What Matters Most

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 18th March 2008

Characters: Eliste, Fog
Description: Eliste seeks passage on the Sungazer and Fog allows her on board.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 8, day 11 of Turn 4

Helvar had come home in the wee hours of the morning, drunk, and his noisy entrance awoke Eliste. Such an arrival was not an unusual event.
She was grateful that he all he did was fall into bed, boots not even off of his feet. She waited a while, counting his snores, then stole out of bed a little before dawn. She dressed quickly, and quietly, then took the bags from where she had hidden them. There were two.
One contained another dress and a bit of fabric she couldn't bear to leave behind along with a bit of food. The other contained four small quilts. One of those was Varel's baby quilt. The only quilt Helvar hadn't taken to sell, probably because she had embroidered their daughter's name on it before he had the chance. Eliste didn't look back as she left.

While she doubted that Helvar was going to rise early thanks to his drinking, she moved quickly. She wanted to be gone. She was careful, though, not to be seen. She did not want questions asked. She did not want to risk being forced back. She didn't know what her husband would do then.

The light of Rukbat was just causing the sky to darken when she approached the dock. The Riverboat sat there, and for a moment, she thought it almost welcomed her. She shook her head and moved forward.
They would leave that morning. It would be her last time at Emerald Falls. She approached cautiously, wondering if it would be too early to board and hoping it wouldn't. The sooner she could disappear inside, the better.

* * *

Fog walked back slowly towards the boat; the early morning, while cold was still a pleasant time to be out and about. He'd had made a quick call to the Healer for a new supply of his medication - a good excuse to stretch his legs before they left Emerald Falls for the next leg of their trip.

In the distance he could see a woman approaching the riverboat, she seemed a little hesitant so he quickened his pace. It wasn't uncommon for passengers to arrive so early, but normally they had more baggage than she appeared to be carrying, so maybe she was selling and was looking for a way onboard?

As Eliste drew closer, she took note of a figure. She took a glance back, but the hold was almost deserted. She hadn't been seen, as far as she could tell. What would she have said if someone had seen her?
Perhaps she should have come up with a story. It was too late now. She had reached her destination. When she looked back, the figure had gotten quite a bit closer and Eliste stopped. When he drew close enough, she spoke softly, "I'd like to...board, please."

"Board?" Fog's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You _are_ a passenger, then?"
he asked, surprised at her lack of baggage. "It's a mite early." he hesitated, "Won't be able to show you to your bunk, but you could come and break fast with me, if you've a mind?" he leaned forward, unhooking the small gate on the ramp, and ushering her forward.

Eliste slowly stepped onto the ramp, her back stiffening a bit, as if she were afraid of something. She took a glance back, but there was no shout, no one running towards her to try and stop her. After a moment's pause, she remembered herself and whispered, "Thank you."

"Is...is everything alright?" Fog asked, not missing the hesitation the woman showed as she stepped up onto the gangway. "It's alright, you can come aboard, just I can't show you your room - coz I don't know where they're putting you."

Eliste nodded and turned her back to the hold. Her old life was over.
She was taking the first step to her new left. She took a deep breath and headed up the ramp to the boat. When she reached the deck, she cast a sidelong glance at Fog and asked, timidly, "To whom do I speak about fare?"

"Vaheri will sort that out with you, she'll be along shortly." he said, guiding her along the deck. "Just come and have a klah and something to eat with me. It's not fit for man or beast out here this morning." he said, hugging his arms about him tight to ward off the cold. "By the way, my name's Follen - but everyone calls me Fog." he smiled softly, hoping to appear friendly - she looked like she could use a friend.

Eliste nodded in agreement as she pulled her cloak around her more tightly. She hadn't even really noticed the cold until Fog had mentioned it. Her mind had been on other things. Perhaps now that she was on the boat, she was relaxing - though only a little. "Thank you again...sir."

"No, not Sir - just Fog." he grinned down at her. "No need for formalities here." he reached forward, and pulled open the door to the galley and common room. "It'll be warm in here."

"Thank you, Fog." Eliste stepped over the threshold and paused just long enough to get a quick look around the common room. It was a strange site, she though, such a place on a boat, albeit a large one.
She would call this place home until it docked again. The girl moved aside to allow Fog to pass through. Despite the warmth that greeted her, she kept her cloak about her. The idea of taking it off made her feel vulnerable.

"Klah, or would you like a fruit juice?" he asked, moving into the galley, and testing the heat from the kettle. "Waters warm, I think I'll have a klah." he said almost to himself. He glanced once or twice over his shoulder, wondering what her story was - and if they would ever discover it. She seemed to be on her guard, and wondered if she wasn't... no she couldn't be holdless, she was too clean and well kept for that.

"Juice please." Eliste allowed some space to grow between them before she followed Fog. Her gaze kept wandering about, taking in the room, wondering how things worked despite her concerns that she might be caught. She had forgotten to watch where she was going and bumped into Fog. She jerked back, stammering an apology, her arm coming up as if to shield her from a strike.

Hey, hey!" he was shocked at her reaction, and reached out his arms to steady her, but stopped - pausing for a moment and wondering if it would be the right thing to do. "Are you alright?" he asked, tentatively reaching out and guiding her back towards the chairs in the common area. "Look, sit down, before you fall down." he said quietly, wishing someone else was here to help him with this woman. Where were the women when you needed them?

Eliste composed herself as quickly as she could and nodded in response to Fog's question. She took a seat as he indicated, grateful since her feet were honestly throbbing from her long walk. She was also feeling the fatigue of a truncated night's sleep. "Sorry." She mumbled, partially for her over reacting. She was so used to her husband and his quick hand. Even though she knew not all men were so quick to strike, her body acted in defense, even after only three turns of marriage.
After a moment of silence, she asked softly, "Are you the captain?"

"Me - the Captain?" Fog laughed aloud, while shaking his head. "Oh, bless you for saying that, but no." he smiled softly down at her, "I'm just one of the boat hands. My cousin - Lineal, he's the Captain.
You'll meet him shortly."

"Oh, I see." Her throat was dry and Eliste cast a glance from where they had come from. "Is it all right if I have a bit of juice...please?"

"Oh, yes. Sorry." he looked a little shamefaced, at forgetting just what he had been doing, and turned back hurriedly to the galley. He poured them both a juice and a slab of bread from the day before. "Would you like some toasted bread? The fresh ones aren't ready, yet." He could smell the bread cooking, but knew it wouldn't be done for at least a half candlemark or so, when everyone else would be about.

"Yes, please." Eliste's stomach growled audibly as if to say it was about time. She flushed, squirming a bit in embarrassment. When he got the bread and offered it to her, she accepted it with another soft 'thank you' and quietly ate. After the bread was gone, she finished her juice, then asked, "To whom do I speak about passage?"

"What's going on in here?" Nico asked with a grin on his face, which stopped short when he realised it wasn't all family in the room. he opened the outer door wider and walked inside, showing not a little surprise to find Fog entertaining a woman - never mind out in the open.
He hadn't thought Fog had it in him any more, and here he was - the morning after, openly drinking and eating with her in the galley.

Eliste rose to her feet as Nico entered. She glanced over at Fog, nervous and uncertain. "N...nothing, sir." She stammered, her hands playing at one another. "Just eating." The second admission was spoken just barely over a whisper. Had Fog done something he should not have?
If he had, then the gentleman wouldn't have been smiling, would he?

"Relax, he's no one important." Fog said quietly, but with an answering smile on his own face. "This is Nico, he's one of the crew - and my cousin." He turned back to the doorway, "Well - come in and close the door, Nic. It's bitter out there."

"You're not telling me something new." Nico replied, closing the door behind him. "And who, pray tell, is this young lady?" he asked, not missing the nervous and defensive stance she had pulled. They had seen it before on woman escaping abusive relationships, and this one appeared no different to the others.

"Um.." Fog's brow furrowed, "I don't think you told me your name?" he said to the woman. "Did you? I sometimes forget." he tried to go back over the conversation they had had, but couldn't remember her mentioning her name.

"No, I didn't. I'm El...Ellina." The thought that perhaps she shouldn't use her real name until she was safely out of Emerald Falls occurred to Eliste just in time. She rubbed one arm, hoping that they would not realise that she had told them a falsehood. She didn't want anyone asking about her only to be pointed out because she had given her real name. After a short pause, she added a polite, soft, "Well met."

"Well, El, Ellina. Welcome aboard the Sungazer, where are you planning on travelling to?" Nico asked, pulling out a chair and sitting next to her. He hadn't missed the pause with her name, and suspected that before long Vaheri would have the truth from her, but for now, he'd allow her the falsehood. He just nodded when Fog asked if he wanted something to drink, his attention not straying from the woman before him.

To be honest, Eliste hadn't even thought that far. The only thing she had thought about was getting away. Where didn't really matter as long as it was far away. Of course the riverboat only went so far. "At...at the next stop." She wasn't even sure where the riverboat went. She just needed to get out of there. She fidgeted, then asked softly, "Is there a room available?"

"Plenty for this leg of the journey." Nico assured her, "You visiting family? Or a change of employment?"

"Nico, how about you stop asking questions and get your breakfast, you'll need it today," Fog pulled out his chair and sat down again.
"we've got some heavy lifting to do later, there's a large shipment leaving with us today."

Eliste gave Fog a look that spoke of undying gratitude. She had opened her mouth as if to speak, but he hadn't given her the chance. This, she thought, was a good thing, as she would have answered a change of employment. Had he pressed even further, however, she would have honestly no idea how to answer. Eliste raised a hand to her brow and rubbed gently. She was getting a headache and she could feel nausea beginning to creep upon her. It wasn't bad, not enough to make her lose her breakfast, but it was quite a discomfort. "Is there a room I could have? I've walked far and need to lie down." There was more than just that, but she wasn't about to reveal that to them. The less information she gave about herself, the better. "Please?" She added, hoping that neither of them would ask anymore questions. She wasn't sure what she would say if they did.

"Come on, I'll take you to find Vaheri, she should be up and around by now. We'll take her a cup of klah as a peace offering for interrupting her this early in the day." Fog smiled comfortingly. "I'll see you down at the loading bay, shortly?" he asked Nico as they walked towards the door.

"Right you are." Nico nodded, aware of more than was said by the young woman. Vaheri wouldn't mind the interruption, he knew that well; she would sense the problem as soon as she saw Ellina. "Nice meeting you Ellina. We'll catch up later." he assured her.

Fog gave him a nod of farewell as he closed the door behind them.
"Come on, this way." he said, guiding her towards the staff accommodations further down the deck.

Eliste wasn't so sure she liked what Nico's words indicated. She hoped that she could just hide in her room and avoid the man. He made her nervous and she was already nervous enough, she didn't need to add to it. Eliste hurried after Fog, wanting to get away, wanting to hide. She was afraid, but she was even more afraid of going back. If she could just get away, she knew she would be all right. Things wouldn't be easy, but her baby would be safe. That was what mattered the most.

Last updated on the March 19th 2008

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