Fae's Duty: An Anxious Wait

As the red feather came into view on his hat, I gasped. Wait... he's my contact? He said he wasn't going to go undercover with me. What made him change his mind?

Still astonished, I leaned toward him and asked, "So, you're my contact? Or are you just doing this to get more of my attention?"

"Yes, I am your contact. The red feather doesn't lie." And neither does green skin...

I looked at the large clock across the square and realized we were behind schedule. "Well, then, I'm sure you understand the time constraints of this mission. You kept me waiting long enough to make us late. So just take this and go!" I slid the knife across the table to him and turned to get up.

He slid the knife up his sleeve and started gathering himself to leave. "Wait! Fae! Can I still come see you after I'm done?"

He's going to come no matter what; that's what he did the first time. I might as well say yes. I turned back long enough to say "fine, but don't be seen", and then slipped away into the crowd.

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I didn't look back the entire way to my den. I didn't want to think about Fiyero, but my mind kept wandering back to him.

I was worried about the end of the mission, but I had orders not to be out and about while the deed was being done. It made sense... if more of us were there, we could get caught.

I paced around my den, thinking. The only reason we were running late today is that he waited to reveal that he was my contact. He was going to risk the mission just to see me again!

At least we're safe here. He'll come back and we'll spend the night together like normal.

Providing he doesn't get caught. If he's caught, we're done for. He's the only one who knows where I am; they could torture it out of him, and then come after me too! I'll have to find a whole new safe place.

I sighed. It had taken me a month to find this place, and I was really starting to like it. It had held a certain homeliness ever since Fiyero decorated it for Lurlinemas.

I'll talk to him when he comes back. Maybe I can persuade him to stop going undercover with me. Though we can always use more people…

It's still too dangerous. I'll have to move anyway. I'll just talk to him.

I continued to pace back and forth through my den, deep in thought, until I heard a small "click" behind me. I whirled around to see Fiyero sliding in through the door.

"What were you thinking? If you were caught…" You'd probably be dead right now. And I would have to move again.

"But I wasn't. You have nothing to worry about. Relax, come sit on the bed with me."

I planted my feet firmly. He wasn't going to get his way just by getting me in bed. "Look, Fiyero, you could get caught on any of these missions. You could be tortured, killed, or imprisoned. I don't want to see you in any of those positions."

"Elphie, I'm putting myself in this danger. I want to help your mission, and I'm fully willing to take that risk. Please, stop worrying about me."

It's not working. Ok, time to try a different tactic. "You have a family that loves you back at Kiamo Ko. You belong there; they don't want to have any sad news of your demise either. You've left them for long enough."

"You know they don't really care. They're fine at Kiamo Ko. Now my mind's made up, and there's nothing you can do to change that."

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Elphie: Why does he have to be so determined?!?!

RS: Well, it is Fiyero… and I certainly hope I'm not portraying him out of character.

Elphie: So how long will it take me to find a new place this time?

RS: I'm not sure yet. You might have to wait a while to find out; my internet access will probably be a little problematic for the next month. I'll try to update, but it may be a while.