Sick As A Canine

Writers: AL, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 17th April 2011

Characters: Benani, Zelanka, Zathris
Description: Zathris gets sick and Zelanka and Benani find him.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 24 of Turn 6

Benani

Zathris

Zathris had felt fine and dandy at the beginning of the day. He'd
worked through lunch and dinner though had been brought a meal thanks to that new
girl. But a couple of hours later, something wasn't quite right. His
stomach started to bother him. An hour later, it was bad enough that
he stopped working earlier than planned and began to make his way through the halls.
Something was wrong. His mouth twisted and his hand came to his
stomach as a sharp pain lanced through him. Zathris was forced to
stop and lean against a wall, shutting his eyes against it. What in
Faranth's name was going on?

Zelanka and Benani were walking and talkning across the hallway. "Is
that your husband?" she asked with alarmed tone when she noticed the
Lord Holder.

Benani turned to look "Zathris!" she yelled and ran toward where he
leaned. "What's wrong?"

Zathris lifted a hand toward his wife, as if to ward her off. Or
maybe indicate he was fine. Which he was not. "I...need to go lie
down." He managed, finally straightening and stiffly began to walk,
hoping he could make it to his quarters quickly.

"Should I get a healer?" Zelanka asked and touched his forehead to
check if he was feverish.

Knowing her husband would most likely try and tough this out she
preempted his response with a quick "Yes Please Zelanka! I will help
him to our rooms."

"I'll be fine." Zathris snapped, trying to way lay his wife's
command. Zathris wasn't feverish and he brushed Zelanka's hand away.
"I just need to lie down." Not much further. Zathris frowned and
picked up his pace. Now he needed to do something more than lie down!

"Oh not good, not good" she murmured. She ducked under his arm to try
and help him He wasn't the easiest of patients even though he was
rarely sick. She made a 'shooing' motion behind her back to Zelanka
urging her to get the healer.

Zelanka nodded at Benani and rushed to get a healer. She knew men well
enough to know when to ignore their orders. Men just didn't know what was
good for them, they needed women for that.

"Woman, let me go!" Zathris pulled away, still stronger than Benani
even if he wasn't feeling well. If anything, she was hindering his
progress. The Lord holder then literally launched into a sprint to
clamber past those few long paces to his quarters. He opened the door
and ducked inside, door slamming behind him.

Benani stood there a moment after he snapped at her and her eyes
narrowed before she snorted and lifted her skirts to trot after him.
She followed him through the door. "Zathris?" she called.

There wasn't an answer, but there was some groaning and retching and
moaning. Pain sliced through his stomach and he was upon the floor of
the bathing room, as if he were cursed with morning sickness rather
than his poor pregnant wife! It was a good thing his hair was pulled
back. That would not have been a pretty picture.

She took one look into the privy and her own stomach rebelled at the
odor. She turned around with her palm over her mouth and leaned
against the other side of the door. She bent over breathing slowly to
regain her own composure. She wished heartily for the healer to
arrive.

Zelanka was almost dragging the healer after her. She didn't bother
knocking, but ushered him right in. "Benani? Where is he?" she asked.

"My Lady, is his Lordship ill?" the healer asked.

"Yes," she managed as she looked up. "In there," she pointed across
her body into privy. Then she sidled to the chair nearby and sank into
it trying to control her own nausea.

"Are you all right, Benani?" Zelanka asked with worried tone and moved
next to her.

The healer went to knock the privy's door. His sense of smell told him
what kind of sickeness to expect.

She looked up and then at the healer as he went in. "I'm ok thank you
Zelanka," she said with a rather green smile. "I'm just... well we
haven't told anyone yet. But," she smiled and reached out to squeeze
the other woman's hand. "we're pregnant. Don't say anything yet
please. We just want to be sure it sticks you know?"

"That is great news, congratulations. You can trust me, I'm very good at
keeping secrets," Zelanaka assured her. Only Faranth knew how good!

Zathris finally emptied his stomach and heaved nothing for a few
moments before leaning his head back against the wall. "Ugh. Not
good." He murmured. This was so undignified. He glanced over to the
healer who entered and managed a small smile. "That was fast."

"Zelanka's very good at hurrying people along. Now, how are you
feeling, my lord?" the healer said with dry tone.

Benani grinned at the Headwoman, she was one of the holds greatest
assets. She hovered outside the door trying not to interfere and let
the healer do his work.

"Like there's a knife slicing through my belly. Over, and over, and over
again." Zathris tried to smile but it turned into more of a grimace as
that knife did its thing. "It's rather unpleasant."

"Let's check you out. Can you stand straight, sir, and pull off your
shirt," the healer asked and took out stethoscope from his bag.

Zathris crossed his arms over his belly, then pulled his shirt over
his head. He'd just managed to get it off before he had to turn away
and begin to heave again. Heave only it was, for he had already
emptied the contents of his stomach, he fell back once it was over,
grimacing. "This is not how I planned to spend my evening." He knew how he had _planned_ to spend it, but there was no way he was in any shape for _that_ now.

Benani was a bit worried, Zathris was almost never sick. She turned to
go into her room for his dressing gown to put on when the healer was
done. She came back with it in her hands.

"There's no sign of fever or any symptoms of infection. You either have a
stomach flu or food poisoning," The healer declared after quick but
thorough examination.

She hoped he didn't have the anything catching. Benani was torn
between running to her husband and backing away for the sake of her
child. Her eyes turned toward Zelanka.

"I feel like a dragon sat on me. Or on my stomach." Zathris declared
with an attempt at a smile, but it was weak. "It hit me rather
suddenly." He stated after a moment. "It's just been a few hours
since I ate..."

"Sounds more like food poisoning then. What exactly did you eat? I have to
find out if there are other's who ate same food getting sick," the healer
mused.

"Food poisoning? From my kitchen? We only use the best ingredients for the
food and I've taught the staff to look after the hygiene well," Zelanka
sounded indignant, like it was a personal insult. Everyone know how obsessed
she was with cleanliness and that included the kitchen and food as well.

"I didn't go to the dining hall this evening." Zathris admitted as another
pain slashed its way through his stomach. "A girl brought me some dinner.
Lyranel was her name. She said she made it herself." He took a deep
breath, let it out slowly then began to push himself to his feet. "I
think...I'm going to lie down for a while."

"Do so. Drink plenty, even if you feel it comes straight back out again.
Mild broth would be good, since it also contains salt. In these cases,
dehydration is the biggest danger," the healer advised.

"Lyranel..." Zelanka's eyes narrowed dangerously. She was going to have that
girl's hide.

Benani knew Zalanka could be counted on to provide the broth and
handle the girl who'd caused the issue. She had no desire to meddle in
her domain or step into the situation. Her only concern was Zathris
so she held her breath a moment and stepped into the room to give him
his robe.

"Yeah. Great. Drink. Broth. Bed." Zathris didn't really want to
talk, just wanted to go lie down and maybe sleep through his misery.
He stepped away and began to head toward the bedroom. Yes, lie down.
Sleep.

Benani just followed along then ran around him to sweep back the
covers then stand out of his way.

"I'll send in the broth shortly," Zelanka said, preparing to leave. And then
she would take care of that girl!

Last updated on the April 29th 2011

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Sick As A Canine