All Aboard

Writers: Kaysea, AL
Date Posted: 21st November 2008

Characters: Eliste, Fog
Description: Fog and Eliste return aboard the Sungazer.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 4

There she was, the Sungazer in all her glory. Eliste's express brightened and her paced quickened as they drew near to where the riverboat was docked. The crew were making their preparations for when it would leave in a few hours, busy running to and fro on deck and on dock. It was so good to see her again. How odd that Eliste should fall in love with such a thing so quickly. Or with such a man. Odd...but oh so wonderful.

"She's looking fine, isn't she?" Fog asked, walking up the slope toward her. "As soon as we finish unloading, the girls and Neke plan to come up to your quarters to see Follen, is that all right with you?" he asked, slipping a comfortable arm around her waist.

"She is." Eliste agreed wholeheartedly. Her heart was tight, but it was not with sorry but with excitement. They had planned to return the previous month, but Follen and gotten ill and so they had postponed returning, but finally! Finally they were there! She was one step closer to her new life! "And yes, that is perfectly fine with me."

"Good, apparently Linli has something of import to ask us both." he smirked, "I'll fill you in later, but for now, come on down, the women have been asking about you."

"She does?" Eliste gave Fog a sidelong glance as they reached the dock, boots clapping against the boards and pounding out a rhythm to announce their coming.

~ ~ ~

The girls walked ahead of them along the track. Fog and Eliste walking behind, Fog's arm resting casually around Eliste's shoulders and a wide smile brightened his face. "This is family life." he said happily.

Eliste smiled, then turned her face away to gaze about her, soaking in her surroundings, so very happy to be back. "So what does Linli wish to ask us?"

"Apparently she's concerned that our coming aboard will interfere with her sleeping arrangements." he replied quietly, not wishing to alert the girls that he was aware of the predicament Linli found herself in.

"Usually aboard the boat, families all sleep together, but... for as long as Linli can remember she has shared with Tahna and Neke, and now she's worried she'll be made to sleep in with us."

"Oh." How did couples find time to be intimate? The idea of sharing quarters together seemed rather claustrophobic. She wasn't about to change her mind, however. Surely they would figure something out. Others did after all. "What do you think should be done?"

"I'd be fine with her staying with Tahna and Neke, it'll give us time to settle in aboard the Sungazer, and also be a little more peaceful for Follen to settle into." he wanted to spend some time with Eliste alone, too, and wouldn't be able to with Linli asleep in the room as well. It had been many turns since he had shared a room with anyone other than the single males aboard the boat.

"Then let's let her decide." Eliste stated softly to be sure that no one could over hear them. "If she truly likes the way things are, I don't see any point in changing them."

"Thank you, sweetheart." he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "You've made not only her happy, but me as well." he said with a smile.

"I just hope I can continue to make you all happy." And, Eliste thought, not bring about any more trouble once Helvar was out of their lives.

"I don't think you need to worry on that score." His gaze moved to the girls again, they walked hand in hand a half dragonlength ahead. He had warned them that today they would see their mother, but neither had shown their true feelings to him. They hadn't had time to explain to the girls, that Eliste and their mother had developed a relationship of sorts. But the fact Eliste had left Follen with her should tell them how things stood.

Eliste took note of his gaze and inched closer to him. "How do you think they'll take it?"

"Take what?' he asked, coming out of his reverie with a start.

"Having their mother on board." It was only for a little while, but she imagined it would still be quite awkward."

"We'll tell them once they get over the shock of seeing her today. Hopefully they can develop some sort of relationship with her, depending on where she decides to settle." He wondered where that would be. Marilea was well known in port, dock and waypoint. To be safe from her husband she may have to travel further afield than she had really wanted to.

"I don't know." Eliste hoped it wasn't anywhere along the riverboat's path. She, too, had the same thought as well, that Marilea needed to go further to get away. Eliste was going to encourage her to do so, though not only for the other woman's sake. "You did tell them she was coming, right?"

"No, I haven't said anything to the girls yet." he shook his head, and lowered his voice, "I didn't want to until they're ready to board the Sungazer again tonight. I don't want any chance of them being overheard by the locals. Anyone could pass word back to her husband."

"Oh, so you told them they'd see her but not that she was joining us?" It made sense, and Eliste certainly didn't want Marilea's husband coming after them either. "I hope it won't upset them."

"They'll have to adjust, besides, it'll only be until she reaches whichever port she wants to disembark on."

"I have suggested that she go to the seaport and gain travel elsewhere." Eliste admitted, "The further away, the better." Not just from her husband, but from _them_!

"Yeah, I was thinking the same myself. Too close and it'd be too easy for him to find her." he nodded thoughtfully, his eyes gazing ahead, when he realised the girls were almost at Eliste's quarters. "C'mon, we'd better catch up before it becomes too awkward for them all."

"Ah, yes." Eliste picked up her pace. She hoped the girls wouldn't be too upset or resentful of what she had done. Marilea was no one's favourite person, but neither was Eliste willing to let her, especially with that baby, stay in that kind of situation.

Last updated on the November 22nd 2008

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