KH: Healing For The Healers

Posted on Mon May 5th, 2025 @ 4:03pm by Sr Journeyman Nikolai & Sr Journeyman Riklan

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D29

Nikolai laughed at Theeressa curled up asleep against Riklan as they all sat around the remains of the fire that they had made earlier in the day. The children were all asleep in Laressa’s room and Kassa was sound asleep in her cot with Riklan’s fire lizard practically on guarding her and Marika had gone to bed which meant the men had been left alone.

“She has been falling asleep for a candlemark or more.” He commented shaking his head.

Riklan hadn't had the heart to send Theeressa to bed. He knew she would go to bed when she was ready which apparently she wasn't yet, despite everyone else already turning in.

Riklan looked up at his brother-in-law. “She has. I would send her to bed, but she would just argue with it.”

“She looks too comfortable to be fair. And I have to admit that we have not had a catch-up in a long time.” Nikolai laughed a little and held out his jacket to the man to cover the woman with. It was still hot, but southern nights quickly got cold.

Riklan nodded his thanks and carefully placed the jacket over Theeressa to keep her from getting a chill. “She does,” he chuckled. “And I agree. Life has certainly kept us all busy.”

“How are things?” He asked gently as he leaned back on the bench and looked around the garden. It was such a lovely space that the man and his family had with plenty of grubs around to counteract threadfall.

Riklan smiled tiredly. “Good actually. Kassa is finally starting to sleep better and Theer has been feeling a lot better.” He loved his little family and the home they had made. It was something he hadn't even considered until Theeressa had walked into his life. “How bout you guys?”

“Oh we are perfect and happy and I love your sister dearly. We had considered leaving the Weyr recently with the healer schedule for senior journeymen being what they are some days.” He wondered if the man was having similar issues with his work and home balance.

Riklan smiled. He had never seen his sister so happy before. “You guys look happy.” He sighed a bit. “I get it. It's been rough here too. I don't know what is going on.”

The older man let out a breath of air and nodded. “Not entirely sure being a master healer is worth it but the Weyr is more stressful with threadfall days.” He sighed but felt the relief that he was not alone in it all.

Riklan cringed. “Yeah I know what you mean. I know I should want to move up but I don't know if I want to. I'm pulled from my family as it is. I can't imagine Threadfall for you.”

“It’s busy. A lot of it is patching riders and dragons alike up but yeah I don’t know but you have better opportunities here Rik. They ignored me and Ter at the Weyr until it was nearly too late.” Nikolai revealed sadly as he took a gulp of his drink.

Riklan blinked in surprise at his friend’s admission. “I didn't realize,” he said quietly. Shards that was awful to hear. The Weyr needed their healers.

“Why you are 25 turns and I am 30 turns and we are the same stage of our crafts.” Nikolai laughed a little. He was not bitter at all about it just offering facts around the situation. Nikolai knew he had it in him to do more and be more but he was not willing to risk his family or sanity to do it.

“Hadn't really considered that,” he admitted. But Riklan also understood what being a Master would mean. He wasn't sure he could do that to his family. “I don't think I can add more to my family.”

“Your family looks pretty sharding happy Rik.” Nikolai laughed, thinking of how he had come in that morning to the pair kissing. “I think this is the happiest I have seen you in turns.” He admitted.

Riklan flushed a bit. Nikolai had been there during his bad times as well since he was married to Marika. “We are happy. I never honestly thought I could be so happy. Which is why I don't want to chance losing that happiness.”

“Do you think that it would happen? She is a good woman, and you could have done a lot worse.” Nikolai teased just a little. Glad that they were in a good place now, enough to do that.

The younger man shook his head. “No but I don't want to be pulled from my family,” Riklan answered. “And she is the best. Sometimes i think I'm dreaming.” Theeressa and the girls were his life.

“I can pinch you if you need, check that you are not dreaming.” The man laughed. “You do not have to rise. You can settle where you are, you know.” Nikolai pointed out gently as he glanced up at the starry night. It was a truly beautiful night.

“Think I'll pass on that offer,” Riklan laughed. He nodded a bit. “You're right. I'll have to really think about it and talk to Theer.” He sighed in contentment. “What about you? Think you'll move up?”

Nikolai chuckled at the pass on his offer and quickly shook his head. “I do not think I will, to be honest. Mari and I and spoken about it all, but I am quite happy where I am for now. That might change in a few turns, but I want to try and grow my skills without leaping from one problem to another. If she wants to move up, I will support her.” He admitted.

Riklan nodded in understanding. He felt the same way. Right now he wanted to focus on his family and the skills he was still honing. He chuckled a bit. “Once upon a time I could see my ambitious sister going for Master. Now with your little ones i’m not so sure.”

“That is completely for her to decide. She has my support no matter what she chooses for her life. I suspect that your wife will do the same.” Nikolai smiled as he glanced to the woman sound asleep. “Oh, how our lives have all changed.”

Riklan didn't doubt that Nikolai would support Marika in whatever she chose just like he knew that Theeressa would support him. “They certainly have. Who would have thought we'd be husbands and fathers.”

“Not me. When I met Mari I was still reeling from not being a Dragon Rider and being a journeyman.” Nikolai admitted with a sad smile. “But I would not change any of it. By Faranth I love that woman.” He declared a little louder than he wanted to making Theeressa stirr a little.

Riklan laughed. “Mari has a way of getting into your heart,” he agreed not realizing it had been that close to Nikolai not being a rider. er. “and I had planned on just throwing myself deeper into my studies until Theer.” He whispered a couple words to her to help her settle back down. Their lives had definitely changed.

“Sorry. I can’t help myself sometimes.” He chuckled, watching the woman fall back asleep with a smile. “Rider mental health is my passio,n so I get it and why I stay at the Weyr but if she said she wanted to leave, I would. I can find another mind healer focus I am sure. Maybe maternal.” He mused. “What about you? Have you found your focus?” He wondered, knowing that the man had been struggling.

“I doubt Mari will ever want to leave. She seems to love the Weyr and you guys.” he nodded. He had known that Nikolai had chosen to go toward the mental health of healing. “Not really. I enjoy the surgeries but then being able help a little one who skinned their knee makes me smile.”

“No I think the Weyr suits her just right too.” They both had found people and friends in the Weyr to make lives together. “The healer craft always needs more general practitioners, especially ones that are willing to teach and maybe take on another apprentice one day.” Nikolai reminded with a smile.

“you all seem very happy there,” Riklan agreed. The younger man considered Nikolai's words. “Hmm that is a good idea. Maybe I'll see about that.” Riklan wouldn't mind teaching or taking on an apprentice.

“Just make sure the apprentice is an actual apprentice.” Nikolai teased just a little about Telena. It was not out of spite, just out of a shared experience between them.

Riklan groaned. “Ugg! That was bad,” he agreed. Telena had been a mistake that had nearly cost them all. “Yes, definitely a real apprentice this time.”

“You were set up. Everyone was.” Nikolai reminded him, gently holding out the bottle of ale he had brought with him from the Weyr. “But the last turn has been nice. I feel like things have been settled, and you guys just look so in love again.” Nikolai said happily.

“I know, but it's still frustrating,” he admitted, accepting the ale bottle. “Thanks,” he said, taking a swallow. Riklan smiled. “It has been. And I think we are.”

“Rik you reacted the only way you could. You stuck to your morals, and you were adamant nothing happened, and you convinced the woman lying on you that you were still the man she married. My only sadness is that when it all came out, she has spent the last few months feeling guilty… she told me earlier.” Nikolai said gently.

Riklan blinked in surprise. “I didn't know that,” he said softly, glancing down at Theeressa. He had nearly lost the woman he loved. “That was a really bad time.”

“I think this is why she has been doing all of this,” Nikolai said, smiling a little. “It was, but you are an amazing man, Rik. I am proud to call you my brother.” Nikolai sai,d knowing he was a little tipsy, but his words are just honest.

Riklan smiled down at his wife. She truly was perfect. “Shards. I never realized.” How had he missed that? He smiled at Nikolai. “Thank you and i am proud to have you as a brother as well.” Marika had picked well.

Nikolai grinned at the expression in the younger man’s face. He had it bad. “But I should get myself to bed and stop drinking. Kensi and Nika will be up early.” Nikolai laughed slowly, rising from his seat. “Do you need help?” He asked, indicating Theeressa sound asleep.

Riklan chuckled. “Yeah that is probably a good idea.” His girls would be up early too and Theeressa wouldn't be happy with him if he left her out here. “I think I can manage. Thanks.”

“Thank you for a brilliant gather,” Nikolai said looking at the house. He could hear his bed for the night calling. He squeezed the man’s shoulder.