An Unwanted Passenger (1)

Writers: AL, Eimi, Kaysea
Date Posted: 26th November 2008

Characters: Fog, Eliste, Helver
Description: Helvar sneaks onto the riverboat and comes after Eliste.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 4
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

Eliste tied her tunic and smiled down at her son, who gazed at her lazily through half-closed lids. Another moment or two and he would be fast asleep. She shifted once she was put together again and cradled him closer as she began to rock, humming a soft lullaby. It was so good to be on the riverboat. The quarters were smaller, but space didn't matter. She was among friends. Family. She was starting a new life and in between the bursts of fear came a sense of peace. Peace settled over her at that moment and she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of her son in her arms and easy motion of the chair as she moved back and forth.

She was in view the moment he opened the door, eyes closed, her arms wrapped around the tiny babe. It reminded him so much of a time turns before when she held a little girl in her arms like that. A little girl with a beautiful smile that she would never hold again. Well, that child was gone. He would not lose another one. She had dared to try to hide it from him, but not any more. He had come to claim what was rightfully his. "Is that my child?"

The sound of his voice jerked her out of her reverie and sent chills through her body. Eliste was on her feet, the rocking chair screeching back at the sudden movement and crying out in protest. She stared at the man before her, eyes wide, fear rippling through them. Eliste clutched at the bundle in her arms, stirring and whimpering in his own objection. "Wh...what are you doing here?"

Helvar moved out of the darkness of the doorway and into the small, cramped room. "I'm here to collect what's mine. Assuming the babe _is_ mine and not the result of some shameful whoring."

Eliste quickly moved as her husband did, inching to the side to get the chair between him and her. "You can't have him!" Her voice trembled as she spoke, but there was no doubt that she would fight to her death if she had to. "Just leave us be!"

"Oh don't think me so cruel that I would separate a mother from her child," he sneered, grabbing for the chair to push it out of his way and eliminate the obstacle between himself and his goal. "I'm here to claim _all_ that is mine."

"No!" Eliste shrieked, then when Helvar lunged at her, she managed to side step him and get out of his way, sending him sprawling over the bed. She stumbled, caught her footing, then ran out onto the deck at a frenzied pace.

Helvar snarled his frustration as he pushed himself off the mattress and followed after her in a much slower, methodical pace. They were on a boat, after all. She would not get far. "Eliste! I will have what's mine!"

Eliste turned a corner, losing sight of Helvar. Where was everyone? It was late, but surely there would be _someone_ on deck. Yet there wasn't and Eliste felt like she was having a dream, running, running, never getting anywhere. She paused, then ducked into a doorway. The laundry!

The young woman quickly unwrapped the blanket from around Follen and placed him gently upon a pile that was hidden from the doorway. Then she grabbed a sheet, bundled it up and wrapped it in the blanket. Follen fussed for a moment, then fell quiet, eyes drooping. Eliste said a silent thanks to Faranth and rushed out of the room, turning and stopping at the end of the aisle as if she were catching her breath. When Helvar came into sight once more, she clutched the bundle to her breast, turned, and ran again, heading to the forward of the top deck.

Eliste took a sharp turn, intending to run around to the other side and find the stairs when she plummeted into someone. She let out a cry and began to flail, only stopping when she realised who it was. She clutched at him, fingers biting into his arm. "Fog! He's here!"

"He? Who?" she was trembling, he could feel her whole body shivering - she was also out of breath, but the trembling had him more concerned. "Calm down." he urged, pulling aside the shawl to check on Follen, if Eliste was upset, the baby _should_ be as well, but he was unreasonably quiet. He balked when he pulled aside the shawl and saw nothing but a rolled up sheet. "Eliste, where's Follen?!" he asked, his voice beginning to crack with concern.

Helvar appeared from around the corner. "Yes, Eliste, where _is_ my son?"

"Run." Eliste urged, pushing against Fog. But where could they run? The only thing Eliste could think of was that they needed to get where there were others. Surely Helvar wouldn't try anything if there were more people!

"Your son?" Fog asked, bristling with instant anger. "Follen happens to be my son - ask anyone at the waypoint." his arms slipped protectively around Eliste and drew her in behind him. He realised now that she must have left the babe somewhere safe - at least he hoped she had. It was all too obvious now why she was in the state she was in. "Who allowed you entry to the Sungazer." he growled out.

"You wherry-faced whore!" Helvar screamed, reaching around Fog to try to grab at her. "Who is this? Your lover?! You're _my_ wife!"

"She is your wife in name only - and we both know it." Fog stepped forward, taking Helvar's collar in his fist. "You've no right to be on board the Sungazer." he started to push the man backwards, away from Eliste.

"In name and by law!" the man snarled, trying to plant his feet but he was off balance. "I will go to ends of /between/ to claim what is mine if I must, now take your hands off me you piece of filth!" Helvar tried to pry Fog's hands off of him but had very little success as he struggled to stand his ground.

Their loud voices had drawn the curious from their rooms along the deck, one or two closing their doors again to avod trouble, but a couple had come out on deck, not quite sure what to make of the fracas. Fog could hear someone coming up from the deck below, on the staircase just behind them.

"Eliste is _not_ a possession!" Fog retorted, the anger he had felt well up was simmering below the surface, but with the passengers aware of what was happening, he had to keep his anger reigned in. "Nor is she yours to claim." he released his grip on Helvar's collar. "Go back to your quarters, now. If you continue in this manner, I'll have no choice but to have you locked up."

Eliste wanted to run, wanted to hide until everything was over, but she was not about to leave Fog. She tugged at his tunic, a silent urging for him to run, run away.

Last updated on the November 27th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

An Unwanted Passenger (1)