Alaena had stable duty today, and she honestly couldn't say she minded, except it made her slightly homesick. But she loved working with animals, like most Elves, and was glad she was mucking stables instead of cleaning out the latrines.
As she jogged across the Weyr Bowl she came across Deramin, and waved. "Hey! What are you doing here?" she asked, voice elated.
Deramin ran his fingers through his black hair, indigo eyes sparkling with mischeif. "I switched duties with Ayrwen." His voice rolled out a light tenor.
Alaena found herself smiling even more than before. "You mean you get stable duty?" Her eyes were full of hope.
Deramin grinned at her. "Aye, lass. Tha' I do," he replied, imitating a scottish accent that he knew Alaena loved.
Alryuhn was hard pressed not to look crestfallen, but thankfully no one noticed as Raela stirred in her pouch.
"What's in the sling, Alaena?" Deramin asked curiously.
"Oh, I Bonded with another Dragonet this morning! Alryuhn insisted I come over, and try. So I did."
"Oh, he did, did he?" Deramin chuckled. "Maybe he was wanting a friend. So, what does it look like?"
"She looks beautiful. Why don't you come see?" Alaena invited, her smile mischevious.
Deramin walked over to her, and looked in the pouch. "By the first tree, woman, you've got yourself a white fire-lizard!" he exclaimed, startled.
She grinned, amused at his shock. "I know," she replied calmly. "Her name is Raela." She gently reached into the pouch to scratch the yawning white's eyeridge. "I think she's absolutely lovely, don't you?"
Deramin nodded. "Aye, I do, lass. It just came as a wee bit of a shock to me to see a white fire-lizard. I'm sure you can understand."
Alaena nodded. "I can. C'mon, let's get to the stables before we get in trouble. We've dawdled too long already!" And with that she grabbed his hand and hauled him, running, over to the Weyr stables.
"Hey, woah, horsey!" he called out laughing as she stopped in front of the entrance."
"Shh," Alaena said, finger to her lips. "Don't spook to runners."
Deramin nodded silently, but just as Alaena started to enter he snaked an arm around her, pulling her back. She started to protest, but he silenced her, kissing her deeply.
Shock flowed through Alaena's system, mingled with the sweet sensation of Deramin kissing her. Her heart beat faster, enticing the adrinaline running through her system to move faster, even as she closed her eyes, senses reeling.
He let her go after what seemed a very long time and gazed at her, indigo eyes filled with both desire and love. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time, Alaena Melriana," he whispered to her, holding her steady.
Alaena gasped, drawing air in as she was released from the intense kiss. She leaned against him unsteadily. "To... to tell the truth, Deramin, so have I... but I thought it was forbidden?"
Deramin kissed the top of her head. "Nothing is forbidden to two true lovers, is it, Alaena?" he asked her, his voice a quiet whisper in her pointed ear. An intoxicating whisper.
Alaena relaxed against him, wanting so much to succomb to. She inhaled his scent, and exhaled. "I want to, Deramin. So much, but..."
"But what, Alaena?" he whispered back, a hand sliding over her back. "Would it be so hard to do all your chores quickly, by magic for once? To have everyone 'see' you do them, when you really were with me?"
She closed her eyes, the thought tempting. "No, it wouldn't be..." she replied, her voice soft.
Alryuhn bunched himself, eyes whirling an angry orange. His mistress wasn't going to get in trouble because of some hormonal male!
Easy, Alryuhn, Deramin mindspoke to him. I know how you feel about her, but you have Raela, and you know you can never have a relationship with her. Not like I can. I do love her, let me take her.
Alryuhn clenched his jaw, struggling against the thoughts that ran through his mind. To listen and heed, or to not listen and tear him apart? Finally he went slack, giving him. Deramin was right, and Alaena needed more than Alryuhn could give her. Very well... he bespoke in return.
Deramin nodded, and lifted Alaena's chin to kiss her again, gently this time. "Come on, let's get to work," he said with an incorrigable wink.
Alaena laughed softly, and nodded, slipping away from him to go inside, followed closely by Deramin. Very closely.
The Stablemaster was glad to see them, as the third Candidate who was supposed to help had become sick. "It's nothing serious, mind you, just a cold that is making him miserable, and no one else wants to catch it, so they are keeping him in the infirmary."
Alaena nodded. "Alright, what do you need us to do, then?"
"I need the entire place mucked out, I'm afraid. It shouldn't be too hard for a couple of strong people like you, but I've got several mares I have to keep watch over, they're sure to foal soon, and I wouldn't want to leave them in case of trouble," the Stablemaster explained.
Alaena nodded, and headed towards the back, where the mucking tools were. Deramin trotted after her, pretending that he, too, was going to muck out the stables, though truly they were going to be doing quite a few other things.
Alaena slipped inside the tool room, and looked at the various implements about them. "Are you sure about this, Deramin?" she queried nervously.
"Positive, miamore," he replied. Miamore meant 'My love' in common Elven. "You do know what else you're supposed to do today, right?"
She nodded. "Yes. Do you?"
"Aye, lass. I'll do my part, you just do yours, okay?"
She nodded, and closed her eyes, starting to trace a rune set, and then another, working through a dozen before she threw out one more. Thirteen. "It's done," she whispered.
Deramin nodded. "I'm done, too. I didn't have many chores today. The Weyrlingmaster thought I deserved a light day for keeping my area of the Barracks so neat, and setting an example for the others."
"But, I thought it was always messy?" Alaena replied, slightly startled.
Deramin winked. "Perception is everything, my dear." And with that he swooped her up into his arms, kissing her even as he teleported them elsewhere.
* * *
You are listening to Yasunori Mitsuda, Chrono Cross -- Scar of Time (2:30)