my two favorite women ;; Zi

[maiwolf]

B’oone had promised illayria a Benden. Well, no, that wasn’t true. He had lost the bet, and he had to pay up. However, his way of ‘paying up’ might not have been as romaitc as his Weyrmate might have imagined.

After stopping at the kitchens to get the Bended wine, B’oone stopped at one of the most familiar places of the Weyr. After only one knock at the door, the door opened and a maniac burst out of it. B’oone, used to these meetings, knelt down and swung the child into his arms. He could carely make out her words, but the man was failry certain she was saying, “Daddy, daddy, daddy!” over and over gain. He was not, unfortunately, Manna’s father, but he was close enough to her that he did not mind. Having no kids of his own, B’oone was filled with pride whenever Manna acknowledged him as her father. Slowly the girl stopped, and pulled back to look at him. “What’re we gunna do today?”

B’oone, smiling, closed the door and walked the shortcut way to Illayria’s Weyr. “We’re going to meet someone new today. I bet you’ll like her.”

Manna grinned, showing pearly white children’s teeth, “Who is she?”

B’oone shrugged his shoulders, “I dunno.” To which Manna frowned, “But you got ta know, Daddy! You’re my daddy, you know everything!”

“Fine then,” B’oone said, and rubbed his nose with Manna’s, “She’s Illayria, and she’s my new Weyrmate.” Manna ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed,’ “Does she have a dragon?” “Yup.” “As big as Brennie?” “Bigger than Brennanth.” “Can I ride her dragon?” A laugh, “If she says it’s okay to, little one.” “YAY!”

B’oone, holding Manna, finally reached Illayria’s Weyr. “Illayria?” He called, setting down Manna, but keeping one of her hands in his—lest she run off. “Illayria? I’ve got the wine, and someone you’d like to meet!”

[stolenhart]

Whether or not Ilayria wanted to meet Manna was apparently not open for discussion, she was going to meet B'oone's niece anyway. Why are you so upset? If you don't want to meet her don't. You don't need him anymore than I need that puffed up wherry Brennanth, Astoth sent her rider from her sunning ledge. You know full well you like keeping that puffed up wherry around. "In here", Ilayria called out. Why a child? She sighed inwardly and put a light-hearted smile on her face. "Do you have Manna?", she asked stepping into the sitting room. "I have something for her".

In her hands Ilayria held a stuffed animal of some kind. If you squinted your eyes it looked like a dragon but it more resembled a wherry than anything else. Ilayria knelt down to Manna's level and held the stuffed dragon out to her. "This was mine when I was your age. His name is Fathy", as a young child Ilayria had named the dragon Fath but at always referred to him as Fathy, it had driven her dragonriding father nuts but there was nothing he could do about changing her mind.

[maiwolf]

B’oone smiled at Illayria when she appeared. So did Manna. Manna thought this all fun and games, and she had a right to. The girl thought everything was ‘fun and games,’ and meeting the Senior Weyrwoman was no different. Manna bounced with barely contained energy as she saw the radiant woman before her. “She looks pretty, Daddy!” the girl exclaimed, which was meant only for B’oone’s ears, but somehow was loud enough even for Brennanth, who was outside near Astoth, to hear. Manna turned back to Illayria, still positively beaming, “I can tell Daddy likes you, miss. You is special.” B’oone, who had been grinning at Illayria, wiped the grin off his face in an attempt to school his expression.

You knew someone would say something one day.

[/b] Brennanth said, his tone gentle. B’oone shrugged almost imperceptibly. Manna, on the other hand, was awed. She took the little thing from Illayria’s hands and stared at him. “Fathy?” She asked, still too awed to do much else. Then, her eyes shining, she grinned up at Illayria. “Thankee, Miss Illayria!” She hugged Fathy to her, and twisted her body while she hugged him, symbolic of things most little kids did when they got a new toy they liked. “I love him! Fathy!” She squealed, and turned to her Daddy, “Daddy, Miss Illayria’s nice, lookee what she gave me!”

B’oone looked up at Illayria, “You know, you didn’t have to give her anything.” Then he remembered the Benden in his hand. “Here, I promised you, even if this… well, even if it isn’t the ideal romantic evening.”
[/blockquote]

[stolenhart]

Ilayria nodded, satisfied that the gift giving had gone well and stood back. She was wearing loose pants and shirt in plae blue since she was working in her office, no need to wear anything form fitting. "It was just laying around. I haven't had any time for poor Fathy in turns", she explained with a shrug. Ilayria had always liked kids but she wasn't sure how kids would fit into her life. She was a selfish person after all and was stretched to the limits with taking care of Astoth. It amazed her that B'oone wanted to stay around when Ilayria knew she rarely spared much time for him. Kids just took up so much emotion and time when Ilayria had an entire Weyr to care for.

"You could have waited to pay on the Benden", Ilayria murmured taking the skin from him. She'd probably keep it around the weyr and drink it tonight while she oiled Astoth once Manna was gone. "Why don't we go see the dragons?", Ilayria asked Manna. Astoth always watched kids curiously, and she always jokingly asked if she could eat them. There were some kids Ilayria would gladly let the dragon eat but she always refrained from giving into the dragon. That would not start a good pattern. "After we see them we can go eat", Ilayria promised, heading for the dragon's weyr.

[maiwolf]

All Manna heard was the word 'dragons,' and then she jumped. "We get to see your gold, Miss Illayria?" She bounced up and down with joy. She loved dragons, and one of her dreams in life was none other than to Impress a dragon. She hugged Fathy to her and bunced forward, toward the dragons. "I get to see a gold!" She chanted, "I get to touch a gold!"

B'oone shrugged, "Better remember now than forget later and you know that, too." He turned to watch Manna bounce off in the direction of the dragons. "She's a handful, but you have to love her. Especially when she acts all cute like this. You'd never know she's a wherry in disguise. Maybe Astoth'll like her, though." B'oone shrugged again, Astoth was strange, but that was saying nothing. Brennanth was even more so. B'oone started after Manna, "But you might want to watch her, else she'd try to take Astoth flying."

Manna reached the dragon's ledge and stopped, awed again. Then, another squeal, "Ohhhh, you're so beautiful!" She cried, and raced up to Astoth. She stopped before the giant queen and looked at her wonderingly. Then she reached out. Before she touched the queen, though, she faltered. "May I?"

[stolenhart]

Ilayria nodded as B'oone talked. She didn't have to love her, she barely knew the child but she realized that B'oone was just expressing himself so she didn't say anything while he talked. "Maybe", she murmured appearing in the Weyr. Astoth was in the sun on the ledge eye rolled back to watch for her rider and company. Nod you head. She's too young to know proper etiquette yet, Ilayria told her dragon. Astoth took a deep breathe and nodded, responding to the young child's question.

"She says sure", Ilayria translated for the gold, who hadn't really said it. It was etiquette for anyone approaching the gold dragons to bow to them in respect. Especially so when they were egg-heavy and more prone to lashing out at strangers. Astoth had been known to chase candidates off the sands for not bowing to her. She was a stickler for etiquette. She did not like Ilayria forgoing the formal title of Weyrwoman or My Lady either but the dragon could get over it.

[maiwolf]

B'oone walked with Illayria, keeping close to her but not touching. He didn't want to overdo it. He just wanted to show her that he still cared for her, even though sometimes it didn't seem like it. He watched Manna, and shook his head, "She needs to learn manners. I should get to that soon, or make her foster mother teach her that. At least Astoth hasn't bitten her head off yet." The man frowned, "She's so free-spirited."

Manna squealed again. "Oh, thank you, pretty gold!" She didn't need Illayria to tell her yes when she had seen Astoth nod her head. She touched Astoth's hide, "Oh, you're so much softer than Brennie!" She exclaimed, and kneeled in front of the queen's giant forefoot, just sitting there, petting her foot. "So soft, and pretty. I want a gold one day."

B'oone nodded towards Astoth, "Is she liking this?"

[stolenhart]

Ilayria would not have appreciated being touched right now anyway. She was in a singular mood and didn't want to be touched by anyone, least of all her weyrmate. Mostly it was because of Astoth's pregnancy, Ilayria always got a little standoffish when the dragon was egg-heavy. Or maybe it was just that time of the month for her. Whatever it was she avoided touching B'oone as much as she could just like he was. "Manners will come in time as she interacts with the riders", Ilayria answered him stepping forward to the gold dragon.

Astoth looked over at Ilayria as her rider put a hand on her shoulder. Why do they always talk to me like I am a canine or some befuddled green?I do not know. She's a little girl, undoubtedly I treated dragons like that when I was her age, Ilayria answered the dragon before turning back to B'oone. "She is tolerating it. She doesn't understand children", she smiled wistfully and turned back to watch the girl exclaim that she wanted a gold one day. "Well now that's a goal to have but gold's", Ilayria shrugged, "They are alot of work. And they smell bad on occasion", Astoth snorted. "when I was your age I wanted a green so I could fight and travel".

[maiwolf]

Manna looked up at Astoth and noticed her whirling eyes. She was about to blurt something else out, but held her tongue. Instead, she just smiled, hugged Fathy tighter to her, and bounced on her knees. Boone laughed at both Manna and Astoth, “It’s not just kids, Manna’s the strangest of the lost. She thinks she can Impress at this age, and all she wants is a queen. She’s told me nonstop—“ He was interrupted by a small shriek, “No, Daddy, I wanna tell her!” Manna cried. Suddenly she was on her feet, fire smoldering in her eyes. B’oone shrugged and gave Ilaria a look that said, ‘See what I mean?’ “Go ahead, Manna.”

Manna nodded, and would have looked stoic if it weren’t for her hugging Fathy to her and her small, bony stature. “I want a gold a’cause they’re the prettiest dragons. But I dun wanna leave the Weyr, though. Know how my Mommy and Daddy died? My Daddy,” here Manna pointed to B’oone, “said they both died in battles. I dun wanna die, so I want a queen.”

B’oone was impressed that such a speech could come from a young girl, especially from Manna, who rarely ever talked. But Manna wasn’t done, “I wanna Impress now a’cause I wanna play with the little dragon. No big dragons like to play with me,” this was accompanied by a frown, “But I think I wanna Impress now a’cause I’m young and would have more Turns to be with my dragon!” She smiled up at both Ilayria and B’oone, her explanation spent. B’oone raised an eyebrow. There were reasons why little kids didn’t Impress, one of which was the sex involved, the second being dragons were more of a handful than anyone expected. Manna laid a hand on Astoth as if drawing energy from the queen. Similarly, she squeezed Fathy to her, suddenly fearful of what Daddy and ‘her’ Ilayria would say.

B’oone was at a loss for words.

[stolenhart]

Ilayria looked at the little girl as she spoke about her parents dying in battles. "Well Manna you'd have to leave the Weyr at some point and the golds are very important in some battles", she said softly and then Manna kept on about how she wanted one now so they could play and she'd have more time with a dragon. It was all very cute and very logical from a child's point of view, it was a good thing dragons did not Impress children though. The problems that would cause would be staggering.

"Well Manna I can certainly understand what you are saying but you do realize a newly hatched dragonet is bigger than you right? About the size of a small runner", Ilayria gave her a smile, "And they don't really play well for about month, they eat, sleep, poo, and grow", she remembered those months when it seemed that is all Astoth did, everyday had been monotonous and painful. No fun at all. "And no one would help you take care of your dragon did you get one now. You'd have to do it all by yourself and you are just a little short to be taking care of a growing dragonet but I'll tell you what", Ilayria gave her an encouraging smile, "When we get a clutch of flitt eggs, we'll let you have one. They are like dragons so they'll play with you and they are perfect size for you to take care of. And when you are thirteen or so, then you can stand for a dragon".

[maiwolf]

Manna, still kneeling next to Astoth, her small hand, looking like a pixie’s hand compared to Astoth’s large golden one, placed on Astoth’s foot. She flexed that hand, and felt Astoth’s smooth hide underneath it. Yes, she did realize that dragons hatched bigger than her height right now, but she could grow with it! In her adament child mind, though, she wanted something that could compare to Brennie or Astoth. Or any dragon, for that matter, and she wanted a dragonet of her own. But, already, she like Ilayria, and so she would agree with her.

“Brennie,” Manna said, nodding her head toward the large Bronze, “he plays with me. We have great fun.” She smiled and hugged Fathy to her.

B’oone wondered how Manna would be with a firelizard. There were little firelizards here, anyway—little in the sense of not many, not small firelizards. B’oone wondered what color Manna would be best with. Not a green, not a blue either. Mayb she’d need one of the higher colors, a Bronze maybe. B’oone didn’t believe he could get a gold egg any time soon, but maybe he could get a Bronze. Meanwhile, Manna pouted at Ilayria. She couldn’t even count that high, but she knew thirteen was higher than ten. “Thirteen’s a long time, Miss Illie.”

[stolenhart]

"I know, believe me I know", Ilayria replied with a knowing smile. "I've got some small work to do, so your daddy can stay out here with you and by the time you are ready to come in I will be done and we can go get a snack from cook", Ilayria explained to the tiny girl. Behave, she sent Astoth who rolled her eyes at the thought. "I'll just be in the weyr", Ilayria told B'oone, laying a hand on his shoulder as she walked past him back ot her weyr.

She sat at her desk and took a deep breathe, relaxing. She still was not sure how she felt about Manna and B'oone. Oh she liked them well enough apart, in B'oone's case probably more akin to love, but together? She did not want to be a mother yet and especially to a child she had just met. Hopefully B'oone wouldn't expect or ask it of her. She brought up a sheet of hide and read it, going over the figures on what was in the Weyr storeroom's. It seemed she would have to send someone to Gar over some dried fish, the Weyr was running low. The herds had increased outside the Weyr by a good deal, this fall the older animals would be added to the dragons feeding herd.

[maiwolf]

Taking Ilayria's words to mind, B'oone smiled. "I'll see you later, Ilayria." He said, and then walked over to pick Manna up. "Come on, girlie. It's long past due to throw you into the lake!" He cried, nuzzling her, giving 'eskimo' kisses. Manna laughed (squealed more like it), "Brennie's coming along, too, huh?" To which Brennanth answered, right to the girl, Of course, little one. I will always swim with you!

[/b] The Bronze, who had been sunning, stood and fanned his wings. He was one of the largest Bronze's in the Weyr, if not the largest, and he reserved the right to act proud of that fact. He turned toward B'oone, who lifted the girl onto the Bronze's wide shoulders. She bounced there, obviously happy to go swimming.

B'oone walked into the room with Ilayria. He stood at the doorway, looking at her slightly uneasily. "I will be at the lake with Manna and Brennanth. If you need me at any time, please have Astoth tell Brennanth." He waited a few seconds, contemplating on whether or not to add, 'you mean a lot to me,' but instead he just went with, "I shall see you later?" In a slightly questioning tone. He was suddenly uncomfortable, knowing that Ilayria didn't much like the fact that B'oone had a daughter, even though she wasn't his. He had chosen the best way to get Manna away from her. "Oh, and thank you, really, for giving Manna Fathy. She loves it, and she doesn't do that, or say this much, often."

With that, he left, climbed onto Brennanth's back, and held onto Manna as the Bronze winged down to the lake. Today Manna would swim with 'her' dragon, and her Daddy. Today would be fun.[/blockquote]