Just Interested

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 10th October 2009

Characters: Eliste, Mercin, Ferita
Description: Two passengers catch sight of Eliste and recognise her.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 15 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

Eliste was still not comfortable with nursing out in public so she always retreated to the room she shared with her husband and child. There were times she felt like she spent all day in the room when Little Follen decided to eat a lot more - signs that he was probably going through a growth spurt. She emerged from one of his feedings after she put herself back together and had secured him in the carrier. The carrier left her hands free which meant she could take care of things that needed to be done. What needed to be done at the moment was the retrieval of the laundry. It was in the drying room and had more than enough time to be thoroughly dried. So Eliste moved onto the deck and began to make her way toward it.

"Look, Mercin," the voice came over the rail from the deck above, possibly unaware of way sound carried both up and down the decks of the riverboat. "It's Helvar's wife."

The sound of that name made Eliste stop dead in her tracks. She cast a glance in the direction from which the voice had come from and saw them, a couple who stood by the rail and looked at her. She knew them, their faces familiar enough. They had been friends of Helvar.

"Ferita." The man's harsh whisper was audible thanks to the direction of the wind. "Stop staring."

"I'm not _staring_," the woman said, though she was leaning far out over the railing around the passenger deck to keep the young woman in sight. "I'm looking."

"Looking so long that you're staring." They had heard mixed reports about what had happened to Helvar and Mercin wasn't sure if he needed to know.

"Well, I'm just interested in how she's doing. It doesn't seem right, does it, that she's remarried already - if that's even _true_ - when Helvar's not long dead."

Eliste shook her head. She shouldn't stand there and listen - it would merely make her upset. She turned to go.

"Ferita, stop it. It's none of our business." Mercin insisted, his frown deepening.

"Well they used to be neighbours," Ferita said. "It's only natural to take an interest. Or even to say hello."

Mercin watched as Eliste began to walk away from them, grateful for it for he wouldn't have to worry about some sort of confrontation. "You're taking _too much_ of an interest. We don't know the whole story and it's not a very comfortable situation."

"What's not comfortable about it? On _our_ part? Nothing. _She_ might have reason to feel a little uncomfortable if she's done something wrong." Despite the Lord Holder apparently not wanting to take Helvar's death any further there were any number of people around the Hold that thought it all very suspicious.

"Ferita." Mercin's tone grew a bit more stern. "Leave her alone." He didn't really want to get involved, even if it was after the fact. It was none of their business.

"She's gone now, anyway," the woman said straightening from her precarious position leaning over the rail. "And I don't suppose they let the crew - or the crew's wives - up here with the passengers."

"I saw another one earlier." Mercin murmured. He didn't particularly care for Ferita's tone or her interest. "Come on, let's go find something else to do."

"But there's _nothing_ else to do on here, is there?" his wife complained. "Except sit and watch the bank go by."

"There are _other_ people to talk to." Mercin pointed out. "Plenty of women to socialise with. Perhaps you can start a game or something."

Ferita looked horrified. "A _game_? I'd rather sit in the shade and sew."

"Then why don't you do that?" Mercin suggested as he took his wife's arm and lead her away.

Last updated on the October 12th 2009

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Just Interested