05/19/2000

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.


Redd continues to mumble. "Espiria, is that her name?" He continues to
relive the past for some reason.

Espiria darts a quick glance at Redd, blinking. What is he doing saying my
name? She furrows her brows just a bit, puzzling it over in her mind before
glancing back to Kenn. "Do..you know what he's talking about?"

Laying back on the bed, Neelkan had the curtain closed for a little while
as he -tried- to actually sleep (insert gasp here), but after a few winks,
sleep fails him and he sits up, pulling the curtain away. Is Redd mumbling
again? He doesn't notice Espiria at first, rubbing his eyes slightly and
trying to reawaken after the brief bit of sleep he got.

Redd mumbles louder still. "I can't understand the pictures, da." So he is
back in the life before his memory was lost? "I am not lying..." All three
present should know how much he hates letting people know about that...

Espiria purses her lips, eyes widening slightly as she tips her eyes back
to Redd. She frowns just a bit, glancing around for a moment before she
heaves a sigh. Hopefully, noone will know what kind of pictures those would
be. Could be paitings for all anyone knows, right?

Kennyth shrugs to Espiria's first question and shakes his head to the
second. He's not about to admit that something is wrong. He strokes the
boy's hair for just a second, wishing he could speak so Redd might hear his
voice and know he was there. He looks to the door, establishing a clear
pathway. And decides once he leaves that he'll have to have an escape
planned from the camp too. A heavy sigh and a worried frown.

Someone's stroking Redd's hair? Neelkan raises his eyebrows then ruffles
his hair again slightly before fully sliding off the bed. He has notice
Epsi now and moves up behind them, saying in a rather soft (for him at
least) voice, "He was talkin' lot earlier too, ya know." Hope he didn't
startle them without meaning to. Or maybe he did mean to. With this bandit
(ex-bandit?) one can never really be certain.

Redd mumbles again. "Da, I don't care. Being a Lord is boring..." That
again?! He seems opposed to being a Lord, but why would he have to be?

Espiria blinks, chin dropping a considerable distance as she widens her
eyes. Redd?? A Lord?? She darts a glance to Neel, nearly jumping out of her
skin since she wasn't l;istening for him and she was too interested in what
Redd's been saying. She blinks again, shock plainly on her face as she
darts a glance to Kenn. She's sure he's got to know what's going on.

Kennyth looks over to Neelkan, clearly un-startled, and nods gravely. He
slowly writes in his notebook again and shows it to the both of them: 'Redd
was unable to remember his past. Clearly this is part of it. Maybe someone
should keep track just in case the memories are gone when he is well.' No
doubt that he will be well. Redd is surrounded by Yellow Sisters.
Therefore, Redd will be cured. End of story.

"I tend to agree, Lordie," Neelkan says in response to the kid's mumblings
with a smirk. He peers down at the notebook and frowns, nodding slightly.
"He said some name... Iola? Iala...?" Gah. He can't remember. "And he said
he didn't wanna be... Eridon? Eridan? Eri-somethin' no more. 'n he said the
Lord thin' earlier too." Finally he winks slightly at the novice and adds
on, "Didn't mean t' startle ya." Ye'h. Riiiiight.

Espiria chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Redd doesn't seem the type to
want such things. He's far too down to earth for that. Far too willing to
chase birds than wear tight clothing and listen to stuffy shirt debate."
She frowns, shaking her head again as she wets the cloth again and replaces
it to his forehead.

The mumbling doesn't stop there. "They died because I couldn't help. I
promise you, Espiria, I will protect you like I couldn't protect them..."
The very same words he said, Neelkan present, when Espi was brought into
the Infirmary after the stampede.

Kennyth starts writing again, but this time it doesn't seem meant as a bit
of conversation to the other two in the room. He folds the piece of paper
and tucks it into Redd's pocket, for when he wakes up. He then frowns,
looking to the door again. Redd's back to the near present and that means
he's back to a dangerous time for him. Kennyth does not want to be stuck in
the Tower if or when Redd accidentally spills his secret. Why, Wheel, did
the only person who knows about him have to be brought down with a terrible
sickness...and have his tongue loosen besides?

Siiiiigh. Poor kid. Neelkan's eyes narrow slightly and then he shakes his
head. He's going to have to have a word or two with the kid sometime very
soon it seems, but what is he going to say? He'll just fumble over words
probably. What he wouldn't give to be the youngest again. So much easier.
Instead he just reaches forward and pats the kid's foot under the blankets
or whatever and says, "Poor kid needs t' get o'er it. Wasn't his fault."
Um... Oh yeah! "I just remembered, he did mention somethin' else, besides
callin' m' 'Sir Neelkan' he mentioned... Some one named... Kenniah?
Kenn-something." No wonder he calls people by shortened versions of their
name. He doesn't rememver names very well.

Well, Espi nearly fell ut of her chair when Redd said that before. her eues
going wide. Protect me? Why? She frowns slightly, wishing for all the bad
things to go away and never return, but she knows that's not possible. She
just wishes that it would never touch those she has come to care for. her
head jerks back to Neel, blinking as she darts a glance to Kenn, "His name
is Kennyth, Neelkan. Was it Kennyth?" She keeps her eyes on Kenn, someohow
knowing that he had to have something to do with it. Especially with his
uniform and she knownt that Redd lived at the camp most times. She bites
her lip gently, "Kennyth..can't you /please/ tell us what's going on? Can't
you understand we are worried sick for Redd? If he's got some kind of
problem...we want to help him..."

The mumbling stops here, not another word is muttered now.

Kennyth looks very frustrated. He scrawls across his notebook, 'I already
told you all I know. He has lost his memory. I do not know how he
contracted this fever. Do you think I'm not worried? What do you' here the
words get all crammed up and he has to turn the page, 'expect me to tell
you?'

Neelkan nods after a moment, "Ye'h. Might'a been Kennyth. Something 'bout
how I wouldn't tell 'im 'r somethin' 'n how he would ask Kennyth." Speaking
of Kennyth, Neel looks towards the man's notepad again and reads what he
can of it. 'contracted' gives him a little trouble. Neel was never much of
a reader... but he suddenly looks embarassed, but it's covered. "I dunno
what happened either, but Kaomi 'n a Yellow brought 'im in, 'en some big
guy came in 'n mentioned something about a Trainee... talking to a Trainee.
'n whate'er he said t' Kaomi kinda made 'er mad. I was tryin' t' get 'im t'
drink somethin' at the time though, so didn't really catch the whole
thing."

Espiria sighs in frustration as well, shaking her head slowly. "I just
don't understand any of this. Why Redd? What did Redd ever do to anyone to
deserve something like this to happen to him?" Espi notices Kenn's watching
of the doorway for a moment before asking, "And why to you seem to be
judging how quickly you could get out of the door when Redd was talking?"
She drops her head into her hands, shaking her head slightly. "It's all
such a mess. I..just wish I could make it all better again."

Redd appears to finally have made it into peaceful sleep. His breathing is
relaxed for once, and he seems more comfortable, though his fever hasn't
budged at all.

Kennyth watches Espiria for a long time. He doesn't seem to blink; huge
brown eyes seeming to glimmer slightly as a candle catches them. Observant,
isn't she. He writes another message: 'We all have secrets.' All he's going
to say on the matter. He nods to Neelkan, thanking him for saying what Redd
mumbled about him. And looks gently back to Redd. A deep sleep is a good
thing when someone is in a fever. The crisis has downplayed a notch. He
bows to them both, ready to be away from this place. At least by his note
Redd will know that he was, at least once, there, whether he can return or
not.

Eh? "Espi?" Neelkan says softly, immediately letting his mood drop down a
few knotches. There's time when being spunky isn't what people want. He
watches as Kennyth goes, nodding towards the man slightly, then moves to
put his hands on the girl's shoulders, "Hey, don't be upset. Things happen.
'ey just happen. Like ya told m' just a little while ago the Wheel doesn't
do somethin' if it's got no purpose. If nothin' else if Redd hadn't lost
his memories I wouldn't have met the boy, 'n wouldn't have 'im as a friend.
Just... just don't be upset." He doesn't like upset people. Comforting is
not his best skill, but he's going to try.

Espiria sighs as Kenn leaves. Yes she is obvervant. You have to be when the
Dark One is after you, or you don't live long. She sighs, shaking her head
slightly. He will be back no doubt to check on Redd and hopefully she can
ask him a bit more about himself. She glances at Neel, sighing softly.
"The..day has been far too long. Far too many hurt today. I know,
Neel...it's just hard to follow you're own advise somethimes." She shivers,
head going back to her hands a moment before she forces herself to stand
up. "I....Should get going Neel. You going to stay with him for the time
being?" She can't let herself get down over this.

"Far too many hurt today...?" Neelkan asks softly, looking rather
concerned. Very concerned in fact. This is one of his friends! With a long
sigh he lowers one arm, and slides the other one into his hair. "I... I
just... Light. I dunno. Just try not t'... beat yerself up, 'kay?" Sigh.
Why is he tempted to hug her. Damn Redd for hugging him when he was upset
that one time. "'n ye'h. I'll stay 'ere with 'im f'r the night at least.
Though I was supposed t' get m' own room when they dragged 'im in 'ere..."

Espiria bites her lip and looks up to your face with fearful eyes. Oh..if
only she could tell you. If only... But Kaomi would probably have her head
if she mentioned it. It's..so hard being so alone though. Sure...there are
those trying to help her. But it's not the same as someone close to her own
age. She looks down, wrapping her arms around herself as she sighs,
"Not..beat myself up over it? No...I don't need to. There are plenty doing
that for me..for me to have to do it to myself." She sighs deeply, glancing
at Redd and worrying that just knowing her caused this. Yes, she blames
herself for a great deal. But then, not everyday the Dark One gets the hots
for someone either.

That's it. Neelkan has seen enough to know that he hasn't seen it all, and
it's pissing him off. The fearful look in your eyes didn't help either. He
puts his hands back on your shoulders and leans down to look you level in
the face, "Light, Espi, tell m' what is goin' on 'ere. Who's tryin' t' hurt
ya? Why the Light're ya so scared? If ya'd just tell m' m'be I could..." He
suddenly realizes where they are and straightens, looking around with a
glare. Damnit!! "Blood 'n ashes. 'ere's no place we could go t' talk is
'ere..." Sigh. He really wants to hit something. He -has- to find out
what's going on with his friend, but he doesn't want to leave his other
friend, and he doesn't want to make her talk about it -here-.

Espiria shivers a bit at your vehemence, but she sighs softly lifting a
shoulder after a moment. "I...can't Neel." That's the first time she's used
the familiar name you said she could use, "Mother...Well, she told me not
to discuss it with anyone. She would be very angry if she knew I had." She
shakes her head slowly, "I..want to so badly though. I want to tell
someone...Someone other than Sedai about this. I..feel so trapped
sometimes. Not..by them really, but by..things happening to me. I...can say
that Wyntere Sedai said she would help to make it all better, but...but
what if it can't be? What if..what's happening to me..is just the wya
things are going to be? I...just feel so lost sometimes. Adrift without an
anchor..or without anything stable under my feet. Life..ripped out from
under me constantly till I feel like giving up and laying there as the
ground rolls over me." She's close to tears now, not being able to tell
anyone and the feeling of helplessness filling her to the breaking point.
Oh how she just wants to scream right now. Wants to rant and rage as badly
as you do. Wants to vent it all somehow so she can go back to being the
obedient one that she needs to be.

Light! Blood 'n ashes! Grrr. This is why Neelkan hates women. Watching them
hurt... he's never liked it. It always makes him feel hurt too. Just as
much as they probably feel. Sigh. "Espi... Light. I'm sorry. I.. I didn't
mean t' yell at ya... just..." He sighs again. "I understand 'at ya can't
tell m'... I just... if 'ere's anythin' I can d'. Anythin' at all t' make
whate'er 'is is easier on ya, 'r... 'r whate'er, just say so 'n I'll try."
He glares around once. Oh, to Shayol Ghul with all the Aes Sedai and for a
brief second he pulls you into a quick hug, nothing that isn't more then a
hug though. Something he would give a little sister, if he'd had any. (Five
older sisters, no little ones. Alas). Then pulls away and adds, "Yer m'
friend, 'n no matter what, I always will be, so don't e'en think f'r a
minute 'at 'at's gonna change." This thing is awkward, but he feels he has
to say it. He doesn't like his friends being upset... Arg.

Espiria blinks, feeling the hug for the warmth and caring that it is and
she manages a smile in return even as she returns the quick hug. "Thank
you, Neel. More than you know...Thank you for that." She sighs softly,
rising up from her seat then and sparing a glance to Redd. "I..should
really try to get some sleep. I..have alot of work to do tommorrow and
morning comes way to early." She weakly chuckles, heaving a sigh as she
looks back to you. "You..will always be my friend too, Neel. And I treasure
those...more than anything I ever could have. Or..anything I ever could
do." That's a cryptic remark, but true in her mind. No matter what's she's
ever done..in whatever time it was done....friends were more cherished to
her than all of this.. She sighs softly, placing a gentle hand to your arm,
"I'll come back tommorrow to check on both of you." She chuckles, shaking
her head. "It's..the one thing I can always look forward to, you know?"

Blushing slightly at the comments, Neelkan shrugs as if trying to make it
seem like no big deal, but he doesn't say anything about it of the like.
"Uh, yer welcome. Ya just... looked like ya needed it." And he sort of did
too, so... "Ya go get some sleep. 'n try not t' worry so much, kay? Won't
do if we both end up with white hair, ya know!" He had to throw out a joke,
followed by another of his little winks. It's just part of who he is. He
can't stay super-serious for very long unless he has to. "'n I'll be in
'ere, unless 'ey finally get m' a room! So, ye'h. Ya can look forward t'
'at."

Espiria chuckles and pats your arm once more and nods, "I do." She tips her
head toward Redd for a moment, worry clearly etched there before she
murmurs, "I'll..try not to worry, Neel. I /really/ will try." She sighs,
and turns to head for the door. Pausing there for just a moment, she takes
a deep breath. "Light always keep you safe, Neel." Espi glances up to
Vorsha, offering a smile to her and a nod before she exits the door.

Scratching at his white-streaked hair, Neelkan watches the novice leave,
shaking his head slightly as if confused about something, then looks back
down at the sleeping boy in the bed before moving back to his own and
sitting on it.

Vorsha walks over to Neelkan, and looks down at the boy. "What's going on
with the little one?" she asks softly.

"I dunno." Neelkan answers truthfully, still looking confused before he
finally realizes it's a girl talking to him and manages a very small glare.
So small though, and with little force. He just doesn't have it in him
today. "He's got a fever 'r somethin'."

Vorsha nods and looks over his charts. Yellows taking care of it. She turns
to the young man. "And you? What are you doing hanging around the
infirmary? I take it you're a trainee."

"Not offically yet, no. But I'm gonna be." Neelkan shrugs and scratches at
his hair again, still glaring weekly at the girl for a few moments, "I was
injured a while 'go 'n brough 'ere 'n healed. Took fore'er t' recover
though." Or it felt like forever.

Vorsha smiles and puts a hand to his forehead. "Well then." she says,
letting a hip jut out just so. "Let's see how you are doing, then? Mind me
using the Power to delve you?"

"Heeey." Neelkan says, flinching backwards a little, "I don't need nothin',
really. I'm doin' fine now. Ya... ya don't gotta delve m'..." He says that
world delve like it's something strange and more then it actually is. He
never liked the sound of that word. "Really!"

Vorsha flashes the sort of smile that makes most men melt in moments.
"Oh..." she pouts a moment. "You're no fun." she winks. "Well then, mind if
I sit here and talk with you?"

Neelkan raises his eyebrows slightly and shifts a little, shaking his head,
"Uh, I.. I'm actually tired. Ye'h... tired. Need a lotta sleep from healin'
ya know." He seems oddly uncomfortable around this woman. Perhaps it is the
way she smiles and pouts and winks...

Vorsha smiles at him and shakes her head. "Alright then, I suppose I can
just go about on what I'm doing."

Neelkan lets out a soft breath, as if he was holding one and moves to lay
down on the bed, still fully clothed and close the curtain so he can
attempt to sleep. Keyword being attempt.