Eden and Alasyth

Did I just miss the last exit to Eden? Did I just miss my only way out of here? - Amanda Marshall
* * *

"Please don't do this to me!" Eden rolled her eyes as R'arian finished his pathetic excuse for leaving her with a plea for forgiveness.

Eden mock-glared. She was purposefully being overdramatic, putting on a haughty attitude, pretending that she really didn't care. Not letting him know that she was mad. "Oh no. I know where your loyalties lie. You're all mine until some silly runner is entered in a race."

R'arian gave her his best puppy dog eyes. "I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise."

Ren chirped sadly and landed on Eden's shoulder. The blue flit rubbed his head against the Holder's daughter

Eden laughed, trying to sort through the confusing emotions that were telling her to cry, or hit him even though she knew that he had every right to go. "If you're that desperate, go. I can't stop you. In fact I wish you luck in the race. I've seen your runner, she's really good. Have fun." Eden nodded her head in farewell and headed back to the Weyrbowl where Alasyth was patiently awaiting her bath. It that very instant she wanted R'arian to know exactly how upset she was. She wanted him to be at least half as upset as she was. She turned back to him once she'd gone a few meters. "Just don't expect me to wait for you."

She saw that Alasyth was already in the water so she quickly threw a sponge at the gold and then a bar of soap. The gold took it all in stride, having felt everything her lifemate was going through. "Stupid shardin' R'arian. I hope he gets eaten by Thread!!" She threw her shoes violently against the wall of the Weyr and stormed into the water after her lifemate.

You do not. You wish he hadn't left. Alasyth smirked and dunked her head under the water, coming up right beside her rider. You feel like he's betrayed you somehow by wanting to finish his Weyrling training at Adanuk.

Eden winced as her gold had hit the problem right on the head…or the heart as the case may be. She sighed, feeling her anger dissipate and turn into something else…a small painful lump somewhere in her throat. It made her want to cry and that made her angry again…and then sad again. She rested her head against Alasyth. "I can get why he'd want to see this one race, he loved that runner and was sure she'd do well, but why would he want to stay at Adanuk Ala? Why wouldn't he just see the one race and then come back?"

The gold dragon felt sorry for her rider. She knew that Eden loved R'arian, but she also knew that her rider was too stubborn and too proud to make the first move. She'd been waiting for R'arian. Unfortunately, the bronzerider had never worked up the courage to pursue the hints they'd been leaving each other over their last turn and a half at Taylor Cliff. You talked to him about that Eden, remember? He told you that he wanted to make sure the Shadow was being properly cared for. This is the first in a long series of races and no one knows how to take care of Shadow better than him. He's worked along time trying to get this runner in shape, over five turns.

Eden sighed and began to scrub her lifemate's beautiful golden hide. "I know. I know. But still, the people at Adanuk have been caring for Shadow for the last two turns. I'm sure they know her by now! He's not even riding her. What does he think he can do?"

Alasyth nuzzled her rider, making the work go slower. What do you think you can do half the time?

"What do you mean?" Eden continued to scrub the dirt and sweat off of Alasyth.

The drudges that work with the firestone, for example. They've been doing what they've been doing for a very long time. They've seen hundreds of weyrlings come through and they haven't failed at what they're doing yet. So why do you need to supervise them? Or even take over the cutting for them?

Eden blushed. "It's just that I like…"

Alasyth continued. And your lucky that the Master Weaver's such a nice old man. If he were any body else he'd be insulted that while he continues to produce hundreds of beautiful rugs and blankets one stubborn Weyrling Goldrider has to come in and make her own.

Eden felt her temper returning. "I happen to like weaving so…"

Alasyth cut her off again, examples easily coming to mind. You contradict the Weyrling Master. You try to take over everybody else's jobs. You demand to lead when we fly in wings. You get up at the crack of dawn just so you can be in control. So I don't think you have any right to judge R'arian and his need to be there, even if he can't do anything, to see his runner race.

Eden bit her lip, trying not to snap at her dragon. "Anything else while you're at it?"

Alasyth noted the sarcasm in her riders voice and pointedly ignored it. Yes, there is. I think it was terribly cruel and selfish to expect him to stay around here just for you when you've given him no hint that you love him. You can't expect him to read you mind. He's only human. And he has put a good many years of his life into seeing this horse run. And do you have any idea how much it must have hurt him when you told him you wouldn't wait for him?

"Then why, pray-tell, do you stay with me!" Eden couldn't believe how angry she was.

Alasyth was loosing her temper too. Because I love you. And so does he.

There was a moment of silence as rider and dragon realized that they weren't really mad at each other. There was just too much emotion flying around at the moment. Eden finally broke the silence as she began to rub Alasyth's head. "Am I really all that horrible Ala?"

The golden dragon smiled. I may have been exaggerating slightly. The gold nuzzled her rider, asking for forgiveness. Besides, I find your commanding, 'I can fend for myself' attitude very endearing.

Eden laughed and then sighed. "Why didn't you yell at me earlier? He's gone now and I will have to wait another half-turn to see him again." A horrible thought hit her. "What if he won't wait for me now? Oh Ala, what am I going to do?"

The gold weyrling leapt from the water. Let's go.

Eden stared blankly at the gold dragon. "You are joking, right?"

The gold dragon was not joking. You said it yourself, you have to see him.

"Yeah, but I also mentioned that it was hopeless. R'arian needed transfer papers, and an escort to Adanuk." Eden climbed out of the water and towelled off.

I can get you there Eden. I promise. Alasyth was not joking.

Eden was captivated by the plan for a moment. "I don't know the co-ordinates. We'll never make it through between."

Trust me. I can follow Xinleoath. The gold was pleading.

"Ala…" Eden couldn't think of words to explain why this was impossible.

You taught me about destiny rider-mine. I understand it now. If you truly believe you're destined to love R'arian then I can bring you to him. Something about the tone of the gold's mind-voice told Eden that she truly believed this. And Eden trusted her dragon completely.

"Let's go."

* * *

It wasn't hard to find R'arian, he was the loudest person there. The crowd around him had scattered, obviously believing him insane or something. She smiled as she watched Alasyth lie down beside Xinleaoth. The bronze watched her for a second and they seemed to come to a quiet agreement. She smiled again, feeling like she knew exactly what to do. After all, things were destined to happen this way. "The grey horse yours?"

"Yeah." R'arian was too caught up in the race to notice that is was her.

She smiled, trying hard not to laugh…or to just run up and kiss him. "Think she'll win?" She knew the question was a stupid one, she was trying to get a reaction.

"Without a Shadow of a Doubt." R'arian was still intent upon the race. Eden got the joke thought and smirked, remembering the story he'd told her of how he acquired the horse.

"That's her name isn't it? You told me that once back at Kysim." She knew he'd recognize that.

R'arian whirled to see Eden standing behind him. "Eden?" He was confused. "What? How? Why?"

She smiled, asking his forgiveness. "I told you I wouldn't wait for you."

R'arian smiled back. "I'm glad." He took her in his arms and kissed her.

That fuzzy feeling that took her over everytime he touched her returned with a vengeance. She heard the name of the runner that won announced and she knew that R'arian wasn't listening. She smiled and kissed him harder. She always knew he cared more for her than any silly runner.

* * *

Read Eden's hatchling story.
Read Eden's candidate story.
Eden impressed Alasyth at Talor Cliff Weyr.
Eden’s pictures are from Dolls of Flavour and Angel Dollz.
Background from Myrror Images.