Home At Last

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

Characters: Karhal, Loella
Description: Loella comes home from the infirmary.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 7

Karhal

Loella

The moment the Healers told him that his wife was ready to go back
home, Karhal wheeled the chair over to her bedside and pointed at it.
"Now you get in the chair."

"I can walk Karhal," she said with half a smile. "I didn't break my
legs." She didn't want to say what _had_ happened that would just make
her burst into tears again and she really wanted to go home.

"I didn't either, " He reminded pointedly. "Besides it's either this
or I carry you. Pick."

She looked up at him calculating her options. She knew her husband
well enough to realize exactly where this was coming from. The
stubborn set of his jaw also told her this was his 'payback' for the
way she'd gotten him home from his own brush with the healers.

"Alright," she said standing up and looking at the chair. "Carry me,"
she said with a saucy smile, and lifted her arms.

A little picture formed in her mind of her attempting to carry her
huge hunk of a husband home from the healers and she couldn't help the
giggle that escaped.

One brow tilted and only after a brief pause, Karhal scooped her up.
He didn't give her a chance to get comfortable. With a smile, he
deposited her in the chair and began pushing it, whistling softly.

But she stayed in her seat and let him push her toward the door and
then out of the healers. She had once heard that revenge was a dish
best served cold so she would simply bide her time letting him think
he'd won... for now.

When they got to the steps of their house though she simply stepped
out of the chair while it was still moving up the steps. Then she
turned to watch her husband and wait for him to open the door for her.

Satisfied for the moment, Karhal opened the door and then stopped
Loella before she could attempt to walk through it. Nudging beside the
chair with his foot, he lifted her up in his arms and carried her
across the threshold of the door. He kicked it closed behind him, then
promptly carried her to the chair to set her down. "There."

"Well thank you," she chuckled. "A kiss would be a nice welcome home."

He bent to brush his lips briefly over hers and then picked up a
blanket that had been placed over the back of the chair. He flung it
out and then tucked it around her, bending to prop her feet up on a
stool. He rose and tilted his head. "Tea?"

"Umm," she tilted an eyebrow at him still smiling. "You call that a
kiss?" Truthfully she knew what he was going through. She'd been
through it herself, but she had to make him realize at least to some
extent that she wasn't going to break. She was strong and she could
get through this. The fact that he wanted to take care of her warmed
her heart but at the same time she didn't want to be wrapped and
padded and kept away from the world. "I'd love some Tea."

"For now." He gave a gentle smile. "Perhaps more later." Karhal
bustled to the kitchen, setting the water on to boil. "I want you to
completely relax for a while."

"Alright," she sighed heavily. If he'd suffered through her incessant
hovering during his illness then she could show the same patience.
Though the thought of endless hours of 'resting' wasn't appealing to
her in the slightest. Her eyes lit on the small sweater she'd been
knitting and her chin began to tremble. She pressed fingers to the
inner corner of her eyes to try and stem the tears but it w as already
to late.

At first Karhal didn't notice the tears, but as he poured the tea and
brought it to her, they could hardly be missed. His brow furrowed as
he noticed and then followed her gaze. The sight of the little sweater
made him go still and there was a flash of rage in his eyes. It wasn't
directed at her, but at the man who he placed the blame. He hand shook
for a moment before he put down the tea. His anger would have to wait.
He looked down at Loella, picked her up carefully and then sat in the
chair with her in his lap. "Don't, sweet." He pulled her to his chest.
"We'll have another."

Her head tucked into the crook of his neck her arm went around the
other side as she clung to him. The healers had told her she could
have another but to wait a bit. But she didn't want to wait and she
couldn't replace their little boy with another child. "We have to name
him Karhal. Please," she said into the side of his neck.

His eyes closed at her pain and he felt the fury at Crolarin build in
him to a fever point. He swallowed it again, vowing silently that he
would see the man dead for the pain he had caused. Karhal took several
long breaths, his arms tightening around Loella. "What name, sweet?"

She''d thought and thought and only one name seemed to fit her little
unborn love. "Karlo," she said softly. She'd never held him once he'd
been born, never seen him but she held him in her heart with the love
she held for his father. "Can we call him that when we talk of him?"
That was the name she wanted on his tiny grave. "Karlo," she whispered
again

"It's a good name." He stroked her hair from her face and pressed his
lips to her brow. "A perfect name for him." He continued stroking her
hair as he stared at the fireplace. Guilt and anger warred through
him. Guilt and not being able to stop the inevitable and anger that
Crolarin was still free. His eyes narrowed to half slits. He would
find him, drag him before Lord Zathris and bloody him.

"I love you," she said and held on tight until the teapot whistled.

Last updated on the June 26th 2014

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