KH:: Reflective Fires And Healer Parents

Posted on Fri Oct 18th, 2024 @ 6:34pm by Theeressa & Sr Journeyman Riklan

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: MD 2 D13

The atmosphere had become calm as the evening had settled in and the new family adjusted to the changes of the last few days. Resting had not helped Theeressa settle but she smiled as she saw Laressa asleep lying across Riklan’s lap having fallen asleep reading her book and the new baby sound asleep in his arms. Theeressa slowly got to her feet to put the baby in her cot but winced at the pain that flashed through her body to remind her that she had only just given birth 3 days before. She gripped the edge of the chair that she sat on separate from the others as it was easier to stand from at the moment.

Riklan was dozing a bit as he held his daughters close. Thankfully Laressa had been thrilled to have a sister and so far the little one had been pretty content. He opened his eyes though when he heard Theeressa’s light movements. “Theer?” He asked quietly, seeing the pain spread across her face.

Theeressa grimaced and shook her head at his request for a moment. She took a deep breath and smiled painfully. “I moved wrong.” She admitted wincing. “I was coming to rescue you from our babies.” She admitted moving to grab the baby into her arms.

Riklan cringed. He had been afraid she was over doing it. “Love I'm okay but you don't look so good. Would you like some tea with herbs?” He knew a couple different herbs that would help and not harm her or the baby in any way.

The woman nodded, lifting the baby into her arms smiling at the way she looked so content. “I would appreciate that. I very much need my favorite healer.” She added, trying to soften the blow that she accepted his offer for help and admitting she was not good. “I will put our little one in her crib if you can carry the bigger one to bed.” Theeressa knew would not be able to carry Laressa up to bed right then and there.

“I think I can handle that. Then I'll get your tea made up,” he promised, scooping Laressa up in his arms. The little girl barely moved as he headed for her room. He kept an eye on Theeressa just in case. Once he had tucked Laressa in he headed out to the kitchen to get Theeressa's tea going.

Theeressa took longer settling the baby down as stairs took longer to go up and down but she soon returned to the living area and smiled at the man pottering around in the soft light. “Mari? Jessa? Ria? Lana?” She started to suggest baby names as she sat back in her chair with a wince.

Riklan glanced up from the mug he had just been pouring. It took him a second to catch on to what she was going on about. “Hmm yeah guess we should pick a name,” he grinned, bringing her the steaming mug.

“Yes. I thought we should talk about it. Thank you.” She laughed at the confused look on his face as she smelt the steaming mug.

“We really should,” he agreed.
“Meadowsweet? Comfrey? Yarrow? And something else?” She questioned only able to guess three of the undertones as she put it to the side to cool a little. A smile touched his lips. “Very good, love. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. You’ve always been good at different flavors. The other is just a little cinnamon for added flavor.”

“You use them for healing and I use them for cooking.” She nodded at the extra flavor. It made sense to make it slightly more palatable to her as she really struggled with comfrey but it was the most important detail in it to assist with tissue repairing.

“Hmm true enough,” he agreed. There were a lot of different uses for the herbs. He sat down with his own mug of tea minus all the herbs and crossed a leg over his knee. “So, back to figuring out a name for our little bundle of joy.”

Theeressa watched the man smiling. How was it that she could fall in love with this man all over again after the last couple of months of trouble when he sat there looking all put together? “Risa? Kasa?” She said mischievously thinking of the names he had thrown around when Laressa had been born.

Riklan raised a brow at her. “Are you teasing me, love?” He asked, holding his mug up to his lips. “Cause I still like both those names.”

Theeressa smiled at him. “Very much. How can you look so put together after working and having 2 children napping all over you?” she wondered, thinking about the names a little. She might have been teasing, but she did like Kasa. It was beautiful and she thought it might suit the little girl.

Riklan chuckled softly. “It's just a talent of mine,” he teased. “Comes with the Healer life. So do we need to keep thinking?” He wanted her happy with their baby’s name too.

“It’s unfair that is what it is.” She laughed wincing at the movement as she leant to get her cup and took several sips of it. “No. I like Kasa. It’s a perfect combination of our names. It did not suit Laressa but I think it was just waiting for our newest little one.”

“I didn't just give birth either,” he said gently. “I'm sure I would be a mess.” The young man grinned. “I like it as well. Lars and Kasa. Our perfect girls.”

Theeressa made several grumbling noises but nodded. He was right, she had been through a lot in the last couple of days. “Who would have thought it five turns ago that life would be so different,” Theeressa said, sounding a little reflective as she smiled at the names. Five turns ago she had been in dragon hold, unhappy trying to work out how to leave and get away and now here she was a tavern cook with an amazing husband and 2 beautiful little girls.

He bit back a chuckle knowing it wouldn’t help matters. Riklan knew she wanted to be up and moving like nothing happened. He shook his head a bit. “It is definitely crazy to think about. I never expected to meet someone like you and have such a sweet family.” He had always figured on being the loner Healer which had been okay at the time.

“How so?” The woman wondered noticing the fire was about to go out and awkwardly stood to place another log on it. “You are handsome, amazing, smart and you do not realize you are the kindest man I have ever known.” She did not want to point out how he would have found her someone eventually cause she did not want it to be anyone other than her.

He shrugged a shoulder. “Never really thought much about marriage. My work as a Healer had always been enough for me.” He quickly got to his feet to help her with the log. “You’re just being nice,” Riklan grinned. “But I like it and thank you.”

Theeressa stopped leaning over to grab a log and looked at him stunned. “I am not just being nice. You are amazing and I thanked Faranth daily for you even at the worst moments of … everything.” She whispered.

Riklan blinked at her in surprise. “You did?” He asked. He hadn't realized that. They had certainly been through a lot. “I was just glad you didn't up and leave me with all that mess happening.”

Theeressa raised an eyebrow at his surprised look. “I did not want to lose you Rik. I did not want someone else to have the love and care that you show towards me. I did not want to lose the only man who had ever wanted me to be something more.” Theeressa looked away shaking her head as she knelt awkwardly down to the hearth.

“Why don't you let me do that, love?” He offered quickly, seeing the wince and awkward way to bend. “And I didn't want to lose you. You are and will always be the only one I want in my life and in my arms.”

“So you are handsome, amazing, smart and you do not realize you are the kindest man I have ever known still applies because even at the worst moments you wanted to help me.” She reminded caressing his cheek. “My new less attractive healer said I should try and do everything that I can,” Theeressa assured quietly that she was okay to do it. “Though I might need a little help getting back up.” She admitted not having wanted to but she was trying to rely on him a little more. She set about adding a night block to keep the fire and heat going all night so that when she got up to feed Kasa in the early hours she would not be cold.

He closed his eyes briefly at her gentle touch. Shards he loved her. Even after everything he couldn't imagine life without her. “Well I might just have to have a talk with them,” he said. “Expecting my beautiful wife to do all this plus take care of Kasa.”

“Don’t you dare Rik.” She whispered shaking her head. “Why I have another healer so you do not run yourself ragged,” She reminded him watching the fire enchanted by the way the flames licked the block.

He raised a brow. “Me? And what about you? You have Kasa to look after. I can only do so much for her.” He grinned then. “Okay okay. I'll try to be good.”

Theeressa shook her head at him and lay her head on his shoulder as he came down to her level and knelt with her. “I am okay. Sore but I am okay. I felt helpless after Laressa was born. I do not want to feel like that now. I have a lot to prove to myself.” She whispered closing her eyes just feeling the warmth on her face letting her remind her of a moment from her childhood when she did the same.

Riklan slipped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her hair. “I get it. And I will try not to hover,” he promised. “I just worry.” He would do his best to let her do whatever she felt capable of.

“I know you worry just like I worry about you. But we are a team… I am looking after the little ones right now whilst you are still earning the marks until I go back to doing some cooking at the tavern again. I am okay. I am not going to break.” She assured him quietly. “I feel capable and yes I hurt in places but that is less than yesterday.” She just needed to keep taking the herbs she could that would not hurt her nursing daughter.

He nodded, knowing she was right. She was smart and knew when to stop and if it was anyone else he would be telling them the same thing her healer told her. “You're right. I'm sorry.”

“Do not keep apologising my love. You are just doing what you can for our family.” She turned to him and just smiled touching his face before leaning forward and kissing him softly. “Let’s go to bed.” She wondered slowly rising to her feet and offering him her hand.

A smile touched his lips just before she kissed him. “Yes let's go to bed,” he agreed, getting up with her and taking her offered hand.