Back as promised (open, attn Freyja and Morvydd)

[jarndyceheir]

Richard Carstone makes an abrupt sound of pain, as if he'd caught up where he'd left off just before his death. Due to Kyllikki's well-meant magic, coming back to life was harder and more painful than the last time, and after three days of highly pleasant afterlife, it's a bit of a shock. After a moment, though, it passes, and he sits up.

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[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki is not in mourning, exactly, but she is sober as she goes about the tasks of her day. She is fetching bread and milk for herself and the Rose when she sees Richard unexpectedly--the shock of it makes her shriek, dropping her milk to soak into the carpet.

[jarndyceheir]

"Madam! Are you quite alright?" He goes to pick up the bottle, though most of the milk is gone.

[false_kyllikki]

She cries out and pulls away, tripping over her skirts in her haste to flee and sprawling in the hall. "You are dead--!" she whimpers, "and I carved your mark in a tree--"

[jarndyceheir]

He winces, and steps back, looking distinctly unthreatening. "I'm sorry. It is... not quite as permanent, here."

[false_kyllikki]

Softly, her entire body still trembling, she whispers, "Take my hand, if you are not a spirit ..."

[jarndyceheir]

He reaches down, offering a hand to help her up.

[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki sags at his touch, and when she stands upright she flings her arms around his neck. "I thought you dead," she says, over and over again, "and I know so few here ..."

[jarndyceheir]

"Ssh," he holds her, soothing her, surprised and touched at the strength of her reaction. "I'm alright."

[false_kyllikki]

She is surprised, herself--but perhaps it is her need to cling to what is familiar in an unfamiliar place, coupled with an inexplicable sense that Richard would never harm her. "Truly, you are?"

[jarndyceheir]

He nods. "I am. It's fine."

[false_kyllikki]

"And your family? Your love? Are they well?"

[jarndyceheir]

"Everyone..." He looks sad, faltering a moment, then says "Everyone will be well, soon enough. Things are unsettled, but..."

[false_kyllikki]

She smiles faintly. "It will settle them, to see you well."

[jarndyceheir]

He doesn't contradict her. "I am sorry to have frightened you."

[false_kyllikki]

"And I am sorry, to have worried you ..." She gives him a little bow, and then bends to pick up her now-empty bottle of milk and basket of bread. "I must go, or my flower will think I have left her."

[jarndyceheir]

"Of course. I will see you soon, then."