Safe from the Storm

Writers: Anika, Suzee
Date Posted: 20th March 2015

Characters: Eirock, Sophque, Sophine, Phirasol, Quellen
Description: Sophque needs some help during the hurricane and Eirock comes to her aid.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 7

Eirock

Sophque

Leaning against the wind and rain, Eirock pulled his oilskin jacket
closed where it had worked it's way open and reached up to reassure
Talon, who was latched securely to his shoulder with his tail wrapped
around the Steward's neck. Having checked on the crews and helped
several people get safely to the shelter, including some wounded, he
was free to follow-up on something he thought he'd seen earlier.
Though he was certain he must be wrong, he thought he'd seen Sophque's
small form fleeing the safety of the main Hold. He couldn't imagine
why she'd take such a risk, unless it was for family but the thought
of the gentle seamstress caught out in the storm made his blood run
cold. So after making inquiries of people in the shelter, the Steward
headed in the direction he'd been told her cot was.

"But we must go mama," Sophque pleaded with her mother. She had
Sophine bundled in her arms. But her mother wouldn't get out of her
chair.

"The wind is too strong now Sophque. Your father will come for me."

"He's up at the Hold already mother. He thought you were there." She
turned when she heard the footsteps. She turned to the door and threw
it open "Father I...."

"Sophque, what are you doing here?" Eirock demanded more brusquely
than intended due to his concern, though he was flooded with relief at
finding her safe. "You should be up at the Hold."

"Sophine and my mother..." she started, but hope burned in her eyes.
"I had to come get them."

Taking in the small child wrapped in Sophque's arms and the older
woman sitting in the cot, Eirock gave a nod. "We need to get up to
the Hold and into the shelter. Ma'am," he addressed Sophque's mother,
"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes we do," Sophque agreed. She sent a pleading look toward Eirock.
"Mother is.."

"Being difficult as usual," said Quellen from the doorway. "Sorry
sir," he said to Eirock and brushed past him for a quick whispered
conversation with his wife. When she began shaking her head Quellen
bent down and picked her up. "Sir," he nodded at Eirock, "Can you make
sure my daughter and granddaughter get up the hill safely? It's really
coming down out there."

Sophque, had her arms around Sophine and her cloak wrapped tightly
around them both. She looked from one to the other and watched as her
father walked back into the wind and rain with a protesting Pharisol
in his arms.

For just a glimmer of a moment Eirock appreciated the tableau of
mother and child, but he immediately pushed this aside in light of the
imminent crisis. Following Quellen's lead he scooped up Sophque and
Sophine holding them securely against his muscled chest and made his
way into the storm. With a trill, Talon shot from his shoulder and
disappeared, following Eirock's instruction to meet him in the safety
of the Hold.

"We'll make better time," Eirock said by way of explanation without
missing a step despite the torrential gale. He was confidant the
petite seamstress would be blown away if she attempted to walk on her
own carrying Sophine.

A small "eep" of surprise burst from Sophque when the steward scooped
her up. But then she turned her face into his shoulder and held
Sophine protected between them.

"Mommy, you're squishing me," came a little voice barely heard above the storm.

"It's okay baby, we'll be safe soon," she said with feeling. The
strong arms around her made her feel safe even in the middle of the
gale whipping storm driven rain into her face.

Stopping abruptly, Eirock turned sideways, shielding his precious
cargo from a flying tree branch. He grunted as the solid limb
connected with the back of his shoulder. "You'll be just fine little
one," his deep voiced echoed Sophque's reassuring words as he pushed
on through the sheets of rain. The short distance to the Hold had
never seemed so far and he was relieved to make it to an entrance.

She felt more than saw the blow to Eirock. Suddenly concern flooded
her face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he assured her, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he
made his way through the doorway before setting her gently on her feet
his hand lingering on her back. He immediately looked for Quellen to
be certain he and his wife had made it safely to the Hold because
seeing anything in the storm had been impossible. They still needed
to get to the safety of the shelter, though the stone walls provided
far more security than the open streets. "Are you and the little one
okay?"

Quellen had set is wife on her feet and held her hand as they both
looked at Eirock in gratitude. "Thank you sir," he said. "I don't
think I could have gotten them all back in time." and to put an
emphasis to his words the doors flew open again and another pair of
stragglers came through. "Time to get to the shelter," he told his
wife and daughter. His sharp eyes hadn't missed the lingering hand on
his daughter's back but this wasn't the time to 'notice' anything.

"We're fine," Sophque said in the same tone he'd used. Her smile was
teasing until she saw her mother's lifted eyebrow. Then her expression
smoothed and her gaze turned to her daughter. "Aren't we sweetie?"

"Can I have a cookie? You said I could have a cookie when we got to
the hold," demanded the little girl.

"Of course. But we have to go to the shelter first," she said and
turned toward the inner building. "You should get that looked at by a
healer," she called over her shoulder.

Pharisol looked at the big Steward speculatively for a moment. Her
daughter was in need of a husband and if what she'd heard were true,
he was in want of a wife. Sophque had been widowed now these four
turns and that was quite enough mourning to her mind. She turned to
follow her daughter into the hurricane shelter, this time with purpose
in her step. She resolved to talk to Quellen about it when they had a
moment alone.

Lips lifting at Sophque's teasing smile and her adorable daughter's
focus on the promised sweet despite the forbidding tempest outside, he
was clueless concerning Pharisol's ruminations. In response to
Sophque's parting statement he shook his head, though his words were
conciliatory, "Once I've seen everyone safely in." He watched all four
disappear to safety before turning his attention to the newcomers.

Last updated on the April 8th 2015

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Safe from the Storm