[G] [P] 22.12.741 A Walk to Remember

Alekse strode up to the doorway to the rooms he now shared with Zahrah and Zarel, glad to hear the sounds of a gentle hammer against metal as Zahrah worked at her Craft. Zarel must be in creche, and that was fine. He’d see her soon enough.

With a warm smile, he rapped at the door frame before entering, his smile stretching into a wide grin. She was bent over her workbench, chewing at her lower lip in concentration as she worked a small piece of metal into a particular spot, no doubt molding it for a facet of glass to be placed within it.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He crossed over to her, waiting for her to finish what she was working at before leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. “Got back a bit earlier than expected; the weather was surprisingly decent south of Benden Hold. The Nerat sunrises are a lovely sight, but you are a sight better, I think. Couldn’t wait to see you again.”

“Now, before I let myself settle in here, I was hoping I could get your thoughts on something. Venan has me working on a project, and I was hoping I might be able to get another set of eyes on it. Would you mind?” He found the cloak she’d gotten at gather those months ago and held it up for her in invitation, eyebrow raised in question, trying to hide the smile playing at his lips.

"A walk, mm?" She couldn't help herself and kissed him again, setting down her tools. It could wait. Everything could wait for him. She rose, leaving her hair loose to fall about her shoulders. "I think I could use one, yes."

She yawned a little, stretching, and moved to don her coat before moving to the front of the apartment to pull on her boots. She'd have to replace them soon but that was alright. A walk with Alekse was no harm to them.

Besides, she needed it. Time away from her projects was just as important as time with them. She turned back to him and smiled.

"All ready," Zahrah said.

“Just a short walk. It’s a bit chilly to be walking for more than a mile or two. Running isn’t too bad, but walking?” He shook his head and gave a mock shiver. “Maybe we could walk back, once the sun’s warmed the ground and air a bit. But to get there I’ve arranged a ride over with young rider and dragon. There’s a clearing about a half mile up the trace from my little project. I figure we can fly straight there and enjoy the view. We don’t need the colder between on top of the current chill.”

He offered his elbow and escorted her out to where the brown and his rider waited, then handed Zahrah up and settled himself behind her, wrapping his arms snugly around her waist, though they were secure enough that it wasn’t entirely necessary. He just enjoyed having her in his arms. With a deft leap skywards, they were up and over the lip of the Bowl, massive wings spread to glide easily the eight or so miles to the clearing.

Snow had kissed the landscape the night before, and the clean white blanket was blinding in the reflected sunlight. It was a stunning image, the stark contrast of the rough grays and browns against the crisp bright iciness. The clearing came up beneath them, and they dismounted, and he grinned as the brown spoke to all and bid them farewell. Wrapping an arm around her to ward off the chill, he guided her down the trace.

“Venan has had be keeping Tradition and making sure the shelters are kept in good repair and free of greens. It’s easier this time of year, though, for sure. I wanted to get the thoughts of someone familiar with the Weyr though, to make sure it was all up to snuff. Fresh eyes. Just in case I missed something.” He eyed her sideways a bit, watching her reaction. “I would ask one of the riders, but I want to make sure that whoever I ask will be brutally honest with me about it.” He smirked a bit at her. “And you are the most honest person I know.”

The little building was just visible ahead on the trace now, and he guided her in its direction to swing by before heading to their actual destination up the hill, but that would be after. Resisting the urge to swipe a hand through his hair, he pulled her neatly against his side as they walked.

She loved flying on a dragon and for a long moment, that was all she thought of, his question unanswered just a little longer than usual. Zahrah grinned and him, nodding.

"Of course, you know it's not a trouble for me to look at your work," she murmured as he pulled her to his side. "I let you look at mine, after all. Even when it's unfinished."

He felt good against her and she let out a happy sigh.

"From what I can see, that building looks really good."

He smiled at the approval she gave, nodding in thanks. “I’m glad. That one is Venan’s chief concern, but I’d like to show you the one that I really want you to take a look at.” With a playful twinkle to his eye and smile still playing at his lips, he guided her around to the back, to a path he’d cleared to the other threadshelter. It sat about a quarter mile up a small slope, visible if you looked at it, but still nondescript enough to blend in if one wasn’t paying attention.

The building wasn’t much; he’d reinforced and rebuilt parts that were in the worst disrepair, and started what would become another outer wall to expand the place. Another room would do nicely. A few particularly large stones mapped out the area he’d level out of the hillside once the ground was no longer frozen. He hid a smile when he realized that the proposed area would be at least large enough for the brown they’d ridden down on to curl up in.

“This has been a…side project. One I’d still like your eyes on, if you’d be so kind.”

His heart felt like he was halfway through an express sprint, but he forced himself to still his breathing as they trudged up the hill. Shards, he felt like he imagined a candidate on the Sands for the first time must feel…would he be chosen?

“I’ve been fixing this one up. It’s been unused since they rerouted the trace, and Venan told me to ‘take care of it how I saw fit.’ So…” He coughed slightly, his throat suddenly dry. Despite the cold, he found his palms sweating, and he tried to discreetly dry them on his jacket.

Ah, but that's not the building he wants her to look at is it? When they move up the hill, there's another little stone house. She opened the door and it was beautiful. Looking up, why there was the little glass egg she'd made for him.

A bed, over there was a lovely hearth, and on the table sat a ring. She turned back to him, eyes wide.

"Alekse...it's beautiful. All of it. You must have done so much work."

He watched her reaction with a fluttering stomach, relieved more than anything when she said it was beautiful. She started to turn…This was it. Now or never.

“It isn’t much, but it is mine. And, however often, whenever, -if-if you want, I want to share it with you.” Swallowing, he continued, trying to articulate the thoughts that raced through his head. “With you, with Zarel, and with whoever may come along, dragon, firelizard, or—” He stuttered a bit at the thought, but pressed forward anyway, his usual way with words eluding him. “—or otherwise. I’d never given thought to the idea before, but with you, I can’t imagine it any other way.”

He sank, almost casually, to a knee, leaning forward and resting his arm across the other, trying his best to mask the wave of intense nerves that washed over and through him. “I love you, Zahrah, and all that you are. And I know I will, for as long as I walk on Pern. Flights, fire, and Thread be damned. That ring is yours…if you’ll have me?”

The words hung there for a long moment, and he held his breath, pulse pounding in his ears.

It felt right in one of those ways that just was. The flight over, the walk, the beautiful little house. She looked down at him and smiled broadly.

"I have loved you since the day we met, Alekse. No one on the face Pern could match you. I will have you in every way possible. I can't imagine anyone else for me, dragon or not. Thread or fire."

It was perfect. Everything about this was and even more, she knew that he meant it with all of himself. Getting back to Benden...while doing all of this! She pulled him up and kissed him long and slow.

"I will," she murmured against his lips. "Of course I will."

She said yes!

The thought rang in his head as she pulled him to his feet, and he eagerly returned the kiss. A whole new flood of fears and worries washed over him, about his mastery, about her or Zarel or both of them Impressing, about Flights, about the Weyr and…just everything, but they lessened somewhat, as he’d have her by his side through them all. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and murmuring against her hair, kissing the top of her head.

No matter. No matter to any of it. It was all char in the wind for now; the trace beneath his feet and disappearing behind him. He’d spend the next few years working toward his Mastery, and spend his spare time here, building this little hold…He gave her a squeeze and released her, smiling like a kid. “I have to show you my plans for this place…”

He went to the table and pulled out the tube he’d stored his drawings in, revealing a rough floor plan for the little threadshelter. He waved her over, delicately slipping the dainty blue piece onto her finger before he flattened out his plans. “Now, any suggestions are more than welcome.” He pointed to each proposed area as he mentioned them. “That wall outside, is here…and that will be the bedroom. I plan to extend this wall out, and a workbench for you…here…to catch the most sunlight.” He smiled at her, watching her face light up at the possibilities this little space held. “The hillside can be carved out and a roof built, eventually walls, perhaps, too, to accommodate a dragon, should Impression be made. Of course, I don’t expect you to leave the Weyr, but this…” He shrugged, an almost embarrassed expression taking over. “I’ve never been one to ask something without being able to offer something in return, however small it may be. This can be a home, or just a little escape. Whatever you like. Any ideas?”