Moonlight on the Water

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 13th February 2014

Characters: K'lvin, Bahji
Description: A special evening is given.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 24 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Briata

K'lvin wasn't really sure what direction his relationship (could you
call it that?) was going with Bahji, and he certainly didn't know what
to do about the E'rae fellow. The bronzerider had never dreamed that
he was coming between two people and Bahji had insisted that he wasn't
so.... The man shrugged, deciding he had better things to think on,
such as the surprise that he had planned or Bahji that evening. He had
passed a message through Xmrenth and her firelizard for her to dress
in pants and something warm.

The bronzerider strode through the Weyrbowl and down into the
crafters' barracks and knocked on the weaver's door.

Burst blinked from /between/ moments after the knock, appearing over
K'lvin's head and peering at him with mildly whirling eyes. He gave a
chirrup of greeting, then disappeared back to where he had come; in
only moments, soft footsteps approached the door and it opened. Bahji
opened it with a bright smile, dimples deep in her cheeks. "K'lvin.
Come in." She opened the door, backing up to let him in. Wearing a
thick sweater and pants that were a little too large on her delicate
frame, she looked waifish. "So...why am I wearing pants? Do you know
how hard it was to find any?"

K'lvin chuckled, finding that Bahji looked adorable in her pants and
sweater, although the outfit did make her seem even younger than she
was already. **You could be her father.** A small voice told him.
Shaking the voice away, the bronzerider reached out and grabbed the
extra folds of sweater on the front of the the front of the woman's
body and gently drew her to him, "You will find out. It's a surprise."
He popped a kiss to the top of her head.

She giggled at the grab and batted at his hands, but accepted the kiss
easily. "A surprise?" Her face lit up. "What kind of surprise?"

"Now it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, would it?" K'lvin took
her hand, twining their fingers, "Come on, we'll be going on a dragon
ride tonight." He told her, having left Xmrenth in the Weyrbowl with
his riding straps on.

Brows shot upwards. "A ride? A real ride? Outside the weyr?" She
clutched his hand with excitement and followed. She'd been on dragon
back before, but the rides had been brief and usually just short hops
around the weyr.

"That's right. Are you okay with going /between/?" K'lvin asked as he
escorted her out into the Weyrbowl. Xmrenth crooned a greeting to his
rider and the female companion as they approached the bronze. K'lvin
didn't see why /beween/ would be a problem for Bahji since she was
blind anyway.

"Yes. I've been once." She nodded, but swallowed. Not being able to
feel had been startling for her, but it hadn't lasted very long. She
followed and stopped at the croon, her face warming. "That must be
your dragon. Introduce me?"

"Hold out your hand." He instructed gently as Xmrenth brought his
arrow shaped head down to where Bahji stood, "Bahji this is Xmrenth,"
he pressed her hand to the dragon's muzzle, "and Xmrenth this is
Bahji." The dragon whuffled out a blast of warm air in greeting.
K'lvin had already taken into consideration that loading Bahji onto
Xmrenth would be a little more difficult than other passengers. They
were prepared however to make the flight as smooth and easy as
possible.

Burst appeared once again over Bahji's shoulder and landed promptly on
her shoulder. He eyed the bigger bronze and then wrapped his tail
firmly around Bahji's neck, staking an obvious claim. Bahji laughed at
the antics and carefully stroked Xmrenth's muzzle. "It's nice to meet
you, Xmrenth. This is Burst."

Xmrenth's eyes whirled as he crooned a greeting to the firelizard and
then drew his head back, "Okay, milady, we had better be on our way. I
will help you up to Xmrenth's neckridge and then we'll be off."

She nodded, turning to the dragon. Burst chirped, nuzzled her cheek
and sent an image of the bronze in front of her. She murmured her
thanks and turned towards K'lvin. "You'll have to guide my feet. Burst
is good, but he's not always accurate and Xmrenth is larger than what
I'm used to."

"Don't worry, my dear, I am all over these lovely feet of yours."
K'lvin led her forward, "I am going to climb up first and then I will
reach back for you okay?" He steered her by the shoulders into the
correct place and then he vaulted up, Turns of practice aiding him, as
he took his place in the saddle. Xmrenth crouched low as K'lvin said,
"Hold up both hands." He grasped her firmly by the forearms, letting
her hand clasp his as well as he continued instruction, "Now tense
your body and raise your knees to your chest." All in one sweep K'lvin
lifted Bahji's slight form and then settled her onto the dragon in
front of him.

"Easy." He breathed in her ear as he reached around her and began
securing her with the riding straps.

Following his directions, Bahji reached up and clasped his hands. He
easily pulled her up and for an instant, she felt weightless. Her
smile never left her face, even as she was settled with a slight "oof"
in front of him.

The voice in her ear made her squirm and she spoke wryly. "Behave
yourself, bronzerider, or I'll think that you have plans to take
advantage. " She smirked playfully and lifted her arms, trying to make
it easy for him to strap her in.

K'lvin laughed, the action causing a vibration between his chest and
Bahji's back as he finished strapping her up and then wrapped one
solid arm around her waist, "Who says that I don't?" He smirked a bit,
"Alright, Xmrenth, let's go." K'lvin braced not only himself, but
Bahji as well as the bronze raised up on his haunches and then sprang
aloft.

"Hmm. Depends on how good your surprise is." She snuggled back against
him, relaxing, but held on tightly to his supporting arm as they rose
into the air. The wind whistled through against her ears and blew her
hair around her brow, but his presence kept her warm. She waited,
taking a deep breath for them to go between.

Wrapping his other arm around Bahji as well, K'lvin spoke once again
in her ear, "Here we go."

Xmrenth pulled the pair into the cold, numbing depths of /between/.
The trip into the black void lasted no more than three heartbeats, and
then they were high above a warm, seaside inn where the sun was just
beginning to descend behind the line of the ocean. K'lvin knew that
with her sharp senses, Bahji would pick up on the sound of the waves
and the smell of the ocean immediately.

The moment the familiar smell of the ocean hit her, Bahji gasped and
her expression became one of bliss. The sound of the waves caused her
to hug at his arms immediately. " You brought me to the ocean!"
Excited, Bahji bounced in her seat on the bronze, near giddy on sudden
excitement. She had missed the sound and the smells of the salt water
and the waves greatly. "K'lvin, thank you!"

K'lvin gave her a light squeeze in response, pleased that she had
reacted so positively to his surprise. Xmrenth landed after a slow
descent, "We are at one of my favorite inns along the coastline. One
of the first times we talked you mentioned that you missed eating
fish. So here we are. I think you will find the fish here to be
impeccable." He unbuckled the riding straps, keeping Bahji pinned in
the protective circle of his arms as he slid down Xmrenth's side and
then placed her on her feet.

"You remembered that?" Her brows rose. That conversation had just been
idle chat. As he brought her off the dragon, she turned immediately to
give him a tight hug, speaking into his chest. "Thank you."

She pulled away and turned, inhaling the sea air deeply and with
relish. Clutching his hand, she didn't know whether or not to rush
towards the sound of the waves lapping at the beach or to wait. She
bounced on her toes, her smile wide as she turned back to him. "Fish?"

K'lvin chuckled, "Come on, let's eat first. I packed us a towel and a
blanket in case you wanted to splash around in the water a bit when we
are finished." He told her as he escorted her inside the seaside
cottage. The inside of the inn smelled of delicious herbs and spices,
and he spotted tasty meals on the plates of several individuals as
they were seated by the window. It was a pity, K'lvin thought, that
Bahji could not enjoy the beautiful sunset over the ocean, but he knew
that she would enjoy what she could taste, smell and touch just as
much.

Bahji walked beside him, her smile never fading for an instant. As
they entered the cottage and the smell of the lightly spiced food
drifted to her, it was like she has encountered a banquet for her
nose. She made a pleased murmur and as she was seated beside him, leaned
slightly against him."You didn't have to do all of this. But I do love
it."

The bronzerider chuckled, shrugging even though he knew she couldn't
see it, "Everyone deserves a night out, right? Besides, I have
perfectly nefarious plans for you out on that beach later." K'lvin
broke off that train of thought as the waitress arrived by their table.

"What can I get you folks?"

"I would like a fish sandwich, please with tubers on the side." K'lvin
ordered before glancing at Bahji.

"And you ma'am?"

She brushed her lips over his cheek and laughed softly. "Nefarious?
Sounds rather frightening." Dimples flashed as she turned towards the
new person's voice. "Uhm..grilled fish and steamed vegetables with
butter please."

She sat back down, settling. "I did need this. I guess I've been
cooped up in the Weyr too long."

K'lvin nodded slowly, thinking everyone needed a break from the Weyr
at some point, it was just harder for non-dragonriders because they
had to rely on someone else for a ride from the Weyr, "How is your
weaving coming?" He asked, knowing that she was a student still.

"Good. I'm making a blanket for a friend of mine who us expecting a
child soon and there are a few more projects I'm busy with. Since I'm
not officially a crafter, I pretty much just help when I can and make
simple things." She didn't mind too much; she had more free time than
an apprentice and though she might never have many marks to spend,
that had didn't bother her much. She was as busy as she wanted to be
and she was able to help the Weyr in her own small way.

The waitress came back with the food, and K'lvin happily dug into his
fish sandwich. He had missed lunch earlier that day so his appetite
was especially large than evening, "Maybe I could get you to make a
few things for Kylena then. She's growing like a weed."
"I would, but I'm really not allowed to make clothes. I make simple
things like blankets and baskets. On occasion I can repair fishing
nets." She took a bite of her fish and sighed at the taste. She had
more than missed that! And it was delicately flavored...perfect.

"You should ask Briata. I think she's good at clothes. "

"I'll have to do that then." K'lvin remarked, although he was still
smiling at the look on her face when she had tasted the fish.

~*~

"This might be a stupid question, Bahji," he said as he walked with
the woman down the sandy beach toward the water, blanket and towel in
hand, "but do you swim?" He figured that being in the water could be a
scary thing for a blind person since they could not feel around the
same way they did on land, and could get disoriented in the water.

She had kicked off her boots and now carried them in her hands,
letting her toes sink into the sand with an almost childlike joy. "Its
not a foolish question. I do know how to swim, actually." She inhaled
in salty sea air and dug her feet in as she walked. " I wasn't born
blind. I could see when I was a child. My father used to take me out on his
boat around the harbor and he made sure I knew how for my own safety.
When I started losing my sight, my mother would take me to the shore
and she would swim with me. She said that she wanted me to be able to
do what the other children could do as much as possible."

"Can you see at all?" He asked as he laid down the blanket and towel.
He wasn't sure what was worse being born with sight and losing it, or
having never been able to see at all. K'lvin began unbuttoning his
tunic.

She walked towards the sound of the water and as her feet hit the wet
sand, bent to run her hands through it, making furrows. "I can tell if
it's dark or if it's bright. That's pretty much it." She lifted her
head. "I know its dark out right now, and when it's noon in the weyr,
I can tell. It's like a pale blur."

K'lvin glanced sideways at Bahji, "Well, since you can't see me, I
will do the gentlemanly thing and tell you that I am checking you out
right now." There was a smile present in his voice

She paused, her fingers still in the sand and held still. "Really?"
She stood and with a cheeky smile that he couldn't see, wiggled her
rear and stepped farther out, walking until the waves hit her toes.
She laughed softly and with a little kick, splashed the water upwards.
Salty spray speckled her face as she smiled, teeth flashing at the
sensation.

"Really." K'lvin said this from closer to her side this time, "I am
thinking that you may need to," he motioned with his hand, even though
she couldn't see, "lose some of that clothing so you don't get it wet.
Wet clothes and going /between/ don't go so well together."

She spun to face his voice and arched a brow. "I think you just want
to see me naked." She tsked her tongue at him. "Haven't you seen
enough of that?"

"Hmmmm," K'lvin acted as if he had to think about that before promptly
answering, "nope. If you saw what I do you would understand." He
grinned, "And perhaps I would not _mind_ seeing you naked, but there
is truth behind keeping your clothes dry." He said slyly.

She tilted her head and tapped her fingers to her lips as if thinking.
"Are _you_ already naked? I think it would be rather unfair if I was
the only one without clothes." She lowered her hand to finger the belt
that cinched her pants tight around her hips. "I suppose you're right
about keeping my clothes dry, though. She gave a sigh and then
stopped. "The..the people in the inn can't see, can they?"

K'lvin glanced back up the shore towards the inn on the hillside that
glowed merrily with lights, "No, it's too dark and they are too far
away." He looked down at himself, "I am shirtless, but quite willing
to shuck these pants if it means you are going to take yours off." He
laughed.

"I've never really stripped outside before." She _did_ want to take a
dip into the water, and did _not_ want to feel the chill of /between/
with wet clothing on. Besides, he'd seen everything she had already.
She stepped away from the cool water and drawing up her bravery, she
unbuckled the belt. The pants easily slid off of her hips to puddle at
her feet and she stepped out of them, nudging them carefully away with
her foot. She tugged her sweater up over her head and pulled it off,
then stood naked, the moonlight dappling over her pale skin and making
give it a pearlescent glow. "Your turn."

The bronzerider was so very glad that Bahji could not see him since he
could not break his gaze away from her moon bathed body. K'lvin shook
his head, with her spunky personality and a body like _that_, the man
had no doubt that Bahji would have no small amount of lovers around
the Weyr. He was only glad that he had been able to give her some of
these special moments. Having already tugged out of his boots and
tossed them back up the shore toward the blanket, K'lvin hooked his
thumbs in the waistband of his breeches and shucked them off to cast
aside, "Alright, all done. Shall we?" Even on a warm beach such as the
one they were one, K'lvin had no doubt the water would be cold.

She bent to pick up her clothes, handing them out to him. "Could you
put them where they won't get wet, please?" She pressed them into his
hands before darting towards the water and plunging into the surf with
a gasp. She stopped when the water hit her waist. "Cold!"

The man laughed as he plunged in as well, his breath coming out in
hissing from between his clenched teeth, "You know they say that body
heat is the best way to warm up." He pulled her flushed against his
body as the waves ebbed around them.

She laughed at the hiss, but her muscles were still tight as they
adjusted to the temperature of the water. She shifted against him,
moving easily with the waves. Cupping her hand in the water, she
quickly splashed his chest. "Or you could just get used to the
temperature." She darted away, scooping up water to toss at him.

"Minx." K'lvin shot back with a playful growl as he used one of his
hands to send a large spray of water shooting back at Bahji.

She squealed as the water hit her and she stumbled as she ran, hitting
the water face first. Her hands flailed and she disappeared under the
water. In only a moment later she burst upwards, dripping wet and
laughing. "No fair! You can aim much better than I can!" The waves
lapped at her and her hair dripped down in her face. "Okay...get over
here. Warm me up." She put her hands out, the tip of her tongue stuck
out between her lips as she searched, fingers wiggling.

"I thought you would never ask." K'lvin said as he splashed through
the water and enveloped Bahji in his arms, "Mhm, I like it when you
feel all slippery like this." There was a smile in his voice.

She sighed as the waves rocked her against him, nuzzled his chest and
then with a wicked little smile, licked some of the salty water from
where she had splashed him. "I definitely like it."

K'lvin hooked his finger beneath Bahji's chin and tilted her face up
to his, kissing her softly there in the ebb and flow of the ocean,
moonlight glittering on the water around them, "You ready to go dry
off?" More than that, K'lvin was ready to get Bahji back to the
blanket laid out on the beach.

She sighed against his mouth and nodded slowly. The water was a bit
too chill to stay out in too much longer. Her hand crept down to his.
"Show me the way?"

"I'll do even better than that." K'lvin hooked an arm beneath Bahji's
knees and scooped her up against him, carrying her from the water and
up to the beach and the blanket. Depositing her, he followed her down
onto the soft sand, cradling her against his body for warmth as he
looked up at the sky, "The stars are bright tonight, you can see the
dragonrider constellation easily. Did you look at constellations when
you were a kid?"

She curled up next to him with a contented soft sigh, luxuriating in
his body heat. "Yes. I loved to. I'd watch the moons late at night
over the water on the docks. I loved seeing the reflections on the
water. It was peaceful."

Looking down at Bahji he smiled, loving how positive she was despite
her visual impairment, "You are an amazing woman, Bahji." He pressed a
kiss to her temple, his fingers trailing across the smooth dip along
her hip.

"I'm just me, K'lvin." She lightly kissed his shoulder. "But thank
you." She nestled close. "And thank you for tonight. It's been
wonderful. No one's ever done anything like this for me."

K'lvin smiled, "Maybe we'll do it again sometime then."

"I'd like that."

Last updated on the March 7th 2014

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Moonlight on the Water