Waiting For You

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 27th June 2008

Characters: Eliste, Fog
Description: Eliste goes to the docs to meet the riverboat and Fog stumbles across her.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 23 of Turn 4

She could see the Riverboat far down the river as it came into sight from around a bend. She watched as she sat upon a box that had been placed there to be loaded as cargo. She had missed her friends, even more now that feelings had come out into the open. She loved them. She missed them. She also realised that her time with them was so very limited and she had decided to make as much use of that time as possible. She had decided to come to them for once. The boat pulled up and docked and she continued to sit there, waiting as patiently as she could.

Fog walked along the deck checking all the passenger cargo was secure and ready for unloading. It was all stacked neatly at the rear of the boat, so he couldn't see the dock as they arrived. He would have liked to have a word with Jardon before making his way up to see Eliste, but he wouldn't have time until they had finished for the day. He just hoped Jardon stayed around for a little while.

The last sevenday had been hrd on them all, but more so because of the guilt that wieghed heavily on Fog. If he and Nico hadn't.... He shook his head, it did no good to dwell on such things.

"Hello Fog." Eliste greeted the man who was evidently lost in thought as he approached the box upon which she perched. She smiled at him, hands laced upon her lap. Around her neck was the necklace that Nico had given her. "How was your trip?"

"Eliste!" he had been so lost in thoughts of Nico, he had almost walked past without seeing her. He glanced around the dock, but couldn't see Jardon anywhere, may be that was just as well - he couldn't have faced another discussion like the one he had had with Nico - especially not with the object of the discussion in their midst. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you." The young woman eased herself to a standing position.
"I was told that the riverboat was coming today."

"For ... me? Or Nico?" he asked, wondering how she would take the news about Nico leaving the Sungazer.

"Both." Came the soft reply and then impulsively, "But especially for you." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she blushed and looked down.

He was taken aback by her confession, he had expected her to be here for Nico. Her words gave him a moment of relief but he knew she would be upset when she learned of his cousin's absence, and probably blame herself, when really -
it was he who was to blame. He should never have told Nico how he felt. "Me? I don't know what to say." he replied finally.

Eliste looked up, eyes searching his for a moment. She too, wasn't quite sure what to say for a minute or two, but then the words came of their own volition, "I've missed you."

A slow, warm smile turned up the corners of Fog's mouth at her words, "And I've missed you as well." he admitted finally. "More than I thought was possible. But - I have some news.. which may taint the welcome you have for me - and Nico." he said fnally.

The smile that had turned up Eliste's lips in echo of Fog's suddenly faded. "What...what's wrong?"

"Nico didnt come back with us." he didn't hesitate, wanting to get the news over and done with.

Eliste stared at Fog for a moment before asking softly, "Why?"

"Well.... he .. he found someone." He didn't say the someone closely resembled Eliste. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. But Nico had felt easier staying at the port, and to find someone like Eliste was a bonus in his eyes. "She lives at the port, and Nico - he decided he wanted a change. For a little while, anyway."

The young woman was silent for another moment, then nodded slowly. "Is he...happy?"

"He will be... I think." Fog shrugged his answer. He really wasn't sure, but he hoped for his cousins sake, and the sake of the woman, that Nico would be.
"Give it time, and he could be."

"I'm sorry Fog. I know you were close." She moved forward, resting a gentle hand upon his arm. To be honest, she would miss him. She cared for Nico - perhaps she should have told him. No. Then he would have thought that she would have wanted more. Over the last two sevendays Eliste had done a lot of thinking, and it was Fog who had come foremostinto her heart over and over again. "Are...are you all right?"

"I'm...fine." he nodded. "More worried how you would take it...you loved him?" he asked, dreading the answer, yet needing to hear it.

"Yes Fog, I do." Eliste drew closer to the man, then spoke softly, her emotion making her voice tremble. "But not like I...not like I love you."

"Wh- I thought... I thought you wanted to be with him, but... your husband..." his hands reached out and clasped her upper arms firmly but gently. "Eliste..." his voice ground out full of choked emotion.

The mention of her husband caused Eliste to look down. "My husband is still a threat."

"Not to me..." Fog shook his head, his eyes holding hers. "Eliste..." he murmured her name softly, forgetting for a moment where they were.

Her eyes glimmered with the beginnings of tears. "I don't know what I would do if he hurt you." She whispered, looking up and meeting his gaze.

"He won't." Fog shook his head. "Nico told me he suggested to you that you approach the harpers about ending your union?" he asked quietly, not wishing to upset her more than the discussion already was.

"Yes, he did." Eliste nodded, "But I'm frightened, Fog." Her voice trembled again, but this time with fear. "I'm so frightened. He'll find me if I stay here or on the riverboat. He'll find me and it won't matter whether or not I've had the marriage dissolved and..." She hesitated, uncertain, but finally continued, "How could...how could I...how could you want someone who left her husband? Who broke a vow? How could you trust me?"

"I don't care about any of that. Like Marilea, you lived in a situation you cold no longer feel comfortable in - if the love isn't there anymore - or was never there to begin with - how can you be held responsible?" He glanced around, this really isn't the place to talk about this, would you liek to come aboard, or... can we just walk?"

"Either is fine." Eliste responded, looking away and stepping back, her arms wrapping around herself as if she were cold.

He slipped his jacket from his shoulders and wrapped it around hers, pulling her close, "Come and have a drink on board, we can find somewhere quiet." he suggested.

Eliste nodded and leaned into him. "Lead on."

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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Waiting For You