06/21/2000

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.


The infirmary is a bustle of activity at the moment as everyone hurries
around with small baskets. They seem to be giving everyone something,
whether they want it or not at this point.

Espi walks in, bearing the marks of her earlier battles with getting the
initial batches of the stuff made. She notes that everyone is working at a
good pace though and that there are already several baskets of the crystals
to be take made and waiting to be given out. She glances at the cots of her
well beloved fiends and sighs happily, glad that they will recover and
there is relief plainly on her face as she walks by.

Neelkan was one of the first to get a dose, only because he happened to be
near Redd, who was probably the worst one in the infirmary after all.
Almost as soon as it kicked in at all and he felt even the slightest bit
better he instantly fell asleep, hoping against hope that he might not get
haunted with dreams and just allowed one night of sleep without a fever
dream, or a real dream. Of course... things can not always be how he would
wish. In fact, they rarely are. He suddenly starts awake, sitting up in the
bed quickly, the blanket spilling down around his lap, his hair dark with
sweat. Well, the red part of it dark. Making the white streaks almost look
whiter, and in some places almost clear. At least he isn't screaming this
time though, right? Instead he just stares straight forward, at nothing,
blinking.

Espiria nearly jumps out of her skin as she sees you sit bolt upright like
you do. She hurries over to you, blinking as well as she looks with concern
at your face. "Neel? Neel? Can you hear me? It's Espi...." She grabs a cool
cloth for his face and a glass of water incase he is needing it.
"Here....try to drink some of this?" She bites her lower lip a bit,
sighing. "Was it a very bad dream?" She tries to wipe your face offa bit,
hoping that the coolness of the cloth will help you feel better.

Blink. Blink. Neelkan just continues to blink, not giving any reaction to
your voice at all. In fact he doesn't even move until there's a cloth on
his face. He jerks to the side a little, glancing over, then stops when he
sees it's just you. Just Espi. His friend. And you were saying something
weren't you? His brow furrows slightly, then he just takes a guess at what
you said, "I'm.. fine.. Blood 'n ashes. Not.. bad reall---" he pauses,
seeming to change his mind, especially after the impression he could feel
over the dream itself... "Ye'h. Bad dream. I'm... I'm fine. Really."

Espiria blinks slightly, dropping her hand now that you're talking to her.
She manages a smile though and hands you the glass of water, "Feel like
talking about it any? I mean...Ma always told me that having bad dreams is
always helped to make you feel better if you talk about them." She smiles,
brushing at her dress alittle bit as she sits down next to you.

Sighing softly, Neelkan lowers his head a little, pressing his forehead
against the palm of his hand, his fingers in his hair and falling to
obscure most of his face. Talk about it? No. He doesn't want to talk about
it. He's never talked about his dreams before. It's just... not something
he's comfortable with. And since he did this, he obviously hasn't taken the
drink of water. After a moment he lets out another sigh and raises his
head, reaching to take the cup finally. His usual poofy hair falls to
obscure his eyes as he takes a small drink from the top of the cup then. He
lowers the cup before saying, "It's.. a lil' hard t' put int' words... 'ere
was 'is... doorway. Like... like a door way. 'n it was yellowed, and...
kinda..." he tries to find the words, his eyes narrowing in thought. "it
wasn't right. It was... like the frame was bent 'r somethin'. 'n 'ere was
all 'ese clouds... 'n lightnin', like in a storm, ya know. 'n 'ere was
'is... feelin'. Like things pullin' on it." No. He isn't good at describing
things. "'en 'ere was 'is key. Held in 'is fist. A tight fist, like 'is."
He holds up his own fist and clenches it until the nuckles are lighter then
the rest of his hand. "'n it was all silvery 'n looked like it could be
broken easily.. 'n....." he pauses, eyes blinking once before looking at
you. From under the obscuring red and white spikes of hair he looks you
over a few times, then... seems to change his mind about that and...

Espiria listens quietly, gulping visibly as you mention the twisted
doorway. "Yellow you said?" Her voice seems slightly softer, almost
frightened alittle in tone and quality. She bites her lower lip, listening
to the rest of it. Yes, she remembers the keys, if vaguely. But what could
it mean /now/? She glances over to you, noting that you hesitated at
something. her head tips to one side, "Neel? There was something else?
Please...won't you tell me?" She seems worried or concerned about this and
she's hoping it not the same thing Redd saw in his 'viewing' of her. She
rubs her arms to try to get rid of the chill she feels with little success.
"Please. It's very important..."

Lowering his head again, Neelkan grumbles softly under his breath, some
soft curse and a few words about presistant women and how he hates them,
then he raises his head and reaches up to push his hair back and out of his
face, and for the moment it actually stays pushed back. "It's just.. f'r..
f'r a moment it.. well.. Light, I thought.. I thought I saw ya. Reflected
in the silver key. But 'at could'a been just me!" He doesn't want her to
have more on her mind. No need to make her worry about being in one of his
bad dreams. Much less a bad dream with a thunderstorm and all that. "It was
just a weird dream. Prolly a side effect 'a not havin' any ale f'r weeks 'n
weeks!"

Espiria shivers again, nodding. "Possibly. It..could have been something
like that." No. Let's not worry Neel and say that she knows it was her
because of what Redd saw over her head one day. It's her because she can
feel a chill creep into her bones that doesnt want to go away. She manages
a smile and a nod to you. "Yes...You're probably right. Let's just not
discuss it again then." She smiles, sighing softly as she looks you over.
"It seems that the medicine is working well on you. You should be up and
around again very soon. I bet you will be happy to finally be out of here,
hmm?" She chuckles softly, glancing at the Ywlloes who buzz around like
busy bees.

There's a long moment when Neelkan just watches his friend, his brow
furrowed and his eyes slightly narrowed. Then he sighs and looks away,
towards a Yellow scurrying around, though he doesn't actually see her. He
just didn't want to look at you anymore for some reason or another. He
doesn't even know why, all he knows is something about your reaction
bothered him. At the last thing he just shrugs, not half as excited as he
should be. Something must have really bothered him. Or he's just thinking
too much. And thinking and Neelkan don't go well together. After a moment
he manages to say, sounding at least partly excited, "Ye'h. 'n I hope I
ne'er see 'is place 'gain.."

Espiria sighs softly, glancing back over to you. There is fear in her eyes,
but she doesn't let it show for long. No. It's best for you not to know
right now. It would be better if Espi didn't know, but she does. She knows
so much at the moment. Her head feels cracked open like a ripe fruit and
all the seeds of what used to be are coming pouring out. maybe it's an
after effect of what she had to go thru. Maybe it was trying to look
at...the arches that she helped to build. She sighs softly,
"Neel....whatever happens. I know you will be the best Warder they have. I
know that...you will work hard and probably kick a few behinds along the
way. But..never change who you are for anyone. Always be the friend that I
care for...okay?" Strange words coming from her, but right now she is in a
strange mood. She's seen the future and it's not a pretty sight. Real or
no..it's still effected her. Deeply. She would rather you not be altered in
such a way. "Keep you're love of life...and your thoughts of being the best
you can be. I..think it's going to be a hard road we all walk soon."

Eh? ... Neelkan blinks as you suddenly go all mushy and stuff on him and he
stares over at you for a few moments through all that speech. The best
Warder? He smirks slightly at the behind kicking part, but it does falter a
little at the friend you care for bit. He's not good at talking about those
things... He even casts a glance around as if to make sure no one heard
that slight confession of caring. Shaking his head, he lets out a small
laugh and reaches over with a free hand and very lightly punches your
shoulder, "Don't worry. I'll a'ways b' Neelkan. From now on. Nothin's gonna
change 'at." Not even his real name. "'n course I'll be the best bloody
Warder 'is place'll e'er see! But I ain't servin' no woman." He says that
last part with a small grumble. "I'll protect a woman, but I ain't gonna
serve 'er." ... Does that mean he's reconsidering the possibility of
bonding?

Espiria giggles, blushing brightly for a moment as she nods, "Good I'm so
glad to hear that." She darts a glance around for just a moment, looking
back over to you with a grin. "Here..Let me get that pillow for you so you
can be more comfortable." She smiles, rising up from her seat the reach
over behind you and adjust your pillow a bit. As she rises, she seems to be
making a big fuss over nothing really as she states, "I know you will.
You've got the drive to make it all possible, Neelkan. Well, there's no
fact that says you have to bond." She grins and mutters as she leans over
though, in much softer tones, as she adjusts your pillows. "And I really do
want to discuss about the dream..but there are too many eyes and ears here
that will listen to us." She says it far too softly for anyone to hear, but
then she covered it well with adjusting your pillows. She retakes her seat,
smiling. "I know you will be a good protector, Neel. You have all that you
need inside of you..just waiting to come out and now that you'll be
well...you can actually get a chance to let it all out." She giggles
softly, reaching for the pitcher in case you need more water. "Would you
like a bit more?"

A few of the hurriedly moving Yellows pause at the bedside of Redd,
checking him over..or seeming to before they move on to another part of the
infirmary. It seems they are all bustling in activity, but why would they
just pause in one spot seemingly out of the blue? Perhaps a bit too curious
for their own good? Or maybe just nosie.

Giving a soft chuckle, Neelkan's eyes brighten a little bit for a moment,
but he's still not completely back to normal yet. The whole dream thing,
and being waved off still bothering him, but then... eh? "Ya don't need
t'..." he starts to protest as you make a big fuss over the pillow,
frowning a little at you and wondering why you're doing that all of a
sudden. Then ... oh. "'eh.. it's a'right. Later 'en..." Somewhere more
private. He certainly wouldn't mind having a converstion as far away from
nosie women as possible. He's tired of having women fawn over him all the
time. Not that he'd rather have men, he'd rather have no one, thanks! He's
not a child. "'ey! It ain't waitin' t' come out. It's a'ready out." So
there! He's already a great protector! "I'm only 'ere 'cuz it looks
interestin'. I don't need 'ese Warders t' bring out nothin' in m'."

Espiria chuckles and nods, offering a sly wink to you once the yellows have
moved on with their duties. She sighs softly, lifting a shoulder as she
considers you. "I'd give you another day...and another dose of the remedy
and watch out world, Neel is back in action." She giggles, shaking her head
gently for a moment. "You really are a good friend to have, Neel. I'm so
very glad I met you. You know..I never had brothers when I was growing up.
I never realized what I was missing till I met you." She smiles, resting
the pitcher on her lap. "I shouldn't stay too much longer though or the
Yellows will most likely run me off. It wouldn't be good for me to get them
upset...." She grins, glancing at everyone else. "I'm just so relieved that
everyone will get better now. Even Redd. He came so close, Neel. So very
close, but we caught it before we wouldn't have been able to catch it."

Eh... Neelkan puts down the glass and suddenly waves his hands around in a
'no way' gesture. In fact about twenty of them quickly. "Yer not m' sis, 'n
I can't think of ya like one. I hated m' sisters. I 'ad five of 'em. All
older. Trust m'. Yer nothin' like 'em, 'n I can't believe I e'en thinkin'
of ya'll in the same thought! It's just wrong." He shakes his head and
finally lowers his hands, "'n I'm glad Redd'll b' a'right. I ne'er had no
brothers, so he can b' the lil' one I ne'er had. 'sides. I need m' necklace
back." He glances over at the boy, then back at you again. "'n go 'head 'n
go. Like ya said, I'll be outta 'ere in a day 'n makin' trouble!" Hehehe.
Ahem.

Espiria chuckles brightly, nodding. "Probably tommorrow or the next day.
Redd may have a few days after that till he's out of danger, but he'll be
up and around in no time." She smiles, rising from her seat. She pats your
ar gently, setting the pitcher back into it's place. "I will see you
soon..I'm sure." She chuckles, turning to leave and feeling much
better...well about somethings..and really scared about others. But for the
most part she's happy again knowing all those she cares for are safe...at
least for now.