Illness spreads like bad news, rapidly. (OPEN)

[hrsegrl]

Coughing emitted from Marisol'sweyr which made her personal drudges somewhat nervous it had been three days since the drum message from the Healer Hall had been recieved. She had sent all of them away from her the first time she coughed and made sure that they left her be. She knew how contagious it was and she wasn't going to risk them getting sick and spreading it further.

Unfortunate news somehow reached her ears. The Weyr was already dealing with epidemic numbers of ill people. They were lucky Thread was not falling. She sighed heavily, an old woman, weakened from her last illness. Marisol was a brave person, she knew the Weyr counted on her still as a figure of strength. Today she didn't feel that strong.

Though she had refused to let Q'tre near her yesterday he had come in anyway at the sound of her coughs that morning. She was no longer coughing up mucous alone. The blood spattered rags were convincing enough that she was seriously ill this time. Her weyrmate was taking care of her the only way he could, by easing her discomfort as much as possible. He too had begun to sniffle and cough but he wouldn't be taken from the love of his life, not if he was able to make the decisons to stay or go.

"Beynath, darling don't let anyone else in, no matter how they argue it..." The Gold who had up until today maintained her sheen was slightly gray and growing more and more depressing to look on. If anyone could guess it would be that Marisol must be in horrible condition if that was what Beynath looked like.

[thedreamerlady]

R'net and Reiko weren't exactly ordinary people. And when Q'tre had informed R'net about Marisol's worsening condition, R'net had come. He wasn't feeling sick, though he doubted he would remain unscathed, and Reiko, who'd been sick in the last course of the illness had shown no signs of illness. R'net supposed it had something to due with "immunity" and some of the other words the Healer he'd spoken to had bandied about. All he knew was that he wasn't about to let the closest thing he had to a mother wither away from lack of food and attention.

Bearing a bag of food, water, every type of medicine he might need, and a slightly squirming boy, R'net(who had been following the rules about congregating closely), strode to the outside opening of Marisol's almost ground level Weyr.

Beynath's graying hide was not a site he wanted to see, and made a mental note to ask Torenth to bring the elder Queen something to eat.

"Beynath, may we come in? I promise we'll stay healthy, and help your rider grow strong."

Reiko looked with impatience toward Marisol's Weyr. He was feeling good, and wanted to help Mari like she had helped him when he was sick. He remembered that.

[hrsegrl]

Q'tre sat on a chair next to the bed, holding Marisol's hand and making her drink all sorts of things prescribed by the healers. Nothing seemed to be easing the old Weyrwoman's pain. She looked tired and though her cheeks were growing somewhat sallow, she ate little. Beynath who was always in good color seemed to be showing worse as time went, so that when R'net arrived she simply answered, You may enter. She is waiting for you.

Marisol, a woman who was more than a Weyrwoman to many people at the Weyr had only a few people she insisted on seeing. Though she sent no word for anyone to visit her she knew they would come. All of them. Her son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter and great grandson.

After coughing a moment, she looked over at the entrance, waiting for two very important people to enter. "Hurry up, will you... I may not be hungry but I assure you, Q'tre hasn't been eating as he should." In fact, he was pretty much neglecting himself and making himself more susceptible to contracting the illness.

[thedreamerlady]

R'net gave a low bow to Beynath when she allowed him and his son passage into her weyr. The little boy was already trotting quickly past the Queen, wanting nothing more than to see his Great Grandmother. When he saw her laying on her bed, looking pale and sick, it was almost more than the little boy could take. His eyes grew as wide a tea cups, and he slowed down. As R'net's brisk strides caught up to him, Reiko clung to one leg. R'net wasn't quite sure what to do with the boy, awkwardly patting him on the head as he passed Q'tre the bag of long lasting foods.

"None of it's warm, I'm afraid, but it was the best I could do on short notice. I'll go grab some more when we run out."

He gave him grandmother a bow as well, looking at her with concern. It was obvious Q'tre was doing the best he could, but it wasn't good enough. R'net smiled at her, disguising his fear that this time she might not get better, before banishing the thought to the far back of his mind.

"Do you need anything, Mari? I can go anywhere, get anything, just say the word."

[brimstone81]

Elisha knew better than to go knocking at Marisol's door. She should honor the old woman's wishes of quarantine, she should do well by her Weyr and not contract the sickness by any means. But Marisol was a mother figure to Elisha, even if the older queenrider didn't know it. Elisha's mother died when she was very young, and she was then raised by a man, a dragonless scribe. Very little female influence came to Elisha until she got to the Weyr and a short time later Impressed Adeloth. She viewed Marisol like the mother she didn't have the chance to love. Well, she loved her mother, but it was a child's love. She loved Marisol for her guidance, her wisdom, her character. It seemed when she first Impressed that she'd have Marisol forever. Beynath would be around till -well forever too! She failed to recognize that Marisol was old, seventy six turns was no young chicken, even though many people lived past eighty.

And now the sickness was claiming her old mentor, her mother figure, her senior Weyrwoman, Telgar's beloved figurehead, and importantly, her friend. She had taken Marisol for granted, and you would have thought she would have learned her lesson with her father running out on them and her mother dying so young. Marisol had been immortal to her, and now mortality came crashing down upon her.

And now she found herself knocking upon Marisol's door. Adeloth told her how tarnished Beynath was looking, and in her heart, Elisha knew the end was near. The queenrider sniffled, trying to regain composer before the door was opened. If it wasn't opened, that wouldn't stop her, she'd just go in herself.

[thedreamerlady]

When the muted knocks of a hand on wood came from the front door (the very idea of Marisol's door being closed was a slap of cold water to R'net who didn't want to think of the bad possibilities that could come from this.

With the burst of energy that had struck him since seeing Mari looking pale and drawn still coursing through his body, R'net sprang to the door. With in seconds he was pulling the heavy door open to admit the Weyrwoman of Telgar.

He didn't like her policies, and was fairly sure they both knew it, but that didn't matter right now. If Elisha wished to see Mari while she was sick, he'd make sure not to bother her, and behave himself, just as Mari would have wished.

He nodded to her gravely, then returned to Mari's side with the same hyper speed, unhappy with the way things were looking to be.

[brimstone81]

Elisha made sure to wear nice clothes to see Marisol. Her pale blue and white chemise dress made little noise as she slowly approached the old weyrwoman's bed. She knelt on one side of the bed more towards the foot of it, and let her hands hang from the mattress as she looked upon her old mentor. She couldn't believe that Marisol was fading. The Weyrfolk all loved Marisol, and they didn't love her, so she needed the other queenrider. The younger queenrider had to keep it together, and she promised she wouldn't cry. Elisha tried to look as dignified as possible, so she knelt there solomnly, not sure of what to say to the woman who was her teacher and her leader.
.

[hrsegrl]

Marisol looked at Q'tre and R'net. "Gentlemen, I'd like a moment alone with Lady Elisha if you don't mind." Marisol gave both of them a strained smile, only strained because she was so tired. Though the old Queenrider had done her best to sit upright she wasn't quite as strong as she would have liked and so was propped up on some pillows.

Q'tre nodded and left to the other side of the weyr, where Beynath and Tlanth lay together. The Bronze was overly concerned for Beynath though he had no way of consoling her.

Once alone with the Weyrwoman, Marisol held her arms open, expecting the other woman to hug her. "Elisha, dear, you know I've always thought of you as one of my daughters. You look troubled dear." She hoped that the other woman was not thinking too hard on what would be done without Marisol around. After all Neory would be there to help.

[thedreamerlady]

R'net's face fell slightly- he didn't want to give up any of the time he had left with his Grandmother, but he would follow her wishes. Nodding his agreement, he took his son by the hand and followed Q'tre out.

He wondered what they had to talk about- what they needed to say in private. She'd nothing to say to him, but something to say to Elisha- a strange feeling of envy and jealousy filled his heart, but he banished it.

"R'net?" His son asked quietly. "Is Mari going to be alright?" For the first time in his short like, R'net wished his son would call his father- but that was unlikely to happen. For the most part, R'net really wasn't his father.

"I don't know, Reiko, I really don't know. I hope so though." He hugged his son, promising to make sure to see him more often- family was more important than he realized.

[brimstone81]

Elisha looked up to Marisol when she said she wished to speak to her alone. When the rest of the family left, Marisol opened her arms to Elisha, and she embraced the older woman. And then the old queenrider had called Elisha her daughter. Hot tears tumbled down her cheeks, because she knew that Marisol was in bad shape. "Oh, Marisol," And she pulled back from the other woman looking at her. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears, "I'm alright, I'm just sad to see you so sick."

It was like deja-vu for Elisha. Her mother died by sickness, when Elisha was only 13 turns old, and she had known Marisol for 13 turns as well. She knew this would end the same way. Elisha blinked, her tears had stopped, though they had left a trail on her cheeks. She said softly, knowing that Marisol wouldn't appreciate her beating around the bush with her sickness, "What will I-what will we do with out you?"

[hrsegrl]

To the question Marisol smiled. She had the feeling Elisha was worried about leading without her around. "What sort of question is that?" Marisol laughed lightly, before coughing. "You will do what every Weyrwoman has done before you. Lead the Weyr. There are always going to people who do not agree with you. There are also going to be people who support you. Remember that no matter what, you are doing what you feel will best benefit the Weyr." Marisol was somewhat saddened to see that she had made Elisha feel less than capable...perhaps she should not have taken on so much after retiring.

"You are a Goldrider. You would not have impressed to Adeloth if you were not capable of the job. A job, might I add, that you have been doing for over a Turn now. I think my dear, you need to put more faith in your capabilities." Marisol was not as great a Weyrwoman as she led everyone to believe. It was the fact that she was able to be so confident that saved her. She always acted like she knew exactly what she was doing even when she didn't.

Beynath lifted her head to nuzzle Tlanth before reaching out to her daughter, Adeloth. Yours will do fine. Help her be strong for the Weyr. They will be sad later when we leave. It was one of the few times that the dragon had thought ahead of what was happening at the moment. She knew as well as the humans did, hers was fading.

"Now where are my favorite men!" Marisol called out. "I'd like to see you all one at a time... I have special things to say to you." Mari winked at Reiko but didn't say who would go first. Even if she was tired, she refused to just lie there and die. She and Beynath had discussed earlier how things were to go.

Marivern, M'lon and Nalia (M'lon's weyrmate) had all talked to her earlier that day. Marisol knew M'lon was inconsolable, he who had been his mothers only son, was quite used to her advice. She had been there when his daughter was born, took care of her when Nalia proved to sick to. Now he had been unable to deal with what she had told him.

Marivern was also deeply affected. While she and her mother only talked on occassion, she knew that Mari had always loved her family, though unable to raise them. Her spirits dampened after her talk with Marisol, she had locked herself in her weyr, not even letting her friends in.

The only one left to visit was young Marisol, rider of green Seryth, her other grandchild. The girl was notoriously late, so Mari knew she could speak to the boys before she arrived.

[thedreamerlady]

R'net might work as an adult to turn to while sick, but Marisol would always be leading by a huge margin, and now that she was available, the little boy flung himself across the room, snuggling up next to his favorite lady(sick or not).

"Am I your favorite, Mari?" He asked earnestly, grinning hopefully. The sense of sorrow that was filling room affected even him, and he wanted to banish it the only way he knew how- making Mari smile.

R'net followed slower. He wished there was something he could do- a miracle cure, or a way of freezing time. Mari was his mother, his grandmother, the reason he had Torenth, the reason he was more than a Drudge. And from the looks of things, for the first time in his life, he'd be living without her- and he wasn't sure what to do.

He looked her over, studying her, thinking the changes that time had done to her, and decided to remember her as he'd first remembered her, from when she'd taken him under her wing long ago, with traces of red still in her hair, and a look that showed she commanded the world.

Sitting down on the bed, R'net pictured her like that, all those years ago, and tried to make peace with the fact that he would always have her memory, if little else.

[hrsegrl]

Mari did smile for her great grandson. "Of course you are my favorite and don't you forget it either. You are a very special boy Reiko." She kissed his forehead. "Beynath said I should give you something extra special today." The old woman pulled a ring off of her finger, though it was harder to take off than to put on.

"You know how Lord Holders have their own family rings? This one is one that was made for me, specially. I'm giving it to you to keep forever." The ring was made so that it could be a man's or a woman's ring. It might not fit him yet but she knew he would keep it safe. Weyrbrats always gaurded their little treasures.

"Now go see Q'tre, he wants to take you to see Beynath. Not every boy gets to touch a Gold dragon up close..."She was creating a distraction so she could be with her most favorite of them all, her grandson R'net.

"R'net, aren't you going to give me a hug?" She looked at him concerned that he should worry. These rankers, so worried about the future. She was glad not to have to have that burden anymore. "What is troubling you my boy?"

[brimstone81]

Elisha was comforted by her words, and deep inside she knew her elder's wisdom to be true. She was tired of loosing those she loved, and for over a decade, Marisol had been the only steady one in her life. Now it was time to let go, to stand on her own, and she knew it. When she called her family in, Elisha got up and exited the room quietly. She had her last respects, though she was not ashamed of her tears it wasn't until after she left the room that she sobbingly wiped them away.

Adeloth crooned upon her ledge not that far away, and replied to her golden mother, I will. The golden queen was sitting up, her head arched in the direction of her parents, Beynath and Tlanth, as if she was their unwavering sentry. Will you come sit with me, Ridermine? And Elisha nodded inaudably, and pushed herself from the wall next to Marisol's wall. She went directly to Adeloth's ledge, and sat down on the cold stone, leaning up against the warm golden body of her queen. Elisha was the Weyrwoman and she reflected on Marisol's words,l saying them over and over again so she would not forget the last piece of advice given to her by the old weyrwoman, "You will do what every Weyrwoman has done before you. Lead the Weyr. There are always going to people who do not agree with you. There are also going to be people who support you. Remember that no matter what, you are doing what you feel will best benefit the Weyr."

[thedreamerlady]

Reiko didn't want to be distracted from his Great Grandmother. He wasn't stupid, he could tell that she wanted him to go away for a few minutes, and his lower lip trembled. Then he remembered that R'net was there, and that he might need to see Mari as well, and Mari probably didn't want to ignore him for his father.

He moved over to talk to Q'tre and Beynath, who he loved almost as much as Mari. He made sure to show Q'tre the ring, and it looked quite spectacular. It was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever given him, and he would treasure it forever.

"I'm worried what I'll do without you." R'net admitted softly, and he gave his grandmother a gentle hug, and stroked her cheek.

"You've always been there for me, and I should have been there for you more." He continued. "And I want you to know that I love you." And he would continue to fight for Woman's Rights when she was gone, though he wouldn't tell her that. She'd worry if he did, and he wanted her final days- weeks hopefully to be peaceful.

"And thank you for giving Reiko the ring- I'm sure he'll treasure it always. I'll put it on a cord for him."