RCW You need Sleep

Posted on Thu Apr 23rd, 2026 @ 1:26pm by Gold Rider Lana & Bronze Rider A'ren

Mission: 3531 AL

A'ren blew out an exhausted sigh as he grabbed a skin of wine and headed for Lana's office. No one could ever say they had a dull moment. He jogged up the steps and knocked on her door before pushing it open.

“Lana?”

Lana looked down from where she was stood on her desk trying to rearrange the shelves. “Hello Weyrleader.” She said, raising an eyebrow at the expression on his face. “You look exhausted?” She wondered picking up several more books to put them back.

He raised a brow when he saw her up on her desk. “Need a hand?” He offered. He certainly hadn't expected her to be up on her desk when he walked in. “A bit. just a lot going on.”

Lana grinned at the confusion and raised an eyebrow at the wine skin. He really must have had a bad day to come search her out. “Not at all. You drink and talk whilst I finish up?” She offered picking up another book to put up high out of the way. It was one of the books she had brought back from the north but she did not want them easily accessible.

The Weyrleader slid into one of the empty seats, pouring himself a glass of wine. “Just trying to sort through everything that has happened,” he explained. He still couldn't stop thinking about K'ron and Nerlyn.

“A lot of it is my problems and not yours.” Lana commented gently as she slowly put the books back. It was a bigger glass than she expected but he looked a little broken right now.

“Which makes them mine,” he pointed out as he took a sip of wine. He ran a hand through his sandy hair feeling exhausted. ted.

“They do not need to be A’ren.” She said, thinking of other Weyrleader pairings and the separation of duties. “I am strong enough to carry my burdens handsome.” She added knowing she had done it when F’cone was Weyrleader.

A'ren frowned a bit. “I never doubted that,” he assured her. He knew she could handle things. “But we are a team and a lot of these things affect a lot of other things.”

“So the first problem?” She wondered softly turning on the desk, grinning a little at him as she noticed his hair all over the place from where he had run his hand through his hair.

“K'ron and Nerlyn,” he sighed, sipping on his wine again. Those two were a huge problem in themselves. selves.

“Ah…” She put the book down and sighed. It was something that was bothering her too. She could feel the strain on him from there. “Come here…” she held out her hands to him waiting for him to come over to her.

A'ren slowly pushed out of his chair and walked over to his mate. Things were hard and he wanted to make sure his riders were all safe. He finally took her hands, his shoulders slumped slightly.

The woman smiled as she wrapped his arms around her as she pressed against his and wrapped her legs around him making him think a lot quicker to make sure she didn’t fall. “You are doing your best A’ren.” She soothed running her hands through his hair.

He blinked a bit in surprise as she tangled herself around him. He quickly wrapped his arms around her to keep her from falling. “Doesn't always feel that way,” He admitted.

“I know but K’ron and Nerlyn have to figure out some things about themselves too just like we did.” She whispered grinning at the surprise on his face as she threw herself at him. “Nerlyn came to the meeting last night.” She reminded thinking of how Tula had brought the woman into the meeting in different ways. It was insightful to how hard working Nerlyn was.

“True,” he agreed before smiling a bit. It had been a while since she had done that to him. “That's true. Leave it to Tula. Hopefully that problem will sort itself out.”“

“When you lost the Weyrleadership… I think that’s how Nerlyn feels but there is no end to it and she doesn’t have Zaraminth.” Lana said running her hands through his hair to soothe that hard time in their lives. “She’s lost the place she has had for her whole life. Me and Tula spoke long into the night after the meeting.”

A'ren closed his eyes at her touch through his hair. “Oh,” he said softly. That made a bit more sense to him. No wonder poor Nerlyn was having issues. At least he could put that awful time behind him. “Did you guys come up with anything?” He asked softly.

“Tula has gone to get to teach weyrbrats to swim,” It was pretty ingenious in Lana’s opinion. It needed to happen but getting Nerlyn involved was giving her a place again. “And Nerlyn has to come to the nightly women of lower cavern meeting to give over information about weather and oceans for the following day that normally Master Jameas would do but Tula has declared that Nerlyn can do it as he has other tasks he can do other than flirting with her.” Lana held up her hands innocently to state that it was all Tula before clutching the man again relishing he was holding her close.

A'ren listened to their plans. It sounded like a good idea and one he couldn't really see Nerlyn turning down. It was something she was very good at. “Well it seems like you have both figured it out,” he smiled tiredly, still holding her close.

“So that eases your burden a little, Weyrleader?” She wondered still seeing the exhaustion that signaled she was going to have to put him to bed soon and see if an early night helped him.

“A bit,” he agreed. “Thank you for doing that.” He kissed her hair. “At least hopefully they will be able to get back on the right path.”

“And what other worries do you have? Other than that, you can put me down before you fall over with me.” She grinned smiling knowing he carried far heavier things than her at points and for longer times.

“They' were my big ones. Also trying to sort out this timing thing and those ruins,” he sighed. A'ren lifted a brow. “What if I don’t want to put you down?” He asked innocently.

Lana said nothing connected to the ruins and timing other than nod. She did not want to get into that tunnel snake nest. “Then you can’t complain your arms hurt later,” Lana said squeezing her legs around him a little.

Yeah he really needed to not touch that one. It was a lot to think through. “Wasn't planning to,” he promised, resting his head against hers.

Lana gripped him closer as he leaned his head against hers. “Good.” She breathed looking into his eyes. “You need sleep my love.” She hinted.

He groaned softly as he just held her close. for just a few moments he didn’t want to think. He just wanted to be and hold his mate. “I know,” he finally admitted reluctantly.

“Why don’t you go to bed. Take a drop of fellis and just get some rest.” She advised softly. She still had candlemarks of things she needed to do but if he could get an early night it would certainly help his spirits.

A'ren hesitated. He knew she still had work to do and if he could help maybe she could get some rest too. “I could help you finish up,” he offered. red.

“No need. You need sleep and I did not get up until a little later than you and I have not had drills or anything.” Lana felt like she had plenty of energy. “It’s okay to rest Weyrleader.” She whispered in his head as if she was sharing a secret.

He really wanted to argue but instead of arguing all he could manage was a yawn. “okay,” he finally groaned in defeat.

“Thank you. So now you need to put me down A’ren.” She grinned at the fact he was still holding her close with her arms and legs around him. She could not help but admire his strength.

He laughed tiredly. “Maybe I'll just take you with me,” he tempted. Although he knew she had work to do, but it didn't stop him from trying.

“And you would not have the strength to do anything with me once you took me with you.” She laughed at him and the fact he was just putting it off now. She was tempted but she really wanted to finish up to clear her schedule for Jena no longer being as involved in weyr life with her queens clutch happening any day.

“Unfortunately I have to agree,” he grumbled. He was exhausted and even if he did take Lana with him he would probably fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. “Fine. I'll go to bed,” he said, sitting her back on the desk.

“Thread free dreams Weyrleader.” Lana giggled as he popped her on her desk and she leaned back just watching him. He had so wanted to have wine with her and just relax but here she was sending him to bed.

A’ren’s shoulders were still a bit slumped as he slowly turned to head for their weyr. “I'll be back later on,” he promised.

“No, you won’t,” Lana called after him as she jumped off her desk and looked around at the chaos that she needed to reorganise before the evening meeting. She could not wait to get to bed and snuggle up against the man now just knowing that he would be there when she was ready for bed.

He just shook his head. She might be right. He was nearly asleep on his feet.