Cinnamon Raymaker and Lihan Taifun
Aztryd climbs the stairs from the kitchen to Lady Elwing's sickroom, carefully balancing a tray with a bowl of broth, and clean towels. Hiking from one end of the palace to the other doesn't bother her, but the steps were built for longer legs, which slows her more than she likes to admit.
Likewise, the door handle is uncomfortably high, and she has a tense moment, balancing the tray on one hand while reaching up to shoulder level to work the knob with the other. As she enters, she whispers, "Elwing? Sister? Are you awake?"
Elwing whimpers and rolls across the bed, seeing again the terrifying visions from her journey.
Her patient looks much the same as before, still tossing restlessly, and murmuring incomprehensibly. Aztryd is no stranger to tending the sick and injured, though she has seldom had to do the work alone. She sets down her tray at the bedside table, glancing around the floor to locate baby Nizl. Yes, there she is, gnawing quietly on her toes behind the headboard. At home, there would be clan-sisters to look after the baby, and more than one sister to take turns watching the patient. But what must be done, must be done, even if she has to do it all herself today.
She notices a wet cloth, fallen onto the blankets, picks it up, and places it back onto the table. How did that get there? No matter. She places a hand gently on Elwing's arm. "Sister? I brought you broth. Do you think you can eat?"
Through the mists surrounding her consciousness, Elwing feels the gentle touch of a small, roughened hand. A gruff voice is asking her something - she can't quite understand the words as the voice sounds somewhat strange to her ears. Elwing smells the aroma of something very pleasant wafting through the room, something which sets her stomach growling and a sharp pang of hunger spasms through her stomach. Groggily she tries to open her eyes to see who it is trying to rouse her from this state in which she finds herself.
"That's right," Aztryd coaxes gently. "Wake up. I've brought you broth."
Elwing rises further through the layers of consciousness, blinking her eyes at the brightness of the light in the room, even though the light is rather dim.
"Don't you fret. You are back safe in Alqualonde. In your uncle's palace. You gave everyone a fright, collapsing like that. But you are alright now. Now just you sit up and try a sip of this broth. It will bring your strength back."
Elwing smiles weakly at the mention of Alqulaonde and her Uncle. So she had made it back after all! As she struggles to sit up and lean against the bed head, propped up by the comfortable pillows, she recalls the reason for her flight from which she had so recently returned. "Aztryd! Now I remember! Thank you for your kindness!" she croaks.
Aztryd smiles in satisfaction, that Elwing is capable of sitting up and talking, after all.
Elwing takes a sip from the spoon Aztryd is holding for her. "Mmmmmmm."
"That's good, dear. One spoonful at a time. Did you fall? Where does it hurt?"
Elwing swallows more of the delicious broth, feeling the warmth and nourishment spreading through her body, allowing her to feel life returning to her limbs, which had previously felt numb.
"Well, Aztryd, I remember reaching the balcony, and then I was so tired I just slumped over after I landed. I didn't hurt anything, I was just so very tired!"
Aztryd relaxes a little at that news. No broken bones, it seems, thank the Maker! She had never set a broken bone on her own, and wouldn't really want to be practicing on this dear lady. "That's good, that's good," she clucks, in her best imitation of her Gammy. "It could have been much worse. 'Tired' is easy to cure. And I must say I am glad to see you back again. But you could have flown a little easier. We weren't in that much of a rush."
Elwing smiles at Aztryd, thinking there was something she needed to remember, then reaches for the message tucked inside her shirt. "I think you must be waiting for news, Aztryd. Here's a message I needed to deliver to you!" she remarks, offering the rolled parchment to the dwarf mother with a smile.
"Aztryd. Do you know where my Uncle is to be found, by any chance?"
Aztryd reaches out eagerly to take the parchment. Before she can open it, Elwing's suddenly serious question pulls her mind back from news of home. "The King? He is around somewhere, I'm sure. If not in the palace, then in the town. Do you want me to look for him?"
Elwing ponders Aztryd's remark for a moment and decides the news can wait a little longer. "No matter, Aztryd. It can wait a little longer. I need to be somewhat stronger when I bring this news to him," she adds.
Aztryd frowns at that ominous comment, then quickly remembers to put on a cheerful face for the patient. "Then the sooner you get your strength back, the better!"
Elwing looks across to Aztryd, "I think I can manage the bowl of broth now Aztryd. Thank you for your kindness," she smiles, reaching over to take the bowl from the dwarf mother.
Freed of the bowl, Aztryd looks again at the parchment. "Come here, magpie," she says to Nizl, sweeping the baby into her free hand. "Let's see what news we have from home." She clambers awkwardly onto the too-high stool by the bedside, smiling in anticipation.
Elwing smiles at the mother and child - remembering the predicament in which they had found themselves and noting how well they had come through due to Aztryd's strength. She carefully fills the spoon with more of the warming broth and savours each sip, reminding herself that she must mention the delicious vegetable stew Aztryd's gammy had made for her at Gamilfûn. Elwing carefully empties the bowl and places it on the table beside her bed then snuggles back between the sheets to rest and replenish her strength. Watching the mother and child, with a smile on her face, Elwing drifts back to sleep.
Breaking the seal, Aztryd skims down the page. She smiles grimly at the account of her husband's discomfiture. 'Former husband' -- better and better. Indeed the news is all good. She whispers softly to Nizl, "No worries, magpie, Gammy has sorted them all out. And we will be home right soon enough."
Looking up, Aztryd notices that Lady Elwing has fallen asleep again. "Rest well, sister," she says gently.
> Next
Likewise, the door handle is uncomfortably high, and she has a tense moment, balancing the tray on one hand while reaching up to shoulder level to work the knob with the other. As she enters, she whispers, "Elwing? Sister? Are you awake?"
Elwing whimpers and rolls across the bed, seeing again the terrifying visions from her journey.
Her patient looks much the same as before, still tossing restlessly, and murmuring incomprehensibly. Aztryd is no stranger to tending the sick and injured, though she has seldom had to do the work alone. She sets down her tray at the bedside table, glancing around the floor to locate baby Nizl. Yes, there she is, gnawing quietly on her toes behind the headboard. At home, there would be clan-sisters to look after the baby, and more than one sister to take turns watching the patient. But what must be done, must be done, even if she has to do it all herself today.
She notices a wet cloth, fallen onto the blankets, picks it up, and places it back onto the table. How did that get there? No matter. She places a hand gently on Elwing's arm. "Sister? I brought you broth. Do you think you can eat?"
Through the mists surrounding her consciousness, Elwing feels the gentle touch of a small, roughened hand. A gruff voice is asking her something - she can't quite understand the words as the voice sounds somewhat strange to her ears. Elwing smells the aroma of something very pleasant wafting through the room, something which sets her stomach growling and a sharp pang of hunger spasms through her stomach. Groggily she tries to open her eyes to see who it is trying to rouse her from this state in which she finds herself.
"That's right," Aztryd coaxes gently. "Wake up. I've brought you broth."
Elwing rises further through the layers of consciousness, blinking her eyes at the brightness of the light in the room, even though the light is rather dim.
"Don't you fret. You are back safe in Alqualonde. In your uncle's palace. You gave everyone a fright, collapsing like that. But you are alright now. Now just you sit up and try a sip of this broth. It will bring your strength back."
Elwing smiles weakly at the mention of Alqulaonde and her Uncle. So she had made it back after all! As she struggles to sit up and lean against the bed head, propped up by the comfortable pillows, she recalls the reason for her flight from which she had so recently returned. "Aztryd! Now I remember! Thank you for your kindness!" she croaks.
 |
| Aztryd and Elwing |
Elwing takes a sip from the spoon Aztryd is holding for her. "Mmmmmmm."
"That's good, dear. One spoonful at a time. Did you fall? Where does it hurt?"
Elwing swallows more of the delicious broth, feeling the warmth and nourishment spreading through her body, allowing her to feel life returning to her limbs, which had previously felt numb.
"Well, Aztryd, I remember reaching the balcony, and then I was so tired I just slumped over after I landed. I didn't hurt anything, I was just so very tired!"
Aztryd relaxes a little at that news. No broken bones, it seems, thank the Maker! She had never set a broken bone on her own, and wouldn't really want to be practicing on this dear lady. "That's good, that's good," she clucks, in her best imitation of her Gammy. "It could have been much worse. 'Tired' is easy to cure. And I must say I am glad to see you back again. But you could have flown a little easier. We weren't in that much of a rush."
Elwing smiles at Aztryd, thinking there was something she needed to remember, then reaches for the message tucked inside her shirt. "I think you must be waiting for news, Aztryd. Here's a message I needed to deliver to you!" she remarks, offering the rolled parchment to the dwarf mother with a smile.
"Aztryd. Do you know where my Uncle is to be found, by any chance?"
Aztryd reaches out eagerly to take the parchment. Before she can open it, Elwing's suddenly serious question pulls her mind back from news of home. "The King? He is around somewhere, I'm sure. If not in the palace, then in the town. Do you want me to look for him?"
Elwing ponders Aztryd's remark for a moment and decides the news can wait a little longer. "No matter, Aztryd. It can wait a little longer. I need to be somewhat stronger when I bring this news to him," she adds.
Aztryd frowns at that ominous comment, then quickly remembers to put on a cheerful face for the patient. "Then the sooner you get your strength back, the better!"
Elwing looks across to Aztryd, "I think I can manage the bowl of broth now Aztryd. Thank you for your kindness," she smiles, reaching over to take the bowl from the dwarf mother.
Freed of the bowl, Aztryd looks again at the parchment. "Come here, magpie," she says to Nizl, sweeping the baby into her free hand. "Let's see what news we have from home." She clambers awkwardly onto the too-high stool by the bedside, smiling in anticipation.
Elwing smiles at the mother and child - remembering the predicament in which they had found themselves and noting how well they had come through due to Aztryd's strength. She carefully fills the spoon with more of the warming broth and savours each sip, reminding herself that she must mention the delicious vegetable stew Aztryd's gammy had made for her at Gamilfûn. Elwing carefully empties the bowl and places it on the table beside her bed then snuggles back between the sheets to rest and replenish her strength. Watching the mother and child, with a smile on her face, Elwing drifts back to sleep.
Breaking the seal, Aztryd skims down the page. She smiles grimly at the account of her husband's discomfiture. 'Former husband' -- better and better. Indeed the news is all good. She whispers softly to Nizl, "No worries, magpie, Gammy has sorted them all out. And we will be home right soon enough."
Looking up, Aztryd notices that Lady Elwing has fallen asleep again. "Rest well, sister," she says gently.
> Next