Jealousy

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 6th August 2008

Characters: Fog, Eliste, Marilea
Description: Folen and Eliste run into Marilea once again.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 4

Follen was a sevenday old and Eliste felt all right with taking him out. It was a lovely, warm day with no threat of rain. The garden was beautiful, but best of all, she not only had Follen, but Fog with her. Eliste had made a baby carrier and she had tied the child to her front. One hand was slipped into Fog's and a smile seemed to be permanently etched upon her face. She was trying her hardest not to think of Helvar and what she would have to do the next month. No.
For the moment, she was going to enjoy her two men.

"You look beautiful today, you know." Fog said, as they walked companionably along the narrow track along the river bank. "Being a mother really suits you." He was so proud of the way she looked, and his new son, too. Follen was growing well despite his early arrival.

"You see through clouded eyes, Fog." Eliste paused, then laughed at her own words. "But I thank you for the compliments." Her free hand went up to caress the child's back, so warm even through the cloth.
He was silent and still, sleeping happily. "I didn't realise what a wonderful thing it was to have children until I had one." Then lost her. But she wouldn't think about that just then.

He could hear the pain in her voice, "It won't happen again." he assured her, his arm tightening around her shoulders. "I _love_ you, Eli." he said softly, his lips brushing softly on her hair. "I would never willingly hurt you, I promise."

"I know it won't. Not with you." Eliste's eyes closed, enjoy the feel of his touch, so gentle, so obviously full of love with every caress.
What would it be like to be with him fully? Helvar had never been gentle and she had never enjoyed sex with him. It was just something she did, part of being a dutiful wife. But with Fog..with Fog she desired him, desired to touch him the way that Helvar had made her touch him. She desired to make him feel good, to be one, fully and completely. That, however, would have to wait for more than one reason, not the least of which was that, as much as she hated Helvar, she was still married. She wouldn't do anything until that was broken and she was married to Fog, not matter how much she wanted to.

"Oh how sweet!" her voice dripped sarcasm, but it had pained her to see Fog so close and obviously loving towards someone other than herself.
Marilea had been walking behind them for a short time, but for long enough to see the love the pair shared. "Oh my!" she said as they turned towards her and she saw the bundle that Eliste had strapped to her. "You've had the baby then, I see. Does your husband know?" she asked cruelly.

Eliste didnt need to turn to know who had spoken. Despite the fact they had only spoken twice, she recognised that voice. The young woman came to a stop and turned her eyes upon Fog's ex-wife. She wanted to snap a retort, say something mean in return, but she held her tongue, though her hand tightened in Fog's.

"Yes, he does. _I_ am her _husband_." Fog retorted. "Though what business it is of yours, I don't know."

"Y... you!?" Marilea spluttered. "You're not married. I would have heard." she jeered.

Fog's words surprised her, but Eliste managed to school her features thanks to the anger at the woman and her harsh tone. "And why do you think we would tell you?" She asked, voice trembling, but not from fear.

"You wouldn't need to, the news would have spread easily enough."
Marilea flounced closer. "He's a puny little thing, isn't he?" she asked, though she couldn't see him properly from where she stood.

"He'll grow." Eliste had to grind her teeth to keep from returning the insult. What was wrong with this woman? Why couldn't she just leave them alone? What did it matter to her? She'd thrown Fog away without a second thought and now she was harrassing them both!

"Marilea, I'd suggest you make haste to your cot, before we both say something that will be regretted." Fog spoke quietly, but menace was obvious in his demeanour.

"You're threatening me?" Marilea almost laughed at him - almost. She had never seen Fog get _really_ angry before, even before the accident he had been an even tempered man - this new Fog was something to be envious of - and maybe a little wary. But she counted on the feelings he may still have for her, to push it a little further.

"So you're hoping to pass off as husband and wife now? And the brat to be above reproach? I hope you don't intend for my daughters to be a part of this charade?"

"Why does it matter to you Marilea?" Eliste inched closer to Fog, wishing the woman would just go away. Would she plague them for the rest of her stay? Would she taunt them every time they docked at the waypoint? The woman angered her and Eliste, who for so many turns had done her best to avoid conflict, could just not back down, "You've cast them away. They're not your family anymore."

"They're still my daughters!" Marilea screeched, "How dare you answer me!" she took a step forward. "I still care about their welfare, and I won't have them looked down on because their father has lost what little sense he has left!"

Fog took a step forward, his anger barely controlled now. He had known Marilea could be like this, the last few sevendays they had been together he had seen this side of her more and more, her frustration taking a more vindictive bent towards both him and their children.
But what did she have to be frustrated about? She had a loving husband, from what he had heard, and a child of her own. "I won't warn you again, Marilea. And it _is_ a warning, not a threat."

"And what will you do?" she spat at him. How had she never seen this protective side of him. He had never treated her so gently as he appeared to treat this new woman. What did Eliste have that she didn't? Some unknown quality - obviously. It angered and frustrated her that she had never been treated so well by Fog when she was with him.

He bent and whispered to Eliste, "Just wait here for me, okay?" before taking a step towards his ex-wife.

Marilea backed up, concerned now that she may have pushed him too far.

Eliste did exactly as Fog told her to do, though she watched him. Her arms slid up to encircle her son protectively, the child sleeping through all the commotion.

Fog took Marilea's extended hand, she had extended it as if to ward him off, but it didn't work. He swiftly swung her up and over his shoulder, and turned toward the hold. "I'll be back shortly." he said to Eliste over his shoulder, above the outcry from Marilea.

Eliste watched, eyes wide in shock. She could never have imagined Fog doing such a thing. The sight of Marilea, arms and legs thrashing in the air...well...she just couldn't help it. The young woman turned away and began to laugh as softly as she could.

"Put me down!" she screamed, "Follen you can't do this. My husband will not tolerate your treatment of me in this way." She kicked and twisted on his shoulder to no avail. Just as she thought she had the better of him, he let her slip backwards and she had to clasp him tightly so as not to land on her head.

"Listen to me." his voice ground out, low and menacingly. "Eliste has done _nothing_ to warrant your treatment of her. This will not happen again, Marilea - do you understand?"

"You can't stop me from saying what I want, _when_ I want."

"If you want to keep on the good side of your daughters, you will. If you want to continue to see them - you will."

"You're threatening to keep them from me? You can't!"

"I won't have to." he said, stopping and dropping her back on her feet.
"_You_ left _me_, Marilea. Remember that, because the girls do. They also love having a little brother and a woman who loves them like a mother should." he sighed wearily. "I don't know what we have done for you to act this way. But unless you want the cothold to know this side of you, I'd suggest you keep your feelings to yourself for another few sevendays, at least until we leave. Understand?"

***

"Are you alright?" he asked coming back to the place he had left Eliste to wait.

"Oh yes." Eliste's lips danced up and down, a pitiful attempt in hiding her amusement at the memory of the other woman slung over Follen's shoulder. "I'm fine. That was...funny, actually. I'll try not to make you angry."

"I don't have to be angry to tip you over my shoulder, there are more pleasant reasons." he said, an answering smile crossing his face, before it was replaced by a more serious expression. "I'm sorry you had to contend with her."

Eliste flushed at Fog's innuendo and was grateful that he changed the subject. It was hard to think about such things when they were unable to touch one another. "It's not your fault. I think she's bitter, though she has no right to be."

"I think she is as dissatisfied in this marriage as she was in ours."
he answered finally. Some of what she had said to him in private had given him reason to think all was not as happy as she would have everybody believe, in her new relationship. "But that is not our problem, and we shouldn't have to deal with the fallout."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Sorry, but not surprised. While Eliste didn't like the woman, she didn't necessarily wish her ill. Yet, if Marilea was like that with her husband, there was no room for wondering as to why there were problems. Eliste slipped her hand back into Fog's. "Come, let's finish our walk and talk of more pleasant things."

Last updated on the August 7th 2008

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Jealousy