Xanadu Weyr - Siebith's Weyrbarn
Covered in rough, weathered wood, aged by the weather and the sun, the irregular grayed clapboards outside of this weyrbarn lend the place has a rustic, masculine charm. White shutters and window boxes overflowing with brightly-hued tangles of flowers on the lower windows and flowering vines twine about the supports for the porch overhang add a feminine touch, softening the stark stone steps leading to it.
The worn stone floor of Siebith's area is just inside the large sliding door. The living area of the weyrbarn has an open, airy layout gives the utilitarian, bachelor-like plain white-washed walls and simple hardwood floors a sense of wide open spaces. A sturdy mahogany-toned table with chairs that somehow manage to match despite their variety accent the earthy, wooden tones of the kitchenette. The same dark reddish hues are in the door at the far side of the barn, as well as in the low-slung coffee table in front of the plush, worn couch. Dusky sea-blue rugs are scattered here and there. Dark golden curtains hang on either side of the many windows and partition off the loft up above, led to by a black wrought iron set of ladder-like stairs. Lilies arranged in glass vases on the tables provide a crisp of white counterpoint to the dark wood tones.
A new addition, the bedroom has walls of the same plain white, but the floors are made of newer wood, still shiny with polish. A four-poster bed of the same red mahogany takes up the most of one wall of the small space, a blue-and-cream linen coverlet spread on the wide mattress. A set of wooden bureaus take up the bulk of the wall opposite while another wall has been painted upon in the very center with a seascape mural, its crisp blue waters and sandy shores. The final wall is graced by a feminine-looking writing desk stacked with papers and bedecked with knick-knacks. Over the bed, a set of stained-glass windows allows golden-brown light mingled with white whorls and blue haze to shine into the room with the rising of the sun, though both panes are able to be unlocked and swung wide to accept lake breezes.
It's been a few days since the subject was raised about getting the twins used to riding a-dragonback. The usual routine has gone unaltered save for one thing, well maybe two. Muir and Marella have been increasingly busy and noisy and Thea has become much quieter. Not silent, no, for she has spoken when asked for something or to answer questions put to her. But for the most part she's gone about her tasks with a silent preoccupation and a strained, troubled expression on her usually serene face. It's late and the twins have been at long last settled in their loft beds, she's tried sleeping, crept out once to sit in the dark with Seryth and back to bed, trying to be still and not bother D'had with her restlessness, keeping her movements quelled until she just has to shift once more.
D'had rolls over, reaching an arm across her waist in attempt to pull her close. "Somethin's botherin' ya.." he comments quietly. That much he's sure of, just what it is however is the part the escapes him. "You wanna talk about it?"
Thea winces when that arm reaches for her, hesitates but finally allows herself to be drawn towards him. She is tense under his arm, doesn't answer right away. Instead she seeks the spot between his shoulder and his neck, resting her forehead there for a moment before she nods wordlessly to both comments. "I didn't mean to wake you," she whispers after a long pause, the comment muffled from somewhere down there. "Donn, I… can't do what you said. I'm sorry."
D'had sighs, pressing a light kiss to the side of her head when she nestles in against his shoulder. "What'.." What's wrong might have been the question before she speaks. "What I said?" Clearly somewhat confused by that statement. Oh, he's sure he said something, but just what she's speaking of.. well that's another question.
Thea has her arms bunched in front of her, the fingers of her hands interlaced and clenched tight between them in her attempt to keep from more restless movement, though her feet wriggle just a bit. Yes, she seems to expect he'd have forgotten or not followed her, quite likely realizing she hasn't explained very well, but unusual though it might seem, she can't seem to make a start. It takes her several tries and stops before she gets out a distressed-sounding, "I can't go around asking people to weigh in on the age children should ride. I… just can't ask N'shen either. Please don't ask me to do that!" Her face is still buried and she curls up just a bit more, waiting for the laugh that's sure to come.
"That's what this is all about?" D'had inquires, peering down at her best he can with how close she is. To him it seems silly, but then by now he should know better than to think she might agree with that though. He's not laughing at her, really, he just can't help the bit of a chuckle that she might feel. "Ain't hard…"
Thea cringes when she feels that bit of movement when he chuckles. It's one of the few times he'll see her do that. Silence from her until she manages to get out, "There's more to it. But if you're going to be amused-" She struggles with the words, "I'm worried about-" But his final comment interrupts that train of thought. "I am NOT going to bring others into a personal disagreement, this is between you and I, not for others to be involved in. I'd be disloyal to do it." She's frustrated he isn't understanding, hurt and trying not to be, can't raise her head, can't talk.
"They don't have ta know that," D'had replies. That it’s a disagreement between them. "Could just be curious." Of course that could be just him too. "Look babe, I ain't gonna stop ya if you want to, I just can't do it." Not without some convincing at least it would seem.
From where her head still rests on his shoulder, Thea shakes her head. "They'll ask. And why should I ask them a personal question, if I won't answer theirs? Besides, you said you weren't other riders, so what does it matter?" And her confusion is there in her voice. Between them her hands wrestle with each other, then go still as she listens. His last comment prompts her to raise her head to peer at him in the dark. She's firm when she says quietly, "No. No, I won't go against your wishes." After a short pause she pleads softly, "But…tell me why you can't? Besides that they're too young. We brought them home as newborns a-dragonback."
D'had shakes his head just a bit, "Don't have ta tell 'em we don't agree. Just that you're wonderin'. And it matters cause its botherin' you." See, he really does care. It's his turn to be silent then for a moment while she speaks again. It’s only after a sport pause that he answers her questions though. "No," Beat. "You did, besides that was different."
Thea's hands unclench, seeking him in the dark, "No. I don't think I will ask because what they do doesn't matter to me. If you want to ask, you may." Her palm finds his cheek, finger brushing lightly, as she coaxes, "/I/…did? But you were with me. You sanctioned our return." Her voice betrays her confusion. "You'll let me, but you can't? Why can't you? Donn, tell me, please?"
"Like I said," D'had returns, "that was different. Ain't no way any of use were stayin' there. You know that well as I do. And ain't like there was another way exactly." Another way back home to Xanadu that is. "He ain't exactly the one ta take 'em up. They're too little." Just like he wasn't going to touch them when they were newborns, he still doesn't want them getting hurt.
Thea slides her arms around D'had as he talks, leans to prop her chin on his shoulder silent for some time after he has finished. Calmly, "And Sie can't take it easy with them while they're little?" She draws a long breath, "Alright, then. We'll wait until you think they're ready. Though. You trust them on runners and Seryth can talk Siebith into a gentle ride. I don't want to do this without you. I will find another way, somehow to sort Muir's problem." That last bit has her sighing a long breath out; defeated.
D'had shakes his head, "No, if it's that important to ya…" He's not going to say no if she's going to continue to be upset about it. If anyone can get him to change his mind it's her. "We'll figure something out," he gives in.
With concern for him in her voice, Thea replies, "You should know how he's been acting lately, Donn. The nannies don't know what to do." Which likely prompted all this in the first place. "He won't sit still, won't listen. He's… wound up all the time and Marella follows his example. He's jabbering on about dragon this and dragon that and flying -all- the time! I just wonder if he'll settle some if he can go up. If it's not this elusive, forbidden thing… maybe?"
D'had sighs and replies only with a nod. He knows. She's pointed it out, he's seen it. "Okay, we'll take them up if you think its best." She talked him into it, she should be happy now. Hopefully? "We can figure out the rest in the mornin' though ya think?"
Thea is really only happy when those she cares for are alright. And now she's torn between the needs of her children and her weyrmate. It's a difficult place to be. Snuggling close, somewhere that she hasn't been in the past few days, she merely nods. "In the morning," she agrees. Then softer, "It'll be alright, Donn. I trust you." And she tips her head to press a tender kiss to his lips, if she can find them in the dark. And sleep, finally will be had by the both of them, hopefully undisturbed by her restlessness or an undercurrent of distress.