Her smile is missed
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: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 8th October 2005
Characters: Karaleigh, K'deren
Description: Karaleigh checks to see how K'deren and his children are doing after Vonalie's death
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 3
Karaleigh paused outside the door of the Wingsecond. She hated the circumstances that brought her to his door, but it could not be helped.
With a sigh she lifted her hand and tapped on the door.
"Come in," called out K'deren after a moment.
The harper poked her head around the door cautiously. "Wingsecond? Is now a bad time?"
"No, no not at all." He gave a glance back inside the weyr, "Deralie is sleeping, so we will have to be quiet though."
"Yes, of course," she said quietly. These visits were always hard for her. She never quite knew what to say. "First of all, I wanted to say how deeply sorry I am for your loss. It was a terrible tradgedy."
"Thank you," he said. "It's appreciated." As always, when someone mentioned it, he felt a sharp pain, as though Vonalie were being taken from him again.
Karaleigh could see the pain in his eyes, but she had to bring it up.
"And how are the children doing?"
"Trievan's beginning to settle, I think. I do know what it's like to lose a mother, but I wasn't as young as him." He gestured Karaleigh to a seat. "My elder two, well Vonalie treated them as though they were hers. Kedon misses her, and Rondera, well I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't or couldn't open up about it."
"Yes, I had noticed that Rondera has grown a bit quiet," she said with a nodd.
"I don't want her to brood on it, but I don't quite know how to approach her either," said K'deren. "We're all going to hurt for a long time."
"Well, they are not the only children to lose loved ones. Hopefully Rondera can find an understanding friend to share her grief with. I am not _yet_ worried about her, but I hope she will start opening back up soon. I have missed her smile in the classroom."
"We've all missed her smile, and Vonalie's too," said K'deren simply.
Karaleigh look softened as she tried to meet his eye. "And how are _you_, brownrider?"
"Dealing with it as best I can," he replied. It wasn't easy, and he didn't expect it to be. "Vonalie was a part of my life for so long, and now she's gone. The healers have been great, they've made sure that there has always been someone to talk to, I've spoken to them a few times." He wasn't going to mention the night spent crying as he worked through his grief.
The harper nodded. She could not imagine the loss he was feeling.
Karaleigh had not yet had to face the loss of a person she truly loved. "I'm glad to hear that you have taken advantage of them. If you don't take care of yourself, it makes taking care of the children that much harder. But I'm happy to hear that I don't need to worry on that score. It sounds like you are doing everything you can, considering the circumstances."
"I'm just trying to do my best for all the children."
"It seems you are doing an amazing job. Not everyone who has lost a loved one can still see the pain the children are going through, they are so lost in their own grief. I think you are doing just fine." She tried to give him a reassuring smile, though smiling felt somehow wrong given the topic.
"I lost my mother myself. I can understand how they feel."
Her smile faded. "I'm very sorry to hear that. Were you young at the time?"
"I was in my teens, but I still know what they are going through," he said. "All I can do is be there for them."
"That is what they need most." Karaleigh nodded and rose to leave. She had disturbed the Wingsecond long enough. "Please let me know if I can help you in any way."
"I will do," he said after a moment or two.
"If it's all right, I might check back with you in a sevenday or so, to see how Rondera is doing."
"That would be good," said K'deren. He was about to say more, but the cry of his daughter interrupted him. "I really should go see to her." Karaleigh nodded as she walked towards the door. "Yes, of course. Thank you for your time."
"Anytime," he replied.
Last updated on the October 8th 2005