After the Attack

Writers: Suzee, Miriah
Date Posted: 25th May 2014

Characters: Karhal, Loella, Freyhalla, Kardein
Description: Loella finds the aftermath of Crolarin's attack
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 24 of Turn 7

Karhal

Loella

Loella had been on her way back to the house, her basket full of
ingredients for their dinner when she heard Livvie's unmistakable
attack mode. The basket fell unheeded from her arm spilling it's
contents across the path as Loelle picked up her skirts and ran toward
the house.

She was still a ways away when a man burst from the front door and
took off running toward a wagon. She thought she recognized him but
all thoughts of him were wiped away when she opened the door.

Loella screamed. Her main room was covered with blood spatter and poor
Livie lay next to Karhal on the floor.

"Karhal, _no_!"

Her core clenched in an indescribable pain but she ran to him and
tried to lever him up so she could see his face. She put fingers on
this ravaged throat but couldn't feel his heartbeat. Panic threatened
to turn her brain to jelly.

Livie whimpered, giving her tail a weak thump, but didn't rise,
determined to stay near Karhal until he rose again. She still bled
from numerous wounds and watched with soulful eyes as Loella tried to
wake her owner.

"Oh Livvie," she said as she looked at the brave canine. "I have to
get help, I have to get help." She staunched the bleeding as best she
could between the pair of them there on the floor and ignoring the
pain in her own belly got up to run out of the house.

"Help," she called as she ran toward where her inlaws were staying
during their visit. It wasn't as far as the hold or the guard house.
"Help," she called again.

Two figures appeared in the door way, one significantly taller than
the other. Kardein burst away from the door and ran to her. "Loella?
What is it? What's wrong?" The woman, only slightly taller than Loella
followed, skirts lifted up to her knees as she hurried forward.

"It's Karhal," she gasped and grabbed her middle bending over. "He's
been attacked. There's blood everywhere. Please I can't turn him
over."

Face pale, Karhal's father wasted no time in rushing to his son's
home, leaving Loella in the care of his wife. Freyhalla, though her
face was pinched with worry immediately wrapped her arms around
Loella's shoulder. "Come on." She glanced at Loella's abdomen and
swallowed roughly. "Pains?"

"Yes," she said as she watch Kardein sprint away. She finally paid
attention to the cramps gripping her and gave Freyhalla an even more
panicked look. "No," she shook her head. "I can't... I have to go tell
them... I saw him Freyhalla. It was the harper."

The older woman paled and seemed to hesitate. "You have to see the
healers, Loella...the child. " Her face was pained. "Lord Zathris can
wait."

"I have to tell them so they can catch him Freyhalla," she shook her
head. "If we don't he will just come back and try again." Loella
couldn't live in fear and she wouldn't allow another attack on her
husband.

"I'll come with you." Freyhalla offered her hand, her face pinched
with worry. "But then you're going to the infirmary."

Loella reached out to squeeze Freyhalla's arm. "I will, I promise. But
we have to hurry," She took a deep breath to muster the fortitude to
cross to the main hold like she'd just said. She was unaware of the
bloody trail her skirts left on the stones.

Freyhalla was aware and though her face was pained at the realization
of what was happening, she was also angry at why it had happened. She,
too wanted the man caught, but was torn between worry for her son and
worry for her son's wife. She knew Kardein wouldn't have allowed her
into the home if he believed Karhal...She shuddered at the thought.
No. He was fine. He had to be.

---

Shortly after they had left, Kardein emerged from the cot, helping to
hold up his son who carried a limp Livie in his arms. His throat badly
bruised, his face pale but stubbornly holding on to his bleeding
canine, they staggered towards the infirmary.

Within minutes, Loella too was carried into the infirmary moaning and
in the clutches of the contractions that would expel her child far too
soon. But her eyes rounded with surprise and joy when she saw Karhal
on his feet. "Karhal," she gasped.

Karhal saw Loella and immediately stopped at the gasped sound of his
name. Without asking and his face pained with realization, Kardein
took Livie from Karhal's arms and rushed to be treated while Karhal
stumbled forwards to his wife. His voice was hoarse as he took in the
scene. "No..sweet Faranth..no." He stumbled closer and leaned on the
bed slightly his hands clutching at the side with realization. A
sudden fury lit in his eyes, not at Loella, but at was happening and
the cause of it. He turned to the nearest healer, not taking into
consideration his weakness and yanked the man close. "Fix it! Fix it
now! Help her!"

The guard who'd carried her to the infirmary laid her on the bed then
turned to the Captain. "Sir, she saw the Harper leave your house. It
was Crolarin and we're forming up with Lord Zathris to follow him."

The healers began working on Loella to try and calm her to see if
there was anything they could do to stop her labor.

"I had to tell them Karhal," she sobbed. "I"m so sorry."

A vicious snarl twisted Karhal's face, his grey eyes flinty. His
voice, still hoarse, cut through the noise of the infirmary like a
whip. "Get me my runner." His hand clenched, the knuckles popping. It
didn't matter to him that he was injured; it didn't matter to him that
he was weak. Seeing his wife, in pain, losing their child brought
forth a rage that couldn't be quieted. He wanted to run that harper
down. "Now!" He roared the command, any semblance of careful control
and forethought gone. He reached for Loella's hand, his own shaking
in his fury. "I am going to rip his throat out."

She blew out a slow breath. She'd thought he was much worse off than
what she saw in front of her so she couldn't help but smile at him
though he looked like he was about to explode in his anger. "You're
alive," was all she could think of which was probably a silly thing to
say..

"But not well enough to go haring off to take vengeance....even if it
is richly deserved." Kardein's voice sounded as he stepped back in.
Blood soaked his chest, staining his tunic in dark splotches. Karhal
whirled on him, eyes narrowed. Kardein's gaze matched his own. "Don't
argue with me, lad. Look at your wife. She needs you here."

Karhal's jaw's tensed as he looked down at Loella and then at the
blood smearing her dress. Kardein's hand fell on Karhal's shoulder.
"I'll go with Zathris."

"Bring him back...alive." Karhal's free hand tensed and pops from his
knuckles were heard. "I want him alive." The words were bit out in a
snarl, teeth bared. Kardein nodded slowly and with the other guard,
went for the runners.

Karhal looked back down at Loella and knelt, pressing Loella's hand
against his forehead. His hands shook and his shoulders trembled as he
fully realized what was happening. What he was losing. "I'm sorry,
Loella. Shaffit...I'm sorry I couldn't..."

She was still fighting the pain of the miscarriage but nevertheless
she squeezed his fingers. "Not your fault," she squeezed out.

Last updated on the June 1st 2014

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After the Attack