What Once Was [Rhaedalyn]

We woke the queen, the bronze’s voice was droll, and his head lifted, removing his eye from the window as he turned to look towards the location Aradissicath was located in, a rumbling growl resonating deep in his chest. R’nya’s gaze shifted from the tabletop, to look between Rhaedalyn and shadowed outline of his dragon near the window. Xyreith? Despite his bewildered attention shifting between the dragon and Rhaedalyn, R’nya was still startled when the young woman reached out to stop him nibbling on the dessert, wide grey eyes shifting to stare at her in surprise.

“I–” R’nya faltered, and let the word die away as he allowed Rhaedalyn to push his hand down, and he quietly dropped the fork, his gaze locked on it rather than bringing himself to look at the girl’s pout. “Thank you,” it was barely whispered, and R’nya pushed the sweet food away, then the fork, before folding his arms over the table again and burying his face in the crook of his elbow. He breathed in deeply, and let it out slowly, before startling heavily when Rhaedalyn spoke softly, head jerking up to stare at her once more.

“I –” the bronzerider’s voice was low, husky from all the emotions swirling mostly out of sight, and he shook his head slightly; not in dismissal of her offer, but at his inability to articulate anything. “I don’t know what to say?” It came out a whispered question, and R’nya sat back slowly, drawing his arms up and crossing them over his chest, dropping his gaze from that of Rhaedalyn to stare, once more, at the table’s top. He would know every knot and whirl by morning, undoubtedly.

I will be right back, Sir. Startled, R’nya’s attention shifted to the window, where Xyreith’s hide was dappled by darkness as he moved away. A frown furrowed the man’s eyebrows, and he reached for his dragon in confusion, blinking in surprise when Xyreith ushered him away to pay attention to the girl. Confident that R’nya would do as encouraged, Xyreith trotted slowly through the Weyr; most everyone was asleep and there was no need to fly when there were none in his path.

When he reached the barracks, Xyreith stopped, mind extending to contact that of the Weyrlingmaster’s dragon. The bronze could not tell what startled the other dragon more; If it was at Xyreith contacting him, or if it was the information that the little gold and her rider would be staying with his rider for the night. There were no objections, though, and Xyreith turned his attention in turn upon Aradissicath before quietly indicating she should accompany him back. They still thought too loud, and he didn’t’ bother to speak to her.

Rising from the dining chair, R’nya made a generalised sweeping gesture to indicate Rhaedalyn should follow him in relocating to the lounge, the bronzerider detouring halfway there to the bedroom for a moment. A breath later, and he reappeared with two folded blankets in his arms, and he offered one to Rhaedalyn, still avoiding her gaze. Turning back to the couch, R’nya swept the blanket around his shoulders, so it trailed like an oversized cloak as he finished the trek to the seat, and then plopped down in the corner, flicking the blankets over his legs and waiting patiently for Rhaedalyn to make herself at home.

He still was not sure what he would tell her, but he would figure something out.