Work Text:
Nightal 4 1511
I slowly worked through the forests near home, taking my usual walk to see where to hunt for the Yule feast, it was our turn this year with Aylin and Isobel being last year. I watched a few of the winter fauna moving about, a deer here and there scrounging for hard grass that hadn't quite been buried by snow.
I reached a wider more open spot, hopping down a drift as I began to hum, starting to angle back towards home before pausing when I heard a strange noise, looking around yet my senses weren't going off. The noise grew and I frowned, looking around before shrugging and taking a step-
As I plunged into frigid water.
I surfaced quickly with a gasp, scrabbling at the edges to no avail as the ice broke further. Ice could break?!
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
I could feel my grip slipping more and more, the rapid river current pulling on me harshly, ending up reaching out through our bond.
HALSIN!
I soon felt the river pull me under the ice, barely managing a breath before I was swept under. The river quickly disorienting me as it tumbled me all directions until it slowed down enough for me to try to rise, pounding futilely at the ice, but here it was too thick or I was too weak. I could feel the darkness start rising, the cold reaching my bones and my mind drifting off.
Halsin
I raced along the river trying to find Theorn, having gotten his frantic mind shout for help followed by jarring messages, Karlach and Jaheira not far behind me with Shadowheart. I reached a spot that made me pause, moving closer and seeing a hole in the ice. The others caught up and Jaheira looked at the ice before pointing as I took off again, feeling Theorn start to fade and panic was truly setting in.
I reached the lake shore, finding no signs, Karlach racing past me onto the ice as she knelt and started sweeping snow, joining her as I swept the snow off, trying to see through.
"Here!" Shadowheart shouted, Karlach hauling over.
"Move!" Karlach spoke quickly, Shadowheart scrambling out of the way as Karlach chopped a hole into the ice, before shoving her axe into Shadowheart's hands and diving in. Jaheira was gathering wood and making a spot for a fire and a tent. Karlach had helped her make a quick go bag with the things we would need once I had realized that Theorn had gone into a river.
Karlach surfaced and I went over with Shadowheart, helping get Theorn up then I helped get Karlach enough for her to get Theorn in her arms, rushing over to Jaheira and laying Theorn down on the cleared ground. I joined and helped strip the soaked frigid clothes off, quickly grabbing the first towel and rubbing Theorn firmly, but not too much as I didn't want to shock his system.
Karlach got dry and into dry clothes before joining me, we got Theorn dry before I realized he wasn't breathing.
"He's not breathing!" I panicked, Karlach moving me out of the way as she started to pump Theorn's chest, breathing into his mouth here and there until Theorn coughed, Karlach quickly rolling him over as the water came up, Theorn soon shivering.
"Here," Jaheira spoke quickly, holding out a warm blanket she had put near the fire. I took it and wrapped Theorn in it, before moving to the tent area set up. It was temporary until we could get Theorn stable enough to go back home.
"Why didn't he know about thin ice?" Shadowheart asked,
"Where he comes from, water is probably too rapid to form ice and the ice too thick to even be worried about it collapsing," Karlach remarked, Shadowheart nodding, as Karlach joined with cuddling Theorn and getting his temperature to a proper one. Once it was, we headed back home where Karlach created a nest by the fireplace and we cuddled up while Jaheira and Shadowheart got to work on dinner.
Theorn soon started stirring, blinking slowly.
"Halsin? Karlach?" Theorn whispered, before I nodded, touching my forehead to his.
"You scared me moonheart," I murmured,
"I was scared. I didn't know what that noise was then the next I was in the water," Theorn spoke softly,
"Ice doesn't always get thick like it does where you come from moonspark, but that's alright. We'll show you how to watch for the bad ice that can't hold your weight," Karlach spoke gently, before I nodded in agreement. Karlach brushed a stray lock to the side, before Jaheira and Shadowheart came in with food and tea.
"Good to see you awake moon cub. Gave us all a scare," Jaheira spoke gently, Theorn nodding slowly. I could see that he was still struggling with the aftermath of nearly dying again physically, instinctively wrapping my arm around him more tightly, as Jaheira settled the tray nearby with his bowl and mine.
I shifted Theorn's bowl closer and fed him the soup which looked to be a chicken and vegetable soup of some kind with plenty of herbs. Theorn finished his bowl in no time and was able to hold his own tea, though I watched closely as I ate my own soup.
Theorn handed back his empty cup once he finished his tea, slowly slipping back into sleep. I was worried about a few things, the frigid water aggravating his scars, potential lingering effects, or worse winterchill fever.
"He'll be alright Halsin. He survived being nearly carved open in two ways and the trip down that river," Karlach spoke gently, as I nodded, before lifting Theorn up and carrying him to bed, tucking him in before making sure the fire was good then getting into bed. Karlach joining not long after and cuddling Theorn from the other side, the two of us making sure he had plenty of warmth as we slipped off into sleep.
Nightal 7
I woke up to a strange sensation, turning over and seeing the sheen of fever sweat on Theorn's face. I swore as I sat up.
"Karlach, wake up," I spoke quickly, Karlach jerking awake as she sat up, seeing the state of Theorn and swearing as she got up.
"I'll get fresh sheets and all," Karlach spoke concerned, heading out as I went into the bathing room, drawing a cooling bath and going to my herb cupboard after as I dug for the elderberry tincture, finding it and pouring some into a mixing cup then adding honey, cinnamon, and white willow leaves that I had powdered.
I mixed it together thoroughly before pouring into an easy sip cup, going over to Theorn as Karlach returned. She helped me get the mixture down Theorn's throat before we stripped him and I carried him into the bathing room, settling him into the water gently.
I gently cleaned Theorn up, pausing when he stirred, his eyes cracking open, glassy with fever.
"Easy. The frigid swim you took seems to have gotten you ill," I spoke gently, Theorn nodding slowly, yet as I wiped the sweat off of him, I could already hear the faint wheeze beginning. Damn it winterchill.
It was a tough one to beat, especially in the wintertime. I had seen it nearly decimate villages, even towns and cities had lost a good many to it. I finished and dried Theorn off, turning and seeing Karlach had laid out fresh soft night clothes, putting those on him before carrying him out. Karlach had the bed all sorted with fresh sheets and blankets, the fire going, and a hot cup of lemon tea and a bowl of soup.
"I sort of smashed together some bits of beef and leftover vegetables that hadn't spoiled yet," Karlach spoke concerned, as I nodded, the two of us getting Theorn settled before Karlach climbed in and fed Theorn the soup.
"It's winterchill, which is concerning. It's nasty and a beast to beat," I spoke worried,
"We've been giving Theorn plenty of tea and soup last few days. Hopefully that'll give us an edge on things," Karlach spoke softly, before I nodded in agreement. Once Theorn got the soup down, I got up and Karlach took over snuggling with Theorn.
"I'll be back in a bit," I spoke softly, Karlach nodding.
"I got Theorn. Go do what you need to," Karlach spoke gently, before I headed out and washed the bowl before putting together another soup. Jaheira and Shadowheart came out.
"Morning Halsin," Jaheira spoke gently,
"Stay away from Theorn for a few days. He got winterchill from his dip in the frigid water," I spoke softly, shifting to the side so Shadowheart could put water on for tea.
"I'm immune to it. I helped Silverymoon in the outbreak of winterchill they had four years ago," Shadowheart spoke quietly,
"And I've had a few bouts of it," Jaheira remarked, as I finished putting the soup together, covering it so it could cook before turning and pulling out the ingredients for honey cinnamon sweet rolls. I made those in a large quantity then a small plate of food for Theorn as well as a plate for Karlach and I, Jaheira coming over and helping carry things back to the room.
Karlach took hers and I settled back into bed. Theorn stirring again, looking up at me then seeing the honey cinnamon sweet roll I had brought with his food.
"Oh that looks amazing," Theorn spoke tiredly, as I smiled and settled in a way I could feed him again.
"And has honey and cinnamon which will help you get better," I rumbled gently,
"I'll keep an eye on the soup. You two just focus on Theorn," Jaheira spoke gently, as I nodded.
"Thank you Jaheira," I remarked, as Jaheira nodded before leaving. I slowly fed Theorn, watching his eyes close with that first bite of the sweet roll.
"Either that's a family recipe or you've perfected your own, because those always hit the spot," Theorn murmured, as I smiled.
"Family recipe," I murmured, before slowly giving Theorn the rest. After Theorn settled in, fighting sleep, before Karlach began to hum an Elvish lullaby that I had taught her for when Theorn had nightmares. I joined the humming, watching as Theorn slowly slipped into sleep.
Nightal 19
I sat relaxing watching the others talk. The fever had finally broken on the tenth day of Nightal and I had started feeling much better about seven days after. I still had a little lingering cough, but it was nothing serious to worry about and Halsin had already forewarned the others who had either immunity or taken precautions before coming here.
Karlach came over and I scooted over so she could settle next to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.
"Doing alright moonspark?" Karlach asked,
"Yes. I've gotten winterchill a few times, but I was alone in the wilderness," I murmured,
"That had to be rough," Karlach remarked, before I nodded.
"I'd bundle up with every layer then coat myself in snow enough to insulate the fire heat, trying to sweat the fever out," I spoke softly,
"Well now when you're sick, you got two people who will care for you," Karlach spoke gently, before kissing my forehead, making me smile and nod, snuggling closer.