There is 1 message in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-W] Facing facts
From: Morgan Allgood <lady_elf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:11:21 -0500
From: Morgan Allgood <lady_elf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] Facing facts
Day 17 - Morning, dining hall
It was probably going to be a busy day, Latnem decided as he sauntered
through the buffet line and filled his tray with a hearty breakfast.
Especially with Xanthia being out and about with Dru'Kar this morning.
Not
that he begrudged her the time away, she needed the diversion with
everything going on.
But the fact was, he was having to spend more time at the med center
now
that Corra was gone. Not that he minded the ****ft in focus from healing
the
mind to healing the body: he did it often enough as it was needed and
was
fully competent in both facets of the healing arts. But now he was
taking
over for Corra as well as filling in.
He was just glad that J'red was being understanding of the situation.
Normally he'd now already have eaten and been training with the wing by
now, but because of his extra med center responsibilities he had been
excused from this morning's practice.
He sat down at the table and began to eat, planning his day out in his
mind. He'd just put a forkful of eggs in his mouth when he heard
Nerika's
voice.
"Good morning,"
<<SNIP: Taking One's Destiny In One's Own Hands , by John Pepper>>
Latnem looked up, clearly a bit surprised to see her. "Good morning to
you as
well," he said. "No wing training this morning?"
"Um, I think there might be some later," she said, remembering that she
hadn't
checked her schedule. Well, she could do that later. This took
precedence. "Do
you have a moment?"
Latnem nodded. "What can I do for you?" he asked.
"I was thinking about what you said yesterday, and I believe you're
right!" she
told him.
Latnem blinked. "You do?" he asked.
"Yes, the part about gifts and talents," she said. "And how other
things - like
Faylen's paperwork or my wing training - distract from them. But that's
where I
was hoping you could help."
"Perhaps you'd better enlighten me on this," Latnem said with a small
shake of
his head. "I don't know what I can do to help you with the wing
training,
that's J'red's area of responsibility."
"You're a mindhealer, though," she reminded him. "The Bardic 'gift' is
a mind
talent, isn't it? So, I thought perhaps you could use your power to get
my
'gift' fully functioning. Once that's done, I'm sure the other stuff
will work
itself out!"
<<END SNIP>>
Latnem rubbed at his face with his hand. Had nothing he said the night
before sunk in? How could he get through to her, he wondered. He wanted
to
be honest without sending the poor girl into a tailspin. She had to
face
reality.
"Well?" Nerika prodded.
"No. I can't" he finally said bluntly.
"Can't?" Nerika blinked in disbelief, "Can't.?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you." Latnem apologized.
"But you're a mindhealer. Heal my mind!"
"I am trying to, but you aren't working with me," Latnem replied with
measured patience.
"Well, tell me what I have to do, please! I'll do anything."
"Listen? That's it?"
Latnem nodded. "And so far you haven't listened to a thing anyone has
told
you."
"But, we've been sitting, and you've been talking, and I've been
listening.
There has to be more than that, right? I mean, you have a special
talent
that makes you a mindhealer."
Latnem shook his head and spoke calmly and directly. "I have a special
talent that lets me see auras and interpret things about a person from
that. I was trained, however, in how to deal with people and their
mental
states, counseling them and teaching them coping skills, as I did for
Xanthia. I know what medications to use to ease different troubles of
the
mind, like anxiety or depression, and I have been trained to wield my
voice
in a way that can affect their mental state, usually calming them. But
I
cannot imbue upon someone an ability or talent."
Nerika fell silent and stabbed viciously at the food on her plate as if
it
had wronged her before finally taking a bite. As she did so, Latnem
felt it
was likely his face she was seeing before her and attacking with her
fork
and not the food contained on the plate. It was times like this he
hated
his job. He reached forward and gently tipped her head upward so she
could
meet his gaze.
"Nerika, listen to me. All special talents aside, becoming a mindhealer
was
a career choice. My talents make me good at it, yes, but it was still a
choice. But joining with a dragon..."
"That wasn't my choice!" Nerika retorted.
"Exactly! Try thinking of her as your child, and with a child or dragon
come certain responsibilities and duties"
"People give up their children all the time."
"But this is a 'child' whose very spirit is joined to yours. What you
feel,
she feels. What you think, she thinks. And what she feels, you also
feel.
Open yourself up to Lyraene for a moment. Let her feelings wash over
you."
Latnem fell silent and watched as Nerika grudgingly did as he
instructed,
her eyes growing vacant as she tapped into the link she shared with
Lyraene. He waited until her eyes had cleared before he spoke.
"Tell me," he asked quietly, "What is she feeling?"
<<TAG John!>>
****************
Early afternoon, med center
Latnem was just about finished making the rounds when he saw a two of
the
larger male nurses standing outside a room at the middle of the The
were
just standing there, apparently doing nothing in particular except
wasting
time.
The mindhealer walked up to the pair. "Excuse me," he said so he didn't
have to squeeze past. They moved aside, but continued standing there,
just
leaning and drinking a cup of coffee. Latnem looked from one to the
other.
"Don't you have a job to do?"
"Yes," the one on the right answered as the door at the very end of the
hall and Th'rin stepped out.
"Take care Corra! I'll see you later!" Th'rin called into the room as
he
exited.
"Th'rin." Latnem greeted as he approached. He touched the healer on the
shoulder, looking at him with genuine concern. "Are you quite all
right?"
"I'm fine," Th'rin returned stiffly. Pulling away from the mindhealer's
touch, he headed down the hallway and disappeared into his office,
shutting
the door a little too soundly.
The echo of the closing office door only increased Latnem's worry.
Corra
was dead. Th'rin was one of the few people who knew this, Latnem knew.
So
why was he calling the patient in room A13 by the deceased healer's
name?
Was he in a full state of denial?
Latnem went up to room A13 and entered. There was a woman lying on the
bed.
She was very still. He counted her breaths, noting that respiration was
normal
"How are we doing today?" he asked, taking the patient's wrist in his
hand
to feel for a pulse.
A moment later the woman sat up on the bed and, much to his amazement,
grabbed the pulse-taking hand and twisted his arm behind his back. In
that
split second he recognized the patient.
"Ow!" What are you doing?" Latnem demanded.
"Why don't you tell me what you are doing?" Tatiana demanded., twisting
the
arm a little harder
"Taking your pulse." Latnem grimaced. "I work here!"
"Uh huh, and how'd you know I was here?"
"I didn't! Th'rin is obviously delusional and I was curious who he was
calling Corra."
<<TAG Andrew!>>
*******************
*Late Afternoon*
As Latnem left the med center, his attention was drawn to the spit
outside
the dining hall. A large man was tending to it, and he recognized the
man
as Dru'Kar. He saw Ursa and Maxima land, and instructed Caradoc to land
beside them.
He dismounted just in time to see Dru'Kar take Xanthia into his
enormous
arms and kiss her fully on the lips.
"I love you," he heard Dru'Kar say.
The words startled the mind healer. He eyed the giant man carefully,
scrutinizing his aura, and knew the man spoke his true feelings. He
breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing Xanthia needed was to be lied
to,
especially about matters of the heart. She'd suffered enough heartbreak
in
her short lifetime.
But it was the mindhealer's heart that broke a little more as he heard
Xanthia's reply.
"I love you, too," she replied joyously, her voice sounding like bells
in
the wind as she looked into the Bear Nomad's eyes with nothing but
complete
and absolute love and trust. "I love you as I've never loved another."
Never had Latnem seen her look at anyone that way. Not even Th'rin,
and
certainly not him. And with those words, she brought closure to the
healer's mind and heart, for now Latnem knew for certain that she would
never have feelings for him. It was for the best: as much as it hurt,
he
knew this. And she deserved this happiness. She deserved to be loved.
<And you deserve someone who can love you back!> Caradoc interjected
into
his thoughts.
<Maybe one day,> Latnem smiled wistfully.
Latnem took a deep breath and pushed his own emotions aside skillfully
as
he approached the newly declared couple. He coughed, getting their
attention.
"Congratulations, you two. I wish you much happiness."
"Thank you. Latnem, you have no idea how much that means to me,"
Xanthia
replied.
"I know that Dru'Kar will take good care of you." Latnem responded.
"But I
need to get something to eat, so if you'll excuse me." he said, looking
for
a convenient exit as he pushed the door to the dining hall open and
went
inside.
<<TAG if you wish, Keeper, and tag to anyone who might be in the dining
hall and looking for the company of a mindhealer.>>
Summary:
Day 17:
Morning - Latnem has another chat with Nerika and tries to help her see
the
reality of her situation.
Early Afternoon - Latnem is fini****ng his rounds when he sees Th'rin
come
out Room A13 at the end of the hall. Hearing him call the patient in
the
room "Corra," Latnem is convinced that Th'rin's delusional. Curious, he
goes into the room to see who the patient really is. He's surprised to
be
accosted by Tatiana when he tries to take her pulse.
Late Afternoon - Latnem sees Dru'Kar tending a spit outside the dining
hall. he arrives just in time to see Dru'Kar kiss Xanthia passionately
and
declare his love for Xanthia, and Xanthia return the sentiment. He puts
his
own feelings aside to congratulate the happy couple before making an
awkward exit into the dining hall.
Respectfully submitted by:
Morgan
lady_elf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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