Tears Water Our Growth IV

(Summary: Aventus got gravely wounded by the dragon after surprise attacking it to keep it from reaching the rest of the children. Then a battle ensued between the dragon and a group of warriors from the camp. We now continue at the tail end of this battle.)

As I lie pinned against my rock wall by the wind force of the dragon's wings, I'm left with an opening... And had the dragon not just attacked my family... I might have been reluctant to use this opening.

But I steel myself as I prepare my only long-range spell.

I summon an ice spike, but instead of launching it, I hold it back, growing it in size and length until it is about the size of a spear. Then I pour the last magika into it, strengthening it for the finishing move I never hoped to use.

"I hope Shiro was right about this being a critical weak spot... Take this! Ice Spear!" I shout as I launch the projectile and feel my rock wall crumble behind me as the last magika leaves my body.

The ice spear flies true, piercing the dragon in its exposed anus and sending the dragon into an indescribable world of pain before it succumbs to its wounds.

And as the soul leaves its body and flows into me, I barely have time to register the sensation as I rush over to where Aventus had been thrown earlier.

"Somebody get Jouanne! Aventus is hurt!" I shout as I try my best to rush over to him, pulling out my most potent healing potion as I dive into the thicket Aventus had wound up in.

I'm chilled by the sight. His right leg from mid-thigh down is completely gone, his lift arm is bent at a strange angle behind his back, and his breathing is shallow and raspy.

I quickly tie my belt around his severed leg to staunch the bleeding before pouring the healing potion down his mouth.

It takes a few moments to take effect, but a little color returns to Aventus' pale cheeks, and I noticed a small patch of skin forming over his stump, but his arm remains at a weird angle.

Jouanne rushes over and begins casting healing magic, which returns even more color to Aventus' cheeks and completely seals the stump, though his arm remains broken at a weird angle.

In response to this Jouanne bends down and quickly resnaps Aventus' arm back in place, expertly.

Luckily Aventus is out cold, either from the blood loss or immense pain, Jouanne quickly puts a sling around Aventus' wounded arm before using telekinesis to gently lift Aventus up and to the main house for further examination.

I'm left alone for a moment before remembering the rest of the children and running over to the lake to find Constance with them though, once they see me they all run over to me, tears still on their cheeks.

"Papa!" They all cry out as they cling onto me in fear.

"Shhh... Shhh... It's okay now, my little brumsumz, it's all over now..." I try and reassure them as I rub their backs and try and console them.

"W-what about Aventus?" Agni asks wiping the tears from her eyes as she asks in concern.

"He's going to be okay, Jouanne is looking after him now and we'll know more later." I say, trying to reassure her as much as myself.

'What the fuck was I thinking?! Why wouldn't a dragon attack here?! If Aventus doesn't make it through... God...' I chastise my lack of preparation and ignorance as I hang my head low in shame and guilt.

After a few minutes the children finally calm down enough to be taken back to the main house.

With them gone, Inigo, Lokir, Gringar, and Faendal, approach me.

"Are you okay, my friend?" Inigo asks with concern.

"You're not injured are you, Boss?" Lokir asks.

"Maybe you should go lie down?" Faendal suggests.

"I'm fine... No... I'm a fool who should have prepared for this long ago... Lokir, get a source on some dwemer ingots and other components, I'm going to make something I've been thinking of for a while. Gringar, we're going straight to (orc camp) as soon as I'm done. Faendal, it's best if you return to Riverwood with Camilla. Inigo, I'm going to need you to stand watch over me and Aventus for the next hour." I order everyone, not waiting for a reply before rushing off to the main house to check on Aventus.

I come in to see Jouanne casting some form of healing spell that shrouds Aventus in a divine glow before the look of discomfort on his face is replaced by one of blissful sleep.

I notice that Aventus' leg is still missing and his arm is still slightly crooked prompting me to question Jouanne.

"Is he going to be alright? Is there anyway he'll be able to walk again?" I ask with concern as I move to Aventus' side.

"He will live, but there's no way that I know off to regrow a fully severed limb. Well, some argonians have been reported to regrow their tails but that's just an old wives tale in my opinion. The good news is that after several months or a couple years at most of treatment, the boy should regain full use of his arm." Jouanne explains, taking a seat as I notice sweat trickling from the old man's brow.

"Why that long? Couldn't magic fix it?" I ask, taking Aventus' uninjured hand into my own.

"Sure, I could zap him with a spell and he'd be able to move it again, but he'd be in agony the rest of his life... No, it's better to let it heal naturally and guide the new growth of bone rather than to force it out via magic." Jouanne explains.

"I see... When will he wake up?" I ask with concern.

"It could be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. I placed him under a sleeping spell till the pain became a manageable level. And only he will know what manageable means." Jouanne says with a shrug as his eyes start to droop.