Alone... Almost [Sama'el, Denen]

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen's hands were shaking as he reached into his bag for bandages. With bloody fingers, he held the little jar of oil up to Sama'el, silently asking for him to keep hold of it. He brushed the back of his hand across his brow, oblivious to the fact that his friend was calling for a priest, though he'd have been grateful to know. After all, he was only a novice, and these wounds were more than he'd ever faced before. He opted to tend to the wounds lining his abdomen, as they seemed the most severe. His face was pale, ashen almost, and his hands shook as he threaded the bone needle. His eyes were intense, focused. He was nervous, his emotions rushing, but it had to be tended to. Eldon couldn't be left with injuries open. He repeated his mental prayer to Rak'keli, pleading with her for guidance. He glanced up now and again, to be sure that Sam was keeping Eldon occupied, before he reached for the tiny jar of oils. They'd numb Eldon's skin and muscles where he intended to do his stitching, making it significantly less painful. The scent, too, was calming. He reached up, patting Sam's arm to get his attention, and then signed, "Rub this on the wound to his arm. It'll settle while I tend to these." He held the jar out to him, returning to his work once it was taken. Slowly, carefully, he went about stitches.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon felt a strange comfort in the almost painful squeezing on his hand. Sama'el was holding on to him, a feeling that told him he was there, watching over him like a brother. Cousins rarely had a connection like this, rarely, but thankfully, it was there for him. Eldon's teeth clenched and unclenched as if on some mechanical hinge that was more or less mobile by automation than his own will. The grinding of those teeth couldn't be good for them, but in his situation, it was likely that the grinding was overlooked, or ignored. He wasn't even aware they were sliding across each other so. He chest just hurt too damn much to care anyway. Eldon nodded as he exhaled through a small 'o' shape in his lips. His breath almost whistling as he did so. "It's bad. It's bad. I gotcha. I understand." Eldon needed to talk, even if he was mumbling, rambling, not making sense or understanding much. It kept him awake, focused yet preoccupied. "No glassbeaks. I don't want glassbeaks. The Zith..." Eldon grunted, hardly hearing Sam's remark about initiation. Surely it was some method of his cousin to keep Eldon fighting, but Eldon was more preoccupied with his assailant, his father's killer. Already the thoughts of vengeance stung his heart, heated him to the very core of his body. But he was weak. Too weak to save his father, and now too weak to save himself. Poor Sam, poor Denen, forced to take care of their friend like some helpless child. Eldon didn't even know if such a thing could be repaid. Eldon, for the first time since he somewhat returned, choked out a faint chuckle. "Eight wives? I can't even take care of myself." Eldon smiled, but still the pain was there behind his closed wincing eyes and clenching strengthless hands. Eldon opened his eyes briefly to look at Denen, hoping for some sort of reassuring look in his eyes, but he was deadly intent. Denen had a seriousness, a ferocity in his eyes that Eldon had never seen before. Perhaps this was Denen's equivalent to Eldon's easily provoked anger or rash and failed thinking when it was most important. He closed his eyes again, not sure if that face meant Denen was just 'in the zone', or perhaps the wound was worse than Sam admitted.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el nodded to Denen and held what the healer bade him hold, and when he wasn't holding anything, he was still gripping Eldon's hand, arm holding him down, or holding him together as if he were afraid that Eldon would unzip at the seams and fly apart from all the pain and anger and grief. If Eldon was 'only' a cousin, he was the closest thing Sama'el had now to a brother of the blood, and Denen was a friend close enough to become a brother when he had a pavilion to share. The healer was stitching flesh back together, but there were deeper ties being bound, he thought. He knew he had a bit of scrap leather in his pocket that he was going to use to practice with, and he thought about putting it between Eldon's teeth to keep them from splintering under the force of his jaw, bulging at the sides with the intensity of his clenching. But Eldon needed to talk, so for now they talked. "The Zith," he agreed, intuitively zeroing in on Eldon's own focus. "When you're strong again, we will find a way to take revenge. Blood for blood. Lives for lives. I need you to hold on, though, El... Hold on so you can avenge your father and your Strider. We'll do that. You and me." After all, what good was it being in the Watch if one couldn't protect one's people? And Sama'el was learning the Web. Someone would have to extend it toward the Zith territories, to warn his people against their encroachment. Why not Sam? "You and me, El. Just hold on. Fight for life. Denen will save you. I'm here." The sentiments, while true, fragmented into a sort of litany against fear. Sama'el knew that he could not fear, because it would tear him apart, and Eldon needed him to be strong. Denen needed it too. Focused as he was, it was clear that this was a challenge on the edges of his capability. He needed faith, too.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen was quiet now, and he smeared the salve about the wounds across Eldon's torso, and then, gingerly, began to stitch the flesh back together. His features were nearly expressionless, the focus in his eyes locked on his work. He was oblivious, for all intents and purposes, to the others. He couldn't hear what was being said, and was so honed in on the stitches that he was conscious of nothing else. When he'd finished, he again smeared the salve across the area, and then began winding bandages around the injuries. Only then did he turn his eyes up. "Eldon," he began, gently, but firmly. "Y-You...stay...d-d-down. Do you...under...stand me?" If he moved about, the stitches would tear open, and everything would be a mess. "D-Do not...move quickly. Do not...Do not do anyth-thing b-b-b-brave or...or stupid until...I s-s-say." His focus then turned to the injury on Eldon's arm. He began stitching there as well, quicker now, as the gash was easier to mend than a puncture wound. His eyes flashed to Sam's face for a moment, and lingered there, before returning to his work.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

As commanded, Eldon lowered his head back down to the ground. His wincing gaze was burning holes through the ceiling of the pavilion as he felt a burning sensation across his chest, which faded moments later into a cool and welcomed feeling. Then, oddly enough, tingling. The pain wasn't gone, but it was bearable. The wounds weren't healed, but they didn't drive him mad. Even though his arm was not realized to be in agony. He rolled his head to the side to glance at that bicep. The arm that he had so often thought to be well muscled, strong. It quivered in pain, the skin was smeared in reddish tint, the blood wasn't dry, but wasn't pouring any longer. He knew that it was weak, the wound was going to make sure he was pathetic in arm strength, perhaps indefinitely. Eldon bit down on his lower lip again and he groaned. The though of being weaker without hope for recovery bothered him. Still, death was worse... even if it was welcomed at that moment. "Yeah. The Zith. I need to kill him myself. When... I'm strong enough." Eldon hesitated on that last part. He didn't want to admit his weakness. What man ever did? To knowingly say 'I am pathetic' or 'vulnerable', especially in front of those he wanted to be a model for. "If I don't... I can't recover." Eldon was obviously mistaken if taken literally. His body would heal despite his emotional trauma, but to fully accept himself ever again, he would need bloodshed. It was uplifting to know that Sama'el not only supported this idea, but was willing to help make it so. "Thank you, brother." Nothing brave, nothing stupid. Eldon was wondering if Denen had heard his and Sam's discussion about the hunt for the Zith. Did he command Eldon to not fight back until he got Brokensong's permission? Or was it just now while he was trying to fix him up. Eldon would have shaken his head, but that would be disobeying his savior at that moment. He nodded slowly, not particularly enjoying being called stupid (even though he really wasn't, he felt he had been). "Sama'el, when Denen's done, whatever happens, make sure he knows I'm grateful for him. If I'm asleep or forget... or anything. Just tell him 'Thank you' for me." Eldon clenched his teeth as he felt Denen move the stitches to his arm, that was pretty painful to be blunt and honest.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el's focus was narrower than normal in the crisis situation, but he heard Denen's instructions and he held the healer's gaze when it found him, mouthing 'put him to sleep' and waiting until Denen acknowledged he had understood before smiling tightly and looking back down to his cousin-cum-brother. "We'll take some time letting you recover, letting you get strong again, and then, when they least expecting it, we will hit them out of nowhere. It will be glorious, and your father will be proud." He helped Denen maneuver Eldon's body to get the bandages where they ought to be, wishing he could do more to mend the wounded, but knowing that Denen was in his bailiwick here and that Eldon benefited more from Sama'el being there with him, keeping his mind focused and positive, than his meager skills with herbs would. "Denen knows," he assured him, "but I will make sure to remind him. I told him to give you something to sleep when he's sure you're stable. Don't fight it, all right? Sleep is the best healer of all, and I'll be here when you wake up."

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen met Sam's gaze, and he nodded silently, slipping out of the tent for a moment to gather hot water. Before he left, however, he assured them that he would be back in only a moment. It didn't take long. He borrowed a cup from an aged woman at the nearest fire, and crouched down, after filling it with the steaming liquid, to prepare a chamomile tea, sprinkling in crushed hops, which would induce sleep. This done, he returned to the tent, and sat down alongside Eldon to offer him the cup. He held it steady in turn, smiling gently. "This is going to make you sleep, Eldon," he signed. "But I will stay with you. Do you understand?" He gently stroked back Eldon's hair, and then gently helped to ease him back against the furs and into as comfortable a position as possible. "It is tea," he informed. Chamomile and hops. The chamomile will help relax and ease some of the pain, and the hops will make you sleep. I'm going to get you enough to help you sleep as long as you need."

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Sam, the leader. Eldon looked up at his younger cousin, he smiled faintly for a moment. He could see him being a strong Ankal, powerful, leading not only his own pavilion, but swaying the hearts of the entire Sapphire clan, perhaps the entire people of Drykas. Eldon's eyes closed as he whispered. "When I'm strong. I'll finally make him proud." Maybe in his dreams he would see his father's face, smiling at him, or perhaps a skull of that monster crushed between his foot, either would be pleasing. "Thank you Sama'el." Eldon drank the tea, ignoring whatever faint stinging it offered from heat. It was a pleasant feeling, just to consume something, anything. It could have been grass and felt like he was truly dining at that moment. When he woke he could probably eat a whole... cow. Eldon slowly drained the cup of tea and rested his head back down on his cot panting for a few moments as he caught his breath. Sam said the sleep was alright, Denen himself made sure it was safe. If he closed his eyes, just slept, he would return. They promised him that much, he had never been given a reason to doubt them. Despite having his eyes closed and the herbs already tickling his urge to pass out, he lay there, his head slowly rocking left and right as if he was watching children run back and forth, chasing eat other in some sort of game. "I'll make. You proud." Eldon had often felt his father wasn't pleased with him, it was foolish to think so, since he only ever talked well of Eldon. He was hard on himself, trying to be more like what his father was, what he had become in over sixty years of life, in such a short lifespan of his own. It was hard for him to accept he just wasn't ready to be his father yet. Eldon's head finally stopped rocking as a faint, almost whispered snoring echoed from his lips. Eldon probably could have slept without the aid of herbs. He was exhausted, physically tapped out. The herbs just made it that much easier, more comfortable. OOCI don't know what else to do. Eldon is just gonna snooze for now.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

END

[Mycroft]

- Eldon Sunkiss -
"Sam, please, take me home."

Experience:
Riding: +1

Lores:
Brother of the Blood
Grim Ride on His Father's Horse
A Hole that Cannot Be Filled
Newborn Into Pain
Cradled
Nascent Lust for Revenge
Survivor

- Sama'el -
"The scars will impress the ladies and you'll have eight wives to tend by midsummer..."

Experience:
Leadership: +2
Acrobatics: +1
Riding: +1
Horsemanship: +1
Rhetoric: +1

Lores:
Brother of the Blood
Showing Off for No One
Escorting His Injured Cousin Home
Finding Vanah Alone
Being an Anchor of Moral Support

- Denen Brokensong -
"Do not do anything brave or stupid until I say."

Experience:
Medicine: +5
Cooking: +2
Herbalism: +3

Lores:
Brother of the Blood
Finding Dohaina Alone
A Taste of Incredible Loss
Practicing Medicine on a Close Friend
Saving Eldon's Life

Notes: *Exhales* Oh my... what a powerful thread. As soon as I began reading it, I couldn't stop. These scenes are so emotional, filled with this overwhelming sense of pain and grief, but also a deep brotherly trust. Very well written, incredible story. Eldon, not a lot of experience I could give you, I'm sure you already knew that. I gave you a few extra lores. Certainly Eldon was going through a lot more than the other two boys were. Poor guy. I really enjoyed this thread.

On a lighter note: I'm beginning to realize that Sama'el is an acrobatic little monkey. Can't mount a horse like a regular man, he's got to spring onto it like a grasshopper.