Sharding Goldflights

Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 10th October 2007

Characters: N'vanik, Talryne
Description: After dealing with another lost goldflight, N'vanik comes home to Talryne.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 12 of Turn 4

N'vanik

Talryne

Through the haze of lust and the rising anger, he felt hands touching his arm and turned. A woman there, and another beside her, hungry looks on their faces. He recognized them, knew they were what he needed. Snarling with frustration, he followed them inside. Everything was a blur until they reached the entrance to a weyr. N'vanik stopped in the doorway and pushed the women away.

"When that door closes, there's no stopping til I'm done," he warned, using the last of his control. "So if you don't think you can handle it, leave now."

The first woman grabbed fistfuls of his tunic and rubbed against him, her eyes hot. "We handled it last time."

The second woman nodded and pulled them inside, closing the door behind her.

~*~

He entered his weyr, limping slightly. His tunic was gone, so torn it hadn't been worth putting back on. "Hey, Tal," N'vanik said quietly, not looking at her. Loseth crooned from his couch.

Talryne rose to her feet, eyes taking in his appearance in shock. "What _happened_?" she whispered, taking a step towards him.

"I get rough when I lose gold flights," he said, still not looking at her. "And I always lose." Loseth's crooning grew louder.

She stopped just short of him, examining the bruises and scratches in silence. Then her eyes found his again. "You should get in the bathing pool," she said quietly, reaching out a hand to him almost hesitantly.

"Ok." He took her hand.

Talryne tugged him in the direction of the bathing chamber, face still worried. "Do you--do you need to see a healer?" she asked finally.

He shook his head. "I'll be fine. I'm just sore." Drills tomorrow were going to be unpleasant. "I sharding hate gold flights."

"I'm sorry." She stopped when they reached the side of the bathing pool, her hands going to the fastenings on his pants. Her thoughts reached out to Loseth out of instinct. **Is he really all right? Is he hurt?**

}:His body is hurt, but it's not too bad,:{ the bronze replied. }:He hurts more in his mind.:{ Loseth went back to trying to soothe his rider.

She urged him into the water, then stared down at him looking uncertain. "Do you want me to stay? Or come in with you? Or... do you need to be alone?"

A small smile twitched his lips. "Loseth says you should join me. He thinks I should talk to you." N'vanik sighed, leaning against the side of the bath and closing his eyes. "Maybe he's right."

}:Of course I'm right!:{ he told both of them.

Talryne chuckled weakly as she slipped out of her clothes and slid into the water next to him. "I admit, I... am not so good at talking. But then, you've probably noticed that by now."

He nodded. "I'm not good at it either. But it's easier with you." His eyes squeezed tighter for a moment, almost a wince. "I won't come to you after gold flights."

She studied him for a few moments in silence, then spoke softly. "Because you don't think I could handle it, or because you don't want to?"

He opened his eyes to look at her. "I don't want it to be like that with you, Tal. Not ever."

"All right." She nodded without looking away from him. "Then you don't have to be. And if it--if it helps, if that's what you need..." She trailed off.
"_Does_ it help?"

"It ... I don't know." He turned away. "I need it. But when it's over and I see what I've done ..."

Talryne's arms slid around his neck, and she rested her forehead against his. "Why do you need it?"

"I get so frustrated. So angry. We never win. It's not Loseth's fault.
He's huge, and strong and smart. It's me. I'm not good enough."
N'vanik swallowed as Loseth crooned to him. "Bronzeriders lead, and they catch golds. I haven't done either, so what does that make me? A glorified brownrider?"

Now Loseth roared. }:I am a _bronze_! And you are mine! Don't talk like that!:{ Talryne pulled away from him, then calmly reached up to tangle her hand in his hair, bringing her face to his. "If you ever say you're not good enough again, I will slap you so hard your teeth rattle. You hear me?"

He nodded. "But I can't help feeling it," he said quietly.

Her fingers loosened and slid around to cup his cheek. "Oh, N'vanik. I wish I knew how to make you see what I see."

Some of the hurt left his eyes and he kissed her softly. "I've been good to you, but I'm not a very good person."

"No one is a good person all the time," she replied quietly. "You take care of me, you take care of Loseth--you risk your life to protect people. You _are_ good, in so many ways."

He brushed a hand through her hair. "Thank you."

She gave him a slightly stern look. "I'm not just saying it to make you feel better. I'm saying it because it's _true_."

"I know you believe it. I believe it a little myself." He sighed.
"It's just hard today."

"I know." She kissed his forehead and then smoothed his hair back from his face with a tender smile. "I'm sorry, N'vanik."

He pulled her closer and kissed her again, lingering this time. Her fingers stayed framing his face as she kissed him back, slow and careful, almost as if she was afraid of hurting him. His arms went around her waist and he deepened the kiss. Then he pulled back slightly. "I don't know if it's leftover dragonlust, or if I just want you."

Talryne just laughed as she tangled her fingers in his hair. "Does it matter?"

He smiled. "I guess not. We just need to go slow." One hand rubbed along her side. "I hurt everywhere." And he wanted to make sure it was nothing like the violent sex he'd had earlier.

She pulled back, looking concerned. "Maybe we shouldn't. I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm gonna hurt no matter what." His thumb traced her cheek. "But this will make me feel better, too." A thoughtful look crossed his face.
"Maybe we should go to the bed, though."

Talryne moved against him teasingly, a soft smile coming to her lips. "Don't like the bathing pool quite so much now? It's always been a favorite spot of mine, you know..."

N'vanik laughed. "I thought you didn't want to hurt me? The bed's much softer, you know."

She tugged him away from the side of the pool and smiled. "Nothing softer than water. Just stay away from the stone. Unless you had something specific in mind..."

"I was just thinkin' of laying there and letting you do most of the work." He grinned. "But I want to see some of your ideas."

Talryne laughed as she brushed her lips against his ear. "You just try not to drown, N'vanik. I'll take care of the rest."

His arms went around her waist again. "Ok." Hopefully, she would make him forget all about the rest of the day. **Sharding goldflights ...**

Last updated on the October 14th 2007

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Sharding Goldflights