Weak and Cranky

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th April 2014

Characters: Karhal, Loella
Description: The Guard Captain comes home in a bad mood.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Follows: "Get in the Chair"

Karhal

Loella

Once they'd crossed the square they got to the steps in front of their
larger than normal cot. Rank being what it was, Loella was rather
proud of what she'd done with the place while he'd been laid up. At
least when she wasn't at the healers. She left him by the bottom step.

"Think you can make it up the steps," she asked. "I salted them so
they should be dry and clear of ice." There were only two steps but
she wasn't sure she had the strength.

She walked to the top and let the canines inside. It was warm and
toasty inside with their meal half done. All she had left to cook was
the steak.

"You didn't want me to walk across a straight floor but you want me to
walk up steps?" Karhal's voice was tight, still clearly displeased at
the turn of events. He had been embarrassed in front of the healers
and was still smarting from the fall. "Tell me how that makes sense."
He pushed himself off of the chair and uncharitably pushed it away.
His legs wavered but he stiffened them and carefully made it up the
steps, having to catch himself on the door frame as he came to the
entrance.

He took a breath and stepped in, the warmth soaking into his bones.
Hanging on to the wall, he had to move slowly to a chair and then sunk
into it with a barely stifled sigh.

"Of course I didn't," she smiled at him. "I wanted you home safe
without a broken head. Those steps were salted, and I don't have
enough salt to cover all the way to the healers." He was being a big
baby about the stupid chair and she didn't mean to let him keep being
a baby about it. She turned back to him with a fist on one hip and
narrowed eyes. "It makes sense because you'd have had a slippery
surface to walk on and your legs are like rubber right now. Am I
wrong?"

"The infirmary floor didn't have ice." He glared right back at her.
"And my legs are not going to get better if I have to sit in that
stupid chair!"

"You're behaving like a petulant child right now Karhal." She turned
with flashing eyes. "The healers wanted you in that chair and your
stupid pride said no. I happen to agree with the healers. So the
question is, do you want your dinner or do you want to fight?"

"Child?" He sat straighter and slowly pushed himself to a stand. "No,
you eat. I'm going to bed...like the good little invalid that I am."
Sheer pride and stubborn determination kept him upright as he wobbled
to their room and slammed the door behind him. There was a loud creak
as he fell onto the bed and lay on his back.

She waited for a moment. Then hanging her coat and Karhal's up on the
pegs made certain that all the window shutters were closed. Then she
walked to the bedroom door and opened it. "This isn't a good way to
start our marriage Karhal." She stood in the door and looked at the
fully clothed man on the bed.

"I don't intend to allow us to go to bed angry let alone completely
clothed." Her eyes started to mist and she clenched her jaw to fight
it back. It was almost like he didn't realize his illness hadn't only
affected him which was incredibly selfish.

She turned away from the door and went back to the stove to cook both
their steaks.

He didn't move, but his jaw clenched. He hated the fact that she was
right, but he hadn't wanted the members of the Hold to see him so
weakened. To be pushed around like a weakling. With Benani gone, the
people of the Hold needed to see him better, stronger. He didn't like
being weak and had never been so helpless since he was a child. He
took care of others, not the other way around. Exhausted, he closed
his eyes.

Soon she had everything prepared and went to the bedroom door once
again. "Dinner's ready," she said and turned back to the table and
pulling out her chair sat waiting.

At first a soft snore answered her. Karhal lay flat on his back, one
leg falling off of the bed along with his arm that hung at an awkward
angle. His hair had lengthened during his near month in the infirmary,
grown out from the short crop he kept it in and it lay over his brow
in light blonde strands. Her voice jostled him awake and he wearily
opened his eyes, looking at the door. He grunted, trying to sit up,
but only managed to half rise before he fell back on the bed. His
teeth gritted. It seemed that all of his strength had been taken in
his storming away to the bedroom. He let out a soft curse.

She heard the voice in the bedroom and pushed her chair back. Going
into the bedroom she walked to the small closet area and pulled
something out. "Here," she said softly bringing it to him. "This is my
fathers from when he broke his leg. He thought it might help you get
some of your strength back." She leaned the cane against the bed and
reached out to her husband. "Can I help you?"

His jaw clenched again as he looked up at her. "I'm too heavy for you
to lift. " He exhaled and fell back. "I can't even get up right now,
Loella." He hit the bed weakly. "I'm not strong enough."

"Let me get some more pillows," she said and retrieved some from
various places. "Maybe I can help you sit up so you can eat your
dinner."

He exhaled, looked at her and then his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Some strong husband I am."

Her eyes softened and she reached out to brush some blond hairs on his
forehead. "You're here, not in the ground. That's the most important
thing. You'll get strong again," she nodded. "Now let's try and sit
you up."

"But I'm useless right now." He grit through his teeth and forced
himself into a wavering half sit. "And I hate it."

"I know," she said as she quickly stuffed a pillow into the space he
made propping him up.

He looked at her and shook his head. "I'm an ass. I'm sorry, Loella. I
can't even be a proper husband to you right now. I'm supposed to be
taking care of you, not the other way around."

"And in a few months, I'll remind you of that fact." She smiled and
left the room to retrieve his dinner and place it on a tray before
returning. Then she went back for her own and brought it in to sit by
his side of the bed while they ate.

He looked at the food and leaned back against the pillows. "The
healers said it could be a while before I get my full strength back.
I'm not known for my patience." He stabbed at a tuber with his fork.

"Really," she said in a dry voice. "I hadn't noticed." Her own food
was still nice and hot and she forked a piece of the perfectly cooked
steak into her mouth chewing contentedly. Loella was happier than
she'd been in weeks to have him home and not have to stay in this
empty bed by herself any longer.

Last updated on the April 23rd 2014

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Weak and Cranky