Heart of Misery
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: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 12th May 2006
Characters: Birigundi, Rigella
Description: Birigundi finds shocked Rigella after she has received some terrible news.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 8 of Turn 3
Rigella was just sitting there, staring at nothing. The food was getting cold in front of her. Even Fellis Leaf's attempts to tug her hair didn't rouse her from her apathy. "Listen, I'll catch you guys in a little bit," Birigundi said to his companions as they stumbled of in the direction of one of their rider friends weyrs to drink the night away. Waving off their protests he walked towards the healer sitting off by herself. This just didn't look good, especially after how sick her father had been. He carefully slid into the seat next to her. "Rigella? Is everything all right?" Birigundi asked softly.
"No, everything is wrong," Rigella answered with a quiet voice. Fellis Leaf left her shoulder, picked up a crumpled paper from Rigella's limp hand, and dropped it in front of the candidate. She cocked her head at Birigundi and pushed the paper closer with her nose, chirping. He obediently picked up the paper and let his eyes quickly skim it. He picked up all the important points. **Maverick's Bend... Condolences... Master Rigmor... Dead...** He sighed and gently folded the paper once again. "Oh Shards, Rigella. I am so sorry. Will you be... okay?"
"How should I know? How can I tell this to my sister?" Rigella replied with voiced dulled by pain. "I... I don't know..." Birigundi was at a loss at how to help her. He barely knew her. Shards, he didn't even know if he even _liked_ her. He was so used to her hating him. And yet, somehow he seemed to be in a position to take care of her these last few sevendays. "Is there... anything I can do for you?"
Rigella just shook her head. No one could do anything. Unless you could travel back in time and change the present.
They sat there a few more moments in silence, her staring blankly at the table, and he trying to figure out what what he could do for her. "Shall I take you home?" he finally asked quietly.
"Where's home?" Rigella asked. She was probably not making much sense. "Can I take you back to your _weyr_," Birigundi corrected.
Rigella looked her plate. She had absolutely no appetite left. "Fine," she agreed numbly. She picked up her food tray automatically and took it to the kitchen. Birigundi followed her carefully into the kitchen and grabbed a wineskin to take with them. She might need a drink, and he knew he certainly did. "Come with me, Rigella," he said gently taking her arm and guiding her towards the stairs leading to her weyr.
Something did penetrate through the fog of shock and grief. "Why do YOU always end up taking care of me?" she wondered. It was a diversion, she was trying to divert herself from what she really felt. "I'm just in the right place in the right time, I guess," he shrugged, having been wondering the same thing himself. "It just seems to work out that way is all."
Rigella couldn't find anything to say to that and fell back to her apathy.
Her silence was unnerving, and Birigundi was glad when they finally reached her door. He held it open for her as she mutely walked through.
"I don't know where the lights are..."
Rigella's hand reached out and switched on the lights without her conscious thoughts getting involved in the procedure. She stared her bed.
Curling up and pulling the cover over her felt like a thing to do. Hide from the cruel world. Birigundi watched as she did just that. **Well, shards, now what...** He couldn't just... _leave_ her like that... Leaning his back up against the edge of her bed, he sank down to the floor and popped open the wineskin, not even bothering with a glass.
"Still here? Don't drink it all by yourself," Rigella was surprised. Her voice cutting through the silence almost made him choke on his sip of wine. After carefully swallowing he said, "Well, you're hiding under your blanket, and I didn't see anyone else here in the room."
Rigella sat up and snatched the wineskin from him. She took a long swing from it. Maybe if she was drunk enough she wouldn't remember, wouldn't feel. "Just don't make yourself sick again." He slid up onto the bed beside her and leaned back against the headboard. "You might feel better for a moment, but you'd feel much worse in the morning."
"I already feel pretty wretched, but you're right, I wouldn't want to add vomiting to this..." she passed the wineskin to him. He took another swig from it. Birigundi found himself at a loss for what to say or do for her. How could _he_ of all people be any help to her? And yet, he just couldn't leave her side. Not today. Not until she told him to go. He sighed and leaned his head back against the headboard, watching her.
Rigella felt him watching her and it made her feel funny. It just added to the confusion. She took the skin again and had a long drink. Sometimes, like right now, she hated her life.
Last updated on the May 13th 2006