Burdensome History

Writers: Anika, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 20th February 2015

Characters: Ilyssia, A'kua
Description: There's still more unburdening to be done.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 14 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Nokala

Ilyssia

It had been a stormy day, and the night wasn't much better. It really fit
his mood, since he had been out of sorts ever since he woke up. He wasn't
looking forward to going to bed, either, but staying up all night wasn't an
option. So he was pretty much stuck. It was like being back at the hold.

At least staring out at the rain was somewhat soothing. Aluka was wearing
his mother's shawl again, sitting with his back against a stone wall close
to one of the Weyr exits, knees tucked close to his chest as he huddled
over some tea he had requested from a healer. It had an acrid, medicinal
taste and smell that was all too familiar. But if he wanted to sleep
tonight, he needed it, so he took the liquid in small sips and tried not to
think too much.

Spying Aluka nestled up by the entrance, Ilyssia stopped dead in her
tracks. Last night's conversation had left her feeling somewhat uneasy
about her friend, so when a sleepy Gwynnyth had wanted to bed down early,
Ilyssia had settled her dragon and decided to check back with Aluka. It
had taken some time to find him, though. Without comment the weyrling took
a seat next to the red-haired candidate, smelling the medicinal liquid and
wondering if he had taken ill. "Feeling okay?"

Aluka didn't even question his friend's presence. He just shook his head.
"My head hurts," he said, tapping his left temple and tracing a line from
there, across his forehead, to the right temple. "All across here. It's
like knots growin' tighter and puttin' pressure behind my eyes." He
motioned with the cup. "This stuff usually makes it stop." The healer had
been surprised at how easily he was able to explain which ingredients were
needed and their very precise dosages.

"Sounds like it's something you've dealt with before," she commented
softly, carding her hands through her long hair. Where it was restday,
she'd been able to wear it loose and free instead of pulled into tight
braids. "Is it working?" she indicated the cup.

"I'd get these headaches a lot in Bex. But no, it's not quite workin' yet.
That happens after I get sick of sippin', hold my nose and chug." Aluka
tried to say it like it was funny, but it fell flat.

"Ah," Ilyssia nodded in understanding. "Me and Dyosha used to have to do
something similar to dose the little ones in the caravan. Though, that
resulted in me having some vile concoction spit all over the front of me
more than once." Something was off, of that she was certain and she really
didn't think it was just the headache, but she didn't push.

"Makes me glad I'm not that involved with the kids around here," Aluka said
with a faint chuckle. "Normally I just haveta help watch 'em while they run
about in good weather, let 'em ride on my shoulders. I've had enough of
seein' people pitch stuff up." That was said more bitterly than intended.

"Somethin' tells me you're not talkin' of a little one with a case of the
heaves," she observed with a speculative look at his acerbic tone.

Aluka nodded. "It's some of that heavy stuff I mentioned," he admitted.
"Some of it I shouldn' even talk about, but not sayin' anythin' is probably
one of the reasons why my head hurts." He leaned his head back against the
wall, closing his eyes. "If I spilled my guts here, ya wouldn' tell anyone,
right?" he asked quietly, his need for reassurance obvious.

The touch of her hand on the back of his was as soft as the brush of a
VTOL's wing, but it served to get his attention and her blue-green eyes
looked deep into blue ones offering a silent promise. "I'm _very_ good at
keeping secrets. I've had lots of practice." Someday she just might have
to share those secrets with him, but today was not that day. Today her
friend needed someone to listen and she was ready to do just that.

The tall youth met Ilyssia's stare, wondering, and let it drop. "Another
friend of mine asked me to keep a secret," he said, "and it's killin' me
'cause if I tell the person who needs to know most, it'll destroy my
friendship with her. But I feel he has a right to know, 'cause maybe he
could help somehow, but...."

He moved his hand long enough hold his nose and gulp the rest of the
medicine in two swigs. "The rest is basically my life story. I'll try to
keep it short." He took a deep breath. "Eighteen Turns ago, traders came to
minor hold Bex with a travelin' harper. He was tall, dashin', wore
flamboyant clothes, had long dark red hair and dark brown eyes. He couldn'
play, but he could sing and dance like no other. Ma was captivated, so when
he invited her to bed, she went, despite bein' engaged. Soon the caravan
rumbled off, Ma started get sick at random times of day, and everyone
guessed what happened. Her engagement was broken, her da told her he'd only
support her 'cause he had to, and I arrived soon after."

He described the holders' horrid behavior toward his mother and that she
thought she deserved it, the fights she'd have with her father, the brawls
he would get into because of being mocked or defending his mother's honor,
the way he had to force people to deal with him if he needed something, the
times he would have to help Shastia out due to her drinking, her refusal to
leave on another caravan with him, even the fact he got so lonely, he had
fooled around with a girl despite knowing she didn't care about him.

"When Ma died, her da told me by shakin' me awake and sayin' 'Shastia's
dead. I'm makin' the pyre. Get her ready.' I was so angry, and sad, and yet
so relieved. I wouldn' haveta take care of her any more. I stole a bunch of
Marks and supplies, even my gitar, and took off. When I decided I wanted to
be somewhere other than the wild, I happened across another caravan the day
after a storm. When I asked where they were headed, they said
'Dragonsfall,' so I said 'Can ya take me there? I got separated from my
friends in that storm, but we said if anythin' happened, we'd meet at
Dragonsfall,' and paid my way. But maybe I haven' left the hold after all."

Ilyssia listened intently as Aluka shared his concerns about his friend and
then his life story. How awful it must have been growing up like that! As
terrible as Dukard had been to her, he was only one man, not a Hold full of
people. Also, her mother had always endeavored to do what was best for her
- the very reason they ended up with the caravan.

When Aluka had finished she picked up his free hand and applied a firm
constant pressure to the pad of his thumb, released it suddenly and then
started to massage. It was several moments before she spoke. "Dyosha used
to do this for people who had headaches - massage their hands and feet.
Don't know why, but it helped sometimes," she explained before a heavy sigh
escaped her lips. "I wish she were here right now. She always knew just
what to say." The girl shook her head, knowing that was a pointless
lament. "Seems to me, though, that you'll have to make the choice yer ma
never could and leave it behind you, which is kinda hard 'cause it's all
trapped inside you."

Huh. He had thought rubbing one's head was the way to do it, but this did
seem to be helping. If nothing else, the touch itself was soothing.
Ilyssia's reasoning was also sound. It was good one of them had their head
on straight. "Any idea how I could?" he asked.

Giving serious consideration to the rather puzzling issue, Ilyssia
continued to gently knead her friend's hand. "Once you Impress a dragon,
they share your thoughts and feelings. Only, you have to be careful
because especially when your dragon is young, some of those thoughts and
feelings can really upset or confuse them. So you have to choose what to
focus on. That's what they've been teaching us in class. The thoughts and
feelings aren't gone, but if you think enough about other stuff it just
kind of ends up in the front. Maybe choosing to leave the Hold behind is
like that. Decide to focus on something else. Something here and now or,
I don't know something you want for your future. Maybe your music."
Ilyssia wasn't really sure if she was making any sense, even to herself.
Her friend had asked for ideas and she was trying her best to offer some,
but she was skeptical they'd prove helpful.

What did he want for the future? Aside from eventually Impressing. He'd
have to think on that. Focusing on his music was also good. He hadn't
discussed his concerns with Nokala as intended. "I'm glad you're so smart."
He gave Lys a half smile that still conveyed fondness. "Whoever took care
of your upbringin' did it right."

Ilyssia smiled. "My mum died when I was just seven, though I like to give
her some credit. Dyosha, though, she was my foster mother and a right good
one at that. She was practical and didn't tolerate nonsense but she was
kind and I tell you what _she_ was the smart one and I swear by the first
egg she knew something about just about everything."

Aluka gave a small laugh. "Well, then here's to parental figures who know
their stuff," he said, raising his empty cup. "They both did good by ya."

Last updated on the March 3rd 2015

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