Awakenings

Writers: Suzee, AL
Date Posted: 18th May 2011

Characters: Briata, Y'gel
Description: Briata wakes up in Y'gel's weyr and Y'gel tries to help - though it doesn't quite work as planned.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 6
Notes: Follows "Bad Dream"

Briata

Y'gel

Briata didn't quite think about the fact that she wasn't in her own
bed. Not at first anyway. It was, after all, a bed and there's
really difference between beds. Except, this was different. As her
eyes slowly began to open, cracking against the dryness and sting that
accompanied a hard about of crying, she realised that they were a
different colour.

She pushed herself up, hip against the mattress and looked around, a
haze over her eyes as the sleep was loathe to leave. She reached up,
pushing back her hair and blinking to try and clear her vision. Ah,
then she remembered. Her dream. Her grief. Her overwhelming grief.
It threatened to come back to her and she had to swallow to keep it
down. Looking down she noted that she was still in her clothing,
untouched. Y'gel...

"Morning sleepyhead." He'd heard her moving and figured she'd finally
awakened. He picked up a cup of klah and a plate of sweet rolls and
walked into the sleeping area. "Here," he said handing her the mug.
"How are you feeling?"

Briata sat up further and let her legs slide over the side of the bed.
"I'm...all right." Not completely all right, but certainly not
wallowing in the despair that had overwhelmed her the night before.
She accepted the klah and sipped at it before allowing herself one of
the sweet rolls. Her eyes never made it to meet Y'gel's, falling
instead somewhere else. His hand, the buckle of his belt, her mug,
her lap. "Thank you."

He half smiled but didn't get any closer, she was obviously
uncomfortable. "It happens to everyone at some time or other. Friends
are just the ones who help you pick yourself up." He turned and went
back toward the table. "I've got eggs out here," he called.

Briata fingered that sweet roll. She was still in her nightgown, but
at at least was modest enough she didn't feel horrible about walking
around his weyr in it. Walking around in public would be another
story. She had relaxed quite a bit since coming to River Bluff, but
not that much. She sighed and stood, then padded into the other room,
still not looking at him as she sat down in a chair to partake of the
breakfast he had been so kind to send for.

"Briata, Did I tell you that I have a daughter about your age?"

"You've mentioned a daughter." Briata's eyes didn't lift, even though
the bronzerider spoke to her. She still felt odd, but she didn't want
to be rude. And she honestly didn't want to roam through the halls in
her nightgown. "I didn't know she was my age." Perhaps that's what
helped her to feel comfortable around him, even though she was only in
her nightgown. He was more of a father figure.

He could tell she was uncomfortable so he scraped back his chair and
went to a locker. He opened the lid and poked around inside for a
moment. When he came back he had a bundle of cloth. "Here," he said
handing it to her. "Gelira left that here and hasn't come back to
collect it. I imagine it's about your size"

Briata was forced to look up since he didn't say what 'it' was and the
relief on her face was palpable. She set down her food and stood then
reached out to take the dress, for dress it was. "Thank you." She
managed, cheeks brightening a bit, then turned to hurry back into the
bedroom so she could change.

He shook his head and sat back down in his chair. He didn't exactly
chuckle because she could have heard that but her whole embarrassment
was just so... what was the word? Yeah... cute.

Briata emerged a few moments later. She was a little tall for the
dress, her bosom pressed against the fabric making it a little taught.
The ties in the back helped to accentuate her rolling curves. It
wasn't the best fit, but it would do well enough for her to get to her
own quarters without incident. Her nightgown was thrown over her arm
and while she was better dressed, she still couldn't look at Y'gel.

He knew better than to joke with her. But he couldn't really help
feeling just a little bit concerned. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing." Briata was just shaken still and really needed to get her
mind off of the previous night. But Y'gel had been so kind to her,
she hated to leave him. Slowly, she sat back down in the chair, ready
to finish her breakfast. "I'm fine. A little tired, but fine."
Except that she wasn't, though she wasn't about to tell him that.

His fork clanked down into his dish "You really expect me to accept
that as an answer young woman?" His fatherly heart felt for her but
this was just too much. "Just who do you think it was found you
huddled in a puddle in the middle of the Weyrbowl last night? Nothing?
Try again." He hadn't raised his voice at all but a hint of the master
with a pupil showed through.

Briata's hold on her own fork tightened and she shook her head. "What
is there to say?" She asked. Her voice trembled and if she thought
about things too much she was going to start crying again. She didn't
want that. Not after last night. Not again. She'd already bared
herself too much to him.

"Briata," he bent slightly to look in her face. "People care about
you. _I_ care about you. If I didn't I could have just let you sob
alone with no arms to comfort you." A croon sounded from Aughashyth.

That brought about a hint of a smile, though it was shallow, no light
brought to her eyes because of it. "You are very kind. But..." Her
face twisted and she took a deep breath, her hands clutching hard at
the table though she didn't realise the hold she had taken on it. "It
just...just..."

"Look, I don't really want to intrude just help." He shook his head.
"Sometimes we all need a little help. Faranth! I know I have on
occasion. Friends help... it's a rule!" He knew he was being silly
with that last but she was just so sharding serious all the time.

Briata didn't laugh. She shook her head and half heartedly picked at her
eggs, which by that time were cold. ''There isn't anything you can help
with.''

**Teenagers! Can't win for losing.** He set his utensils back down on
his plate carefully. "I'll keep that in mind next time." He rose from
the table and walked back into his sleeping room to make the bed and
dress himself for the day.

Briata looked up only when Y'gel rose and she watched his retreat.
Jewel crooned softly from her shoulder in an effort to soothe her
mistress. The young woman offered a bit of egg to the gold who
devoured it eagerly. Then she rose and collected her nightgown which
she had draped over the back of her chair. Her teeth worried her
lower lip as she looked back at the door that led to the bedroom. He
didn't understand what she was going through, but she did appreciate
his sympathy and his attempts to help. But what could he do? Nothing
could bring B'lamick back. He couldn't do that - and that was the
only thing that could truly help.

Her eyes closed and another tear escaped. Briata had to take a deep
breath to keep from truly crying - the feat easier now that the day
had dawned and she was not still reeling from those dreams. She
opened her eyes again, sadness still spilled out over her features,
then turned to head to the door, his retreat a sign to her that she
was dismissed.

Last updated on the May 24th 2011

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