Words I Thought I'd Never Hear

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 26th February 2009

Characters: Menore, Mehan
Description: Mehan arrives back from his trip up the river and finally says what Menore wants to hear.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 5

Mehan found the key to his room in the boarding house and unlocked the door then pushed it open.

It wasn't home but it felt like it as he stepped across the threshold into the faintly musty smelling room. It had been three sevendays since he had headed off on a round trip up and down the Nettleweed on the riverboat that was his by birth; long enough for the boarding house room to smell unused and for him to be glad to be back.

"Welcome back, sir." A young woman greeted him. In her arms she carried a bundle of sheets and blankets. "I was just coming to freshen your bed sir, if you'll give me a moment."

"Ahh, all right. I'll just put my bags -" He moved into the room and put his two small bags down at the foot of the bed, then moved them because he was sure she would trip over them. "Have you seen Menore around this evening?"

"I saw her walking near the shore just a few moments ago." The girl replied as she shuffled over to the bed, tossing the pillows and blankets into a chair save for a single sheet. "Not too far from where the Moonflower is docked."

"Docked? She's on the water already?" He hadn't expected to miss that and Menore would be furious that he had.

"Well, no." The young girl flushed prettily. "No, sir. I just assumed that was the correct term for it. I'm not riverfolk."

"Oh. No problem." Other than making him realise how guilty he felt for leaving the Moonflower when it was his responsibility to stick around and keep an eye on her overhaul. "I'll just head down there now. I won't be in for the evening meal."

"Yes sir." The girl bobbed her head then set about changing the sheets, leaving Mehan to do as he said.

The courtyards and easements that Mehan walked along as he made his way to the overhaul facility were familiar enough that he barely noticed them though when they had first come to stay at the seaport he and Menore had enjoyed their walks among them, marvelling at the glimpses transiting through gave into the lives of the people who lived and worked in the area. Secrafters and hold-folk. Other crafters and many that worked without crafts. No riverboat folk, though, and no family. It had been very different from what they were used to.

When he made his way into the huge covered shed that formed the dry dock his eyes were drawn first the the Moonflower and he paused to assess how much had happened while he'd been gone.

The Moonflower hadn't moved an inch, but a lot of progress had been made. To an unknowledgeable eye, it looked seaworthy. There was still quite a bit left to do before the boat would be ready to go back out on the river, however. Menore stood a little ways away, back to Mehan, hair down and sifting gently by the wind's caress. She watched the workers, hands upon her hips, surveying the scene carefully.

"Are they doing it right?" Mehan asked as he walked up to her side.

Menore jerked, surprised by the sudden voice close to her. Even more, she was surprised to see who it was. "Oh, hello Mehan." The girl returned to her surveying. "They seem to be thus far."

"I'm glad." He took a deep breath and added contritely: "And I'm sorry for disappearing. For leaving you with everything."

"I took my own trip." Menore stated as she waved her hand dismissively. She supposed it was only fair that he be able to do so as well. "Nothing's exploded yet."

"I would hope _not_. Why? Did they discover a problem with the engines?"

"No." Menore couldn't fight the small smile that tweaked her lips upward. "I was just being sarcastic."

The Moonflower's captain smiled. "I'm away for one round trip and I forget all sorts of things about you."

"Oh yeah?" Ah, so she was forgettable, eh? Lovely. "Like what?"

"That sarcasm. I even missed it."

"Really?" Menore snorted delicately and turned away to stare back down at the riverboat. "Well, you're back so I'm sure you'll get your fill of it soon enough."

"That would be good. So ... How have you been," he asked, stepping up to stand alongside her as they looked at teh Moonflower. "Did you have a good time in the Sungazer?"

"Yes I did." Menore nodded, but didn't bother to look at him again. "What about you?"

"Not really. I missed the Moonflower and I missed you."

"Surely that wasn't enough to spoil your trip." Menore noticed that he had placed the Moonflower before her. She winced inwardly, thinking that Kellin would have probably slapped her for trying to over analyse, but she couldn't help it. He'd made it quite clear about what he thought about her before they had gone on their respective trips.

"Well it did," he said with a sigh. She never stopped bristling over something or other and in this case he couldn't imagine what he might have said that was wrong.

Menore allowed a quick glance at the Captain. "Really? Why is that? I don't see why it should have ruined what was supposed to be a nice time."

"Because I was away from the woman I love," Mehan growled. "How good a time did you expect me to have!"

Menore did a double take as the words that Mehan uttered sunk in. "Wh...what did you say?"

"'How good a time did you -'"

Menore reached up to clap her hand over Mehan's mouth. She let go once he stopped trying to talk, her hand dropping to her side as she demanded, "Say it again."

"Something about 'the woman I love'?" he suggested, slipping an arm around her waist as she stood so close to him. "That bit?"

"Yes." Menore didn't struggle against his embrace, but fell into it. Her eyes twinkled as they stared up at him, her expression eager. "That bit. Say it properly."

"Menore, I missed you terribly," he said, still finding it a little strange to be speaking this way when he had once said similar things to this woman's sister, "because I love you. It's taken a while to realise this," he went on, his own eyes alight with humour, "possibly because of your sarcastic tongue, but more likely because I'm a dimglow. And an old dimglow, at that."

"I agree with that assessment." Menore stated without hesitation, then encircled her arms around his neck, drawing him closer to her. "But for some strange reason, I love you too."

"I'd hoped that was the case," he admitted. "Now, this isn't quite the place for ... this. As nice as it is. Shall we go for a walk somewhere?"

"I think that sounds like fine idea." Menore pulled from Mehan's embrace, but one hand slid down to catch his and clasp tightly. "Lead on - I'll follow."

"Ahh. Words I thought I'd never hear," he said with a laugh. "Don't change, though, will you?"

"Don't worry, you'll still have to put up with me." Menore grinned as her hold upon his hand tightened. "Besides, you wouldn't love me if I wasn't me."

"Exactly." He smiled down at the Moonflower's headwoman and owner. "And - perhaps - you wouldn't love me if I was less of a dimglow? because I don't know that I can change completely. I'm very old," he said, half-meaning it though his tone was teasing, "and set in my ways."

"Yes, well, I suppose that might be part of your charm." Old, set in his ways and very dense, but by Faranth's Egg, she did love him!

"I hope so," Mehan said, laughing aloud now. "I really do hope so."

Last updated on the February 27th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Words I Thought I'd Never Hear