More than Coincidence(A'nd/Roselle/M'gnum/Cairenn)

[Aftershock]

M'gnum smiled at Roselle's words... not a smile of mockery or humor, but one of understanding and respect. "I understand, though I have no children of my own," started M'gnum, quietly so as not to disturb those watching the play. "I often have found it enjoyable to spend time with the children of the creche... their active imaginations and idealistic natures are a refreshing break from the mumbling and politics of a bronzerider's life, I must admit," he continued. Sighing a bit as his smile became a bit sad, he added, "It's always been a bit bittersweet seeing a fresh-faced child grow into a more cynical, world-weary youth, and leave their idealistic natures behind as they grow into young men and women. Sometimes, you do wish you could just keep them as they were, open-minded to the possibilities life can present to them and looking up to you as a hero instead of 'that strange old bronzer'."

Suddenly realizing how personal he had let his speech become, he cleared his throat a bit in embarrassment and began moving carefully towards the seating area Roselle had indicated. The only other people in the area seemed to be a young couple a row ahead of them, the girl nestled affectionately into the shoulder of the boy. Moving to carefully put Roselle down on one of the chairs, M'gnum said, "You are no burden to me, but I understand your desire to get a Healer to inspect your injuries, so I will call Higginth to locate one... in fact, I personally know Senior Journeyman Healer Erilena is at the Gather, so I will have Higginth fetch her post-haste."

As he spoke, he noticed the female half of the couple seated in front of them turn to take notice of them, and as she did he recognized her... Cairenn of Green Nildath, a member of his Wing, and the very girl Roselle had stated she was looking for. He was about to relate this information when the girl made the point moot by asking questioningly, "Aunt Roselle? Is that you?"

---

Cairenn pulled a bit away from A'nd as he reminded her of the not-at-all-enjoyable circumstances that had occurred during the Flight that introduced Xinatenth to Nildath. Her cheeks coloring a bit once more, she stuttered out, "Oh, I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." before the pulling away and turning of her head made her notice something out of her peripheral vision, distracting her mid-sentence. Behind them, a large man seemed to be... carrying a woman? And he was stopping only a row behind herself and A'nd.

Turning a bit more and squinting in the somewhat-dim light in curiosity, the faces of the man and his female cargo became clear... it was M'gnum, her Wingleader, and... Roselle!?! Turning more fully (though not releasing A'nd's hand from her own), she said towards the pair behind her, "Aunt Roselle? Is that you?"

[Requiem]

The young bluerider shook his head slightly as she pulled away with that flush, a reassuring smile flickering over his face. "I know. You meant this." He might have apologized for distressing her, but really it wasn't something that he felt he should apologize for. Not because he wanted her upset or that he normally went around upsetting people for the hell of it, but because until she stopped hiding during Nildath's Flights - and though being with a guy might help with that, it still wasn't guaranteed until the next Flight when the result could be verified - the risk of a repeat remained. He didn't want her feeling guilty all the time about something that he still believed wasn't really her fault. At the same time, he didn't want her to forget it completely, because she could do something to prevent it.

Then his eyes tracked to what seemed to have Cairenn so distracted, lighting on the large man and the woman in his arms. He squeezed Cairenn's hand lightly, though he wasn't entirely sure if it was for her sake or his own. A'nd wanted to speak to Roselle...but at the same time he hardly knew what to say and certainly didn't want to get into any of it in public. That just left him feeling royally awkward. "Wingleader," he greeted M'gnum with a respectful dip of the head. The man had some interesting ideas that A'nd found intriguing but strange at the same time. More in the sense that M'gnum seemed to unerringly believe them but they sounded more like a harper song or a creche story. A'nd had a hard time seeing himself as a knight with some noble purpose, even if Xinatenth seemed to think so. He was just a kid. Xina was the one who defended people, not A'nd...Xina just needed a counterpart to serve his purpose.

A flicker of worry passed over his face, though in this lighting it may well have been lost to the darkness. "Is she alright?"

[Ivy]

If there was one thing the Greenrider knew how to do, it was how to listen. So she stayed quiet as M'gnum spoke and lead them to the out-of-the-way seating area. She hadn't even noticed the couple already sitting there when she had motioned towards it, the pain in her ankle and head had been slowly growing worse with time so she wasn't as sharp as normal. When he finally stopped speaking - he could talk a lot - she offered an understanding smile. "You sound like you'd make a good fath-... what?"

She heard her name and immediately recognized the voice as being Cairenn's. Head whipped towards the source and her brows gathered in an instant frown, "I didn't realize you two were so..." she'd noticed how they were semi-snuggled against one another, though she hadn't caught their hand-holding just yet, "close."

Giving A'nd a particularly sharp look she glanced back up to M'gnum then back at the 'couple' once more, "I fell. I was in a rush because I saw Cairenn disappear into the maze with someone and I thought it was against her will. Obviously I was mistaken."

You are too harsh Rosemine. Nildath and Xinatenth are quite close... should not theirs be as well? Having stayed silent until now, Tserieth finally spoke up. Her observation was an unwelcome one however, as Roselle did not even offer a response. While the Green did not understand Her's anger she accepted it and went back to watching the other dragons and people of the gather. Hers may not be having a good time but Tserieth was quite enjoying all the time to watch others interacting.

"You needn't bother anyone in particular on my account, any healer will do. Preferably sooner than later though, headache is getting worse and my ankle may need to be reset." While the bit about her head was true, she embellished a bit about her ankle - let Cairenn feel guilty for not letting her know about an apparent blossoming... whatever it is they had walked into. At worst though it was likely her ankle would have to be wrapped a few days and she would need to switch between heat and cold on it while it healed. "You can set me down though, I'm sure I am making your arms tired."

[Aftershock]

M'gnum smiled in return at Roselle's words, though they were quickly interrupted by Cairenn's speaking of her aunt's name. He quietly listened to their exchange, leaving himself out of the situation as Roselle said her part, nodding in response to A'nd's greeting.

As she spoke to him again, M'gnum said, "Oh, do not worry, I keep myself fit, and your slight weight does not tire me in the slightest. However, if you would prefer to be set down, I will not argue the point." Lowering Roselle into a nearby seat slowly, careful not to jostle her head or ankle too much as he let the seat take her weight from his arms, he said, "I will have Higginth send a message to Erilena through Feyrianth, her dragon. I shall remain, however, if you have need of me." Having spoken his intentions, he stepped back to do just that, removing himself from what was surely a very personal discussion between Roselle, Cairenn, and A'nd while still remaining nearby if Roselle required any further assistance.

---

Her eyes unable to meet Roselle's, her aunt being one of the only people able to instantly burrow right past Cairenn's surface bravado and expose the unsure young woman beneath, Carienn separated herself a bit more from A'nd (though not releasing his hand from hers unless he pulled away) self-consciously as she replied, "I... we... that is... w-we've only gotten close very recently, auntie. As friends, t-that is. I think." Completely flustered by the situation, Cairenn even fell back into her old familiar term for her aunt, a term she had done her best not to use since she had become a Candidate Turns ago. "I-I didn't think you'd need to know until Nildath's next Flight, a-and only if it became... t-that," she continued lamely, her face becoming redder and redder as the shame of both the situation and of causing her aunt injury filled her.

As Roselle turned to speak to M'gnum, mentioning her injuries and the possibility she broke her ankle chasing Cairenn into the maze, Cairenn lapsed into embarrassed silence, her face turtling down into her collar as if she imagined she might be able to vanish into her jacket and escape this uncomfortable situation.

[Requiem]

A'nd was fighting two very different feelings right about now. Well, three, but the mild amusement at M'gnum's going out of his way to describe how 'fit' he was while complimenting the lady on her weight (because what woman doesn't like verification that she isn't fat) wasn't really effecting him that much. Rather, it was Roselle's rather confrontational aggressiveness before M'gnum's self-aggrandizing and flirtatious pronouncement that made A'nd feel both guilty and irritated at once. He wasn't doing anything wrong. (If you didn't count feeling the girl up in public, but he didn't think that really counted. She'd asked him to get Cootie, and certainly didn't seem upset about the results. If anything, A'nd was the one less comfortable with it.))

The young bluerider couldn't really help himself. The surprised look he shot Cairenn was gloriously unfiltered for several seconds. Just friends? Okay, he knew he lived at a weyr, but the girl had asked him to 'fix' her virginity 'problem', had kissed him, was snuggling against him and had been perfectly fine with his hand roaming around beneath her shirt (even if it was only to catch his slippery salamandyr). Was that what she thought friendship was? Granted, he wasn't ready to call it anything serious, but this wasn't really friendship either.

Despite not fully agreeing with her response to Roselle's vitriol, though, he didn't like how upset it was making the girl. "We're dating," he interjected, before Roselle could return her attention to her niece and make Cairenn even more ashamed of something that wasn't even wrong. "It's perfectly natural for a girl her age, and more than overdue considering how long she's been a dragonrider. I'm sorry to concern you, but Cairenn and I certainly didn't hurt your ankle for you and I'd thank you not to imply that we did. Our dragons are close so we thought maybe we should spend some time together, too. Just see how it went."

Glancing down at Cairenn, he frowned slightly and tugged her back closer to him, feeling oddly protective of the girl.

[Ivy]

Brown would normally be described as a warm color, but there was nothing warm to Roselle's eyes as she set them on A'nd. Why was he even speaking? This was between her and her niece, thank-you-very-much. She watched as he pulled Cairenn closer to him and her frown grew deeper (if that were at all possible). If looks could kill, A'nd would have been dead at least ten times over. However they couldn't so she glanced to M'gnum as if expecting him to speak up. Or beat A'nd to a pulp - which was a long shot but a girl could dream.

Taking a moment to compose her thoughts, for she could see fully letting into A'nd would do nothing but harm her relationship with her neice, she looked back at the other rider. "I am well aware of how old she is seeing as how I have known her far longer than you have. While I am sure your dragon and her's fancy one another that does not mean you two have to be an item." She looked at Cairenn as she said this, in case she had been going along with him for Nildath's sake. "I am also well aware how pompous men like you work in the Weyr. If you hurt her, I will hurt you. Just so we are clear."

Pushing herself up she was careful not to put her weight on the bad ankle as she turned towards M'gnum, "If you haven't already bothered a healer to come to the center of the maze, we should be on our way. The cute couple would probably prefer to be alone." Making her way the short distance to his side in what could only be described as something between a hop and a hobble she slipped her arm through the bronzer's and offered a strained smile up at him.

Xinatenth's. Rosemine is quite protective of Nildath's, especially since coming to the cold place. Tserieth's voice was like a whisper to the bluerider, and Roselle glared in the general direction of her dragon. Despite her just attempting to smooth things over, the greenrider did not appreciate her dragon's input into the situation.

Xinatenth's is not like Arhenaiyth's. Just as Xinatenth is not like Arhenaiyth. You cannot judge one based on the other. Tserieth tried to be the voice of reason to her rider, but Roselle was in no place to hear it.

What do you know? You hardly remember things day to day. You only remember Arhenaiyth because he is from your clutch and your favorite. she practically spat back the words in her mind. Tserieth gave up then and just sent comforting and soothing feelings to her rider to try and calm the tide of anger.

After a long moment of silence the green finally spoke up once more in a soothing tone, Xinatenth's will not steal Nildath's away from you. Which, for once, Roselle had no reply to - her dragon had hit on what was really making her so angry.

[Aftershock]

M'gnum concentrated on sending the details to Higginth so that he could send them to Feyrianth to be transmitted to Erilena in turn. The short memories of dragons meant that M'gnum had to repeat himself quite a few times to make sure all the details got through intact... his concentration on this task caused the glance from Roselle to go unnoticed.

Finally, M'gnum got back a response from Higginth. "Feyrianth reports that Hers is within the center of something called an ice maze... is that not the place you yourself said you were?" The mental tone of the bronze showed he was possibly offended that His would waste valuable nap time to help find a woman he was in the same immediate physical area of. Glancing around the area to try to spot the Healer greenrider, he was suddenly interrupted by Roselle arriving beside him, weaving her arm into his. He listened to her, his distraction during the conversation making her sarcasm less effective than it would have been otherwise, and responded, "Oh, I already found one. Apparently she's already here somewhere." Noting Roselle was still favoring one foot, M'gnum scooped her back into his arms without a second thought and scanned the area once more, this time noticing Erilena leaning on an icy wall near the stage. Shifting Roselle carefully to free an arm for a moment, he waved at the greenrider until she took note of him, beckoning her in his direction.

---

Cairenn noted A'nd's aghast expression as she mentioned they were friends, and was about to explain herself more clearly when she suddenly became the center of a war between her aunt and the boy she had some kind of feelings for. Her gaze shot back and forth between the two as they verbally sparred, horrified to be the cause of such contention between two people she liked so much.

Then, in the middle of the battle, A'nd suddenly declared that he and Cairenn were actually dating, following it up by tugging Cairenn closer to him once more. Cairenn looked a bit shocked herself by the revelation, still unsure of her exact feelings towards the boy with all that had happened not a half-hour ago, but did not fight being pulled closer to A'nd, quailing silently at the foul expression the statement caused on her aunt.

Cairenn's expression was a mixture of confusion and apology when her aunt looked at her, and she was about to say something when Roselle chose to painfully pull herself to her feet and hop/hobble over to M'gnum. Cairenn cried out (too emotional at this point to worry about bothering the other members of the audience) at last, "Auntie, please, wait! Don't leave! Don't be mad at A'nd! This is my doing as much as his! He's really nice, once you get to know him!" Just then, another person entered the area... a younger blonde woman, a greenrider and Healer by her knots. The blonde woman approached M'gnum (and Roselle, who was being carried in his arms once more), making Cairenn bite back any remaining words and snuggle worriedly into A'nd's shoulder once more, her eyes on the three older riders.

[Rei]

Yes Erilena was near the stage in the center of the maze, and currently quite annoyed as well. The greenrider often came to see Dmitri sing or perform. He was so darn good at it, and not all of that was bias either. Her annoyance didn’t really come from the harper himself but from the woman who was hovering next to him backstage as they waited for their turn, clearly heavily flirting, with her husband thank you very much. If the darker haired harper girl was any more obvious about it then it would be borderline propositioning and that hardly was sitting well with Erilena. As it was there was nothing she could really do about it but glare daggers at the woman from her leaning post and wish that they had found Dmitri a less attractive partner. Not that she thought Dmitri himself would step out of line or anything. It was just that he was hers dammit and no one liked to watch someone else make attempts, whether they would ultimately fail or not. It was starting to make Erilena feel a bit jealous. Add in the fact that Dmitri really could do nothing to dissuade the woman in public and it was just putting the greenrider in a mood that was an odd mix of possessiveness and irritation. Regardless she could hardly force herself to turn away from it when it was right there in front of her face.

Her firelizard Grim, thankfully, was paying more attention to the crowd then she was and caught the wave from M’gnum as being directed towards them. Tilting his head the blue on her shoulder reached over and nipped her ear lightly. Jumping slightly Erilena turned her head to scold him and in doing so caught the bronzer's wave as well. Wrinkling her nose at her pet she flicked at the tail wound about her neck. “You couldn’t have just told me could you have?” She asked, rubbing at her ear as she pushed off the wall to make her way towards the man. In response Grim crooned softly and sent her along an image of her stalking the harper woman in shadows. Laughing the greenrider tapped at the flit’s muzzle to which he gave a disgruntled snort and pulled his head out of her reach. “I am not that bad.” She remarked to the blue. “Nowhere near Elysia caliber.” The firelizard seemed to consider that for a moment and then chirped softly at her his tail winding about her neck again as they approached the bronzer and the greenrider he was carrying.

Taking a quick glance at the woman as she drew near Erilena’s eyes then flicked back up to M’gnum. “Did she trip?” Obviously he probably wouldn’t have waved her over if he didn’t have need of her services and she would also have had to be completely oblivious not to feel the tension permeating the area. Just what was going on? Her eyes flicked from the bronzer, to the young couple, and then finally to Roselle again, seeing as she was the patient. With a reassuring smile the greenrider gestured to an empty bench not far off. “If you could direct your valiant rescuer over there I can take a look at your ankle without disturbing the rest of the performance too much.” An apologetic look was offered some of the now irritated crowd who had turned to glance in their direction. (And had probably been watching whatever it was that had been going on before she got there.)

A smile was offered M’gnum then to make it clear that she wasn’t poking fun at him or anything. Erilena was just well aware of how the bronzer acted around ‘damsels in distress’ and so it was likely that, whether Roselle had wanted it or not, he was not going to leave her until he saw to it that she had been taken care of. As she moved off towards the bench, expecting the bronzer to follow with the greenrider, she started to speak to Roselle in a conversational tone. “Erilena of Feyrianth by the way. Senior Journeywoman Healer. I probably should have introduced myself before. Are you in a lot of pain?”

[Requiem]

He wasn't entirely sure that Roselle did know Cairenn's age. That the older greenrider could count was a given, but either the girl was mentally slow (unlikely, given dragons didn't normally choose such people) or Roselle and whoever else Cairenn spent the majority of her time around were doing her no favors by sheltering her this much. Nevertheless, A'nd didn't argue with the woman. Firstly, she was in pain and that was just ill form. Secondly, Cairenb was more than upset enough to make him not wish to upset her further. And lastly, he didn't trust himself to be even slightly polite.

Sick and tired of other people grouping him in with whatever baggage they carried. This would be the second time this week a stranger had done so.

"It's fine, Cairenn," he murmured to the girl snuggled in beside him. So maybe it wasn't all that fine, but he doubted her aunt would hold him against Cairenn for very long, if at all. "She decided what she thought of me or any other guy long before she met me. You're not going to change her mind just because you say I'm nice, not when she clearly thinks I'm taking advantage of you." A'nd sounded tired more than anything else, though he was careful to keep his voice low in the hopes of not being overheard and provoking another fight.

The bluerider's eyes flicked up to the healer and he had to admit that he was sort of glad she'd come, because she seemed to be directing M'gnum and Roselle away from where the two teenagers were sitting.

[Ivy]

Seeing the healer walking their way Roselle took a moment to glance at the audience. Some of them were shooting dirty looks in her direction and she was two seconds away from a totally uncalled for outburst, but thankfully Erilena arrived and began speaking. She nodded when the healer asked M'gnum if she'd fallen, not entirely sure why Erilena wasn't asking her since she was the one injured. When the other greenrider made mention of M'gnum as a 'valiant rescuer', Roselle couldn't help but let her expression lighten a bit.

She nodded towards the bench that Erilena had motioned to and as she was carried over she offered a strained smile to the healer, "Roselle of Tserieth... Sorry to have to bother you..."

Shifting in M'gnum's arms she moved so he could easily set her down on the bench. Even this new distance away from A'nd and Cairenn she could hear that the bluerider was whispering something to her niece. She couldn't hear exactly what was being said, but she could guess. He was probably painting her to be the bad guy in this situation. Honestly if Cairenn had just told her instead of having it sprung upon her like this, when had she even decided she liked boys?! Closing her eyes a moment as the throbbing pain got to her she opened them to look up at the healer, "I fell and twisted my ankle a bit, hit my head on one of the walls. Was in a rush and didn't see the patch of ice."

[Aftershock]

M'gnum smiled at Erilena as she arrived, glad that a Healer was on hand at last... the situation between Roselle and her niece seemed a bit stressful, so Erilena's arrival was a positive thing for more reasons than one. To Erilena's question, M'gnum replied, "Slipped, actually. As pleasant as this place looks, it should really be a bit safer, I should think."

After filling in what information was required of him, M'gnum fell silent, nodding at Erilena's motioning and following her to the indicated location. Noting the bench the greenriding Healer indicated had no back, M'gnum carefully lowered Roselle onto the cold seat, then said quietly to Roselle, "If you do not wish to lie back all the way, I shall gladly provide my back to lean against. If you require anything of me while Erilena does her duty, do not hesitate to ask me." Moving behind Roselle as he placed her upon the bench, he sat facing away from her, providing his wide-shouldered back as support for the brunette's own upper body if the injured greenrider desired it.

---

Snuggling against A'nd's side, though still positioning herself as best she could to watch Roselle as Erilena took her and M'gnum over to a nearby bench to check her aunt's injuries, Cairenn replied in a near-whisper to the bluerider's statements with, "Don't think ill of my aunt. Please." Sighing shallowly, Cairenn continued in the same whispered tone, "I...I've never been very good at making friends, which is why you're one of the first I've ever had. The only males I've had in my life have been my horrible father and brother, and aunt Roselle was always there to take care of me while I was growing up, since my father and mother concentrated all their affection and attention on my stupid brother... at least until she was Searched and I was left all alone."

Tensing a bit as the memories flitted through her mind, Cairenn sat quietly for a moment, then continued, "I-it took me a while to forgive her for that, when she Searched me almost five Turns ago... even though I realized it was not her choice to abandon me. I-I think that's why she's very protective of me... my anger at her for leaving me behind made her wish to make up for abandoning me, and so she's wanted to make sure I'm safe."

Then, Cairenn's face went thoughtful for a moment, and she added, "There was also another bluerider... T'ri, I think his name was. I-I don't know what happened, as Roselle would never tell me, but she always seemed very angry around him about something that I think happened between them in the past. He's at Selenitas now, and Roselle seemed happy to learn she was not being assigned to the same place as him... I wonder if she worries that you will do to me whatever he did to her?" Her words as she spoke of her aunt's unknown relationship with T'ri were even quieter than her whispers before, as if she worried her aunt might overhear her and become upset despite the increased distance between the her and Roselle now that her aunt had been taken to the bench with M'gnum and Erilena.

[Rei]

Erilena smiled at Roselle and nodded as she went on to explain. “Oh don’t you worry you aren’t bothering me at all really.” In truth she wasn’t either, just distracting her from other jealousies which was more than fine. The greenrider didn’t really need to watch the other woman attempting to flirt with her husband anyway. It would just put her in a mood anyway. The woman waited patiently while the bronzer lowered the other greenrider onto the bench and then she crouched down and gently took the woman’s ankle.

As her fingers gently probed and she slightly manipulated the appendage she questioned the other woman in a friendly tone carefully looking for signs of pain. “Indeed they should at least warn people to go slow through this thing. They do spread fresh snow every so often to try and try and remove the worst of the more icy spots but there is always a risk. I almost slipped earlier too.” With a smile she lifted her gaze from Roselle’s ankle and to her face. She had not missed the grimace of pain but though the swelling was pretty bad she was more than sure it wasn’t broken. More than likely just badly twisted or sprained. Sometimes that could hurt worse than even a break could. “Well lucky for you as far as your ankle goes it’s not broken. I do think you badly sprained it though. If you aren’t allergic to anything I can give you a powder that you mix with your drink. It’s an anti-inflammatory and will help with the swelling. You also need to stay off it for a while and elevate it. When you’re doing that alternate between placing ice on it for about a half candlemark and then taking it off for about a half candlemark and then placing it back on. Do that for the rest of the evening and tomorrow morning. I wouldn’t start trying to walk on it too much for a day or two at least. You can hobble around but no marathons or running. Stay off it as much as you can. I’m going to wrap it for you now and you can rewrap it later this evening and tomorrow yourself. Just make sure not to wrap it too tight.”

As Erilena spoke she got some of the wrap and gently wrapped Roselle’s ankle. “There you go. As long as you can easily slip a finger between it and your ankle it should be fine. You don’t want to cut off circulation but you want it tight enough to give you some support.” Rising back to her feet the greenrider moved from the woman’s ankle. “I’m going to take a quick look at your head now, but you seem to be able to carry a conversation and you don’t seem dizzy to me so likely it’s okay. Just want to be safe though.” Gingerly she examined Roselle’s head. “Any spots in your vision, vertigo, or anything like that?” She asked before her eyes flicked back to the other greenrider’s face. “If you’ve got a bit of a headache that’s okay. The painkillers I’m going to give you will help that too.” A bright smile was offered M’gnum.

“It seems your damsel in distress will be just fine M’gnum. Thank you for your service.” To Roselle she winked. “Believe me hun there are much worse men to be rescued by.” And really there were too. For all his eccentric behavior the bronzer was a very sweet man.

[Requiem]

"I'm not." He probably didn't need to interrupt her, though at least the bluerider's tone didn't carry nearly as much of his irritation as he thought it might. Wasn't it clear that Roselle had taken one look at him and decided he was some kind of...monster or opportunist or something? A'nd didn't interrupt Cairenn again, however, allowing her to finish what she was saying and trying not to be too much of a boob, even though it seemed that people were choosing sides and he was off all by himself on this one. Roselle had decided not to like him from some point in the past before she'd met him, spoken to him or likely even seen him...so if Cairenn wanted them to get along that bird had already flown.

It was hard enough considering A'nd was still upset with Roselle about Nildath's last Flight. He didn't blame her completely (he blamed himself the most, though there really wasn't a thing he could have done about it) but she'd contributed and she really should have known better. A'nd was capable of keeping his feelings out of things, but it was harder when he was being attacked unfairly, or so it seemed to him. What had he done, apart from kept Cairenn company, to earn the initial spite from the woman? Though, yes, he'd admit that he hadn't helped anything by bristling.

"Your aunt was being abrasive, and I reacted poorly to it. She may have reason to not trust men, and she may just want to protect you, but she's old enough to know how to behave. I don't think ill of her. Not going to let her snap at us for doing nothing wrong either, though. I'm still not happy that she locked you in her weyr and considering you think that friendship with a guy involves kissing and...Cairenn I'm just worried about you. If you treat your other guy friends like you do me they'll get the wrong idea." He hadn't forgotten her startled look when he'd said they were dating. "Protectiveness is only helpful for so long. Your aunt can't keep you locked up away from everyone else forever, and I don't think you really want that anyway. Do you?"

Now she'd likely say it wasn't her aunt keeping her secluded, but A'nd knew that wasn't true. Cairenn might be a bit timid or something, but Roselle could have easily helped her acclimate instead of treated her like a child for turns after she Impressed. Now Cairenn was even more vulnerable because there were things she should know but didn't...and a lot of people would either assume she did or figure it didn't matter because she should and just take advantage of her anyway.

[Ivy]

"No, not allergic to anything. At least as far as I'm aware." Roselle said quietly as Erilena spoke. A day or two completely off her ankle? She had things to do! Tasks to complete, laying around her weyr was not productive. "How long do you think until its fully healed?" Hopefully not too long - she'd go stir crazy if she had to skip out on her duties to rest her leg up. When the healer wrapped her ankle she did her best to stay still and watched carefully so she'd know how to do it properly later in the evening. Then Erilena was by her head - peering at her eyes and gently examining the rest of her head to ensure she looked alright. "No, no spots. Was a bit dizzy for awhile but it has passed. Just a headache now - though I think there's more than the hit to the head causing that."

Her voice was low enough so Cairenn and A'nd wouldn't hear her - but she gave a quick glance their way and frowned once more. Did they have to be all cuddly like that? And what was with all the soft talking? How in the world could her neice just forget about the 'incident'? Her neice had been shy and mostly reserved when she arrived in the Weyr and Roselle had not been able to spend much time with her as she was a Candidate. She Impressed - which was a good thing, for the most part. She learned shortly after Cairenn Impressed that she had never been with a boy, she hadn't even been kissed. Roselle of course wanted to protect her neice from overbearing men - and she did so fairly well. Contrary to what A'nd may think, Roselle was not fully against her precious Cairenn having a relationship - a real relationship that is. She was against men using her neice though, and seeing as how A'nd had tried to bust down her weyr door during Nidalth's last flight... Roselle's first impression of him had not been the best. Her second one was not shaping up to be spectacular either.

A soft sigh came from her, warm breath catching in the air as tiny droplets in the form of a light mist in front of her face. Looking to Erilena she offered a short but genuine smile of thanks, "Thank you, I apologize again for having to interrupt what I'm sure was a great show." She nodded towards the stage, as that was the direction she'd seen the healer come from. "I think I can handle it now, that is if you'll take me back to Tserieth?" This question was posed to M'gnum, who she now had her dark eyes set upon. Then a thought crossed her mind, would she be able to seat and strap herself in on her own? Another glance was given to Erilena, "Besides not walking on it, are there any other restrictions? I am free to fly, yes?"

The cold skies are no good for rest, we should go south if you are able Roselove. Tserieth whispered softly as she sent comforting thoughts and feelings to her rider. She had moved so she was closer to the gather - as close as she could get to where her rider was without just flying in and landing on top of everyone. Which she had briefly considered, except Hers would be quite cross if she had.

I will think about it. Perhaps some time back South would do her some good? That is, if she wasn't restricted from flying that is.

[Aftershock]

M'gnum sat silently behind Roselle as Erilena did her work, doing his best to stay out of the way during something he had little true experience with. As Erilena finished her work and addressed him, he smiled and bowed as best he could from his sitting position on the bench behind Roselle's back, saying, "Of course, Lady Erilena. I thank you for your timely assistance." He stayed silent as Erilena spoke his praises, humble as he always was when someone spoke of him in praise.

Turning to face Roselle as she spoke to him, he nodded and stood carefully, making sure Roselle could support herself long enough as he stood, and then scooped the brunette greenrider back into his arms. Turning to Erilena before she left, he asked, "Excuse me, Lady Erilena, but do you know of a direct path out of this maze, so as to avoid any further complications and reunite Roselle with her bonded as quickly as possible?" Leaning closer to the woman in his arms quickly before Erilena answered, M'gnum muttered as he nodded his head subtly in the direction of A'nd and Cairenn, "Are you sure you wish to leave them immediately, or do you wish me to carry you over for any last words you might have for your niece?"

---

Cairenn listened to A'nd's reply to her words, smiling a bit when he mentioned he worried about her, then got a look of confusion as he concluded his speech. "But A'nd... I just told you, I don't really have any other friends... especially other male friends." Straightening her back a bit, pulling slightly away from the boy as she got the first look of independent determination on her face that A'nd had likely seen in the time he knew her, she continued, "I-I'm not as sheltered as you think I am. Auntie Roselle doesn't keep me locked away... she wants to keep me safe, but it's not her fault I don't have many friends." Turning her eyes so as to avoid looking directly at A'nd, she continued in a slightly more subdued tone, "I... I just don't know how to talk to people very well. I've been abandoned before... I worry that if I get too close to someone, they'll just let me lean on them long enough in order to pull away and let me fall..."

Pulling slightly further from A'nd, as if speaking of her worry regarding leaning on people emotionally made her shy away from leaning on people physically, she continued, "It's just as much my fault as Roselle's... I should have tried harder to put myself out there and figure out how to deal with others. I just let my fears hold me back..." Finally turning her eyes back to look at A'nd, she added, "Also, I don't think friendship with a guy involves kissing... I just thought we were closer than just friends. Though now, I'm not sure. I... I just wanted to try it, see how it felt... see if you liked it... see what you thought." Squeezing A'nd's hand, she concluded, "I don't know what we truly are at this point, but I do know I like spending time with you. I might not truly understand what normal friendship with a guy entails, but if you're willing to go right to trying dating, I'm willing to. I mean, I trust you, and I've got to start somewhere, don't I?"