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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 21, 2008 15:09:07 GMT -5
It wasn’t until Gil and To-biko got sick that I understood why I hadn’t had any idea the sickness was coming. It was too close to me, too personal.
I wanted desperately to be of help, to tend to them as the others were, but I couldn’t get out of bed.
The sickness had passed me by for now, physically at least, but their suffering and agony invaded every bit of my being. It got to the point that the healer prescribed a sleeping draught to keep me from hurting myself as I thrashed and screamed. The constant barrage from both of them was too much to take in and I felt myself growing smaller and smaller under the weight of it.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 22, 2008 17:17:06 GMT -5
Another healer was here, this one different than the first.
“You can’t keep her sedated like this for so long,” the healer said, her voice stern.
“But she’s going to hurt herself,” Tia argued. “You haven’t seen her.”
“It doesn’t matter. If you keep her like this she may never come out of it. Give her this instead, but no more than twice a day. Otherwise you risk her life.” There was the sound of harsh footsteps retreating and I felt Tia’s hand on my brow.
“Oh, little one, what am I to do?” she asked, and then I heard her leave too. The medicine was wearing off and I could feel them in my head again, more this time though Gil and To-biko were still the strongest. Not as strong as before though, they were dying. My body burned with their fevers and I cried out at their pain.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 24, 2008 18:42:50 GMT -5
A note had arrived and I'd immediately left to see Riva, for a sense of foreboding had filled me at the words on the page and I knew I had to be there to help her. Luckily, many of those present knew who I was and didn't even try to impede me as I made my way up the stairs to her room and stepped inside, then moved to sit on the bed and stroke her hair. "Riva," I whispered in concern. "Elua, wake up, Riva."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 24, 2008 18:57:31 GMT -5
The new medicine didn’t plunge me into oblivion as the other had, which wasn’t a blessing. It left me disoriented when I was awake and nothing felt real.
So at first I wasn’t certain that the voice I heard was actually Aleron’s, but I didn’t really care. I struggled towards it even if it was just an illusion. My eyes opened, though at first everything was just shapes and vague colors.
“Aleron,” I whispered.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 24, 2008 19:10:07 GMT -5
As she turned toward me I stroked her cheek, meeting her glazed eyes. "I'm here," I assured her. "What's wrong, beloved? I got a note saying you weren't well."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 24, 2008 20:45:13 GMT -5
“They’re dying,” I whispered, having to struggle for each word. “I can feel it…”
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 24, 2008 20:47:37 GMT -5
"Who's dying?" I asked, worry wrinkling my brow as I stroked her cheek. "Focus on me, Riva." She was so unnerved and unwell I was tempted to pick her up and carry her out of here until whatever disaster this was had finished- it wasn't good for her at all.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 24, 2008 20:55:45 GMT -5
“Gil,” I breathed, his name bringing a fresh wave of pain through my body. “To-Biko…..dying..”
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 24, 2008 21:07:31 GMT -5
"I'm taking you out of here," I told her, seeing the pain she was in and knowing it didn't have a purpose and if what she said was the case there was nothing she could do for them. Even if there was, I didn't really care- I wanted HER well by the time this was over.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 24, 2008 21:27:22 GMT -5
I moaned again, reaching desperately for him as I became more and more aware of the pain they were going through.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 24, 2008 21:32:23 GMT -5
Leaning near her I let her wrap her arms around my neck, then lifted her out of the sheets. "First we have to dress you though," I told her, then carried her to a chair and sat her down and walked to the armoire. "Focus on me, beloved- tell me what I'm thinking and maybe you won't hear the rest of them."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 24, 2008 23:59:47 GMT -5
I slumped in the chair, but tried to do as he said, tried to focus on him.
“You’re wondering what dress to choose,” I mumbled.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 25, 2008 9:41:24 GMT -5
"Yes, I am," I replied as I opened the door and looked over everything, recalling pictures of her in the ones I knew and hoping the images would help her focus a bit more clearly. "Do you feel like wearing red today?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 25, 2008 12:55:24 GMT -5
Red? What was red? I struggled more to put thoughts together, moaning softly with the effort.
“The one you bought me, the first one,” I said, my brow furrowed hard.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 25, 2008 13:01:34 GMT -5
"Of course," I replied brightly, pulling it from the hanger and moving back over to her with it thrown over my shoulder to help her stand. "Come, let's just slip this on and we can go."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 25, 2008 14:36:37 GMT -5
“Go?” I asked, and then cried out softly as pain wracked my stomach and I started to heave dryly.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 25, 2008 17:15:18 GMT -5
"Yes, get out of here for a little while so you can get yourself back together," I said firmly and with concern, holding her up and somehow managing at the same time to slide the dress over her head.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 25, 2008 19:40:26 GMT -5
I felt the dress slip over my phantom-feverish skin and shivered slightly. I leaned forward and sagged against him.
“Yes, please, go,” I whimpered.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 25, 2008 19:47:38 GMT -5
"Of course, beloved," I promised, then picked her up, placed her arms around my neck and opened the door. I didn't think anyone would try to stop me, not with the house in such a fuss as it was, and I managed to get downstairs before the housekeeper noticed us. Still, she just nodded wearily and let us pass and I brought her outside.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 25, 2008 19:57:00 GMT -5
Between Aleron’s presence enveloping me and the distance he was putting between us, I began to feel the pain and horror receding.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 25, 2008 20:28:49 GMT -5
There was a small plaza with a fountain a few houses down and I took her there, setting her gently on the side of the basin where she could reach into the water if she wished. "Do you feel better?" I asked, still concerned.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 25, 2008 21:55:40 GMT -5
“A little,” I said, my thoughts coming to together with more ease now. I focused on the sound of the water and the slight breeze, but mostly on the shining presence that was Aleron.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 25, 2008 22:20:31 GMT -5
"Do you want to go farther?" Her hair was blowing a bit in the breeze and I let it run through my fingers. "We can go back to my room for a time."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 25, 2008 22:26:17 GMT -5
“No, I just want to sit her with you for a while,” I said, blinking my eyes and trying to clear them more. The last effects of the medicine were lingering still.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 26, 2008 9:46:48 GMT -5
Nodding in understanding I sat beside her on the side of the fountain and stroked her back. She seemed to need some peace at the moment so I simply waited for her to feel better and hoped she wouldn't have to get so ill again.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 26, 2008 10:21:22 GMT -5
I leaned against him, drawing on his presence.
“How did you know?” I asked softly after a bit.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 26, 2008 10:28:00 GMT -5
"Someone in your house sent me a note," I replied quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, and that I didn't know it on my own."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 26, 2008 16:55:42 GMT -5
“It was the drugs,” I said. “I think. They tried to make me not feel anything.”
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Jun 26, 2008 17:22:01 GMT -5
"It shouldn't make me not feel anything though," I replied with a sigh, drawing her closer to lean against me. "When I saw you looking so ill.."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Jun 26, 2008 19:21:14 GMT -5
“I’m sorry,” I told him, burying my face against his chest. I hated that I’d caused him to worry.
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