R'arian and Xinleoath

We are all shaped and fashioned by what we love. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
* * *

"This is a bad idea. Everything was working out great, why should I change anything? I’m an idiot!" R’arian paced his weyr. Ren, the blue flit, looking on with interest. >

Xinleoath smirked. Can’t argue with the logic.

R’arian glared at his lifemate. "You’re supposed to be encouraging me! Not agreeing with me!"

The bronze rolled his eyes. Oh, it’s one of those conversations. The dragon paused for a large melodramatic sigh. You’ll do fine. You love Eden, she loves you. Getting married wasn’t a big mistake.

"Do you really think so?" R’arian couldn’t believe he was getting cold-feet. He sighed and took a moment to smile at himself. "And I thought working up the nerve to propose to her was hard."

He thought back to a few months ago when this question had only been bouncing around in his head. He’d almost asked her fifty some-odd times before he finally managed to get it out. He couldn’t help smirking as he remembered exactly how it had happened.

Ren chirped happily and nipped at R’arian’s fingers. The blue enjoyed this story almost as much as R’arian did. Xinleoath thought they were both sentimental fools.

* * *
5 months previous...

"Truth or Dare?" Eden smiled as she dismounted after an afternoon training in the sky.

R’arian stretched and pulled off his own helmet, glaring at her. "Dare."

This silly game they’d picked up from a couple of odd kids from some Earth place had a tendency to pop up into their conversations at random moments. It was generally a lot of fun, especially playing with someone you weren’t afraid of making a fool out of yourself in front of. Eden bit her lip in thought as she tried to think of something. An evil look came across her face and R’arian knew she’d made her decision. "Alright. I dare you to wear your riding leathers until Weyrwoman Magika orders you to take them off."

R’arian glared at her. "That is unfair. I’m covered in sweat and grime and crap. I need a shower!!"

Eden smirked. "I didn’t say you couldn’t take them off, you can shower, I just don’t expect to see you in anything else but the riding leathers or your birthday suit."

"You’re evil" R’arian pulled his shirt off as they both walked down the corridor towards their separate weyrs. R’arian sighed. Separate. That word is driving me crazy.

Then just ask her. Xinleoath found this whole beating around the bush thing very tiresome. He was an outstanding bronze and didn’t understand human mating rituals very well.

With dragons it’s so much easier. I see a female I like. I wait until she flies. I chase. I catch. End of story. The bronze was waiting impatiently for his rider to get to their weyr and grab the bathing stuff so he could get washed.

Easy for you to say. Somehow I don’t think Eden will be flying and she would definitely not enjoy me chasing her around. He smirked at Eden, not betraying what he was really thinking about. "Truth or Dare?"

She smirked. "Dare. And I’m sure I’ll deserve whatever mean trick you have in store for me."

R’arian tried to think of something she did deserve. "Umm..." Ren landed on his shoulder, glad to see his rider back from training. The blue chirped. A very evil idea hit him. "I dare you to speak in nothing but chirps until I get to take these filthy leathers off."

Eden glared at him. "But..." He raised his hand to quiet her. She glared. "Chirp."

R’arian could hear Xinleoath’s amusement. Alasyth told me to tell you that Eden wants to know how you’re going to continue the game?

R’arian smiled. "Creatively?"

"Chirp chirp Chirp?" He didn’t need a translation for that one. Truth or Dare?

He thought for a moment. He was about to say dare when he remembered any dare had to go through Alasyth and Xinleoath, so he decided against it. "Truth."

"Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp?" Eden smiled. She was cute, even when she was chirping.

And in common... ‘What are you thinking about right now?’ The dragon was getting impatient.

R’arian decided to answer truthfully. He looked her straight in the eyes. "What am I thinking about right this very second?"

She nodded, confirming that the message had made it through both dragons.

He smiled. "When would be the best time to ask you to marry me."

There was a moment of silence as she stared in amazement at him. She grinned and hugged him, before kissing him.

"I haven’t even asked you yet!" He smiled, relieved it was finally off his chest.

"Chirp." She smirked and entered her weyr, disappearing for the rest of the night.

* * *

Xinleoath snorted. Sure it’s a great story for you. You didn’t have to relay messages for a seven-day! Or smell yourself!! I can’t believe it took Magika a whole week to stop those stupid dares.

R’arian laughed and examined his suit in the mirror. "I think she was enjoying it. She’s funny that way." He finally started heading towards the door.

She’s just insane. She must be to put up with all of you lunatics. Xinleoath took a moment to examine his hide before leaving the weyr. He’d been all dolled up and the bronze hated to admit that he liked it.

"Hey." R’arian turned at the sound of the voice and was more than a little surprised to find Gars standing there. The Harper was smirking.

"Hey." The bronzerider was more than a little wary. He remembered their last encounter.

Gars laughed. "Don’t worry. No hard feelings...well not many." He shook R’arian’s hand. I can’t help being a little angry that you’re stealing my little sister away from me...again."

R’arian grinned. "It’s not stealing if I have permission."

Technically you never really did ask her. Xinleoath was amused. Ren was getting bored and started nipping at R’arian’s ear.

Gars smiled. "As much as I loved watching you squirm just there, I actually came with a real purpose."

R’arian smiled. "On my wedding day? How dare you!"

"Sorry, only chance I had to stop by Adanuk and I may as well get two birds with one stone." Gars began walking out across the Weyrbowl towards the stables.

A lump formed somewhere in R’arian’s chest as he suddenly knew what this was about. Why today?

What better day? Xinleoath followed along behind, making eyes at Alasyth. You don’t want Eden thinking you actually love something more than her?

R’arian followed the Harper to a stall in the stables, one he knew well. "Shadow." He clicked his tongue and his first-place gray runner came over to nuzzle him. He smirked and rubbed her nose. "Shh...look, we both knew this day was coming."

The horse did not know this day was coming and was completely oblivious to the solemn mood.

"You obviously love her, why on Pern are you selling her?" Gars rubbed the horse’s neck and Shadow sniffed him. She seemed pleased with what she smelt.

R’arian sighed. "Because to keep her would only be selfishness on my part. I don’t have time to give her the love and care she needs and still give Eden the love and care she needs." The bronzerider smiled.

Xinleoath snorted. To say nothing of one’s lifemate...

Gars smiled, knowing that Xinleoath took up a lot of his time too. "I’ll take care of her. I’ll even race her if you think she can still win."

R’arian smiled and rubbed his runner’s nose in farewell. "Without a Shadow of a Doubt."

* * *

This is it. Xinleoath tried to peer into the darkness of the room to see if Eden was waiting where she should be. Are you ready?

Ready as I’ll ever be. R’arian walked through the crowd of people to where Weyrwoman Magika was waiting. She was, amazingly, wearing a dress and R’arian knew that this was really something special.

Weyrwoman Magika’s voice carried clear across the Weyrbowl, beginning the ceremony. "And who is it you seek to marry, Bronzerider R’arian?"

"Eden." He didn’t think it was so hard to speak a single name. It ended up a lot softy than he’d expected it to be. He knew Eden would be smirking at him.

"Where is Eden?" Magika continued.

"I am here." Eden stepped into the Weyrbowl. Her voice carried well in the warm summer air. She always had been good at making herself heard. R’arian smiled. Over compensating for my brilliant performance.

Xinleoath grinned. For shards’ sake R’arian. You only had one line and you delivered it poorly.

Yeah. R’arian thought as he was amazed by Eden. She was walking towards them in a slow, steady pace and she looked like a goddess in R’arian’s eyes. Luckily the important thing is that I delivered it.

Magika smiled. "Come forward." Magika was obviously trying to be solemn...she wasn’t very good at it.

"Before we begin, does anyone have a good reason why these two should not be married?" It was a traditional question, no body ever said anything...usually.

"Thread!" The whole gathered crowd couldn’t believe their ears, but Starcrafter Nabir continued to run. "Thread!" He got about halfway through the assembly when he realized that no one was moving. "Hello? You guys normally get on the dragons and go fight it. You’re a Weyr, remember?"

Magika gave Eden and R’arian an apologetic half-smile. "You heard the man. Everybody scramble."

R’arian cursed under his breath. Damn Thread.

Xinleoath laughed. That would be why we destroy it.

* * *

Hours later, everyone was re-gathered in the kitchens, only this time, the dragonriders were getting their missed supper. Everyone was tired, sweaty, but generally in a good mood. Once again they’d saved the planet.

Magika walked over to where Eden was leaning against R’arian. "Now where were we?"

Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. They were all dirty and disgusting and most of them had wrecked their best clothes scrabbling directly from the wedding to their wings. Magika herself had ruined the one and only dress the Weyrwoman owned. The beautiful midnight blue velvet gown had been cut all the way up the side to allow her freedom of movement, and it was torn and stained in many places. R’arian looked at Eden, no longer in her beautiful wedding dress...only her undergarments. He grinned as she shrugged and said. "You were at, ‘Does anyone have a reason why we shouldn’t be married.’"

R’arian pulled her up so they were standing on the table with Magika. "Well," The Weyrwoman’s voice boomed. "Does anyone?"

The room was silent. Magika smiled and turned to R’arian. "Do you?"

He grinned. "I do."

She turned to Eden. "Do you?"

Eden leaned against her soon-to-be husband. "I do."

"Than that’s that!" The Weyrwoman smiled. "Let’s open the wine."

A cheer went up as Eden and R’arian took that as ‘You may now kiss each other.’"

* * *
Read R’arian’s weyrling story.
Read R'arian's hatchling story.
Read R'arian's candidate story.
R'arian impressed Xinleoath at Talor Cliff Weyr.
R'arian’s pictures from The Woman Says.
R'arian impressed Ren from Rohlen Hold.
R'arian received Shadow of a Doubt from Dark Moon Weyr.
Background from Myrror Images.