Post by **Auria (etc)** on Feb 11, 2010 10:57:46 GMT -5
The girl sat on her bunk, running a comb through her long brown hair. Her hands were skeleton-thin, the pale skin stretched so tight over the bones that her knuckles turned red just from the effort to hold the comb. Her legs, muscles wasted from disuse, were curled beneath her, and deep, haunted eyes gazed lovingly at the dragon couch.
Nefertith was growing. Even though her rider had spent many long weeks unable to rise from her infirmary bed, and she had been fed and tended by the healers and their apprentices, she was growing. She shifted, trying to find a comfortable position on the Weyrling couch, but wherever she turned, something would hang over the edge. Either her tail, or her neck, or a wing, or a leg, would wind up on the floor, uncomfortable.
They had the largest couch in the Weyrling Barracks already, but the young queen was most certainly taking after her dam in size. She would be a well-grown gold when she reached her full stature. Her long neck and long legs may even cause her to outreach her mother's height one day.
Gwynevith. Just the thought of the lost Queen of Araelen caused Auria's throat to constrict. Nefertith shifted, raised her head, and looked toward her rider with whirling worried eyes.
Do not let the fear take you over, MineOwn, the dragoness said, and reached to nudge her rider gently. Do not give in to it.
Indeed, Auria had, over the past several weeks, given in to the fear, the anger, the pain. She had spent many hours crying, curled up in her bed, unwilling to move unless she had no choice. Weyrling Lessons had resumed, lightly, and the young dragons were airborne now. The cold of winter, blissfully, kept Thread at bay.
The agony of the Araelen Queen's passing had consumed her, over and over again. Only the strength of her own golden savior had kept Auria intact inside her frame. When others started whispering that Kitari was the murderer.... Auria's illness-riddled mind could not process, could not deal with, that thought. She had even feigned a relapse of poison symptoms a few times to avoid being in the presence of the Weyrlingmaster. The Weyrlingmaster who was now Weyrleader-By-Murder.
Many were so certain that Kitari was the killer, that the Weyr had split. Had she been well enough, she might have gone with them. When she felt better, she still might go north. But Rannell ... the Healer had stayed, and his weyrmate, Ranny's foster parents. Her little nephew loved them. They had been so good to him, and they were staying at Araelen. In order to go north, she would have to kidnap her nephew ... but how could she, with Gaylen's queen flitter always watching over him?
And yet, how could it be true? As the bonded to a Queen, the logical side of her mind could not fathom any Queen Rider deliberately harming another Queen ... no matter what they might think of that dragon's rider.
Back and forth, back and forth, fear and doubt, anger and confusion, her thoughts had tortured her.
Stop. Firm, kind, loving thoughts penetrated her mind. They sent strength into the dark confusion and she latched onto them and allowed them to pull her forward. She found her arms around Nefertith's face, her tears soaking into the soft hide. The comb had fallen to the floor, and the room, which she had not even known had disappeared, was once again around her.
You're right, as always, MyLove, she said shakily into Nefertith's mind. I have to stop letting the fear consume me. I have to get back to ... life. I'm failing you, failing you miserably if I can't even control my own fear.
You could never fail me. You are my rider. I love you.
Auria sighed deeply, as if trying to inhale the dragon's love to the core of her being.
Nefertith shifted slightly, and one hind limb slid off the couch.
We are flightworthy now. When do we move from these Barracks? I wish to have my own weyr, the dragon said, turning to look at her dangling leg.
Soon, I hope.... Auria's heart fluttered. She knew it was inevitable. She was going to have to talk to ... B'kay.
Nefertith was growing. Even though her rider had spent many long weeks unable to rise from her infirmary bed, and she had been fed and tended by the healers and their apprentices, she was growing. She shifted, trying to find a comfortable position on the Weyrling couch, but wherever she turned, something would hang over the edge. Either her tail, or her neck, or a wing, or a leg, would wind up on the floor, uncomfortable.
They had the largest couch in the Weyrling Barracks already, but the young queen was most certainly taking after her dam in size. She would be a well-grown gold when she reached her full stature. Her long neck and long legs may even cause her to outreach her mother's height one day.
Gwynevith. Just the thought of the lost Queen of Araelen caused Auria's throat to constrict. Nefertith shifted, raised her head, and looked toward her rider with whirling worried eyes.
Do not let the fear take you over, MineOwn, the dragoness said, and reached to nudge her rider gently. Do not give in to it.
Indeed, Auria had, over the past several weeks, given in to the fear, the anger, the pain. She had spent many hours crying, curled up in her bed, unwilling to move unless she had no choice. Weyrling Lessons had resumed, lightly, and the young dragons were airborne now. The cold of winter, blissfully, kept Thread at bay.
The agony of the Araelen Queen's passing had consumed her, over and over again. Only the strength of her own golden savior had kept Auria intact inside her frame. When others started whispering that Kitari was the murderer.... Auria's illness-riddled mind could not process, could not deal with, that thought. She had even feigned a relapse of poison symptoms a few times to avoid being in the presence of the Weyrlingmaster. The Weyrlingmaster who was now Weyrleader-By-Murder.
Many were so certain that Kitari was the killer, that the Weyr had split. Had she been well enough, she might have gone with them. When she felt better, she still might go north. But Rannell ... the Healer had stayed, and his weyrmate, Ranny's foster parents. Her little nephew loved them. They had been so good to him, and they were staying at Araelen. In order to go north, she would have to kidnap her nephew ... but how could she, with Gaylen's queen flitter always watching over him?
And yet, how could it be true? As the bonded to a Queen, the logical side of her mind could not fathom any Queen Rider deliberately harming another Queen ... no matter what they might think of that dragon's rider.
Back and forth, back and forth, fear and doubt, anger and confusion, her thoughts had tortured her.
Stop. Firm, kind, loving thoughts penetrated her mind. They sent strength into the dark confusion and she latched onto them and allowed them to pull her forward. She found her arms around Nefertith's face, her tears soaking into the soft hide. The comb had fallen to the floor, and the room, which she had not even known had disappeared, was once again around her.
You're right, as always, MyLove, she said shakily into Nefertith's mind. I have to stop letting the fear consume me. I have to get back to ... life. I'm failing you, failing you miserably if I can't even control my own fear.
You could never fail me. You are my rider. I love you.
Auria sighed deeply, as if trying to inhale the dragon's love to the core of her being.
Nefertith shifted slightly, and one hind limb slid off the couch.
We are flightworthy now. When do we move from these Barracks? I wish to have my own weyr, the dragon said, turning to look at her dangling leg.
Soon, I hope.... Auria's heart fluttered. She knew it was inevitable. She was going to have to talk to ... B'kay.