To Stand Still

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th September 2007

Characters: U'kaiah, Traelyn
Description: U'kaiah and Trae reunite after a month of separation
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 4

So far the evening had been quite enjoyable. Bright lights dazzled the eyes, wines of all vintages flowed freely, and beautiful music filled the air and was heard just above the din of celebrating Weyrfolk. Traelyn smiled as the tips of her fingers touched those of her new partner, and then dropped in a sudden curtsy as the flourish of instruments signaled that the waltz was finally coming to an end. Her dark eyes met those of her ending partner, a youth of about sixteen or so. His own eyes had gone huge as he realized just who he had been in contact with, however briefly.
He just barely remembered to bow before the crowd swept them apart. Amused, Traelyn let the throng push her towards the wall, and she leaned her hands back against it, sighing in relief as the cool stone bit refreshingly into her palms. Shards, but it was getting rather stuffy in here. Maybe she'd go out to get a breath of fresh air in a while.

Her gaze traveled idly over the people in front of her, and her face broke out into a grin as a group of youngsters breezed past her, whooping and yelling at the top of their lungs. It seemed that most of the fosterparents had let loose their tight leash on the weyrbrats tonight, and Traelyn was glad. Everyone deserved to stay up late into the night and celebrate, whether they were five Turns or sixty-five Turns. She turned her head, laughing to herself as one of the boys, a bold, freckled little thing, snagged a pastry right out of a dragonrider's unsuspecting hand and kept on running, cramming the goodie into his mouth. Shards, she could remember all the times she had run about like a wild thing with her friends when she'd been that age, stealing whatever snacks she could get her hands on--

She blinked, suddenly. Stared.

The youngsters had just disappeared around a tall man's lean body. A man who had a dark, curly mop of hair.

No, it couldn't be. Traelyn squinted, trying to make out the man's profile. Shards, there were too many people crowding together. But it couldn't be him. He hadn't come to see her on her birthingday...why would he come now? And yet... Faranth, it looked so much like him it almost hurt to breathe. **Turn around,** she willed silently, fear and hope rooting her to the spot. **Turn around.**

It was as if he had somehow heard her inner pleading, for he abruptly turned so that she could see his face-and her breath caught. It _was_
him!

U'kaiah stood still against the sea of bustling people, his clothes looking rather dull and a bit worn compared to the bright colors of newly-pressed silks and velvets flashing around him. His expression was rather bewildered, but his eyes kept on roving the throng, never lingering on anyone for very long, as if he were searching for something. Or someone.

An intense emotion sprang to life in her chest. Was he looking for her?

Traelyn slowly pushed herself away from the wall, her eyes never leaving his face as a myriad of emotions bombarded her; relief, anxiety, longing, guilt, desire. He'd finally come to her. He'd finally come, when it really should have been her to go to him. Now she felt even more like the coward she was because she hadn't acted first. But that didn't stop her from coming closer to him. To be near him again...shards, she wanted it so much. To look up into his face, to touch him and be touched by him, to hear his voice, whether he was teasing her, murmuring to her or berating her, she didn't care. She just had to get close.

"U'kaiah."

The bronzerider had been debating about whether or not to give up his search and come back another time when he heard the sound of his name. It sounded soft against the din of the revelers, but he recognized the voice at once. Turning towards her he could feel his chest tighten. She was there, and she had come to him. And shards, but she was lovely, dressed in her amber dress, her hair pulled back from her face except for a few accenting wisps that had been allowed to fall to frame her face. But really, he didn't care about all that. He was more drawn to her eyes. They weren't accusing or angry, nor were they actually filled with delight at seeing him. But he could see a little of the fear and longing that he had been feeling these past few sevendays mirrored in her gaze.

He leaned down towards her so his voice could better be heard. "I'm sorry. It seems I have rather bad timing."

Her fingers curled around his arm. Their faces were inches apart, and she gazed up at him, feeling her world narrow down to him--to his eyes and voice. To the feel of him, hard flesh beneath her hand. He was here. A soft smile touched her lips, though a little hesitant. "You have perfect timing."

U'kaiah had imagined all the ways this moment could have gone wrong. He had been afraid she would feel he was pushing her, that it was too soon. Or that perhaps too much time had passed. He could feel a knot of tension in the pit of his stomach unravel at the touch of her hand. As he covered it with his own, he smiled down at her softly. "I'm afraid I'm a little under-dressed for your party."

"What? Oh." Traelyn shook her head. "Shards, U'kaiah, that doesn't matter. I'm just..." One of her fingers linked around one of his. "I'm just glad you're here." This last was a faint whisper, but he was stooped low enough that she knew he could hear her...hear the slight tremor in her tone caused by emotions strung taught within. "I'm sorry." The words came pouring out of her now, and she held his eyes for one fierce moment before ducking her head, ashamed, guilty, relieved. "Shards, love, I'm so sorry."

"I didn't come to demand an apology," he said softly, leaning even closer to her ear. Her hair smelled freshly washed and he could tell she had used some kind of scented oil on her neck. "I've just missed you."

His breath was warm against her skin, and slowly she turned into him, cheek caressing his "I've missed you too."

He closed his eyes as they stood in silence a moment, the only two people in the room standing so still and quiet. "Should I come back later?"
U'kaiah finally asked in a low murmur.

"No." Her fingers tightened on his arm, the motion almost desperate. Shards, if he left her now... "No." Pulling back slightly she looked up into his eyes. "Come with me?"

He nodded and allowed her to lead him back into the hall, their fingers intertwined. They could hear muffled sounds of weyrfolk who had decided to slip away from the festivities. Looking down at Trae, he couldn't help but remember that moment in the bathing pool when she had slowly slipped out of her clothes, looking him straight in the eye, her lips slightly parted. He regretted the rest of that evening, but that moment he played over and over in his mind. Shards, it was hard to not pull her into the first available dark corner and join in the celebration.

Her body thrummed with a nervous, wonderful kind of energy as they walked along the dark hallway. She was very aware of how close he was, of the way his eyes flickered to her, of the way his arm felt under her hand. She could just imagine how it would feel if he wrapped it around her waist to hold her and bring her closer against him. Faranth, she wanted him to.

As they neared the end of the corridor, they passed one last couple tangled together against the corner of the wall, and they would have been completely hidden from her eyes if it hadn't been for flashes of bare skin she glimpsed against the dark shadows. Her fingers flexed on U'kaiah's arm, an unconscious movement on her part as longing filled her. And suddenly she wanted more than anything else to re-establish what they had shared; their friendship, the something more that had been building between them at Dragonsfall. She'd been a fool to run, she realized that now. How could she deny herself what he wanted to give her? What she wanted to give to him?

Traelyn turned her head to gaze up at him, hand caressing down his arm to his palm, linking her fingers with his.

U'kaiah glanced around, his eyes starting to become accustomed to the dark. He wondered were they might be. Every Weyr seemed to have darkened corridors that had been unused for Turns except for adventurous youths, curious teenagers, and impatient lovers. It was not a place to talk, he knew that much. Finally he stopped. He didn't want to go any further down this corridor until she understood him perfectly.

"Trae," he said softly pulling her closer to the wall, whispering despite the fact that anyone who might be within earshot would be more interested in their partner than in what they had to say. "I know what I said before scared you, but you need to know that my feelings for you haven't changed.
If all we will ever be is friends, tell me now."

They couldn't go back. And all Traelyn wanted was to move forward. It did scare her, she couldn't deny that. But the idea of losing him scared her even more. "I want to be more to you." The words were quiet, but the expression in her eyes spoke volumes as she stepped closer. "I do."

"No more running away?" he asked as his arms slipped around her, slowly drawing her close.

She shook her head, hands sliding up to wrap around his back. "No more running." She was tired of running. "I want to stand still," she told him softly, a smile beginning to curve her lips, "with you. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can't....move together...."

U'kaiah's lips curled into a grin as he leaned in to claim her lips with a kiss filled with all the pent up longing and passion that had been building for the past month. "Will you be missed?" he asked breathlessly between kisses.

"I wish I wouldn't be," she breathed, arching into his touch. Shards, she didn't want to go back out there. She wanted to be selfish and do what she wanted, scorch her responsibilities. But she couldn't do that. Not tonight. ...Not yet.

It was frustrating, but they had waited this long... "I can wait for you..."

Traelyn gave him one more swift kiss, grinning. "Dance with me."

"I'm not exactly dressed to be seen with the Weyrwoman," he murmured, lightly fingering the shoulder strap of her dress.

Oh, the vanity of men! "That doesn't matter to me, U'kaiah. You know it doesn't."

"I could go home and change..."

"And waste precious time for the sake of vanity?" she teased gently, running her fingers through his curly hair. "If you feel you must, then go. But be quick about it."

"I have to represent Dragonsfall right," he smiled, leaning his head into her touch.

Last updated on the October 1st 2007

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To Stand Still