Family Matters (Eira)

[Ise]

It had been a little over a week since the attack and finally things were starting to get back to normal. With no Weyrwoman at the Refuge, everything had fallen onto Emera’s shoulders. She was more then capable of handling it, but she wasn’t young anymore. Working through the night was no longer an option for the Headwoman.

All of that only made it harder to deal with the fact that Emera knew something had happened to her great niece during the attack. She had heard a few little rumors but until she heard the story from Eira herself, Emera wasn’t sure what to do about it. She had made sure Eira always had something to do in the infirmary, most of it was just busy work, something that she could get out of if she didn’t feel like it. But the Healers had told her that Eira had been there every day, taking care of the busy work before she turned to more important tasks.

Emera sent Orlai down to the infirmary to deliver a note and check to make sure Eira was there as well before the Headwoman decided that enough of the vital work had been taken care of and that she could take some time off to deal with personal things instead. She pushed herself up out of her chair, taking a few stiff steps as she realized just how long she had been sitting there. Once she got moving she felt better, though it was a sad reminder of just how old she was getting.

Entering the infirmary, Emera took a moment to speak with one of the healers, storing in the back of her mind just what kind of supplies they were starting to run low on before she was directed to where her great niece was working on one of the people who had been badly injured during the attack.
“Hello Eira, I hear you’ve been a great help here since the attack. The rest of the healer speak highly of your dedication to keep coming down here and help.”

[blue]

Even though she had Weyrling lessons again, Eira still continued to work in the infirmary with whatever bit of free time she had. The young woman was wearing herself down, but, in a way she needed it so she was able to sleep. Even though talking to R'gar and N'var had helped, talking to her Aunt was what she needed most. Still, she hadn't gone to the woman yet. Part of it was that she did not know how to bring up this particular subject to her aunt.

For now though, she just kept doing what she needed to do which was helping the healers heal those who were worse off or needed to be seen again for a check up. Siath was resting in the dragon infirmary with Joris on her back, the tunnel cat had taken to following the young green or his human around again. It was a sign things were slowly getting back to normal. Not everything was like how they were before the attack of course. Plenty who had lost loved ones were still grieving or getting used to the changed atmosphere around the weyr.

At the moment, she was working on a man who had been badly injured during the attack. She was in the middle of re-wrapping his leg after having cleaned it, applied some salve to help keep it clean and to help the wound heal just a hair faster. In the beginning it was an incredibly bad wound but, every day it was looking better. Good news for the man he would live through his injuries just fine. Eira heard her aunt walking towards her and she looked away from the mans leg. “I felt like I needed to be of some help somewhere. Having trained for so long I felt it was a good place to be outside of taking care of Siath....Really I'm honored they speak so highly of me.” She mentioned lightly as she stood up slowly, half turning to the man she smiled gently and made sure he was comfortable. Like any good doctor with excellent bedside manners really.

“There's only Siath in the dragons infirmary...Should we talk there instead Aunt Emera?” Eira asked, feeling it would be a good idea to talk elsewhere. Maybe the short walk there would give her enough time to think of a last minute way to bring up what had happened to her.

{Hope it works for you Ise!!}

[Ise]

"The Weyr always appreciates hard workers, and when they happen to be talented healers it only makes them better. I tried to talk your father into coming to the Weyr a few times. Especially after your mother died. The Weyr always has more then enough work for healers, even when we don't have emergencies like this."
The Headwoman took another look around the infirmary, letting out a little sigh at the sight of things. She hated seeing the Weyr in the kind of shape it was currently in. But things were slowly getting better. Within another week or two, things might even appear to be back to normal.

Emera glanced at her niece as she suggested they talk in the dragon infirmary. She nodded and let Eira lead the way. Under the passive mask she wore though, she wondered just how serious things were if Eira wanted to keep the conversation so private. Emera gave Siath a nod of greeting before she glanced around the dragon infirmary. She made a mental note to ask Vaylee and some of the other dragon healers to make a list of things they would need resupplied as she grabbed a chair and sat down. She sat quietly, comfortable with the silence as she waited for Eira to speak. The girl clearly had something on her mind and Emera wasn’t going to rush her.

[blue]

Eira nodded slightly. “Well, I have my father to thank to teaching all I know.” Thinking of the man, a small smile flickered across her face for a moment. “Well..You know my father...Stubborn as they come.” A light mention. “Really...I think why he didn't want to leave the cothold, or remarry for that matter, was because he still felt her there.” She didn't really know naturally, but it was her thoughts on the matter. Her head bobbed in agreement to her words. “At least things are slowly getting better.” And they'll continue to get better.

Once her aunt agreed to talk somewhere more private, she lead the way to the dragon infirmary. Siath lifted her head slightly and nodded back to Emera. Joris popped his head out from under the green's wing, yawning before curling back up underneath. ”Are you finally telling her like Nemesyth's had suggested?” Siath asked. ”I feel like I'm ready to, yes.” That was all that needed to be said to her green who shifted to get comfortable again. ”Good.” Yes, it was a good thing.

Biting her lip, Eira took a chair and sat down in between her aunt and her green. “What have you heard...Concerning me, Auntie?” She slowly asked, finding this was the best way to come across this...Particular subject. After all she needed to know what her aunt knew to confirm or deny anything. Really, the young woman had no idea why she felt it was easier to talk to N'var than to her aunt about what happened. It was weird how it worked out but, at least she had started to recover and could only continue doing so from here.

[Ise]

“Yes, your father was a stubborn man. There was never any use in trying to push him to do something. But I always made sure that he knew he was welcomed at the Weyr. He’d have more work to keep him busy and there would have been more people around your age for you to be friends with.”
She couldn’t blame him for not wanting to move though. The little village Eria and her family had lived in had been a nice one. Too small for her tastes but Emera had been born and raised in the Weyr, always surrounded by the chaos that came with the dragons and the riders. Even in her old age she couldn’t give up that excitement. Emera was well aware of the fact that she would retire from her Headwoman responsibilities only when she was dead.

Ah now they had come to the real matter at hand. A slight frown graced Emera’s features as she thought how to answer Eira’s question. Oh she had heard rumors. Gossip spread faster through the Weyr then colds did.
“I know that you left the crèche during the attack. That’s the only for sure thing I know. But I’ve heard enough rumors to guess that you were attacked by one of the Holdless. Or… worse.”

Letting out a little sigh, Emera leaned forward and took Eira’s hands, holding them tightly. This was not the first time the Headwoman had spoken to someone who had been raped, but it was the first time it had happened to her family. It was never a subject that Emera liked to deal with.
“If you’re ready to speak about it, I’m here for you Eira. As family, as a friend, whatever you need.”

[blue]

Eira nodded slightly to her aunt's words. “He knew, he wouldn't have made time to visit if he felt he wasn't or had not know.” Her earlier words she felt were very much true to why he didn't leave. Besides, Eira liked the quiet and it had taken her much time to adjust when she really had no choice but to come to the Weyr to live. Her aunt was right there was plenty to keep busy with. Even if she wasn't a Weyrling she would have plenty to do in the infirmary.

Gossip always spread fast. It was like that everywhere the young woman supposed. Her throat and mouth started to feel dry as her aunt spoke. Her leaving the creche she felt everyone knew. It was a stupid thing to do but, Eira had felt she had to find the boy at the time. She and no one else had found him, the thought he could be dead or being brainwashed by the Holdless made her sick.

A sigh left her aunt and she remained quiet. Her hands were held tight and it was a comforting gesture. As the woman spoke. Eira slowly nodded as she brought her eyes to meet Emera's face. “I left the creche looking for Tschermak as you know...” The headwoman had been there after all.

Licking her lips she was trying to figure out how to tell her when Siath put forth her own thoughts. ”My Eira, just tell her what happened to you. She will understand. I am sure of it.” Sometimes Eira felt her lifemate was an old dragon in a young dragon's body. This being one of those moments.

“I was calling for him when that..monster cornered me.” Monster. That was what that holdless 'man' was. A true man did not force himself upon a woman like that. “He asked me questions, where the golds were so I told him, that all of them were in Haven. He asked why they were there where so many had died.” Taking a deep breath, she looked away towards the infirmary for a moment. Watching healers work on the patients that happened to be in there or on salves. “I told them they were there to repopulate...” Bringing her gaze back to her aunt she felt Siath inch closer as a way of support.

“I should of worded things differently because after I said that he...He exposed me to him.” She did not want to continue it but Siath leaned in and gently nudged the small of her back. Her eyes were already watery and a tear finally escaped. “He forced himself upon me. I felt like he would have killed me once he was fully done using me.” Eira did not know if he really would have but, thankfully she would never know if he would have or not. “S'nuo found me, fought him off for the most part until two others chased the holdless off. S'nuo took me to his old weyr and after things died down he took me to the infirmary.”

Siath was more satisfied now that her's finally told her aunt. Eira had started to heal but, after this talk with her aunt would help her continue healing.