A Raging Storm (5/20, Late Night, House Severne)

[Kaedon Severne]

The door to his room slammed hard. Kaedon stood there for a moment, staring at the wood that blocked his cabin from the hallway. Then he cursed as he strode across the room and swung the door wide open. He could barely hear her. A storm was raging on the deck above him and no sane person would attempt to face it. They'd managed to sail right into the heart of a summer squall, and the captain and his crew had been fighting wind and wave with their sails rolled tight and their oars pulled up for hours.

"Nazraiel," he finally called out. They'd had another horrible fight. They spent most of their time avoiding each other, but the few times their paths had crossed nothing pleasant had come out of their mouths. Today was no exception and the fight had led to a shouting match that culminated with Nazraiel storming off.

Except for some stupid reason, he was following her. He found her again in the hallway. He reached for her, attempting to grab her arm, but she pulled away. He realized he had her cornered - there was no where to go but up on deck. "You could listen to me for once," he growled, although really, nothing he could say could undo the damage he'd done. But she wasn't in the mood to listen and to his surprised she pushed out the door and onto the deck of the ship.

"Naz!" he called out again, following her onto the deck. The storm howled around them, the winds so strong they nearly pushed Kaedon off his feet. "What are you doing?" he cried out, but his words were less than a whisper against the rage of the gale around him. Water sloshed across the deck of the ship as waves crested over the railing. He could see her gripping tightly to the railing, the spray of the rain pelting her face and the gusts of wind whipping her hair into a frenzied mess. Kaedon moved toward her, but another wave came sailing over the ship, this one higher than the other.

The wave knocked him off his feet, and seconds later he felt Nazraiel crash into him. He assumed she lost her grip on the railing, and both bodies tumbled and spilled across the flat of the ship, slamming into the wall on the port side. This is ridiculous! We are not experienced enough to face such fury. Kaedon was no sailor, and few of those were skilled enough to man the decks during such weather.

He pulled himself to his feet, locking his grip on Nazraiel's wrist. Where fire had burned in her eyes before, he could sense enough fear now that she wouldn't fight him again. The wind was against them, and he slowly took step after step back toward the door to the lower decks.

Just when he thought he could reach the handle, another large wave came pounding over the ship. This one was larger than the last, and both Kaedon and Nazraiel went down a second time. Kaedon lost his grip on Naz, as the wave pushed him across the deck and swept him up over the gunwale. Flailing his arms, Kaedon managed to grab the railing and by sheer force of will, he held on while a dozen crates went flying over his head and down into the water below. He pulled himself back over the rail before the next wave came crashing down, driving him against the bulwark again.

This is sheer madness! His mind screamed, as he clung to the rail, his knuckles white from effort. Another wave pounded against him and he was sure he was going to go over when a strong hand grabbed his arm. Kaedon looked up to see one of the ship's crew standing over him, a sturdy rope fastened securely around his waist. He had a second rope, which he tied to Kaedon, then dragged the drenched noble back to the door of the ship.

Once inside and free from the wind, he collapsed exhausted on the floor of the hall. "Nazraiel?" he choked out softly.

"I only saw you," the sailor replied.

Kaedon nodded, too exhausted to absorb the meaning of what had just happened.

[Doyle]

Doyle suddenly appeared behind the sailor and grabbed for Kaedon's arm. He had been on the deck a few minutes before Naz passed him in the tight corridor, followed shortly thereafter by Kaedon himself. He knew the raging storm was going on and he'd sought out some solace, but realized, as soon as he'd stepped foot on the deck of the ship, that none could be had. Instead, he made his way back down into the cabin areas of the ship, hoping to find some forgotten parlor to spend time alone with his thoughts.

And he'd found that parlor, but the only thought he had was were those two planning on walking the deck in their discussions? Maybe Naz had decided to go to another cabin in the ship? Certainly, she was not so foolish as to attempt a stroll on the ship's deck in this weather? Out of curiosity, Doyle left the parlor and exited to the deck, only to find Kaedon, entwined in the sailor's rope, and no Naz.

His protective side kicked in as he helped Kaedon through the door, back into the corridor, rope, sailor and all. The three men stood, drenched from the rain and inhaling large breaths. It was quite the challenge to even stand straight with the ship's rocking and pitching.

"My lord," Doyle said, addressing Kaedon as he started to help unknot the rope. "Are you well?"

[Falmek Severne]

Falmek was fast asleep for a good portion of the night, but in his mind he was already back home. Strange interactions between himself and his cousin... and he wasn't sure what to think of them. Nerve-wracking and certainly improper, but strangely satisfying...

And before he knew it, he was startled from his dream.

The sound of rushing wind and rain as the cabin door opened brought Falmek harshly back into reality. For a few seconds, he was deeply confused. The dream he was experiencing seemed so real... It was as if he was still trying to wake himself up a minute even after he opened his eyes.

He shook his head rapidly in a final attempt to stir himself awake. After collecting his thoughts, he finally remembered why he woke up in the first place. It was still dark, and the storm outside was still fierce. Did the cabin door really just open...?

He put on his night clothes and rubbed his eyes as he opened the door to leave his room. Just as he walked out, he looked to see his cousin Kaedon being pulled back into the cabin, soaked to the bone. Did that fool really go out in the storm? There was something wrong, though. Kaedon seemed as though his life had been flashing before his eyes, or perhaps someone else's...

"Cousin Kaedon... Are you alright? What happened?" Falmek asked cautiously, approaching the three men that stood at the cabin door. "You look as though you've seen a ghost."

[Kaedon Severne]

Kaedon was still coughing up water when Doyle and Falmek approached him, concern filling their questioning words. He sat up and coughed once more shaking his head in the process. His hair was dripping wet and matted to his head and he worked on pushing the thick locks back from his forehead to quell the drops of rainwater that dribbled into his eyes.

"We fought," Kaedon sputtered. "And then she fled. She was so angry I don't think she was paying much attention. Neither of us should have gone out there, but...". Kaedon looked down at the hands. She'd been in his grip. He'd held her as tight as he could. But that last wave had been powerful and he felt Amalthia must love him dearly to have spared him the journey overboard. "She went over. I think. Unless she still holds on out there."

The sailor shook his head. "There was no one, my Lord."

Kaedon turned to speak again, but was overtaken by another fit of coughs.

[Falmek Severne]

It took a moment for Falmek to process everything Kaedon said; he was still a bit groggy, after all. But when he realized what Kaedon was implying, he could still only remain silent. Even in such a heated argument, what would possess anyone to go outside in this weather? Falmek himself had been guilty of some reckless behavior during bad weather, but even he knew better.

Terrible timing... For all he's done up to now, even Kaedon doesn't deserve this... Falmek fixed his gaze to the floor beneath him, shaking his head slowly. This was not the time for him to be too realistic; Kaedon had been through enough suffering already.

"We can only hope for the best... For the time being, however, perhaps it would be wise for you to get some rest. If the weather calms, I'll go search myself..."

[Rhiannon Severne]

Rhiannon was sleeping lightly, it was hard for her to sleep at sea, especially with the storm. She heard someone stir in the room next to her, and decided to get up and see what was the matter. Surely no one would want to be out in a storm such as this?

The door to the cabin was cracked open, it barely made a difference to close them in this weather. She peaked in, seeing Kaedon as distressed as he was, she lost track of propriety and walked into the room. She noted her brother, looking more reserved as he usually did, but still, distressed.

"Kaedon...?"

[Kaedon Severne]

Kaedon coughed again and then pushed up from the floor. "I doubt you will find anything, Falmek, but it will not hurt to look. Perhaps the captain can turn the ship around when the storm breaks but..." He'd felt her hand as the storm yanked them apart. He didn't hold much hope. And he was too tired to put much effort into thinking about the future or the past or anything other than Nazraiel was gone.

Just then Rhiannon stepped outside. His cousin was also close to Nazraiel, part of the trio that grew up in the Severne Castle together. Kaedon looked away for a moment, trying to muster the words to his lips to tell her what happened. It will be just as hard with Fallon as well. The thought left him wondering where his sister and brother were.

"Rhiannon," he began, turning back to face her. Instead of laying prostrate on the floor, he pulled himself up to standing. He gave Falmek a reassuring smile, that he'd be alright at least for the moment, and then walked over to where Rhiannon stood. "Nazraiel went overboard," he finally choked out.

[Doyle]

Doyle looked all each Severne, first Kaedon, then Rhiannon, then Falmek, and back to Kaedon again. This was horrible news. Naz was Saia's sister, or half-sister, or whatever relative. And she'd gone overboard?!

Hmmm...Doyle thought about it for a second. This meant Kaedon would no longer have a wedding and maybe Saia would just go straight to Nemea? Or perhaps he'd manage to put her on a boat to Glodhet instead? No, she'd probably want to go to Nemea to visit with her father, at least for a bit.

Awful news! And the storm continued to rage as Doyle tried to hold himself against the walls, lest he bounce around as a rag-doll on the ground in a child's wake.

"I'm terribly sorry to hear such news," Doyle said softly, sadness overcoming his eyes. How would he break this to Saia? How would the rest of the Severnes take it? So far, Kaedon was holding up well...either that, or the actual idea hadn't quite hit him yet, or sank in. Tomorrow, he'd probably be in a worse mood, Doyle thought.

[Rhiannon Severne]

Rhiannon stood in shock, unable to force herself to move from the doorway. Overboard...? She knew the sea was dangerous, logically knew that sometimes people were lost at sea, but she never really thought about it happening to anyone she knew. It was more of a theoretical, but here was Nazraiel, who she had known since she was a child, gone to sea.

"There's... there's no chance at rescue?" She phrased it as a question, but deep down she knew it was a statement. People were rarely rescued at sea after the fact.

[Fallon Sterlyn]

Fallon had been sleeping in the same chamber as Rhiannon, when she startled awake, hearing her cousin move about. Usually the rocking of the sea soothed her, lulling her into a deep slumber, but tonight's particular tumultuous situation left her tossing and turning.

Watching Rhiannon slip out of their doorway, Fallon picked up quickly the muffled voices nearby, and decided that perhaps this was an important family gathering she was missing out on.

Pulling on her robe as she crossed the rickety floor, Fallon slipped out their doorway and fell in farther behind Rhiannon's footsteps. She entered the cabin without a word, quickly noting the distress in the air. Her gaze drifted from her cousins to Kaedon, whose face was etched with lines of concern.

"Is everything alright?" she finally spoke, having broke in to the middle of their conversation.

[Kaedon Severne]

The ship rolled in the heavy waves and the hallway floor tilted back and forth. Kaedon grabbed Rhiannon as the ship slammed down hard, keeping both from falling down. "Maybe we should get out of the hallway..." he suggested, knowing the mess hall was one floor down. The effects of the waves would be just as bad, but the space would be less tight. He didn't want to answer Rhiannon's question; he wasn't quite ready to accept that Nazraiel was gone. But hanging onto useless hope certainly wouldn't do him any good.

Just then Fallon stepped into the hallway. Grief etched Kaedon's face. As much as he and Nazraiel detested each other, Fallon and Nazraiel loved each other with equal or more intensity. He didn't think he could bear to tell her, but no one else in the hallway should be forced to break the news either.

Kaedon reached for her, and pulled her into a tight hug. He drew in a deep breath, counting every moment that delayed the need for words. Finally when he could hold back no longer, he opened his mouth and forced the words out. "Nazriael is gone."

[Falmek Severne]

Falmek paid heed to Rhiannon and Fallon as they too were stirred from their sleep and drawn by empathy to the hallway. He himself did not know Nazraiel very well, but he knew that despite their differences Kaedon cared for her deeply, and certainly the women felt likewise. He could only imagine how painful it would be for them to hear the news...

As the ship tossed and turned violently at the mercy of the storm, Falmek nearly lost his footing as well. On reaction, he was quick to grab hold of Fallon to keep her from toppling over as well, after which he smiled and nodded nervously.

Realizing there was little else he could do right now for anyone, Falmek had to content himself with being the beacon of strength on that ship. He was proud of his family heritage, and to see a fellow Severne suffering was to take the pain upon himself. "We are all here for your support, Kaedon. I'll do everything I can to see what can be done from here..."

[Doyle]

Doyle couldn't do much but watch the interactions between the selected Severnes before him. Feeling somewhat out of place, he didn't have anything of value to add to the conversations. Sure, he knew Kaedon and Falmek from their night out in Nystra, and from that dealing, Doyle wasn't exactly certain how much Kaedon had actually loved Nazraiel, if at all. He stood, silent, holding himself steady against the rocking of the vessel, ensuring he didn't get slammed into the narrow corridor walls with each violent pitch.

It seemed Kaedon's words hadn't yet sunk into his sister ears since she hadn't replied one way or the other. Falmek sense of responsibility took over and his words were rather considerate to Kaedon and Rhiannon's voice lent hope for rescue efforts. Even though Doyle wasn't exactly a sea-farer, he was no fool to think a rescue in this weather was nigh impossible. Naz was a good as dead, considering the raging storm outside and the swells battering the vessel were as tall, if not taller, than the ship itself.

Again, Doyle stood mute, no words coming to him at all as he stood, an invisible bystander watching the reactions slowly spread across the faces of those before him.