What I can't do

Writers: Teresa
Date Posted: 27th January 2009

Characters: Trealeina, R'len
Description: R'Len and Trealeina discuss their relationship
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 4
Notes: Mentor Approved

Trealeina sat on a large rock on the shore of the lake watching Tamineth
splash and play with some of her clutchmates. She watched as some of her
classmates talked and joked around. Not really feeling like joining in, she
sat on the rock and watched, content to watch her lifemate frolic. She could
feel the joy radiate from her thoughts as she did so.

}:Solanth comes to join us:{ Tamineth told her mirth in her voice.

**What? Where?** Trealeina looked behind her. There was R'len, hand on
Solanth's back as they made their way toward the lake. Solanth looked as if
he had just been fed because we waddled a little, but other than that he
looked healthy and his eyes whirled blue. Trealeina waved, and R'len waved
back.

As the pair approached, Trealeina jumped down from her perch and greeted
them. "Hey R'len, I see you have decided to come for a swim too" she said
with a smile. R'len reached out as if he was going to shake her hand, but
instead he hugged her. Trealeina's eyes widened. "What was that for?"

"I want to thank you. Until I met you, I never gave a thought about
standing. I have known riders, but I never paid heed to see what it was to
have impressed a beautiful dragon. To have a bond so special that no one
could ever break."

Trealeina beamed. "Your welcome." she turned toward the whirling blue eyes
of the brown, scratching his eyeridge. "And how are you this evening, young
Solanth?""

R'len grinned with pride. "He says to tell you that he is doing well and
thank you for the scratches"

"He is a handsome brown, he looks well tended, and healthy hide." she said
as she walked around the young brown running her hand over his soft hide.
"Can you ask him to lift his wings?" She looked carefully at his wings, but
saw nothing that should not be there. She had circled all the way around the
little brown "not a flaw in his care that I can see."

"Well, I had a good teacher. The days I spent helping with Tamineth
certainly help with my knowing how to do it with Solanth." He patted the
browns back fondly.

**See the green over there?** he asked Solanth as he pointed to where
Tamineth was playing with two firelizards, another green and a brown dragon.
}:yes::{ Solanth replied as he watched them splash.

**that is Tamineth, she is a very nice green, and she has two firelizards
that she plays with as well. Would you like to go play in the water with
them?**

}: yes, but she is so big,:{

**she is big now, but someday you will be bigger than she is. But for now I
would like for you to learn to swim. It will help to make you strong.**

}:ok, :{ he replied as he waddled toward the water

R'len turned to Trealeina, "Do you think Tamineth would show Solanth how to
swim, without straining his wings.?"

"Sure" she replied quickly. "But you should not let him swim for too long, I
would say no more than five minutes. He is still too young to be doing too
much exercise. You are probably already doing exercise in classes. Check
with him after a few minutes, make sure he is not getting sore, or tired."

"Yes of course"

**Tamineth, dear one, would you help R'len and Solanth for a moment
please.**

}: yes, of course, what is it?:{

**Solanth here would like to learn how to swim, show him gentle strokes
please, he is still very young, and can strain his wings easily. So only for
a few minutes please**

}: ok, I will gladly help a young one.:{ her eyes whiled a little faster as
she stopped her play and came toward the shore.

Tamineth lowered her head so that it was almost even with Solanth'. }:hello,
young one. My rider tells me you would like to swim.:{

}:yes, my rider says it will make me strong. I want to be strong.:{ the
young brown said boldly holding his head higher.

}: yes, it will help to make you strong, come into the water, you will like
it.:{ she told the younger dragon as she turned to go back into the water.

R'len took a deep breath, leaned back against the rock, and looked over at
Trealeina.

" He is always trying to be so strong, and bold " He said with pride

"Perhaps that is because his lifemate is that way. I have never seen you be
in doubt, or weak in strength or thought." She told him thoughtfully.

" Oh yes I do " He replied shaking his head. "There is one thing that is my
weakness."

She looked at him trying think what it might be that would make him think of
himself as weak. "What on Pern could that be?" She asked half teasing, half
curious.

"You" He told her flatly. "Since the first time I saw you in the dinning
cavern. It took me forever to get up the nerve to even talk to you." He
continued as his ears turning red first, then the rest of his face. " I have
watched you with Tamineth, and watched her grow with you".

He paused then continued " I talked to some of your classmates just to find
out what ever information I could get. I just didn't have the nerve to talk
to you directly. It took me months to get to the nerve to do it." he took
another deep breath

He shook his head "Not that I regret having Impressed Solanth, but the
Impression came at a rather inconvenient time. I wanted nothing more than to
be with you. I wanted to be the one to help you through your first time. I
hated to think that some thoughtless man would be your first experience."

"I see" she said thoughtfully. She looked down at the ground and said
quietly. "I still have not done it, and it still worries me that I will not
be prepared when the time comes. Taking that final step will have to be
something that I will do by choosing carefully, and hopefully wisely."

He nodded, then looked out at the lake to watch Solanth playing with the
firelizards as they splashed and dove in and out of the water. "My feelings
for you have not changed. Even though I have Solanth, and he is everything
to me and I love him with every part of my body and soul, I guess I still
have a spot in my heart for you."

"It would be nice if I could wait for you and Solanth, but Tamineth will
rise in another 3 or 4 months." she turned her head to look at him once
more. "I don't think Solanth will be ready by then," she added with a small
smile.

He nodded again still looking out at the lake.

"I would have liked for you to be my first. Honestly. I really do like you.
You are sweet, honest," she paused for a second still watching him look out
at the lake. "And not bad on the eyes either" she added slyly.

He did smile a little at her statement, but he also turned red as he shoved
his hands in his pockets. It was not the reaction she had hoped for, but it
was better than the state he was headed for. She wanted to reach out and
touch him, hug him, something to make him feel better.

She moved closer to him, and took his hand, folding her fingers in his. "You
know I can't wait." she said softly "But there will be a time when he will
be old enough and strong enough. He will catch her one day I'm sure of it.
Unless you change your mind along the way." she paused thinking for a
second. "You know, there is of course, a time before graduation that you are
allowed to have relationships again. That would be something to look forward
to wouldn't it?"

He savored the feel of her hand in his. But he realized, he had no choice.
He knew she was right, and there was nothing to be done, but wait. He
thought for a second. "You are right." he said as he gave her hand a gentle
squeeze. "I will not think about what I can't do, I will think about what we
will do when the time comes.

Last updated on the February 10th 2009

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What I can't do