlyn whispered.

The wingleader blinked at his mate as A'ren glanced at Lana. “They can do what?” K'ron whispered.

Lana had heard rumors, had heard of it from Harper tales but never in her lifetime had she heard of anyone doing it. “Between time. I got so many candidates because I between-ed time.” Nerlyn stared straight ahead.

“Nerlyn…” Lana opened her mouth several times looking at A’ren helpless to know what to say.

K'ron didn't know how to respond. dragons could really go between times? Why didn't anyone else know that? And how did Nerlyn figure it out?

A'ren shook his head in disbelief. “How did you learn the dragons could do that?” he asked gently, glancing back at Lana.

“I was just 15 years old when I first went between from River Cove and Kymos. I was meant to come back but I visualised something a little too specific and ended up on the hatching and impression of …” She paused. “my green and myself.”

“How did you get back?” Lana asked.

“I remembered the morning in River Cove and the sun rose over the Star Rock and got back at dawn and hid for a couple of candlemarks in the jungle to the south and then when I knew I had left I returned,”

K'ron sank down into one of the empty chairs. 15? She had only been 15? He blew out a breath as he scrubbed at his face. He had only been an annoying 13-year-old then, but why had she never said anything later?

A'ren listened to the explanation. Nerlyn had been very fortunate. She could have easily been lost. This was definitely something that didn't need to be getting out. Every weyrling would be trying it.

Lana’s mind went straight to the same place as A’ren’s about making sure no one else ever found out about this trick. “And… Nerlyn who else knew about this ability?” She requested in a soft voice seeing neither bronze rider had voices. She could see the shock itched in their faces with horror and the potential of it all.

“D’eng. He found me once exhausted as a Weyrling after too many jumps and realised that I was not quite the Nerlyn that he knew. I had to share with someone and that is how me and him became weyrmates.” Nerlyn whispered glancing to K’ron wishing he would say something or look at her. “V’ros I suspected he knew but never commented. And… the Weyrleaders.” A’ren and Lana shared a look. “The pair before you both,” Nerlyn said quickly before K’ron assumed that she meant the pair in front of them.

A'ren nodded as he listened. “I am glad only a couple know. That is not something we want the weyrlings learning.”

K'ron remembered D'eng. he didn't know him well but he knew the man had been close with Nerlyn. “Why did you never say anything?” He asked his mate, trying to figure things out.

Nerlyn looked at K’ron and bit her lip. The dolphineer did not want anyone learning it which had been one of the many reasons she had never mentioned it.

“I… you are a good person Kiron.” Nerlyn started before Lana stood up.

“The former Weyrleaders? Did they sanction you doing this Nerlyn?” Lana demanded the dots clicking in her head as she thought about things. Nerlyn nodded. “This is why you looked near passing out a lot of the time?” Nerlyn nodded again.

“It strains you living in 2 places at the same time.” Nerlyn looked at the floor.

What did being a good person have to do with anything? It didn't make any sense to K'ron. She had pretty much avoided his question and he sighed in frustration.

A'ren folded his arms over his chest. “Well, we will definitely have to make sure it doesn't become common knowledge. we don't want anyone else nearly getting hurt or worse.”

Nerlyn settled into silence as she reflected on a lot of her early years as a rider. Lana had so many questions but mostly she worried about Nerlyn. “I do not understand how you did it Nerlyn.”

“Which part Weyrwoman?” Nerlyn asked taking a deep breath to answer more questions. She was starting to wish she had brought a drink or something stronger with her.

“How did you search?” Lana asked not at all connecting the dots on how she managed it.

“I did threadfall and then went back in time to search out the holds after using the threadfall as a focal point,” Nerlyn explained quietly as she sat up a little straighter. “Dragonmen must fly when threads are in the sky. I did my duty and what my Weyrleaders requested until …” She glanced at K’ron. “Someone taught me there was more to living a half-life and that I should stop risking everything.” Lana looked to A’ren horrified that Nerlyn had risked it all for the Weyr in such a way and no one had known.

K'ron stared at his mate in shock. “how long did you do it?” He asked. “Was that why I found you a few times nearly passed out from exhaustion?” It would certainly explain a lot.

A'ren returned Lana’s look. “That was a good thought Nerlyn but one that could have cost your life. No Weyrleader expects that.”

A’ren soft voice cut deeper than anything else he had ever said to her in all their turns knowing each other. “I preferred it when you used to yell at me for making every mistake in the Record than this,” Nerlyn said looking at A’ren before she glanced at K’ron. “Turns. I stopped when we got serious so what four turns ago? You are a good person and that kindness and love and everything that you have ever given me changed my viewpoint and I realised that I could just be imperfect.” Nerlyn stated simply to the wingleader.

“Ten turns.” Lana was looking paler and paler by the moment cursing her predecessors. Nerlyn shrugged not sure how to work the maths out or the times she had gone back and forth.

The Weyrleader raised a sandy brow. “You would rather I yell at you? Well, now that's a first.” What he had said he meant though. All their lives were too important to take risks.

K'ron couldn't believe what he was hearing. “10 Turns?” He repeated Lana’s words. How had he never known? All those times he had seen her so exhausted and nearly sick. “Ner you are imperfectly perfect to me. I won't want you any other way.”

The blonde nodded. She knew that despite everything. Nerlyn stood up and wrapped her arms around herself as she picked up the notebook and started to flick through the pages thinking about all the searches and candidates she had found. “I never meant it to go as far as it did but then the thread came and everyone was so desperate for candidates. I was a kid and I just wanted to help.”

That sounded like Nerlyn. K'ron carefully moved to wrap his arms around her gently, seeing the uncertainty spring into her eyes. “It's okay,” he soothed.

“We're definitely not mad,” A'ren assured her. “We were more concerned then anything. “

“I am mad but I am not mad at you Nerlyn. I am disgusted and ashamed that my predecessors allowed you to do that.” Lana said watching K’ron rise from his chair and wrap his arms around the woman protecting her almost from them. Lana suddenly felt ashamed for all the times she had commented on Nerlyn’s attitude or the way she approached life, she had been fighting every second of being a rider to maintain some semblance of herself. Lana closed her eyes biting her lip hard to stop herself from saying anymore she could see that Nerlyn was done for the conversation despite there being more that needed to be investigated.

K'ron held Nerlyn close, whispering softly in her ear for hopeful comfort. He hated seeing her like this. And now, so much more has made sense from their childhood and even after. What a mess and a great weight to have had to carry.

A'ren glanced at Lana. This wasn't good at all. They definitely still had a lot to figure out but he wasn’t about to put Nerlyn through more. She seemed to be unravelling as it was.

“I… I need to go for a walk… get some fresh air.” Nerlyn said softly as she calmed down enough to pull away from K’ron to look at the Weyrleaders. “I’ll come back later… but I…need to… be alone.” She said, clutching K’ron’s hand momentarily before running out the door before anyone could react.

K'ron tried to catch her hand before she could run. “Nerlyn!” He cried, glaring at the Weyrleaders before going after his mate. He wasn't about to leave her alone. “Nerlyn! Wait!”