Disclaimer: I don't own El Dorado orSpain or indeed anything other than the arrangement of words.


Strangers In Rowboats

They had been in Spain for a week now and still Tulio wasn't quite sure how they had gotten there. The rowboat plan had seemed ridiculous, even though it was his idea, yet there was no other way and so they had found themselves; a woman, two men and a horse in a cramped rowboat on their way to Spain. He'd never thought the plan would work and technically it hadn't or at least wouldn't have if they had not been so fortunate as to come across an empty fishing ship. Well, it hadn't been empty when they found it but he was sure those sailors were fine. They sufficient supplies to make it back to land and that rowboat was pretty sturdy, it had to be to have endured so much. Besides it wasn't as if they had stolen anything. It was the sailors' own fault for finding it amusing to accept the gamble, a horse for a ship. The fact that the dice were loaded was of no relevance. Never trust strangers in rowboats.

Tulio sighed his head resting in the sleeping Chel's lap as he recalled their journey to Spain, rejoicing in the surprising amount of gold the fishing ship had had stashed away. He heard footsteps and closed his eyes. He had known it was Miguel without seeing him and so pretended to be asleep to avoid seeing the look in his eyes. The ghost of what had happened between them before they had left El Dorado. The fight. The nearly saying goodbye forever. Tulio never wanted to see that ever again. And yet he knew one day the past would catch up to him. He knew that one day either Miguel or Chel would leave. He knew that he would have to make a choice. And he also knew, and had known ever since they left El Dorado, that he would always choose Miguel.

But for now that could wait. For now he could pretend to be asleep and try to ignore the penetrating gaze of Miguel who so obviously knew he was awake. But still he kept his eyes closed and his breathing steady, putting off the inevitable in hope it would never come.


author note: I am relitively new to this fanfic writing thing and so I would really appreciate feedback if you would be so kind as to give me any.