09/23/2000

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.


There is a Sister sitting next to Espi's bed. A young one and one that
wears a definate look of concern on her face as she watches Espi sleep.
Should just be about time for another full glass of water for the girl to
take. Well, Wynt did say as soon as Espi could flush those herbs out of her
system..the sooner this shield around her can be dropped. She leans
forward, placing a gentle hand on the girl's arm, "Espiria...come on. Wake
up for a bit, would you? You need to drink another glass of water for me."
The form in the bed stirs a bit, coughing a bit before her eyes finally
open to look at the Sister sitting next to her. "no..please...I can't drink
anymore. Can't I just rest a bit longer?" Her voice is so weak and faint
that it would barely carry across the room. The Sister sighs and shakes her
head, "You know that those herbs they forced you to take have got to be
flushed out of your system. The only way that can happen is if you drink
alot of water... Please? You know I don't like keeping a sick child
sheilded, but we can't have you causing harm. And you would..until you're
fully purged of all those nasty herbs..."

Enter the trainee with white streaks in his red hair that's pretty much
responsable for the "rescue party" dropping down to pick them up. Not that
he'll brag about it or anything. But if he hadn't decided to go see Wyn and
ask her how things were with you... and if the dreams hadn't become a
topic... and if he hadn't insisted on going to find you right then and
there... well... Who knows. But it's unlikely that you'd be back in the
Tower right now. Anyway, Neelkan walks into the infirmary, getting perhaps
the first /full/ night of sleep in /weeks/, and actually looking rested and
a lot more awake and less stressed then he has in days past, of course, you
wouldn't know that though. He actually bows to the Yellows on duty and
moves over to where his friend can be found. Where he bows again to the
Sister there. You might notice the fact that he's allowed to carry weapons
now (or at least in the /open/ now). And one of his necklaces is missing.
The red and yellow beaded one. The one with purple and green beads is still
there at least, as are his earrings. "'ey Esp." he says to the girl after
he straightens, smirking down at her. "It's real good t' see ya back in the
Tower, e'en if I had t' see ya in /'is/ place." Still not too fond of the
Infirmary, is he?

The sister is still trying to get Espi to drink some of the water, but at
your arrival, she offers a polite nod and smile. "Ahh..Trainee. You know
the Accepted?" She glances over to Espi again, sighing. "Come on now..Just
the rest of this glass and then you can rest again. Alright? Then you'll
have a few hours before you need to drink the next one."

Espi starts crying softly, turning her head left and right. She can't help
it...the more awake she becomes, the more her mind turns toward those who
died to keep her safe. Oh..Light. That hurts worst of all. She could sorta
ignore what was done to her, but the others? How they died...weights on her
mind something horrible. She does hear a familiar voice and opens her eyes
a bit more. "Neel..." She coughs a bit, deep sounding noise from in her
chest. "I'm..glad to see you Neel..." She looks at the glass, trying to sit
up, but failing miserably. "I..can't get myself up.."

The sister looks over to you and smiles, "Would you help her to sit up? She
really needs to drink this glass down..."

At the sight of his friend crying, Neelkan bites down on his lip and frowns
noticably, then nods to the Aes Sedai, "Ye'h, I'm 'er friend." He moves
over to offer an arm and help you sit up, leaning in a little to turn it
into a half hug as he does this, closing his eyes for a moment and saying,
"Don't worry. E'erythin'll be a'right now, Espi. E'erythin'll be a'right."
He sighs softly and pulls back once you're sitting up so that you can drink
and shifts around on his feet a little, glancing towards the Aes Sedai.
Really. Just a friend. Practically her brother it seems. Feh.

The sister holds the glass and carefully helps Espi drink it down. She
pauses when she needs to and wipes Espi's chin when it overflows a bit too
much. Soon it's finished though, "There...all done. Now you just lie back
and rest again. I believe there is a Yellow to come over soon and check to
see how well you are doing." She smiles at Neel, noting his trying to
appears 'friend' to Espi, "I'll just go over there and have a seat. It's
not a problem for me to maintain things from there." She smiles, taking her
stool and heading to a place to one side.

Espi coughs a few times as she drinks, but is so very visibly happy that
it's over. She starts to lean back, glancing at you for a moment with
pleading eyes still filled with tears. She doesn't want to be helpless, but
it seems she has no choice in the matter at the moment. "Neel?...would you
help me lay back down? I..I can't..." She looks around, teeth biting at her
lower lip for a moment.

Biting on his lip again, Neelkan looks over at the Aes Sedai and watches
her take the stool over there. Hrm. Is he really so obvious? Feh! Well,
/you/ can't know at least. Or so he thinks. He nods slowly and moves to
help you lay back down this time, then frowns and reaches up with a hand to
thumb lightly at the tears in your eyes, "'ey, Light, Esp, don't cry. Yer
a'right now... really." He doesn't know what all happened yet, and
honestly, he doesn't much care. You're alright after all. That's more then
he could wish for. Of course, he has no clue anyone died protecting his
friend, much less people he /knew/, one who he owed for helping save him
once. The other he didn't much care for, but still... People he knew. He
looks around, then moves to take the seat that the Aes Sedai vacatated
beside the bed and reaches forward to keep a hand on your arm.

Espiria sniffs a bit, trying not to upset you by seeing her cry. There is
just so much pain inside that it has to come out somehow. She closes her
eyes for a moment before she speaks in soft tones, "I..I dreamed of you
while...they had me. It..helped me to hold on." She coughs a few times,
horribly deep sounding noise from in her chest. She frowns, taking a few
shaky breaths before she opens her eyes and looks over to you again.
"I..dreamed of you...and Redd..and Wyntere Sedai." She bites her lip a bit,
sweating starting up a bit on her forehead. "Was..it real? I..I think the
one with Redd..was real." She pauses for a moment before she meets your
eyes, "Oh..Neel...He's my brother..." She can't help but to cry, "Ma...and
Da....thought they lost him.. But..he's alive. Really..and truely.."

Alright. /This/ causes Neelkan to stare in the most dumbfounded way
imaginable. He figures the dream with Wyntere was real in some way, how
else could two people have the same dream? Plus, he knew things about Wyn
he never had before, and the same with her knowing things about him. Of
course the fancy clothes /had/ to be the part that stuck out in her mind.
Grrr. Hopefully she didn't realize that the fancy clothes were inspired by
your presense. And if she did, well... Feh again! But the dream about Redd?
"Yer... brother? He's yer brother? Are ya... Blood 'n ashes. 'n 'ere I
thought..." Well, he thought that Redd had a 'thing' for you too. But he
won't finish that. He just half-stares. Then he nods, "Ye'h. The dream was
real. The one with m' 'n Wyn too. Blood 'n ashes, I... 'at's why I had to
make sure ya were a'right. The dream was just... it was..." He trails off
and closes his eyes a moment. No, he won't start tearing up, but he does
look a little upset. "I didn't think ya had it too... I just thought it was
m' 'n Wyn."

Espiria shivers a bit, teeth chattering fiercly for a moment before she
sighs. "He's...my brother. He..was lost as a baby. Has..the same mark on
his shoulder as Da does...as I do.." She moves a bit to show the bird-like
birthmark on her shoulder before dropping back to the pillows. "His..name
is Jalin..." She coughs a bit, glancing over to you with a sad smile. "I..I
know..Neel. I know.." Her hand reaches out to touch your hand, sighing
softly. "Please..don't be upset. I..know you care for me, but..I didn't
want to embarrass you. I..I know your feelings are private..that you don't
share them with anyone." She sighs softly, eyes slipping open and closed
for a time. "You're still very dear to me, Neel...always will be. I'm..just
sorry that I..I can't be what you wanted. My..heart is no longer my own..."

Oh... Light. Is he the only normal-- nevermind. Feh! But he nods slowly at
the talk about Redd and mutters softly, "I'm sure 'at Redd-- er Jalin I
guess... 'll be glad t' be yer brother f'r real. Anyone would be." Neelkan
says with a small smile. "I'm.. glad 'at ya have a one. Just don't go 'n
treat 'em funny, ya 'ear?" Heh. Then of course the whole bit about her
knowing is brought out. At first he freezes where he sits, inwardly calling
himself every swear he can possibly summon up in his mind (which is a lot)
and then he pulls back away from the hand, as if that'll help him deny that
she ever noticed at all. Doesn't help much though. Finally after a moment
he sighs and nods slowly, "Ye'h, ye'h. Don't worry 'bout it." He waves a
hand as if it's the last thing he had on his mind, and it is the smallest
problem that could ever be mentioned.

Espiria coughs a bit more, laying weakly on the bed where they placed her
the other day. She glances over to the sister still keeping watch and
holding the shield on her from where she sits. Espi sighs softly, shaking
her head. "Neel...It doesn't change how I've felt about you from the first
time we met." She manages a weak smile, reaching for his hand again.
"You're still the best friend a person could ever hope for. That..will
never change." She coughs a bit more, hand raising to cover her mouth.

The sister sees the coughing spell and rises from her seat to move over to
Espi's side. "You're tiring yourself entirely too much child. You have got
to get rest or you'll never get any better." She sighs, taking hold of a
glass of herbal tea that is waiting for the coughing spells and glances at
Neel. "If you are going to keep her company, then please..give her some of
this so that she doesn't cough so badly. And try not to let her get too
excited..she's too weak for that, alright?" She hands out to Neel the
glass.

Michael pushes open the door of the Infirmary color shifting cloak wrapped
loosely around him an unlit pipe tucked into the corner of his mouth. "
Your not bothering the Aes Sedai are you Neelkan?" he ask looking to
Neeklan as he makes his way over to Espiria's bed side.

Ye'h. That makes him feel tons better. Neelkan just looks down at the hand
for a moment, then brings up his other one to pat it gently. "Ye'h, I could
barely stand ya either." He says with a wink, kidding around. Though
honestly, she /was/ still a woman, as far as he was concerned when he first
met her, but she did get a little soft spot right away just for being her
sweet self. He lets go again as the sister returns and raises his hands in
an innocent gesture, "I'm not gettin' 'er worked up. But I'll help 'er
drink 'is blo-- stuff." He takes the tea and actually looks about to stick
his tongue out at the woman. But Michael's appearance stops him. He shifts
around on his feet a moment then says, "No, I'm not, Gaidin. I'm just
visitin' m' friend."

The sister nods her head politely to Michael on her way passed. She does
glance back to Neel with a grin, "See that you don't. She does need her
rest." She glances at Michael again, offering a slight smile before
retaking her place in the seat some distance away.

Espi coughs a bit harder this time before she manages to get out a smile at
Neel's comment. Her eyes blink several times, "Giadin...*cough* Michael?
Oh..It's..so good to see you." She smiles weakly, shivering a bit more
before she sees the glass in Neel's hand. "No..Please..No more water. I..I
can't drink anymore." She makes a face, rubbing her stomach a bit.
"I...can't..please?" She looks at Neel pleading, but then she didn't hear
that the stuff is to help the cough and not the 'water-every-two-hours'
that she's had to endure reciently to get rid of the herbs poisoning her
system.

After watching the Gaidin get pulled aside for a few moments, Neelkan can
flirt (it's NOT flirting!!) with you a little bit longer, "Espi, it'll help
with yer coughin'," he at the tea a second then sticks his finger in and
and tastes it a moment. Bleh. "It's not as bad as 'at stuff I had t' drink
e'ery few hours 'en I was sick, so ya can survive a few gulps, can't ya?"
Don't make him baby you, Esp. Either way, he reaches over and ruffles your
hair gently and then holds out the tea, offering a arm to help you get
sitted up so you can drink it down. "Come on, don't make m' beg ya t' drink
it. I don't like beggin', 'specially t' women."

Espiria looks up to your face, shivering before she nods. "Al..right." She
can't help but start coughing again, wincing as she does. "Oh..hurts." She
manages to take a few sips of the stuff down and sighs as she allows her
head to drop back to the pillow. "Gah....it's..horrible." She chuckles
weakly, sweat still forming small beads on her forehead. "It's..not bad?"
She shakes her head slowly, "I..have to say it's the..worst thing
I've..ever tasted." She chuckles weakly again, taking quick panting breaths
as it tires her out. She sighs softly, closing her eyes for a moment.
"Neel...Verbena...Sedai...She..."

"It's not as bad as the stuff /we/ had t' drink." Neelkan insists, while
taking the tea back away to let you lay there. But then he's the one who
chugged the icky stuff down like ale... Remind him to never take you heavy
drinking. You'd probably find a few tastes more awful. He reaches up and
smooths your hair lightly, "Don't laugh too hard, 'n don't get worked up, I
don't want the bloody Aes Sedai comin' o'er 'ere 'n blamin' m' f'r gettin'
ya 'at way, a'right?" At the mention of Verbena his hand stills. What does
she have to do with anything? He doesn't seem sure what it does, or at
least he doesn't look as if he knows what she does. "Whate'er it is, ya can
tell m' later, a'right?"

Espiria frowns gently, biting her lip. "She's...dead, Neel. They...they
killed her..when she came to help us get away." She clentches her teeth a
bit, shaking her head. "They..they killed Salamas too.." She sobs a bit,
hand going up to her face to cover her tears. "It..was because of me...
Because.." She can't go on and now she's truely sobbing hard. "They..died
because of me..."

"Wha..." Neelkan is obviously shocked by the news, but he instantly pushes
it aside. He'll cry for Verbena and mourn Salamas later. Right now there's
a person he can actually /try/ to do something for right in front of him.
He puts down the tea immediately and moves next to the bed, bending over to
hug you as best he can manage without moving you too much. "Shh. Shh. Espi,
Light, 'ey... Don't.. please. 'ey didn't die 'cause of ya. 'ey didn't.
Howe'er 'ey died, it was the people who killed 'em who are responsable. Not
ya. If 'ey died savin' ya, 'en 'at's the best way t' go. Light knows I'd
rather die protectin' ya, 'r someone I care f'r, 'en in some bed 'en /all/
m' hair is white." He pulls back and bites on his lip, expecting the Aes
Sedai to run over here and order him to leave. He tried not to get her
worked up. Really he did.

Espiria sighs softly, shaking her head slowly. "I..just feel so bad, Neel.
They..were there because of me." She sighs softly, coughing a few times,
but not nearly as badly as before. "If..they hadn't forced me to eat
those...those horrible herbs..I could have held them off. Given them a
chance to get away..." She frowns, eyes slipping closed again. "I..just
feel badly." She sighs, hand dropping away from her face and red bleary
eyes showing now as she opens them fully. "I..I feel strange."

"'en ya better drink all the water 'at ya can so ya can get 'ose flamin'
'erbs gone." Neelkan says, glancing over at the Aes Sedai as he does, then
he looks back and into the red bleary eyes that open at him. "Espi... How..
Is 'ere anythin' I can do?" He feels rather helpless right now, to be
honest. He doesn't know if there's anyw ay he can possibly help you feel
any better. And he certainly is not going to think about Verbena and
Salamas right now. He'll reserve that for later thought. Like tonight.
He'll curl up in his freezing bunk and think about it for hours when he
doesn't want to sleep.

The Aes Sedai raises a brow, rising from her seat and hurrying over to
Espi. "Neel...please back away from her." That wasn't a request. She makes
a few motions over Espi, hand remaining firm in one place over Espi's body.
"Nasty..very nasty."

Espi starts crying harder, eyes going a bit wide as she feels the
channeling want to happen and can't. Oh Light! She looks terrified, curling
up into a small ball on the bed and shivering badly. "Oh..Please..make it
stop!" She sobs, shaking her head back and forth. "OH please...." She soon
settles back down though and pants heavily, from the exertions she's just
been thru.

"It's alright child. It's alright...It was a very goo thing that I had the
shield up around you though..and you're nearly thru the worst of it. Hold
on the best you can..." She sighs deeply, seeming almost worn out from what
she just did, but she nods to Neel that he can go back to Espi's side. "Try
to calm her down the best you can..."

Try to calm her down? Neelkan looks as if he needs someone to calm /him/
down. He backs away as soon as the Aes Sedai says so and turns to put his
back to you and the woman and reaches a hand up to his face. He's not
crying. Or that's what he's going to insist. He's just... he can't look is
all. Really... that's it. When the woman speaks to him again and snaps out
of it and wipes off his face hurriedly and turns around, moving to sit down
beside you again, "Espi? Did ya know 'at 'ey raised m' t' Proven? I can
teach Varcel now, so I can make sure he knows how t' protect ya." Imagine
Neel, teaching... Scary though. He'll probably teach Varcel how to pick
locks or something... "'n as soon as yer better, we'll start yer lessons
'gain if ya want." Yes, he's changing the subject. Maybe it'll help. He
certainly knows /he/ doesn't want to think about what was just revealed to
him. You probably don't either.

Espiria coughs softly, body straightening again once her 'spell' is over.
She seems so weak as she leans back, but she still manages to keep her eyes
open. "Scares..me..." She sighs softly, shaking her head. "I..can't control
it..till this stuff is gone from my system." She looks at you and bites her
lower lip. "How...how did you find us? What...did you all see?"

Sighing, Neelkan reaches over and tugs at your hair gently before
answering, "I finally worked up the flamin' nerve t' talk t' Wyn 'bout the
dream we shared, 'n 'en we went t' talk to Kaomi, 'n she did somethin' with
the Power 'n... we could see what was happenin' with ya 'n Varcel. We saw
ya get 'at lightnin' bolt. 'en she did somethin' else t' take us 'ere, but
ya saw 'at part."