Weathering the Storm
This is a short story within the series that spawned from "A Risk Worth Taking".
Chapter One
"Why did you do that? The one thing I asked you specifically not to do, and of course, you go and do it anyway! I know we haven't had the best day, but Elements, Ael, how can I trust you after this?"
Ael wished that she could forget those words; the ones that had been spoken angrily to her only several hours ago, by one of the men in her life whom she held so dear - Tomalak. There had been minor disagreements and differences of opinion between her and him before, they were both extraordinarily stubborn individuals and could become rather passionate about their worldly views from time-to-time, but never, not at any point over the last many months could Ael remember a time when she and Tomalak had fought like this.
And it's all my fault, she thought sadly, staring through their bedroom window and out at the Apnex Sea, the dark cloud cover overhead promising a storm later in the evening, the lavender-tinged waters with their white-capped waves already beginning to swell, crashing violently against the shore. It reminded her of Tomalak's current mood, not that hers had been any better much earlier in the day. That was what had orchestrated the miserable day: Ael and Tomalak had woken with cranky dispositions, the butting of heads beginning within only half an hour of rising.
The clock had barely struck midday when everything moved from bad to worse, Tomalak deciding he would rather spend time tinkering with an electronic something-or-other than joining Ael and Bochra for the midday meal, the young woman rather furious because he had also skipped breakfast and was refusing to talk her. It wasn't long before the agitated coercing had turned into fighting, Bochra forced to come between the two, insisting that the bickering stop. Tomalak had thrown down his spanner in exasperation; he refused to tolerate being scolded like a child!
"I have had more than enough of this," he had exclaimed. "I am going to go on a run."
"So that's a definite 'no' to eating lunch with us, I guess," Ael had grumbled, Bochra stepping in before Tomalak could erupt further in anger.
"A run is a good idea," Bochra agreed. "Exertion can often aid in relieving stress and has been known to help calm inner turbulence."
"I wouldn't count on it this time," Tomalak stated, turning back to notice Ael staring down at the device that he had been so painstakingly working on for the better part of the morning. "And you," he continued, jabbing a finger at this wife-to-be, "do not even think about messing with my tools or my project. I have spent far too many hours on it for it to end up carelessly ruined."
"She is coming back into the house with me," Bochra said before Ael had been able to work up a smart reply. "Go for your run, Tomalak."
Without another word Tomalak had pushed past both Bochra and Ael, going inside the house long enough to change clothing for his run and was sprinting down the shoreline before either Ael or Bochra had taken their places at the table. Mealtime had been abnormally silent, Ael picking at her food rather than eating it and refusing to say more than two words at a time to Bochra, who was beginning to feel exhaustion from the already long day, weighing him down. Ael excused herself without finishing her meal, telling Bochra that she was going to step outside for some air, and then she was going to lie down and see if a nap wouldn't fix her sorry excuse for a mood.
Ael's time outside had quickly turned into her shuffling down to Tomalak's private work shed, poking around his various projects for no other reason than to go against what he had told her not to do in the first place. It had seemed like a good idea at the time and she honestly hadn't meant to break anything. A single misstep that saw her stumbling forwards was what caused the catastrophe; a spanner lying on the floor caught Ael's foot and she stumbled forward, managing to catch herself by grabbing onto the table, the one that held Tomalak's most valued project. The table jerked violently to the right, nearly toppling over before Ael could right herself, the young woman watching in horror as the project slid off the table and to the hard ground below.
Without a word she picked up the device and the pieces that had come detached in the fall, her earlier anger melting away, quickly replaced by anxiety and fear as she hastily tried to piece the object back together again. It was not meant to be, Ael placing the object back on the table and then covering it with a grease-stained towel that she found nearby, hurrying away and back into the house, scurrying by Bochra who could tell that something was suddenly very wrong.
Bochra had gently cornered her in the bedroom, Ael blurting out what had happened, begging Bochra to see if maybe he could fix the accidental damage that had occurred to Tomalak's project down in his work room. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do; he simply wasn't an engineer, not like what Tomalak had once studied to be before drastically changing his career path once he had entered the service. There was nothing to be done but wait for Tomalak's return, Bochra promising Ael that he would handle it, that everything would be all right, but 'all right' was the last thing the situation had spiraled into once Tomalak had come through the front door.
Bochra had tried, dutifully, to make Tomalak see reason, attempting to tell him that it had been an unfortunate accident, to remain calm and think twice before saying something he would later regret.
"How was this any accident?" he'd yelled, Ael able to hear him clearly all the way into the house. "This poor thing looks like it was thrown halfway across the room!"
"She tripped, Tomalak," she heard Bochra attempt to explain, "Over a spanner that you had thrown on the ground."
"More like she knocked it there when she came through my workroom; I do not carelessly toss my tools about, Bochra," he continued, momentarily forgetting about the spanner he had earlier tossed to the floor in anger. "Now, did you see her trip?"
"No, but…"
"Then your argument is invalid. You saw the way she was staring at my projects before you took her back inside."
"Oh for Element sakes, Tomalak!"
"Even if it was accidental, she should not have been down here! And tripping into the table does not explain why this device over here is missing one of its components, which it had before I left to go running."
Ael had ducked back inside the home, uncertain what she should do, Tomalak making his way inside within another few minutes, the expression on his face one of the angriest she had ever seen. He had loudly confronted her, Ael unable to respond in more than panicked stammers at first, desperately beseeching him to believe that the broken device had been an accident, though the other had not, and that she was sorry. The admission has only brought forth further upset, Tomalak wondering how he was supposed to trust her anymore, Ael unable to provide an answer and fleeing to the bedroom, locking herself inside.
And that's where she had been ever since.
"I don't even know what I'm going to do when it's time for -" A soft rapping on the door interrupted her, Ael sighing and allowing her gaze to fall on the clock on the nightstand beside her, just after nineteenth hour; dinner time. With almost exaggerated slowness Ael got to her feet and headed towards the bedroom door, opening it to find an anxious Bochra on the other side of it. "I'm not hungry, Boc," Ael whispered.
Bochra reached out to her, gently holding her against him in a loving embrace, his gift of touch telepathy granting him immediate insight to the many emotions and concerns that were surging through her thoughts. "Oh, e'lev," he whispered into her hair, holding her tighter, closing his eyes against the chaos that he could feel resonating within her consciousness. She was frightened and uncertain; regretful and anxious, almost convinced that Tomalak wanted nothing more to do with her; even though Bochra was holding her close, Ael felt a sense of painful loneliness. It pained Bochra to feel such startlingly raw emotions in his beloved, Ael refusing to leave the security of his arms for many minutes, the only reason she finally pulled away being that she heard Tomalak come into the house at last.
"It will be all right, my angel," Bochra soothed gently.
"How do you know?" Ael asked her tone raspy and thick.
"Come," he said, taking her hand and leading her from the room, Ael coming eye-to-eye with Tomalak for the first time in many hours, his expression still very much tense and angry when he gazed at her. "Are you going to be joining us for evening meal, Tomalak?" Bochra questioned calmly, Ael squeezing his hand tightly for reassurance.
Tomalak nodded once in reply before heading to the washroom to cleanse his hands, and then to the bedroom to change his clothing from the grease that had steadily been accumulating from his tinkering down in his workroom over the past several hours. Ael's heart was heavy as she watched him go, scarcely unable to comprehend what was happening. Their relationship was also still in its trial stages and that worried Ael more than she could say; what if this was the instance that Tomalak said 'to hell with it,' turning away from her and Bochra both?
It was painful to think about, but that was all Ael found she could do, her expression one of great sadness during the entirety of evening meal, a time in which she kept her head low, her thoughts to herself, and the majority of her meal on her plate. The miserable feelings were too much to bear, Ael glancing up to meet a still irritated stare from Tomalak, and then quickly lowering her eyes once again, certain that he no longer loved her. Once Tomalak had finished the majority of his meal he pushed back his chair and stood, preparing to leave the dining room without uttering a word to either of the table's other occupants, Ael daring to catch his arm when he moved past her spot at the table.
"Toma, wait," she said softly, feeling her anxiety levels rising when Tomalak stared down at her in a very unforgiving way. It truly seemed like he no longer cared for her, his callous way of responding forcing those thoughts deeper still.
"Remove your hand at once," he said coldly, Ael withdrawing her hand shakily, her eyes filling with tears as she gazed to Bochra for assistance. "And the next time you address me, you will do so properly."
"I - okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry."
Bochra could only stare wide-eyed at Tomalak, the other man turning away and retreating down the hallway and into the bedroom, the sound of the door slamming causing Ael to wince.
"Ael, I am so very sorry," Bochra began, placing his hands over hers. "Tomalak should not be behaving this way towards you; it is unacceptable."
"He doesn't love me anymore, Bochra," she sniffled. "I think you were right from the start of it all: he just wanted what he couldn't have."
Bochra could scarcely believe the words that Ael said, her thoughts were swirling with uncharacteristic despondency, her heart aching for a love that she was so sure she'd lost. It was true that Bochra had been having some difficulties with their arrangement at first, though lately, everything had been running much more smoothly between them, at least…up until this morning. Even so, he couldn't believe that Tomalak hated her, not because of what had transpired over the course of a single day, not when he loved her more than life itself.
"That isn't true, Ael," he said, Ael staring into him with emotion raining down her cheeks.
"It is true," she insisted. "And it's my fault."
"Tomalak isn't blameless in this, Ael."
"If I hadn't gone into his private workroom to poke at this and prod at that, then I would never have tripped over that spanner and damaged one of Toma's projects. If I hadn't damaged it, then he wouldn't be so angry with me. If I could fix it, Bochra, I would; I swear I would fix it."
"I know that to be true," he said, lifting one of his hands from the table to wipe her tears away. "I know it will not be an easy matter, but we should try and soothe the hurt that both you and Tomalak are feeling."
"Are you sure? You know that if he doesn't want to talk to someone about something -"
"I am certain I can make him listen to reason."
"Okay," she agreed reluctantly.
"Everything will be all right, e'lev. I'll be beside you the entire time."
Ael nodded quietly, preparing to push her chair back when the sound of something slamming against the wall in the bedroom grabbed her attention, her blood turned cold as she traded glances with Bochra. Immediately, fear overrode her desire to fix the situation and she stayed seated, refusing to move from the table. Tomalak's mood was definitely volatile and she didn't want to accidentally set him off further by saying something he might not want to hear.
"I'd rather not, Bochra," she said worriedly. "Tomalak sounds really upset right now and I-I don't want to be in his way."
"Ael?" Bochra question surprised yet puzzled. "Tomalak may be upset, and may have difficulties settling his temper, but he would never, ever harm you."
"He just sounds so mad."
"Ael, listen to me," Bochra said, cupping her face and re-directing her eyes to his. "Tomalak may be angry, even resorting to behaving like a child and throwing something to punctuate just how upset he is, but one thing I know for certain is that he would never harm you."
"I-I'm just nervous, Bochra," she rasped. "Could you, you know?"
"I will speak to him first, all right?" Ael nodded. "I love you very much, Ael, and I know Tomalak does as well, even though he is doing a horrible job showing you at the moment. I want you to stay here and wait for my return. I should not be long."
Hesitantly Ael agreed, her hands resting shakily in her lap and her gaze following Bochra until she could no longer see him. Curiosity soon got the better of her and she stood, quietly, cautiously making her way to the beginning of the hallway to listen to the voices that were floating down to her.
"We need to discuss this situation, Tomalak."
"There is nothing to discuss," Tomalak insisted, his tone hard.
"I very much disagree," Bochra returned. "Ael is very distressed, Tomalak, and I do not like seeing her in such a state, nor do I care for seeing you so upset that you feel you must resort to throwing objects like a toddler in the throes of a tantrum. Ael is convinced that you hate her. She wants to make amends, but you must allow her the chance. Behaving so coldly towards her isn't helping. She admits that she made a mistake; why can you not admit the same and forgive her?"
Tomalak was silent for many moments, his jaw clenching tightly as he stared through the window, the rain finally beginning to fall. No, of course, he didn't hate Ael, but he was still so angry with her! And apologizing, admitting that he had committed an error against another? If there was one thing that Tomalak hated, even feared, it was being wrong; vulnerability was something else he didn't quite care for the taste of.
"Your silence is confusing," Bochra said quietly, stepping forwards, Tomalak stepping away, warily eyeing the hand that was slowly stretching towards his shoulder.
"Do not even think about it," Tomalak growled, Bochra withdrawing his hand. "Do not even think of attempting to tap into my thoughts."
"Are you afraid what I may find?" he asked seriously.
"Of course not! My thoughts are simply my business and no one else's."
"Then if you won't tell me what the problem is, tell her," said Bochra, pointing towards the closed bedroom door. "She is falling to pieces, Tomalak. What do you want her to do? Leave the house? She is already entertaining the notion of it."
"If she wants to take her leave, then it is her choice," Tomalak responded, Ael's heart falling to her toes as she began to back away from her hidden listening spot. Could it be true? Did he really not care whether or not she stayed or went?
"Elements, Tomalak," Bochra said, shocked. "Are you serious? You are speaking of someone whom you are supposed to love and cherish, but perhaps Ael was correct," he continued, Tomalak staring at the wall without further comment, at least until Bochra said: "Perhaps you really never loved her to begin with."
"How dare you!" Tomalak thundered.
"How dare I?" Bochra countered crossly, Ael shrinking away from the raised voices. "Why should Ael and I think differently? Stop and think about what you are doing to her, to this family, Tomalak. You are in a relationship now; you have a duty to everyone within it to openly communicate how you feel, and then take the necessary steps to work through the problem. You do not cause the other to feel unloved or shunned; frightened or distressed."
"I refuse to continue discussing this!"
"Only because you refuse to ever admit when you are wrong!"
"Elements; stop fighting! I'm sorry!" Ael's distressed cry shot down the hallway like a blast from a pistol, startling both men enough to momentarily quiet them. Bochra hurried past Tomalak in time to see Ael disappearing through the front door, an anguished cry left in her wake.
"Ael! Wait!" Bochra called out, racing after his distressed wife-to-be before she got too far away from him. Ael refused to turn back or even acknowledge Bochra, running hard even though she had nothing on her feet to protect her delicate soles from the slightly rocky terrain.
I have to get away, something within her mind screamed. I can't stand the fighting, the screaming; I was so stupid to think that anyone on this damn planet could ever really care for me!
Rational thought was suddenly no longer an option, Ael's mind consumed by thoughts of inadequacy and self-loathing, intense loneliness not far behind. The rain beat down on her as she ran, out of control down the path and through the downpour, her lungs screaming for mercy and her feet begging for relief from the sharpness of stones, but she ignored it all, desperate to flee from a place where she was no longer wanted. Or so she thought.
Air and Fire, Bochra thought as he continued to pursue, slow down! He had never seen her move quite so fast before! Adrenaline was fueling her, aiding in her escape from the home and from Tomalak, a love in her life that she thought was no more. "Ael! You must stop!"
The voice of her beloved, begging her to slow her frantic pace was lost on Ael's ears, her mind refusing to completely process the new information in the way that it normally would, certain that only pain and sorrow awaited her if she ceased to run. All at once a face flashed before Ael, that of her adopted father, General Movar, a man who would surely be able to shield her from the pain that was currently weighing so heavily upon her heart. He may have been one of the Empire's most elite, but he had never once failed to be there for her whenever she needed him. He was always there for her, to listen to and guide her, to sit with her quietly if that was all she needed to renew her sense of confidence. To Ael he was Father; protector, mentor, a nurturer; her strength when she otherwise had none.
I have to get to him! she cried within her turbulent thoughts, surging forwards even though her lungs were aching for oxygen. But you need a flitter to reach his home, a small, quiet voice in the back of her thoughts reminded. No! I have to get to him! I'll find a way; I have to!
The chase lasted several minutes, Bochra's pace dramatically slowing while Ael's only seemed to intensify the longer that he pursued her, the young woman soon leaving her beloved in the proverbial dust, causing him to lose sight of her when she disappeared around a bend and into a collection of trees and wild ferns.
"Ael!" he called out, sweat dripping down his temples to mingle with the rain already on his face. "Ael, where are you?"
Silence.
He called out again, much louder than before, and then he waited, hoping to catch sight of Ael as she returned to him, weeping openly and begging him to take her home. Nothing like that came to pass, the only answer he received was the ferocious howling of the wind, the rain descending harder than before. And, sighing sadly, Bochra turned and headed for home.
Come hell or high water he was going to find her, he only hoped that Tomalak would come to his senses long enough to aid in the search. If not, there just might be hell to pay.