Nothing To Do But Wait
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Bree, Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th August 2006
Characters: M'galec, Abrei, Tsaera
Description: M'galec tells Abrei and Tsaera that U'val is stable, but still unconscious.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 3
Abrei arrived in the infirmary wearing a nightgown and a look so panicked it was surprising she was still upright. Her eyes jumped from person to person until she found Tsaera, and she swung her crutches around and started toward the Weyrwoman. "Tsaera, where is he?"
Tsaera rose to her feet as Abrei approached. She looked haggard, and the lines on her face were pronounced. "Jynrek's got him in one of the back rooms. He's in good hands, and there's nothing that anyone can do until he wakes up."
Her face paled at the look in Tsaera's eyes, knowing that it was serious.
She'd rarely seen the Weyrwoman shaken, but her look now... "But he's still--he's stable, isn't he?" Abrei could feel the journeymen and apprentices watching her, more than one looking ready to lunge if she started to topple. She didn't even have the heart to glare at them. Besides, she hadn't ruled out falling over yet.
"He is," M'galec answered as he emerged from the hallway leading to U'val's room. "He had an acute heart attack," he said gently, placing a hand on Abrei's shoulder both to reassure and to steady her. "He has not regained consciousness, but he is stable."
Clearing her throat, Abrei met Tsaera's eyes, trying to hold her own emotion in check. "Would you like to wait in my office with me?" she asked quietly.
"Jynrek and M'galec can speak to us there."
"All right." Tsaera didn't really care where she sat, as long as U'val was in good hands, but Abrei obviously needed to be away from gawkers in the Infirmary. To be truthful, the Weyrwoman had been about to leave, figuring that U'val would live or die without her hovering like a ninny in the hallway. And having something to do made the waiting a little easier... idle hands meant an idle mind, and hers was fixated on her old friend's fragility, and the aching loss that his absence would create.
"Thank you." Abrei gave the nearest healers a look that sent them scrambling back to their tasks before swinging around and moving toward her office with impressive speed for someone on crutches. M'galec caught an apprentice's attention and instructed him to bring them a pitcher of klah, mugs, and something strong to lace it with. Abrei might need it. He then followed the Weyrwoman and master healer into the office and closed the door.
Regretting that she'd never had reason to leave a robe in her office, Abrei pulled a blanket around her shoulders to cover her nightgown before settling into her usual chair. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking when I left--I was too upset." Not that she needed to offer an explanation, but it seemed like a better thing to do than leaping to her feet and shaking everyone in turn until someone told her what had happened.
"That's all right. No one expected you to." Tsaera reached out and gave Abrei's arm a short, tight squeeze in what she hoped came across as sympathy. "U'val and I were playing a game in my weyr when he collapsed. I summoned M'galec via Tabanirth, and the rest you know. Jynrek will do all he can."
Abrei shifted her gaze to M'galec. "How bad is it?" she asked in a quiet, steady voice. "It... is bad," the bronzerider said with an empathetic look. This on top of Talryne... "Just how bad I cannot yet say. He was unconscious when I arrived, I had to resuscitate him. His heart began again, but... I cannot hazard a guess as to when he will awaken."
"Or how much damage he will have sustained." Her voice was still steady, almost clinical. "He's lucky you got to him so quickly, then. Thank you.
Both of you."
M'galec shook his head. "It was the Weyrwoman's quick thinking to send for me that saved U'val. Trained help might not have come fast enough to reach him if she had not thought to call me directly." A general call for help would have taken time to reach the infirmary, and by the time someone could have deciphered the alarm, the bluerider would most likely have been dead.
The fact that she had thought so clearly, and had been able to push aside their differences, showed the good judgment one would expect from a Weyrwoman. It seemed only in matters involving his weyrmate that her wisdom failed her. But everyone had their flaws, even Weyrwomen.
Abrei nodded. "Could one of you please have your dragon bespeak T'voal's Myarth? He needs to know what's happening. And he'll be able to tell his mother and sister, in case they'd like to visit." The last time she'd seen U'val's daughter had been at Dragonsfall, where she was helping take care of Talryne... Closing her eyes, Abrei forced the thought from her head. She'd fall apart later. In private.
A little wrinkle appeared between Tsaera's eyebrows as she discussed Abrei's request with Tabanirth, then she nodded. "It's done," she said, but she felt sort of guilty that she hadn't thought of it earlier. Tabanirth was usually the one to remind her about the families of her riders, but the gold dragon was otherwise occupied with U'val's blue.
"Thank you." Abrei closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm her thoughts. Shards, she wanted to be _doing_ something! But there was nothing to do but wait. "I know you're busy, Tsaera," she said finally, opening her eyes again. "Would you like me to send an apprentice for you when there's news? I know that just... waiting can be hard."
Tsaera hesitated, then slowly rose to her feet. "I'm no good at doing nothing. Either send an apprentice, or contact me via Tabanirth. She'll stay with Lyolth through the night." **Or until she's no longer needed...** the implication hung heavily in the room. Abrei nodded. "I understand. Thank you again."
"You will be informed immediately if his condition should change," M'galec reassured the Weyrwoman.
"Good." Tsaera hesitated, torn about telling Abrei to do the same thing, but decided against it. **Healer, heal thyself,** she thought as she left the Infirmary. Then she wondered where she'd left her sleeping tea. There was no way that she'd be able to get through the night without it.
Last updated on the August 15th 2006