[Open Post: Tristan] She always loved to swim away / Maybe she'll find an island

[tricky_bowman]

One crisp morning, Tristan comes barging into the common room. The furs are still on his back, as are the heavy boots he strapped around his feet and calves, and as he comes to the hearth, he scatters snow everywhere

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[bbtdoc]

She's not a veterinarian, but she is a trained surgeon. Unless there's major internal damage, she should be able to help, and even if there is, she can probably manage. It's just chance that she comes into the common room shortly after Tristan arrives, and she notices the snow on the floor before anything else. She's in glasses, with messy hair, wearing some warm slippers and a pair of pajamas, so the snow soaks through to her bare feet almost immediately. She'd just dropped into the kitchen for a coffee and scone, with plans to sit by the fire to enjoy them for breakfast.

She squeals softly when the cold hits, and then notices the man. And the rather large dog. "Ohh," she breathes out. "How was he injured?" The coffee cup and plate are immediately placed on a table so she can kneel beside and offer aid.

[She may have to consult a book in the library, but she can get Husdent fixed up eventually. ^^ ]

[tricky_bowman]

"A beast from the forest took issue with his presence," the knight replies stoutly. "And I shot it to its death, but alas too late, and my good Husdent fell."

He looks at her, anguished.

"Are you a healer, lady?"

That works perfectly :-)

[bbtdoc]

"Yes, a surgeon. I was trained to work on people though," Stephanie admits. "Still, I can probably help. If you'll be okay for just a few minutes? I saw a book in the library --," she is already on her feet. She knew she should have taken it to her room for reading. She might have as much need to work on animals here as humans.

[tricky_bowman]

"I shall pray for your prompt return," Tristan replies, very simply. "Your alacrity will save my soul as it does his life, healer."

[ohmaiden]

Iphigenia is by the fire, working on some sewing--she may not be the best at it, but it reminds her of weaving, a little, and so she does it to pass the time.

When she sees Tristan come in with the dog, she looks up, startled. She does see the wound, and frowns.

"Oh no," she says, standing and putting her sewing beside her. "Is everything all right?"

ooc: I don't think Iphigenia will be able to do anything immediately regarding the pup--she's no vet, obviously. She could fetch someone to help, maybe, or keep the dog company while Tristan gets someone. Either/or is fine by me! :)

[tricky_bowman]

By the time she comes upon them, perhaps Stephanie has patched Husdent up, and the dog is sleeping, his big head on Tristan's lap, recovering from surgery.

"He shall heal," he tells her, relieved. "Forgive me, my lady, if I do not stand in propriety. I've a burden on my lap, alas."

His smile is a bit weak. He's just had a terrible fright.

No worries. :-)

[ohmaiden]

"You don't have to stand," she reassures him, glad that the dog is safe and well. "It's more important that you take care of the pup."

Her smile is sympathetic, and she moves to sit near him.

[tricky_bowman]

He's grateful for her presence - she is beautiful, sweet and warm, and wise, to boot.

"Still, it is not proper," he replies, and smiling a bit sadly, he adds, "yet your kindness supersedes my service, and so I am grateful, my lady."

[weristdas_graal]

He might find his fellow knight coming in for his daily ration of bread and cheese and greens, shaking the snow from his cloak and boots and to warm up by the fire. "May the Lord be with you, my brother Tristan," he says. And if Husdent should be in sight, he will look upon the dog with concern. "Though perhaps your companion needs the Lord's mercy even more..."

[tricky_bowman]

"Grammercy, a healer saw to him, and he will heal," Tristan replies. Husdent is resting in a cot, and so the knight comes to clasp arms with Parsifal.

"It's been a time, brother. Art well?"

[weristdas_graal]

He'll breathe a little easier as he accepts and returns the brotherly gesture: his time among the Grail Knights taught him to regard animals as God's creatures to be respected and tended with kindness (after he'd brought one of their swans down with an arrow when he had first stumbled into their domain). "Thanks be to the Lord, that you found someone to tend to your companion," he says. "I have been well: I had been assisting a noble lord, one Eddard Stark, who dwells here as he built a dwelling for his family. And since then, I have been preparing the chapel on the grounds for the winter months." He did have to replace the windows after the earthquake, and those needed to be winterized with shutters.

[tricky_bowman]

"Noble endaevours, brother," and as Tristan happens to be a good friend of Robb's, he adds, "and you found those worthy of your troth. If the son takes after the father, then you gave well indeed."

They might have missed each other on the construction site: he was there too.

He smiles, and caresses Husdent's hair. "Do you reckon the chapel will fare well, yet again?"

[death_dawg]

Along might come a smallish black dog, trotting in from the porch, snow on his coat, and he's clearly in a hurry to get warm. "Brrrrr," the critter mutters, pausing and shaking to get the snow off, then trots over to the fire, turning around three times before flopping down on the hearth rug with an audible "Whew...."

And I've heard that there was actual measurable *snow* in Egypt earlier this month!

[tricky_bowman]

Tristan is huddled with Husdent on the couch, the great Dane's head resting on the knight's lap. The dog is snoring, the knight is meditating, and for a moment, he thinks he's heard something.

Husdent's ears twitch in his sleep, his nostrils flare.

"Oh, hello," says the knight, "a little terrier mutt, have we here, aye?"

[death_dawg]

The black dog lifts its head, wagging its tail slowly, but friendly. And then it replies in a surprisingly deep and even more surprisingly human-sounding voice, "You got the mutt part right: I'm mostly Egyptian sight hound, or what some call a Basenji, with some jackal in the mix."

[tricky_bowman]

OMGWTFBBQHEARTATTACKTIEMZ!!!!!! If Tristan wasn't already sitting, with Husdent on his lap, he would have sprung from his seat. As it is, though, his desire to keep his dog safe is enough to force him to control his impulse.

"... what sorcery is this, a talking dog?"

He's going to be fine in a minute. He used to talk to a dragon, after all.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will's passing through, and is rather appalled when he sees the state of Tristan's dog.

"Good grief," he says. "What happened?"

[tricky_bowman]

"That which was bound to happen, when one hunts the woods often," the knight replies soberly. "The dog did take the bite intended for me, alas."

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"Poor thing," Will says, holding out a hand for Husdent to sniff. "Do you think he'll be alright?"

[tricky_bowman]

Husdent whines a bit, then the great Dane (who is admittedly taking two thirds of the couch), lifts his head painfully and strains to lick Will's hand.

"The lady healer who saw to him said he would be," Tristan replies. "In truth, I remain fearful."