Lafael's Awakening

Writers: Len
Date Posted: 31st July 2017

Characters: L'fael
Description: Lafael hears the tragedy of River Buff Weyr through the voices of the dragons
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 20 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Bryvin, Lenala's Vilarth

The ground under Lafael's feet shivered. He glanced up, just in time to see a large glass bowl, the pride of cook Jeri, go crashing to the floor. The shards of glass shimmered in the light coming in from the windows. Lafael watched the play of rainbow upon them as the kitchen erupted in panic all about him. There may have been screaming but he didn't hear it. Instead there was another murmur...but it was in his head.

An overwhelming murmur. Not panicked...just soft and insistent. Like the softest of voices talking, saying something. Like the blue dragon the other day. Something that Lafael couldn't quite understand. And so he stood there, listening.

"Ah for the love of little green dragons, there he stands yet_again_staring off into space!"

Lafael blinked and looked to the source of the angry voice. It was Herrny, standing with her arms folded, a scowl on her face. "Lafael, how exactly have you gotten through life so far without wandering off into a threadfall, or something? Have you heard a word I was saying?" When the drudge shook his head no, she sighed mightily. "I_said_get this mess cleaned up, we've got a lot of work to do and the Lord's lunch is almost ready and I've got to get back here to make sure these pots of herbs are simmered just right. But yet you just stand there as though you've nothing to do."

"I can help."

"You can?" Herrny snorted as though she didn't quite believe him. "Is that a fact? Well then you can take the Lord his lunch just as soon as I get it finished." She looked him up and down. "But first would you_please_get that food stain off your tunic? What've you been doing all day, eating?"

Lafael wanted to say no, he had been helping Jeri chop all the fruit for tonight's desert in the Main Hall but she had already turned away. Lafael sighed, bending down to clean the mess of broken glass at his feet. When he was done he went over to the sinks to clean himself up. There was another young drudge already at the sinks, scrubbing at his trousers off where a great smear of jam had run down them.

"What happened to you?"

"Earthquake...hello? Did you not feel it?"

"Is that why everyone was screaming?" Lafael glanced around. everyone was back to being busy.

"You really are touched in the head, aren't you?" The drudge chuckled but not unkindly. "Yes, my dear friend, we had an earthquake which is why the ground was shaking and there's broken things everywhere." He took Lafael by the collar. "Speaking of, let's help clean things up."

"But I already have, and Hennry told me to get cleaned up so I can get food to the Lord."

"And that's not for a little bit. Come on, let's at least help a bit."

Lafael opened his mouth to answer but then there was a new voice in his head. A strong voice. Without realising it, he repeated the words that voice had broadcasted.

"My eggs...?" His voice was soft, so soft that no one but one heard him.

The drudge--Polank--stopped to peer at him under his thick mat of hair. "You hatching some young aviens or something? What about your eggs?"

"I...uh..." Lafael shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Those soft murmurers were back and it was so hard to concentrate. Just as he was about to say something, again that voice, louder and prouder than the others, grabbed his attention with its urgency. "What about your eggs?" he whispered, unaware that he was talking out loud. "Protect your eggs? How?"

Polank stepped up until he was right in Lafael's face. In a rough whisper, he said, "You got some flit eggs have you? Afraid they got damaged in the earthquake? You holding out boy?"

"I...uh...what?" Lafael blinked, as though it would help clear his head. "Flit eggs, me? Where would I get flit eggs?"

Polank stepped back, looking a bit sheepish. "Yeah, well, you_did_say protect your eggs, what else could you be talking about?"

"I don't know." And Lafael didn't. None of this, none of the upset voices made any sense in his head. There was an urgency though. It was coming from the dragons, it had to be. But why? Was it because of the earthquake? Before Polank could step away, Lafael tugged on his shirt. "So are you feeling...I don't know...anything?"

"Like what?"

"Like something...maybe from the dragons?"

"Dragons? What dragons? You really are a strange one, aren't you?"

Before Lafael could say anything in his own defense, Herrny grabbed his shoulder. "Hey you, the Lord's lunch is ready, go take it up to him."

Anything to get away from Polank's glare. Lafael hefted the tray onto his shoulder, not even grumbling about the weight of it. The cooler air of outside hit is face as he left the kitchen. It felt refreshing after the stuffiness of the kitchen. Lord Bryvin's chambers weren't all that far away, just enough to really try to clear his head. Last thing Lafael wanted to do was to appear ditzy in front of his Lord. But no matter how he tried, his thoughts kept getting stolen by the soft voices in his head. And as he walked they became more panicked it seemed. Particularly the one, he could identify her now. Enough to know it was a she.

And she was fearful. But she was brave.

Lafael concentrated so hard on her he didn't even notice when he had come to the closed door of Lord Bryvin's dinning rooms. He didn't even notice when he allowed the tray to drop off his shoulders, creating a mighty noise as silverware, pottery and glass shattered on the floor.

All that mattered was her.

And then she was gone.

A wave of grief overwhelmed his senses. Thousands of voices raising as one to keen their loss. There might have been a voice screaming 'No!' but he didn't recognize as his own. She was gone, the queen was gone.

Into that chasm of sorrow he fell.

Last updated on the August 23rd 2017

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Lafael's Awakening