Returning to the Hall

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 31st July 2016
Series: Shipwrecked

Characters: Irabel, Thayde
Description: Thayde is finally cleared to make the trip back to the Dolphin Hall.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 20 of Turn 8

Thayde

Irabel had insisted that she stay with him as much as possible. Once he was well enough, she also insisted that she accompany him back to the Hall. Once the healers gave him leave to return, she was certain he was relieved. Irabel was too. Although he'd woken up, there had still been concern of a return infection. The fact that the healers had finally let him go meant they felt he was safe from such a reoccurance. As they walked toward the path that led toward the hall, she glanced at the man beside her. "Let me know if you need to stop."

Thayde glanced sideways at Irabel, "And wound my manly pride by admitting to weakness? Never." He grinned as they walked, still amazed by how different it felt to be wearing real shoes again. Being on familiar ground, and leaving the confines of the infirmary, felt liberating.

"You've been ill. No one would question your manliness." Irabel paused briefly, then added before he could retort, "Well...most wouldn't."

"I'm not worried about anyone's opinion but the lady walking beside me, but I think I can make it. We had to do a lot of hiking around on the island." And he'd been pumped full of broth and medicine in the days he'd spent in the Weyr infirmary. He was anxious to get back to the Hall to see Ada.

"No more of that." Irabel inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. "You shouldn't try to jump in too much too soon." She knew the healers had told him that, but she wasn't going to let him forget it. That, if anything, would stress his body before it was completely recovered, which might make him sick.

"Yes, ma'am." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "So fill me in on what all happened at the Hall while I was gone."

"We've had several births, including a person. Endarin has been holding things together." Irabel paused. "After we found out you and Lord Zathris disappeared, a lot of effort was put on that. After a few sevendays, attempts began to wan..." And Irabel had fought to keep them going.

"That makes sense, the Hall couldn't keep expending resources. I'm glad you didn't give up though." He wiped his brow. "Oh, Zathris gave us an invite to Amber Hills sometimes, maybe during their Winter Gather."

Us? Had he said, 'us'? Irabel paced on a few steps before responding. "Amber Hills gets very cold." She winced at her own reply, then added, "But that could be fun."

He tried not to take her lack of enthusiasm personally, she had just sat in a chair by his bedside for days after all. "Yeah, I never seen snow in person, Zathris assures me they receive plenty of it there."

"I've never seen snow. Up close." Mountains had towered in the distance, their stony grey peaks covered in soft, white drifts that tumbled down the sides until the deep gray peeked beneath and was soon dotted with green as the lower air became warm enough to sustain flora. Irabel had often admired their beauty, but she'd never taken the opportunity to get a closer look, either at the mountains or the white precipitation.

Thayde let silence fall between them. He was rusty on his small talk skills, not that he had ever been much on it anyway, and Irabel didn't seem to have much to say on possibly taking a trip together. He remembered what Zathris had told him about Irabel while he was in the infirmary and he tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. While on the island he had envisioned that things might be different between them if he ever got back, but it quickly felt as if everything was falling back into its normal place.

Like him, she remained in silence until they reached the Hall, though she glanced at him from time to time, as if checking to make sure he didn't waver, perhaps need to stop and rest. When they finally stepped in the hallways, she spoke again. "They haven't touched your rooms." Thankfully. Irabel had fought to keep the search going. She knew they had been on the verge of clearing everything out.

"That's fortunate." Thayde said, breathing in the familiar sights and smells of the Dolphin Hall. It felt surreal to be walking down his hallway again. "Thanks for walking with me back from the Weyr, and staying, it was nice to have a familiar face around."

"It's good to have you around." Though soft, Irabel's words held a deep undertone of sincerity. She glanced at him again just before they approached his door.

Thayde smiled a little as he paused outside his door and looked down at Irabel. "Thank you, for everything. I'm in your debt."

"No." Irabel shook her head with a measure of enthusiasm. "You owe me nothing. I didn't do it to get anything out of it." Except him back.

Of course she hadn't. He shook his head with a little smile, "Well, thanks all the same." Pushing open the door to his room he let out a contented sigh. Home. A place he'd never thought he might be again. His grand adventure was finally over.

Last updated on the August 16th 2016

[Prev: Friends Forever] Series: Shipwrecked

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Returning to the Hall