Loss

Writers: Heather, AL
Date Posted: 20th July 2014
Series: The Unwanted Sister

Characters: Coran, Relea
Description: Relea and Coran deal with losing their baby
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 26 of Turn 7
Notes: Whoops! This takes place before "Dark Silhouettes"

Relea

The fellis had taken effect so quickly that one minute Relea was
writing in pain, the next she had succumbed to a slumber that didn't
allow it to disturb her. When she awoke, the sharp intensity that had
attempted to slice through her was gone. In its place was a deep ache
in her center. Relea's eyes fluttered open, the first sight that of
her husband. She didn't move, didn't attempt to communicate, simply
stared at the form across from her.

While Relea was out, Coran had moved her back to their room. He didn't
wish for her to be in the infirmary where she would be gawked at by
other workers or residents. She was tucked safely into their bed,
where Coran could see to her. Fearing that he might disturb her, Coran
had forgone lying beside of his wife in the bed, but was instead in a
chair at the foot of the bed, his feet propped up as he watched his
wife's sleeping form. The entire time she had been asleep Coran had
been playing in his mind reasons for Reven's presence in his rooms and
the fact that it was he who had brought Relea in.

Oh sure, Reven had said something about apologizing to Relea, but all
Coran could think about was that niggling voice in the back of his
mind that pointed out all of the rumors that were flying about Relea
and Reven and about how she had been pregnant with_Reven_'s child.

The holder's bastard child. And while she slept, Coran had been
studying his wife, trying to figure out if there could be any truth to
it. His wife was very quiet, figuratively aside from literally. She
did not talk to him deeply about much so it would be easy for her to
never speak about an affair, or even a night of weakness with Reven.
But would Reven really lie to him? He didn't know. All Coran knew was
that Reven's presence in_their_ rooms with Relea_alone_ was
disturbing, and he didn't like it.

"Relea," he spoke and signed as he saw her eyes open, "do you need
something? Water?"

The ache pulsated within her and the reality of what had occurred struck
her like a stone. She had never been with child before, nor was she a
healer, but within her depths, Relea knew what tragedy had taken place.
Pain a dragonweight worse than before assaulted her heart. Without
answering Coran, she burst into tears, curling up against the deluge of
sobs.

Coran moved quickly, crawling into the bed and pulling Relea into his
arms, "Shh, it's okay." He murmured against her hair.

Without hesitation, Relea melted into his embrace. As his arms and
voice tried to sooth her, the tears flowed more quickly, the sobs
intensified. Relea's fingers clutched at his tunic and she buried her
face against his chest, staining the fabric with the salty water. She
didn't try to move, and rather than pull away she dug against him, as
if by melting into him her sorrow might be quelled. Even so, she
could not stem the river of emotion that poured over her.

A good hour passed with Relea quaking in her husband's arms. Finally,
her body could do no more. The pain had taken its toll and her
despair and lament had only compound it. Eventually, she just ran out
of tears, ran out of energy and finally lay in his embrace, awake, but
silent.

Coran released a sigh as he continued stroking Relea's hair long after
she had quit crying. He had been through the loss of a child before,
and that pain was the same, but at least this time he still had his
wife, and that made it bearable.

Occasionally a sniff would escape, but for the most part, Relea
remained still. What ha she done wrong? Had she not eaten enough?
She had increased her intake to be sure the baby would get nourished.
Had she exerted herself to much? The most she'd really done was walk
around the hold and gardens, even in the chill. Had she gotten too
cold? She'd bee sure to make sure she was warm, and the days weren't
_that_ chilly. She hadn't fallen. She hadn't slammed against
anything. What had she done wrong?

There was no way for Coran to know what was running through his wife's
mind or he might have allayed some of her worries, all he could do was
hold her, and comfort her. He finally reached for her chin and turned
her face to look at him, "Are you hungry, Relea? Thirsty? What can I
do for you?"

She blinked up at him, her eyes still wet from tears, though she had
run out of any to shed. She shifted just enough to allow her to sign.
"Water, please." She was rather thirsty, but there was something
worse than thirst that ached within.

Coran rolled from the bed, leaving an indention where he had been
sitting and holding Relea for the past hour. He poured her a glass of
water and carried it to her, "Here." He reached out and curled her
fingers around the glass to make sure she would be strong enough to
hold it without spilling.

She had sat up, though not without some physical pain. She accepted
the glass and slowly sipped at the water. Her hands trembled a
little, but she didn't spill the water. A few more sips and she
passed it back to Coran and followed it with a signed, "Thank you."

"Is there anything else?" He asked again, wishing that there was more
he could do to ease her pain.

"Yes."

"Tell me." Coran signed.

"Don't leave me." Relea requested as her face twisted. She had
thought she was spent, but the water had refreshed her body enough
that as her thoughts continued to dwell upon what had happen, she
could feel the dam beginning to break once more. "Stay with me."

"Of course, sweetheart." He said, having had no intentions of going
anywhere in the first place. He crawled back onto the bed with her and
wiped her tears.

Last updated on the March 25th 2025

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Loss