I Want To See Him

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 7th September 2005

Characters: Traelyn, U'kaiah
Description: Trae comes to visit U'kaiah and decides to help him see Kalamath
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 20 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "Somewhere They Would Rather Be"

Traelyn couldn't keep the smile from her face as she watched the new weyrlings with their wet and shining lifemates wobble in a dazed bliss from the Sands. Her heart swelled for them, and she reached for Nyith's mind.

The queen, who was crouched on the Heights next to Loseth, let out a soft croon as her glittering eyes found her rider in the stands far below. }:Remember the day I found you?:{ It was a question she always asked of her rider, after every Hatching.

**Of course I do, dear heart. It was the most beautiful day of my life.** Trae sent her love to her gold, and Nyith sent her love back. The pulsing sweetness of it brought tears to Traelyn's eyes.

Carefully, she began to move with the crowd, wanting to congratulate all those who had Impressed before going to join in the festivities that would last long into the afternoon and evening.

}:You might have to wait a while before joining in the festivities,:{ Nyith suddenly remarked.

**What?**

}:Kalamath says that his rider is grumpy. He's trying not to be, but Kalamath says his trying not to be is making him even more irritable.:{ Trae tried to keep the amused smile from her face. She couldn't blame the bronzerider though. To be bedridden on the day of the Hatching with a _queen_ egg... She had pity for him. **Tell Kalamath that I'm coming to see his rider. There's no need for him to be a grump.**

~~

"You're not grumpy anymore, are you?" Trae asked as she peeked her head around the curtain.

U'kaiah regarded the gold rider for a moment. "I think I might be even more grumpy." He looked at her in genuine confusion. "Why aren't you at the festivities? Wasn't there just a _Hatching_ or have I been misinformed?"

She snorted and took her usual seat beside him. "Yes, there was a Hatching. But you were tattled on. That's why I'm here." Trae leaned forward so that her elbows rest on the bed, and propped her chin up in her hands.

"Trae, I didn't mean for him to call you. Or anyone for that matter." U'kaiah said guiltily. "You should be enjoying the festivities."

"Oh, believe me, U'kaiah, I fully intend to enjoy the festivities - eat until I can't stomach any more good food, drink until I fully believe that I can fly as well as Nyith, and dance until I can't lift my feet at all... And besides, I didn't wear this dress for nothing!" It was an elegant thing, cut low, and the material was light enough to not be constraining when dancing. She gave him a smile. "But I do want to see you, you know."

U'kaiah couldn't tell if she was trying to make him feel better or dig it in further. It was a _queen's_ Hatching, and he was flat on his back in bed when all he wanted to do at that moment was sweep a girl up for a dance. "It is a nice dress," he muttered, knowing he should sound a bit more grateful that Trae even took the time to come see him.

Her smile softened until it was a half-smile. Trae leaned forward. "I'm sorry you can't be there..."

"Don't worry about it," he said quickly, turning his eyes towards the ceiling so she couldn't see the frustration written on his face. "So I hear D'nev's girl impressed the queen. An interesting choice."

She nodded. "A very interesting choice. The little queen is quite the individual. And she's such a pretty thing..."

"Prettier than Nyith was?" the bronzerider asked with a knowing smile.

"No queen was or _is_ as beautiful as Nyith," came Trae's immediate response. Then she bit her lower lip lightly, her dark eyes widening a little as she realized how that sounded. "But Teseada's little one is quite lovely. And she made quite a show when she hatched."

U'kaiah reached over and touched her cheek lightly. "Don't worry, Traelyn. No gold was ever as beautiful as Nyith, same as no bronze on Pern was ever as handsome or proud as my Kalamath."

That brought a smile to her lips. "He is very handsome."

"He is, isn't he." U'kaiah said with a cocky grin.

}: I have always been handsome. You told me the day I found you. :{ his bronze crooned softly.

**That I did, Kalamath. That was the first thing I said when that little bronze lump started calling my name.** A far away look of rememberance crossed his face, filled with the same joy and love as the day he stood on the sands. He could picture the shell as it shattered and out from it stumbled the most handsome creature Uzrakaiah had ever seen, crying piteously and charging straight for him.

}: And then you were U'kaiah, _my_ rider. The most handsome and brave rider on Pern. Only _you_ could ever ride me.:{ U'kaiah had forgotten Trae entirely in that moment as he swallowed hard, the hint of tears stinging his eyes at the power of the love flowing between them at that moment.

Completely understanding the look on U'kaiah's face, Traelyn glanced away, wanting to give him privacy. It was during moments like these when she really stood back from herself and thought about how wondrous it was to be bonded with a dragon. She couldn't even imagine life without Nyith.

}:You are mine,:{ Nyith's tone drifted through her mind like molten gold.

**And I'm yours, dear heart.**

U'kaiah finally broke the silence. "I want to see him, Trae."

She looked at him, her expression soft. "You will, U'kaiah."

"All I need is to get to a _window_, for shards sake. How could that possibly kill me?"

Trae hesitated, concerned about him. She didn't want him to strain _anything_. But how could any dragonrider not see his beloved lifemate on a day of a _Hatching_? Her thoughts warred with themselves, but the latter finally won over. She stood and bent towards him. "Come on."

If he could have, U'kaiah would have swept Trae up in his arms and kissed her soundly at that moment. But he knew he would have to save his strength if he was going to make it far enough to see Kalamath. "The council room? It's closest on this floor. Or up the stairs to the plateau?"

"There's no way I'm going to let you climb _any_ stairs, love," she told him sternly, helping him reach an upright position. "Now...can you swing your legs over the side?"

"Sure I can. I'm tired, not broken." The bronzerider found his body was a bit more stiff than he had expected as he moved his legs to the side of the bed. "All right, I think this is going to be the hard part.
Bring the chair a bit closer, would you?"

Before she obeyed his request, she moved so she could look straight into his eyes. "Do you promise me that if you feel even the slightest _twinge_ of discomfort, you'll tell me?"

"Discomfort won't be the problem. It's energy that I seem to be lacking. But we'll stop a couple times along the way so I can rest." He layed a hand on her shoulder. "I promise Trae, I won't die on you."

"I'll hold you to that," she grumbled softly, reaching out and hauling the chair over.

With one hand on her shoulder and one on the chair to steady him U'kaiah slipped of the bed. So far so good. He gave his knees a little shake. Stiff, but solid. "See, I told you, my body's fine." He grimaced a bit. "Trae, are you sure you want to do this? Jaela won't like this. If we're caught..."

To be perfectly honest? No, she didn't want to do this. She didn't like him being out of bed. But that look on his face...she had understood it. "Just hush, and lean on me," came her quiet reply. With gentle hands, she coaxed him to come up against her.

He was so grateful for her unwaivering loyalty to him that he would have crushed her against him if he had not been afraid to expend too much energy needlessly. Instead he looped his arm around her shoulder, tucking her up against his side. He did not need to put any of his weight on her just yet, but when he did he knew he could lean on her.

In turn, Traelyn wrapped her arm around his waist, both to steady herself and to support him. She tilted her face up to look at him. "Ready?"

Last updated on the September 7th 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

I Want To See Him