KH:: Reminders Of The Last Gather

Posted on Sat Apr 26th, 2025 @ 7:58pm by Gold Rider Lana & Green Rider Calarya & Bronze Rider A'ren & Brown Rider G'van

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D29

Calarya grinned as she saw A’ren walking towards her, looking determined. They were still on awkward terms after the argument and then flight but Calarya was trying her best to be the Weyrleaders best friend and second in command but she drew the line really at having to attend the ball but somehow she was there and G’van had abandoned her to discuss something healer related with I’han and a friend of his so that left her standing in the shadows trying to almost blend in but she had been spotted by the man. “Hello.” She greeted as the Weyrleader reached her.

A'ren had left Lana to talk with the Lord Holders and others while he mingled a bit. He spotted Calarya and headed that direction. “Hello,” he said as he got closer.

“Shouldn’t you be rubbing shoulders with Holders and crafters? Keeping the Weyrwoman out of trouble?” She wondered, trying not to sound as cold and aloof as she knew she had been recently. She had survived the day so far, so it was going okay so far in her opinion; no one had shot her with an arrow so far.

A'ren raised a brow at his wing second. She wasn't normally snippy like that. “Lana is fine, and I have been. Am I not allowed to check on my wing second?” he asked.

The woman shrugged, seeing his raised eyebrow and took a long, deep breath. “Do not need checking on.” She assured him quickly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

He frowned. Shards, she wasn't being herself at all. “Then I apologize. I did not mean anything by it.”

Calarya rolled her eyes at the frown. “Return to the Weyrwoman A’ren. I am not in the mood today.” She sighed. She did not want to get into it with him when she was already worrying G’van with her unease at being there.

“Calarya,” he said gently. “What is going on?” He had never seen her so nasty before. Even times when she had every right to be with him. This was definitely not a good side of her.

The woman looked up at him at the way he said her name and shook her head. “Just walk away, A’ren. Just go bother someone else. I will be fine when I am home.” She said firmly, keeping her voice calm and composed even as she turned away and down the goblet of wine she had been given.

A'ren narrowed his eyes, not at all impressed with her actions. “Fine,” he growled. he was Not standing there all night arguing with her. If she was going to be that wherryheaded let G'van deal with her.

Before he could move away, Lana joined the pair, looping her arm through A’ren’s. “There you are. Hello Calarya.” Lana greeted feeling the tension instantly between the pair, and looked between them both. What was going on? They were normally the best of friends?

“Weyrwoman… the Weyrleader was just about to come looking for you

A'ren remained tense even after Lana looped her arm through his. He wanted Calarya to talk a bit so he could help, but she was completely shutting him out. “I was,” he answered simply.

Lana squeezed his arm as she lay her hand on his forearm.

“That is okay. I am trying to escape the Lord Holder of Southern Hold, so I came to track you down as you obviously needed me.” Lana whispered, smiling sweetly at the pair as Calarya looked at Lana.

“Yes, I did,” he whispered back. He was not happy with his wing second, and he was trying to be nice and enjoy this time. The Gather was going well, and he didn't want to mess it up.

“I am sure without…” Calarya started before Lana held up her free hand.

“Stop… you are laying it on thick Calarya,” Lana said softly. “What is going on, you two?” She wondered, trying to work out the tension.

A'ren just stared his wingsecond down. He had only come over to say hello and make sure she was okay and she got mad. He wasn't sure how to explain that one.

“It’s on me, Weyrwoman. I am not feeling myself right now. I wanted to be alone, and the Weyrleader was being… well, him and checking on me.” Calarya said, avoiding the man’s gaze. She knew that he was staring at her, demanding her attention,n but she had been his wing second for long enough that she knew when he would be.

He nodded. That was true. He had just been worried about her. He wasn't wherrybrained enough to forget the last Gather, which was why he was worried. He knew if he tried to say something, he would probably regret it.

“Come on, let's get some air,” Lana said gently, unlooping her arm from A’ren’s to wrap her arm around Calarya’s shoulder leading her from the crowded grand hall to a courtyard where the woman could breathe. Calarya finally looked at A’ren, looking pained and confused as she moved to sit on a bench and just breathed.

A'ren just followed quietly. Lana seemed to have this one in hand. He was still trying to figure out just what to say that wouldn't come out wrong and make her more upset. He did try to give Calarya a reassuring smile.

“Talk to her like Weyrleader, and I will go get some wine and G’van.” Lana soothed softly, looking at Calarya concerned. She was the one who kept A’ren focused, but it seemed like this gather was throwing her composure off.

He nodded, knowing not to argue with Lana. Once she walked away, he sat down by his wingsecond. “I'm sorry if I got too pushy. I was just worried about you,” he said softly.

Calarya looked at him and sighed. “You do not need to be worried about me, A’ren. I am wingsecond not your mate.” She said softly, trying not to be angry or push him away. She did not want to fight with him.

“Which is why I worry about you. You are my wing second and best friend,” he pointed out. She had been his friend for Turns and he wanted to be sure she was okay.

“But it doesn’t mean you get to have frown lines over me. You have enough worries that I should not be adding to them.” She said, shifting a little along the bench so there was a respectful gap between them as people walked nearby.

“You sound like Lana now. She told me I'm not allowed to worry about her either.” He shook his head a bit. “And I thank you, but you are my friend, and I am going to worry whether you like it or not.”

Calarya stayed quiet for a long moment before she shook her head. “Because we know you have more worries than what you know what to do with, " she said quietly, turning it onto him to talk instead of her own fears. She could not show them to anyone, especially him.

The Weyrleader shook his head. Yes, he had a lot of other worries on his shoulders, but that didn't mean he wouldn't worry about the ones he cared about. “I know, I know,” he sighed.

“So other than me… what is your biggest worry?” She wondered as she felt Leith stirring in her mind, sending her support and reminding her that the green was always there for her.

He glanced over at her, wondering how things just got turned on him. “Nothing you need to worry about,” he assured her. There was no sense in throwing more on her..

“And this is why we aren’t working right now. We are not sharing.” Calarya whispered sadly, realising why they had been at loggerheads for the last sevendays even after Leith’s flight.

He blew out a breath, not having really thought about it until Calarya mentioned it. “I think you are right,” A'ren agreed. “When did we start doing that?”

“I do not know.” She admitted with a shrug. She did not know when it had happened, but it had been slowly creeping into them and their relationship.

A'ren ran a hand through his sandy hair. “I don't like it. I miss our conversations.” He knew he could always rely on Calarya, and they had nearly messed it up.

“Maybe you should swap me with another wingsecond or put me back into the ranks.” She said, gently trying to think of a situation to help. It was not his fault that she was struggling with being at a gather and taking it out on people.

He looked over at her in disbelief. “Not a chance, green rider. You are my wing second, and nothing is going to change that.” He wasn't giving Calarya up. He needed and relied on her.

“I am pretty useless right now. I want to be anywhere other than right here.” She pointed out, thinking of the scar on her thigh, then and there and why she had been so all over the place.

A'ren nodded in understanding. “Then go back to the Weyr,” he said gently. “You don't have to be here.” He knew being here wasn't good for her.

Calarya shook her head. “But… I a…am your second. Won’t it look strange?” She wondered, looking up at him, surprised that he was giving her a get out card. He was a stickler for diplomacy and how the holders must view the Weyr in a positive light.

He shook his head. “Not tonight and not after last time,” he answered. “Lana and I are here, as are Jena and the other wingleaders. Go home if that is what you need. I completely understand.” He was not going to make her stay.

Calarya stood as Lana appeared carrying several glasses and a skin of wine. She stopped as she watched the pair and hoped that G’van would find them. “You understand?” She asked going for some reassurance.

A'ren quickly got up to help Lana with the glasses. He was guessing G'van wasn't far behind her. He looked over at his wing second. “Do you not think I remember the last Gather? I do not blame you at all for wanting to go back to the Weyr.”

Calarya shrugged a little as Lana poured her a glass and handed it to her. “Drink it and settle your nerves, please, wingsecond,” Lana said firmly but kindly. “We remember, and we thought you were okay. If you had spoken up, we would have excused you from your duties.”

“But…”

“There is no buts, Calarya.” Lana interrupted.

Lana was right. A'ren had thought Calarya was doing okay. He had guessed that wrong.

G'van walked up a few minutes later. “Everything okay?” He asked.

“Calarya is ready to go home.” The Weyrwoman stated softly as she watched the green rider sip on wine and stare up at the sky. “I think she has had enough.”

G'van sighed when he saw the look on his mate's face. He had been afraid it would be too much for her. “I'll make sure she gets home safely,” he assured the Weyleaders, walking over to Calarya.

A'ren glanced at Lana. How had they not known Calarya was still having such issues?