Hate To Leave

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 25th June 2008

Characters: Eliste, Jardon
Description: Jardon takes Eliste on a picnic to get her out and about.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 10 of Turn 4

Eliste had been fighting a low point, fingering the lavender quilt she had made for her daughter, remembering the beauty of her lost child.
Tears had formed and trickled down her cheeks. She had been left alone to nap, but sleep had eluded her and instead she had started to think of Varel. Her dear, sweet little Varel, whose cries would never tug at her heart and whose laughter would never make her smile again.

The knock on the door had startled her out of her reverie. Eliste's hand tightened on the edge of the quilt in startlement, but then she relaxed. Every time someone did something she didn't expect, she would tense up, as if preparing to receive a blow. Helvar wasn't there, but she still found it difficult to relinquish certain forces of habit.

Eliste quickly wiped at her eyes and fixed a smile upon her face. "Yes? Hello?" She called out, her voice inviting the visitor to enter.

He opened the door slowly and peeked around it. "Ellina? I didn't wake you, did I?" "No..." Eliste shook her head, setting aside the small quilt and sitting up a bit straighter. "No, you didn't. I'm wide awake."

"Good!" He stepped into the room. "Are you up for an outing today?" "I certainly wouldn't mind getting out for a bit." The midwife would be there later in the afternoon. He had promised her he would check on her and then tell her whether or not she could start to walk around again. Not too much, but outside for a little ways. Alas, she was still stuck in the chair for now.

"Then prepare yourself to leave this place for a while – we're going on a picnic." "A picnic?" Eliste's smile warmed a little bit. "You're taking me on a picnic? That sounds like fun."

"That's the plan," he told her. "I've a basket of food, a blanket, and the trusty chair. What more could we need?" That brought about soft laughter. "Well, I suppose I can't refuse that. Where are we going to have the picnic?"

"I have a place in mind," he told her. "It's near the river – of course." "That sounds lovely." Eliste mused. She slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed, feet peeking out from beneath her long skirt. She pushed herself to a standing position and moved over to the wheeled chair. "A place where you've taken me before?" She asked softly.

"We'll take one of the side paths, but near where we've walked. I'm afraid that the usual paths are too well-trodden and we'd not have a moment's peace to eat." Eliste lowered herself into the chair, then twisted to look up at Jardon. "I'm ready."

"Then let's go." He wheeled her from the room, stopping outside the door to pick up a woven basket. "If you don't mind holding this on your lap?" "Of course not." Eliste held out her arms and took the basket from him. She clasped it tightly to be sure that it didn't slip from her grasp.

Jardon pushed the chair to set it in motion. "I'll try to keep this ride as smooth as possible, but if you feel it's too bumpy, let me know." "All right." Where were they going that might make the ride bumpy?
Eliste glanced back at the man pushing the chair. "I hope I'm not too heavy."

"This chair is designed to carry those far heavier than you," he told her. "As long as the wheels are well-oiled, it'll travel easily." He swung the chair onto the path they had traveled on their earlier trips.

"Still, it must be awkward." Eliste had never had to push one empty, much less with another person inside. She went silent for a while, gaze falling across the scene, flowers peeking out from green, a breeze caressing them both. It was a lovely day - just right for a picnic.

He moved along the path in silence, respecting her mood, watching her as he navigated the wide walkway and enjoying her quiet company. They were on a downward swing of the path when he pulled back on the wheelchair handgrips to stop her progress and turned the chair to one side. "This portion is a bit overgrown in places so you'll have to help out. The dirt is packed down, but some of the tree limbs will need to be held aside to keep from hitting you." "Now I'm even more curious." Eliste admitted, then nodded in understanding. "I can handle some limbs."

"I'll go slowly to help you," he told her as he maneuvered the chair between two trees, "though I'd appreciate if you don't let too many of them whack me in the face either." That brought a laugh, just as Eliste was pushing aside a branch. She accidentally let go of it as she laugh and said branch whacked him right in the face. That stopped the laughter and Eliste's eyes widened, her face draining of colour. She tensed up, readying herself for a strike, the face of Helvar flashing before her. "I'm sorry! It was an accident!"

He laughed as well, though he noticed her reaction. "Accidents happen, and I figure that I brought it on by even suggesting it." He ducked under the next branch. "Watch out – there's an overgrown spot ahead." Eliste relaxed visibly and turned to face ahead. Why had she reacted like that? Had Jardon done anything to ever indicate that he would be another Helvar? Or Fog? Or Nico? None of the men she had come into contact with since leaving her husband had been anything but kind and gentle with her. So why was it that when something like this happened she was ready to expect a strike? Why couldn't she relax? Two and a half, almost three turns of marriage had done that to her, she supposed, and sometimes habits took a while to get over. Would she ever be able to relax? To trust completely?

The young woman was a lot more careful as Jardon navigated. She pushed branches out of the way and held on to them as long as possible to keep them from whipping back and smacking Jardon in the face. "How much longer?" She asked after a few moments.

"Almost there, just ahead of this next stand of trees." They moved through the last section and came upon a spot next to the river, a stream feeding into it from one side and backwashing to form a small pool. Roots criss-crossed the area with low foliage filling whatever space it could. Sunlight dotted the area, filtered by the canopy of branches and leaves overhead.

"Jardon, this is lovely." Eliste breathed as she surveyed the area. It was cooler under the trees and the scene looked so peaceful. "You must explore quite a bit to have found this place."

He chuckled at her comment. "Not really. This is a place that every child in the area knows, but is forbidden to frequent alone." He pointed to a broken vine hanging from a tree. "This was a favorite swimming spot but has unpredictable currents because of the varying levels of the river. There have been too many near-tragedies here and we discourage the children from coming here without adult supervision." "I see. I shall not go near the water then." Not that she could if she wanted to, being confined to her chair. "It is lovely though. I don't know if I'll want to leave."

"There are spots here that are safe enough to place your feet in the water or to wade," he told her. "It's just that the children tend to take more risks than they should." He took the basket from her. "I've brought simple fare – bread and cheese and fruit juice. There's also a tree right there. . ." he pointed along the shoreline, "where we can pick fruit for dessert." "This is just lovely." Eliste sighed softly, one of contentment. A gentle breeze brought the scent of the water, tingling her nose. The shade kept them protected from harsh sunlight and the thought of freshly picked fruit made hungry in of itself. She reached out for a bit of bread and cheese. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Thank you for allowing me to bring you here." He reached into the basket and removed a flask and two ceramic mugs. Uncorking the top of the flask, he poured juice for both of them. "Fresh-squeezed just before I packed the basket – or so I was told. I'll admit that I didn't actually make anything but simply requested the foods." "That's all right," Eliste assured him, "It was very thoughtful of you to even think of this." She took the mug after he offered it and sipped at the juice. "I'll be glad when I can start walking again and I can walk with you instead of having you push me around."

"Do the healers expect you to be able to do that soon or must you wait until after the babe is born?" "Well, I've not had any contractions in a while." Eliste broke a piece off of her bread and chewed upon it thoughtfully before replying. "He's going to come seem me within the next sevenday and I guess I'll find out then."

He cleared his throat, glancing at her and that back to the water.
"Have you considered what you'll do afterwards? Where you'll go?" Eliste didn't answer right away. Instead she too looked at the water, studying it silently until she managed to form an answer. "I think about it. I've not really formed an answer, but I do think about it."

"You know that you're welcome to stay, don't you? No one would turn you out from here." The young woman smiled, but she still didn't look at Jardon. "I know, thank you. It is a lovely place." She knew she couldn't, oh but how she wished she could. Fog and Nico...but she was afraid. Helvar might find her, he might try to hurt her, or worse, her baby or Fog or Nico or Jardon or any of her other friends.

Not quite the answer that he had wanted to hear, but it did not totally put him off. He seated himself on the bole of a tree near her, leaning back and watching the water. "I could sit and listen to that all day." "As could I." Eliste's smile rested upon him. "It's like music, a natural symphony."

He nodded. "It certainly has its own song. I've grown up with it and can't stand to be far from it for even a little while." "Do you ever wish you were on the riverboat?" Eliste queried gently.
"Or do you prefer life on land?"

"All the time," he told her, "but my skills have only limited use on-board. It's best that I work ashore and leave the space for someone else to live on the boat." Eliste nodded slowly. She had a feeling she would be wishing for the boat when she finally. She found it amazing and startling how quickly it had grown on her.

The young woman went silent for a few moments, munching upon her dinner, watching the river, and enjoying the day. "Thank you." She said softly after a few moments, "For bringing me here. This is very nice."

"You're welcome." He lounged back against the tree. "And it is nice – and peaceful. The only problem is that when I come here, I hate to leave."

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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