line up the dominoes / a light wind blows

[standvastig]

Where: Heliodor
When: A few years after Hendrik's promotion
Summary: A seemingly petty curse. A terrible incident on the battlefield.

[In the moments he is conscious enough to string awareness together, he sees blue. A blue sky. Light filtering through the trees. He tries to hold on to that sense, but it blurs under the pressure and pain of everything he feels. A wooden wagon, its wheels rolling over stones and holes in the road. Flashes of cold that bite into him when his skin doesn't feel hot and sweaty. Pain, pain, pain--

A particularly rocky patch of road jostles him against the burlap that provides little protection on the wagon, and merciful darkness takes him.

The field medics fight what the healers cannot, trying to keep General Hendrik's fever down while stemming the blood flow from the grievous wound that took the man's right arm. The giver of the wound -- a nightmarish dragon with teeth capable of piercing plate and chain both -- has the knights rushing back to Heliodor, touting more injured than previous campaigns.

The crowds that see the knights drag themselves back to the castle grounds cannot do much more than look on in shock.]

Comments

[leitstern]

[The words answer a particular question but open the door to more. Does Hendrik speak words they need to hear? Should he seek their leave? Is he lying? The man is as cunning as a rock.

He folds his arms across his chest but struggles to keep his fingers free from his hair. Strands are curled around his fingertips - and waved away.]

Your good arm can always be turned towards teaching. You have hardly lost your knowledge.

[standvastig]

[Hendrik grimaces at the suggestion, but presses his lips together for a long moment to school away any other visible reaction. He nods again.]

Teaching... Yes, I can do that.

[Reluctant. Unsure.

"In time, Hendrik. You need not make those decisions now." Carnelian stands, offering the injured man a light pat on his whole shoulder before stepping back. "The next step is to rest and see tomorrow."

Hendrik glances up at his king, unable to ignore the touch, before ducking his head in as much of a bow as he can in his current position. Carnelian's approval is silent before he looks to Jasper.

"Jasper, you should be off to bed as well. Double duty awaits you tomorrow."]

[leitstern]

[Disappointment creases the corners of his eyes. The unwillingness to sleep when his friend needs companionship conflicts with his desire to please - and he nods silently with the inten of remaining behind for at least ten minutes. He had often broken curfew to steal from the kitchens, after all.]

As you wish.

[Say more and he might well incriminate himself!]

[standvastig]

[If Carnelian suspects that Jasper intends to stay behind, he makes no comment, and he is soon swept up in talking to the physician as he heads towards the infirmary doors.

Hendrik shows a little more of his discomfort once the king is gone, but still holds himself mostly in reservation. Jasper has been rather harsh so far, and he doesn't wish to give him more ammunition for criticism.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper resumes sitting where Carnelian took over. Hands fold together in his lap and soon his index and middle finger are tapping his thigh. He leans his left elbow on the armrest and angles his head right.]

Perhaps I can stay thirty minutes.

[All Hendrik needs do is agree.]

[standvastig]

[The comment is met with silence and a tired look; the prolonged conversation hasn't done anything for Hendrik's pallor or fever, except perhaps make him forget about it for a moment.

He doesn't want to talk about his thoughts on the idea of teaching. Or the open-ended handling of his position as general. Or much of anything.

So he grasps onto what the King had been saying before he left.]

You ... intend to stay while they redress my wounds?

[leitstern]

[The disgruntled noise forced through his lips serves as his answer. He would intrude were it necessary but for now action goes onto the back-burner. He would not desire Hendrik's company for such private care but he would like to know he was there.

So he extends an offer.]

Only until then. Should you want the company, of course.

[standvastig]

[Once again, Hendrik does not answer right away, his breaths heavy as he grasps his sheets with a restless mind.]

I feel like I should sleep. I do not know if I can.

[Under normal circumstances, he would probably attempt to get up and try working himself until he was tired. That wasn't feasible now.]

[leitstern]

With your dilemma that is unsurprising.

[His eyes focus on that unsettled hand - closing partly as he battles his own restless mind.]

But I suppose boredom shall send you off if nothing else. I require slumber tonight and cannot shadow you all the while.

[standvastig]

I would not expect you to. You need your sleep as well.

[Unsurprisingly, others' needs go before Hendrik's. His eyes wander, seeking pockets of semidarkness. Ironic, considering his fear of the dark as a child.]

You should probably just go.

[leitstern]

Hendrik...

[The man puts other people's needs before his own - and his needs in this case are to be assured his friend will not turn him away. He lets his voice fall silent for a moment, fearing Hendrik might lose that determination that makes him special.]

If that is what you wish.

[Then he will go.]

[standvastig]

I will see you tomorrow.

[It is both a dismissal and assurance that he will be around. How much he will be around would be up for debate, though.

For now, he can at least meet Jasper's gaze with relative steadiness until he leaves. He quashes down any hurt from his friend's earlier words.

Teaching. Teaching.

At least he knew that Jasper thought -- rightly so -- that he had no place on the battlefield anymore.]