A Fate Such as Ours (Hadyn)

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The vast, beautiful oceans encircling Mizahar. The Eastern Ocean to the east and the Western Ocean to the west.

A Fate Such as Ours (Hadyn)

Postby Orion Michaels on November 6th, 2015, 3:54 am

The Sebekem Ocean
10th of Autumn
15th Bell


Everything was completely ruined.

Again.

Orion hadn't intended to get himself caught on a boat. He'd simply been called by some medical emergency involving a youth. A foolish sense of responsibilty, one developed over the past few years, had led him to leave the relative safety of Sunberth's solid ground, and put himself on the creaky planks of a merchant ship.

It was only supposed to be temporary. It was only supposed to be long enough to treat a child. Instead, Orion found himself below decks when the vessel cast away from the shore, searching for the one who had left the note at the Sunset Orphanage asking for his assistance, or at least that of a physician, as had been requested.

No one listened to his pleas to turn around. Beyond the tools of his trade, the clothing on his back, and the weapons constantly at his side thanks to Sunberth's dangers, he had nothing. Beyond that, Orion lamented leaving the children behind without so much as a goodbye. The friends he had made would just assume he ended up dead in an alleyway, and move on with their lives. But the children, some were ill, injured, and in need of his help.

When did I become so fucking soft?

The ship's captain had nearly forced Orion to steel his emotions with a litany of threats against the physician. He'd been called a stowaway, and promised a trip back into the ocean - a concept which Orion quite opposed. While not a full blown phobia, the ex-squire had developed a healthy appreciation for the dangers of the deep. Thankfully, nary was there a ship which could not use a doctor.

The ship's gentle rocking was a welcome shift from the violation thrashing which had sent him overboard the last time he sailed. A strong current pushed the ship along, assisted by a soft sea breeze. Sailors moved about the deck, experience showing in their movements. They had no issues navigating the constantly shifting floor beneath them, a feat which Orion had never been able to master.

The blue eyed warrior sat near the center of the boat, back resting against the base of a mast. His fingers were intertwined with one another, elbows placed against his knees to form a triangle on which he could rest his chin. His lids were drooped, weary from the sleep which had evaded him throughout the ordeal. Each time he drifted off, a jerk of the boat brought him to awareness.

Sighing softly, Orion tried to decide his next move, but nothing came to him. The ship was bound for Zeltiva. He wondered, would Yahal punish him? The god had direct him to Sunberth on a mission to destroy a creature of Krysus, masquerading as his ex-lover, Lyla. In the near year which he lived in the city neither had made an appearance before him. He was supposed to destroy her, with Yahal's mark to protect him and guide him. Nothing had happened. Yahal had asked that he have faith, but Orion found such a thing in short supply.

Instead, as life had forced him to do time and time again, Orion would wait and see what twist he would face next.
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Orion Michaels
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A Fate Such as Ours (Hadyn)

Postby Hadyn Skellig on November 6th, 2015, 3:43 pm

Image

"He's not getting any better," Emily reminded the weaponsmith, as if the woman was delusional and needed to be firmly set right. Blue eyes beneath raised eyebrows stared at Hadyn with expectation though the worry creeping into the girl's voice could not be masked by her attempt at solely pointing out the obvious.

"No," the brunette agreed with a reluctant shake of her head. Liam had quieted from his whining, each jolt from the ship against the wave sending the boy into a fit of shrieks. His skin was clammy and warm, his eyes a less brilliant shade of blue and he was constantly distressed. Hadyn's heart ached for him and for Emily, who could only narrate the unfortunate events back to the woman.

They'd departed Sunberth without so much of a word from the so-called physician of the orphanage. Hadyn spat a pox on the fellow as they pulled away from the city, half of her glad they were leaving the cesspit, the other half wishing they could stay just a little longer to wait on the doctor. With nothing else to do Hadyn took the children back to their small room. She hoped Liam was be well enough to get over whatever malady plagued his small body. She'd tried soothing him and giving him his favorite mashed squash but nothing could tempt the toddler.

"Is he going to die?" The girl's voice was so quiet Hadyn almost hadn't heard it. Turning away from her son the weaponsmith found Emily staring at her shoes, as if embarrassed to even ask. The immediate ire in Hadyn's chest settled as she realized the child was afraid of the answer, not the question.

"No." she replied gently, pulling the girl close to her as she sat beside the bed. Emily rested her head against Hadyn's shoulder, looking sidelong at her brother. "He'll be alright. This is hard on his little body. But he'll pull through. He's your father's son."

Emily nodded slowly, barely convinced Hadyn spoke the truth. The woman was hardly sure herself but had no intention of letting the little girl know. Giving her a reassuring squeeze Hadyn stood as the faint sound of knuckles rapping on the door caught her attention. Offering Emily a half hearted smile the weaponsmith pulled the door open to find a sailor looking both perplexed and somewhat relieved.

"Miss," he dipped his head as Hadyn canted hers. "Capt'n heard from some of the crew you'd been searchin' the city for a doctor."

"Aye," the brunette answered cautiously.

"Seems we've a stow-away. Pulled off from Sunberth with a doctor on board. Must've come on your accord."

"He's here? On the ship?"

"Aye, lady. Above deck. Bosun convinced the Capt'n 'tis in our favor to have a doctor aboard."
Hadyn was already tucking Liam in as the man spoke and peered over her shoulder at the children. "'Haps he'll take a look at the lad. Not goin' back to port anyhow."

"Thank you,"
Hadyn replied with a forced smile. She turned and leaned toward Emily, beckoning her forward. "I'm going to see to this doctor. You'll stay here an' look after your brother, yes?" The girl paused but nodded. "That's a good girl. You don't let anyone in, alright?" Another nod. "Alright."

Hadyn stood and ran a gentle hand over Emily's head before following the sailor out. She made quick work of locking the cabin door, ignoring the desire to have the doctor brought to her. She wanted to see what sort of man he was before she allowed him to treat her son in the confines of the room.

"Suppose he wasn't too thrilled with his plight," she commented as they walked through the narrow vestibule, pausing at the ship swayed.

"Dunno, Miss. Haven't seen him m'self. Capt'n bid me fetch you as you were askin' for a doctor."

"Thank you,"
Hadyn replied earnestly. Few captains would think to remember the needs of his guests, especially a woman with two (occasionally annoying) children. Following him up the rickety steps the weaponsmith noticed the sailor slowing his steps to glance at her.

"Want me to come back with you? Make sure he's what he says?" Hadyn's brows raised with the man's unexpected overture.

"No, thank you," the brunette replied, assessing the sailor as he cast a grin over his shoulder. "You've been very kind."

"Aye,"
the man shrugged it off, tilting his head to look at her as they crested the steps. "Anythin' for a lady. Travelin' alone with children? No man wit'cha. Least I could do." He fell silent for a moment as they reached the deck before smiling again. "The name's Waylon."

Hadyn merely smiled and offered a half nod as they stepped onto the deck. Having kept the children below deck upon their return from Sunberth Hadyn was relieved to feel the wind on her skin. Being the only woman aboard she was hypervigiliant, especially with Liam ill. But, she reasoned, if the doctor could see to her son perhaps they could come above deck. The ocean air might do all of them some good.

"He's yonder," Waylon indicated with his arm to the back of a man seated against the base of the mainmast. Hadyn expected her guide to depart but it seemed the deck was fairly quiet and men were milling around, leisurely tending to this and that. The sailor continue to walk the length of the deck with Hadyn in tow, cupping a hand to his mouth.

"Oy, doctor. On your feet, man. Your services are needed." Without waiting for the physician the man turned to Hadyn with a smile she realized was a bit warmer than before. "Anythin' you need, Miss. Y'be sure to ask. Capt'n'll want to know the man's worth," a jerk of the head toward the doctor, who was blocked from view by Waylon's body. "Hope he can help your boy."

"Thank you," Hadyn repeated a bit more firmly, trying to step to the side to take stock of the stowaway doctor.

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A Fate Such as Ours (Hadyn)

Postby Orion Michaels on November 12th, 2015, 3:28 am

Orion was unsure of just how long he had been sitting upon the deck. Sunberth's silhouette had long since faded from his view, leaving the physician staring listlessly over the coast. The rocking boat and salty breeze nearly brought him to illness, memories of his near demise still fresh, a long year later. That year had been anything but kind to Orion's body.

His clothing was looser, his muscles less developed. Sunberth had not lent itself to a healthy diet, one he had enjoyed for many seasons in Syliras. Food was scarce, time to hone his body even more so. He was fortunate that the rest of the city had to survive the same harsh conditions as he, or he may not have been so lucky as to survive. Yet now, once again, he found himself on a boat, faced with nothing but uncertainty.

Orion paid little mind to the people moving about the deck, ignoring the sideways, and quite annoyed, glances which were shot his way. No one liked a stowaway. Food and water were carefully planned for travels, and an unplanned body only increased the risk should something go awry. Orion knew he would have felt the same if he were in their position. Instead, he was the one causing the problems, and had nothing more than his word to offer that he was indeed a physician. They had no reason to trust him, and yet he didn't wish for a situation where he could prove his worth.

His self pitying was cut short as one of the sailor's called out to him. It didn't register at first, but a large strong hand pulling him from his seated position did enough to bring him to awareness and to his feet. "What do you want," he said sharply, brushing the hand from his shoulder. "Someone better be hurt." The sailor, Waylon, didn't acknowledge him further, instead turning to face another, his frame blocking the stranger from Orion's view.

Judging by Waylon's words, his services were indeed needed, but not by him. Rather the person accompanying him had something which he was to take care of. Orion stepped to the left of the bulky sailor to get a look at whoever it was. Tired eyes laid upon the last person he'd ever expected to see.

Hadyn Skellig, mother of their son, guardian of his daughter, and perplexer of his emotions, in the flesh.

Orion took a step back, mouth slightly agape. The ex-squire was certain his mind was playing tricks with him. She was supposed to be in Ravok with the children, not standing before him. He had made peace with never seeing her again, so what was she doing there?

He was Orion Michaels. He was meant to be unfazeable, unshakable. He should have had something witty to say. Instead, he found words only failed him, and he knew not what to do. She surely stared upon a man who looked a stranger. His clothing was ragged, stained, and worn. He hardly took the time to shave as he had in the past. There weren't enough chimes in the day, and the cold Sunberth winters led him to welcome anything to keep his warmth. Even his normally vibrant blue eyes had lost some of their luster, Orion a man beat down by life a time too many.

"Hadyn," he managed to choke out, his throat going dry.

He took a shaky step forward. Then another. And another, until the distance between them was nil and she was in his embrace. He didn't care where she was intended to be, she was here now and it was all that mattered.
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A Fate Such as Ours (Hadyn)

Postby Hadyn Skellig on November 12th, 2015, 8:38 pm

Image

Dark eyes swept past Waylon as he stared somewhat intently at her to the figure moving behind him. This was the doctor? He was slender, bordering on malnourished and his clothes looked as though they ought to fit a man of bigger stature. His hair was disheveled from both breeze and the lengthy lack of a brush and his beard masked the line of his jaw. There was a familiarity to the way he moved but she adamantly dismissed the pull of recognition as he approached. Surely her mind was playing tricks. Blue eyes. Dark hair. A straight nose leading to full lips. It could not be. She'd trained herself to ignore the recognizable traits, instead focusing on those that would make it impossible...

The man then took a step back as if someone had struck him, lips parted and eyes shadowed by a memory. Hadyn fought to keep her heartbeat steady as he opened his mouth. Her name slipped from his lips, barely audible among the cacophony of ship and sea but entirely clear to her as if they were standing in an empty room. He moved forward before she could allow herself to hope, his steps tentative and his gaze purposeful.

He sidestepped Waylon entirely, who back peddled to make way for the man whose face bore painful recognition. Hadyn for her part took her own cautious step back without a committed intention of retreating. The doctor continued forward until his arms were around her and all previous attempts at denial were banished. He may have looked different but she instantly recognized his embrace - it's familiarity increased by the limited few they'd shared. Her heart beat widely in her chest, thudding heavily enough, she was sure, for him to feel.

"O...Orion," she could scare voice his names, loud enough for him alone, as her arms returned the embrace fiercely.

This wasn't real. She had to have contracted Liam's fever and she was dreaming. He could not be here. The gods could not have played them so harshly only to bring them together again. And yet... Who gave a fuck if it was a dream? Most gave Orion back to her dead. And he was alive now. She was not so foolish to question, only to turn her face into his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. He was so changed yet so the same.

"This cannot be real," she finally reasoned against him, her voice subdued as she waited to be woken up. She held him without regard for those around them, so sure was she that this was a dream. "Don't leave."

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