No Time

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 1st July 2013

Characters: Wirnan, Kaya
Description: Wirnan returns from his trip and brings something along with him.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 7

Wirnan

He rubbed at his eyes. It had been a long sevenday. He hadn't wanted
to be gone so long, but the issues at Hidden Meadows Hold had taken
longer than he'd expected to resolve.

He'd been on that runner now for what felt like forever. He'd had to
hole up there when the Thread came, which only delayed
his return even more. It wasn't like he was even in much of a hurry to
get home. He and Kaya had talked right after Turn's Beginning, but
things hadn't really improved before he'd left. He didn't know what to
say to her anymore or why he even still tried. She'd seemed sincere
that day, but was it just another trick of hers?

Sneezing a bit, he swiped at his nose with his jacket sleeve. It
wasn't all that proper, but he was tired and his body ached. He didn't
care anymore that he looked a mess and was wiping his nose on his
sleeve.

When he finally reached Amber Hills, he wanted to breathe a sigh of
relief, but that led to a coughing fit.

**Shardit, I don't have time for a cold,** he thought grumpily as he
dropped the runner off at the stables. He waved away the concerned
questions of the stable hand. He knew he had to look at mess, but he
didn't care. Right now all he wanted was sleep, a warm bath, clean
clothes and his bed.

He started coughing again before he pushed open the door to their
rooms. Wirnan was bleary and cold. It wasn't frigid out, but the rain
the past two days mixed with the current temperatures made it seem so
much colder than it actually was.

Kaya heard the coughing before she saw the man. She frowned as he
entered looking like death warmed over. That cough told her mounds
just by its sound. She didn't say anything, but her expression was
certainly one of displeasure. She quickly turned and moved into the
bedroom.

He saw her, and then she was gone. **Oh, shardit,** he thought
grumpily. **She can't even stand the sight of me. I should have just
stayed away.** He took off his overcoat, which was still wet from the
rain and threw it haphazardly over a chair before he sank down onto
the sofa. He'd go somewhere else. Sleep in his office again, perhaps.
Just needed to sit down for a while first to try and steady the
pounding in his head.

She emerged a few moments later, a couple of warm fluffy towels in her
arms. "Come on. Need to get you warm." A flash of another time when
he was wet and cold came to mind, but she quickly shook it out. No,
they didn't need that. Not right now. Besides, he was obviously
affected health wise and needed to rest. She threw one towel over his
shoulders. The other she kept scooped in one arm while she used her
free hand to tug him up. "I've got a hot bath running."

"Hmm?" He mumbled, already having stated to doze right there on the
couch. That led to another coughing fit. His chest hurt. His head
hurt. Everything hurt. Where was he again? He looked up at the tugging
person and blinked. Kaya? His wife? He was home. **That's good,** he
thought with a sigh, wishing she'd let him go to sleep. Her words
however stirred him. "Hot bath. It _is_ cold in here." He managed to
get up off the sofa. It took him a moment to steady himself before he
allowed her to lead him.

He was out of it, unlike that other night. No, she shouldn't think of
that. It wasn't the proper time or place and with everything going
on. Shaffit. Stupid memory. Kaya led him into the bedroom and to
the bathroom. Steam filled the room and she placed the towel to the
side. "Think you can get in on your own?"

The hot steam felt good and brought so life back to him. He started
coughing again. Leaning one hand on the way to steady himself he had
to wait until the coughing subsided before he could answer her.

"Yeah, I think so," he bent down to try and pull off his boots. The
action made him sway and he had to grip the wall again to keep from
falling over. "I can do it," he murmured quietly, though he didn't
seem to be doing anything at the moment to get those dratted boots
off. "I'll get to those," he said, still speaking out loud. He slowly
stood up and worked on his tunic instead. He did manage to untie it
and get it off over his head, but then he had to stop again as another
coughing fit wracked his body.

A hand placed gently on his back and patted it. It wouldn't do much
good for the coughing, but Kaya had always somehow felt better when
her mother had done that during any coughing illnesses she'd had. She
waited til he was done, then began to help him finish undress so he
could get into the warm water. She tried to focus on his condition
rather than his nakedness which helped a little. "Come on, let's get
you into the water."

He nodded mutely. He was definitely _not_ thinking any of the same
type of thoughts that she was. All he wanted right now was to be warm
and comfortable and for the aches of his body to go away. With her
help he settled into the warm bath. He did start to feel it's effects.
It seemed to sooth the tightness of his lungs and allow him to breath
more freely. He found, for perhaps the first time since he'd returned
home, some clarity returned to his mind.

He reached for her hand and held it, "Thank you," was all he said.

Kaya smiled and nodded. "You soak. I'll send for some soup." She
hesitated a moment, then squeezed his hand before she pulled from its
grasp. It would be good to leave him there for a while so he could
reap as much benefit from the steam as possible. She turned and left
the quarters briefly to put in a request for dinner to be delivered -
and specifically for some soup for Wirnan.

He relaxed in the tub. It _did_ make him feel better. He coughed a few
more times, but the steam did him a world of good. It wasn't long,
though, before he started to doze off.

Kaya checked in on him from time to time, but when he'd fallen asleep,
she decided it was time to get him up. Dinner would be there soon
anyway and he needed to eat. She moved inside and spoke, then shook
him when he didn't awaken right away.

He startled awake which lead to a serious of coughs. "I fell asleep
didn't I?" He wanted to go back to sleep to be honest.

"Yes. Come on, let's get you dressed. Your soup's here. It's
covered so it will keep warm." She unfolded a towel. "You'll feel
better after you get something warm in you."

He followed her commands, letting her guide him. It didn't take him
long to get dressed and have a seat to eat the soup. He still didn't
feel good, but he already felt better than he had when he'd returned.

Kaya sat down to join him. She didn't think it fair to eat something
else so she'd just gotten soup for herself. She watched him as he ate
a few bites, then remembered the tea. She took the pot and poured
some into a cup. "I made this. It should help too."

He didn't have much of an appetite, but he ate the soup nevertheless.
It tasted good.

"Thank you," he replied after finishing about half the bowl. He really
didn't feel like he wanted to finish the rest.

"Can you drink a little tea?" It would have been better if he could
have eaten more, but Kaya knew some was better than none.

"I'll try," he replied, sipping from the cup. It felt good against his
throat. He started to cough again and nearly spit up the drink. It
took a few moments before things settled down again enough for him to
drink more.

"I think I should just get some sleep. Hopefully I'll feel better in
the morning," he murmured.

Kaya nodded slowly. He had sounded better after getting out of the
bath, but he didn't sound as good now that he'd been out for a little
while. "Sleep will do you good."

"Yes, yes it will," he replied. It didn't take long before he found
himself deposited in the bed and soon fell fast asleep.

Last updated on the July 19th 2013

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