The Help

Writers: Len, Mirren
Date Posted: 30th December 2015

Characters: Bortem, L'fael
Description: Bortem gets Lafael to help him, but neither boy knows what to do about some mutual feelings
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 8

Bortem

Lafael stifled his sigh. It was so hot in the tanner's room today. The fact that the Hold had been bolted up tight against the 'Fall all morning and now, before it had a chance to get aired out, was about to be hit with a thunderstorm didn't help one bit. What also didn't help was Lafael's familiar headache that always happened during threadfalls and the fact that one of the tanners wanted him to carry a load of leather.

Glancing over to the tanner, Lafael tried to suppress another sigh of misery. At least this man was easy on the eye.

Now...where did that thought come from? Lafael shook his head, the heat must be getting to him!

Bortem hefted the weight in his arms again. Granted his load was slightly smaller than the drudge's, but it was still heavy. Added to that it had been a long day and his mother's words echoed in his mind and…

He sighed.

Lafael took one step with his heavy load. He only remembered that one step. His eyesight darkened and he fell to the floor with a heavy thump.

"What the-" Bortem looked down at the drudge. "Hey…" Not knowing what else to do, he poked him with his toe.

"Oh...ah?" Lafael's eyes blinked open and he stared up at the tanner. "Wha--what happened?"

"I dunno, you just fell down. Did you trip or something?" Bortem looked around but all he saw on the floor was dropped leather. He frowned at it.

"I...uh..." Lafael reached up and held his head. It was obvious he was in a lot of pain. "Threadfall always makes my head hurt for some reason." He gave the tanner a grin, feeling distinctly foolish.

Bortem looked up. "It can't get you in here." Standing outside in fall would do more than give a headache though. He put down his load and started picking up the dropped leather.

"Oh, I know_that." Lafael crept up into the nearby chair and rubbed his forehead. The headache was beginning to fade away. "I spent most of my life deep in the forest, with a trader and his family." He swallowed past the lump in his throat just thinking of them. Lafael knew how that they were never coming back to claim him after the broken ankle that had landed him here in the first place. "It's funny, but I used to never get headaches. But since coming here they've gotten worse and worse." He shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

"I get headaches all the time," Bortem replied. "It's usually from too much ale, or the chemicals I work with." He shrugged. "Do you need some water?"

"Water would be nice." Lafael gave Bortem his best smile, not even really being aware that he was doing just that.

"Yeah…" Bortem didn't usually bother to help people, especially if there was nothing in it for him, but the guy was kind of cute. He swallowed and headed toward the sink. If his mother could read his mind, she'd skin him alive. He filled a cup and took it back over.

"Here. Don't - you know- spill it."

Lafael smiled his thanks and took the cup. The water felt cool on his throat. He hadn't even been aware of how parched he was. A few drops of the water beaded on his full lower lip as he put the glass onto the table beside him and looked up to Bortem. "I-I think I feel better now, thank you sir."

Bortem snorted and kept his eyes averted slightly. "You don't need to call me sir, I'm just Bortem." Nothing special or important. On the contrary, he preferred a lower profile.

"Okay, sorry. I'm just used to calling everyone here sir or ma'am. I think I'm pretty much the lowest of the low here." He shrugged his shoulders helplessly and stood up. "I feel better now."

"That's great," Bortem replied. "Do you, um, want to stay and help out a bit longer?" Not that he needed help, but the company would be welcome.

Lafael felt an unexpected flush at those words. Maybe it wasn't the words, maybe it was that odd glint in Bortem's eyes. Lafael swallowed hard as a part of him thought--no, felt strongly--that he should run away, as hard and fast as he could. But another part of him, one he had never given any mind to, wanted to stay with this tall boy with the pretty face and never leave. The words he wanted to say couldn't leave his lips, so instead he nodded his acceptance.

"Good." Bortem blinked several times, uncertain as to what to say or do at first. "I guess we could tidy up. It's pretty messy in here." It was always a mess, but suddenly it seemed embarrassing.

"Okay, I can do that." Particularly as most of the mess was from his little blackout spell. And if it kept him in the company of Bortem, so much the better. Lafael told himself it was because this man was one of the rare persons here who seemed to be showing him some kindness.

He let himself believe that.

And Bortem was trying to tell himself that he just wanted someone helpful around. Anything else would land him in so much trouble.

Last updated on the January 11th 2016

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The Help