Stay Safe

Writers: Mirren, Suzee
Date Posted: 16th March 2012

Characters: Arippa, Alivya
Description: Alivya gets hurt and rescued
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 12 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Chupsin

Arippa

Alivya was sure everyone was looking at her, condemning her for what
she'd done with Chupsin. How could they not just look at her and know?
Surely her shame was written all over her face? Every chance she got,
she found an excuse to be alone. She'd walked off from the hold that
morning, saying she needed to find some cold weather tubers which grew
in the far fields, under the trees. Her siblings were with the harper
so no one questioned her chore.

She wove her way through the fields, careful not to step on anything
that would grow in spring. The further she went, the more alone she
felt. Her eyes began to water, which clouded her vision and stopped
her from seeing the hole until it tripped her, catching and badly
twisting her ankle and bringing her painfully to her knees.

Arippa sat atop her runner with the ease of long practice as they
cantered through the fields. Of course her father had sent a groom
along as he normally did but she led him by quite a ways. Her mount
was much faster and he struggled to keep up.

As they came over a small rise her runner shied and reared. "Whoa,"
she called and clung to the mare. She steadied her and patted the dark
neck as she scanned the ground for whatever could have startled her.
That's when she saw the young woman on the ground. "Are you alright,"
she called.

Alivya tried to get to her feet from a very undignified position but
her ankle wouldn't hold. Instead she fell backwards onto her backside.
Her eyes watered with pain. "I don't think so," she replied with as
much dignity as she could muster.

"Oh no," Arippa pulled her knee from the hook and foot from the
stirrup and slid off her mount. She crouched by the other woman. "Let
me see."

Alivya held her ankle up a little. It was red and starting to swell a
little. "It hurts," she winced, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Oh my," she said and knelt in the snow. "We have to get you up." She
looked around as her groom finally came trotting up and slid down.

"What happened Miss Arippa?"

"This young woman has hurt her ankle. We have to get her out of the
snow and to the healers."

Alivya looked suddenly panicked. "Oh no, it's not that bad..." she had
no idea which girl her rescuer was. "I...I can stand, really!" Chupsin
had told her to stay away for a month and that's what she'd do!

Arippa almost didn't hear what the young woman had to say, instead she
just took over. "Put her on your runner Lethan," she commanded. "We'll
take her back to the hold." The young groom scooped her up
effortlessly and had her on the back of his runner and began leading
them slowly back toward the main hold. "If Master Miranek isn't
available to care for you I'm sure Journeyman Chupsin will be able to
check it out."

"I'm fin..." Alivya didn't finish because she found herself swept up
and onto the back of the runner. Under any other circumstances it
would have been a great adventure. Under these, she was scared. Scared
of what Chupsin would say. Scared that her guilt would be obvious and
they would guess why. She huddled down as small as she could and hoped
the Master would be in.

"You should be ok soon," Arippa mistook the girls evident unhappy mood
with pain. "I'm just glad we found you."

Alivya smiled wanly. "It feels better already, really..." but didn't
think they were listening.

"Is your home closer? We could get you there and send for the healer."
Now that she'd thought about it, that might make more sense.

"Oh yes! My mother can care for me!" That was a good idea. "it's just
the first cot around the bend. "But... She will insist you come in for
klah or a meal..."

"Ok, lets go there then." She smiled and shook her head. "Oh don't
worry." She didn't want the girl so obviously relieved to be going
home to worry about her reaction to her mother

Alivya was so relieved it showed clearly on her face. At least she
didn't have to worry about them knowing why now. "It's just here" she
pointed. She looked down. In spite of saying she felt better, she was
going to need help getting down.

The young groom reached up to lift the young woman down and Arippa
couldn't help biting her lips in amusement. The girl was all about her
hurt and the young man couldn't keep his eyes off her. She slid off
her mount again and grabbed the reins of the other beast while the
groom carried the girl to her door.

"I can walk, really." Alivya protested but it seemed to be falling on
deaf ears. At least she could lean over and open the door to let them
in. Inside was a table and chairs to one side and it was on a chair
that the groom placed her gently.

Arippa held the mounts until the groom came out and then she went to
the door. The girl seemed much happier here than taking her to the
main hall. "Do you want me to send the healer to you?"

"No, I'm fine really," Alivya started to say when her mother bustled in.

"Oh hello, I didn't know we had company!"

Arippa stepped inside the door and closed it to keep in the warm air.
"Hello," she said with a smile. The resemblance between the women was
strong. "You must be her mother. We found her out in the wild and
brought her home. Looks like she fell."

She looked down at her daughter and frowned but didn't ask. "Oh well
thank you for bringing her home. You both look cold, I'll get you some
klah!" She bustled off before either could say no.

Arippa grinned as the woman bustled. "You were right," she smiled at
Alivya. "You sure you'll be ok?"

Alivya put her hand on the table beside her and pushed herself to her
feet. It hurt but not as much before. "Good as new, see?" she lied.
She sat back down as her mother returned with two mugs. She handed
them out and then disappeared again.

"I'm sorry, I still don't know your name..." she said, her hands
wrapped around the mug.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she smiled. "I'm Arippa."

Alivya smiled in return. "Alivya. Do...do you often ride in the snow?"

"Well met Alivya," she nodded. "I ride all the time. My father is one
of Lord Zathris' beasthandlers. I've been riding ever since I can
remember."

"Oh, and they let a girl out riding with a man?" The words were out
before Alivya could stop them, but to her it was a valid question. Bad
things could happen when girls went out alone. She'd learnt that the
hard way!

Arippa's eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed at the question. "He's
the groom sent along for my protection. My family would never let me
ride unescorted. Is that what you're asking? My sister Faldirmme
usually rides with me but she's not feeling well today... sniffles."

Alivya shrank back in her chair a bit. "I just meant..." her cheeks
flushed pink. "Sometimes people you trust... You think you can
trust...you just have to be careful," she finished in a rush and
lowered her eyes to her klah.

Alivya's reaction set off an alarm. "Are you ok," she asked with a bit
of a frown. "Did something happen Alivya?"

Alivya glanced up, disappointed with herself for her indiscretion.
Maybe if she were smarter, she'd know to keep her mouth shut! "I'm not
allow...no, nothing." She lowered her eyes again. "I just meant things
_could_ happen," she finished weakly.

Arippa didn't really believe her but then she wasn't a friend so could't
expect a confidence. Then she had a thought. "Alivya, if something has
happened and you feel you need my help, please come to the main hold
and find me. Will you do that? You should be able to trust people and
they should _not_ take advantage of you."

Taking a sip of her now warm klah, Alivya looked up yet again. She
nodded, glad Arippa didn't seem inclined to persue the issue. She
wanted to say that it wasn't like that, that what had happened was all
her own fault for being where she shouldn't and doing what she
shouldn't. But she let the matter the matter drop and simply said
"Thank you, you've been very kind."

"Mmm, Well you take care of yourself and find me if you need
anything." She stood, "Please let your mother know I appreciated her
hospitality." Arippa went back outside and found the groom and
runners waiting. "Let's go home," she said. "I've had enough riding
for today."

Last updated on the March 21st 2012

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