Heartache's Respite

[deeperwonderment]

Title: Heartache's Respite
Author: random_chick and not_from_stars
Fandom: Black Jewels by Anne Bishop
Characters: Karla and Jaenelle
Prompt: 049 : Heartache
Word Count: 1,625
Rating: G
Challenge: Written for coclaim100's prompt of 049 : Heartache
Summary: Karla worries for her critically injured Sister and friend
Author's Notes: This takes place after the events of "Queen of the Darkness"; (I love Writely)




It was late, but Karla couldn't sleep. So much was going through her mind that her thoughts were constantly going, not giving her a moment's respite from everything.

She missed Jaenelle, missed her friend so much it hurt. It had been almost a year since offering the memories, almost a year since the Queen had faded and left a broken Jaenelle in her place. Not that sort of broken, at least Karla didn't think so, but she wasn't being allowed to go to Jaenelle, so how did she know? How did she know that Jaenelle wasn't a gibbering idiot or something? How did she know that she wasn't being lied to, that Jaenelle wasn't healing after all? She didn't truly think the Kindred would lie, but her mind was so jumbled that she couldn't help the momentary thought.

She stood by the window, looking out and trying to pull herself together. This was no way for her to act. She was a Black Widow Healer Queen, for Darkness' sake. But even so...

She buried her face in her hands and let the tears come.


Jaenelle had been laying in the bed, with her eyes closed when she felt the overwhelming grief pour through her. Her eyes snapped open and she focused, tracing those tendrils of grief back to who they were coming from. Getting her answer, she pulled back and in the room she took a shuddering breath. She forced herself to sit up. She had to either go to her, or she had to have them bring Karla here. She cold not rest knowing that Karla... that her Karla of the snarkiness and the biting tongue was hurting so much. She frowned, taking a breath. She sent a black thread out to Kaelas, asking him to come to her. Then, she sent out a dark gray one... distaff to distaff.

~Karla.~


Karla jumped at the voice in her head. ~Jaenelle?~

She wanted to believe it was her Jaenelle, that she wasn't hallucinating. That her Jaenelle was really speaking to her.

Jaenelle let herself smile as she laid back against the pillows.

~It's me, Karla. What's wrong? What has happened?~

It never occurred to her that Karla was grieving because of her. However the fact that Karla was hurting made her upset and she wanted to find out what she needed to do to help her friend.

~Nothing's happened, exactly. I just... I miss you. It's been almost a year, and we didn't know how you were doing... The Kindred won't tell us anything...~ Karla's mental voice shook. ~I was just afraid for you. That you weren't doing very well and that they just didn't want to tell us.~ For Karla to admit to fear was a sign of just how deeply it had affected her.

~They didn't tell you? I'm getting a little better every day, Karla.~ Her voice softened. ~I miss you, too. The Kindred are great and very loving... but they are all being so soft with me, like they are afraid that I'm going to break."

~That sounds like them.~ A bit of laughter entered Karla's voice. ~They don't tell us much. I think they're afraid we'll try and come to you before you're ready. I don't blame them, really, but it makes for a bit of a nerve-wracking time for the rest of us.~

There was some hesitation in Jaenelle's voice, like she was afraid. ~Karla... would you come... if they were to send for you, would you come... knowing that I'm no longer the Queen of Ebon Askavi? I don't wear the Black anymore... I'm... I'm different now.~

Back in her room, Jaenelle bit her lip. It was true, she didn't wear the Black, but the Kindred said that everyone back home still referred to her as the Queen. She was scared that the coven and the boyos wouldn't need her any longer, now that she had purged the lands. She was different and she wasn't sure if they could still accept her after everything she had done. Kaelas and Ladvarian said that she was still Jaenelle, still Witch. The other Kindred agreed that she was still the person they loved and served. But would the humans and the Blood feel the same way?

She was scared. She was once more that young girl who was scared of being rejected.

~Of course I would!~ Karla said, sounding more than a little indignant and not quite as scared as before. ~You're still Witch. But you're still Jaenelle. Amazing, beautiful, intimidating Jaenelle.~ An odd choice of words, perhaps, but Karla had never been the usual sort of girl. Besides, Jaenelle would understand the sentiment, even if she didn't understand the wording.

She hesitated only slightly. ~Would they let me come? Would they let me see you?~

~Kaelas would make sure of it if you really wished to come.~ Jaenelle let out the breath she had been holding. She had been scared and bracing for rejection again. She should have known better -- at least with Karla. ~Karla... I need you.~

~Then I'll come.~ Short, simple, to the point. Typical Karla.

Jaenelle smiled and nodded. ~Kaelas will be contacting you to work out details of how to get you to where I am. I don't even know where they have hidden me in order for me to be able to heal.~

~Are you at least someplace comfortable?~ Karla questioned. ~It's not too boring there, is it? Peace and being able to reconnect with the land is all well and good, but I know you. You're probably ready to scream in boredom.~

~I'm comfortable. More lonely and ... ~ Jaenelle cut off that path of conversation for several moments before she spoke again. ~More lonely and scared than bored. I've been too weak to be able to go out and connect with the land as much as I would like to. Thankfully, even inside wherever it is we are, I can feel the land and I can feel the other Kindred not too far away. It's just disconcerting, as the queen of Arachna and Ladvarian are insistent that I do not use Jewels or any kind of magic other than my healing on myself right now.~

~At least you can feel the land. Though it must feel like torture, in a way. Being able to look and see but never have.~ Karla knew her voice sounded sad, and she tried to keep that out of her next words. ~Is there anything you would like me to bring you? Anything at all?~

Jaenelle thought for a moment. ~In my rooms, on the window seat, is a throw covering that is the colours of the ocean's waves and so soft it seems like air. Could you bring me that? It always makes me feel better during my moontime when I have that wrapped around me. A brush would be nice, as well as some tea.~ Her mental voice sounded hesitant and a little sheepish that she was asking for so much.

~I'll do better than that. I'll bring lots of brushes. We both know how well you and brushes get along,~ Karla teased. ~So... The throw, brushes, some tea. Anything else?~

~Ladvarian doesn't think you should tell anyone else where you are going exactly. Just tell Papa that the Kindred have requested your help. He doesn't want to get their hopes up yet and the Kindred think too many calls to me will make the healing take longer.~

~I won't stay too long, then,~ Karla promised. ~The last thing I want is to make the Kindred upset. They tend to be... emphatic in their expression of their opinions.~

~You'll stay as long as you wish. Kaelas and Ladvarian will make sure of it.~

~I want to stay for a while, but not if it will make the healing take longer. I won't spend time with you at the cost of your own health..~

~I know. Having you here for even a short time will help a lot, Karla.~

~But I don't want to be... I don't want to be a burden.~

~You could never be a burden, Karla. Besides, I'm the one who contacted you and asked you to come.~

~But you're still healing. And I just... I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. I would never forgive myself if I caused a setback. Or... worse.~

~You won't, Karla. It's not in you to be that oblivious of someone who is ill or healing. Don't worry.~

~Even so... I'll try not to take too long.~

~Karla...please, please don't be afraid of being around me.~

~I'm not afraid of being around you,~ Karla responded vehemently. ~I'm just cautious. I don't know how much you can take of someone being around because I haven't been around you in almost a year. But I promise on my jewels that I'm not afraid of being around you.~

~So you'll be here, soon?~

~Soon,~ Karla promised. ~As soon as possible. So make that overgrown kitten contact me and get to work already.~ There was a smile in her voice as she said it, though. Anything to maybe get Jaenelle to giggle. Plus it was pretty accurate -- Kaelas was an overgrown kitten most of the time. Until someone or something threatened him and/or his loved ones.

And Karla did succeed in getting the wanted giggle out of Jaenelle. ~I'll see you, soon.~

~The same to you, dearest. Kiss kiss.~

~Kiss,Kiss, dear one.~