Fire and Water ((G'del))

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn sat patiently while the drudge approached and G’del requested their food, for she was content to merely revel in his company and admire his profile. When his attention finally returned to her, her green eyes immediately sought his, and surprise slowly changed the expression on her delicate features. The last thing she expected to hear from a bronzerider was a disregard of title, yet it only served to endear the man all the more to her. “I did not wish to insult you by addressing you so informally, sir.” The girl began, and blushed when she realized she had titled him again. “G’del.” She amended softly, then smiled at him.

The Wingleader’s voice felt comfortable to her, somehow, and the girl was caught up in his story. Just to hear him sharing so much was enough to please her, but the more enthralling thing was his presence so close to her own. Her mind worked through his words quickly, and she felt a smile spreading across her face. A mere eight turns ago she had been sitting in the stands with Nye, her foster mother, watching many hatchings before she was chosen as a candidate. She was...eight turns then, and not yet a candidate. The dates the bronzerider had given her quickly ticked through her mind, and she realized something rather interesting. She grinned. “You say you were eighteen eight turns ago? I was eight. You are exactly ten turns my senior. How odd.” There were several strange factors between them, all right. Not that she minded. “I was indeed present at your hatching, G’del, I was just in the stands then.”

She certainly could sympathize with the uncertainties he spoke of during candidacy, for she had felt them frequently herself. Although, he had the Smithcraft to return to, but she was a woman in a man’s world, and her options were not quite so bright if she did not Impress. Raelwyn gave the Wingleader a soft smile, the expression rather mature for one so young, but a weyrbred girl saw far more than any Holder’s daughter. “At times, yes.” The girl replied, dropping her green eyes to her lap. There were some things about being a gold candidate that tore her very soul apart, and yet it drove her to become stronger at the same time. It was a two-edged sword. Rael brought her gaze back up to meet his dark eyes. “I did not choose this path, but it suits me, I think. I do not back down easily from anything. More is expected of me, and of course my masters expect me to work harder than the other girls, but I do not mind. I want to be a strong goldrider.”

The candidate tilted her head to the side slightly, and studied the bronzerider for a moment, her green eyes searching his own. “And what about you, G’del?” She asked softly, dearly wishing to dive a little deeper into the man before her. “My path is not a simple one, but yours is even more treacherous. You are a Wingleader, and upon your shoulders rests the lives of every one of your wingriders during Fall, and it is your commands and your sharp mind that leads them through the danger. Is it not a rough life, to hold so much responsibility on your own? To spend countless days devoting your entire being to working your riders into a fighting wing that can hold their own? That, G’del, sounds far more tiresome and challenging to me.” Her voice remained low and soft, her admiration for him clear.

[brimstone81]

G'del sipped his drink for a moment or two, and paused in thought. He didn't notice how she looked at his profile, not that he would mind. G'del had not really seen Raelwyn at Fort, not that he was surprized. She wouldn't have been a candidate, because she was so much younger than he was. He heard her amend his name softly, and he pushed the glass of fruit juice towards her, "Drink up, Queenie."

She was a sweet girl and he could get used to her company, he even enjoyed it. He looked at her, so she was sixteen. Just coming into womanhood. He was in his mid twenties, and he was a little surprized that she wasn't scared off. He was glad she didn't run, they could be good friends. Plus he liked teasing her, for she blushed so prettily. He wondered then if she had any craft experience, she was young, but it would be possible for her to have started an apprenticeship. He was about to ask her when she spoke to him. She had commented on the ten years between them, it interested him slightly, "How do you find ten turns odd, Raelwyn?"

"I did not choose this path, but it suits me, I think. I do not back down easily from anything. More is expected of me, and of course my masters expect me to work harder than the other girls, but I do not mind. I want to be a strong goldrider.”

G'del smiled down at her, "It suits you well, I agree. And I can see that you didn't back down when you stood up to that male candidate those few moments ago. Believe me, I know what it's like to have a lot of expectations. My father always expected a lot from me, however I think when I Impressed Solarith even I exceeded his expectations. When I entered weyrlinghood, there was even more expectations from my Master and of course my fellow weyrlings. Even now, I have certain expectations put upon me as a wingleader. And, I believe you'd be an awesome goldrider, Queenie." He smiled softly again at her.

He thought about his own responsibilities. He had many, and his wingmates were apart of them. G'del had not flown with them against thread at this Weyr yet, but he wanted them to be disciplined and ready for anything that might be thrown at them. Yes, he worked them (however I only wrote that once after G'del lost Sharieth's flight, and now Beta wing always seems to be worked to the bone by my bronzerider ^-^ ) but it was for their own good because he took his responsibility seriously. "Tired I may be at the end of the day, but I would never trade my life for anything. I like my responsibility, I am not booked too full. . . yet. That might change with a weyrmate and maybe children one day." He grinned and rubbed the back of his head, "I barely ever saw my father, so I'd like to make sure I spend as much time aside of my duties for my children. If I ever have any, that is. What about you, if you become a queenrider, would you ever want children? The duties of a queenrider are vast, I hear."

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn arched a brow slightly when the Wingleader presented her with the juice, grinning a little to herself. She had never expected him to give her a nickname....well, it was more a pet name, actually....but either way, it was a pleasant surprise. Of course, as a girl who liked challenges, she naturally began to run a few nicknames through her mind herself. After all, if they perchance grew closer, she would have to return the favor. Smiling a little, she took a drink of the proffered glass and focused her attention back upon to Wingleader. “Queenie, is it?” The candidate grinned, beginning to feel a bit more at ease now. Once they dropped the titles and spoke a few moments, she started to feel some of the rigid tension slowly bleed out of her muscles. A small level of comfort made the situation a bit more lighthearted. “I would call you bronzie, but I do not think it is half as cute.” The girl’s voice was deadly serious, but her face and eyes betrayed her.

Tilting her head to the side, Rael smiled at the bronzerider, her green eyes dropping to the glass before her briefly before meeting his dark gaze again. “I just find ten turns to be oddly...even.” She said levelly, smiling a bit mischievously at her play on words. The girl shook her head slightly, wondering if he would find her sometimes droll sense of humor amusing, then looked at him slowly as he spoke again. The Wingleader was being rather kind and very gentle with her, which made the candidate’s stomach do a funny sort of lurch. His faith in her was heartening as well. “My deepest thanks, G’del. Sometimes a word from a dragonrider does much for a candidate.” The Fort-born was dwelling on many things at that moment, and she wondered if it was displayed in her green eyes. Raelwyn wondered, deep down, if she would Impress, and what she would do if she did not. She was far too strong for a drudge’s life, and so she wondered what she would face.

The candidate immediately focused her attention back on the tall man as he spoke of his duties, and felt a small blush rise to her cheeks and heat her face slightly as he spoke of a weyrmate. However, she quickly willed it away, retaining her composure. The breif and rather not-so-innocent thought that had run through her mind at his comment had caused it....she was rather willing to be the one to take away what free time he had. Grinning a little, Raelwyn smoothed her skirt, a gesture that was more habit than anything, and shook her head. “It is an admirable desire, to be a good father, even when you have the obligation of leading a wing. I never saw my father very much, either, but he is a Wingsecond.” The candidate considered the bronzerider for a moment, then smiled. “And I’m sure it will be no difficulty for you to find a weyrmate, G’del. Aside from a handsome face you certainly have working in your favor, that kind soul you posses is a rarity. Any woman would be mad not to see that.”

She wondered if she had said too much, but the gold hopeful did not worry long. Her compliment was one that did not have to necessarily be read into too far....unless the Wingleader was the empathetic sort. Raelwyn smiled at little at him, her green eyes excited, yet at the same time, a little sad. “I would like children, eventually, but as to holding vast duties....we will have to see if I Impress a queen first.”

[brimstone81]

“I would call you bronzie, but I do not think it is half as cute.”

At that G'del chuckled, and then nodded in aggreement. "Not that I'm a cutsie guy, but bronzie isn't exactly suitable. And she went on and he listened intently, and almost winced at the part where she thanked him for being so encouraging. Perhaps it was not fair of him to be that encouraging. After all, queens were a rarity and, well, there was a little chance of another one appearing on the sands. He shouldn't build up h er hopes or ego. He knew she could never settle, and hoped she never would. G'del was the same type-he did not ever want to settle. Unfortunately there was more chance for a boy than a girl, but that was just the way things were. She was young yet, maybe there would be a queen egg in the next 4 turns. And maybe not. His stomach churned a little with guild. He couldn't take it back and thought, Don't get your hopes up too much kid, I'm not a searchrider. He breathed in slowly, Just a big dumb oaf who likes to shoot his mouth off. Well she was smart, she must realize her chances and he didn't want to make anything awkward so he didn't say anything.

Fortunately there had been a change in topics, though this one was that much better than the last. She had assured him that he would have no problem finding a weyrmate, but she failed to take into consideration that he was not the type of guy who would woo any woman. He was looking for some one special. Some one, whom if she wasn't a queenrider, could handle the fact that he was going to try for a queen. Few women wanted that, and the few that did, he had never found or had found inadequet. He nodded slowly, and then laughed, saying in jest, "Careful, Queenie, you're feeding the ego of a lonely bronzerider."

He was suprized to to note his gladness when she said she wouldn't mind having a few children one day. G'del would love children, well he really wanted a child to call his own. Of course he was pretty ready right now, but unfortunately he lacked the woman. Surely not Rael. She was much, much too young. And his few female friends, well they had mates already. This talk of children was getting him no where. "Yes, we shall see."

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn was pleased when the Wingleader laughed in reply to her jest. Far too many bronzers took themselves too seriously, and would never have found her comment funny. Although, she had yet to unleash her true nature, but was a slight reluctant and even nervous to do so. Panna and Toya knew that she was an outgoing, bright girl who liked to have fun, but she did not want to scare the Wingleader off. After all, if she acted too confident or teasing, he might think her rather obnoxious for a candidate. Yet, on the flip side of the mark, he might like girls like that. It was Rael’s weakness for sweet men that had gotten her into this mess, she thought, because now she had certainly developed a considerable amount of admiration and fondness for G’del, and was very, very loathe to ruin their new, fragile relationship. If it could even be called a relationship. Just because she knew that she felt....something for him, it did not at all promise the same of him.

The emotion that was beginning to awake in her was not just a mere crush....it was certainly deeper, and she was fairly certain even a little darker. It coiled in her stomach, and did some funny things to her heart. Rael could not be sure. Could it perhaps be the first low, slow stirrings of....love? Faranth only knew.

Her mind, she finally decided, needed to be distracted from those thoughts, and focused her attention on the tall, handsome rider. The candidate hated being so indecisive, and unable to tell what her own heart was trying to say. The bronzer laughed and spoke, and although his words were intended as a jest, Rael felt somehow sad. The girl tilted her head to the side a bit, a slight, melancholy frown upon her delicate features. “And are you lonely right now, G’del?” She asked, unable to stop herself from pitching the situation to a more serious note.

Even the girl was unsure of everything she meant by that. For such a simple statement, it held a unfathomable amount of deep implications. Raelwyn was saddened that he felt lonely, and truly wished there was something she could do. She already felt enough for him to want to take it away. She wanted to know if, even though he was pretending to have a pleasant time with her, he was empty inside, or sad. Was her company not enough to cheer him? Or, even deeper still, if he did not feel quite so alone with the candidate at his side, then perhaps....he should consider keeping her there. She would be willing to take the chance. Rael shook her head slowly, noting with dismay that it was growing dark in the bowl. Curfew would soon call her away, and back to the candidate barracks. Would she ever even see the Wingleader again? “I’m sorry, G’del.....It’s not really my business....forgive me if I overstepped.” Her green eyes were on his boots, looking at the patterns in the wherhide. She felt unsure about looking at him.

[brimstone81]

“And are you lonely right now, G’del?”

The bronzerider was slightly taken aback, and looked away, not sure how to answer that question. Part of him wanted to answer 'kind of' and the other part wanted to just ignore that part, it really wasn't any of her business, right? What was she to him? Not family, just a candidate. He reminded himeself that she was young, and her feelings for him were probably just admiring ones. He should be so silly, he was a bronzerider, not a greenrider. Not that he should stereo type either.

The other part of him that answered 'kind of' didn't want to bother her, but wouldn't mind keeping her around. Maybe he was just an oaf. Then she apologised, and his thoughts melted as her voice cut into them. He looked at her and said, "It's okay, really, I'm fine. You shouldn't worry yourself over me, really."

Now she was looking away from him, and he didn't know what to do about that, but he didn't want to keep her or anything so he said, "So I remember being a candidate and we had curfews, do you have one, I'd hate to have you get in trouble over me."

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn could tell she had taken the bronzerider by surprise, and immediately regretted asking him something so personal. He was a Wingleader and a man, and she was nothing but a mere girl, and a candidate at that. However, something made her want to know much more about him. Her gaze was focused on his boots, almost as if she was memorized by how the light outlined the natural creases in the wherhide. Anything to take her mind off the present. With G’del, she felt so awkward, not at all like I’slen or....Zarefan. With her fellow candidate, the girl could be herself, and she was bright and happy, always making clever jests and slipping winks his way. It was free, but with the bronzer....

“I know I should not pry into your personal matters. I am sorry for my rudeness.” The gold hopeful felt like a stupid wherry, and was rather certain she looked like one before the Wingleader. She almost winced when he spoke of her curfew, but it was very true. Rael nodded, her green eyes slowly traveling from his boots to meet his own gaze. “Yes, I should be returning to the barracks...thank you for everything, G’del.”

The look upon the Fort-born’s features clearly displayed remorse at asking such a thing of the bronzer, but there was nothing Raelwyn could do now. The damage had been done. She stood, smoothing her skirt and she did, and glanced briefly at the entrance to the weyrhall. Yes, it would soon be curfew for candidates, and she certainly did not need S’mael coming to find her. The candidate master was....dour to say the least, and no one she wished to anger. Turning to the Wingleader, the girl smiled slightly, taking in his handsome features as she focused on his eyes. “Good night, G’del. Be well.” Then she bowed a slight to him and turned, walking steadily out of the weyrhall until she reached the bowl. Then she broke into a run.