Chapter Ten- Plans
Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the plans I have for you.."
Tielle and Chayden settled into a comfortable life on Diresh; every morning Chayden would go out and work on the fields, and Tielle washed clothes, learned to cook, and generally just helped out around the colony with whatever she could.
That seemed to be the norm in the colony- everyone helping out wherever they could. Tielle appreciated the generosity and hospitality of her neighbors, but grew to dislike Shaina Ontine's frequent offers for assistance wherever possible. The girl was too beautiful and too observant of Chayden's every move to please Tielle.
Except for that one small cloud, Tielle had no reason to complain and tried her best not to, but settling into the new but simple lifestyle proved to be harder for the two royals than they had expected. Tielle's first attempts at cooking were not successful, resulting in burned and unrecognizable food, and Chayden came in from the fields exhausted and drained, not being used to physical labor.
Tielle's friendship with Rashea grew, but her relationship with Chayden weakened. He was gone all day, every day, and returned home too weary for conversation. On the weekends, he slept in until noon, then rose and joined Tielle for either church or a meal at the Hamanis'. Following that was an afternoon nap for Chayden, a quiet reading and resting time for Tielle, and then they would have their supper together. Either a long chat about the week or, more often than not, a community sporting event or dance followed supper. Tielle learned to cherish those rare evenings when she had Chayden alone and could give up the pretense of being someone from somewhere she wasn't. He alone was the one person who understood all she'd been through and who could sympathize, and there was no one else to confide in.
*Except for You, Lord*, she reminded herself as she prepared yet another meal (this ordeal had made her appreciate cooks more than she ever had). *But it's not the same. You don't reply, I can't hear Your laugh, can't see Your smile.*
She sighed. She hadn't been hearing Chayden's laugh or seeing his smile much lately. They were both concerned about Hidon, which was still infected *and* occupied. It was a large- not to mention deadly -burden to put on one planet at one time, and Tielle worried that eventually Hidon would just snap from the pressure.
*So what can I do?* she asked herself for the millionth time. *How can I stop that disease or get Fareari out of there? How?*
It was, by now, a theoretical question, and Tielle didn't really expect an answer, so she was shocked when one came.
**
There was a dance that evening, and Chayden hadn't really wanted to go, but Tielle had seemed so vibrant and full of energy, so much like her old passion-filled self, that he couldn't help but follow her to the colony's hall.
Everyone was there; they always were, dancing and laughing and looking completely carefree and joyous. They, too, had been through much persecution, some enslaved, others disowned, all fugitives like he and Tielle were. So why were they so vigorous when he and Tielle weren't?
Perhaps it was the lying. The colonists were finally free of lies and hiding the truth, whereas he and Tielle had just begun it. When would they be free to end it?
*When God believes it is time,* Chayden reminded himself.
"Chanh!"
It was the lovely Shaina. All charm and sex appeal, Chayden found her about as alluring as turning himself in and accepting the death penalty. She was too interested in him, too eager to please.
Chayden had fallen in love with the opposite: a stubborn, headstrong, disagreeable princess by the name of Tielle who had never been so eager to please him. She had even hated him at one time, and heck, she *still* wasn't eager to please him! She was too free-spirited, too independent.
"Yes Shaina?" Chayden turned and smiled at her tolerantly, all the while thinking it was a shame that the one girl who *did* appeal to him was stuck in a lie and posing as his sister.
"Come and dance with me," she pouted, her strange amethyst eyes begging him.
He supposed it would be very out of character to refuse to dance with anyone but his sister and let her lead him out onto the dance floor.
**
Rashea stood with Ella, who seemed strangely occupied with her own thoughts, thoughts that she wasn't willing to share. The older girl was extremely friendly and fun to be with, and Rashea got along with her wonderfully, but there were parts of her that were closed. There were things that she didn't speak of, but the sadness that was in her eyes whenever she thought no one was looking revealed that she had hidden pain.
Rashea watched Ella's eyes follow her brother out onto the dance floor with Shaina, and Rashea observed with interest that the green eyes narrowed noticeably.
"You don't like Shaina?" she asked, amused.
Ella started, obviously having forgotten of Rashea's presence. "Well, honestly, no not really."
"That's okay. I don't really like her either," Rashea admitted, and the other girl blew a sigh of relief and relaxed.
"She's too interested in Chanh. It disturbs me- she hardly even knows him."
"Well, Shaina's not the type who much cares about personality, if you know what I mean."
Ella nodded. "I know, and that's what frightens me. I don't want him to get hurt."
Something about Ella's almost-wistful tone struck Rashea and she asked, "Was there another girl?"
Ella's eyes darkened momentarily, and for a second Rashea thought that she was going to lash out, but then she relaxed and replied in a sad tone, "Well, yes, there was. I think he really cared for her, but sometimes I wonder..." she snapped herself out of her reverie. "It didn't work out."
"Why not?" Rashea knew her question was rude, but she couldn't help herself.
Ella, who looked slightly dazed, didn't seem to take offense. "Oh, she was from a different planet. Hidon, actually, and if you know anything about Hidon, you know that Hidonians hate Farearians and vice versa.. It would have never worked out- Mom and Dad didn't approve of her, her parents, her planet, her god or anything else about her, for that matter, and they had to keep their relationship a secret, hidden from everyone. He never really spoke of her, and so that's why I wonder how much he really cared....." Emotion seemed to overwhelm Ella, and she turned away. "I have to, uh, go wash up," and she fairly ran away.
**
Tielle breathed deeply, slowly letting the emotion drain away. She should have never said those things to Rashea! She should have never let her know about that girl, for that girl was her......
Revealing her doubts about how much "Chanh" had cared for "that girl" had been wrong too, for she had been revealing her doubts about how much he cared for her. He had seemed to be having a simply wonderful time out there with that witch Shaina....
Tielle jerked her mind away from that and instead wondered how she could convince Chayden of her plan.
It was quite simple, really. All Tielle would have to do was pretend to be a doctor and get onto Hidon, find out about this disease, and then get out and search the galaxy for some sort of cure or explanation as to why it had struck. No one other than Farearian and Hidonian medics had examined any of Hidon's patients, and so how were they supposed to know about the disease if it wasn't native to either planet? But if Tielle could bring their knowledge off Hidon and to the rest of the galaxy, maybe she could find something!
Posing as a doctor wouldn't be hard; all Tielle would have to do is read medical textbooks, and, thanks to her photographic memory, she would be able to remember and diagnose every ailment she came across.
Doctors were traveling from Fareari to Hidon weekly in the search to end the epidemic; if Tielle could just get on one of those transports she'd be all set, what with her Farearian accent and all.
There were only two hitches to this plan- she needed Chayden to access Fareari's databank with the secret password he no doubt had and enter her as a medic onto one of those transports, and then she would have to go alone to Fareari and Hidon. Alone.
She didn't think Chayden would like that alone part.
She hedged a glance at him and Shaina out on the dance floor, dancing and laughing, clearly having a great time.
Or maybe he wouldn't mind.
Tielle and Chayden settled into a comfortable life on Diresh; every morning Chayden would go out and work on the fields, and Tielle washed clothes, learned to cook, and generally just helped out around the colony with whatever she could.
That seemed to be the norm in the colony- everyone helping out wherever they could. Tielle appreciated the generosity and hospitality of her neighbors, but grew to dislike Shaina Ontine's frequent offers for assistance wherever possible. The girl was too beautiful and too observant of Chayden's every move to please Tielle.
Except for that one small cloud, Tielle had no reason to complain and tried her best not to, but settling into the new but simple lifestyle proved to be harder for the two royals than they had expected. Tielle's first attempts at cooking were not successful, resulting in burned and unrecognizable food, and Chayden came in from the fields exhausted and drained, not being used to physical labor.
Tielle's friendship with Rashea grew, but her relationship with Chayden weakened. He was gone all day, every day, and returned home too weary for conversation. On the weekends, he slept in until noon, then rose and joined Tielle for either church or a meal at the Hamanis'. Following that was an afternoon nap for Chayden, a quiet reading and resting time for Tielle, and then they would have their supper together. Either a long chat about the week or, more often than not, a community sporting event or dance followed supper. Tielle learned to cherish those rare evenings when she had Chayden alone and could give up the pretense of being someone from somewhere she wasn't. He alone was the one person who understood all she'd been through and who could sympathize, and there was no one else to confide in.
*Except for You, Lord*, she reminded herself as she prepared yet another meal (this ordeal had made her appreciate cooks more than she ever had). *But it's not the same. You don't reply, I can't hear Your laugh, can't see Your smile.*
She sighed. She hadn't been hearing Chayden's laugh or seeing his smile much lately. They were both concerned about Hidon, which was still infected *and* occupied. It was a large- not to mention deadly -burden to put on one planet at one time, and Tielle worried that eventually Hidon would just snap from the pressure.
*So what can I do?* she asked herself for the millionth time. *How can I stop that disease or get Fareari out of there? How?*
It was, by now, a theoretical question, and Tielle didn't really expect an answer, so she was shocked when one came.
**
There was a dance that evening, and Chayden hadn't really wanted to go, but Tielle had seemed so vibrant and full of energy, so much like her old passion-filled self, that he couldn't help but follow her to the colony's hall.
Everyone was there; they always were, dancing and laughing and looking completely carefree and joyous. They, too, had been through much persecution, some enslaved, others disowned, all fugitives like he and Tielle were. So why were they so vigorous when he and Tielle weren't?
Perhaps it was the lying. The colonists were finally free of lies and hiding the truth, whereas he and Tielle had just begun it. When would they be free to end it?
*When God believes it is time,* Chayden reminded himself.
"Chanh!"
It was the lovely Shaina. All charm and sex appeal, Chayden found her about as alluring as turning himself in and accepting the death penalty. She was too interested in him, too eager to please.
Chayden had fallen in love with the opposite: a stubborn, headstrong, disagreeable princess by the name of Tielle who had never been so eager to please him. She had even hated him at one time, and heck, she *still* wasn't eager to please him! She was too free-spirited, too independent.
"Yes Shaina?" Chayden turned and smiled at her tolerantly, all the while thinking it was a shame that the one girl who *did* appeal to him was stuck in a lie and posing as his sister.
"Come and dance with me," she pouted, her strange amethyst eyes begging him.
He supposed it would be very out of character to refuse to dance with anyone but his sister and let her lead him out onto the dance floor.
**
Rashea stood with Ella, who seemed strangely occupied with her own thoughts, thoughts that she wasn't willing to share. The older girl was extremely friendly and fun to be with, and Rashea got along with her wonderfully, but there were parts of her that were closed. There were things that she didn't speak of, but the sadness that was in her eyes whenever she thought no one was looking revealed that she had hidden pain.
Rashea watched Ella's eyes follow her brother out onto the dance floor with Shaina, and Rashea observed with interest that the green eyes narrowed noticeably.
"You don't like Shaina?" she asked, amused.
Ella started, obviously having forgotten of Rashea's presence. "Well, honestly, no not really."
"That's okay. I don't really like her either," Rashea admitted, and the other girl blew a sigh of relief and relaxed.
"She's too interested in Chanh. It disturbs me- she hardly even knows him."
"Well, Shaina's not the type who much cares about personality, if you know what I mean."
Ella nodded. "I know, and that's what frightens me. I don't want him to get hurt."
Something about Ella's almost-wistful tone struck Rashea and she asked, "Was there another girl?"
Ella's eyes darkened momentarily, and for a second Rashea thought that she was going to lash out, but then she relaxed and replied in a sad tone, "Well, yes, there was. I think he really cared for her, but sometimes I wonder..." she snapped herself out of her reverie. "It didn't work out."
"Why not?" Rashea knew her question was rude, but she couldn't help herself.
Ella, who looked slightly dazed, didn't seem to take offense. "Oh, she was from a different planet. Hidon, actually, and if you know anything about Hidon, you know that Hidonians hate Farearians and vice versa.. It would have never worked out- Mom and Dad didn't approve of her, her parents, her planet, her god or anything else about her, for that matter, and they had to keep their relationship a secret, hidden from everyone. He never really spoke of her, and so that's why I wonder how much he really cared....." Emotion seemed to overwhelm Ella, and she turned away. "I have to, uh, go wash up," and she fairly ran away.
**
Tielle breathed deeply, slowly letting the emotion drain away. She should have never said those things to Rashea! She should have never let her know about that girl, for that girl was her......
Revealing her doubts about how much "Chanh" had cared for "that girl" had been wrong too, for she had been revealing her doubts about how much he cared for her. He had seemed to be having a simply wonderful time out there with that witch Shaina....
Tielle jerked her mind away from that and instead wondered how she could convince Chayden of her plan.
It was quite simple, really. All Tielle would have to do was pretend to be a doctor and get onto Hidon, find out about this disease, and then get out and search the galaxy for some sort of cure or explanation as to why it had struck. No one other than Farearian and Hidonian medics had examined any of Hidon's patients, and so how were they supposed to know about the disease if it wasn't native to either planet? But if Tielle could bring their knowledge off Hidon and to the rest of the galaxy, maybe she could find something!
Posing as a doctor wouldn't be hard; all Tielle would have to do is read medical textbooks, and, thanks to her photographic memory, she would be able to remember and diagnose every ailment she came across.
Doctors were traveling from Fareari to Hidon weekly in the search to end the epidemic; if Tielle could just get on one of those transports she'd be all set, what with her Farearian accent and all.
There were only two hitches to this plan- she needed Chayden to access Fareari's databank with the secret password he no doubt had and enter her as a medic onto one of those transports, and then she would have to go alone to Fareari and Hidon. Alone.
She didn't think Chayden would like that alone part.
She hedged a glance at him and Shaina out on the dance floor, dancing and laughing, clearly having a great time.
Or maybe he wouldn't mind.
