Morning, behind the waterfall

Eleanora sank back on the blanket-covered stone and closed her eyes, shutting out any attempts at conversation.  When her heart rate finally settled back to something resembling normal she sighed and pushed back her damp hair to smile up at Barsel.

He smiled in return, but the usual twinkle in his eyes was somewhat dimmed.  Eleanora frowned slightly and raised herself fully upright.  “Barsel?”

His lips quirked upward and he reached out to gently trace his finger along her collarbone, sending a rush of warmth over her skin.  Lifting his head so she could see his lips clearly, he murmured, “Much as I hate to break this up, I think we’d better go.”  He blushed suddenly.  “Firefly’s rider was looking at… I mean, FOR you.”

Eleanora blinked several times processing Barsel’s words.  She cleared her throat carefully and forced herself to meet her friend’s eyes.  “He was…here?”

Barsel nodded and grinned sheepishly.  “He left in kind of a hurry.”

The tawny haired rider groaned and dropped her head into her hands.  She was going to have to find J’red and…and what? Apologize? That didn’t quite seem right. Smooth things over, she guessed. 

<Cara, love?>

<He’s escorting Lord Fowler’s caravan.  Firefly said it might take a while.  *I* think he’s trying to avoid you.>

Eleanora winced at Cara’ smug, know-it-all tone. Only thing worse than a know-it-all was one who was right.  With a shrug to Barsel, she leaned over and picked up her wet shirt.  Barely suppressing a shudder she pulled the cold thing on.  Looked like playtime was over.

*****

midmorning

Eleanora stretched and flexed the kinks out of her fingers.  With Lord Fowler due to arrive, the assorted paperwork for the hearing had needed to be completed.  She wiped her hands subconsciously on her skirt, feeling somehow soiled just by documenting what had happened to that poor girl.  She sure hoped Lorelei was up to facing those men.  But no doubt Lord Fowler would do the right thing.

Merissa was meeting with the wingleaders later to discuss the whole matter.  Eleanora stood up and nodded to herself.  They’d need coffee.  She sauntered out of the office and headed across the green, only to stop short as she noticed an oddly familiar dragon sunning herself there.  Violet, she thought – but it CAN’T be.

<It is.  She says she and her rider have come here from Telnor.  Isn’t that lovely?  I’ll show her all the best spots to sun and where the feeding pens are and….>

Eleanora tuned out her dragon’s litany with a grin and hurried towards the dining hall.  Her luck held and she ran into her old friend at the doorway.  “Danielle!”  Eleanora exclaimed, greeting the blonde with a friendly hug.  “Welcome to Whiteriver!”

{Oh… KAT… TAG TAG TAG!}

*****

afternoon

Eleanora waited almost patiently outside Merissa’s office for the meeting to end.  He might try to avoid her, she thought, but J’red had to attend the meeting and she’d be sure not to lose him after.

Idly she wondered why she was going to all this trouble, when she remembered her mother’s advice to never leave an uncomfortable situation with a friend hanging – it would only get worse.

She swallowed hard as she spotted the Beta Wingleader and quickly fell into step beside him.  “Hello, J’red,” she said softly.  “Cara says you were looking for me?”

J'red was startled by the muted voice beside him.  He glanced at the young courier and blushed as he pictured her as he'd seen her only a few short hours earlier.

"Uh, yes, I was, but you were busy...," He gulped - that did not sound good, "I mean, it wasn't important."

Eleanora raised an eyebrow over J’red’s obvious discomfiture.  Oh hell, just how much HAD he seen?  If only he’d just waited and told her whatever, she wouldn’t be in this mess. She had to say something to put him at ease, but WHAT? “You could have stayed,” she blurted.  No wait, let me take that back…

J'red's eyes popped and he stumbled in mid stride.  "Uh... no, really... I couldn't have stayed.  Could I?  I mean, no, no...,"  he swallowed hard.

Watching J’red nearly fall over at her inadvertant suggestion, Eleanora was suddenly struck by a mad urge to giggle – and an even madder one to make it worse.  “Well, of course you could have,” she murmured in what she sincerely hoped was a sexy tone.  “After all, you wanted me, didn’t you?”

J'red's face turned a darker shade of red, "Uh.. yes, I wanted you.... I mean.. I needed you.... no, what I mean was... I was looking for you .... !" 

Her self-control broke and Eleanora laughed, placing a gentle hand on J’red’s arm when he would bolt.  “I’m sorry, J’red, that was just mean of me.  I shouldn’t tease you like that.  What was it you’d wanted to tell me?”

"Well.... my umm.. partner seems to have left the warren," He began and it all started tumbling out,  "and I had just wondered if you could, but you couldn't because.. well.. anyway.  I was heading out on patrol.   Not that it matters much since my father's entourage was coming to Whiteriver, so I escorted them rather then patrol... ah bother!"  J'red began to laugh.

Eleanora chuckled softly.  “I’m sorry about ‘Tonio,” she said.  “And I’d be glad to go on patrol with you… um, another time.”  She grinned, but it quickly faded as she thought over the impact ‘Tonio’s sudden disappearance would have on the warren and she sighed.

J'red noticed the quick change in her expression and the sadness in her eyes,  "Thinking of Ben?"  He asked softly.

Eleanora cocked her head in agreement. “Some,” she whispered.  “Just so much bad happening.  ‘Tonio leaving just made it seem worse.”  Her shoulders slumped and she felt herself horrifyingly on the verge of tears when she looked up and noticed Merissa heading towards the Dining Hall.  “Oh, the hearing,” Eleanora murmured.  “We’d better hurry.”

J'red felt an overwhelming urge to put his arm around her and protect her from all that had been going on... but he lost his chance as she dashed off toward the dining hall.

___________________

submitted by:

Katrina aka Eleanora/Cara