RCW: Sketches and Absences

Posted on Sat Dec 14th, 2024 @ 6:34pm by Apprentice Nerlyn & Bronze Rider K'ron

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

Nerlyn stepped into the weyr distracted by Raen talking about the gather that she nearly missed the sounds of her mate pottering around the bedroom. “We are home.” She called as Raen ran off to find K’ron before he could react or Nerlyn could stop him. She carried on laying out what she had brought back from Dolphin Hall on the desk stopping as she noticed sketches she had not seen in a long time. Much like the notebook she was surprised they were there but why would K’ron have them? “We brought back Pern’s biggest sea shell.” She added sounding distracted.

K'ron had returned to his weyr after his talk with the Weyrleaders. He had a lot to think about now. The bronze rider turned at the voice, catching his son up in his arms. “Hey you,” he grinned, shifting the boy in his arms. “The biggest seashell, huh?” He asked, walking out of the bedroom.

“Huge!” The boy hugged his father tightly before he showed him just how big it was. “Mama went diving under the water to get it for me,” Raen said forgetting he was not to have mentioned that bit before he made a uh oh sound remembering as Nerlyn stood looking at the sketches still.

“That is huge,” K'ron agreed before frowning just slightly. “Diving huh? She must have gone really deep,” he commented, looking up at his mate. He cringed when he realized what she was looking at. “Ner?”

Nerlyn turned picking up the shell to show K’ron. She caught his gaze but she quickly looked to Raen and walked over tickling him. “Not deep enough that the dolphins had to help.” She assured seeing the frown. “And you were meant to keep that secret little one. Daddy now has that frown line back .” Raen laughed and snuggled against K’ron.

“It’s huge right daddy?” The boy said brightly.

K'ron shook his head as he snuggled his son. He knew he really shouldn't worry so much. Nerlyn knew what she was doing. “It is huge, Raen. You were right.”

“Mama said I could have it in my bedroom and when she isn’t here I can take it to Tula’s so I can listen to the ocean and know she is there.” The boy said seriously as Nerlyn placed the shell back on the desk and moved into the bedroom to get out of her swimming clothes.

“That is a very good idea. You will have to do that,” he said, kissing his son's hair. He carried Raen over to the couch to sit down while they waited for Nerlyn to return.

The woman soon returned with a wrap around dress on and slowly tried to undo her braid. “What are you two plotting now?” She wondered quietly as she started to organise the bag should took between craft hall and home.

“We were just talking about his huge shell and how he can hear the ocean. Huh little man?” K'ron answered, motioning Nerlyn over with them.

Nerlyn moved over and sat on the edge of the couch watching Raen intently as he kept putting the shell to his ear to listen. “Did you tell daddy we brought him back shells too?” She wondered. Raen shook his head and wiggled free to go and retrieve them.

K'ron loosened his grip so the little boy could get what he was after. He then looked up at his mate. “Sounds like you guys had a nice day.”

“Just a couple of candlemarks this afternoon I thought he might be missing out on me as I have been away so much so I thought he could join me on my afternoon duties.” She admitted watching the little boy climb up onto the chair to look at the selection.

“That was a nice idea. I have no doubt he enjoyed it.” Just watching Raen with the seashells was proof enough. He was glad they had been able to spend some time together.

“He did. He is certainly a child who loves the ocean.” Nerlyn breathed looking at the bronze rider finally trying to work out his mood despite the drawings all over his desk he looked calm compared to her.

“Takes after his momma then,” he smiled. K'ron glanced at the sketches. “sorry i shouldn't have left those sitting out.” He hadn't meant to but had lost track of time .

Nerlyn nodded. She did not mind seeing them; she was just confused that he had them. “Why do you have them?” She wondered as Raen came back showing K’ron the shells he had gathered for him so that he could hear the ocean when Nerlyn was not there.

“The Weyrleaders gave them to me,” he answered before Raen came bouncing back in. “wow those are very nice seashells, Raen. You can really hear the ocean.”

Of course they did, Nerlyn thought to herself as she rose from the couch to look at the drawings. “So you’ll be able to know if mama has rough seas and go rescue her.” The boy declared.

K'ron chuckled softly. “That is a good idea. You let me know if I have to do that,” he smiled, watching Nerlyn.

“You have your own daddy but I bet if you want one like mine mama would get you one.” The boy admonished with a roll of his eyes as he climbed back up onto the couch to see how the shells sounded.

The bronze rider smiled. His son was growing up fast. “I am sure you are right.” He looked back up. “Ner? Okay?”

“I got this one for …” Raen stopped as he glanced over at his mum who was silent and had not answered his dad. “Mama?” He called confused.

K'ron cringed. He hadn't meant for Raen to notice. “Who did you get that one for, Raen?” He asked, trying to steer him away from Nerlyn’s silence.

The little boy looked confused at his father and then at the fact that Nerlyn hadn’t answered him. She never did that. The little boy frowned more and looked worried at K’ron. “Cathlyn and T’mil 'cause they like to hear the ocean too.” He answered but he was not sure what to do.

“That was very nice of you. I am sure they will love it.” He frowned at his mate as he could see she was upsetting Raen. What had gotten into her suddenly?

“Mama is ignoring us?” He said looking a little lost. Raen could not take it anymore and climbed down going over to Nerlyn and touched her hand. “Mama.” The woman jumped and looked down confused for a second before she knelt and gathered the boy close.

“I am so sorry. I was lost between in thought.” She said glancing to K’ron seeing the frown on his face. She mouthed sorry to him before hugging the boy even closer.

It had been a while since K'ron had seen her do that with Raen in the room. Usually, the boy kept her grounded. He inclined his head, letting her know he understood. “Raen was just telling me he got a shell for Cathlyn and T'mil,” the bronze rider explained, trying to bring Nerlyn up to speed.

“You were ignoring us.” The boy giggled as Nerlyn peppered his face in kisses.

“I am sorry. I got distracted.” She explained learning a long time ago, to be honest about her absences. Nerlyn scooped the boy up and moved to the couch sitting down leaning against K’ron as she nodded. “I think we collected enough shells for every rider.”

“They need to know the ocean sounds mama,” the boy laughed, snuggling against the woman laying his head against her chest staring up at K’ron.

K'ron put his arm around her shoulders as she sat down. He was glad she didn't try to hide her absences any longer.

“That is a lot of seashells,” he grinned, tickling the boy's stomach.

“Stop Daddy.” The boy cried laughing. “Mama stop him.”

“No, he’ll just tickle me,” Nerlyn said. Raen squirmed and wiggled which made Nerlyn laugh as Raen tried to get comfortable again.

“Should I tickle Mama too?” K'ron threatened with a grin as he caught both of them up in his arms. “Or I can just kiss you both silly,” he teased, kissing his son and mate.

”No…” the little boy only accepted a couple of kisses before he ran off to his bedroom.

“I’d like that though,” Nerlyn assured softly as he kissed her cheek.

He laughed as Raen wiggled away and ran. “I can certainly do that,” he whispered, leaning back to kiss her properly.

Nerlyn wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. “Sorry, I zoned out then. I was thinking about camping there with D’eng as he wanted to investigate the instruments for Smith Hall.” She whispered kissing him again before she scooted back to where she had been sitting before he had grabbed her up.

“It's okay,” he assured her. “Really? Did you find anything?” K'ron leaned into her kiss before she pulled back and scooted back to her spot..

“I just sat there and drew. It was just a place to go and relax for me. It was… it was my place when I could not come home from going between times. Sometimes I was just … I was exhausted and I just used to rest there.” She sighed and got up gathering the drawings from the desk before returning to him.

“I never realized that,” K'ron said gently. There was apparently a lot he didn't know. “I'm glad you had someplace to go.” .”

“Why would you? I wanted a life with you without losing myself.” She wondered quietly stopping mid step as she realised that she had still lost herself anyway. “And I wanted to tell you but I just did not want to bring it up. I wanted to forget so that knowledge died with me.” She sighed looking a little lost as she glanced towards her son's bedroom making sure he was distracted enough.

“Oh Ner,” he said gently, gesturing her over to him. “I do wish though I could have helped.” He understood why she did it but it hurt knowing he couldn't do anything.

“And you would have been as messed up as me. You are amazing. You are a wing leader whose dragon wins queen flights and all of that potential would have been wasted.” Nerlyn said coming back over to him so her voice did not carry she slowly sat back holding the sketches in her lap. She looked at him. “I loved you too much to drag you down with me.”

He gently tugged her back against his side. “I thank you for the thought. I really do. And i Iove you, but you know you can tell me anything.” K'ron kissed her hair. He loved her to pieces.

“I know but that was then…” She explained sadly. “And I was ashamed of it all. How destructive it made me and you deserved better yet wanted me.” She shrugged as he felt his arms around her and his kisses in her salty hair.

There had been a time like that but it had never stopped him from loving her. “From here on out, no secrets,” the bronze rider whispered. “We're in this together.” He was never leaving her.

“Once Raen is asleep we will finish this.” She whispered back as she saw the little boy watching from his bed.

K'ron followed his mate's gaze, smiling when he saw Raen. The boy looked a bit confused and he couldn't blame him. K'ron and Nerlyn probably weren't making any sense to him.

Raen slowly came out knowing he had been caught watching but Nerlyn held out her hand to him and gathered him up onto her lap and just held him close. “Are we all hungry?” She wondered as her stomach growled to indicate she was.

“I am definitely hungry,” K'ron agreed as Raen joined them. He smiled at his son to let him know all was good.

“Well settled then if Daddy is hungry and mummy is …Raen has to be.” Nerlyn commented with a laugh.

“I am.” He said laughing at the sounds from Nerlyn’s stomach.

K'ron chuckled. “Then it sounds like we're off to the dining cavern.”

Nerlyn smiled as she slowly got to her feet and set the boy down on his feet as she offered her hand toK’ron. “Lead the way, bronze rider.”

“Lead the way daddy!” The boy repeated laughing at the way his mummy said bronze rider. She always called him that and it made him laugh.

K'ron chuckled as he took Nerlyn’s hand. “Of course,” he answered, holding his other hand down to Raen before leading the way.