The
story is a follow up on “Intermission” which was a follow up on “Searching for
Armelia”, one could almost call it “by popular demand”. Enjoy.
Crais,
ten cycles after the Command Carrier. Crais is having a bit of relaxation. Will
she, won’t she?
Interlude
By
GitonCrais
Aeryn knew something was up but couldn’t really
say what it was.
They were still in orbit around Raghnor. It had
been six weekens since Crais’ operation and he was still recuperating.
Talyn was quite happy to stay and talk to Moya
after an absence of ten cycles and wasn’t bothered that Crais took his time. To
be honest, those on board Moya were also happy that they had entered a period
of tranquillity and peace. Various trips had been made to the planet for varied
purposes. Levarthes had entertained them on a number of occasions and everyone
had been merry, including Crais and that was what made Aeryn suspicious.
Something was up.
Ever since the Spring Festival, now two weekens
ago, father and daughter had taken a number of trips to the planet, about once
every two or three days. Both had come back happy and secretive. Aeryn was
intrigued.
Crais had started his exercises in earnest about
three weekens after his operation. He had started off slow enough, one arn a
day. Using the slow Panthak-regime to build up his strength. The first few days
were gruelling for him and he wouldn’t even appear at evening meals. Armelia
had come over to Moya on her own, apologising for Crais’ absence.
Aeryn had gone over to Talyn at the end of the
third weeken after Crais’ operation and had watched Crais going through his
routines. Talyn hadn’t warned Crais that Aeryn was on board, giving Aeryn full
view to watch him from the shadows.
Crais had filled out a little since his
operation, “put a bit more meat on” as Crichton explained, it enhanced his
muscle-tone. He was wearing black tight fitting trousers, which stretched with
his movements. His torso and feet were bare. He had let his wild mane of hair
hang loose and Aeryn marvelled at the flow of the raven black locks which came
down to his lower back. If it hadn’t been for Crichton… Unconsciously she
licked her lips.
His movements were slow, graceful. Tightening
the muscles, releasing them, stretching them. The muscles rolled under his
skin. His broad build hid the body of a predatory animal, sheer muscle. He
didn’t allow himself much slack in hardening and using the muscles in his chest
or his injured leg, even though it must pain him judging by the small winces he
expressed on his face now and again but he knew that if he went into battle
again the enemy wouldn’t take consideration to that.
Aeryn had missed that, the determination of a
soldier to get his body back in shape after an injury. Crais was no exception
to that drive.
Crais slowed down after an arn. He limped over
to one of the benches and sat down, picked up a towel and started to wipe the
sweat off his face and upper body. He savoured his right leg and massaged the
muscles.
Suddenly he stopped in his movements. His body
tensed and his eyes searched the room. He detected Aeryn’s shape in the shadows
and he relaxed. He continued to massage his leg, “How long have you been
watching me?”
“Not long, maybe a little under an arn.”
“I must be loosing it. I had not noticed you
standing there.”
She walked over to him and sat in front of him
on the floor, taking over the massage on his leg while he sat back, “You
weren’t meant to notice me Crais.”
He smiled at her, “Still, I should have.”
“How are you doing?”
“Getting better, getting stronger.”
She looked up at his face and saw how pale he
was, “You better take it easy, you’re still not up to full strength. Too much
exercise can be bad too.”
He stood up and she regretted her words. He
looked at her, “I’m fine Aeryn. I want to get back in shape as soon as
possible.” He retrieved his walking stick and Aeryn winced. It showed her how
much the exercise had taken out of him.
Crais draped the towel over his neck, “I’m going
to the galley to get something drink. Care to join me?”
Aeryn nodded and followed him. The new Crais was
a far cry from the Crais she had known for so long. Somehow it scared her. He
could still be grumpy, moody and silent and his eyes could still flare up in
temper but there was also a calm about him now, a natural calm, not the calm he
liked to show them when he was giving them the impression he was. It felt
strange.
Crais brought two big glasses of water to the
table and sat down. Again she marvelled at his grace. He drank the first half
quickly before setting the glass down. He was conscious of her stare, “Is there
anything wrong Aeryn?” He drew the towel close over his chest.
“No Crais, on the contrary. I’m just happy to
see you get back in shape again. The injuries are not bothering you too much?”
“Only sometimes but it is getting better.”
“Will you be joining us at evening meal?”
“Yes.”
When she returned to Moya, Crichton asked how
Crais was doing. She answered him, “Fine.”
That was two weekens ago. Crais looked much fitter
now and Aeryn saw that Crichton regarded him with jealously again. If Crais
noticed he did not let on. In his books, Aeryn was off limits and he had no
interest in her other than that of a friend.
“So…” Crichton started after the meal was
finished, “What have you been up to Crais?”
Crais raised an eyebrow, “Crichton?”
“Sneaking off to the planet every couple of
days.”
“I wasn’t aware I was “sneaking” Crichton.”
“Then what’s your interest and that of Armelia
by the way?”
“That’s none of your business, Crichton. I do
not ask what you are doing on the planet.”
“Seeing a girlfriend?”
Crais coloured slightly but it was hard to tell
whether it was from embarrassment or annoyance, “It’s none of your business.”
“Definitely girlfriend then,” Crichton remarked
undaunted.
Crais looked darkly at Crichton and left the
galley without saying another word.
Armelia stood up to follow her father, Crichton
smiled, “Did I hit the nail home?” Armelia gave him a dark look too and left.
Crichton looked at Aeryn and his smile disappeared
when he received a dark look from her as well. He shrugged his shoulders, “I
was only interested.”
Aeryn shook her head, “You never learn, John. He
will tell us when he’s good and ready.”
“Yeah, sure. Captain Clam will tell us.”
Crichton had hit on the truth closer than Crais
would have cared to admit. He had been seeing Althea for two weekens since the
Spring Festival. He enjoyed her company and he had got used to her chatter.
Somehow he didn’t find it as upsetting as the first time they had met.
Armelia had struck up a chord with the boy she
had met at the dance and was spending her afternoons with him, while Crais took
long walks with Althea.
The reason he didn’t go down every day was that
he didn’t want to upset her routine. She had to earn a living and could not
just drop everything the micron he came by, even though she heartily did when
he did stop by.
They avoided the topics if one of them wasn’t
comfortable with it but they still found a lot to talk about or rather she
talked a lot and he listened.
It all happened quite naturally at the end of
the second weeken he had come to see her. They had been walking in the woods
near her house when the heavens opened up and a torrential rain came down.
They ran to her house and went in quickly to
shelter from the rain. The distance had been long enough and the rain hard
enough to soak them both to the bone.
Althea laughed and looked at Crais, the rain had
made his hair curlier, “You have to get out of that shirt before you catch your
death.” She led him to the sitting room and left the room quickly. Crais didn’t
mind that he was wet and stood looking around the room. Observing all that was
in it.
She came back and had wrapped herself in a robe
while she towelled her hair. She had a towel and another robe draped over her
arm and was surprised that Crais still had his shirt on. She shook her head.
Men could be so stubborn.
“Let me help you,” she said and moved over to
him.
“I don’t need…” Crais started.
“Oh, don’t be absurd. You have to get out of
that shirt. You can wear the robe while it is drying.”
Before Crais could stop her, she had already
started undoing the front of his shirt. Strangely enough, he let her. He didn’t
say a word when she opened his shirt. She touched his chest and he swallowed
deeply when her cool hands opened the shirt further.
She looked expectantly up at him but only saw
his calm gaze. She grew bolder when he didn’t object and let her hand trail
over his wide chest. He did not admonish her nor tell her to stop.
Slowly she slid his shirt off his shoulders,
marvelling at the wide strong shoulders. Her hands followed the shirt down,
sliding over the strong muscles of his arms, the shirt fell to the floor and
left his torso exposed. A little moan of pleasure escaped her lips. She leaned
forwards and planted soft kisses on his chest.
He closed his eyes and a small rumble was formed
deep in his throat.
Finally his own hands moved to her shoulders and
opened up her robe at the neck. His head moved forward and his mouth trailed a
kiss over the nape of her neck. His breath was warm on her skin and his goatee
tickled sensually.
She threw her head back and to the side, her
shoulder length dark brown hair fell in waves to the side. She let him explore
more of her neck. Her hands moved to his head and tangled in the soft mane of
hair that was so abundant. His hair felt like the softest silk while the curls
twined as ringlets around her fingers.
His hands continued to slide her robe open
further. His kisses grew in intensity.
“Come,” she said breaking free momentarily and
took him by the hand. She led him to her bedroom. He followed her.
Crais did not object nor said anything else on
the matter. Part of him was afraid of breaking the spell and the mood. Another
part of him wondered if they could continue to be friends.
She had drawn him into the room and they now
stood in the middle it.
Her hands trailed over his wide shoulders, over
his chest to his abdomen. She lingered briefly to experience the tautness of
his muscles before exploring further down.
When her hand moved to his trousers, Crais
breathed in deeply.
He wanted to touch her, enjoy her and explore
her.
He took her by the hands and lifted her to a
standing position.
There was disappointment in her eyes, “You don’t
want me?”
“More than anything else right now,” his voice
was hoarse and his eyes had started to darken with passion.
“Then why not? Is there any physical deterrent?”
“No, nothing of the sort.”
“Then why,” her eyes searched his.
Had this been their first and only night
together, Crais might have considered to have taken his pleasure, relieved the
tension and left the following day.
Instead he had two weekens of getting to know
her, being friends and hearing all her secrets. She hardly knew anything about
him. She only knew his name, which was a false name, his reputation as the Dark
Captain and that he had a daughter named Armelia. Crais knew he was taking a
big risk but he wouldn’t be able to look himself in the eye otherwise.
He cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her
face to look at him. He could see fear and anticipation in her eyes, the fear
he would not like to see in her eyes when she looked at him.
“My name is Bialar…”
“Like in Bialar Crais?”
“As in Bialar Crais.”
There was silence. She stared at him with wide
eyes, “”You are really…?”
He nodded. His eyes were sad.
A smile tucked at the corners of her mouth.
Crais cocked his head in surprise. Althea’s smile widened and then flung her
arms around his neck. Crais was surprised.
She stepped back and smiled. She had tears of
joy in her eyes, “You are the one who was the cause of many cycles of
happiness.” She looked in his deep dark eyes, “Without you I would never have
met Radek. I would never have known such a sweet and loving man.”
Crais pulled back. He was uncomfortable with her
gratitude and he felt he was competing with a dead man.
Althea drew him back to her, “Please don’t…
Bialar. Don’t leave me, at least not today.”
Crais wasn’t sure and it was mirrored in his
eyes.
She rested her head on his bare chest, her hands
running lightly over his skin, “I have been without a man ever since Radek
died. I found no one worthy after him. You are different. You are strong.
Please, Bialar?”
“Are you sure,” he had asked.
She laughed through tears of joy, “You have to
ask? I have wanted you the moment I first saw you. Before we had even spoken to
each other. Before I knew who you were… are.”
Crais drew her closer. His first kiss was light
and caressed the top of her head. So were the next couple of kisses but soon
his need grew in size and his mouth sought hers hungrily. She savoured the
firmness of his lips on hers. His moustache prickled her skin and sent small
shivers through her. She sighed with pleasure. His mouth trailed down to her
neck, warm, lingering and she threw her head back. Closing her eyes.
His hands were on her shoulders, big hands,
strong and warm and gentle.
His lips pressed hot kisses on her shoulder
while his hands explored her curves.
She moaned in pleasure. “Bialar,” she whispered.
Crais’ hands roamed further. It had been a while
since anyone had mentioned his name with passion. Slowly he exposed more of her
by drawing the robe away until it slid to the floor.
Her hands tangled in his hair again, the silky
feel of it sensually under her fingers. When his hands moved down her back, she
grasped his hair tighter. Some strands fell down on her front and she gasped in
rapture.
He lifted her by the waist and carried her over
to the bed, his mouth not lifting from her body. He placed her gently on the
bed and admired the beauty she showed him.
He lay next to her. His eyes feasting on her
body while his hand caressed her skin gently, his head moved forwards and his
lips touched her pale skin.
“Bialar,” she whispered in pleasure. His mouth
curved into a smile.
They made love, gently like it was their first
time.
There was a brief tense moment when her kisses
trailed over his recent scars.
“Don’t,” he whispered, his body was tense. He
tried to lift her away from his chest.
Her voice was soft, gentle, “Bialar, those scars
were won in battle. They are part of you and I want to know every part of you.
Let my kisses work like a healing balm.”
He closed his eyes and relaxed but his hands
were clenching.
He felt the panic rise, that she might find it
distracting, ugly, but she didn’t pause, didn’t halt and he grew less tense.
She continued to do this with all the scars of lesions and battles. She was
surprised at their numbers. Crais finally relaxed under her administrations, he
lay very still but his breathing had deepened.
Her caresses were driving him wild. “Althea,
stop teasing,” he gasped in a hoarse voice. He could feel his heart hammer in
his chest.
The mixture of her hot breath on his skin and
the cooling afterwards made Crais gasp. He balled his fist in pleasure but he
could also feel a tightening of his chest.
He had to make her stop, even if it was only
momentarily. He sat up and gently moved her head away. She looked at him with
wide-open eyes and a touch of hurt, “You don not find this pleasurable,
Bialar?”
He smiled at her, “Too pleasurable. You will
have to give me a little time.”
She didn’t understand.
He got up from the bed and went into the other
room. He picked up his shirt and felt in the sleeve-pocket. For a moment he
looked with hesitation at the small pill in his hand. He had not anticipated
this much pleasure and exercise today. He could not take it and leave or own up
to his weakness, take it and find bliss. He closed his eyes briefly and popped
the pill in his mouth. He didn’t want to disappoint her. He didn’t want to pass
out on her. He wanted to explore her and feel her and wanted to be felt by her.
The effects of the pill were soon felt and the
rhythm of his heart slowed down to a less uncomfortable level. He returned to
the bedroom.
He had believed that she couldn’t see him but
the door had been wide open and she had seen his actions reflected in the
mirror opposite the door. Had seen his hesitation.
She wondered what he had taken. She hoped it
wasn’t something to enhance his lovemaking artificially. She wanted to recreate
with him naturally. From what she had seen, he didn’t need a stimulant. She
felt slightly saddened.
When he returned he found her sitting up in bed,
a sad expression on his face. The covers were drawn to her chin, “Why Bialar?”
He was confused, “I do not understand.”
“Why do you need a stimulant? I thought I was
able to please you.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted her
chin gently with his hand. His eyes showed a mixture of sadness and gentleness
in them, “You do please me, very pleasantly, very thorough, Althea. What I had
to take was not a stimulant.”
She looked in his dark eyes with a questioning
look.
He took a deep breath, “I had not thought that
it would be a problem.” He took another deep breath and looked away, “I had an
operation six weekens ago to restore my heart and lung functions. The pleasure
you were giving me was making my heart beat too fast. I didn’t want to scare
you.”
She drew closer to him and touched his chest,
his recent scar, “That is why you wanted me to draw back earlier?”
He nodded.
“Does it hurt? Does that mean we can’t…”
“We can but maybe you won’t, now that you know I
am not as strong as you thought I was.”
She knelt behind him. Her arms slid over his
shoulders, down to his chest and caressed his chest gently. His breath caught,
his eyes closed and he leaned into her. His hair tickled her pleasantly, as if
they were leading a life of their own.
Her lips were close to his ears and she
whispered, “Bialar, I want you.” Her breath caressed his skin. Her words fired his
body.
He opened his eyes and turned to look at her.
“Althea, I want you,” he whispered back.
He lay on his back, sated, her head on his
chest. Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder. His arm encircled her
shoulders.
“Bialar?”
“Hmm?” His voice sounded sleepy.
“Will you stay?”
He was quiet for a moment, “I can’t.”
“Oh.” There was disappointment in that single
word.
“Would love to,” replied Crais sadly, “but I
can’t. My place is in space.”
“Wouldn’t you want to try?”
He looked down and lifted her face to look at
him, his eyes were sad, “It would be physically impossible for me to stay on
the planet. I will have to return to Talyn, my ship, tonight.”
“You are leaving so soon?” Her fingers caressed
his chest.
“No, I have to return to my ship to sleep.”
She didn’t understand, “Why?”
He looked up at the ceiling, “To sustain my
health, I need my ship. My health depends on the air that my ship can provide,
especially now. Even when I am completely healed, I will still need his air,
maybe not daily but certainly very regularly. Besides, my ship needs me too.”
She looked away from him, settling back on his
chest, “Will you still want to see me while you are in orbit?”
There was a little rumbling in his chest, “I
want you with me, all the time.”
Her breath caught, “You mean that?”
He chuckled, “More than anything.”
“You want me to… become your… mate?”
“I want you to become my bond-mate.”
She bit her bottom lip. Exultation and doubt
warring inside her, “I… I would like that but...”
“I know. You have a life here on the planet. I
know it will be hard to make that decision. I understand.”
“I need some time.”
He kissed the top of her head, “I will comply
with your wishes.”
They settled. A contented silence lay between
them.
Later they made love again.
When Crais joined the Moya-crew that evening,
they noticed that he was quieter than usual.
“Wassup Crais?”
Crais looked at Crichton, “Nothing.”
“Yeah, right. You are quiet tonight.”
“As you have remarked so often, it’s not that
unusual,” Crais said evasively.
Aeryn joined the conversation, “John is right.
You are even more quiet than usual.”
Crais sighed, “It’s nothing. Just exerted myself
a little more than normal today.”
Worry played on Aeryn’s features, “Are you all
right, Crais?”
He smiled at her, “Yes Aeryn, I am. No need to
concern yourself on my behalf.”
Crichton observed the man closely, “You are a
bit white around the gills, Crais.”
Crais frowned, “I am not a fish, Crichton.”
“No, it means you are a bit pale, if you want to
leave earlier today we will understand.”
Crais shook his head, “No, I’ll stay and leave
at my usual time.”
Crichton’s eyebrows shot up. Crais would
normally find excuses to leave early, he would certainly jump at the excuse
given, “Something is up! You are definitely not yourself tonight.” He warmed to
the idea solving the puzzle of what Crais was not telling them.
“I am just a little tired but otherwise fine,”
said Crais.
Crichton grinned, “Sure, Crais.”
“Leave him alone, John,” Aeryn scowled at him.
Crichton smiled. He was going to find out.
When Crais stepped on board Talyn, Talyn was
chirping happily.
“Yes, Talyn, I am happy.”
~Do you think she will accept?~
“I don’t know, Talyn. She said she will think
about it.”
~Will
she be travelling with us then?~
“If she accepts, she will.”
Talyn thought something over for a little while,
keeping Crais out until he had formulated his thoughts ~If she says “no”, will
you still see her? Will we be leaving?~
Crais could feel the apprehension in the
Leviathan, “If she says no, I hope we can still be friends. And, no, if she
says “no” we will not leave immediately. I’m still healing and I think Moya
wants to be with you a little longer.”
Talyn was a little happier.
Crais undressed slowly and lay on the bed. When
he closed his eyes, Talyn flooded the room with the purified oxygen.
Crais stayed on board for the next two days.
Working out. Tiring himself out. For the first
time in three weekens, Armelia had to excuse his absence. Armelia spent the
days on the planet.
Aeryn went over to Talyn. She wanted to make sure
that Crais was all right. His behaviour worried her. She found him in the
galley. He had just finished his workout.
He was startled when she walked in, “Aeryn! What
are you doing here?”
“Seeing if you were all right.”
“I am all right,” he looked away from her.
She noticed his pallor, “Overdoing it again.
Why, Crais?”
“Just felt like it.”
“Just like that? What happened on the planet,
Crais?”
“Nothing.”
“I thought you could trust me.”
“I do.”
“Then why lie to me?”
Crais sighed. When he looked at her, she saw
sadness and confusion, “I met a woman…”
She smiled, “That’s wonderful!”
“We are… friends. (Aeryn stayed silent, there
was more to come) and we…ah… recreated.”
Aeryn smiled openly and laid her hand on his,
“Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I asked her to become my bond-mate.” He looked
up.
Aeryn grinned, was happy for him, “Did she say
“yes”?”
“She said she would think about it. She will
probably refuse,” Crais stood up and got some water, he needed his walking
stick again.
“Why would she refuse?”
Crais turned round to her, “Why would she want a
cripple?”
Aeryn understood, “Is that the reason you have
been working out so much.”
He hung his head, his voice was soft, “Yes.”
Aeryn walked over to him and laid a hand gently
on his shoulder, “Have faith, Crais. Don’t doubt yourself. That would be
crippling. Go to her and find out.”
He looked up and smiled wryly, “I will.”
He went down the next day and watched Althea
work on her stall from the shadows of a nearby shop. She was very intent on
helping a customer, very animated. He breathed deeply, yes, he wanted her but
he couldn’t take her away from the life she knew. For a moment he contemplated
walking away.
The customer left and Althea sighed deeply.
“Hello Althea.”
His rich, deep voice excited her. She looked up
with a smile, “Hello, Bialar.”
He looked furtively around him but nobody had
heard.
“I thought you would never come down. What
happened?”
He looked at her and then it dawned on him,
there was no way she could contact him, “I… I was pre-occupied.”
“For two days?”
He looked embarrassed.
She smiled at him, “I thought you might have
liked to hear what I wanted to tell you.” She stood up and closed the stall.
She didn’t wait for his answer but led him down to the promenade.
“I thought about what you said. About being a
bond-mate and my life here…”
“I understand,” Crais said gently and she could
see the sadness in his eyes.
“No you don’t,” her face lit up with a smile.
His face held confusion. Her smile grew broader, “It would be an honour to
become your bond-mate. Yes, I do love you. Yes, I will come with you and yes, I
will be your bond-mate.”
Crais was stunned. He was happy, for a moment
all colour drained from his face and she was worried that he would faint on her
or, worse, had changed his mind.
The walking stick dropped from his hand and he
encircled her by the waist. He buried his face in her hair and held her close.
She laughed in his arms and threw her arms around his neck, kissing his head.
Talyn chirped happily in his mind.
The End