A Case of Tummy Troubles

Writers: Anaria, Suzee
Date Posted: 1st June 2011

Characters: Benani, Lyranel
Description: Ailnim is sick
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 6

Benani

Lyranel had awoken early, and checked on Ailnim before bathing and
getting dressed. The two-turn old was soundly asleep, so she took her
time, languishing for a bit in the warm waters before getting out and
dressing herself. She twirled about a few times, enjoying the way her
new skirt floated about as she moved. As the Lady Holder had directed,
she had been given new clothes by the Headwoman, befitting of her
status as an Assistant of the Lady Holder.She glanced into the mirror
quickly, noticing that her cheeks had filled out some, and that the
sadness in her eyes was beginning to fade. She looked healthy for
once. Happier.

She was interrupted from her reverie by the sound of retching from
Ailnim's bedroom. Another benefit of her new status was that since
Ailnim needed someone who could tend to him at all hours, Lyranel had
been given a room in the family wing of the Hold. She quickly ran to
the boy's room, where he was curled up in a ball beside his bed, tears
streamed down his face as he looked up at Lyranel. "Oh sweetie," she
said comfortingly, as she quickly removed the soiled linens from the
boy's cot. She put a hand to Ailnim's forehead, and found that the
child was running a fever.

"Ailnim, can you stay here a moment?" Lyranel asked, picking him up
and sat him on the couch. She rubbed his back reassuringly, and soon
his crying stopped. "Will you be ok if I go get Benani?"

Ailnim nodded, and Lyranel quickly headed off to the Lady Holder's
bedroom. "Lady Benani, Ailnim is sick," Lyranel called out after
rapping lightly on the door.

Benani had taken a few extra moments in the warm nest of her bed but
when the knock sounded on the door she swung her legs off the side of
the bed and grabbed her robe. Standing she pulled it on and tugged her
hair free of the collar. "Come on in Lyranel," she called as she
crossed to the door.

She entered quickly, her brow furrowed in concern. Urgency took
precedence over courtesy, and she didn't even bother with a proper
greeting. "I don't think it's too serious yet, he doesn't feel like
he's feverish. But he woke up later than normal today, and immediately
vomited. I got him calmed down and he's resting now, but I think we
should take him to the healers to be certain."

Benani went immediately through the door and down the hall to Ailnim's
room to find him in his bed. She leaned over and felt his forehead and
cheeks then his neck. "Sweetheart?" she pulled the crying boy into her
lap and just let him cry as she rocked. He feels a little warm to me
Lyranel.

"A little warm, yes," Lyranel agreed. "And his temperament isn't right
at all. He's normally chatty as anything when he wakes up but today I
haven't seen him try to say a single word. He was fine last night
though, he ate his supper well and he had some redfruit in the evening
for a snack."

She'd kept a close eye on Lyranel with her accident prone beginning at
the hold but this probably had nothing to do with her care of Ailnim.
The little boy was very attached to her which spoke volumes about her
care of the child. "Is there anything going around that we should be
worried about?"

"Come to think of it, one of the drudges that normally serves in the
Family Wing of the Hold was sent to bed early by one of the
Headwoman's Assistants," Lyranel said after some thought. "I don't
think that she's the only drudge that is ill right now, but she's the
only one that might have come into contact with Ailnim."

Benani sighed, they couldn't afford to overlook the possibilities
there was something more than just a childhood passing sickness going
on. "We'll have to take him to the healers. Get him into something
clean and I'll be right back."

But when she got up to leave Ailnim wailed in protest. "Ok," she said
with a smile at Lyranel. "I guess I will not be getting dressed.
Thankfully I put on a robe."

"Are you alright, m'lady, I don't want to expose you to something
while you're pregnant. Especially considering you've had some issues
keeping your lunch down as it is," Lyranel said, concerned. The last
thing she wanted was for Ailnim's illness to infect the Lady Holder.
That would be terrible!

"I'm sure I'll be fine and I'm already exposed to whatever this is."
She sighed and standing pulled the little guy up with her. "Ooof, he's
getting big." She settled him on her hip and started toward the door.
"Let's go down to the healers."

"He is getting quite tall," Lyranel added, walking alongside the Lady
Holder. "He was playing with a few of the other little ones the other
day in the Dining Hall, and he stands nearly a head taller than some
of the boys his age. I fear the next time his Da comes along he might
not even recognize him if he keeps growing like this!"

Benani smiled "He's got the heritage for it. His grandfather was very
tall. I remember being carried around on his hip just like this when I
was little. Though I very much doubt I was this heavy."

"Pardon me for saying so, m'lady, but I sincerely doubt you had thighs
like his when you were that age! The boy has a runner's legs if I do
say so. He's going to be a fast runner when he gets a bit more
coordinated," Lyranel said.

Benani laughed at that and patted a chunky thigh. "He's just good and
solid. I only hope mine are as healthy." She pushed open the healers
door and walked in.

Last updated on the June 10th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Case of Tummy Troubles