A Plea For Freedom

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

Characters: Eliste, Fog
Description: Eliste asks Fog to go see the Harper with her.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 23 of Turn 4

Eliste slept better than she had since making her flight from Helvar.
Perhaps it was because she was secure in the knowledge that she had someone who loved her, who wanted her, and who was willing to care for her. However, when the dawn came, she found herself sitting upon the edge of the bed, worrying about what Helvar would do. She had planned to talk to a harper that day and hoped that Fog would be willing to go with her.
She was far too nervous to go by herself.

He walked slowly up to the small cot where Eliste had been staying, his heart lighter than it had been in many turns. He had yet to tell the girls, deciding that until her union with Helvar was dissolved, it was best to keep the news to himself, and maybe Lineal and Rahona. He had yet to decide if he would tell them.

He had a basket in hand that the girls had put together for him, filled with a lovely meal of fresh fruits, cheeses and roasted meat. The smell of fresh bread enveloped him as he came to a stop, adjusting his jerkin before opening the door. Her room was a short way down the hallway, and he felt his steps quicken as he drew closer.

The knock at the door didn't make her jump, a definite sign that she was relaxing in some respects. Eliste looked down, realising that she had been so lost in thought that she hadn't thought to get dressed. She stood and wrapped herself in a robe before opening the door and peering out.
Her face relaxed into a smile and she stepped back to allow Fog entry.

"I'm sorry, Fog." She apologised, her voice soft. "I lost track of time." She clutched the robe around her with one hand as she rummaged for a dress, then scuttled toward the bathing room as a gentle blush graced her cheeks. "I'll...I'll be quick."

"Take your time, I'm in no hurry. We don't sail for another candlemark or so." He walked across to her bed, and straightened the covers before sitting in the edge. The basket he had left near the door emitted aromas that tantalized his stomach. "Hope you're hungry," he called out, "they filled the basket."

Eliste didn't answer until she emerged a few moments later, robe and gown carefully folded and placed them upon her bed. She gave Fog another smile, eyes darting to the basket and back to him as she tucked some stray hair away. "Yes, very hungry. Did you want to eat here, or elsewhere?"

"We can eat here, if you like? I'm not fussy." he shrugged, standing as she entered the room. "As long as we can spend a little time together."

"I'm fine with either," Eliste breathed, not really helping in the decision. "But...I...well, I do have something to ask of you."

"You do?" he smiled, his mouth crooking at the side in question. He walked across to her, and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her as close as her swollen belly would allow. "And the question is?"

"Would you go with me to speak to a harper?" She asked softly, her arms coming to rest upon his. His touch was warm and gentle, nothing like Helvar's - nothing like it at all.

"As soon as we've eaten, if that's what you want?" he answered softly, his eyes not straying from hers as he looked down on her. He kissed her softly, their lips barely meeting, before he pulled away again. "Let's eat...and then we can go see the harper." **And begin our lives together.** he thought to himself.

His kiss, so light, tender, gentle. She trembled at his touch, her body so used to the crush of Helvar, but Eliste relaxed when he felt the brush against her lips. She blinked, then smiled and leaned into him for a moment, her arms embracing them, belly pressed between them. Then, she pulled away, hands sliding down his arms to grasp lightly at his hands before she said, "Yes. Let's."

****

Eliste held Fog's hand as they walked, the early morn still misty and the sun not quite sure if it wanted to fully wake up and shine just yet. She hoped that the harper wouldn't be annoyed with them, but Fog was leaving in a few candlemarks and she wanted to get this over and done with. The quicker, the better.

He felt sure that what they were doing was the right thing, he hadn't felt this way about a woman since Marilea - and this time Eliste knew him as he was now. "Are you happy?" he asked her, as they walked along. "Will you be happy on the riverboat, do you think?"

"I miss the riverboat." Eliste stated with a soft sigh. "And it wouldn't matter. On or off...I will be happy as long as I am with you."

"Good." he squeezed her hand lightly, grateful for that connection to her.
"Well, you ready?" he asked, stopping outside the harpers cot.

Eliste took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she nodded. Her hand tightened in his. "Yes." As ready as she would ever be, she supposed.

He rapped on the cot door, and smiled down at her in encouragement as they waited for the harper or his wife to appear. "Would you like to marry here? Or on the Sungazer?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

Eliste blushed and looked down. "I...I think I'd like to take care of this first."

Fog didn't get a chance to respond for the door opened then and a woman, petite in form with dark blonde hair and friendly brown eyes greeted them.
"Hello...may I help you?"

"We'd like to see the harper, ma'am." Fog replied with what he hoped was a pleasant smile for so early in the morning.

"My, aren't you two the early rises." The old woman stepped to the side and motioned for Fog and Eliste to pass by, her smile still pleasant and her tone light. "Come in, he's just getting dressed."

"Thank you." Fog waved Eliste through the doorway before him. Watching her carefully as she followed the older woman along the narrow passage.

"Just have a seat here." The woman motioned to a small table around which four chairs sat. "Would you two like any klah or tea?"

"Oh, no thank you." Eliste answered softly.

Fog glanced around the room, so small and a little confining, so different from the Sungazer with open waters around them. He doubted he could ever live shorebound, he'd be like Jesten, live and die aboard the boat, of that he was certain. He sat down on the edge of the chair, opposite Eliste and smiled an uncomfortable smile.

"Sir?" The harper's wife bent at the waist, shining her smile at Fog. It was then that the harper strode in, touselling what little hair was upon his head and giving the two a half grin. "Hello, sorry. I heard the knock, but I wasn't quite ready."

"Breakfast is almost ready dear. Would you two care for anything?" The blonde woman bustled over toward the kitchen area of the cot.

Eliste shook her head, repeating her earlier reply and adding, "We've already eaten, thank you." She looked to Fog, as if to gather strength from the sight of him.

"Thank you - but no, we've already broken our fast today." he nodded at the woman, surprised by her gesture more so then her offer. He stood and held out his hand in greeting to the harper. "We apologise sir, for intruding so early in the day, but my boat sails shortly and we need to talk with you first."

"Ah, certainly, certainly." He looked from one to the other, eyes darting over the obvious condition of the woman. The harper stood and shook the hand of Fog. Eliste remained in her seat, quiet and, perhaps, a little pale. "Please, please, what can I do for you?"

Fog turned and looked at Eliste, "Do you want me to explain, or will you?"
he asked, taking a step towards her and leaning over to take her hand in his.

Eliste opened her mouth and then closed it to look at him. She hesitated, then smiled and managed to look at the harper. "I...I wish to dissolve my marriage."

"Ah, then you two are not married?" Surely they would not be showing such affection if they were the ones separating. The harper studied the young woman before him. She seemed so very small, despite the swelling of the babe within her and she could see something in her eyes that troubled him.
"Well my dear, I am going to need some information. Lysia!" The harper called and explained to his wife that he needed writing implements.
Parchment and pen appeared a moment later and the woman bustled back to the kitchen area to keep herself busy.

"Now, I'll need your name and his name and reason of course." The harper thought he knew the reason. He'd seen that look in more than one woman who had made her way through the waypoint.

Fog sat down again, this time closer to Eliste, his nearness being his way of showing support. There was nothing he could do for her right now, it would all have to be her doing. His hand held hers warmly, every now and then he squeezed it gently.

Eliste's hand held tightly to Fog's. She couldn't help but wonder if she was doing the right thing. She loved Fog, but she was afraid of Helvar and afraid that Fog might get hurt because of her. But he had asked, and she could not deny him.

"My name is Eliste. My...husband's is Helvar, he's an assistant Steward at Emerald Falls."

That brought an eyebrow up, but the harper didn't say anything, simply wrote down her name and his. "And the reason?"

How could she explain, especially without falling apart? Eliste honestly didn't want to go into details regarding the story, so she said simply, "Cruelty."

Fog slipped his arm arond her shoulder, he could feel the tremor go through her body and worried that she may not be strong enough to reveal all to the harper, and there was nothing he could do to help. He was neither witness nor healer who could testify to her injuries. He just hoped that the harper would be gentle with his probing questions.

The harper looked up and steadied his gaze upon Eliste. Yes, he had seen this before and he didn't think he needed to get more details. He smiled gently and nodded, "Is there anything more you'd like to tell me?" He encouraged.

Eliste hesitated, uncertain, but thought that, perhaps, if she gave a little more information then things might be easier for her in the long run. She looked down at the floor, as if embarrassed to look at either the harper or Fog. "He would beat me." Her jaw tightened. There was more, of course, but that was a story she couldn't stand to reveal. It had been nerve wracking enough revealing it to Fog, much less to a stranger.

The harper nodded again, saying nothing and writing down some more information. Yes. He had seen this far too often. After a few minutes of silence and writing, he set aside his utensil, blew upon the parchment to set the ink, then took it up and rolled it. "I should have more information for you in a sevenday."

Eliste nodded, asking softly, "I'll come back in two."

"Do you think there's enough there for the Lord Holder?" Fog asked, his arm hadn't left Eliste's shoulders, and though he didn't want her to feel worried about this more than she had been a niggling worry irked him, "Enough that she won't have to..." he took a deep breath, "won't have to face Helvar again?" he could feel her stiffen in his arms.

"If not, I will let you know." He turned his gaze to Eliste. "I'm sure I'll be able to find you." His smile was warm, and gentle.

Eliste nodded, then stood. The harper was kind, but she wanted to get out of there. She felt like she needed to get outside, get more space to breathe. "Thank you sir." She stated softly.

"Of course." The harper stood, then turned to Fog, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, yes..." Fog reached into his pocket and withdrew a half mark, hoping it would be sufficient and passed it to the Harper. "Thank you."

The harper looked at the half mark, turned it over, then held it back out to Fog. "No, I don't need this." He looked toward Eliste who was already heading toward the door and lowered his voice. "Just you take good care of her." He looked back at Fog. "I don't want her to have to come to me again." Too many women...too many times.

"Believe me, we won't be back for anything other than good news from now on. She has nothing to fear from me." his voice became hoarse with emotion and he felt a hot rush behind his eyes. "Thank you." he said again, with a curt nod. He followed Eliste out, grateful that she hadn't seen the last exchange.

~~*~~

Eliste had been outside for a minute or two when Fog finally finished with the harper. She had taken a few deep breathes, grateful for getting out in the open. She turned and gave Fog a small smile. "So...I guess now there's nothing to do but wait."

"No...we can't do anything more." Fog said, taking her into his embrace, his head resting on hers. "But you have something to keep you going now, something more than just the baby." he said, pulling away slightly to look down at her.

"I wish you didn't have to go." Eliste's arms encircled Fog and she gazed up at him. "Or I wish I could go with you." That, she knew, would not be allowed by the healer.

"I do as well Eliste, but you know what happened when you travelled with us; that time we were lucky to be able to bring you back to the waypoint."
he too, felt the disappointment of their looming separation. He didn't want to leave her any more than she wanted to stay here, but he would also have to break his news to his daughters and the rest of the family. Hopefully before too long, and once the babe was born, they could all be together.

Eliste nodded, wishing things were different, that the baby was already there, that Helvar was out of their lives, that she could be with him.
"We should walk back to the docks. They'll be wondering where you are."
The last few days had found her walking further than she should have been, but she would take it easier afterwards. Her time with Fog was precious.

"Yes, I should be getting back." he said the words, but his heart ached that in a candlemark or so, he would be leaving her again. "Remember me, when I'm gone." he slipped a comfortable arm around her shoulder, and they turned and started in the direction of the dock.

"My heart could never forget you." She walked as slowly as she could, not looking forward to their parting. At least she would see him again in a couple of sevendays. Hopefully, by that time, she would be free of Helvar
- and free to be with Fog.

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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A Plea For Freedom