The Apologetic Hero

Writers: Heather, AL
Date Posted: 20th July 2014
Series: The Unwanted Sister

Characters: Coran, Relea, Reven
Description: Reven goes to apologize to Relea over his behavior but gets more than he bargained for
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 26 of Turn 7
Notes: Notes *see post: "The Wounds of a Friend"*

Relea

Reven

It had been a few days since Reven's confrontation with Relea in the
hallway, and by now his guilt had nearly consumed him. Despite the
anxiety he felt about leaving his room and possibly seeing other
people, he knew that he needed to apologize to his sister-in-law. Just
because he had been a victim didn't mean he could treat others poorly.

He had finally had a glove made for his left hand, and it made his
missing finger less noticeable, which boosted his confidence a little.
Slipping out of his room, Reven made briskly for Coran's quarters. He
doubted his brother would be in as it was late enough in the morning
for him to be in the infirmary already.

Knocking on Coran and Relea's door, he jiggled it open and poked his
head inside.

Of course Coran was at the infirmary, but Relea was right there where
she usually was when she was in her quarters. The table was cleaner
than it had been that morning, two hats finished and a third started.
She'd put away everything from the others, which had helped clear room
on the table for more things. The third, unfinished hat sat upon one
of her make shift holders. It was made of fabric. A deep purple was
highlighted in light green ribbon, but that was as far as she had
gotten. She had been pondering a good portion of the morning away
with with exactly else she would do with the hat. When Reven arrived,
her back faced the door, the young woman unaware of her visitor.

Reven sighed as he saw that Relea's back was to him. He really had no
wish to enter the quarters without his brother present. Before he'd
been kidnapped rumors around the Hold about a supposed affair between
him and Relea had been rampant, and he certainly did not want to feed
_that_ rumor mill. Although, he hoped that with Relea's marriage to
Coran that some of the hype had died down. The holder drummed the
fingers of his good hand on the doorjam for a moment in indecision
before entering the room, but leaving the door open.

Coming up beside of her table, he placed his hand down on her work
station to get her attention.

The appearance of another caused Relea to still and she turned to
smile at the visitor. That smile faded when she realised who said
visitor was and her jaw tightened a little. Her eyes darted about, as
if wishing Coran were there, but the healer had his duties to attend
to. It was just the two of them. Finally, she raised her hands to
sign, "Yes, Reven?" There was no tone of voice, but even its absence
could not hide the chill beneath those words.

"I'm sorry." Reven signed with his hands, deciding that there was no
point in beating around the bush. Even if his hand signing was rusty,
the apology shown even in his eyes and the dejected posture of his
shoulders.

Relea didn't respond right away. She shifted her gaze away and down
to the table where her hand had come to rest. Her fingers spread
wide, then lifted before finally signing again. "Sorry for what,
Reven?"

"You know what." Reven signed back. He didn't know all of the sign
language words to explain any further.

"No, I don't." Relea couldn't explain why she was being so obstinate.
Maybe it was because she hadn't been feeling well all day. Maybe it was
because she had woken on the wrong side of the bed that morning. Maybe
his comment had cut her more deeply than she had realise. Whatever the
reason, she didn't feel like giving him an easy out.

Reven sighed as he snatched her stylus up from where it lay on the table.
He flung himself into the chair beside of her work station that was
presumably for customers, and began scribbling away on the little
board that she carried around.

Relea's eyes rolled upward. Faranth help her. She joined the holder,
then reached down to still his hand. She knew he wasn't as well
versed in sign as Coran. Honestly, Reven hadn't tried as hard, but he
also wasn't married to her. She knew that he understood enough for
her to sign, "Talk to me. Use words. I am not stupid. I will
understand." After all, the words that had hurt her were spoken, not
signed and she'd understood them perfectly well.

He sighed again, his thinner face partially hidden by the beard he was
working on. It really was tiring how people commented on his weight,
or lack thereof, especially since his return. "I know you are not
stupid. Far from it. You are far smarter than me, and much better
mannered as well." Reven's eyes met hers as he spoke, "I am sorry for
being rude to you in the hallway... For dismissing your help, and for
bringing up your hearing."

"It hurt." Relea admitted as she lowered hovered nearby, her hands
forming simple words slowly so he would understand. "I know I can't
hear. I don't need to be reminded that I'm broken."

"Hey," Reven reached out and touched her chin in a rare tender
gesture, "you are not the one that is broken. I am." Despite his most
manly intentions to hide his emotions he felt his bottom lip betraying
him, trembling minutely as moisture gathered in his eyes, "I fear that
I am irreparable."

"You are not." It was hard to sign slowly, but Relea wanted him to
understand so she forced herself to do it. She began to form some
other words, then paused. Her eyes danced around, and she motioned to
Reven to wait. The young woman whirled about, then hurried into her
room. She emerged a moment later with a teacup. She presented it to
Reven and once he took it, she signed, "Look."

There was nothing special about the teacup. It was a simple,
porcelain container with a handle painted white. Small dots and
etched lines attempted to create flowers, but whomever had decorated
had yet to develop the skills at the time of painting. On two sides,
hairline cracks could be seen where the cup had been broken at some
point in the past. Relea knew her explanation wouldn't be understood
if she signed, so she procured her slate and in a series of notes,
wrote, "Broken, but not irreparable. There will always be scars, but
that doesn't mean healing is impossible." Except in her case, which
was simply her state and normally she was at peace with it -
especially now that she had Coran in her life.

He looked at the teacup and understood the point, but he shook his
head, "I don't see how you are any different." Reven reached out and
touched her message board, "This, and these," he reached out and
touched her hands, "are your scars for this." His hand drifted to
touch one of her ears.

A small smile graced her lips, and Relea's hands slowly spoke for her.
"It is what it is. I've managed to cope and thrive. You can to."
The expression on his face made her realise she had to use her stylus,
so she crouched down at his feet, settling upon her knees to write it
then offer it to him.

Reven read the words and looked back to Relea, "I hope so. I don't
want to feel this way forever." Like a stranger in his own home.

"You won't." Relea assured him as her hand slipped to take his. She
made a motion and though it wasn't an official sign, the meaning of it
was obvious. Family. That was how they would get through. Together.

The man felt relieved that Relea and he were apparently on good terms
again. He had never really meant to alienate her in the first place,
"Good." He glanced toward the door, "I should go now."

Relea managed another smile and stood, her hand still warm in Reven's.
It seemed as if she might let go, when her hold upon him abruptly
tightened and her nails dug into his flesh. She held that pose,
slightly bent, gaze staring down into Reven's as if she had a sudden
thought or revelation which spurred an emotional reaction. Time froze
for a few seconds which stretched into hours, then rather than
straightening to her full height, the woman lurched forward before she
sank to her knees. Blue eyes widened, the whites of her eyes over
exposed as a throaty gasp was followed by a gutteral cry.

Reven followed her, crashing to his knees as he tried kept her from
completely collapsing onto the floor, "Relea?" He said with alarm, his
eyes roving over her as he tried to figure out what might be the cause
of her behavior. The pain on her face was evident, but he could not
fathom what was causing it. "Relea." He felt frustration rise. There
was no way for her to write anything for him to read, and she was
still clutching his hand so there were no hand signals either.

"I'm taking you to Coran." He told her, and then with no hesitation he
scooped her up. The twinge in his back and the strain in his arms
reminded him that he had spent a month being starved in a dugout in
the middle of nowhere. He'd had a couple of sevendays of good broth
and food at the Weyr, but had by no means put back on the weight and
muscle necessary. Still, adrenaline fueled him as he strode out of the
room at a quick pace, heading for the infirmary.

Another cry escaped, deep and far too heavy for the slender form
clutched in Reven's arms. For him to carry her, she'd had to let go,
but her hands tore at his shirt, attempting to find a hold in
something. A third sound was accompanied by a sob while something
warm and wet seeped into Reven's tunic.

Reven could feel something warm on his arm but he didn't dare look and
see what it was. It was taking all of his concentration and focus just
to put one foot in front of the other. Fortunately for both of them
Coran's quarters were near the infirmary. "Coran!" He called as he
burst through the swinging doors.

Coran's head snapped up as he heard his name, and his heart froze in
place as he saw Reven carrying Relea. He noted the blood on Reven's
tunic, and the obvious pain in which Relea was in, and inside he knew,
the healer in him knew. "Get her over here! Lay her down!" He barked,
moving to an examination table, "Jakken, lock the infirmary doors!" He
ordered his apprentice.

"Relea," he touched her face as Reven laid her on the table, "Relea.
Tell me what happened." He signed, trying to stay calm so that his
hand signals would work properly.

Relea had to release Reven in order to attempt a sign. She managed to
flail out a 'pain' before another sob escaped while pain made her
writhe. Upon the light blue dress that adorned her, the blood stain
deepened and spread.

Coran was still angry with Reven over what the man had said to Relea
the other day, and so he planted his hand in the middle of his
brother's chest and shoved him backward, "Get out!"

"Coran I -"

"Now!" Coran reached up and pulled the curtain around the table,
effectively blocking Reven from view.

Reven did not go far, but collapsed into a chair on the other side of
the curtain. After the apology and promise that had passed between him
and Relea earlier it felt wrong to leave.

At the amount of blood that was pooled between his wife's legs Coran
had no doubts as to what was happening. She was losing the baby.

Last updated on the March 25th 2025

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The Apologetic Hero