I beg you are pardon

Posted on Sat Nov 29th, 2025 @ 3:44pm by Gold Rider Lana & Bronze Rider A'ren

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M3 D22

Lana sighed as she stretched back on her chair trying to get the knot of her neck but nothing she did was going to get rid of it. She had left the cavern candlemarks ago in an attempted to try and catch up on what Jena had been up to but had been unsuccessful even as her door opened and she looked up at the only person who would come in without knocking. “Hello Weyrleader.” She greeted gently.

When A'ren woke by himself he wasn't exactly surprised. That was Lana. he got dressed quickly and headed to the dining cavern to grab two mugs of klah. He then headed for Lana’s office, pushing the door open. “Well Hello to you too.”

“Someone finally woke up.” She teased. It was barely sunrise on a non thread day. She suspected he had cancelled drills until she was back so there was really no reason for him to be up. “And you brought klah I hope.”

He raised a brow before holding up the mugs. “Of course. And I got cold. Someone left too early and took all the heat,” A'ren chuckled, setting the steaming mug in front of Lana.

“Thank you.” She said wrapping her hands around the mug and looked up at him in front of her desk. “Are you going to sit Weyrleader or just complain that you were cold?” She challenged grinning at him.

“Hmm I haven't decided yet,” he chuckled, sliding into the opposite seat. He sipped on his own klah. “So, why are you up so early?”

Lana smiled as he sat opposite her. It felt strange for them to be sat like this, it had been a very long time since this had happened. It had happened before A’ren had become Weyrleader and when she was Weyrling. “I could not sleep so I have been up several candlemarks.” She admitted.

A'ren yawned a bit before sipping on his klah again. This was a nice change. Usually they were off doing something. “Love, you do need sleep,” he pointed out with a grin.
Lana smiled at him as he called her love, she loved when he called her that. “I am fully aware that I need sleep but I cannot sleep. My mind is whirling. I sent K’vin to bed around the 4th candlemark and I sat with K’ron for a little bit and then I came here to see what Jena had been up to.” She indicated the pile of paperwork

A'ren blinked. That was a lot of paperwork. He knew gold riders had a lot but shards. “How is K'ron?” He asked. He knew Nerlyn was going crazy while she sat by his cot.

“Not awake but I am sure he will be soon. His wound is not infected.” Lana said quietly, looking guilty again as she took a couple of sips of the klah.

“That's a positive,” he said. He shook his head as he looked over at his mate. “None of this was your fault,” A'ren said gently. “I know I acted like a wherryhead when you got back but you really couldn't have prevented this.”

“No.” Lana said quietly. “Everything you said was the truth.” The Weyrwoman hated to admit that but it was. He was 100% correct in everything that he had said. She shook her head. “I need to work to earn that trust back from you and K’ron and V’ros. I should have never forced any of us to do this.”

“You thought you were doing what was best and you did learn some things while you were there.” He still hadn't liked it but he understood why she had done it. He had just hoped that his worries had been unfounded instead of being true.

Lana shrugged. Even so she had a lot of guilt over it and it would take a little bit of time to get over it all even with A’ren and Kalaith’s insistences. “We did learn.” She sighed, rubbing her eyes, taking her glasses off to do so.

A'ren reached over to squeeze her hand. He knew she felt guilty, he could see it on her face. “Hey,” he said gently. “It's okay. We're all safe back home.”

Lana stopped and looked at him trying to help her feel better. “Only just. I am not a child or Weyrling, I should know better.” Lana said cross at herself.

The Weyrleader had to bite his tongue. He had tried to warn her but now wasn't the time to point that out. “it's okay,” he said gently. “We'll all get through it.”

“It’s not A’ren. But … I want to try it. I want to try timing.” Lana said gently knowing he was about to get angry at her again for risking herself. But she was the only one who could try it who she would not feel guilty about if they failed. “S’cir explained to me how they do it.”

A'ren blinked, not sure he had heard her right. “Excuse me?” He asked, studying his mate. She couldn't be serious. “You want to do what?” He asked slowly, hoping he had heard her wrong.

“You heard me. Don’t make me lie and be deceitful. I do not mean today as I am too tired but I do want to learn how to do it.” Lana said having changed her views seeing how the north had used it without trouble.

“No,” A'ren said. “Absolutely not. Going north was one thing. I can not let you do this though. The Weyr needs you.” He blew out a breath. Why was she so determined to try this wherrybrained idea?

Lana sighed. “Okay.” She crumpled a little under his gaze and the brewing anger. “But what makes you think I would not be able to do it or I would get lost? I have gone between 1000’s of times?” Lana wondered softly trying to work out why he was so sure it was a bad thing when it was done by the north. Lana could really now understand why Nerlyn had done what she had thought best.

He scrubbed at his face in frustration. “I have no doubt you can,” he pointed out. She was stubborn enough and he knew she would figure it out. “But do you think now is really a good time to even consider it? K'ron has been injured, the Weyr is still upset, and we now have a new gold weyrling to teach as well. We can not risk our senior Weyrwoman even if I have every confidence you can do it.”

“I know. I said I did not mean today or even this sevenday but I want to try,” Lana said knowing he was trying to take a different tact with her than yelling at her. She had to admit that it deflated her stubbornness instantly compared to last night.

A'ren frowned. Apparently he wasn't going to get anywhere with this argument. He was trying to figure out how to reason with her and not get her angry. “Why don’t I try it?” He finally offered. It wasn't ideal but at least if anything happened they wouldn't lose their Weyrwoman.

“No! And leave the Weyr at mercy of F’cone.” Lana shot back and rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not considering it now. Laily needs support, Jena is amazing and has really stepped up. But I would be foolish to leave her alone with Zalyith about to clutch. I am just telling you my mind.”

He raised his hands quickly, not having expected that kind of reaction. Okay yes F'cone as Weyrleader again would not be good. he slowly nodded. “Alright, alright. For now neither of us will consider it. The Weyr needs us too much.”

Lana put her mug down and sighed, shaking her head at him looking at the desk. “It does. Some days too much.” She assured wishing she was not needed as much as it did need her some days. She looked at him trying to be the peacekeeper and keep things calm.

He blew out a breath. She was right. There were definitely days that they were needed more than others. “Guess we should enjoy this quiet time while we can,” he said softly.

“I guess so.” She mused picking up the klah mug and took several large gulps wishing it was hot again. “Maybe I should go back to bed.” She sighed rubbing her eyes again wondering if that was why she was picking fights with the man.

A'ren nodded. “That might be a good idea. It's still early and nothing is going on in the Weyr today,” he said gently. She still looked exhausted to him, but he wouldn't make her go to bed.

“If that changes please let me know.” Lana nodded and slowly pushed herself to her feet. She downed the rest of the klah knowing it would do nothing for her. She moved around her desk and pressed a kiss to his lips for the first time in days.

“Of course,” he assured. He would wake her up if the need really arose. He leaned into her gentle kiss, having missed her. “Sleep well, love.”

Lana said nothing more fearing if she said anything it would descend into another argument so wisely just decided to caress his cheek and escape with one more stolen kiss. They could talk more later on.