Sleep Well

Writers: Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 9th September 2007

Characters: Vaheri, Denna, Neke
Description: The woman prepare Jesten for burial
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 6, day 4 of Turn 4

In two days time they would bury Jesten, the whole family were steeling themselves for that day, but for now, despite the way they were all feeling, appearances must be maintained, at least for the passengers who were on board with them right now.

Neke bent to the task she had of washing Jesten down. Her uncle looked to be sleeping, his pallor not as obvious in his tanned, leathery skin. She worked gently, almost reverently - and in silence.

Vaheri entered the room quietly, glancing toward the bed where he lay. Satisfied that all was going as it should, she moved around the room, placing the candles, scented more strongly than any normally used onboard.

Neke glanced over at her aunt for just a moment, grateful for the light from the candles as they lent a warmer glow to the room and also to Jesten where he lay. "His clothes, has anyone chosen his clothes?" she turned and asked Vaheri, "Only, I've been removing the ones he's wearing, as I go."

"He'd have wanted to wear the ones he always put on when we entered major ports." Vaheri opened the chest at the foot of the captain's bed and took from it the clothing that was so familiar -- and yet so strange. "He lost weight after his first attack and asked that his clothes be altered to fit better. We made him a new suit instead, just like the old one, but less shoddy. He complained that it itched, but I notice that he held his head higher when we docked."

"How're they all doing?" she asked, nodding in the direction of the galley and common room further down the deck, where she had last seen the other members of the crew gathered together.

"As well as can be expected." Vaheri paused and looked down at the body lying on the bed, the face familiar, yet not so in its waxy stillness. "We've known that it could happen, and have been preparing for it, but it's still difficult to accept that he really is gone. Of course, some are taking it harder than others."

"Fog?" she asked, she had been worried for the past few sevendays about her brother, and his attachment to their uncle. "Is Tahna with him?"

The older woman nodded. "She was next to him when I came in here - not that he's talking to anyone. I think everyone else will adjust to the change fairly easily, but I'm not so sure about him."

"No, I'm not either." she began to dry her uncles cold, paper thin skin. Her mind more on thoughts of her brother and how he would handle Jesten's passing. More so than any of the others Jesten and Fog had become close these last few turns, she often wondered what their father felt about this but had never been brave enough to enquire.

Reaching out, Neke took the warm vest that Vaheri had taken out with the other clothes, and bunching it up, slipped it over her uncles head. The stiffness had left his body now, and if anyone had looked briefly, he could have been mistaken for just sleeping, apart from the pallor to his skin. His arms were easily manipulated into the sleeves, more easily than a squirming child - of which she had had plenty of experience.

"How are _you_, Vaheri?" she asked, looking up to her aunt, "Have you had any rest today at all?"

"I dozed for a while," the older woman said, pausing to touch Jesten's cheek. "I can sleep when we're finished preparing him." She looked up at her niece. "He and I were friends for so many turns that losing a little sleep isn't much of a sacrifice."

"Don't make it too much of a sacrifice, you know he wouldn't have wanted you to get ill seeing to him or the family." Neke admonished softly. She worried - about all of the older ones, not just Jesten, but her father and Vaheri as well as the other aunts and uncles. None were getting younger, and the death of Jesten would have an impact on both of them, despite their protests.

"I know my limits," Vaheri assured her, "and what I do right now is as much for me as for him. I'd rather keep working until I'm ready to sleep without thinking overmuch."

"Okay, I guess it makes sense, I'm a bit that way myself." Neke admitted. "I knew it was coming, but now..." she patted Jesten's hand, "I'm going to miss him." she could feel the heat behind her eyes and quickly dabbed at her eyes with her apron. "I think he's about ready now - don't you?" she asked her aunt as she stood upright, next to the bed.

"Yes. We're finished in here." The older woman took another look around the room. "We'll leave the candles burning for a while. The others will be stopping by to pay their respects, and I'll stop back to check that all is well."

Leaning over, Neke placed one last kiss on Jesten's cheek. "Sleep well." she murmured, before straightening up again. She turned and followed Vaheri from the room, closing the door softly behind her as she had always been wont to do when he was alive.

Last updated on the September 13th 2007

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Sleep Well