Just Before Winter
Characters: Aikuen, Robin
Location: Moledeep
Moledeep: Mole Hall
It's dark. Quite dark indeed. All the beasts have gone to bed in one way shape or form. Though it seem like two otters are still up. Aikuen has moved one of the armchairs near the dying embers of the fire. He holds in his arms Ella. The younger otter is dead quiet and hardly stirs as she sleeps. Aikuen seems a bit sad. At least his same old charming self. But is quiet as well. Letting the crackle of the fire fill the air around him. All alone is seems to be.
Robin can't really sleep tonight, the stoat up and about, trying to tire himself out. He quietly makes his way into the hall, moving towards a chair near the fire. "Hello Aik." he greets quietly, not to wake the sleeping otter, or anyone else in Moledeep.
Aikuen is not really aware of anything, so he jumps a bit when the young stoat come up on him, "OH!... Hey Robin..." he smiles a bit, "How are you faring this evening? Why are you up?" He holds Ella closer to himself, as he settles deeper into the chair.
Robin settles into a chair and yawns. "I can't sleep." The stoat replies with a nod, watching the otters. "I didn't mean to scare you, sorry." he nods slowly. "Just figured you could use a bit of company. Looking sad over there. Anything wrong?"
Aikuen smiles a bit more, but then is quickly washes away, "It's okay. Just. A lot to think about. Thanks... I could use a bit..." he looks down to his daughter, "Ella is sick..." sounds like 'the more than, just a cold' type of sick.
Robin nods a little bit and then frowns slowly. "Ella? Sick?" he asks. "Is...is it bad?" The stoat asks in a worried tone. His slouch has melted away into a proper posture.
Aikuen is having a very hard time not just breaking down. But he retains his composure for the time being, "Its... Its not good..." he holds her very close, "She has been sick... thought it was a cold or something...for quite a while... it was only today... she... it really hit her... She is very weak..." Aikuen then does something, that he would normally never do. He curls up, laying on his side. Placing the little one in the crevice, to keep her warm.
Robin frowns a little bit more. The stoat takes a deep breath and stands up, moving over towards the otters. He gently pats Ella on the side and then leans down to give Aikuen a hug, the best a hug he can manage. "I'm so, so sorry, Aik." he sighs quietly.
Ella is completely unresponsive to the pat. No mrring. No grring. No arching of the back, or moving her head into it. Just... Nothing. Aik has started tearing up and drips lightly on the chair, "...Thank ye... Robin... I dont think i could... I could...." he closes his eyes and remains silent. Just curls up tighter.
Robin sighs and closes his eyes slowly, hugging the otter tighter and tighter before finally letting go. "I'm so...so sorry Aik. Is there anything I can do to help?" The stoat offers, almost...almost tearing up himself. But not quite. She's not dead yet, so that's a good sign.
Aikuen is glad for the hug. Its just helps. Not a lot. But it does keep from just breaking down completely. He smiles a bit again, and he shakes his head, "... We have done everything... but go to the abbey... but... i don't think she will make it... and what can they do... that we haven't already done... Thank you... But all we can do is... is wait... and hope... with... all our hearts..."
Robin nods slowly and sighs, sitting down on the floor next to Aik, thinking. "I can go to the abbey. And bring back supplies and healers if you...want me...to. Just...you know...to see if they can do anything?" He offers. "I could be gone and back before dawn if...you want." he nods. The stoat is rather fast. Faster then Kentar, but not as fast as Chris. Or so he lets the little stoat believe.
Aikuen looks up a bit, and blinks slowly at the stoat. Why did that ever come up. Why didn't they think of that. Probably to worried about the livelihood of their daughter to fully concentrate on what truly can be done. Otter are like that, "... You can? Will you? Oh please Robin... That... That would mean so much to us... For her!" he almost pleads to him. A very odd sounding Aik from his normal grumpy sounding demeanor.
Robin nods slowly and slowly stands. "I will. I wont take any rest until I return. I'll be back as soon as I can Aikuen, I promise. I'll bring help." he sighs, reaching down to rub the little one's head gently as not to wake her.
Aikuen reaches up and pats him anywhere he can reach him, "Thank you... Thank you so much Robin... Please... hurry... Maybe... there is something that can be done..." he speaks rather fast and jumbled. Hope is also like that. Ella is still very unresponsive.
Robin sighs. The pat ended up on his head. He felt a little bit like a child then but pushed it out of his mind as he headed for the sleeping hall to change out of just a robe into his usual clothes. He's gone a few moments, tying the new sword his father got him when he turned nine seasons to his belt. He also quickly slings a pack over shoulders. "I promise Aikuen, I will be back before dawn. Just...you'll see..."
Aikuen watches him go, and then come back, "Thank you Robin... Now... Go... Ill be here. Im going to go tell Fira whats going down..." she has taken this, even harder than Aikuen. Much Harder, "You... She will be in your debt..." he smiles, almost a real smile again, "...Thank you..." he whispers quietly. As the depression is beginning to sweep over once more.
Robin smiles a little bit and nods slowly. "I'll return. I'll see you soon Aik." the stoat sighs and heads for the door before stopping. "Is there anyone specific I should find?" He asks.
Aikuen was about to curl up again, tried to keep his mind on other things, "Hrm? Oh... No... unless... Good at medicine. Is all i can say that we need. Thats all that can be done... Any Redwall healer then..." he nods a bit.
Robin opens the door and nods. "Alright." he says before heading out the door. He looks up at the snow falling sky, sighing before taking off through the white, heading for the abbey.
Aikuen smiles at him and watches as he goes, "Run swiftly... Robin... Thank you..." he takes a deep breath and looks down at his daughter, who has curled up in a ball as well, "Please... Get better Ella. Please.... I... We cant lose you... I wont be able to handle it... I would... Not be able to go on... In my old age. I cant handle things anymore... Please Ella..." he starts to weep softly, "I would do anything... Anything.... Absolutely anything... I love you Ella... Please..." He then makes things in his mind. Things... he is going to change. He would do anything.
It's been quite a while since the stoat has left. A few hours maybe. The night has been here, and is soon going to wane. Right after Robin left, Fira came into the hall. Red eyed as anything, her face sopping wet. Even though her daughter was sick. There is still another to take care of. And once Venei was asleep and well. Fira went to join Aik in the hall. To hope, and cry with him. Aik told her about Robin, and she just burst with tears again. Though this was more of happy tears than sad. She took Ella and curls up around her, while Aik curls up around Fira. Placing his head on her hip. The male, keeping watch over his family. Weeping together. For the sake of it all.
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