M3 Confronting the Weyrlingmaster 2nd

Posted on Sat Nov 29th, 2025 @ 3:49pm by Bronze Rider V'ros & Bronze Rider A'ren & Analees

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M3 D21

Analees crept down to the infirmary. She had left Rosan at the creche for a bit while she checked on V'ros. She knew he was back and she also knew he wasn’t going to leave K'ron in such an uncertain state so she decided to make sure both riders were okay.

“V'ros?” Analees asked softly, moving toward the cot.

V’ros looked up from where he had been debating moving Nerlyn who was curled up against him sedated and smiled. “You are a sight for sore and weary eyes.” He whispered holding out his hand to her.

The dark haired woman smiled when she saw her mate and walked over to twine her fingers through his. “I wanted to make sure you were holding up alright.”

“I am looking after…” He indicated Nerlyn curled between him and the wall and then K’ron on the cot. “I have no idea how this happened but I am holding up okay. Just tired,” He assured tugging her closer.

“I knew you would still be down here after I heard.” Analees smiled as he tugged her closer. “Do you need anything?” She asked, kissing his hair.

“Sorry I should have come to see you but I am still covered in blood and I could not leave him.” He said looking at the bronze rider. He wrapped an arm around her waist.

“It's okay,” Analees assured him. “I understand. That's why I left Ros at the creche.” She gave her mate a gentle smile, leaning against him. “You’re a good man.”

“I am trying.” The man said quietly before he sighed softly. He let the woman go and slowly turned to lift Nerlyn into his arms and lay her on the cot opposite K’ron. He turned back and wrapped the woman properly in his arms. “She was sedated as she threw a few punches.”

Analees cringed when V'ros said about Nerlyn throwing punches. “I honestly can't blame her,” she answered, snuggling against V'ros. “I would have seen the same thing if it had been you.”

“Me either. It took me back though.” The man cringed for a moment before he relaxed against Analees. “Hopefully I never give you that worry.” He hoped not at all wanting to do that to her.

“I hope so too,” She agreed. They had gone through enough with Dragon Hold and her brother. Analees didn't want to lose V'ros now. “How are they?” She finally asked.

“K’ron has a long road to recovery with a shoulder wound but Nerlyn will wake up in a few candlemarks.” He assured leading her out of the alcove to the small healer station.

Analees glanced back at the injured bronze rider. She knew all about knife wounds unfortunately. She had seen her fair share in Dragon Hold, but at least Nerlyn would wake up soon. She quietly followed V'ros, staying close to his side.

“The Weyrwoman made us come back here and we had to leave her. I am still waiting for the Weyrleader to come and tare me apart.” He breathed leaning down to kiss her forehead. He should jot have left her there but she had been so insistent and the blood had been everywhere.

Analees closed her eyes. No wonder V'ros was on edge. “She'll be okay. Kalaith won't let anything happen to her. Surely the Weyrleader will see that.” Well once he calmed down anyhow.

“I like to think so but he sent me away once.” He winced thinking on how angry A’ren had been with him and it hadn’t even involved Lana.

She listened quietly, knowing he was worried. “It will be okay. Surely the Weyrwoman will be back soon.”

“She has been given until tomorrow at sunset or he is sending more riders to retrieve her.” V’ros said quietly, feeling on edge over it all. Be could not let the man bleed out.

Analees nodded. “Then there is nothing we can do until then.” She turned and leaned up to kiss him. “You did right. You listened to your Weyrwoman and may have saved K'ron's life.”

The woman was completely right but it did not mean that he had to like it. He still just wanted to get his dressing down over with and go to bed. “Not now anyway.” he sighed. “How have you been for the last 2 days?” He wondered quietly.

“Feeling a bit better finally,” she admitted. “Ros has been keeping me busy.” She had done her best to keep busy but night time was hard. She really missed V'ros then.

“Glad to hear.” He had not wanted to leave when she was feeling still on edge but he had no choice. “What are you doing now?” He wondered softly, stroking her hair out of her face. He knew he was unlikely to be coming to bed that night but he wanted to know what she was up too.

She shrugged a shoulder. “Nothing tonight. I have the evening free so I'll probably just pick Rosan up and spend time with him.” She closed her eyes at his gentle touch. “I'm glad you're back.”

The man was glad to get back even if he was sitting guarding a friend. “As am I. I am relieved that I am home where people don’t glare at me or threaten to stab me over spilled porridge.”

Analees sighed softly. “Now that sounds like how I grew up. Never thought riders would act like that.” It was hard to believe that any rider would want to hurt another.

“Riders can be a rowdy lot without strong leadership.” The man admitted softly feeling bad that she was finding out what could have happened here without Lana.

Analees blinked in surprise. “Really?” She asked softly. She hadn’t realized that. She knew the Weyrleaders were important. She just didn't know how important.

“Yeah. No strong Weyrwoman. No strong Weyr.” V’ros smiled. “Why M’nor went after her.” He said knowing there were a few more factors but that was the basic version.

Analees shuttered at that name. She had always tried to avoid that man like the plague. “The poor Weyrwoman.”

“Yet she persists.” The man said, smiling fondly. It was why he knew she should have stayed at High Reaches to sort out the situation. She had a high standard and it went to every aspect of her as a Queen Rider.

The woman smiled a bit. “Good for her.” She had never met anyone quite like Lana that was for sure. And it was good. Lana was a good person and Pern needed more like her.

“Jena is very much like her too but she still has a few turns to grow and …” He did not quite know the word he was looking for so shrugged. “… why Queen riders are important to a functioning Weyr.” He planted a kiss on her forehead softly.

Analees looked up at him, not quite sure what word he was missing. Despite living at the Weyr there was still a lot she didn't know or understand. “So that's why K'ron was hurt? High Reaches doesn't have strong leadership?”

“Yeah. Their riders are all bundles of anxiety and fear. They only have a weyrling queen who is six months old or so.” He said, smiling down at her as she tried to understand it all.

She tried to process everything that V'ros was explaining to her. “Six months?” She asked in surprise. She knew that wasn’t very old at all.

“Exactly. She won’t graduate weyrlinghood for another turn and half and she is so young.” V’ros truly felt sorry for the girl wishing there was more he could do for her but there was very little.

“Shards. That's awful,” Analees said softly. That poor girl. “Will she be okay there?” She asked. She snuggled against V'ros, glad he was back.

“I don’t know but I can’t help her now. I gave some advice to the Weyrling staff there from my experience with Lana but she was already an adult when it happened here. We just had to wait for Kalaith to rise.” He said quietly, smiling at her snuggling close to him. He ran his hand down her back before settling on her hips.

She nodded a bit. She knew he really couldn’t do anything but that poor girl. “Hopefully that helps,” Analees whispered, squeezing his arm a bit.

“Hopefully, but I dread to think what Lana is doing to organise that Weyr,” He murmured as he glanced up and saw the Weyrleader walking in his direction.

Analees cringed a bit. She felt bad for Lana. It was a lot. She looked up quickly when she felt V'ros tense. “Weyrleader,” she said ely. politely

V’ros stepped back and looked at the man. He had faced the man many times, but this time he knew he was in a grey area of whose order he should have listened to. “Sir.”

Analees nearly lost her balance as V'ros moved. She quickly steadied herself.

A'ren watched the two. “You left her there,” he said, stating a fact not a question.

V’ros wished he could have helped Analees but he was wishing more than anything she would leave the pair to it so he didn't have to be ripped apart in front of her. “Yes. She ordered me too, Sir.” V’ros said quickly.

A'ren frowned a bit, clearly not liking it. “Kalaith grounded Zarminath so Lana must be okay. She better be okay,” he warned lowly, glancing at Analees who looked totally confused.

V’ros frowned himself as he had never been threatened by the Weyrleader. “Ana .. you better go. I’ll see you later.” V’ros whispered softly. The man glanced at her giving her a smile.

Analees hesitated, glancing at the Weyrleader. She didn't like it. She leaned up and kissed V'ros. “Okay,” she finally agreed.

The Weyrlingmaster 2nd smiled a little at the man and nodded at her. He waited until Analees was gone before he turned and looked at the Weyrleader. “We both know that she is fine.” The man said firmly.

Analees reluctantly left. A'ren folded his arms. “Perhaps but someone should be there with her,” he said lowly. He was sure Lana was safe but what really bothered him was not being able to be there with her.

“You sent the person you trust other than Calarya.” V’ros reminded the man that I’han had been sent with Neilla and K’vin.

A'ren sighed in total frustration. It wasn’t so much V'ros he was angry with as the fact that Lana wouldn't let him come. “I should be there.”

“So should I but I am grounded too. I am guessing Caladoth is too?” The man commented seeing the frustration written all over the man’s face. He was worried about his mate. e.

A'ren nodded a bit. Who didn't Lana ground? “It seems most of us are,” he grumbled. He wanted to go after Lana so badly, just to make sure she was okay.

“At least I’han and K’vin are sensible and there.” I’han and Lana went way back and K’vin was more sensible than any rider V’ros had met from the north after the last 10 turns.

The Weyrleader slowly nodded. V'ros was right but it didn’t mean he had to like it. “She should have let me go with her.” He knew it was impossible but it didn't mean he couldn't think it.

“And what would you have done A’ren?” V’ros dared to use his name for a moment taking the stigma of the conversation between Weyrleader and Weyrlingmaster 2nd away.

The Weyrleader growled in frustration. “I don't know but at least I would have been there.” That's the thing that really bothered him. He hadn't been there.

“You are not Weyrleader there. You would have gone in upset that Weyrleader and rocked the already highly strung Weyr.” He hated how it went down and how he had to leave Lana behind. “If I could have stayed I would have A’ren. But she was safe, their Weyrleader looked mortified as did everyone else.”

A'ren scrubbed a frustrated hand through his hair. He could see what V'ros meant and it wouldn't have been good. It didn't mean he didn't want Lana back home. “He should have been. That kind of action never should have happened.”

“It should not have that’s for sure. He won’t try anything now but he did not seem interested before all of this. Very restrained and quiet.” V’ros admitted gently.

The Weyrleader looked up at V'ros, the blue in his eyes still simmering. “He's not handling the Weyrwoman's loss well, is he?” A'ren knew he would fall apart without Lana.

“It is different for them, A'ren. If we lose our Weyrwoman we have an adult queen rider. They do not.” V’ros reminded him softly. “There is a lot of resentment that there is not a council or bronze riders.”

He slowly nodded. “You do have a point.” A'ren feared that Lana would stay to help High Reaches. She was a kind soul like that.

V’ros did but it did not mean he wanted to just throw it at the man like he was. “They have a young weyrling. They have honour that doesn’t allow them to open the Weyr open to junior queens to duke it out for Weyrwoman status.” V’ros could see all the emotions weyrling behind A’ren’s eyes.

A'ren was surprised by that realization. “Really? How young is she?” Maybe there was a way they could help High Reaches. It would just take some time to sort through.

“16.” V’ros said. They both knew her dragon would not rise for a few more turns in her first mating flight. “I think they are having as many problems with searches as we are. We all knew she was young but I thought she was of ages. It’s not often a queen dragonet picks someone so young.”

The Weyrleader cringed. That was young for a gold rider. “It seems like it. No, normally the queens have more of a choice. That poor girl.” He couldn't imagine what she was going through.

“She would be fine with a senior pairing but much like us here we have low queen numbers.” The Weyrlingmaster commented and shrugged. “Lana will do her duty and then come back by sunset like you have ordered.” V’ros was sure of that.

A'ren nodded. Candidate numbers were going down and apparently that was the case everywhere. “I know. I just don't like her being there.” At least she had three riders there with her.

“She is more than likely sound asleep right now and it won’t be long till she is. Back.” V’ros assured hoping that things were now settled and he was not going to be yelled at any longer.

The Weyrleader blew out a breath. “Alright but if she is not back soon then I am going after her.” He didn't know how yet but he would figure out a way to do it.

“Good luck with that.” V’ros commented glancing back to where K’ron and Nerlyn were both passed out.

“Yeah true,” A'ren sighed. Zarminath was grounded. He just hoped he didn't have to find a way. He followed V'ros’ gaze. “How are they?”

“Alive. How is your chest from that punch?” V’ros decided to focus on the issue at River Cove and not the issues at High Reaches.

Well that was good at least. He raised a brow. “A bit bruised,” he finally smiled, thinking about the punch from Nerlyn. “Didn't realize she could swing like that.”

“Then you are lucky. My nose has never been the same since that flight I last won.” He murmured, wiggling his nose softly. “That little spark of her pre-becoming dragonless is still there in moments.”

A'ren actually laughed. The first laugh since Lana left. “It is good to see that side of her still.” He watched Nerlyn with K'ron. That woman had pulled through more than most.

“Even if it hurts.” V’ros sighed and sat down again in his seat. “I am going to stay with them to K’ron wakes up.” The Weyrlingmaster 2nd was not willing to leave them after everything that happened.

The Weyrleader nodded. “Let me know if you need anything. I do apologize for chasing your mate off.” A'ren hadn't really meant to lose his temper but he was worried sick about Lana

“I am just relieved you didn’t punch me. I was fully prepared.” V’ros knew A’ren was not that type of man but you just never knew when someone who you love is at risk.

A'ren blew out a soft breath. “I considered it but knew it wasn’t your fault. I know how Lana is and I know she would have ordered you back here with K'ron. Her riders always come first.”

“Well if you still feel like that once she is back we can spar or train together Weyrleader.” It was not something he did often, finding his tags filled enough with weight training and movement but if it stopped him getting punched he’d be willing.

“Maybe,” A'ren smiled. He hoped he didn't still feel ready to punch something but one never knew.

“Lana did what she had to do for the Weyr. She isn’t selfish like some Weyrwoman when this Weyr hasn’t flourished.” V’ros said hoping to temper some of the emotions the man was feeling.

A'ren nodded. He knew Lana always put the Weyr first. That was the part that worried him sometimes. “No, she has done everything to make River Cove flourish.”

“But you are worried she is flying too close to the Red Star?” V’ros said. He could see the worry and frustrations all over the man’s face and had since the between time issue had come to light.

“That obvious?” A'ren answered. He was trying to support Lana and what she wanted to do but he was scared too.

V’ros took a deep breath. “To me, yes.” He indicated Nerlyn, who was breathing steadily on the cot looking so small and frail compared to the woman she had once been. “I once loved a woman very similar.” He reminded as well as gave a warning to the Weyrleader.

A'ren blinked a bit. He had forgotten that V'ros had loved Nerlyn. Shards what a pair they made. “It's a lot isn't it?” He asked, watching Nerlyn and K'ron.

“It was but I was also not the right person for her.” The man added thoughtfully. K’ron and A’ren were the right people for their wild women. V’ros was more happy with Analees that was for sure.

He looked over at V'ros, knowing some of what the other man had gone through. Thankfully it appeared he was very happy now. “Nothing like finding that out the hard way.”

“It was going to happen.” V’ros laughed. He had just been a stop gap whilst Nerlyn and K’ron figured themselves out. “So take my advice… be careful.” He advised quietly.

A'ren wasn't surprised by those words. It had seemed like everyone knew Nerlyn and K'ron belonged together except for the two of them. He nodded. “Point taken.”

“I mean it Sir. Lana is not quite as wild but she is still… She would do something because she thought she should for the greater good.” V’ros said. “She has always done that even as a weyrling.”

He nodded, knowing V'ros was right. Lana would always put the Weyr first even if it meant her life. That part scared him. “Thank you. I will remember that.”

V’ros nodded. “I will continue my watch.” He said seeing the worrying and fear crossing the man’s eye but there was nothing he could do to help that.

“Is there anything you need while you wait?” A'ren offered, knowing he would probably just go back to his weyr and pace. There wasn’t much else he could do.

“Some klah and possibly if you can ask C’dan to retrieve some of my clothes from the barracks so I don’t have to bother Ana.” V’ros did not want to bother his mate anymore than he needed to.

A'ren nodded. “I can handle that,” he assured the other bronze rider. “Warm klah and clean clothes. I'll be back.”

V’ros nodded his thanks but said nothing else as he returned to watching over the pair. He would stay until the morning and someone else responsible could sit there properly.