The End is Here Pt 1

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 17th November 2014

Characters: Rethisa, Pevran
Description: Rethisa and Pevran strike off on their journey.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris; Part 1 of 2

Rethisa could barely contain herself as she spent the night packing
and debating what things she would have to leave behind. They would be
traveling light, undoubtedly, and she would be restricted to whatever
things she would hang from Shadow in the Wind's saddle. She carefully
pulled out two thick skirts and two long-sleeve blouses. First she
folded the clothes carefully and then she rolled them up and tied them
together. Sticking those into a satchel she fetched her silver brush
and mirror with the matching haircombs that had been given to her from
her older brother Zathris on her wedding day. She stroked her finger
over the intricately tooled handle of the brush, her brother's glowing
eyes and dashing smile vivid in her memory.

Placing the items into the satchel with her clothes she dug out a few
of her underthings and a change of shoes. If they went to Amber Hills
she knew she could seek refuge there and pick up some more supplies.
Plus, the thought of seeing Zathris was a bright spot. She had not
seen him in a couple of Turns at least.

With her things ready to go Rethisa exhaled a quivering breath. Was
she really doing this? If she got caught... Rethisa gave her head
shake. No, she wouldn't think that way. She had to get free, she would
die if she had to spend the rest of her life cowering beneath Verlow's
heavy hand. If it was just Verlow she might have even been able to
survive, but with his children on top of everything else... This was
her only chance. Verlow had finally made a slip, and she was going to
capitalize on it and get as far away as she could.

~*~

Rethisa barely slept through the night, finding sleep far away as she
lay awake thinking of the journey before her. She was glad that Pevran
was taking the journey with her. He was honest, and decent, and she
knew she could trust him. When sunlight finally crept through the
shutters of her window, Rethisa rose from the bed, dressed, put on her
thickest coat, and then grabbed the satchel she had packed the night
before.

She quietly slipped through the little home but she could hear the
familiar sounds of Befuela and the other kitchen maid working. Once
she was outside she quickly made her way across the yard and into the
barn. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the change in
lighting, but once they did she saw Pevran standing with two runners
saddled and ready. One was Shadow in the Wind, her favorite of
Verlow's runners. The other was a bay colored animal with a dark mane.
She had seen Pevran on him before but was sure the animal belonged to
Verlow.

Verlow was going to be livid when he discovered that not only had his
wife left, but that two of his runners were gone as well. Rethisa was
glad that she would be far away when that discovery took place.

"Ready?" Pevran asked, dressed in traveling clothes and with a
wide-brimmed hat on as well.

Rethisa pulled her hood up to ward off the chill, "Yes." She smiled
and walked over to Shadow in the Wind, who acknowledged her presence
with a sniff of her hair.

Pevran secured Rethisa's satchel to her mount and then grabbed her by
the waist and helped her up onto the mare's back. Unlike how she
normally rode, Rethisa straddled Shadow in the Wind, hooking her feet
snugly in the stirrups as she took up the leather reigns in her gloved
hands. **Good riddance, Verlow.**

The yard was empty as they rode away from the small cothold, and at
that moment Rethisa felt invincible. Her spirit soared as they crested
the hill and rode down into the lower pastures that would lead them
out by the river. They would follow it for a while, and then veer off
in the direction of Amber Hills. Rethisa smiled as she glanced
sideways at her companion, and found that his eyes were on her.

"Welcome to the World, milady." He smiled.

~*~

They traveled rather leisurely. Since Verlow and his boys were
traveling in the opposite direction they felt no need to take a
grueling pace. Instead they enjoyed the scenery as they went and would
stop to picnic when they were hungry. When evening fell on the first
day, Pevran set up camp beside of the river, and Rethisa sighed as she
sat on the ground, leaning back against her saddle as she watched the
first flames of the fire begin. The air was frigid, but between the
fire Pevran was building, her layers of clothing, and the bedroll from
her saddle- she was nearly comfortable.

"I'll have some hot klah ready in no time and it'll help warm you up."
Pevran promised as he took water from the lazily flowing river in a
kettle and hung it up over the fire to get hot. "How are you feeling?
We did a lot of riding today."

"Fine for now, I have a feeling it'll be a different story in the
morning. I haven't ridden this much since I married Verlow." She had
enjoyed riding quite a bit when she lived at Jade Harbor.

Pevran sat beside of her, and wrapped one of his arms around her to
tuck her against his side. The man was like a furnace and Rethisa
gladly accepted some of his warmth as she leaned against him.

"I am still in shock that we are really doing this." Rethisa admitted.

"So am I." Pevran murmured, and then pressed his lips to the top of her head.

The single action sent spiraling tingles down her spine. It felt so
nice to have a man treat her with respect. It was a rare feeling for
Rethisa.

By the time the klah was ready, Rethisa was more than ready for it.
The fire did provide some warmth, but her insides felt cold. She
watched as Pevran crouched by the fire and kettle.

"Be careful, it is very hot." Pevran slipped a tin cup of the hot
liquid between her gloved hands.

Rethisa willed her hands to stop trembling as she took the cup of klah
and brought it gingerly to her lips. It smelled divine and the warmth
it provided to her hands was wonderful. Licking her numb lips, she
blew on the liquid a bit before tentatively sipping from it.

Despite how hot it was, it tasted amazing and she could feel as he
traveled down into her stomach. It almost instantly made her core
temperature feel warmer and she sighed before taking another sip. As
she savored the taste of the klah she tilted her head back and looked
up at the abundance of stars visible in the dark, wintery sky.

Long before her cup was empty, Rethisa found her eyelids drooping, and
her head slumping. Reluctantly she relinquished her cup of klah to
Pevran, who then came back to her side and once again slipped his arms
around her shoulders.

When she lifted her face up to Pevran's he accepted the subtle
invitation by kissing her warmly. The gentle touch of his lips sparked
a desire in Rethisa that she thought had died long ago. It was a spark
that she had not felt in eight Turns.

Pevran deepened the kiss. Rethisa was so incredibly sweet and soft,
how could Verlow take her for granted as he did? As the kiss developed
into more, Pevran broke off to look down into the woman's sterling
blue eyes.

"We can stop if you want." He offered.

"No." Rethisa clung to Pevran. "Don't stop."

Pevran's lips quickly came back to hers, and he gently showed Rethisa
what it was truly like to make love. When they were finished Rethisa
collapsed against Pevran panting, the chill of the air sending her
breath up in little puffs of steam.

"Sleep, milady. We have more traveling to do in the morning." His
voice rumbled softly in her ear as she turned and nuzzled her face
against his jacket.

Without even the energy to respond, Rethisa closed her eyes, inhaling
the wonderful warm scent of Pevran as the river babbled soothingly
nearby. Could life get any better? She idly wondered in those last few
moments before sleep consumed her.

Last updated on the November 20th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The End is Here Pt 1