Worry
"Where were they?"
Jahadra spoke for our siblings as mother and her twins came in.
Sayori was understandably wary and eager to get away from any more conflict so I silently gestured for us both to go upstairs.
Elahbah and Husbar blocked us from going. Before I could argue, Jahadra had grabbed is both;
"These two ran away! And she brought a necromancy book, they should both get the stick."
"It wasn't a necromancy book." I argued.
"Regit's right." Mother admitted. The broken stick was back in its usual place and she fixed it quickly; "they didn't run away, they were going to come back."
"How do you know?" Jahadra spat.
"Because I just wanted to get someone's opinion about the book so there's no mistakes" Sayori said quietly; "there shouldn't be any reason to be angry over that. Why does everyone get so easily angry?"
Mother sat down and became another witness to this new drama.
"Why are you so strange?" Jahadra circled her younger sister; "your family is worried about you; we're all scared your going to get yourself hurt."
Sayori didn't respond.
"You know why mother used that? It's because she was scared you could have killed yourself. You seek things in books like a mad woman and learn things no child should know. And yet, like all children, you are still innocent. Regit has more sense than you sometimes."
"It's not very healthy to worry about things." Sayori said. To no one in particular.
I sensed something; "Are you alright?"
"No. I'm not."
She was blunt but also reluctant to admit this to me.
"I'm always in pain." Sayori remained still; "I think it's from worrying. It must be."
"Sayori?" I was worried.
She shook her head and her paws waved; "No one should be worried so stop. Just stop. It hurts so…. Just stop."
Mother couldn't stay quiet; "What do you mean?"
"Nothing-"
"Explain yourself."
"I have these headaches. Sometimes they feel like…. My head may burst. Something wants to come out…."
Jahadra had to get involved; "You're not making any sense-"
"I'm trying!"
Jahadra was silenced.
Surprised at my twin's outburst, my brothers sat on the steps.
"Sayori?" I tried to get her attention.
Instead, she started to cry again. Softly once more, holding herself tightly.
"Sayori?" Mother got up; "Why do you cry now and not when the stick fell?"
Sayori grabbed her head; "I couldn't cry when you did that. At least I was feeling pain elsewhere and my head was clear. When you stopped, it came back."
"Not even the Master's touch stopped it?"
"No" Sayori shook her head.
Mother tenderly stroked her small khajiit's fur on her head; "We will try to help you. You're right. We need to stop worrying so much -"
"Is it magic that's causing this?" Jahadra asked; "this is why she shouldn't be learning-"
Sayori suddenly whimpered like someone had stabbed her.
Mother was quick to hold her and try to sooth her.
Jahadra started to panic; "We have to do something, we can't just let this be. We have to find the mage responsible -"
"Stop" Elahbah said.
"But-"
"Just stop."
"Then what's going on?"
"I'm not sure what's going on" Mother said calmly; "But we'll find out."
She pulled Sayori from her hug, and still holding her shoulders, forced her to look at her.
"This will sting a little." Mother's voice was gentle.
Her paws went to the bottom of Sayori's ears.
Mother's claws turned green.
My heart jumped out of throat as I witnessed Sayori's eyes close and collapse in my mother's arms.
"Mother?" Fash'rin voiced our alarm.
Mother calmly picked up my sister; "Go and find a doctor."
"What did you do?"
"Do as I say." Mother carried Sayori upstairs; "we're going to find out what's going on in this one's head."
"Well that was a plot twist" Elahbah quipped.
"I'll get the doctor" Jahadra was quick to leave.
"Droisa does not understand" My littlest sister said.
I had to admit I did not either.
But I trusted mother. She would help my twin.