Zaira spring 2522
Zaira was feeling most discontented.
She had an excellent reason;and that excellent reason was H'llon.
She also had a shrewd idea that she was picking up a deal of snippiness from her little queen firelizard, Melody, who must be nearly full grown by now.. it was certainly not the weather; it haad ben a balmy spring, marred only by worry over L'rilly and her illness. And now, Zaira thought, like Melody she was fully mature. Holder girls her age were often married. And she had had to grow up fast in self defense being the only child of an Oldtimer woman, born as a result of coming between four hundred turns. Being over mothered by those women who had come forward too had been a good reason to grow up fast!
So, Zaira lay on a small rocky outcrop overlooking the bowl of High Reaches Weyr, hidden from view by its rocky edge, and nibbled a blade of grass thoughtfully, pondering the nature of her problem with H'llon.
H'llon was unfailingly kind and courteous to her, as well as affectionate. He held her hand when they were out; he took her to beautiful places on Melth's broad back; and he carved her exquisite ornaments. He was a handsome young man, not yet twenty turns, big, strong and dependable. He had also assured her father Z'kan that he would take care of her, and proceeded to be immensely and satisfyingly protective.
Which was all very nice.
Except that the silly clunch extended his protectiveness to protecting her from himself, as it were.
Zaira picked another blade of grass to chew on and watched H'llon at work in the bowl sawing wood. His bare back rippled with muscles and the sweat glistened as he worked. Zaira purred like a firelizard.
It was no good.
H'llon needed to be firmly taken in hand.
It was not difficult getting rid of H'llon's two remaining apprentices. Fortunately, reflected Zaira, boys were less imaginative. Had Elissa not gone to the Woodcrafter hall she would have pestered Zaira with questions!
Having assured herself that H'llon would be alone, Zaira approached his weyr while he took a break. H'llon weyred near his workshop and had a flight of steps from the bowl to the cave mouth for convenience. She strode purposefully into the sleeping apartment.. H'llon had just bathed and pulled on a clean pair of trews; he was all damp and nice smelling…..
"I need to talk to you, H'llon" she said.
H'llon glanced up, concerned.
"That sounded serious. I'm at your disposal, Zaira. Sit down" he patted the sleeping couch.
Zaira sat, staring at her interlaced fingers in her lap with apparent fascination.
"H'llon" she began. "You're a man."
"Yes?" H'llon was confused.
"Everything is, I presume in full working order in that big, well ordered and efficient body of yours" she continued.
"Well, yes, but…"
"H'llon, what am I?"
"You're a girl. Well, I suppose a young woman" he amended as she scowled. It was a signal he could pick up; frighteningly intelligent in some ways, H'llon had severe blind spots in others. Emotional entanglements and the inner meanings of female behaviour was one of them..Zaira continued patiently.
"And when a man and a woman are together in private, Certain Things happen."
Light dawned on H'llon – or so he thought.
"Oh, yes, but you don't have to worry about THAT, little Zaira!" he hastened to reassure her.
Zaira sighed.
"I DO worry" she said. He looked at her gravely.
"You never need think I would do anything you did not like, Zaira" he re-iterated. "I shan't lay a finger on you."
Zaira made an exasperated little noise and flounced into a standing position staring down at him.
"And THAT is what worries me!" she shouted at him. "I'm beginning to think I'm not pretty!"
"Oh but you are! You're beautiful!" declared H'llon.
"Then why the fardles aren't you kissing me?" she demanded. Light finally DID dawn on H'llon.
"But…you're so young…your father wouldn't like it…" he stammered.
The sound she made was rather indelicate.
"He doesn't have to like it. I'm not asking you to kiss him" she said rudely. "H'llon you great lout, you can't pick up body language, you don't take hints, I've tried asking, am I going to have to hit you over the head and DRAG you into bed? Shells and shards, you dumb bronze rider, if you can't string together the letters S,E,X in a coherent order, can't you at least manage to do it?"
"Oh!" said H'llon in a small voice. "Are you SURE?"
Zaira closed her eyes to count to ten for patience; then sat firmly on his knee.
H'llon made a thorough job of kissing her. He had not, at the time appreciated K'len and M'kel arranging to have him well seen to by M'kel's obliging ex lover Mirelle; but it looked like the experience was going to come in handy now.
"Are you REALLY sure?" he asked again as Zaira started wriggling.
Zaira growled and started investigating his belt buckle.
"Melody's shiny" she said succinctly. "I have no intention of letting anyone but your Sniffer fly her. I know" she looked up at him "That it's not as intense as with dragons – but I also know that you do get involved. And H'llon" her eyes pleaded "I want to be in control first time, all right?"
H'llon nodded and kissed her gently.
"You could bundle up like the little boys with greens." He suggested. Zaira's look told him what she thought of THAT idea. H'llon gave in.
"If it's what you want, little love." He conceded. "I've been waiting for you to grow up."
Zaira devoted her attentions to showing him just how grown up she really was! H'llon was content to turn his attentions to satisfying her enthusiastic if not terribly knowledgeable demands, not having to hold his feelings down any more; but Zaira never knew the iron resolve that kept her leading!
Their exertions woke Melth, who stuck his head through the cavern doorway to investigate. Zaira waved a preoccupied hand at him.
"Dear Melth. Go away – you're huffing half a hurricane in here!" she complained.
Melth, curiosity satisfied, withdrew. After all, everyone said that a golden egg must soon be laid for Zaira!
Zaira snuggled into the warm, dark, musk scented darkness that was H'llon's broad chest. She wasn't discontented any more!