The Hard Truth
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 3rd September 2019
Characters: R'axe, Jadirah
Description: R'axe wake up after his Threadfall injury and Jadirah has to deliver the bad news.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 27 of Turn 9
Notes: Immediately follows "In the Twinkling of an Eye"
Late due to Avery LOA :)
Sounds began to fade in and out. Healers talking. The rattle of a supply cart. And then throbbing pain in his face and head made him groan. Why was it so dark? R'axe grimaced and tried to reach up to touch his head but his wrists were secured down. What was going on? Was he blinded folded? Why couldn't he see?
"Jayth says he is awake," a voice said. The voice was familiar. W'ser, the Weyrdragonhealer.
The sound of a curtain being drawn and then snapped shut again was the next sound to punctuate the air.
Jadirah cleared her throat to alert the bluerider someone was there. "R'axe, I hear you're awake. It's Master Jadirah. You're in the Weyr's Infirmary. I'm coming by to check on you." A pause, then, "Your dragon's being well tended, don't worry."
"Why are my hands tied?" he asked, jerking at the restraints.
"We need you to not pull at the bandages on your face," the Healer said, coming over and putting a hand over one of his, hoping the touch would soothe.
The touch of her hand was cool, but marginally reassuring. "How bad is the damage?" he asked with a lick of his lips.
"What does your face feel like? Any pain? It was a very bad hit," she said, not quite evasively.
R'axe made to lift his hand again out of habit, but it remained restrained. "My head feels woolly, and there's a killer throb behind my eyes."
"We can give you some more fellis if you need. Jayth is being overseen as well," she said.
"No," R'axe said quickly. He knew that fellis would make him sleep and he had questions that he wanted to be answered first. "Tell me how bad the damage is. How long will I have to wear these bandages over my eyes?"
She strove for all her possible compassion to be poured into her tone. "Until your eye sockets heal after the damage done to them."
"Sockets?" R'axe repeated, his insides going icy. "And my vision?"
She squeezed his hand before she gave him the bad news. "It's not coming back. You took Thread right to the eyes."
A clawing, choking sensation filled his throat. He was blind? He flashed back to the horrifying moment in the air when he had realized where they were in Threadfall. R'axe remembered clenching his eyes shut before Jayth took them /between/. Now he would never return from that darkness.
}: I am with you. I will be your eyes.:{ Jayth's mental touch was reassuring, and even though they were separated physically, R'axe felt the same calming presence that he did when he leaned against his dragon, encircled by his lifemate's protective wing.
"I think I'll take that fellis after all," he rasped.
"Let me go get you the fellis. My orderly will stay with you," she promised.
A few minutes later, she returned with the cup. "R'axe, I have it."
The bluerider made to raise his hand to take the cup, but the restraints kept his hands fast by the sides of the bed. He waited then, in the darkness, for Jadirah to put the cup to his mouth.
She did so and said, "Here you go," as she placed the cold cup there.
R'axe drank the liquid gratefully, spluttering some since he was unable to use his own hand to adjust the cup as he drank. Maybe, he thought as the fellis began to take an immediate effect, making his body feel loose and warm, when he woke up he would be released from this horrible dream. Perhaps he would wake in his bed and realize that he had drank too much wine the night before and it had muddled his sleep.
Jadirah took the cup away as R'axe finished it. She saw the way his hands twitched and he grimaced, and moved by compassion, she reached up to take his hand in hers and hold it as he drifted off. Even though she had other patients and duties, she lingered there until she was assured he was asleep.
Last updated on the September 23rd 2019