Ghosts

[B'kay]

At the use of the word "harrowing", Gaylen's eyes took on ghostly shadows. "Yes," she whispered. "I ... I am rather tired. I think I would like some food, too.... "

Suddenly, the green eyes flashed alive once more, "Food, no! Not for me ... my dragon first! Always the dragon first!" She was young again, vibrant, the rider of a fighting blue, and as she tried to stand tall, she began to topple backward, grabbing at C'lyn for support.

Alabanth, with a smooth motion long practiced, placed his head behind her and nudged her, ever so gently, upright again.

I shall eat when you and the little sister are settled. She needs food more than I do.

Gaylen looked down, stroked Memory, and shakily took a step toward the Weyr entrance.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn frowned a bit at her question of medicine, wracking his brain trying to remember if he had any. He nodded mostly to himself, remembering that he did have one small vial left, he had kept it merely as thing to help remember her by. He knew the potency wouldn't be very strong, but hopefully it would help until he could make a new batch for her. He noticed the Weyrleader's stance then, nodding to the man at his silent order. He stumbled slightly as Gaylen started to tumble, thankful for Alabanth's quick movements. "We will get you all fed Gaylen heart," he said gently, smiling softly "What ever you like, I'll even cook for you," he said in a gentle teasing tone as he began to gentle lead her into the Weyr, toward the weyr he and Greylith had chosen off of the infirmary.

[B'kay]

Gaylen breathed deeply as they entered the Weyr. A living Weyr ... the smells and sounds that met her brought feelings of familiarity, of comfort, of safety.

Tears welled up in her eyes, rolled down her cheeks. Tears of sorrow for what was, and relief, great, overwhelming, relief.

They would not die alone.

She tightened her grip on C'lyn's waist, fearful that the emotions that were swaying her would buckle her knees, but in a moment she was being safely settled onto a soft bed. Comfort. She sighed, and reached up to wipe her tears, finding that the head of her little firelizard queen was reaching up to gently brush against them as well.

"You did it, Memory, you found dragons." She kissed the little one and smiled.

"May we have food for her first, please?" she asked, looking to C'lyn, and around to see who else had followed. "And did I overhear an offer to my dragon to hunt?" I'm safe, Alabanth, you go feed before you fade, my Heart.

You are, and I shall. If Greylith would like to accompany me ... he turned his thoughts toward his long-lost weyrmate ... I would be very grateful for the companionship.

Exhaustion threatened to over take the old healer, but she closed her eyes and fought back the temptation to sleep. She must see Memory fed and settled first, take sustenance herself: "... perhaps some warm broth and a piece of fresh bread, or some other fare that would rest easy in a stomach long unused to good solid meals..." she muttered, not realizing she'd spoken aloud.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn tucked the blanket about Gaylen once she was settled onto the bed and smiled down at her "Of course we will get the brave little one fed and you too. Greylith will show Alabanth where he can hunt, I think he will like the Beast Master here," C'lyn said softly, knowing he was rambling, but not caring one bit. He made sure that she was comfortable before he set about fixing something for Memory, nodding as heard her ask for broth and bread. He nodded to one of the Weyrfolk that had peeked in curiously, sending her for the request as he set about finding the medicine vial for his dear blue rider.

"The Weyr we are at is Called Araelen and the Weyrleaders are Weyrwoman Sitareh of Queen Aviciath and you met M'kel," he explained after the two bowls of broth he had asked for arrived along with still warm fresh bread and meat rolls. He carried the tray over to the bed and sat on the edge, balancing the tray with a practiced move. He began tearing apart a meat roll into small pieces and dropping them into one of the bowls of broth to soften for little Memory "Sitareh brought forward dragon men after the thread stopped in our time. M'kel was one of the first to follow and has been the most loyal to Araelen. Do you remember L'kas of Seath? They are hear as well," he said as he opened the vial of medicine for her and held the tray for her so that she could feed Memory the softened meat roll pieces.

[B'kay]

With shaking hand, Gaylen gratefully took up a bit of the meat roll that C'lyn had softened. Little Memory opened her mouth, like a nestling waiting for its parent to drop a juicy crawler in. Teary-eyed, Gaylen fed her little friend several pieces, before the flitter closed her eyes and sighed. She began to purr softly and curled up against her human-friend's heartbeat.

"Just a little at a time, sweet thing? That's all right ... it will be here when you ask for more," she smiled up at C'lyn, "Thank you, love, I do believe she'll recover, don't you?"

The aging healer accepted the piece of bread and broth C'lyn had ordered for her. The broth was nicely hot, the bread fresh, and Gaylen ate quietly for a moment, relishing every mouthful as if it were a fine Gather feast. When the medicine was held out to her, however, its bitter, alkaline taste was almost ambrosia. She recalled disliking the taste, washing it down with something strongly flavored, trying to clear it from her mouth quickly. Now, however, it tasted like hope.

"Thank you," she whispered, "I do hope it takes affect quickly...."

She listened carefully as she ate, fighting to keep her mind moving along with the words, wishing the medicine were instant but knowing it would be at least several days before she saw a noticible difference. She nodded slightly as he said each name ... glad to remember M'kel and Sitareh, though in her mind the image of them as young weyrlings with newly hatched dragons was foremost. When C'lyn said the name of L'kas and his bronze Seath, however, the spoon paused almost of its own accord.

"Oh, yes, a fine young man, and a fine dragon ... they are here? I would love to see them again...." her happiness was shadowed, however, for once again she wondered how the others, so many others, had lived beyond her leaving ... and how they had died. "Is it long? It must be very long...." Her words came distant, the fog threatening to return with the sadness.

The herds and flocks here are plentiful and fat, the voice of Alabanth interrupted her descent, and she could feel the thick rich blood of a succulent herdbeast running down his throat as they connected. And the company is excellent. Through her dragon's eyes, an image of the lovely Greylith brought her comfort, and she smiled up at C'lyn, allowing Alabanth's contentment to interrupt her tears.

"Alabanth thanks the Weyr for the food, as well," she said softly, and allowed her eyes to range around the room, hoping the Weyrleader ... (young M'kel? Why, wasn't he just a boy?) ... had heard.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn smiled softly as he reached out to gently brush his fingers against her cheek, blinking back tears that threatened to spill "I think little Memory will be just fine," he said as he looked down at the sleeping gold. His heart nearly broke at her sad question, but was glad the moment only lasted a short time.

"As soon as I'm able I will make you some more of your medicine, I'm afraid that was the last of it I had with me," he explained as he watched her eat, feeling Greylith's joy at having her lost weyrmate back.

Greylith watched Alabanth feed, having already fed not that long ago Please eat your fill Alabanth, I do not want you fading away on me now that you have come back[/color] she told the blue as she rumbled softly to him.

C'lyn waited till Gaylen was finished eating before taking the bowl from her "You must rest dear heart," he encouraged softly "It will help the medicine work better and I will be here when you wake up and then if you're feeling up to it I can take you for a walk about the weyr," he promised, leaning down to press a tender kiss to her cheek. She might have aged a bit more then he, but the older healer still had a firm hold on his heart and that was where he would always allow it to be.

He set the tray aside and smoothed the blankets about Gaylen, settling back on the edge of the bed, humming softly more out of habit then anything as he simply looked at her, once again memorizing her face, so glad to have her back and he didn't care one wit that he might appear to be sappy in front of any one who might have followed, his tucking her in should have been a good enough hint that it was time for them to go and allow the lady her rest.

[B'kay]

With the warmth of soft blankets around her, the familiar feel of C'lyn beside her, and the connection to her dragon, who was filling his empty belly with succulent flesh and his broken heart with the renewed presence of Greylith, Gaylen sank willingly into the bed.

The slightly sleepy feeling was more than just exhaustion; it was old but familiar, and she knew that the medicine was starting to calm her brain nerves.

She smiled at C'lyn and nodded, for a moment struck strongly by the vast difference in their ages. How long had she been lost in time... ? Far too long, it seemed. But that could not be allowed to matter now. She was safe, fed, and no longer alone.

As sleep descended, the past and the present mingled together with a newly revived hope for the future, and Gaylen allowed the mixing of time to carry her into dreams.

((This sounds like a good spot to end this thread, do you think???))

[C'lyn]

((Yes it does ))