06/18/2000

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.


Denn'ryiel opens the door, enters, takes a quick look at the cots, and
turns around. It registers to her however that one person in the cots is
awake, so she turns back around and begins to walk over.

Laying back on the cot, Neelkan is looking... or glaring is probably the
better word, up at the ceiling. His skin looks flushed on the face, though
luckily he still has not developed the rash, and the cough isn't that bad
either. Despite the flush on his face his hands are rather pale, due to the
fact they have not seen the sun in a while. No doubt the blue-green eyed
young man is hating this. Intensely. But no less then when a certain woman
who happens to be a friend left.

Denn'ryiel walks over to Neelkan's cot, and places a hand on his forehead
to judge his temperature. A very crude form of delving, but at least it
doesn't involve the Power. "Hello again," she says quietly, so as not to
wake the other patients in the room. She looks... no different from when
she left, except perhaps for a more haunted expression.

Dark lashes blink lightly as a hand is placed on his forehead, and Neelkan
looks up to see the source of the hand. When he sees who it is, he almost
tries to sit up, but he doesn't actually make it to the actual... attempt
at all. He does reach a hand up and put it over the one on his forehead.
The skin of his face is hot, very hot, but his hand seems rather cold.
After a moment, in his accented voice he manages to get out, "'ey, Denn.
It's good t'... have ya back." He manages to keep from coughing when he
speaks. This time.

Denn'ryiel looks touched by the gesture, until she notices the temperature
change. For a moment she almost reaches for the Source to Heal, but then
remembers that it's a no-no. She smiles back to Neelkan and nods once. "It
is good to be back, Neelkan. I'm sorry to see things haven't gotten any
better," she says, frowning.

Taking in a deep breath, Neelkan closes his eyes for a moment and moves the
hand around a little until he's holding her own. "E'erythin'll be a'right
soon..." He mutters softly, almost tiredly. No doubt he is very tired. He's
never slept well, and the fever hasn't helped him sleep better at all. In
fact it's only made things worse. And what he wouldn't -give- to be able to
walk around. He's sure he would do better if he could just get some fresh
air.

Denn'ryiel takes a look at Neelkan's pale skin, and the way he glances
occaisionally towards the window. "Everyting will be alright. Espiria will
have the cure sooner that you think." She then pauses, and asks, "Do you
want me to help you over to by the window? A breeze might help. Or I could
fill a warm bath for you."

It takes nearly a full minute for Neelkan to process all this. His mind is
so jumbled up by the fever it's hard to wrap his consious around even a
single thought for very long, but eventually he looks back up, peering
around his arm, his lips twitching into a small smirk, almost remincent of
the one he used to flaunt about all the time, "I prolly wouldn't mind
sittin' near the window f'r a bit."

Denn'ryiel nods once, patiently, and reaches down to help Neelkan out of
the bed. She tries to get it so that much of his weight is on her shoulder.
Denn'ryiel does not look very strong, but she seems to have enough physical
strength for this task. "Don't worry, it's not too far."

Not like Neelkan is a huge boy anyway. Oh, he has... or more precisesly
-had-, a decent amount of muscles, but he was never big. He's always been
kind of scrawny in comparison. Accepting the help, he tries to suport as
much of his own weight as he can, but a lot of it is still put on his
friend. "I'm not worried..." he mutters as he accepts the help over.

Denn'ryiel is forced to move slowly across the infirmary floor with her
friend. Not just because Neelkan is weak, but because she couldn't help him
along faster if she tried. There is one chair already set next to a window
a few yards away, and Denn starts heading for that. "Of course not," she
replies. "You're doing quite well. And I won't tell anyone about this," she
adds more quietly at the end, without any hint of jest or amusement.

"Ye'h... Light... wouldn't do if anyone knew I accepted help from a women,
eh?" Neelkan says, eyes actually seeming to gain back a little of their old
light for a moment until they return to their glazed over state. "Blood 'n
ashes.. It's good t' have ya back though... I was worried." Though it's
said tiredly, and almost with a careless tone, it's actually evident that
he means it.

Denn'ryiel smiles warmly upon hearing that, and gently helps set Neelkan
into the chair. As soon as he's seated, she reaches up and opens the
window, allowing the breeze in. "It is good to be back, Neelkan. And I'm
sorry I caused you to worry." She pauses before she would continue though.
Instead she says, "Let me make up another batch of medicine for you," she
says.

Getting seated in the chair, Neelkan leans back into it, but not enough to
throw it off balance or anything. It's good to be out of that bloody bed!
But he doesn't say that. Then again, he probably doesn't need to. "'ey, not
much else t' do 'round 'ere, so don't be sorry 'bout it. Light, e'en
worried 'bout m' family least once in 'ere..." he trails off, rambling a
little. He makes no protest to the medicine, though it's actually not
working well for him anymore.

Denn'ryiel nods her head once as she mixes the powder into a glass of
grapefruit juice. "You shouldn't worry too much. Since I'm back now I'm
going to devote my time to helping Esperia out. Before long we'll all be
laughing about this over drinks," she says, carrying the glass back to
Neelkan.

"Drinks'a ale, m'be?" Neelkan jokes, his smirk widing a little as he takes
the grape juice and starts to sip at it. Arg. "Anythin' but the stuff 'ey
give us in 'ere..." One of the Yellows even tried to... give him milk. But
luckily after he started coughing and suffocating they took the hint and
kept with liquids that were not white.

Denn'ryiel chuckles and nods. "If you promise not to die on me then ale it
will be," she promises. She patiently waits to make certain he drinks the
entire glass, not that it's a large glass.

Neelkan snorts softly, drinking down another gulp. After a moment he says,
shaking his head until his flatter then usual white-streaked red hair falls
to obscure his eyes, "No flamin' illness is gonna kill m', Denn."

Denn'ryiel laughs warmly at that, and nods. "I'd agree with that, Neelkan.
You're too stubborn to die," she says, making a light jest at the trainee's
expense. Her smile shows that no harm was meant.

"I like t' call it presistant." Neelkan points out, taking another big gulp
of the drink.