04/25/2000 -

Infirmary, White Tower, Tar Valon
Square in shape, this room is most often abuzz with activity. It contains
the normal implements of a teaching infirmary, in fact, it is extremely
well stocked with all manner of things: cots, jars, bottles, syringes,
bandages, cloths, cabinets, shelves, books and tables along with plenty of
hot water. The air has that sterile smell associated with the constant use
of redwort, tinged with the unpleasant prickle of witchhazel. While most of
the Healing is done via the One Power at the Tower, there are many minor
medical situations that are dealt with the old fashioned way.

There are several areas curtained off, for patients' privacy as well as for
instructional usages. This is a teaching infirmary for the Yellow Ajah,
after all. Beds in cheerful colors are lined up in neat rows, providing a
comfortable place to sleep after a Healer's tender ministrations. Windows
are kept wide open to all for light and fresh air.


A brightly colored woman walks into the infirmary. She glances at the desk
there checking to see if any of her students have checked in and she didn't
know about it. After searching the list, she walks down the beds nodding to
those who are awake.

Sitting up in his bed, Neelkan is eating on his nearly bi-hourly meal big
enough to feed at least two men and not just a half-sized teenage boy no
more then sixteen or seventeen. He reaches up and rubs his hands harshly
through his strange dark red hair with those odd white streaks in them
(could they possibly be natural?) and then glares around the room once at
all women in sight, but pauses at the sight of... well... colors.
Blinkblink go those bright blue-green eyes of his as he openly stares for a
few moments. Like he's never seen two totally different bright colors on
one outfit or something.

The Grey stops at the end of the young man's bed and nods him hello. Her
smokey blue eyes carry a kindness to them that so many Aes Sedai will never
know. "Looks like they are feeding you well here. Peace favor you." Her
voice has a tint of amusement that a boy his size can eat so much. At the
blinking, she looks around to figure out what it is that has you staring.

That would be those two way too bright colors contrasting each other, lady.
But Neelkan doesn't say that, instead he just gives his head a firm shake
and puts a grumpy expression on his face, "Ye'h. Be better if 'ey'd just
lemme go though. I feel fine!" Oh, is that why he can barely sit up and is
eating so much? And he doesn't even seem to notice the woman's... well...
Aes Sedai-ness.

Wyntere turns around and looks the boy over with a kind grin. "You know,
my...nevermind. I never really had a mother, except for about a year." She
pauses and then tilts her head. "So why do they have you trapped here in
the infirmary?" She ignores the grumpyness. One word -children-. She deals
with them every day.

That isn't why he's grump. 1) he's in an ISLAND!! 2) He's on an island full
of WOMEN! 3) They aren't letting him leave! Whine. ... Ok... Maybe it is
child-like. Neelkan gives a small shrug and downs a little more food before
answering, "Light, I dunno exactly! M' and m'buddies 'r just mindin' 'r own
business..." Ok, that's not exactly true. They were BANDITs not buddies,
and they were planning to rob some people. "'n 'en all'a sudden there's all
this fightin' all over 'n I got hurt and I guess got taken here by..." He
means to say Aes Sedai here, but for some reason he can't quite get the
word out. Either he can't pronounce it or he really doesn't wanna admit
that it was an Aes Sedai who saved his life.

Wyntere nods to the young boy and pulls up a chair. "I see. So what were
you doing fighting? That is never a good thing. People always get hurt and
land themselves in the middle of an infirmary not able to go anywhere until
they are better." She shakes her head with sympathy. "I could get some
charcoal and paper here if you want to write or I can find a book for you
to read. Maybe make the time pass easier?" She remains calm and patient.
And if you don't say Aes Sedai, she won't either.

"I wasn't fightin'!" Neelkan says a little too loudly. He shouldn't yell at
an Aes Sedai, but he hasn't figured that out yet. (The only Aes Sedai that
have bothered with him have barely spoken to him, so he figures this is
just another woman.) "We got caught up in some fight is what happened. I
don't know what flamin' happened. All'a a sudden all these people were
around and..." He trails off. He doesn't want to think about it. He goes
back to eating, then pauses and finally says, "Guess a book wouldn't hurt
nothin'." But honestly, he doesn't look like much of a reader.

Wyntere sighs and her eyes seem to laugh a little, finding humor in this
boy. "Calm down, lad. I didn't mean to get you upset, but I suggest to
watch your tounge around the Aes Sedai here. Most are not as patient as I
am." Yep, not a raise in her voice, yet it carries a motherly tone to it.
"No then, I'll change the topic. Where are you from?"

Grump... Wait a minute... Neelkan's eyes narrow slightly, and he says in a
softer voice, "Yer not.. uh... Aes Sedai are ya?" Eh... He's been rude to
her. She's probably gonna skin him alive or something. He just knows it. He
seems to stiffen up all over. Yeah, she's acting nice NOW, but she's a
woman. She'll turn on him. They all do. But he does answer the question on
where he's from softly, "Taitoken. It's a village, a little outside
Londaren Cor. Uh.. that's in Eharon." Which she probably knew anyway.

Wyntere laughs softly. "Yes, I am an Aes Sedai. See?" She holds up her hand
with the serpent ring upon it. Then sets it back in her lap. "Eharon, hmm?
Yes, I know the country well. I traveled alot and have been many places.
I'm from the Tower. I know it sounds like it's evading things, but I was
born here." She shrugs and moves on. "And I know what your thinking, by
that look on your face." the she goes into her voice that mimics your
thoughts. "She's an Aes Sedai and I was just rude to her.. oh no." Wyntere
waves her hand lightly in the air. "Nevermind that. If you knew how many
students yell in my office each day, you wouldn't feel so bad."

"Eh... Sorry..." Neelkan still mutters anyway, looking away around the
room. He's not sure he likes that she could read him so well... But then
again the boy usually does have his emotions and thoughts writen all over
him by his expression. Makes him the world's worst liar. Not a good trait
for a guy who wanted to be a bandit. "So that.. uh.. ring means yer Aes
Sedai?" he asks for a moment, taking a mental note on that. See that ring:
Avoid woman wearing it.

Wyntere shrugs a little and passes the question off a little. "The ring is
worn by Accepted and Aes Sedai. But being an Aes Sedai is much more than
just wearing a ring." She looks totally relaxed. "And I'm not upset with
you for being rude. Look at it this way, I understand you got dragged here
most likely against your will. You are sick of being cooped up. And you
have a bunch of women trying to pamper you instead of just sitting to
listen. Heck, I wouldn't want to be in an unknown place I didn't know." She
leans forward and offers her hand. "I'm Wnytere Shar. I'll spare my titles
so I don't scare you."

Uh... "Light.. uh.. greet ya. I'm.. uh.. Neelkan." Which in a very
butchered way actually means something like Blood Peacock in the Old
Tongue, but it's been butchered to the point it may not be recognized.
Neelkan gives a small shrug and then has to nod to the rest, "Ye'h. I'd
like t' get out. At least get my own clothes on!" And get out of these
STUPID infirmary robe things. "'n my earrings and my fan." .. His... fan..?

Wyntere sits back and tilts her head. "Fan?" Then she shakes her head.
"Sorry, I can't let you go. I could get you some clothes though that aren't
those gowns. That might make you feel a little better. The Yellows can work
with normal clothes on." She isn't sure what to do about you. Yep, very
rough around the edges, but is there a heart of gold inside? possibly..

Neelkan nods. His fan. Why do people always look at him funny when he
mentions it? He holds up his hands and makes quick gestures, showing the
size of it. It's about the length of his arm from finger tips to elbow and
then he says, "It's iron ribbed." His sisters always made fun of him for
having a FAN of all things made for a weapon. What ever happened to swords?
Or daggers? Or heck even a quarterstaff. But their baby brother was dueling
with a FAN!? "'n I'd like that, ye'h." He most definately would rather be
in his own clothes. He wouldn't mind his own -room- but he isn't going to
push his luck.

Wyntere simply nods. "Not sure if I can get the fan for you yet. But the
clothes are a definite. I'm sure they washed them and brought them back
around here somewhere." She stands up and starts looking, really not too
familiar with the infirmary. She talks to a yellow sister quietly and then
she nods and moves off. "She said that she'd bring you some clothes." See?
Wytnere is a nice Aes sedai. But she wonders if you'll get your own
clothes, considering you are in the infirmary and haven't been released
yet. They are prolly full of holes.

Now that he thinks about it, he prolly WON'T get his own clothes back,
unless they had them mended or something... Neelkan nods slightly and adds,
"I just wanna make sure ya'll gimme the fan back at least when I leave."
They're so hard to have made, and he doesn't like the looks people give him
when he asks. "'n I definately would like my earrings back." They're really
important to him for some reason.

Wyntere tilts her head to the side and thinks. "What's so important about
your earrings? And most often we do give people their property back unless
there is something about it that we need to study." She can't promise you
this and isn't sure how to go about everything. Suddenly fresh clothes
arrive with a novice. Wyntere takes them and dismisses the novice. "I doubt
these are your clothes, but you are welcome to have them as your own now. I
imagine yours were in too poor a condition to bring back."

Sighing softly at the sight of his 'not-clothes', Neelkan just nods.
They're better then the robe things at least. So much better in fact that
he doesn't care what color they are as long as they fit and don't almost
make him feel like he's wearing a dress... And as for his earrings.. uh..
"'ey were a gift from someone." Is all he says. Not the whole truth in that
though...

Wyntere nods to Neelkan about the earrings. At least the clothes aren't
tinkerish. They are plain and as close to his old clothes as they could
find. "Well, we shall see what comes of them. Now, then, I'll pull these
partions around you and let you be, so you can change. That is if you wish
me to do so."

Huh? He looks confused for a minute... Neelkan doesn't seem to understand
that last bit... Then suddenly he flushes and ducks his head slightly,
muttering, "Uh.. ye'h. Close 'im. I'm fine!" He suddenly seems to think he
either would need her help, or would prefer having people watch him
undress. (He's a teenage boy, where else do you think his mind happens to
be most the time even if he hates women in general? ... And yet is actually
tolerant of this one. She hasn't done anything to get placed firmly in the
hate column yet.) He's pretty sure he can dress himself, and he isn't about
to let a woman do it for him.

Wyntere chuckles and nods. "If you need help let me know." Of course, your
little body wouldn't do a thing for Wyntere. Her warder is old enough to be
your father. She steps outside and shuts the partitions to get you peace in
changing. She looks across the room and nods to a few novices that wave at
her. They giggle a little at the young man in the bed.

Neelkan cringes for a few moments before moving to get into the clothes. It
takes a lot of effort, as he's still very weak from the Healing, but he
gets them on and slumps down on the bed again with a loud sigh. Man, that
wore him out. He's starting to understand now why the Yellows wouldn't let
him leave. He probably wouldn't make it out of the Courtyard before
collapsing.

Wyntere calls out from behind the curtains. "You finished? I can either let
you sleep after spending all the energy or I can come talk some more. Your
choice." She wants force herself to be in your presence. She has plenty of
children to look after.

Eh? Neelkan opens one lazy eye for a moment, then shrugs, "I'm fine! Don't
need to sleep. I could outrun a horse!" If the horse was tied to a tree
witha really thick rope... "So what d'ya wanna talk 'bout?" He's been dying
(well, not literally) for someone to talk to, and he'll settle for this
woman. She's at least nice. He'll just ignore the fact that she's a woman
and an Aes Sedai for the time being.

Wyntere opens the curtains and moves back to her chair. "We all need rest
after being healed. Don't try to fool me, lad." She grins softly, laughing
at how he is almost as stubborn as she is. "There wasn't much I really want
to talk about. I just thought you might like a little company. We can talk
about whatever you want to talk about."

"Hmmmm." Neelkan murmurs softly trying to think of something to talk about.
His brain is too muddled. He sits himself up slightly, propping up his
pillow. There. That seems to help. "Uh.. Ya mentioned students. What does
that mean exactly? I talked with one of those... uh... 'Accepted' the other
day... Is she a student?" This guy doesn't know the first thing about the
Tower. He wouldn't have known an Aes Sedai if she sat on him until it was
pointed out to him.

Wyntere grins to Neelkan and nods. "Students... good topic. There are many
kinds of students here. Novice are the girls in all white that are just
learning to become Aes Sedai. Accepted have the bands around their dresses
and are sort of in transition from a beginner to an Aes Sedai. And then
there are the trainees. They are young men that are learning to fight and
protect the Aes Sedai." She leans back comfortable with this topic. "All
students learn things like history, dance, shadowlore, ettiquette, you name
a topic to study. The girls learn to channel. The guys learn to fight." She
shrugs. "that's pretty much it in a nut shell. Unless you are curious to
even more in depth answer."

"The.. trainees.. they learn to fight to protect the.. uh... Aes Sedai?"
Neelkan repeats, actually saying the words! Gasp. "Do they, uh.. end up
servin' 'em?" Something about how he asks that shows he really doesn't like
the idea any man having to serve a woman. But he said he was from Eharon,
and well, women are dominant there...

Wyntere nods with humor at the questions. "Yes, they protect the Aes Sedai.
We aren't that bad you know. We are taught to serve others. And yes, The
gaidin, our warders, serve us. In any relationship, if you don't serve each
other problems occur. And it really depends on your idea of serving."

Grumbling lightly under his breath, Neelkan says, "I'll never serve a
woman." Sorry, this boy just has strong feelings about that. Watching his
dad be totally subservent... Having his five older sisters lord (lady?)
over him all his life... he had enough of it two years ago and ran away.

Wyntere looks over to Neelkan and nods. "Why not? What do you think it
means by serving someone?" Wyntere delves deeper to learn the boy's
thoughts. She can make sense and work with him, even if he hates women.
This becoming more apparrent.

"Well 'ey're just boss 'round and tell 'em what to do, right?" Neelkan
asks, a little confused on the idea of them doing differently. The template
which me has all women put against is not a good one. "I mean, no offense
and all, I got nothin' against ya, but ya women seem t' think just cause
yer women that ya can tell us what t' do and ping us over the head with
logs and we won't hit back or argue cause we're men." Something is
definately flawed with his thinking. He doesn't think so though.

Wyntere laughs and shakes her head. "No, that never works either. Serving
goes two ways. We should be utmost kind to you and you be utmost kind to
us. Some women don't understand that." She stands up and looks to the door.
"Well, I must get back to work. I'm the Mistress of Novices and must
oversee the training of all the novices and accepted." She reaches for the
sheets and straightens them a little. "You need to get some rest too."

Hrm. Well she's certainly make him think a little, but Neelkan hasn't given
up his view of the female sex as a whole yet. Maybe she's just rare is all!
Yeah. "A'right... 'anks f'r the clothes and stuff..."

Wyntere grins kindly to the boy. "You are most welcome. Feels better not to
wear a gown, hmm?" Her eyes bounce a little. Yep, she's the mother of the
children here. No, not Mother the Amrylin. Just the Aes Sedai with a
motherly personality.

That earns a small laugh, and Neelkan nods, "Ye'h. Definately."

Wyntere nods in return. "You sleep well. If you aren't, talk to the ladies
here or have them send for me. Alright?"

Pause... Neelkan stares for a moment... She knows he isn't sleeping well...
Course she does. She seems to know everything else! He shifts around a
little, then nods reluctently, "Ye'h..."

Wyntere smiles back. "Take care, Neelkan. And sweet dreams." She knows
things only cause her sisters talk to her. And she has dealt with many
people and can sort of read faces.

Gulp. Neelkan actually seems to lay deeper in his bed, "See ya later..
uh... Wyntere."

Wyntere grins and nods as she leaves. She doesn't mind the young lad
leaving off her title. He'll use it once he understands what an Aes Sedai
is. Err.. is suppose to be.