RCW: Still Searching For Forgiveness

Posted on Sat Dec 14th, 2024 @ 6:37pm by Gold Rider Lana & Bronze Rider A'ren

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: M2 D17

Lana was surprised when she returned to the weyr that A’ren not in bed or at the very least in the weyr reading or something more mundane to end the night. It had taken candlemarks to solve the issue of the fostering dilemma but now she was just confused. She was not going to wake Kalaith to ask Zarminth so she was going to have to search him down the old-fashioned way. He was not passed out in his office, no waiting in her office, not in the council room so that left just one place which would surprise her if he was in the records room.

He did not have his head in the records as he looked to the future and the here and now whilst she spent candlemarks looking through them but she suspected what she had said about them had piqued his interest and wanted to look at what she had been looking at. “Well, now this is a good hiding space for you A’ren.” She challenged quietly from the doorway.

A'ren dug through the hides. After their earlier conversation, he had a lot on his mind and had completely lost track of time when he heard Lana. “Hmm?” He asked, looking up at her.

“Hmm?” Lana repeated raising an eyebrow. “I do not believe in our turns together I rarely catch you here. What is going on?” She wondered stepping into the room and looking at the glows nearly out with a shake of her head.

The Weyrleader shook his head. “Guess so,” he agreed, sitting up better. “now though this seems extremely important.” She had made him really stop and think and the things they had learned from Nerlyn. They really needed to do more research.

“So does that mean you will let me go north and flirt my way into the northern weyrs records rooms?” Lana wondered, sitting on the edge of the table.

A'ren looked up at his mate. “Seriously? You expect me to agree to that?” He asked. He knew she would do it anyhow.

“I will take that as a big no then.” Lana said with a roll of her eyes as she picked up what he was reading before she realised she did not have her glasses on. “What have you found?” She asked moving quickly away from her suggestion of how to get more information

The Weyrleader shook his head. He didn't like the idea of Lana having to do that. “Not a whole lot yet,” he admitted. “There definitely seems to be something we are missing about those spots Nerlyn sketched. I just can't find much information.”

“Why we need to go there and look for ourselves.” Lana said putting her hand over the records so that they were blocked from his view.

“Hey!” He exclaimed as Lana hid the hides from view. He blew out a breath. “Yes, you are right. We just have to make sure we pick a good team to go.”

“We have a good team.” Lana assured him, smiling sweetly as she moved her hand to his chin and made him look up at him. “Mark for your thoughts?” She offered gently.

He blinked a little as she made him look up. “We do,” he agreed once his mind was back in the present time. “Just thinking about the ruins and what could possibly be there.”

“Since when do you get so deep?” Lana wondered, stroking his cheek with her thumb. The last couple of turns had changed him and she knew she was partially to blame for her that.

A'ren actually chuckled a bit. “Since someone is always trying to drill that into my head. And it could affect our riders.” The riders always came first.

“There is my man and his easy smile.” Lana soothed finally pulling back her hand As she remembered what she said to him last turn when she was being a wherhead to him. “I only you told you, you don't have to be so sharding emotionless not that you have to be as deep as a northern mine.” She said remembering her words well.

“Well now make up your mind dear gold rider,” he said easily. Lana had certainly helped him to calm down over the Turns. He wasn't so stiff.

Lana frowned and held up both hands. He was right she could not say something and then limit it. “No you're right. Be as deep as the ocean A’ren.” She assured him softly standing up from sitting on the desk.

“Lana,” he said gently. “I was only joking. I am trying though,” he promised. “and the sketches and ruins really have me intrigued. just what don't we know?” He reached out to catch her hand.

Lana looked down as he caught her hand and held her from walking out the room and leaving him to it. “I am sure there are many things we do not know.” The weyrwoman sighed a little as looked at the man.

“Hmm that is probably true.” He had to agree that there was a lot they didn't know. “Wanna help a grouchy bronze rider look?” he asked, gently tugging her over.

Lana was surprised when she was tugged over without much reluctance and looked at him confused. “Look?” She wondered.

“Through old hides of course,” he answered. “Maybe you'll see things that I miss.” don’t.”

Lana looked around and then at him, raising an eyebrow at the fact he had not let go of her hand yet. “The hides I have already looked through are that pile. So I will look through these if that is what you want.” She was relieved that she was wearing her glasses to be able to do that type of work.

“You have been busy,” he commented when he realized what pile she had gone through. “only if you want. Or we can sit here and stare at each other,” he grinned, hoping to get a smile from her.

“Why I suggested going north as I thought I had exhausted what we have here.” She whispered smiling a little at his attempt to make her smile. She squeezed his hand gently pulling her hand back. “I came here to get you to relax and come back to our weyr … but this is fine. Let me at least go and get some better glows. This is romantic lighting not working lighting.”

Now he could see her point. He still didn't like her flirting with the other riders up north though. “Romantic huh? Think we can make a room full of hides romantic?” He grinned.

Lana looked at him stunned as he commented on the lighting that dimmed as the glows got duller. “Flirty and deep tonight. Who are you really?” She wondered lightly.

A'ren thought for a moment. “Hmm that is a good question,” he grinned, tugging her back. “Maybe just a man wanting his mate here with him.”

Lana smiled at him as he caught her up again, tugging her until she had no choice to either sit on his lap or fall over. “Well your mate did come looking for you when she did not find you in their weyr.” She whispered softly.

He wrapped his arms around her as she fell into his lap. “Then I am glad she didn’t give up the search,” he whispered, leaning up to kiss her.

“It was an old-fashioned search as Kalaith is asleep.” The dragon was content with her day which made Lana feel the same with the soft kiss. “I would also never give up the search if you went missing,” Lana assured caressing his cheek with her thumb.

“As I wouldn't give up on you either,” he whispered, looking up into her eyes. A little smile touched the corners of his lips.

“I love you Weyrleader.” She assured him quietly leaning her head against his looking back. “You make me happy and content in myself and I am sorry for the last turn and the brat that I was when you did not need me to act like that.”

“I love you too.” He flashed her a gentle smile. “And you keep me on my toes and from sinking into the deep,” he whispered. “It's okay. It's over now and we made it through.”

“It is not. I was horrible to you and you did not deserve that spite or maliciousness.” Lana was just relieved that despite her nastiness Kalaith had still picked Zarminath but it spoke of the old saying of the Dragon decide and Kalaith knew better than her.

}: I do…:{ Kalaith said sleepily making Lana smile fondly.

*** I know you do my beloved.*** Lana assured.

A'ren couldn't argue but he loved her so he had tried to ignore it. “I am glad that things are going much smoother now. I like not being yelled at,” he smiled, kissing her.

His words were softened by the kiss but Lana knew she had hurt him a lot more than any other stunt had pulled over the last seven turns. “I like not being angry at you and my whole life.” The woman said sadly.

He nodded. “It is definitely much better this way,” he agreed. It had taken some long nights and talks to get things sorted.

“It is.” Lana nodded. This was the man she wanted and the life she wanted. There were still some moments where she tested him and herself but they were not the all out in front of the Weyr declaring herself available for any bronze rider.

Finish?