Withstanding Trials: Day 9

Word Count: 54,019

Summary of Events:

Saraid took care of her cousin's youngest child as her cousin gave birth to what turned out to be the third son of the family in an easy birth attended by experienced women. Aodhán, having told Uncle Séaghdha that he was going to be meeting someone on Sunday afternoon, was harangued by Ceallach, who believed the person Aodhán was meeting to be a beautiful maiden, even when Aodhán told him that his presumption was false. After taking care of the house work while her cousin recovered from the birth, Saraid went outside to walk and saw a crowd gathered not far from the settlement's well…

Excerpt of the Day:

Getting closer to the group, Sara recognised Tighearnán in the group, with Pryderi in his arms and his head bowed. She slowed, but didn’t stop advancing until she’d come around the edge of the group to see Niamh, who was the most medically trained person in town, and so was always summoned when someone needed medical attention, kneeling beside Conchobhar, who was laying on the ground looking awfully pale.

His right hand was red with blood, which also stained his clothes mostly on his right side, while Niamh was rapidly wrapping strips of linen tautly around his forearm. 

Sara looked at Tighearnán, whose eyes were closed. He looked to be in silent prayer, rocking slightly on his feet, Bláthnat was leaned against his leg, her auburn hair being caressed gently under his hand.

Cumal stood somewhat behind his father, but as soon as he saw Sara he rushed to her, looking frightened. Sara wrapped an arm gently around him.

“What happened Sara?” Cumal asked.

“I don’t know,” Sara replied. “It looks like he hurt his arm.”

Niamh secured the end of the bandage she’d been wrapping and laid Conchobhar’s arm across his abdomen. He gave her a tired-looking nod of appreciation before she got to her feet and turned around to survey the gathered group.

Sara supposed that Tighearnán had heard her straighten, as his eyes opened and Niamh strode toward him, taking Pryderi from his arms and saying something quietly into Tighearnán’s ear before Tighearnán turned to Bláthnat and directed her to release him and join Cumal.

Anticipating Bláthnat’s arrival, Sara reached out her hand that wasn’t resting around Cumal’s shoulders to draw Bláthnat close to her while Tighearnán walked over to Conchobhar, lowering to his knees, and then bending down to speak to Conchobhar quietly.

Conchobhar whispered something back, gesturing toward the woods. Tighearnán nodded and replied before sliding an arm under Conchobhar’s shoulders and slowly sitting him up.

Sara didn’t mean to make eye contact with Conchobhar, but she ended up doing it anyways and he smiled weakly at her before closing his eyes, grimacing, and mumbling something to Tighearnán while holding his left hand up as if to indicate that he didn’t want Tighearnán to do whatever he’d meant to do next.

Patiently Tighearnán knelt beside Conchobhar for a long moment before he settled his arm around Conchobhar’s shoulders again and helped Conchobhar to his feet, on which he stood with a visible shakiness.

After waiting another long moment, Tighearnán turned Conchobhar toward the nearest house, although they only took a few steps before Tighearnán moved to Conchobhar’s left side so that Conchobhar could put his left arm around Tighearnán’s shoulders as he walked feebly.

Sara guided Cumal and Bláthnat alongside her as she, along with most everyone else who had gathered, followed Tighearnán and Conchobhar to the house, where the elderly widow who called the place home presented a ready-made bed for Conchobhar to lie down on before taking Pryderi from Niamh’s arms so that Niamh could look Conchobhar over again.