07/09/2000

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.


Espiria shakes her head, trying to come to terms to this new fear that she
has. "No..I don't know at all." She shivers, biting her lower lip a bit
harder than she probably should, but it helps her to keep her mind focused
at least. "I..just don't want anyone else getting hurt. I mean...I don't
know if I was the target, but what....what if I was? What..if..someone
thought I was needed to be rid of?" She blinks hoping that Kirra
understands what she means. "What if...since I couldn't get gotten to any
other way..someone just decided that I shouldn't be left...alive?"

Kirra mmms and pats Espi's hands. "You're so young for this, but. . ." She
frowns, "It's sad to say, there are people who will want you dead simply
because you are Sedai. Not most, of course." She turns, looking to see who
else is in the Infirmary.

Enter the Woman Hater. Or should that be... ex-woman hater? No doubt some
of the random Yellow and Infirmary staff were here the night before and
start whispering to each other as the white streaked red head wanders in
(no doubt a few jaws hit the floor last night...). Neelkan just glares at
them for a few seconds and continues into the room. He didn't come here to
get snickered at. He came to check on his friend! Hrmpt. He nods to the Aes
Sedai briefly, recognizing her, then looks down at his friend, "'ey, Espi.
Feelin' any better?" He keeps a cocky little smirk in place, as if nothing
at all is wrong.

Espiria shivers a bit, eyes closing for a moment as she tries to hold onto
the comforting pats on her hand that Kirra is giving. She nods, eyes still
shut as she tries to touch that fear and find out why it's so strong all of
a sudden. Really..there shouldn't be any reason for it..should there?
Sure..she's had someone in her dreams. Sure..she's had someone nearly drive
her insane with hearing voices. Hmm..Maybe there is a reson for the fear?
And maybe she's just feeling still the shock of being hit in the stomach
with a bolt? Possible. She opens her eyes at hearing someone else's voice
and smiles, "Neel...It's good to see you. I'll..be alright. I feel like I
was hit all over really hard, but they said that I just need rest to
recover. I...just feel really weak right now." She glances over to Kirra,
trying to keep the smile on her face even though her eyes still bear that
fear she was expressing moments before.

Continueing to grin in that way that just seems to reach out and scream
that he's up to no good!, Neelkan reaches down and pokes the girl lightly
on the nose with his finger, just like he did while she was out of it last
night, and says, "I know how 'at feels. Felt like 'at 'en I first came 'ere
in fact."

Espiria sighs softly, giggles at the finger poking at her nose.
"That..tickles." She smiles brightly, shaking her head for a moment. "I
guess it's just something we all have to go thru..hmm?" She reaches for a
glass of water then, trying to stretch her arm for the glass. It seems she
can't quite reach it though and she drops her arm back with a sigh.

The grin falters for a second, then Neelkan reaches and grabs the glass of
water and holds it over for her. "Like I said. Yer just takin' yer turn t'
be waited on is all. Ya had to bring us drinks 'n stuff f'r two whole
flamin' months. It's yer turn now." No doubt there can be a few whispers
heard around the room about 'looks like he doesn't hate women any more' and
ect. Glare.

Espiria shivers a bit, pulling the blanket up to her chin before she smiles
at Neel. "But..I enjooyed helping all of you get better." She takes a few
sips, relaxing again with a weary sigh. "It's hard for me tho' to just be
laying here when I'd rather be up and around." She chuckles, glancing at
Neel and then Sunan. "I guess I can relate to how badly you both wanted to
get out of your beds..."

Sunan smiles slightly as he returns from being lectured by a Yellow for his
volume. "So does this Vorsha haveanyone trying to kill her?" He asks.

Neelkan instantly aims a light thump at Sunan's head, "Stop talkin' 'bout
it." Geez. She needs to rest here. "Espi, ya'll be fine. 'n we'll watch
o'er ya just like ya did us!" No doubt, more whispers can be heard in the
background about the incident last light between Neel and Denn. The
blue-green eyed young man glances around with narrow eyes and grumbles,
"Don't 'ese people got patients t' look after!?" Grrr.

Espiria glances over to Sunan, face paling slightly. That is until she sees
Neel aim a thump at Sunan's head like he does. She can't help but chuckle
and she winces slightly at the motion she makes as she does. "It's alright,
Neel...Really. I know he's as curious as anyone around why this is
happening. I mean..first Christabel Sedai? and now me? Who wouldn't be
curious." Yeah..that's right. True to ease your own tensions by easing
others of theirs. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment.
"The..Wheel weaves as it wills. All..we can do is endure and...try not to
allow ourselves to feel that it's hopeless."

Sunan ignores Neelkan's thump, aside from getting a quizziccal look on his
face. His eyes then become distant, and he hesitates, before asking, "How
come everyone's talking about how you sucked on Denn- I mean kissed
Denn'ryiel Semi-sedai?"

Neelkan's cheeks flush for a brief second and he shakes his head a little,
muttering in response before he can stop himself, "'cause it's not
somethin' 'ey see me do 'at often, a'right?" He looks a little ruffled for
a second (or maybe that's just his hair) as he glances down at Espi there
in the bed. Another way to cheer up yourself. Watch your friend get
flustered!

Espi's eyes flick over to Sunan and her face, even as pale as it is right
now, turns a bright crimson in color. She blinks, looking over to Neel
before she chuckles softly and shakes her head. "Neel...You..you kissed
Denn'ryiel?" Where others might actually be shocked at this, Espi seems
genuinely happy about the whole thing. "And here..she thought she had lost
you as a friend. I suspect that she doesn't believe that's the case
anymore, hmm?" She can see that Neel's a bit flustered, but she adds. "I'm
happy that you finally showed her that her fears were groundless."

Sunan sighs as the whole subject hasn't enlightened him a bit. "I guess
I'll understand when I'm older." He mumbles grumpily.

Neelkan continues to look flustered, kicking at the floor with his foot for
a second. "Don't go 'n make nothin' of it, Espi! But ye'h, I don't think
she thinks 'at no more." Then... he frowns. "Ya knew??" Grump! "I didn't
e'en know she felt she'd messed 'ings up!" Grumble. Then he lightens up and
pats Sunan on the back lightly, "'en yer older, prolly. Though maybe not.
Sometimes I don't e'en understand nothin'!"

Espiria coughs a bit, reaching for the water again, then realizing both of
you would get upset if she tried doing more than she should be doing.
"Could I get a bit more of the water?" Her eyes dart to both of you, but
finally settle on Neel as she grins. "Well....she said mainly that when she
had a bit..more to drink than you was when she messed things up.
She..thought maybe she had said something to loose your friendship." She
smiles, glancing over to Sunan as she chuckles, "Neel's right, Sunan. We
have to just take it day by day. Life..is always a learning experience.
Sometimes...wonderful. Sometimes...confusing. Many times..frightening. But
always...no matter what you feel at the time, it's enlightening after some
time passes. You may not get it at the time, but later on..when you least
expect it..what it was supposed to show you you will realize."

Sunan seems to accept that. Then he has to ask. "Why did Denn think she had
ruined your friendship in the first place?" He can't help but grin. He
knows he's using his amulet to his full advantsge.

You little brat! "She took m' out f'r a drink since I'd gotten better.
She'd promised she would 'en I did. I don't think she'd e'er been out
drinkin' 'fore, 'n got a little... talkative." Neelkan shrugs and scratches
at his hair for a second, trying to resist telling the truth, but finally
he just says, "She just told m' how old she is. No big deal. Doesn't change
nothin'."

Espiria shakes her head,knowing all about the amulet around Sunan's neck
and sighing softly to herself that someone could be so shallow as to take
advantage of another person. Perhaps, that's just the side of her that
doesn't believe that forcing anyone to do anything is right. She closes her
eyes though as Neel speaks, nodding a few times. "Age doesn't matter when
it comes to friendship. If it's true...and special, then it will endure any
hardship or adversity." She opens her eyes again and glances at Neel. It
certainly held thru what Neel and she had shared. Ohboy. And if a
friendship can hold up under that..then it can hold up under anything.

Sunan looks confused now, but anger soon replaces it. "How old is she? And
why would she think that matters? And why did you let her drink so much? I
know you are used to alcohol. How would you like it if I drugged you with
male date tree gin?" He seems a bit irritated Neelkan got his friend drunk.
Even if he is his brother.

Insert brotherly smack over the head. Neelkan glares down at Sunan, "'at's
none'a yer business, -bro-." There. He resisted that time. "'n I didn't
make 'er drink! I only ordered f'r m'self. She's the one who ordered her
own drink. I didn't drug 'er!"

Espiria flinchs slightly as the conversation begins to rise in volume. She
sighs softly, hand raising to rub her throbbing head before she crankily
mentions it to the both of you. "Please...do not shout..will you? My..head
feels as though you are stomping around inside of my skull and I'd rather
not have to take anything more for pain. It..tastes horrible." She makes a
sickened face before she rubs the side of her pale face. "Please...if you
are going to argue...take it outside?"

Sunan apologizes, "Sorry Espiria. And it's not your fault, Neelkan."
Reaching into his pouch, he offers Espiria a sprig of parsely, "Chew on
this. It'll get rid of the taste in your mouth." He then turs to Neelkan,
"I just thought you should've wached her. Sinceyou're so familiar with
alcohol. Just liekd I'd try to watch you with arrak." He then adds quickly,
"Not that I've ever had it."

Neelkan reaches up to press his hand against his forehead for a second and
grumbles, "I don't know if I can put up with havin' ya f'r an adopted bro,
Sunan..." It's getting frustrating. Not as frustrating as his sisters...
but close. He lowers his hand again and nods at Espi, "Sorry. I'll stop
yellin'. 'n I did watch 'er. She only had one glass."

Espiria opens her eyes again, glancing at the parsley before she takes it
and pops it into her mouth. She sighs softly as the bad taste begins to
fade, only then glancing over to Neel with sad eyes. "What Denn did, she
felt as though she wanted to do Neel. It's not your fault. She should have
remembered how working with the One Power lowers our tollerance for
alcohol. That why you hardly ever see an Aes Sedai drink...even a single
glass of wine. She wanted to join you..and she did. I..do think tho' that
now she will be much more careful in the future about drinking at all.
Maybe..maybe it was just a good lesson for her to learn?"

Sunan frowns now, "worried. I'm sorry. What did I do wrong? I didn't mean
to yell at you. I won't do it again." He seems truly worried that Neelkan
will give him the boot.

"I didn't know 'at. Guess 'at means I shouldn't take ya out drinkin' 'en ya
get outta 'ere 'en?" Neelkan says with a grin and a wink, then glances back
at Sunan and sighs, shrugging his shoulders. "Ya just ask too many
questions is all. Some 'a 'ese things ya don't need t' understand now, 'r
need t' learn f'r yerself. Plus, I was the youngest f'r so long. No one
e'er turned t' m' with 'ese kinda questions 'fore, so it's a lil'
annoyin'."

Sunan nods in understanding. For once the motion is normal. Then, he turns
to Espiria, and grins, "I guess I won't ever give a channeler arrak as a
diuretic." He thendecidesto explain, "Arrak is an *extremely* *extremely*
intoxicating drink made from male date sap. Much much stronger than any
other kinds of alcohol. And a diuertic is something that makes you piss."
There's a bit of Neelkan-influenced vernacular.

Espiria chuckles softly, trying not to cause herself any more pain by doing
so before she grins at Neel, "Well...of course you could invite me out for
a drink, Neel. But I'll be the one drinking blueberry tea while you drink
what you want to." She smiles at Sunan then, shaking her head. "Neel is
right, Sunan. I know you're eager to learn..but forcing questions on
someone and expecting answers all the time is not the way to do it. You
have to learn on your own sometimes. Find your own way. If you always know
what someone else does..and do it their way..how will you ever be truely
you? You will always be doing it their way..instead of doing it your own.
Rules are good to follow, but there is a time and place to learn your own
way." She sighs softly, eyes dropping just a bit before she raises a brow
at Sunan's statement. "Remind me never to be ill when you are the only
caregiver then..or I may be..umm..going to the bathroom alot it seems." She
can't help but laugh over that, face wicing badly as she does. "Oh..That
hurt." She chuckles, shaking her head. "By the Light, Sunan...you do have
odd notions about healing."

Shaking his head, Neelkan grumbles in the background for a few moments,
then nods at what Espi says. That happens to be exactly what he believes
in. Be yourself, and don't let anyone tell you differently. That's the only
real advice he can offer his lil' brothers. Unless they want to hear his
views on women and fighting and drinking and cursing! Ahem. "Arrak, 'eh?
Well, sounds interestin', but I don't need t' piss all o'er e'erythin', so
I'll pass, a'right?" He smirks at the kid, then moves to lean against the
wall.

Espiria chuckles softly, remaining quiet for a time as she works on just
trying to rest. So much has happened lately and she is so worried, but it's
best to not worry her friends now. She's here..and she's alive. That's the
important thing. She takes a few deep breaths, steadying her nerves once
more before her stomach grumbles. She opens her eyes and chuckles weakly,
"I..hadn't realized how long it's been since I ate anything."

Sunan seems slightly offended by Denn'ryiel's words. "Not always. Some
diseases need diuretics to clear them up. Like if you had a bladder
infection, or liver problems, I'd give you a diuretic to clear out your
system. Or if you had worms, I'd give you blessed thistle to clear out your
intestines. But other things I wouldn't." Then turning to Neelkan, he says,
"It's actually very good to have your system cleared out if your sick. Of
course, if you needed it, I'd only give you a bit. Wouldn't make you piss
all over everything, but you would be pissing a bit more often. I don't
think it would bother you that much, if you needed it."

"I'll go get ya somethin' t' eat 'en. I have t' talk with someone though,
so I likely won't be able t' bring it back. I'll have someone else do it
though." Neelkan leans down and pats Espi lightly on the forhead, then
punches Sunan in the shoulder and heads out to go get her some food.