Houses of Healing II

[Arnyn]

Kaylin
Treatment Room
@Rillewen
@Pele Alarion

Kaylin gloomily looked at Pele and Eryn while Eryn decided what to do. Somewhat surprised when Eryn said she would stay with her instead of talking further about becoming a healer's apprentice, Kaylin blinked at the girl. She was grateful. Her mood lifted slightly.

The minor improvement made her want to think along for Eryn. "Well, if you will be trying to figure out if a combination of tasks is possible, wouldn't you need to know what the options here are?" Kaylin glanced at Pele. "If she becomes an apprentice, what would the required time investment be? Or is that flexible?" Necessary questions, she thought. "Would she be training with one specific healer, or several, because I am sure that option would increase flexibility for her. The tasks at the farm are mostly in the morning, yes?" She added, looking at Eryn for confirmation.

Next to Kaylin, Baerden chuckled. "You would think you are trying to figure out your own schedule, K."
Kaylin made a face at him. Although she supposed he had a point. "Sorry. Not trying to take over," she told Erynneth, although not with a very apologetic tone.

[Pele Alarion]

Master Healer Pele
Treatment Room
@Rillewen , @Arnyn

"It is best not to make such serious commitments immediately," Pele said, having cleaned up her work space so that the room looked ready for the next patient, even though still inhabited by four of them currently. "Some knowledge of healing is always useful, but if you would want to undertake apprenticeship, it does require a certain level of commitment."

She grinned when Kaylin seemed to have forgotten her injury and the strict restrictions for a while as she set about asking questions for Eryn. Pele did not object though, as it could distract her friend from her woes for a bit at least.

"As I said, it is a commitment, at least three to four hours on most days to help with learning and retention of skills. As for healers, it depends - each has a different view on things, a different aspect of healing, so I'd say several healers to gain general understanding, and then perhaps more learning under one for in-depth knowledge, if desired," Pele explained. "But again, perhaps you should see how much time and effort you want and are able to spend on this, Erynneth, and if you would like for healing to become the main area of your work life, or just an additional asset. I'd say, think of it, decide what you want, discuss it with family and friends, and then come back."

[Rillewen]

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn

Erynneth
Treatment room

Eryn smiled as Kaylin started asking some very sensible questions. "No I don't mind, I'm glad for the help in figuring it out." She grinned at her friend, then took a moment to listen to Pele's answers. "Alright," She nodded thoughtfully. "Three to four hours isn't bad. I usually do the milking early, then again later in the evening. But there's all the afternoon in between that I can come and learn here. And then there's the days that I make deliveries into town, that usually takes a while because I have to fill all the orders on levels five and down.." She thought about that for a moment. "I'll talk to everyone involved to make sure no one will have any objections." She nodded, agreeing with Pele's suggestion to think on it. "I'll return when I know exactly how much I can commit.. but I think I could manage around four hours most days, as you said." She smiled, eager for this potential new avenue of learning.

"In the meanwhile Kaylin, you should get home and rest." She mentioned. "And I'll stay and keep you company, at least until I have to go home." She remembered, after all this talk, that she would need to get home soon. She'd only arranged to be gone a day or two, three at the most, so if she didn't get back in time it would cause worry. "I'm sure you'll be much more comfortable once you get home, than you are here." Another thing that she thought of, in waiting a few days to sign up for apprenticeship, was that she didn't want to be too busy with that, if Kaylin needed her to stay around and help her with anything during the next few days, when she'd probably be needing to rest the most.

[Arnyn]

Kaylin
Treatment Room
@Rillewen
@Pele Alarion

When Eryn brought the attention back to Kaylin needing to go home and rest, Kaylin sighed. "Yeah, yeah," she said. "Off to go rest, it is." The emphasis on the word 'rest' was almost comical, because of how much her tone suggested she loathed the word.
"Let's go then," she said with some reluctance, although to be fair, part of her was looking forward to sitting down on the couch. Standing up wasn't a position she was wanting to hold for long, apparently.

Baerden respectfully bid Pele goodbye, and the three made their way out of the treatment room, back to the wagon. Kaylin found being so fussed over downright annoying, but she had to admit she wouldn't exactly have wanted to walk back to the house at this point. She was exhausted. She was feeling the walk back from Ithilien to Osgiliath when she'd already been wounded, the sleep she'd had in Osgiliath hadn't exactly been sound, and she'd hardly closed her eys on the wagon ride back to Minas Tirith. Yet she would rather be caught dead than admit anything of the sort to Baerden and Eryn.

[Winddancer]

Ms Irma with Pele and Unalmis

The spluttering and the huffing and puffing would most certainly have continued, just off of being addressed as "sweets" if it were not for Pele's uncanny calm stare and tone. It literally caught Ms Irma off guard, the large woman practically retreating futher into the wheelchair as if to put more distance between them. Not that she was cowering, mind you. Ms Irma did not cower.

The way Pele spoke to the young man while still looking at her left her unnerved, her beady little eyes flickering between the woman with her hands on her hips and the young man who seemed to have a disrectful way of looking at her. Any other time and she would have given that young man a stern telling off (and maybe a solid smack upside his head) for being so disrespectful towards his betters, however the woman with the compelling stare made stay her sharp tongue and she instead resorted to grinding her teeth. For now.

Master healer? Ms Irma hmrph'ed when she learned that it was none other than the Master Healer herself that was attending her, though did also think that it was as it should be, why should some lesser healer see to her when it could mean amputation if they got it wrong!? Just take the other one who just wheeled her in here and left her!

She watched with an angry glare as the "brat" left the room to do the Master Healer's bidding, though why the healer would give that young man any responsibility was beyond her. How would the healer know if he got it right or not?? Beginning to doubt whether the Master Healer was all that capable, she reluctantly stuck her right foot out towards the woman as the healer inquired as to which was hurt, though the anger once more boiled over at being falsly accused of potentially kicking.

"What!? I would never! What do you take me for? Some kind of uncouth derelict??" Insulted did not even begin to describe how she felt, the anger rising back up and re-colouring her face. However she did not get a chance to completely unleash her "justified" anger on the healer as the young man returned. Eyes bulging from the pent up rage, she watched as Unalmis handed the tea to Pele and then flash her an impertinent smile. Needless to say, she lost it.

"What are you even doing in here!? Get out and give me some privacy! How dare you grin at me that way!?" Her hands gripped the armrests of the wheelchair as she shook with fury, her voice gaining in pitch until she screeched the last words. Never in her life had she ever been insulted this way! She would see to it that these people paid dearly!

(I am soooo sorry for keeping you waiting! Please forgive me! Though feel free to take it out on the mean cow :P )

[Pele Alarion]

Master Healer with Ms Irma and Unalmis
Treatment Room

Pele was about to tend to Ms Irma's foot which she had stretched out towards her, which was enough for her to see that no bones were broken and that it could not be worse than a bad strain. However, it seemed to her that since the woman was more intent on showing off the might of her fury than minding her pain it could have even been nothing more than a slight twist. The idea that any of the staff could have thought of telling the woman that the foot would need amputation made her even more amused though she did not show it. Yet any treatment plans had to be stopped as Unalmis returned and proceeded to annoy the angry creature even more, and her screaming reached such levels that Pele wondered if all people in the Houses of Healing would arrive on scene within moments.

"Now!" Pele made use of the time her patient needed to take a breath to intervene. "You will stop the screaming right now, Ms Irma!" While her voice was still relatively calm, it had gained just a tad more volume and a tone which was more befitting when commanding her Rangers in the field and expecting that they would obey without talking back. "I cannot work on your foot when you yell as if you want a whole city of half-deaf people to hear you. And I am surely not deaf!"

The healer then glanced at Nal, her blue eyes holding a warning for him as well. While there was a plenty of room for silly otherwise, she did not appreciate too much of it when all she wanted was to fix that woman's foot and get her out of the Houses before her yelling made all other patients worse. "As for you, Unalmis, if you have nothing serious to contribute to the matter at hand, say not a single thing and simply assist the way I tell you," she said.

"As for you, Ms Irma," she turned back to her patient. "You shall not order around people subordinated to me - in my realm of oversight. Instead you shall take a few sips of tea and stay calm as I look at that foot of yours. Is that understood?" She let her words sink in and looked at the woman with her eyes intent and chin slightly raised as if challenging her to test Pele's limits. "The tea is rather bitter, but honey will make it bearable. To help with the pain a bit," she added, returning to the subject of why the woman was here in the first place and handing her the cup. "No need to drink all of it unless your pain is very severe."

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta - Ranger/Healer training
with The MasterHealer: Dealing with Ms Irma
@Pele Alarion @Winddancer

Unalmis ought to have known it would not take very much for the irate patient to lose her temper with him. But even his subtly insinuating that he might have done something awful to the herbal tea was apparently picked up by Pele as much as the Laundress. He had to admit, not audibly, but still; that he hadn’t really thought about that possibility. And since he was supposed to be here in some manner of official capacity this day ..


When he was expected to explain what he was doing there, he held his tongue. His lips naturally parted on instinct but he got no further. Partly because of the warning in the Captain’s expression, but mostly because there was not a chance he’d let the Dragon lady know that he was here for training. The very last thing he needed was a complaint that ensured his failure. His commanding officer was present, thank goodness, but the moment that her patient realised that his behaviour here was on any sort of trial, she would be calling up everyone she could conspire of to expect repercussions. The patient’s call for privacy did see him frown though. It was only her foot out for examination, and he was certainly not standing any closer to 'that' than he had to ! Besides, he could have heard about her complaints about it all even if he were stood out in the street. Privacy ? Quite how he would have to go to not hear the great outcry did bear some consideration, and a not small hint of temptation as well. But when Ms Irma called him out for grinning at her ?

He very almost asked if she had never seen anybody smile before, because the crazy laundress was surely unlikely to ever have caused the reaction in any other human being. But Pele spoke up first. The Healer had taken from calling him ‘Nal’ before, to a now all-too-real rendition of his full name. And anybody who has ever heard their full name employed as a warning, knew the signs to mind himself.

She defended his being there though, mere moments later. And the young Ranger could not halt a slow glimmer of satisfaction in his brown eyes as Pele told Ms Irma off. AND advised the impatient patient to drink up the tea he’d made her. The Master Healer had even suggested that the laundress ‘only’ need drink the entire cup if her pain was ‘very severe’. Since that was exactly what the loud woman had been claiming ever since they had found her, and even before, well - she’d just had her bluff unequivocally called. She surely wouldn’t want to drink what he’d prepared, but neither could she very well admit now that her pain was not so severe as to justify her screaming.


You had to hand it to the Captain, the young man was in awe. Pele definitely knew what she was doing ! He resolved then and there not to allow himself to get kicked out of the room, because that would only be exactly what Irma was hoping for. And it did not hurt for the Master Healer to have a witness on hand, if naught more. The laundress did sometimes threaten to take things as far as the courthouse after all ! And he'd learnt that even the most unbelievable claims put to that establishment were required by law to be 'investigated'. Part of Healer training though was the ability to tend to another’s needs before his own and so that was the mantra that the young man held to; lips turned inward so that he could rally all the strength that it would take to remain in the room, and also refrain from every thing he wished to actually say.

Envisaging some very similarly delicate situation where the Masterhealer might have to calm a stampeding frightened Mumakil, was not that hard to keep in mind. A simple nod let Pele know that he was going to try and see this out. But he stood guard at the door where he could observe the examination from a safe distance and ensure nobody else would invade the patient’s privacy without due warning. A needless precaution presuming all in the vicinity had ears to hear with. But all the same. He'd been in far more uncomfortable situations before now, anyway. This, he could handle this. He would have to. Well, he would try.

[Winddancer]

Ms Irma with Pele and Unalmis

The snorting and huffing grew exponetionally and would have awarded at least one Arpy if there was a category for such. There was absolutely no doubt in Ms Irma's mind that the "master healer" was going to be reported to the authorities for her uncouth bedside manners. Fired on the spot, if it were up to her. But a twinge of pain in her ankle as she shook with anger in the wheelchair, reminded her of why she was still here and despite her objections to be treated by these two.. quacks, she did need their help if she was going to avoid becoming a cripple.

With several indignant sniffs at Pele's words and several hatefilled glares towards the boy, Ms Irma amazingly managed to bite her tongue. She would have the last laugh when the two of them were kicked out for gross misconduct.

It was with great reluctance and even greater suspicion that she finally accepted the offered pain-relieving tea. With a wrinkled nose and the look of utter disgust on her face, she sipped the tea and almost gagged. Her beady little eyes shot up towards the boy, anger almost making her yell at him for deliberately omitting the honey. Or at least put so little in that it did not counteract the bitterness of the medicine. Another accusation for the books, trying to poison her!

However the thought of her boot getting pulled off her swollen foot, even if it was laced was enough for her to force the rest of the digusting concoction down, angrily setting the tea cup aside on the windowsill when she was done. Bracing herself, she grabbed a hold of the arm rests once more and gave Pele an angry nod to indicate that she was ready, refusing to speak unless needed and completely unaware of how blissful that would be to everyone on the premises.

[Pele Alarion]

Master Healer with Ms Irma and Unalmis
Treatment Room

Pele took some time to enjoy the silence, as she made sure that Unalmis would not say anything to make the patient go yelling all over again and stood by calmly, which she considered to be an achievement of sorts as well. Then she turned back to Ms Irma and watched her empty the cup of what she knew to be a bitter tea - half a cup should have been filled with honey to make the bitterness disappear.

"Right. Let us see..." the healer then said, satisfied that she seemed to have brought the situation under reasonable control. As gently as she could, she placed the injured foot on her knee and proceeded to unlace and remove the boot, though needless to say she thought that the arrogant woman might have deserved harsher treatment. Yet, she as a healer was obliged to treat all patients with the same care, no matter of their attitudes. Once the foot was free of all coverings, she examined it first without touching the swollen area around the ankle.

"Ms Irma, I will put some arnica salve on it now and cover it with a light bandage," she then said, carefully placing Irma's foot on the boot as she went for the cupboards to find the said materials. "Needless to say, rest for the foot would be the best medicine," she continued, returning with the supplies she had quickly located among the filled cupboards and drawers. "Also," she hesitated with her next recommendation, wondering if the woman thought herself too 'noble' for any such thing. "If you want to regain full use of your foot as soon as possible, you should wrap it in bruised cabbage leaves under bandages and leave it on for the night. It would reduce swelling, bruising and pain quite well, even better than all sorts of expensive treatments."

Pele's touch was light, as she worked to cover the whole injured area with a thin layer of the soothing salve. As she did so, she thought that she'd probably have to assign some unlucky candidate to wheel the woman home.

[Pele Alarion]

Gardens, Nárië 20, after the meeting at HQ

Unwilling to be caught by healers with many questions or by screaming patients, Pele used the back door to slip quickly through the Houses and into the gardens. She asked the guard to give her privacy and with promises of not escaping got him to agree to keep away far enough but with her still in his view. Taking paths that she knew were not well used, she walked among the trees breathing deeply and letting her thoughts wander aimlessly for a few moments. Yet it did not take long before she returned to thinking over what was said and done at the meeting.

At one of the crossroads of paths in the furthest reaches of the gardens Pele turned left to reach the wall encircling the garden and fencing off the sixth circle. Leaning her forearms on it, she looked out at the circles below, and a bit of the Pelennor Fields and a glimmering ribbon of the River further away. The sight was beautiful, accompanied by singing of birds in the trees, and yet all the beauty did not seem to fully reach Pele as it usually did.

The meeting had to be called, and information had to be shared, that much she knew, and felt that she had acted correctly, if late. And she had no regrets about sharing her deepest feelings and concerns; if anything, she had felt heard and understood. Yet the Captain was not happy with how the meeting had gone, and it had left her with the feeling of frustration that there was constantly something going wrong. How was she to repair what she now saw as damaged relationship with Kaylin and Mourgan? Besides, how could she be sure that all was well in relations with Karis and Isys, though both had left calmly? The only certainty she had was that everything seemed to be sorted with Arnyn.

Confused and frustrated by the mixed results of the meeting, Pele wished she could find relief in simply crying to her heart's content but even that was out of question since she was aware of the guard's watchful presence. She felt obliged to keep up the façade of the tough captain instead of simply being herself.

Finding no solace in the lovely scenery that was visible below, Pele sighed in exasperation and turned to roam the gardens some more until she eventually decided to head for the barracks and perhaps lock herself up in her room, without another pair of eyes constantly staring at her.

[Rillewen]

Erynneth Raedor
Reception - 2-3 weeks after Kaylin's injury

Eryn hadn't thought it would take this long to get around to this. First, Kaylin's injury had made her decide to wait so that she could stay with her friend for a while, in case she needed help with anything while she was recovering and waiting on her husband's return. Then, the girl had wanted to wait for her father to return home from his excursion in the mountains. And when he did make it back, he had also been injured, much to Eryn's dismay. His injury was less frightening than Kaylin's, but still worrisome. Convincing him to let her take him to the houses of healing... that had been a task far more challenging than it had been with Kaylin. But after a day or so, once she had finally had a chance to speak to her father, to tell him of her plans, she was surprised to find that he was more than agreeable to the idea. Perhaps it was just excellent timing on her part, considering. But it was very exciting to finally have an outlet for training which her father didn't oppose.

Still, she had waited a few more days to ensure that he was settled close to the house, and had no immediate need for her assistance, so that she could be spared. But at last, she was here. Eryn paused to take a deep breath, smoothing her dress slightly, and checked that she wasn't covered in dog fur, and that her shoes didn't look chewed up, before entering. She had been there before, of course, but those times it had been with the purpose of bringing a patient. This time, she was a bit nervous and unsure exactly where she ought to go, or who she ought to ask for. The place seemed fairly quiet at the moment, and she subconsciously tried to keep her steps soft so not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere as she walked toward the reception desk. "Hello, I'm not sure who I need to speak to, but I've come to um, sign up for apprenticeship." She informed the person at the desk, a little unsure about how to word that.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen
Receptionist Miriel
Reception

In comparison to some other days this one was rather quiet, and Miriel had been able to pull out the poetry book she kept in her desk and read for a bit in peace, lifting her eyes up to look in the distance dreamily - though the said distance turned out to be the entrance door of the Houses of Healing. She had once more turned her attention back to reading, and became aware of Eryn's presence only when she spoke.

Keeping the finger between the pages she had been reading, Miriel closed the book and looked Eryn over a bit curiously. "Good day," she eventually said calmly. "If you are here for apprenticeship, you should probably find the Master Healer. She might be in the study somewhere, or perhaps in the garden, but you should check the study first. It is down that hall, second door to the left," the young woman pointed out the correct direction with her hand.

[Rillewen]

@Pele Alarion

Erynneth Raedor
Reception/hallway outside study - 2-3 weeks after Kaylin's injury

"The study, or the garden," Eryn repeated, nodding thoughtfully. "Alright, and..." She held off from asking where the study was, hearing the receptionist already giving her the directions. Listening carefully, she nodded and smiled cheerily. "Alright, thank you, miss!" She replied, and set off down the hall that the receptionist had indicated, and remembered with a little embarrassment just a couple weeks ago when she'd went down this same hall in search of a healer, and ended up scaring the woman half to death in concern over Kaylin's condition. Hopefully she would soon learn how to avoid such misunderstandings in the future, especially when she had learned a bit more about this healing stuff. 'Down the hall, second door on the left,' she repeated in her mind, then hesitated outside the door and wondered if she ought to knock. Was it the sort of place where knocking was expected? After a brief consideration she decided to knock, and did so lightly before stepping back to wait.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele, the Master Healer
Study
@Rillewen

Pele had done a round to check on patients' health and on work results of other healers and staff before retiring to the study to devote herself to some research. It had been almost an hour since she had set out a collection of about five books on the table, one open before her, and a couple other open books further aside. She had been reading and taking notes for a good long while, but had been staring out the window for a few moments, daydreaming.

The knock at the door brought her back to reality, and Pele straightened up in preparation to rush out and provide aid to some unfortunate soul.

"Aye! Come in!" she called towards the door looking at it expectantly.

[Rillewen]

@Pele Alarion

Erynneth Raedor
Study - 2-3 weeks after Kaylin's injury

Eryn recognized Pele's voice as she called out to come in. Good, that was just who she needed to talk to. She smiled and opened the door, stepped in, and glanced around a bit curiously. She'd probably get to know all the different areas around here, before now, but so far, it was all really new. "Hello, captain." She greeted her cheerfully. "Don't worry, no medical emergency this time." She assured her, before the healer might get worried. After the last time Eryn had come to find her, there was no telling what Pele might think, seeing her here again.

"You said to come back after I'd talked to my family, and now I have, so I've come to sign up as an apprentice." She explained, excited to finally be getting started, and hoped she might get to start right away. "It took a little longer than I expected, because of my dad getting hurt," She was fairly sure that Pele would know about her dad's injury, so didn't feel the need to explain about that. "Anyway, now that things have settled down a little, I've got everything worked out with my schedule and so now I'm here. I came to sign up to be an apprentice healer." Bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, she tried to rein in the excitement as she waited for Pele to tell her what to do to get signed up.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time
(The day after the meeting with Arnyn)

A heavy sigh slipped out as Duinion sank down onto one of the benches lining the pathways. Leaning the hated crutches against the side of the bench, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It had been a very long night. Not that he minded talking with Unalmis all night, which is exactly what happened, but he was weary after getting no sleep. He'd known it would happen, but there wasn't much avoiding it. He'd survive, of course, since he was used to going without sleep now and then. But being used to it didn't make this whole thing any less difficult for him, and he really just wanted to go home and lay down and sleep for the rest of the day. Of course, he couldn't do that. He knew that if he went to sleep now, it would throw off his sleep schedule for the next night, and the one after that, so he'd probably make sure to stay awake for the whole rest of today. Which he wasn't exactly looking forward to, but he'd do it anyway. And then he'd have to do all of this over again the next time he had to stay in the barracks. He felt like groaning, but managed to hold that in.

Breakfast in the mess hall had been another miserable experience. Although the food was alright, it wasn't home, and he was looking forward to having some of Aggie's cooking, later. For now, he had some time to kill. His appointment wasn't for another hour, but he just couldn't spend another minute indoors. He'd had to get outside for a while, and this seemed the best place for it. It was near enough to the healer that he should be able to get there easily enough, yet there was enough nature around to make him feel a little more at ease. Taking a slow, deep breath, he inhaled the fresher air out here in the gardens, enjoying the smell of flowers. At least there was that. It reminded him somewhat of his wife, and that brought a faint, but sad, smile to his face. She used to love flowers, and nature, and the outdoors. Just like him.

Carefully stretching his bandaged leg out across the empty bench, he tried to find a comfortable position without putting pressure on the injured foot. The ranger took a careful look around his surroundings, making a mental note of the length of shadows, position of the sun, and other ways to mark the passing of time. Once he had established in his mind ways to tell when it was time for his appointment, he quietly pulled a book from his pack and found the place where he'd left off before. He was very grateful to Eryn for having thought to pack him some books along, and had been rather surprised when she showed up at his camp with a stack of them, picked out especially for him. She'd never had much interest in reading, so he hadn't expected her to even know the sort of books he would be interested in, but she did well, and he was glad for the bright sunlight out here to enable him to read now, to pass the time.

[Winddancer]

Daevion

"Daevion!"

The call sounded far off thankfully as he darted out into the gardens. Gardens? For a brief moment he came to a stop, his jaw dropping at the beauty of it. Seeing a man kneeling by some plants, he was almost about to go ask what he was doing, when another call sent him off on a run again.

Dodging in and out of the small paths, he saw one that was hidden behind some bushes and all but dived around them and ducked into hiding while peering as inconspicuously out around them. Cradled against his chest was his left arm in a sling, the splints sticking out as evidence that it was likely broken.

Seeing the otherwise likeable healer stop at the entrance, he immediately dropped down and hid and as he turned to sit on his bum he saw that there was a man sat just across from him on the bench, his eyes going wide in surprise.

"Deavion! Are you out here? Come now, you need to take this medicine. Daevion!"

The boy shook his head and raised his right hand to his lips in a plea for silence, hoping the man wouldn't give him away.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

He had just gotten involved in the story when a young lady's voice broke through the silence, calling a name. Was that the one named Naela? He was getting far more familiar with the healers and staff than he'd ever wanted to, but coming for an appointment every other week would do that. He tried to ignore the distraction, and focus on his book. She called the name again, and again. Duinion sighed softly, glancing around. What was all this about? Weren't these gardens supposed to be serene and peaceful, or something like that? As there was a pause for a few moments, he turned his attention back to the book, thinking that the calling was done with. And then she called this Daevion person again. He looked up, wondering where this girl was calling from, as she seemed both near and far at the same time.

And then he saw the boy, and locked eyes with him briefly. The startled look on his face as he saw that he wasn't alone, was almost comical. But Duinion didn't laugh, and watched him give a nearly panicked shake of his head, and put a finger to his lips. Silently pleading. So, this must be Daevion, Duinion realized with a small smile. He slowly nodded, to signify he wouldn't make a sound. He remembered plenty of times he'd hidden from a certain adult, when he was that age, although that was..very different from a healer trying to get him to take medicine. Still, he couldn't imagine it would do any harm to let him stay hidden a little while. He couldn't help noticing the sling, and that made his smile fade slightly. Poor kid. He wondered what happened to his arm, but he didn't say a word, and looked back down at his book.

In the few seconds of silence that followed, his ears picked up a soft sound he thought was either steps, or someone brushing against foliage, possibly the rustle of skirts... things that maybe the boy wouldn't have heard. The ranger's ears were finely tuned to the sounds of the forest, and those sounds which didn't belong. He was far more accustomed to listening for the smallest giveaway that someone was approaching, as it could be a matter of life or death out in Ithilien or other places full of foes. And as Eryn had lately been practicing her skills of trying to walk stealthily, so had his skills for detecting her approach sharpened somewhat. Duinion glanced up again, his gaze seeking that of the boy, and mouthed the word 'hide' along with a motion to indicate he should hide himself, hoping to warn the little boy that, unless Duinion was wrong, his pursuer was approaching.

[Winddancer]

"Daevion!"

Curses! Where was he!? Naela got to the gardens, eyes darting this way and that though seeing no immediate signs of him. Her eyes fell on a familiar form kneeling by the herbs. "Maenion?" She held out a hand apologetically as she saw she had startled him. "Sorry, did-"

"No, no, it's quite alright, just lost in thought is all. Can I help?"

"You haven't seen a small boy run past, have you? Seven years old? He had a broken arm." She looked at him hopefully.

"Sorry my dear, if he came this way I didn't notice." He turned back to his weeding as Naela sighed a thank you and headed off calling the boy's name again.

Up and down the many paths she went, calling out his name until she came to a sudden stop as she saw Duinion sat on a bench. "Mr Raedor! Sorry, I uh mean Duinion. Sorry to disturb. You didn't happen to see a boy running through, did you? Seven years old, brown hair, broken arm?"

A small rustle made her turn, though she just missed seeing Daevion's foot disappear into the bush.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

As the young lady emerged from the path, Duinion's guess was verified as correct; it was apprentice healer Naela. He looked up from pretending to read, and smiled in reply to her greeting. "Hello, Healer Naela," He answered with a small smile, then listened with curiosity as she posed her question. "Did I see a boy run through?" He paused, inwardly pleased by the wording she had used. "I can't say that I have, sorry." he shook his head, quite honestly. For the boy had not run through, he thought with private amusement. "I've only been here a few minutes, however. It's possibly he may have come through before I arrived, perhaps?" He suggested. Then, tilting his head slightly, he asked in concern, "What has he done to have you chasing him around?" he wondered, as if expecting to hear the boy had done some mischief.

As the young healer turned toward where little Daevion was hiding, Duinion subtly brought a hand up to his mouth, and made a sound as if there was a bird chirping somewhere nearby. Immediately after, he rested his hand against his chin, the other hand holding the elbow, making him look thoughtful. "The birds are quite plentiful around here, perhaps your fugitive has gone off to enjoy their songs, as I've been doing?" He suggested. "I imagine a boy that age might be quite explorative. This place is likely all new to him, but I'm sure he'll be back by the next mealtime." He paused then, thinking a moment. "Is it urgent that you find him? I could help you search if you like?" He offered, making a slight show of reaching for his crutches, and hoped she would not take him up on the offer due to the fact he wasn't actually supposed to be moving around too much.

[Winddancer]

Daevion and Naela

"Just Naela" she said absentmindedly with a smile, her eyes darting around to see if there were any signs of the boy.

"Hm? Oh he hasn't done anything. I just need to give him his medicine. I have tried sweetening it with honey, unfortunately it is quite bitter."
She did not blame the boy, her face screwing up in sympathy. Though it was starting to niggle at the back of her mind wondering just how important it was. She would have suggested a better diet, however she knew that the orphanage did as best they could with the means they had.

Her eyes almost fell on the boy hidden deep in a bush as a sound of a bird nearby drew her attention away. "Yeah, perhaps he has. Who can blame him, not like the orphanage has a garden this nice." She gave Duinion a nod and a smile in agreement as if there was anything that would get the boy back inside, it was food. "Yeah, I am sure you are right. I just hope for his own sake he doesn't go exploring through the rooms. Some unpleasant sights, if you know what I mean.." Her voice trailed off as she began stepping away as if to leave.

"What!? No, don't you be silly. Stay, enjoy the garden. I will come and collect you when I am done." Before he could argue with her, she headed off calling the boy's name as she went back inside.

Deavion let out his held breath as he heard her footsteps retreating, his small face peering out between the branches. "Is she gone?" The rest of him followed awkwardly with his arm restricted by the sling. Rising to his feet slowly, keeping his head lowered as he wiped his hand on his trousers.

"Hey, how did you do that? That bird sound was you, wasn't it?" Big eyes peered up at the man as he slid onto the bench opposite where he was stretching his leg out. "Did you break your leg? I broke my arm." He said in a flurry of questions like only a child could, raising his sling and wincing slightly. Quickly returning it to his chest, his other arm cradled it protectively. "Sadus pushed me off the fence." He added as he looked up at the man. "Did someone push you?"

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

Medicine, hm. Duinion wondered what it was for, but didn't ask, not wanting to delay her any more in leaving. And then she dropped a word that he was pretty sure was the worst word in this entire language. Orphanage? Poor kid..no wonder he was running. Duinion frowned. "No... they definitely do not." He agreed, having had plenty of personal experience with the orphanage's "garden". "I doubt he would go through the rooms, he sounds old enough he ought to know not to go into someone's room without knocking." He mentioned, in hopes of reassuring the healer on that matter, while also hinting just enough for the boy to hopefully be reminded about knocking, in case he had any ideas about exploring the rooms.

Settling back down on the bench as she refused his offer to help, he nodded slightly. "I'll be right here." He promised, hoping to dispel any worries she might have that yet another patient would flee. With a small smile, he watched her leave before turning to nod in reply to the little boy. "Yes, it's safe now." He assured him, slightly amused. "So, you must be Daevion." He made a guess that wasn't so much a guess. He shifted slightly so he could more easily look at the little boy as he joined him on the bench. "I'm Duinion." He added, putting out his right hand for a handshake. He grinned further as he asked him if the bird sound was him, and how he did it. "Yes, it was me. I can make lots of bird sounds." He repeated the sound he'd made before, to prove it.

The questions rolled from one into the next, and now he was asking about Duinion's injury, while revealing some about his own. "I broke my foot," Duinion corrected him. "Who is Sadus?" He frowned, hoping it was another child and not whoever was running the orphanage now. "I hope your arm heals soon," He added, before considering how to reply to the last question. "Hm.. not exactly. Well, maybe I got pushed? But not by a person." He tried to vaguely replay the incident in his mind, then shook his head slightly, deciding he'd rather not. "You've heard of trolls, haven't you? Huge, scary monsters that like to eat people?" He tried not to give too graphic of a description, unsure what sort of stories the kid would have heard. Back when he was in the orphanage, everyone knew a little about trolls, goblins, orcs, and all sorts of terrors that lurked in dark and shadowy places. But he had no idea what that place was like these days... hopefully nothing like that.

"I ran into a big, ugly troll while I was in the mountains getting some very special plants for the healers here," He explained, whether the boy had heard of them or not. "Me and the young man who was with me had to fight him, and it was pretty scary. It all happened pretty fast, and I can't really remember exactly how it happened, but I hurt my foot while I was fighting the troll." He downplayed the incident quite a bit, so not to bring unnecessary fear to the boy, but also figured he would rather hear truth than a sugar coated story. "Between me and my friend, we beat the troll, so he won't be hurting anyone else ever again." He assured the kid, in the hope that he wouldn't become worried about trolls coming down from the mountains or anything.

[Winddancer]

Daevion

As the man suddenly extended his hand in greeting, Daevion flinched back. In his world, hands did not come towards you unless it was to force you to take medicine, painfully reset your bones, push you off a fence or hit you. A heartbeat passed before he warily gave his own in greeting, pulling it back quickly to coddle his broken arm as soon as it ended.

However it seemed the man found the cure to his apprehension as the sound of the bird call had his eyes widening in wonder, a flurry of questions asked if he could teach it to him, where he learned it and how long he had been able to do it for spilled out of him without really any expectation of an answer. In fact he was not all that familiar with any adult who even spent this much time with him, other than Naela though she was always busy.

"Just a boy from the orphanage. He is older and bigger than me." It was evident he didn't want to talk about it, instead leaning in as Duinion told the story of the troll.

"Noo.. really? You really fought a troll? Sadus says there aren't any trolls. They were all killed in the war. Were you in the war? Did you kill one there?" No real concept of time, he obviously did not put two and two together, though the story had him scooting closer so as to not miss a single bit of shared information. "Did you use a sword? I want to use a sword when I grow up! And fight orcs! Sadus says there are still orcs, that the Rangers go on patrols and kill them! I wish I could go."

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

Noticing the boy's flinching reaction, Duinion hesitated slightly and wished he hadn't put his hand out, but luckily Daevion relaxed slightly and figured out that he was not going to hit him. The idea that the boy would have jumped to such a conclusion left Duinion inwardly steaming, but he was careful not to show that outwardly. The stream of questions brought a small grin in reply, and he took a moment to think how to reply to the questions. "Let's see.. I started learning how to do that when I was... about fourteen or so, I think. So, I was about twice your age. But, maybe I could teach you some easy ones. Do you know how to whistle?" He wondered, unsure whether the boy would have had anyone that could teach him such a skill.

While he was trying to remember what else Daevion had asked, he moved on to answering about who Sadus was. "Hm, a boy at the orphanage," He nodded slowly. "There was a boy like that when I was there, a long time ago." He mentioned knowingly. "Raithon. He was about a year older than me, and he liked to pick on anyone smaller than him. He used to say a lot of really mean things, and he'd push the smaller kids around. He tried to hurt my sister once, and she kicked him down some stairs." He mentioned with a vague smile, although it wasn't as triumphant as it should have been as he also remembered Aggie's panic at the fear that she might have done the boy some serious harm.

"Really, I did fight a troll." He replied. "Sadus is wrong about trolls, there are still some of them, but they hide out during the day and only come out at night because they don't like the sunlight." He explained. "And yes, I was in the war. But I didn't encounter any trolls then, thankfully. This happened only a few months ago, up in the mountains." He motioned vaguely in the general area where he had been, but was careful not to move his arm too quickly. "No, I didn't use a sword, I used a bow." he grinned. "You want to keep your distance from something like a troll. My bow broke, though." he added, saddened to recall that detail. "And yes, there are still orcs, though not as many as before." He nodded slightly. "Sadus is right about the rangers.. I'm a ranger, and we do go on patrols and fight orcs. Though we use many different weapons than just swords," He grinned. "Perhaps one day when you grow up, you'll get to be a ranger too."

[Winddancer]

Daevion

The promise of being taught something as awesome as the bird whistles had him almost bouncing in his seat. He would do that? He would really teach him? Sadus didn't know how to whistle, he could just imagine doing it in front of the older boy. He shook his mop of hair, it obviously needing a cut, at the question of whether he could whistle though, his smile disappearing. Would he need to know how to before Duinion would show him? Though the thought that he would likely not even see the man after today for him to be taught made him sad, the dream of showing off to the other children dashed as it was unlikely Duinion would ever come visit the orphange just to teach him how to whistle.

His many questions and thoughts however were quickly pushed aside at the news of Duinion having been in the orphanage too, his mouth gaping. The thought of his sister put a worried look on his face. He hoped he never got kicked down any stairs, falling off of a fence was bad enough.

But his mind reeled at the thought of Duinion being a Ranger. A real Ranger! And he had been in the orphanage! Hope kindled in his eyes as he listened to the story, interspersing tons of questions of the hows, whys and whens. "I will be a Ranger!" He said with determination. "And I will fight orcs too!" He jumped off the bench and began jabbing at the air with his good arm as if fighting off orcs.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

The little boy's excitement was somewhat contagious, and Duinion grinned slightly at his many questions. But it was clear too that Daevion looked a little disappointed to admit he did not know how to whistle. "That's no problem." Duinion assured him. "It takes a bit of practice, but you can learn how to do that. I'll show you how." He paused to think how to actually teach such a thing, as it had been a very long time since he actually learned that particular skill. "First, you make your lips in a really little 'o' like this," He demonstrated, turning to make sure the boy could see him, "and blow through, lightly." He whistled a brief note. "It will take a lot of practice before you get any sound to happen, but the more you practice at it, the better you'll get at it." He paused to give the boy a chance to try it, trying to think if he'd left anything out. "You can try adjusting your lips a little until you hear some sound, and once you figure it out, you'll get better and better at it, until you can do all sorts of different whistles."

He was somewhat surprised by how excited Daevion became upon being told Duinion was a ranger, and watched with a smile as he started stabbing the air with a pretend sword. Sitting back with a smile, he recalled some of the games he used to play with Dom, along those same lines. "I'm sure you will be, one day." He answered quietly, wishing he could do a little more to help him. Thinking of that boy they had encountered during that recent mission guarding the merchant, he nearly slipped into a frown, but carefully reminded himself not to let the boy see him looking sad. "So, if you want to be a ranger, you know what you'll have to do?" He mentioned, pausing for a moment to be sure he had his attention. "You'll have to take good care of yourself, and let your arm heal, so you can grow up strong and healthy and be a good ranger." He added, thinking it might be a good opportunity to try this, "And that means... you'll have to take your medicine."

[Winddancer]

Daevion

"So, if you want to be a ranger, you know what you'll have to do?"

Daevion paused mid jab, eyes open as he listened intently. "What?"

"You'll have to take your medicine."

"Oh.." Daevion slouched, his shoulders slumping as he moved out of the fighting stance. His eyes went to Duinion's foot and he chewed on his lip. "Do you have to take the medicine too?" His eyes grew big again and for a second he wondered if the Ranger was hiding from that too. Oh no, he couldn't be, Naela had spoken to him.

"He will indeed."

Naela's soft voice came from behind, the boy spinning around in surprise. Stood with her hands on her hips, she looked as if she was about to scold him, however the smile on her face betrayed her. "Come on you two, let's get you both inside, shall we?"

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

Duinion had hoped Naela would keep quiet for a bit longer. Actually, he was slightly surprised she had already come, as he had apparently lost track of time while talking to the boy. He gave a small nod to her but held out a finger as if say 'wait a moment'. Turning back to Daevion, he paused to think of how to say this so he'd understand it better. "Someone recently helped me understand something that's very true." He spoke softly. "Sometimes.. you have to do things you don't want to do, for your own good or someone else's good... but the longer you put it off, the harder it will be when you can't put it off any more. Do you know what I mean?" He asked, tilting his head slightly. He completely understood the boy's unwillingness to take medicine, and to have to endure the necessary treatment for his arm, having been there himself. "I have an idea..." He motioned for him to come a little closer. "What about we make a deal? If you go along with Naela and take your medicine without any complaining.. I'll teach you how to do bird sounds." He smiled. "As she said, I have to do the same thing. So I can come with you, and we'll take our medicine together. What do you think?"

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta - Ranger/Healer training
with The MasterHealer: Assisting with Ms Irma
@Pele Alarion @Winddancer

The young Ranger had been told to remain silent, which was no doubt just as hard for him as it was for the patient in question. But the laundress seemed to be managing the Master Healer's attention with a notable lack of complaint, which had maybe stunned Unalmis into his silence. Pele had also said for him to only assist as she instructed him, but she had not instructed him to in fact assist. So he leaned back against the wall, as though a casual observer of some strange feat, keenly impressed by his teacher's competence in coping with such a 'delicate' patient.

If he had come for training in what it meant to be a healer, than he had overlooked this element of the subject matter until now. The simple skill of staying calm, not because the wound was dire, but because dealing with the patient was. Some folk if hurt might go into shock, or other states that would render them less than perfectly compliant. It was all a lesson and the learning was absorbed with intrigue, though this time without questions.

[Winddancer]

Daevion

The boy froze as he heard Naela's voice, his whole body jittering with the need to flee again. But one look at Duinion had him pause. He really did want to be a ranger. But he really did not want to take that foul tasting medicine. Shoulders still slumped, Deavion looked at his feet, kicking some of the pebbles. For a brief moment he felt like he was going to be chastised when Duinion spoke up and halted Naela from doing so.

"Sometimes.. you have to do things you don't want to do, for your own good or someone else's good... but the longer you put it off, the harder it will be when you can't put it off any more. Do you know what I mean?"

Daevion nodded solemnly, still not having raised his head back up to look at either of the two adults. But it wasn't until Duinion made his offer that the boy's demeanor changed, going from sullen and sulky to wide-eyed and hopeful. Mouth agape he looked up at the Ranger and took a few steps towards him.

"You would teach me? For reals? Not just saying it and then forgetting?" Daevion stood right next to the man as he looked up into his eyes trying to gauged the sincerity in them. "Promise? Pinky swear?"

The young boy looked at the Ranger so seriously and with so much hope it made Naela's heart ache, remaining quiet while she too looked to Duinion for his response, just as much holding her breath as Deavion was.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

It was hard, sometimes, knowing just the right thing to say. But there were some shared elements between himself and this boy; he could easily put himself in his place, because he had been there, many years ago. It was a small relief, therefore, to see him light up at the prospect of getting to learn something. Duinion smiled, glad to see him get excited again. "Absolutely, for real." He replied with all seriousness. "I wouldn't dream of forgetting something so important." He assured Daevion, and then held out his pinkie to seal the promise, smiling slightly, though it saddened him to remember where the boy had to go home after he was let out of the houses of healing. But he would have to return, to have his arm checked, he recalled, and the beginning of a plan began to form.

"I have to come back here every other week to let the healers check how my foot is healing," He mentioned, thoughtful. "I suppose you'll have to come back so they can check your arm. I wonder if your appointments will be on the same day as mine?" He glanced at Naela, with a subtle hint hidden in that statement, hoping maybe she could arrange that, before turning back to Daevion. "So if it works out, perhaps we could meet up, and I could teach you something new each visit." He smiled, thinking of a few small things he could teach the boy, and couldn't help remembering when Erynneth was that little. "For now though," He sighed. "I suppose we might as well go on and get this over with, huh? Will you grab those for me?" He requested, pointing to the nearby crutches. Not that he couldn't reach them, but it occurred to him that the little boy might like to be made to feel as if he were being useful in some way.

[Winddancer]

Daevion

Daevion's eyes lit up, his face plastered with a huge smile as Duinion made his promise and did the pinky swear. You could not break a pinky swear, everyone knew that. For a brief moment, he felt like jumping with joy, exited to get started with the practice, so much so his whole body seemed to be jittering.

His joy knew no bounds when he saw Naela nodding in affirmation that their appointments could be on the same day. "Yay!" He yelled as he could not contain it any longer, jumping into the air and almost clapping, the sling preventing him from doing any damage to his broken arm.

Refusing Naela's outstretched hand in favour of helping the Ranger, he immediately pounced at the opportunity to get the crutches for him. Grabbing one at a time as quick as he could before Naela could help, he passed each one to Duinion and only then allowing Naela to guide him back to the buildings, though made sure to stay next to the Ranger shooting him a million questions about pain levels, was it hard to use the crutches and everything else he could think of in regards to his injury.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

A grin broke out onto his face, seeing the child's joy over such a small thing. But it wasn't a small thing, he knew. He remembered from his own childhood, how the smallest thing could mean the world to someone who had nothing else. "Thank you, Daevion," He smiled as the crutches were passed to him, getting upright without too much difficulty. It was easier getting up from a bench than from the ground, as he would normally be doing.

The questions washed over him too quickly to answer all of them, but he made an attempt at it. "The crutches... are a little tricky to get used to," He answered the last, thoughtful. "I hate that I have to use them." He admitted, glancing down at his new little friend. "Just as I'm sure you'll probably hate that sling before long, if you don't already." Not only did the sling restrict his arm movement, but he had a feeling the one who had caused Daevion's injury would be causing him more trouble, and that bothered him somewhat, not knowing what to do about it. It would be nice if he had someplace else to go while he healed, but somehow he suspected they wouldn't let him stay at the houses of healing for the whole recovery time. "Still," he added for the boy's benefit, "I have to use these so that my foot can heal properly. Just as you have to wear the sling so that your arm will heal properly."

Glancing at Naela, he managed a small smile in thanks for her agreeing to arrange their appointments for the same day. "Can you have things of your own.. at.. the orphanage?" He asked Daevion, a little uncertainly. He knew things were different there, now, but he wasn't sure how different. He certainly couldn't have things of his own when he lived there.. any time Domanol, or his mother, or anyone had given Duinion anything, he'd had to keep it at Dom's house so it wouldn't get taken away. Clothes, toys, books... he'd owned nothing of his own until he left that place. But it occurred to him that if Daevion was able to have his own belongings without worrying that they'd be taken away, he might be able to bring him something for the next time he saw the boy. But there was that matter of Sadus, he thought with some concern.

[Winddancer]

Daevion

He nodded at the comment about hating the sling. He had only been wearing it for a few hours and it was already annoying him. At least it kept the splints from catching on things and kept his arm stable, the pain shooting through his arm whenever he tried to take the sling off to free it.

Watching curiously as Duinion began walking using the crutches, he made sure not to get in his way, though stayed as close as he could so he could ask all of his questions. How long do he have to use them then? How long before his foot healed? Will he be able to use his arm again? "I want to use a bow, just like you!" He smiled brightly up at the Ranger, barely caring about the answers as he was already fighting off the "orcs" in their path with an imaginary sword.

"Stuff of my own? What do you mean?" He paused mid jab to look up at Duinion. His brows creased and his whole expression changed to a more serious one as he tried to think of something that was his and his alone. He would have said his clothes, but even that was shared amongst the children.

"I.. I don't know. Sadus has a slingshot he made himself, you mean something like that?" He absentmindedly rubbed his bum recalling how painful that pebble had been.

"I don't think I have anything, no. Why?"

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

The questions were like the ocean; wave after wave, never ceasing. He smiled in amusement as he attempted to answer some of Daevion's questions. Of course, many of those questions came down to the same answer; he would have to wait for the healers to tell him that. Hopefully, it wouldn't be long before he could ditch the crutches, but he had no idea. And hopefully it wouldn't be long before his foot was healed, but who could say, really? He smiled at the question about Daevion's arm. "Of course you'll be able to use your arm again... if you take your medicine and do as the healers say." He glanced briefly at Naela with a tiny wink before turning back to Daevion. "You know, I didn't do what they said on the first, and it made my foot take even longer to heal." He admitted, hoping perhaps to use his own mistake to help another not make the same one. "If you do what they tell you, your arm will be back to normal before too long."

Watching Daevion's reaction to his question, he struggled not to let a sorrowful expression appear on his face. It was about what he had expected, but hearing said aloud still wrenched his heart a little. It was saddening to hear that the child had no toys of his own, nor anything else of his own. But he wasn't sure if there was anything to be done about it. "Oh, just curious," He replied absently, trying to sound like it was nothing to get interested about. He moved along the path at a slow, but steady pace, careful not to get the crutches caught on any roots or stones in the path. He had thought maybe of bringing him something, but how could he, knowing that the other boy would probably just take it from him? That would only be more upsetting for Daevion. Perhaps, if he thought about it, he could come up with some sort of plan, but he would need some time. For now, he had a checkup to get through, and Daevion had medicine to take, and he wasn't sure what else was in store for the young patient.

[Winddancer]

Naela and Daevion

Naela had remained quite as they walked back to one of the treatment rooms, a small smile playing on her lips at the cute exchange the two were having. Any random person looking at them would have thought they were father and son. Quickly moving past them both she held the door open to the room for them, ruffling Daevion's hair as he passed her looking like he was walking in to get a spanking. Poor kid.

The spoon and the flask were still where she had left it when Daevion had run off and she quietly closed the door after they were both inside. She could see him squirming with unease, wondering if he was going to run off again. Stepping up to him, she squatted down and held his hand gently while looking into his worried eyes.

"How about a nice big glass of lemonade and a cookie once you have taken it, would that help?"

Had Duinion's hands not been occupied by the crutches Daevion would have slipped his hand into the man's for comfort. His small body tensed as Naela squatted down in front of him, his eyes flickering up to Duinion's for reassurance. However the promise of lemonade and cookies was more than he could withstand and a smile grew on his lips. "Ok.." he said warily.

"Ok.." Naela mirrored and then led him to the table. Giving his hand a squeeze, she let it go and got the spoon and flask, pouring carefully so as to not spill. "Just one spoonful, that's it." She promised as she held it out to him.

Looking pale Daevion gulped, looking to Duinion for the courage and finally opened his mouth, accepting the foul tasting medicine. "BLARGH!" He cried out as he swallowed it, coughing at the bitterness.

"Here, have some water until I get that lemonade for you. Well done!" Naela said smiling at him with pride.

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Gardens - morning time

Once inside, Duinion paused to watch the brief interaction between Daevion and the healer. Her bribe of lemonade and cookies seemed to cheer the boy up, and Duinion couldn't help a slight teasing comment, "Why don't I get any cookies and lemonade?" He grinned and found a nearby chair so he could take his weight off of the crutches, wishing the healing would hurry up and be done so he could throw them away. Or rather, return them to the houses of healing for the next patient who needed them. He leaned them against the chair as Daevion looked at him. Giving a small nod of encouragement, he watched Daevion finally accept the medicine he was meant to take.

"Awful, isn't it?" Duinion remarked sympathetically. "But you did very well, and you didn't complain." He smiled. "And now that you've got it over with, you don't have it overshadowing the rest of your day, and you can just get on with the more enjoyable things without having that to dread." He pulled another chair up next to his, with a motion inviting Daevion to come sit by him. "What is that stuff for, anyway?" He wondered with a glance toward Naela. "Is there anything else that Daevion has to do?" He asked next, realizing now it would be his turn soon.

[Winddancer]

Naela and Daevion

Daevion waggled his tongue as if it would make the taste go away, resorting to wiping it on his sleeve when it didn't. Seeing that, Naela chuckled and reached out to stop him though he was too quick. She let out another chuckle as the boy winced at the taste of that. Pouring a glass of water from the jug on the table she quickly gave it to him and watched as he greedily drunk half of it. "Easy now, don't choke on it.."

Wiping his mouth on his sleeve this time, he smacked his lips and made his way over to the chair Duinion had pulled up next to him. "Can Mr.. Duinion get some cookies too? And lemonade?" The concerned look in the young boy's eyes made Naela's heart twinge as she quickly reassured him.

"Of course he can! If he does a good job with his check up too." At that she looked at the Ranger and winked before untying the knot to the boy's sling. "The medicine is to help with the swelling." She said with a smile. "It was not a nice break, was it?" Her eyes went solemn as she inconspicuously slid her hand across his forehead to feel for a fever before ruffling his hair. "But he was super brave when we fixed it, weren't you?" Thankfully the pain medicine had almost put him to sleep allowing for them to pull the bone into place and set it without causing him too much discomfort and agony.

"Right no need to fret, ok? Just checking that the splinters haven't moved and that all is nice and snug." As delicately as she possibly could she checked the bandages, a finger sliding carefully under to see if there was any blackening of the skin or any significant swelling while she made it look like she was just checking it was secure, all under the watchful eye of the boy.

"All looks good to me" she said with a smile as she tied up the sling again. "Now, like we said earlier you will need to keep this arm protected, alright? Make sure you don't bump it or use it. You need to ask for help to get dressed, understand?" She shook her head as she saw the boy wanting to protest that. "Healers orders, young man. The last thing we want is for it to break again, right? The bone needs time to heal." She gave a sideway glance to Duinion knowing that he had not been that good at following the orders either and gave him a smile.

"So, tell me what the healers orders are.." She crouched next to him to look him straight in the eyes. "Not to use it and not to bump it and to ask for help to get dressed." He said sullenly, not liking the idea of someone having to help him. He was seven! He could dress himself!

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Treatment room - morning time

Duinion gave a small smile in return to the healer. It seemed to him that it might have been smarter to put the medicine into the lemonade or something so that it wouldn't be so bad. But perhaps that would've then made the lemonade not taste so good. The concern in Daevion's face as he asked about lemonade and cookies for Duinion brought a smile. "I'll be good, if it means getting cookies." He promised the healer, with a bit of amusement.

While she checked the boy's bandaging, Duinion kept quiet, thoughts drifting back to the recent conversation between himself and Arnyn, earlier. It was troubling to think of some dangerous person running around, possibly using poison to harm people. Was it only the rangers who could be in danger, or anyone on the sixth level? It was easy to understand Arnyn feeling torn; wanting to warn people, but being unable to without alerting the culprit to their awareness. He held back a sigh, thinking of all the people here in the houses of healing who were so close to that danger, and oblivious to it. Like little Daevion.

He returned his attention to the room as he noticed Daevion pouting about having to follow the healer's orders. He thought for a moment. "If you don't follow the healer's orders, you'll hurt your arm more, and then you'll have to wait longer before it's back to normal." he mentioned. "And besides, Daevion," He paused for a moment to make sure he had the boy's attention. "If you want to be a ranger someday, then you'll have to follow orders from your captain." He pointed out. "And... you may not always like the orders. Trust me, I know.." He sighed, but put on a smile to keep from seeming too down about the unpleasant orders he'd been given recently. "But, it's only for a little while," He added. "Promise you'll do your best to follow the healer orders?"

[Rillewen]

(private with Lail)
@Hungry Hare

Cali & Maeth Dringolben with Lt. Androllius
(Last Fall, shortly after the events of Carpe Diem)
One of the patient rooms

"I've sent for a guard to come here.. you're going to fill out a report about whatever happened to you. And I don't want to hear any arguments," Nurse Maeth informed her daughter, her voice stern, while her eyes showed deep concern.

Cali sighed, giving her no argument. The pillows were at least soft, and she was content for now to rest her head on them and close her eyes. "Fine." She answered softly. "As long as you leave the room, mother." She added. She felt guilty, excluding her mother from this, knowing how worried she was. It was understandable. The woman had lost all three of her sons, and her husband. Cali was now the only one left, and she had gone missing, only to turn up a day or so later with her arm injured, a bump on the head, and no explanation. But how could she tell her mother any of what had happened? How could she tell her mother that the man who had done this might be the very same one who had murdered her brother? The worrisome thoughts racing through Cali's head might spread to her mother, keeping her up at night... No. She thought it might be best if her mother did not have those worries added to those she already endured.

Not to mention that she still did not want to even talk about this matter, not to anyone. She had only told her enough to assure her that certain things did not happen, but Maeth was wise enough to pick up on the fact that her daughter was badly shaken by this ordeal, and that she was frightened. Cali couldn't deny the sense in filling out a report. If the guards didn't know about that man, then how could they know to look for him? And if they didn't know to look for him, he might come after her and Iole again.. or someone else entirely. And if she could prevent that by letting them know about this man, and didn't... how could she live with that?

A soft knock came on the door after a moment. The nurse went to open it, and sighed in relief. "Thank you for coming. It's my daughter, something's happened and she won't tell me, but I'm sure that it's a matter which needs to be brought to the guard's attention." She explained, ushering the lieutenant into the room.

"Yes, ma'am," Ric answered softly. "I'll speak with her."

The sound of that voice caused Cali's eyes to snap open, her head jolting up sharply. She ignored the lingering headache, eyes widening as she stared at him. The very same young man who had tormented her and her friends all through their childhood. Who had made them feel like absolute idiots for believing his stupid lies. Who had fooled the teacher into thinking he was a sweet, well mannered boy, only to behave like an absolute monster when the teacher wasn't looking. The man who had abused his authority as a guard to further bully Nal and his friend just days ago... inadvertently delaying them from coming to Cali and Iole's rescue! He had come to take her report? The audacity of that creep! Her good hand clenched into a fist, her eyes filled with fury. "YOU! Get out!" She demanded, struggling to keep her volume down, else she would have screamed at him. "Mother, get him out of here!" She ordered, her tone sharper than she had ever used toward her mother before.

Maeth looked quite startled by her daughter's enraged reaction to the guard. "Calithildis Dringolben! What is the matter with you?" She scolded. "You said you would-"
"Not him!" Cali insisted. "Get him out of here! I'll talk to another guard, just not HIM!"

Ric cringed slightly, taking a step backward toward the door. "Miss Dringolben.. I assure you that I have no ill wishes toward you." He said quietly. "I'm only here to take your-"

"GET OUT!"

He swiftly ducked, one hand instinctively coming up to block the pillow that flew at him, aimed for his head. Luckily it was soft enough not to risk harming him. The vase of flowers she raised up next, however, promised to be less soft. "I'm going!" He raised his hands up in surrender as he hastily backed out of the room, eyes wide in alarm.

Maeth stared in bewilderment at Cali, then turned and followed the young lieutenant out into the hall. "I'm sorry, I have no idea what that was about."

Ric took a deep breath, glancing back toward the room. Unfortunately, he suspected he knew, but was unwilling to say. "It's alright, ma'am... it was not your doing. I... think it would be best if I left now, but I shall certainly send someone else, instead. Will that be alright?"

Maeth sighed, glancing back in through the partly open door at Cali, noting that she had traded the vase in her hand for a metal dish, prepared to throw that instead, should the young lieutenant dare enter her room again. The nurse turned back to him. "Yes, I suppose that would be best. She certainly doesn't seem to like you," She raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"I quite agree." He answered evasively. "I'll go find another guard... good day ma'am." With a polite bow of his head, Ric turned and walked down the hall, carefully keeping his expression neutral, despite how upsetting it was to have someone despise him for things he didn't even do.

Once outside the main entrance, Ric paused, straightened his uniform, and let out a little sigh before setting off toward the gate down to the next level. He knew there would be guards posted there. He paused at the first guard(Garthain) that he came to. "Excuse me," He paused, trying to recall the man's name, but wasn't sure that he had ever actually met him before. "There is a young lady in the houses of healing who wishes to make a report on a matter. I wonder if you would mind going there, and taking her report? I will stand in for you at your post here." He assured the other guard, who was clearly a lower rank than himself. A little voice inside him reminded him that his father would be yelling at him for posing that as a request, rather than an order, but he tried his best to ignore that. "I'm afraid she is rather distraught, and had no wish to speak to me..." He explained, feeling too awkward about the entire thing to go into further detail about it. "Perhaps she will be more favorable toward you," He added, hopeful.


Edit: fixing punctuation

[Winddancer]

Ms Irma

Every move was watched by Irma's beady little eyes, though she never lost track of what the boy was doing either. In fact there would be hell to pay if he moved further into the room, barely able to stomach him being in the room at all. Unbelievable what one had to endure in this place. All she could do was comfort herself with the fact that her report on the conditions here would see things drastically change, for the better.

She bit back a hiss as the boot was removed, her cheeks flushing as she knew the healer could have been more careful, more delicate. Another mental note was taken at the quality of the treatment. How could this woman be a Master Healer if she could not even remove a boot without it hurting? Unbelievable. She would make them look into what the mortality rate was here. With what she had seen, and endured, so far it was likely through the roof!

Given her judgement of the current situation here in the Houses of Healing, she should have been far more prepared for what was to come next. But she wasn't. A salve? Bruised cabbage!?? She was about to lose her foot and this woman wanted to put vegetables on it!?

As Pele continued on, Irma's face grew so dark red it looked like she was about to pop all the vessels in her face, her eyes bugging out so far that one couldn't call them beady anymore.

"Are. You. Mad?" For once she did not raise her voice, but each word was clipped and drenched in venom.

[Winddancer]

Daevion and Naela

Daevion's lower lip quivered as he listened to Duinion's words, his eyes downcast avoiding both of their looks. But despite his reluctance and sullenness at being made to ask for help to get dressed, knowing that was bound to get him teased, he slowly nodded his head. He really did want to be a Ranger. Most of all he wanted to be able to use a bow and he knew one would need both hands for that. Looking at the splints inside of the sling he flexed his fingers and winced at the dull pain.

Naela saw Daevion wince as he moved his fingers, knowing it would not be long before the medicine would start working. She felt bad for having lied to Duinion, but if there was one thing she had quickly learned while dealing with children and pain was that if they did not know they were meant to be in pain, they often did not feel it. She would make sure to confess to the man if they got a moment alone.

Pausing for a moment, her heart aching at seeing how her request was truly distressing the boy she finally leaned in and whispered into his ear. It was by no means meant to be rude towards Duinion, she just wanted to be sure she was not adding to the boy's embarassment. Finishing, she leaned back and looked at his face, her hand cupping his chin and pulling it to face her. "Yeah?"

The boy seemed to take a moment to chew on what she had said before nodding, a small smile finally appearing back on his lips. "Okay.."

"Okay then.." Caressing his cheek with her thumb, she moved her hand to his knee and gave it a squeeze, aching to just hug him close. Drawing in a deep breath she steeled herself and finally managed to pull herself from the boy and shift over to Duinion.

"Right, let's see how you are faring then, shall we?" Kneeling at his feet, she looked up at him with a smile before she reached out to take his bandages off to wash the foot, put the salve on and rebandage it while checking to see how well it was healing and if the swelling was going down.

[Lail]

Garthain with Aderic
Arriving to see Cali
Treatment Room
(private with @Rillewen)

It was another dull day in the life of Garthain the guard. He woke up, ate breakfast, donned his uniform, and went on duty. And here he stood, a man filling an unnecessary role on guard in a quiet out of the way corner of the Fifth Circle (where surely no crime would ever take place). Garthain barely stifled a yawn and stopped his forehead from falling on the shaft of his halberd. His attention was well-timed. A Lieutenant approached and would likely have given him a tongue lashing or worse for appearing too lethargic in the line of duty.

Then again, maybe not. The man approaching was none other than Lieutenant Aderic, the handsome wonder himself, younger and newer to the ranks than Garthain but promoted to Lieutenant impossibly early in his career. The man was practically a prodigy with pale looks fit for princedom and the polite manner to match. Whatever Aderic had done to rise to such prestige was a mystery to Garthain, who was not even a sergeant yet. Begrudgingly, he wondered how he had done it…and how he might do the same.

Rather than spitting a command or scolding him for slouching, Lt. Aderic’s orders sounded almost like asking a friend for a favor rather than giving him a command. It made it difficult for Garthain to dislike him but flicking his eyes at the stars edifying Aderic’s insignia proved a sufficient reminder.

"Perhaps she will be more favorable toward you," Aderic finished with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

What in the seven levels of the City made him think this “distraught woman” would want to talk to Garthain, of all people, if she refused to speak to Aderic? What magic spell could Garthain possibly manage to cast to make the woman more amenable? Dread curled in his belly as a horrific thought surfaced...It wasn’t Ms. Irma, was it? Anyone would pass that off to a subordinate if given the chance. But he said the woman was a “young lady" and every guard knew Ms. Irma was anything but.

Garthain wanted to ask for more details but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut for all that discipline had earned him so far (next to nothing). Rank demanded he heed Aderic’s polished request without interrogating his superior. It was better not to talk, not to show any emotion at all, and to blend into his unimportant, uninteresting background role.

Garthain had made some mistakes earlier in his career though no one but himself had been harmed. He’d even tried to hide his injury but it was hard to disguise the tip of his finger dangling from a tendril of skin after a misidentified suspect sheared it off with a particularly fierce letter opener. All a big misunderstanding. In the end, he had waited too long and lost the fingertip. Between this incident making him the laughingstock of the Tower Guard and the assumed disruption of his sword work due to the missing digit, he was relegated to a subservient role, written off as incompetent, and assigned the most banal duties imaginable. Once, he was even assigned to guard the transfer of texts from a wealthy donor to the library. As if anyone would want to steal old books! All in all, it was easier to keep to himself though he drilled twice as hard to keep up his skill and usually wore gloves to cover the missing digit where no one would miss it. More for others than himself.

Garthain had no choice but to salute Aderic respectfully. “Sir…tell me the woman’s name and I will see it done.” Perhaps the Lieutenant's failure to question the woman could be his chance back into the good graces of the guards and Captain…

—

Upon arriving at the Houses of Healing, Garthain left his halberd behind and requested to see Miss Calithildis Dringolben to take her statement. He was ushered through the halls of the house where he’d received the bad news about his finger (and been thoroughly scolded for delaying treatment).

Garthain knocked on the door of the treatment room and waited for permission to enter, hoping whoever (and whatever case) was on the other side would not see him sink further into the dredges of Tower Guard gutters. While waiting, he took a leather-bound book from his pocket and opened it, running his finger along the creased binding to flatten it before penning in the date and the name Calithildis Dringolben.

[Rillewen]

(private with Lail)
@Lailac

Cali & Maeth Dringolben
(Last Fall, shortly after the events of Carpe Diem)
One of the patient rooms

"I don't know what's gotten into you, that young man seemed very polite." Maeth frowned as she replaced the pillow on the bed.

Cali turned her head away, closing her eyes with a little scoff. She didn't feel like getting into all that she knew of him. That was a separate matter. Maybe. She frowned softly to herself as she remembered a few things Nal had told her, and that voice she'd heard at the gate, from inside the barrel. She didn't want to think about such things, and she didn't want to try to sort through all of that stuff right now. Her head hurt and so did her arm, probably from her sudden burst of activity. Though she had used her left arm for throwing things at Ric, the one in the splint had gotten a bit jostled.

Her mother sighed and fussed over her for a few moments until a knock came from the door. Leaving her sullen daughter's bedside, Maeth went to open it, and admitted the guard entrance. "Thank you for coming," She smiled politely at the man and motioned for him to come in. "My daughter would like to make a report... She's had.. a distressing ordeal but she won't tell me about it." She frowned, concerned as she glanced over to the young lady, who appeared as though she might have been sleeping. "Cali? A different guard has arrived..." She tensed, trying to prepare for a similar reaction, but to her relief, no such thing happened.

Cali turned her head to look at him, relieved that it was no one she'd ever seen before. "Are you a friend of his?" She asked with a small frown, suspicious. "The lieutenant?" She clarified, only relaxing once she was sure that the lieutenant had not sent some buddy of his in his place. "Alright, then I'll talk to you." She agreed, a bit reluctant once assured that this was not the case. After a brief hesitation at the thought of being left alone in here with a strange man, she reminded herself that she was in the midst of the houses of healing, and gave her mother a pointed look. She had agreed to leave the room, and so Maeth gave one final plumping to her pillow before excusing herself.

(making some adjustments)

[Lail]

Garthain with Cali
Treatment Room
(private with @Rillewen)

The door opened to reveal a nurse with a pleasant demeanor, if a bit crimped and pinched at the edges. Nurse Maeth, he recalled her name with perfect clarity. The woman who had tutted at him under her breath and scolded him for being a stubborn and foolish young man who thought himself invincibile in neglecting to care for his wounded finger promptly and properly. Despite the lecture, she had given him gentle treatment almost as if he were her own son.

It turned out, the patient in the room actually was her daughter and he suddenly understood Maeth's slightly nervous manner. Nothing could hurt a mother more than harming one of her children. She must be simmering with worry. “My thanks, Nurse Maeth,” he bowed his head politely. “I will do my best to make this easy on her.”

The woman in the bed was no dainty flower. Cali had a fierce look in her eyes and Garthain glimpsed the fire of a distraught woman’s wrath, a fragment of whatever had chased Aderic from here like a hare from a hound. "Are you a friend of his? The lieutenant?"

Confused, Garthain shook his head. He was a black swan lost in a bevy of perfect ivory plumage. He was not friends with anyone, certainly not with Lieutenant Aderic. That seemed enough to convince, and hopefully calm, her. “You may have a chaperone in the room with you if you prefer,” he offered but Nurse Maeth left, as if they had some prior understanding between mother and daughter.

Garthain’s short close cropped hair and crease-free uniform cladding his poker-rod posture lent him a severe appearance. However, his manner was unlike his appearance in every way. “Are you comfortable?” He asked in a soft-spoken speech. He poured two glasses of water, allowing her to settle for a moment, adjust to his presence, and prepare herself without being the center of his attention.

He took his time and sip of water himself, trying to mask the favor he was attempting on Cali's behalf. He would have plenty of time to study her while she talked. Every visible injury, every wary wince of pain, physical and mental, so he could add descriptions of her to the notes he would take of the crime. The dark shade of her hair, the brown eyes, whether she had dimples when she smiled (if she smiled at all). All told, it would fill in the severe facts of the crime and paint a picture of a person: a person who deserved better than to fear attack and be a victim, a person who would remind him why he suffered this job at all.

Garthain carried a chair to the bedside, leaving a decent gap between them, and sat before offering her the second glass of water. “When you are ready, Miss Dringolben, please start from the very beginning." Again, he used a gentle tone, trying to soothe and put her at ease. "One never knows how important small details could be in an investigation.”

[Rillewen]

(private with @Lailac )

Cali Dringolben
(Last Fall, shortly after the events of Carpe Diem)
One of the patient rooms

She silently watched the guard, trying her best not to feel so nervous. Part of her might have preferred her mother, or just anyone, to stick around. But she had her reasons for sending her mother away. And.. well, Iole wasn't there, nor was she in any condition to be around for this, by Cali's judgement. And Nal.. she wasn't sure where he might be. And she could forget about trying to find wherever Trev was hiding out. He hadn't come back to the city with the rest of them, and while Cali felt that he would not be going back to his father's crew, Nal seemed to think otherwise. Ivornith and the kids had already gone back home to Dol Amroth. That accounted for all of her friends and family, and left no one that she could ask to be here with her. No one she knew and trusted, anyway.

“Are you comfortable?” The guard asked softly. At least he sounded gentle, rather than harsh and blunt.

"No." She replied, with flat-out honesty. "But that has nothing to do with you, sir." She added, then paused as she arrived at a slight obstacle in the conversation. "What should I call you?" He surely had a name, and probably some sort of rank, she would assume, and there was probably a proper name and title by which to address this guard. She knew the name and rank of the other without having to ask, knew far more than that about him, but this one was completely unknown to her.

Her mother had arranged her pillows so that she was sitting propped up among the softness at her back. Cali accepted the glass of water quietly and took a small sip. "Thank you." She hesitated as she tried to gather her thoughts. Begin when she was ready, he said. Start at the beginning. The beginning? That brought a tiny frown to her face as she became momentarily lost in thought. Where exactly was the beginning, she wondered? Setting the glass carefully on the nightstand, she decided to think on that for a moment longer, while offering a small explanation about this entire thing, "My mother insisted on this." She glanced at the guard. "It's... difficult to talk about it, and I don't want to talk about it. I only agreed because.. well, she made some very good points about how it ought to be put on record and all that. Besides which, I suppose you guards can't really try to stop the man responsible if you don't even know that anything happened... and I'd hate for him to do this again to anyone else." She sighed heavily. "But... I asked her to leave, because I don't want her to hear what I have to say." She wanted to make sure that he understood that, lest he go and say something about the matter to her mother, later. "I don't want to upset her anymore than she already is... I'm upset enough for the both of us, and she doesn't need this."

That out of the way, she hesitated to think how to begin. "The beginning..." Her brow furrowed in thought. "I think I would have to back up a few years, for that." She mentioned, reluctant, but she wanted to make sure he got all that she could tell him on record. Yet, that was the hardest topic yet for her to bring up, and it required another few moments and another sip of water before she managed to go on. "My brother.. was murdered.. a few years ago. Ryndir was his name." She paused, taking a slow breath, and swallowed past the lump of emotions rising into her throat. "We were twins, and very close." She added that information in, before it was forgotten to be mentioned. "He was a ranger. He.. just finished his training, and..." Another small sip of water, to help wash the lump down, except it didn't help much. "Whoever killed him, they came upon him alone, out in Ithilien. No one ever...found his killer." Cali frowned, her eyes troubled but her jaw tightening. After another moment, she went on, with some effort. "His weapons were taken from his body; two very distinctive daggers. I can describe them if you need me to.." She offered, unsure how much detail he would be willing to include in his report.

After a moment she continued the prelude to her report, "The rangers who found him..they said both daggers and the sheaths were removed.. from his belt. The killer must have taken them." She hesitated. "They..speculated that it was bandits.. that they robbed him...maybe it was, I don't know. And I don't know if any report was filed about that.." She frowned again, wondering about that. Neither she, nor her mother, nor father had been in any state of mind, in their grief, to think of asking about that, and it hadn't crossed her mind since, until now.

"Anyway," She plowed onward after taking a deep breath. "That was.. some time ago. Three, almost four years. And there's never been another word about that case, no sign of his killer, or his daggers, turning up..nothing." She paused, before adding, "Until now." She glanced at him, hoping he was still following her tale, hoping that she hadn't lost his interest, and that he wasn't one of those guys who was only interested in doing the bare minimum and finishing his shift.

It was strange, telling all of that to a stranger. Aside from Fuin, whom she had become good friends with, Cali had never spoken about the murder to anyone. The ones whom she was close with, they already knew the details, and others who were strangers had no need to know about it. But, this matter required some explanation if she was to make this guard understand the significance in why this recent experience had been so deeply upsetting to her. She tried to meet his eyes with her own, to gauge whether he was actually listening or not, and to try and impress upon him the importance of hearing this. "That's.. the very beginning... which seems irrelevant to what I'm reporting now, at first. But, you'll see why it is relevant, I promise."

[Rillewen]

@Winddancer

Duinion Raedor
Treatment room - morning time

He watched quietly as Naela spoke quietly to the boy, and was relieved to see the result of that whisper. While he had some mild curiosity about what she said, he didn't ask. It was obviously only meant for Daevion, and he wasn't so nosy as to pry into what was obviously private, or perhaps secretive. He was only glad that whatever she said seemed to react positively. He smiled faintly, and glanced down at the scar on his left hand, thinking about how difficult life had been while that wound was healing. He could certainly relate to Daevion's problem. While he hadn't had any broken bones to deal with, the deep gash had required stitches and he hadn't been allowed to use his hand for some time. That made things difficult even though it wasn't his dominant hand. The only one at the orphanage who had been willing to help him with anything was Aggie, and since she was a girl there was no way he would have asked her to help him get dressed. He wondered if Daevion had any friends at the orphanage that he could ask for help, but, fearing a negative reply, he didn't ask.

"Right," He was somewhat glad for the change of topic as the healer came then to check his foot. "I've been keeping off it," He wanted to assure the healer that he had followed instructions this time. "A few days ago, I hit it on something... that was rather painful, but I'm hoping no damage was done." He mentioned. "My daughter is taking care of a dog belonging to a friend of the family, and I was trying to hold her back from a plate of food and she lunged forward.. pulled me right over." He rolled his eyes. "Silly dog." He grinned slightly toward Daevion. "Do you like dogs, Daevion?"

[Lail]

Garthain with Cali
Treatment Room
(private with @Rillewen)

Garthain winced slightly at her response and the insensitivity of his own question. Of course she wasn’t truly comfortable, was she? How could she be in her state? “I am Garthain Berian. City Guard.” He lowered his gaze briefly, ashamed of his low entry-level rank and status. He smoothed the page of his notebook once again and looked at her earnestly, if a bit apologetic. “I assure you, Miss, my rank does not reflect the seriousness with which the Tower Guard will handle this matter. I was…merely available at the time someone was needed.” Someone. Not him specifically, not him by choice, just someone competent enough to take a statement. But this was not about him or his inadequacies and insecurities. This was about her; her and her pain and helping her see she had done right to share her experience. All he could do to help for now was listen.

He had no idea what to expect given he was entirely unprepared for this case without any background information to speak of. He thought perhaps there had been some small tussle in the marketplace or an argument over something trivial which led to blows. As she began to unravel the story, starting with her brother’s murder nearly four years ago, he understood this was much worse than he anticipated. And the murderer had never been found? That was troubling indeed. He scratched down notes every now and then, trying to remain focused on her so she could see he was listening attentively.

Each part of the story shared drew shadows over his mind. Her brother murdered, her twin brother, and the one responsible was never caught. He was trained to separate himself from witnesses (witnesses because he did not want to call her a victim) and not to let their emotions in. Use facts, not feelings, to find the truth. Put his heart in a box and lock away the key. But feelings made a person whole. Crimes of passion, of hatred, were most common, and what were those but the strongest feelings a human possessed?

Brick by brick, Garthain tried to build a wall, but it weathered away like a swelling sea carried away sand to sunnier shores. Sitting in this chair, overcome with sympathy for her, he tried to hold up part of the wall to do his job.

“Before you continue, I’d like to assure you, nothing you tell me will be shared with anyone outside the investigation. Your mother will only hear whatever you wish to tell her.” Garthain hoped she had someone to confide in, but thought the suggestion impertinent so he kept it to himself. He could not lend the shoulder she needed, only the ear who heard her story and passed it on to someone who might make a difference.

“Nothing you have told me is irrelevant, Miss. Everything is connected like the moon in the sky to the tides in the sea. I will listen to anything you have to say. No detail or story is too small or too old to matter. Please describe the weapons, or anything else, in as much detail as you can. And…” He hesitated, a faint frown appearing on his face as he perched on the edge of the brick wall, only to peek to the other side. “Though it isn't much help, I am sorry for your loss, and for what you have suffered, and that you must revisit these painful memories. If you need a break, please, take as long as you need…”

[Pele Alarion]

Master Healer Pele Alarion
With Ms Irma and Unalmis
Treatment Room
@Winddancer , @Ercassie

Pele was going about her work with all the patience she could muster, wrapping the foot up with a bandage just tightly enough to assist with keeping it stable. It would mean that the boot would no longer fit back on, though.

She stood and observed the changes of the woman's face, somewhat amused and annoyed at the same time.

"Well, Ms Irma, it is what it is. The sooner you want to have your foot back in full capacity, the more rest you will give it," she said. "Else you might feel the sprain for quite some time yet. And yes, salve and cabbage leaves, as I said." She paused, tilting her head slightly at the patient. "I hope you did not expect me to remove your foot just because it is sprained? I bet you would regret such an expectation soon after."

Pele glanced over at Nal considering if she should ask him to wheel the woman home, but taking into account the lad's ability to say and do unexpected things... and the woman's ability to explode - it would likely end in a disaster. She'd have to find some other able-bodied man who could handle the task without it resulting in more patients.

[Rillewen]

(private with @Lailac )

Cali Dringolben
(Last Fall, shortly after the events of Carpe Diem)
One of the patient rooms

The guard's words were reassuring, both on the matter of not saying anything to her mother, and that nothing was irrelevant. The small kindness he gave, of offering sympathy, was even a nice gesture, even if it didn't really change matters much. She gave a small nod to acknowledge his comment, but she couldn't really think of anything to say in reply to that. Thanks? It was generally a basic reaction of anyone to offer a word of condolence at the news of a death. Her tale hadn't been shared for the purpose of eliciting sympathy, but merely to have all of the facts on record. And she would not have Ryn or his murder be made diminished for any reason. That had been, put simply, a life altering event for not just Cali, nor even her family, but their friends as well. Many others had even been effected by it, in a variety of ways, but this wasn't the time to get into all of that.

Her description of her brother's weapons was highly detailed; she knew weapons inside and out. Every last detail was mentioned, lest there be any doubt that the dagger she'd seen might have been mistaken for one similar. Both daggers were one-of-a-kind, and she told him as much. Berthion had made one, and Dawion the other. These particular two daggers were not made for selling, but as gifts to each other. After the deaths of her older two brothers, Ryn had claimed their daggers upon enlisting in the rangers. It was a way for him to keep his brothers' memories close, and to feel as if they were still with him. The weapons had held a great deal of sentimental value to Ryn. Because of this, Cali knew there was no way he would have given up either of those weapons willingly. For them to be missing from his body when he died spoke of a theft that would have brought him considerable distress, had he lived to know about it.

After giving a thorough description of both daggers which had been taken from him, Cali had to pause to collect herself once more, mentally closing the door on those emotions, and bracing herself before opening another door to the fresher, more raw emotions left from the recent experience. "When the war came upon us," She went on after a quiet moment, in which she gathered her inner strength and he finished up his notes, "I went to Dol Amroth to stay with my sister in law. And.. I have stayed there ever since. It was.. easier.. than facing the memories and.. well. Anyway," She paused, deciding there was no need to bring up her father's death during the war. That was irrelevant. "We decided to come to the fayre, this year. And I was hoping to see my friends again. It had been many years, and I missed them." She drew in a deep breath. "I looked for a while, and then as I was just about to give up, I caught a glimpse of my best friend. I hadn't seen her since the war, and I was very excited to find her again. I hurried through the crowds, trying to catch up to her." She frowned then. "She was with a man that I'd never seen before. I thought perhaps it was a friend of her father's, but.. well I didn't know who he was, this man." She hesitated and took a small sip of water to cover her hesitation to go on.

After a moment to gather her thoughts and the unpleasant memories from that day, Cali exhaled slowly and continued. "When I arrived at the place where I had seen them, they were no longer there. But," Here she paused again, momentarily puzzled as she tried to recall the next few details. How had she known to look in the tent? What had driven her to check there? "I... must have seen a tent flap moving or something, or maybe I caught a glimpse of someone passing through.. I can't quite recall what prompted me to check in the tent nearby, but I did." She closed her eyes as she rested her head back against the pillows. "My friend was lying there.. in the grass.. unconscious. The man.. kneeling over her." She carefully breathed slow and deep to maintain some semblance of calm. "He said she'd fainted. I.. think I startled him. I'm not sure what he might have done, if I hadn't barged in, calling her name.." She didn't really want to know, either. "He acted concerned about her, and.. honestly, I didn't think too much about him at the time. I was worried about my friend.. the fact that I thought she had fainted had me very worried." She frowned and glanced at the guard, then down at her lap. "Her mother was always very frail and delicate, and.. I was afraid my friend's health may have plummeted to match her mother's, since I last saw her. Now, I realize... well. That wasn't the case at all." She paused then, partly to gather herself together again, but also, in case the guard had any questions to ask at this point, in case she'd left out anything he might find useful.