Returning Conflict

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 7th March 2014

Characters: Cyradis, D'hol
Description: After the flight dinner that doesn't go the way she'd like
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 14 of Turn 7

Cyradis

D'hol

Drills had been a mixture of hard, driving flight and trying different
wing formations that would best integrate the newer wing members. As a
result, when D'hol got back to his office, he was sweaty, dirty and
tired. He fixed the newest charts on his table and glanced outside of
his window to check the time. Rukbat was setting and dinner would be
served in the Dining Cavern soon.

**Ask D'hol if he can meet me in my office,** Cyradis knew the drills
were over. Panitath kept her quite aware of what was going on in the
Weyr, at least when she wasn't taking a nap.

He felt a flash of irritation before he swallowed it and forced
himself into a state of calm. **As the Weyrwoman commands.** Yumath
wisely sent the simple reply back. }: He can come. He is on his way.:{

Still in his flight leathers, D'hol left his office, walked down the
corridor and stepped into the open door way. "You wanted to see me?"

She recognized the mood he was in but wisely refrained from commenting
at first. "Is it such an awful chore to visit with a friend?" then she
got a whiff of him. "Gah," she said. "Didn't you bathe?"

Staying in the door, he kept his face smooth and polite. "I just got
out of drills. I haven't had time yet. I can bathe and come back if
you like."

"If you don't mind," she said. "I'll have some food sent up and we can
take dinner together."

One brow quirked upwards at the offer. "The entire time I have been
here you have never wanted to eat dinner with me, Weyrwoman. I am sure
your weyrmate would not be appreciative, all things considered." Nor
would his own, but at the moment he was so angry at the young woman
that he didn't mention her. His tone remaining perfectly civil, he
inclined his head. "I'll be back after I bathe, of course."

**And you have not been chosen and still lost before.** "There is
always a first time Wingleader," she replied. If he was going to be
formal, that she could be as well. "I look forward to your return."

He nodded and left, boot heels clicking. The tension in his shoulders
didn't ease, even as he bathed in the hottest water he could stand.
When he was finished, he returned to Cyradis' office. He was cleaner
of course, but his expression hadn't appeared to have changed as he
knocked back on the door frame.

"Come on in," she said. The table was all layed out and glasses were
ready for a nice bottle of wine. "What would you like?" She lifted a
couple of the covers to show him what they had to choose from.

He looked at the table and then back at her. The only noticeable
change in his expression was a twitching jaw muscle. What was she
doing? Purposefully tormenting him with a romantic table setting?
Wasn't it enough that he had lost in the worst possible way and _then_
made a fool of himself by being dragged from the flightroom? His
expression revealed nothing of his thoughts as he entered and slowly
sat. "A glass of wine is fine. What did you need to see me about?"

She sighed and sat down at the table. Always prickly, always
difficult, always a pain to deal with. Yet, this time he had at least
a little bit of a reason. "How are we going to get past this D'hol.
Would you rather I had asked to have dinner in the dining hall where
every curious eye could find us and speculate?"

His jaw twitched and he took a deep breath. "There's nothing to
speculate on, Cyradis. I lost. I accept it. I don't like it, but I
accept it. There's not much else I can do. N'vanik stays the
Weyrleader, I'm a Wingleader. Nothing has changed. For the good of the
Weyr..." He took a measured breath. "and the wings...there's nothing
to get past."

"Well that sounds good on the outside, but is it how you really feel?"
Her talk with Jeyme earlier had made her feel sad for all of them. She
wished she could do something to help but the dragons decide and the
rider complies. That was the way of the Weyr.

His face neutral, he dished out a serving of meat and then vegetables
on his plate. "How I really feel is rather obvious, I should think."

She sighed and took her own portions of food and then poured her own
glass of wine. "Of course it is, to everyone in the Weyr, especially
your weyrmate."

That garnered a response as D'hol's eyes swung immediately to her.
"That is none of your business, Cyradis." He put down his fork and his
wine glass. "And I will not discuss it."

"That's fine," she said mildly. "But keep me out of it then. It's
unfair to her and unfair to me."

"Unfair to you? How are you affected by this, Cyradis? Nothing about
this has any impact upon you at all." He moved aside his napkin. "I am
being perfectly civil. I'm not pressing you, I'm not touching you and
I'm sure as blazes am not planning to make a fool out of myself again.
It damaged me, not you." His eye twitched as he mastered his temper,
swallowing his vitriol as best as he could. "But as you like, Cyradis.
I will keep you out of it. Anything else?"

"No?" She fought for her own calm. It was so like him to think that
this whole situation revolved around him and his hurt. "It does affect
me in many ways. For one, Kielya. But, setting that aside I find it
interesting that you think you were the only one damaged." Then she
shook her head and held up a hand. "But right now, I simply wanted to
have dinner with my friend and without prying eyes. Is that so wrong?
Or am I out of line thinking we can be friends?"

"I would never bring this up to Kielya, or involve her in any way. I
love my daughter, Cyradis." His voice was firm. "I didn't say I was
the only one damaged, Cyradis. You assumed that's what I meant. What I
said is that it doesn't affect you, besides perhaps it was
embarrassing for you." He conceded that and leaned back and rubbed his
temples. "We haven't had dinner forever in turns, Cyradis. Be straight
with me. " His voice lowered, finally revealing his tiredness and some
small part of the strain he was under. "I told you I'd be your friend.
Now why am I really here?"

"You almost won my flight," she said simply. "Do you remember
Felsine?" She casually cut into her meat and switched to her fork.
"Well, she taught me many things but she did say that when a bronze
came close to winning it meant he _could_ win. And she would have
dinner with that rider to begin a friendship. In my last flight here
at Dolphin Cove, that dinner was with R'enh."

"Thank you for reminding me. I might have forgotten that." **No, I
should have won. And would have if...**He cut off that line of
thought. He opened his eyes after giving his temples another rub. "I
remember her. So you just want to have dinner and chat."

"No need for sarcasm, this is just a friendly dinner," she confirmed.
"I would do this with any bronzerider that came as close as you did to
Weyrleadership. Please D'hol we have to find a way to unify the
leadership of this Weyr and you and N'vanik at each others throats
just won't cut it. Don't you see that I have to try for the sake of
the Weyr?"

"Then what would you suggest?" D'hol leaned back in his chair for a
moment, picking up a piece of bread before pulling it apart in his
fingers.

"I heard a bit about what happened at that Inn the other night." How
could he think it wouldn't get back to her. "We can't have any more of
that for a start."

He stared at her and his eyes twitched. "So in other words, I'm to
behave myself and pretend that nothing happened."

"No," she said. "Why is it that you put the worst possible
interpretation on whatever I say. You know you make it really hard to
be your friend." She blew out a deep breath. "Whatever grudge you
carry with N'vanik you can work out behind closed doors. You don't
have to advertise it to the people we protect. That was an Inn full of
holders you acted out in front of the other night. Word spreads, and
people become unsure of our abilities to protect them. Like it or not
a bronzerider is akin to a Lord in their eyes and you behaved like
small children. Both of you!"

His reply was prompt. "If I expect the worst, on the occasion that I'm
wrong I can be pleasantly surprised." He ate a piece of bread,
chewing slowly as he looked at her without apology. In truth, he was
in no mood to be criticized about his behavior, even if it was
warranted. "At least I left. I felt like breaking the man's sharding
nose. I should have." He chewed on another piece of bread. He
understood that presenting a united front was important when facing
holds and the people that populated them, and unfortunately, he knew
that Cyradis was right. It didn't help his mood. Pleasant dinner his
right arse cheek. "Very well."

"Is that from me, or just in general," then she waved her hand. "Never
mind." There was no point in beating the topic to death. He was as set
in his ways as she in hers. "Just don't do it again." She chewed for a
moment in silence. It wasn't her job to order his life but he was
making a big mistake with Jeyme but she knew that subject would go
over equally as well.

"So, change of subject. What do you think you would have done had you
won? Beyond the obvious of course. Any changes you'd make?"

One brow quirked up at her question and then her quick diverting from
it. "Don't worry, Cyradis. In public I shall be the epitome of the
supportive Wingleader from now on." His voice was cool as he inclined
his head. "For the good of the Weyr." He took a sip of his wine and
then leaned back in his chair to look at her. "Oh, I thought I'd just
shake everything up and send the entire Weyr into a roiling mass of
confusion just for my own sick amusement." He looked at her and then
without the sarcasm continued. "I wouldn't make sweeping changes at
all. Things work for the most part. I _would_ have offered the
position of Weyrsecond to N'vanik in order to keep some continuity in
leadership. Believe it or not, I am dedicated to the Weyr and its best
interests."

She nodded. She really would have expected nothing else. Though she
wasn't so sure N'vanik would have accepted the offer, one never knew.
It did pay to be prepared though. She thought back to her
conversation with R'enh and knew he'd have offered the same thing to
her current Weyrleader. Somehow she thought a R'enh/N'vanik would be
easier than a D'hol/N'vanik paring. "I know you are," she smiled. "I
just wanted to hear you say it. Now.." she reached over to lift the
cover off another dish. This one was D'hol's favorite dessert.
"Probably didn't think I'd remember?"

"You should know me well enough to not have doubted it." He replied
simply. "I may be a bastard, but I know where my duties and loyalties
lie." He didn't add that should he win the next time, the offer would
not likely not be given to N'vanik at all. Perhaps R'ehn, or even
K'deren, who he was perfectly comfortable working with. But not
N'vanik. He'd be placed back into the wings and would not be allowed
any transfers. As he said...he was indeed a bastard.

He looked at the desert and his brows arched. "No, I didn't."

**I did want to be Weyrwoman, I really did.** She smiled at him
determined to keep her serenity but her black eyes hardened to
obsidian. }:I love you mine:{ **I love you too.** her reassurance to
her lifemate returned swiftly.

Last updated on the March 13th 2014

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Returning Conflict