The Aftermath (Mem)

[LyricalBlue]

As was his habit, E'dian was up with the sun. The light had just touched the weyr when his eyes fluttered open. For a moment he enjoyed the warmth spilling in on his face, then the previous day's... activities hit him. E'dian rolled his head to the side and sure enough, -she- was there. Red hair spilled over the pillows and the bronze rider took a long moment to admire the woman that lay there. What had he done... she was only a little older than his daughter.

E'dian rolled out of bed, still naked as the day he was born. A shiver ran down his spine, but not from cold. He'd never stayed with a woman before, he'd never really even consorted with them. It was too much trouble and they clouded your thoughts. Like... what was happening right now. He would have to talk to N'sian and soon, the old Weyrleader had probably already stepped down formally. But that didn't mean E'dian would not need his advice. Of course, N'sian would probably say that he had already been thoroughly trained and was more than ready. So, why was there this nagging at his gut?

Making his way across the large weyr, E'dian slipped on trousers previously discarded. He did not exactly regret what was going on, it was just, he had no idea how to handle a Weyrwoman. A green was one thing, if you hadn't left by morning, they most likely had. But a gold, the only other gold he'd known had been old enough to be his grandmother. And there were certainly no sexual tensions there.

He collapsed into the chair, sitting askew from the small table and glanced out at the pair of dragons on the ledge. Well, at least Xialanth was well satisfied. But then, a smug thought entered E'dian's mind, he should be. That had been a rather remarkable flight and after all, the best dragon had won.

Seeking unconscious escape from the quandry Gaelle presented to him, E'dian began to thumb through the stacks of Wing tactics in the scrolls in front of him. At least these things were easy for him, and the new Weyrleader was quickly lost in the work.

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle woke slowly two hours later. She had always enjoyed sleeping in and getting her rest. If she couldn't sleep late, she would go to bed early to compensate for the lost sleep. After adjusting her eyes and rubbing the sleep out, she rolled over and spotted E'dian across the weyr. A few moments passed and she figured out that he was looking over scrolls, though she couldn't see what they depicted. He seemed completely wrapped up.

Quietly, she stood up and wrapped the sheet around herself. Padding softly over to the table, she ran a hand through knotty red hair, gently working out the tangles. She sat down in the other chair, and looked at her lap. "Good morning, Weyrleader," she said, unsure of what else to say or how to feel.

Gaelle hadn't really known E'dian before. Aliath had spoken with Xialanth before, but there was no real interaction between the riders. Why Aliath chose Xialanth over Myneth, Gaelle would never know. And E'dian was, no doubt, fretting over the goldrider's young age. Sighing inwardly, she waited to listen to the Weyrleader.

[LyricalBlue]

He blinked and looked up, almost annoyed at the interruption. Why were they always both... oh, that's right. Hard gray eyes settled on the softer, almost worried looking ones and E'dian sighed. He sat up straight, suddenly conscious he was still shirtless. Not that Weyr was hard at all on that sort of thing, but it felt... strange.
"Good morning, my Weyrwoman."

Well, that sounded terrible. But what else was he to say, its not like they had spoken more than two or three times before the flight. He had been busy with the Wings and she with her studies, and of course a rapidly growing dragon. Right, what was there to say. E'dian fumbled for a moment, trying to figure out what to actually say. He couldn't recall the last time he'd stayed till dawn with any woman. Walking out on Gaelle though, was just wrong.

"Did you, ah, sleep well?" Well, that sounded rather foolish too. Nothing for it, though. What else was he going to ask. He certainly did not want to know if the previous encounter did not live up to expectations. At least for him, he was still reeling this morning from yesterday. And he was rather sore in a way he did not expect.

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle giggled aloud. E'dian was just as uncomfortable as she was! No wonder he had been studying the scrolls so hard, he just didn't want to make the situation more awkward. She stood up from the chair she had so recently taken and went to E'dian. "Yes, my Weyrleader, I slept well next to you," she said, placing her arms around his shoulders. It would be difficult to adjust to the mated life, but Gaelle was determined to be the best Weyrwoman, the one who got the Weyr through the bad times. Besides, she couldn't let them see her sweat.

She smiled, sincerely meaning the affection. "I'm sorry for my laugh, Sir, it just strikes me that we're both feeling awkward about...this situation." He had wonderful eyes, very expressive. The irritation at his work being interrupted, she had seen and understood. Gaelle herself had shot that look many times over her lifetime. Wanting to be a good weyrmate, too, she kissed his cheek. "Good morning...E'dian." Saying his name made her heart pound.

[LyricalBlue]

Well, this was new. The sheet covering Gaelle did nothing to hide the fact that her chest was now firmly pressed to his back and long arms dangled around his neck. He suddenly wondered how long the rest of the day could be put off. Oh no, there he went again, this woman was going to drive him to distraction. E'dian almost groaned, it had only been once and already he wasn't thinking with his head.

He placed his hands loosely on her arms, how easy would it be to be distracted for awhile. No one would notice, both dragons were still asleep. But... he would know. Playing hooky was not for Weyrleaders, it was for those far younger and far less pivotal positions. Not that he could exactly leave right now. Gaelle's currant position made quite sure of that.

The Weyrleader did groan aloud then and he gently disengaged the young woman's arms and stood to face her. E'dian did not however, let her hands go and he stood, facing the very young Weyrwoman before him. The rush of blood, did nothing to hide the fact that the last thing he wanted to do right now was work. The tone he took though, was closer to a caring father's than a lover's.

"We've got a long day ahead of us. Are you ready?"
He didn't use her name, he couldn't just then. He was not sure what would happen if he did, actually he was sure. E'dian would probably have thrown her back on the bed and to shards with the rest of the day. Unfortunately for him, his better sense won out.

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle looked up at him, eyes wide. That was not exactly the reaction she had expected, but he was right. "Yes...E'dian. I'll just need to put on something more suitable." As she approached the bed, she hoped that she had not disappointed him with matching the dragons' lust for him. While she was no innocent little girl, neither was very experienced. There had just been too much to do, and when her interest in the opposite sex sparked, she Impressed Aliath. After that, there was no time to really be involved with anyone but the weyrling gold. Now, she supposed, she'd be able to have some time for a mate. She hoped.

She found her spare leathers laying in a drawer, unfolded and piled. Thankful that leather did not gather wrinkles, she spread the sheet back over the bed neatly, and then pulled her leathers on. They fit her curves perfectly, making her both look great and also better able to ride her dragon. Fastening the hooks across her chest, she checked to make sure she hadn't misplaced any of the hooks to the eyes. Finally, she pulled her long, shiny red hair out and bound it back with a leather thong. Looking over herself in her reflection glass, Gaelle decided she approved. "Do you need anything, Sir?"

[LyricalBlue]

E'dian couldn't help but watch, what man couldn't? He did eventually tear his gaze away and began the hunt for his shirt. It took rather longer than it need to but he slipped the wrinkled thing on as Gaelle finished dressing herself. Any attempts to smooth out the shirt were for nothing and E'dian made a note to head straight back to his weyr and change before doing anything else. Maybe a bath would be in order as well, although that would be a serious waste of time.

Turning back around he nodded, she looked good. In fact, she looked as much a Weyrwoman as E'dian could imagine; even if she was still painfully young for the position. Outside on the ledge, Xialanth stirred slightly as his rider's whirling emotions reached the sleeping dragon. Glancing that way, the newly made Weyrleader frowned. That would not do, he had to reign himself in.

"No thank you, I am going to change and then get something to eat." He paused, trying once more to think of something to say. This wasn't exactly how he'd imagined it. But then again, he'd wasted little to no time on fantasies. Dealing with the everyday was enough of a handful for the man. He needed to change, then talk with N'sian, and then of course he should likely sit down with Gaelle and see just how much education she was lacking. Arizith and Lysia had not exactly been there to tutor the weyrling gold at all.

"We should perhaps meet later in the day to discuss the changes and you'll likely want some time with the Headwoman." E'dian ran a hand through his hair as was a common habit of the bronzerider's. It was a fast cue to those that knew him, that his mind was on its usual whirling dervish mode. There was so much to be done and in so little time, the faster they could adjust to their roles, the better it would be for the Weyr.

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle frowned, suddenly unsure of herself. Had she, perhaps, overstepped her boundaries? Maybe in going to him and touching him, she had made him feel uncomfortable. The young goldrider hoped not, but she couldn't tell. All she knew is that despite the wild passion of the night before, he was now as cold and distant as the High Reaches. Indeed, E'dian didn't seem to want much of anything from the new Weyrwoman. Very well, she thought. There's always work to be done! She would be a capable, intelligent weyrwoman.

She smiled prettily for her new mate. "That sounds good. Would you like to have breakfast together in the Weyrhall? I would love to sit with you, Sir." Gaelle didn't want to make him think she didn't appreciate him. "But if you don't want to, later today would be just as well." His hand running through his hair gave him the appearance of a disheveled harper, the kind who always seems to be doing something. "Just whenever would be best for you."

As she prepared for his verdict, she wondered why he had such a sudden disinterest in her. Had she expected too much? Gaelle didn't think so; she hadn't expected instant love, but at least mutual interest. She herself found E'dian to be a very attractive man. He had a thin, but muscled stature, and reminded Gaelle of a weathered mountain cliff. She wondered if the metaphor worked for his personality, as well. Even Gaelle loved her work, but she wondered if she could hold a glow to the new Weyrleader.

"Thank you for helping me. I hope that we can work together to bring this Weyr to its grand days again." Gaelle wondered if she sounded like a silly, romanticizing hold-girl, and if she even knew the scope of the problems facing the Weyr. Either way, she would learn quickly. And she would do whatever it took to bring back the dragons.

[LyricalBlue]

Several quick strides forward put him within an arm's length of Gaelle once again. E'dian placed his hands on her shoulders and bent forward to kiss her forehead. She had looked suddenly unsure and the last thing E'dian wanted was a confused Weyrwoman. If there was one thing she could always be sure of it was the bronzerider.

Although he certainly was a far cry from romantics like R'lec. He stared down at her, with absolutely no idea how to voice what he felt. So, instead he chose a clearer path. One that was free of emotional attachment. E'dian nodded, sufficiently and dropped his hands from her shoulders.
"Shall I meet you down there? Perhaps we can catch N'sian at breakfast as well."

If there was one thing E'dian was good at, it was working through meals. And the prospect of spending more time with the young Weyrwoman was also appealing. Bed bound or not, maybe after the work was done they could dally more later.

He quirked an eyebrow at the helping comment, well now, at least she had manners in abundance. E'dian attempted, in his strange way to lighten the mood that had seemed to have passed between them.
"Help you? I'd rather say Xialanth helped himself, Lady."

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle paused in her walking to the door and gave a bemused look to E'dian. A tinge of pink rose up her neck and through her face, and she held back giggles. "Not without help, I'd like to note. Aliath fairly well shru--" And the giggles were let loose. The truth was, Myneth had been shook off like a wet tunic. "Well, she sure didn't try to stop Xialanth. Which confuses me..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say. She hasn't known either bronzerider, and it seemed odd that Aliath had rejected the younger Myneth for Xialanth. The rider surely didn't have a preference, but perhaps Aliath did her own talking.

It was some she commonly wondered about the dragons, if they had private conversations among themselves like their riders did. The dragons reflected the people in many ways, but they were also simpler than their human counterparts. Aliath lacked the ability to hypothesize about the future or reflect about the past, other than to relate how it seemed to her. But Gaelle appreciated the dragon's ability to understand what Gaelle said better than she understood herself.

"And besides, the dragon is a reflection of the rider, darling. Xialanth could not have done it without you. Or being so daring, bold, and handsome...like you, I bet." Gaelle turned the knowing-woman look on the older man. She didn't say anything else, like how she and Aliath has been similarly worn out after the event. After all, the Queenrider had slept two hours after her weyrmate.

[LyricalBlue]

E'dian did not quite blush, but he came about as close to it as was comfortable for the quiet man. Why wouldn't she choose Xialanth, he couldn't even begin to understand. But then, he supposed, all riders felt that way. In fact R'lec and L'kus were probably wondering why Aliath had not chosen their bronzes.

So, again he simply shook his head, a bare ghost of smile running across his lips. Well, no matter, what was important is that the best dragon had won. Although the clutch would be a better indicator of that than anything else. Handsome indeed, well at least she thought he was handsome.

Sharding female! She yet again distracted him thoroughly, and likely she was not even trying. This fact struck the new Weyrleader as something profoundly unfair, would the he could distract her just as well.
"Well, Xia is the largest bronze we've got right now. There is a reason in itself, not that I don't think hes also the best choice." The shrug that followed said as much as anything, all riders thought their dragons were the best.

Daring, bold and handsome. Well now, would that he had a tongue as quick to compliments as her's. Perhaps though, he could live up to that particular expectation. E'dian reached out and drew her forward. How nicely her head fit under his chin, he hadn't noticed that before. Putting off work wasn't that bad of an idea, was it?
"Oh, and the dragon chose, or the rider?"

[fadingmemorie]

And suddenly, she was swept up in his arms, tucked safely under his chin and held closely and dearly. Gaelle smiled to herself and cuddled close to his chest, appreciating the feeling of his masculine, muscular body against her soft, female one. And his smell was something approaching enchanting. Altogether, she didn't understand why this man wasn't weyrmated already. "Mmm," she mumbled, happy to have broken the ice with him.

She placed her arms around his waist and laid her hands flat across his back, feeling the bunched-up stress. "Oh my, Weyrleader. You have so many knots, Sir!" Massaging gently, she started to work the muscles loose. "I think you must worry and work all the time," she predicted. She knew he worked as a weyrsecond before today, and that in itself must have been exhausting. Gaelle did not envy him his job as Weyrleader. It was a job that aged men, it was said, and she would already have her hands full being Weyrwoman.

Rubbing his back was pleasing for her. She hadn't ever really been physically close with anyone, other than occasional kisses from a couple weyrboys. Here, though, she felt like she was helping him to relax instead of just fulfilling the wishes of pubescent boys. "I hope this helps you in some way. If you don't like it, you can tell me. I won't be upset."

While she spoke, she simultaneously considered his question. "Well, I suppose that I do know you to be the superior in experience, training, and maturity. And I do want the best for the Weyr. So, I suppose, in wanting that, I wanted you." Gaelle smiled at him, eyes crinkling up in delight.

[LyricalBlue]

Alright, he deserved that. When people wanted him, it was for those things. They valued his mind, his work ethic and his honor. Too bad she didn't keep telling him how handsome he was, a small smirk crept across his face at the thought of how different the last night had been. She had been rather... vocal then.

Her hands though, those were magic. Oh yes, if there was one other thing E'dian could be counted on to be, it would be tense. E'dian sighed and closed his eyes. This desire to please was a rather different side from the challenging female force that was Gaelle-Aliath.
"Oh, that helps. In more ways than one would expect."

E'dian didn't quite slouch on her, he did not quite purr, but he came close. The thought that he should have spent more time with her before hand entered into his mind. He hadn't exactly planned this out well, and that was unlike him. But then, there were so many variables to account for and females were so fickle.

And the truth of it was, as long as she wanted him, he really didn't care why. What mattered is that he was in her weyr and not one of the others. The strength of that particular thought startled the bronzerider in its unexpected intensity.
"Well, my Weyrwoman. I shall be at your service, Weyrleader or no."

[fadingmemorie]

"I'm glad to be of service, Sir," Gaelle murmured, concentrating on his rough spots like she would her own dragons. If they were going to be successful together, they had to support one another. Plus, it would present a unified front to the Weyr, which they had to lead back to greatness. They needed each other, and she would help him if she could. No matter the way. "E'dian," she whispered in awe of his loyalty oath. "I...thank you. That makes me so happy to hear."

She worked a little harder on his wing muscles, getting the knots from the bending over and carrying heavy items smoothed out into relaxed muscle. After a while, she started thinking of the previous night. Snickering, she nibbled lightly on his earlobe and kissed it. "Mm, handsome and tasty," she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

Then she buried her face into his chest, smiling widely and not wanting him to see. She was beginning to figure out how the man worked, what he would respond best to. The new Weyrwoman still had much to learn about her mate, and she would apply herself to the task willingly.

[LyricalBlue]

Perhaps another calling for the little Weyrwoman in front of him would have been as a healer, although the effect her hands had on him were not entirely soothing. Especially not when he remember their effect the night previous. Her response to his comment went almost entirely missed, it was the hands on his lower back. Shards and shells they were distracting.

Of course, then she was after his ear again. E'dian couldn't help a laugh at that as she burried her face into his rumpled shirt again. Ahh well, it had already seen worse.
"Tasty? Woman haven't you had your fill of me yet?"

Dragon lust was one thing, but there were more than a few episodes last night that were entirely E'dian and Gaelle. With Xi prompting him onwards with great amusement beside the pleasure till they had all collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Actually, he was rather amazed he was only as sore as he was.

E'dian ran his hands down her sides and hips with another genuine laugh, which was rare indeed for the dour man. And he in turn gave one of Gaelle's ears some much needed attention.
"You know, Lady, half those tense muscles are all your doing."