OOM - part two

[gods_that_haunt_me]

[Part One]

Early in the morning, Helga wakes up and carefully slips out of bed, not wanting to disturb Floki. She cooks breakfast for the both of them, porridge, as it's the only thing Floki can eat at the moment. Gently waking him, she helps him sit up, and she spoonfeeds him, sharing the porridge out of the same bowl.

Later, with the assistance of a servant, Helga changes Floki's bandages and applies a fresh healing paste to his wounds. The gouges in his side still ooze blood, but they don't seem infected. Helga only worries that they're too deep to close up properly.

For Floki, sitting up to have the bandages removed and the clean ones wrapped around him is painful, as his ribs still feel as if they're stabbing his lungs with every breath he takes. But he is determined to do some things on his own. Like standing. With the help of a wooden staff, of course. But not for too long because the bed is really quite comfortable and lying down is good.

Sometimes, with a silent plea to the gods, he tries to move the fingers of his right hand. And tries not to panic when he finds that he can't.

He would truly go out of his mind if not for Helga. And this idea of Athelstan's is the next best thing to divine intervention.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"If it helps", Athelstan says dryly, "Ragnar would have brought you here if I hadn't first. We talked about it. And I want you whole for his sake."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Are you injured anywhere else, before I fix this?"

[gods_that_haunt_me]

Floki only flicks Athelstan a narrow-eyed glance before turning to the doctor.

"My ribs. I don't know how many are broken, but the pain makes it difficult to breathe. And there are the axe wounds. Helga says they are deep. But if you fix those, too, she will think it some kind of sign from the gods that I have healed so suddenly."

[athelstanthescribe]

"The arm healing can be concealed", Athelstan says with a nod. "The rest, less so - and the other wounds should heal well enough on their own."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Okay. I'm going to have a quick listen to your chest and make sure those ribs aren't causing your breathing difficulties, if that's okay." Guppy says. "Then I'll fix your arm."

[gods_that_haunt_me]

Floki nods, leaving things up to the doctor now.

"Fine. Do what you must."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan pushes him further into the room.

"Do you need him anywhere particular, Dr Sandhu?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Nearest bed will be fine." Guppy says, getting his stethoscope and the bone fuser ready.

[gods_that_haunt_me]

"Good. Now I can get out of this infernal chair."

When Athelstan maneuvers him closer to the bed, Floki leans on his staff and hoists himself to his feet, setting his jaw against the dizzying pain. He may have overdone it with the feistiness.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan sticks close by, not touching Floki but ready to catch him if he looks like falling before he's safe on the bed.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Easy there." Guppy says, making sure he's safe before conducting an examination.

"Okay, I'm happy with your chest, I'll get your arm fixed now. You need to keep nice and still. It will feel uncomfortable but not painful."

[gods_that_haunt_me]

The bed is much more comfortable than the chair!

He then looks on with curiosity as the doctor presses the cold metal thing to his chest and appears to listen through tubes stuck in his ears. Very strange.

'With all the pain I've already had, what's a little more discomfort?"

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan steps back, letting Guppy work.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy works carefully.

"How's that feeling?" he asks when he's done.

[gods_that_haunt_me]

Floki stays as still as he can while Guppy uses the machine on his arm. There is no pain, it's true, just an odd sensation, like prickling or crawling underneath his skin as the bones knit. And then he realizes, there is no pain. At all.

"Good," he says tentatively. "Can I-- move my hand now?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Go for it. You'll need to be gentle on it for a week as I said, and it may still be a little sore or stiff."

[gods_that_haunt_me]

Slowly, Floki moves his fingers, and curls them into a loose fist. He carefully flexes his wrist and stretches his arm. The joints do feel a little stiff, but he can move his hand again. He can move it, when moments ago he couldn't even feel his fingers.

An bright, childlike giggle escapes him (it might sound odd to, well, a lot of people).

"This is astonishing."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches, smiling.

"I'll tell Ragnar you're going to be all right."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Let me know if you've any more problems." Guppy smiles, and goes to clear up.

[ooc: I'll duck out here unless you need me :)]

[gods_that_haunt_me]

Floki continues to flex his fingers, getting the sensation back into them, when he looks over at Guppy.

"How can I repay you?"

It's not a suggestion. Floki will repay him.

[guppy_sandhu]

"No charge." Guppy says. "If you like you can make a donation to the infirmary."

[gods_that_haunt_me]

He tilts his head.

Guppy probably means those gold and silver coins that some people tend to favor as forms of payment.

And then he bobs his head in a nod.

"Consider it done," he says agreeably, and with gratitude.

He then turns to Athelstan.

"Home, priest! But I am not going back in that chair."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll get a better one", Athelstan says with deceptive meekness, and mutters as he turns away, "For a stork."

[gods_that_haunt_me]

"What did you say?" Floki crows. "My arm was broken, not my hearing!"

With his left hand (following doctor's orders), he grabs his staff leaning against the bed and eases himself up.

"And don't bother! I'm going to walk."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan turns back again, giving him a dubious look.

"Are you sure?"