Subj: [ffml] [MW] A Time of Recovery
Date: 98-11-07 01:49:57 EST
From: wentchia@hotmail.com (Beth Davis)
Reply-to: ffml@onelist.com
To: ffml@onelist.com
From: "Beth Davis"
With quick fingers, she drew the brush through her hair. The snarls
were smoothed away. She sighed and braided the limp strands and then
coiled it atop her head. It wouldn't help for her hair to be falling in
her face as she treated the wounded soldiers.
Lady Paladin stepped away from the mirror in the healer's quarters, her
mouth crinkling into a frown. She hated to see herself. Her stomach
become ill at the thought of how she must appear to Bacca. Three weeks
had passed since her rescue, but the physical toll on her body lingered.
Her once thick, lustrous hair had been so penetrated by tangles and
vermin during her kidnapping that... that... now it seemed limp and
half-bald from herbal treatments. Her skin needed to be soothed twice
daily to sooth the sun burns and stress. But, above all, when she gazed
into the mirror, the brown eyes that looked back were haunted and sunken
into deep sockets.
She opened the door and called into the hall, "Send in the next one,
please, Henry."
The healer withdrew back into the room as a stout young man made his
entry. "Hello, there, Sir..."
"Armona," he answered in a deep voice. He gave a brief bow, and turned
to sit on a bench along the gray stone wall.
Lady Paladin looked down at her notepad. "Ah, yes. The apprentices
said you have had a hacking cough for several days and also have had a
headache since a battle last week."
"Aye, that I have," he answered. There was a detectable burr in his
voice. "That skirmish during the patrol last week. A moog gave me a
blow to the helmet. It didna harm me, but this headache willna leave,
m' lady."
She pursed her lips. "I see. I have the herbs that will remedy these
ailments." Lady Paladin looked at the knight curiously. "Sir Armona,
why won't you look me in the eye?"
He bowed his head further. "M'lady, 'mongst my people you are one who
deserves the highest of respect. I am but a soldier of yer lordship's
forces, and expected treatment by a 'prentice, not ye."
Lady Paladin smiled. "Well, I am honored to treat men such as
yourself." The man met her eyes briefly, smiled, then lowered his head
again.
She lightly stepped to the component shelf. Clicking her tongue
absent-mindedly, she eyes studied the worn labels. "Ah, here we are!"
she exclaimed, grabbing a jar. She began pouring a powder into a small
leather bag. "These is powdered aspen bulbs. Whenever your throat
hurts, make a tea with this mixture and it will sooth it."
"Aye, ma'am."
Lady Paladin swirled to face him. "Sir Armona, do you use snuff? I
know many of the soldiers from your region do."
"Yes, I do, ma'am. And please dinna ask me to stop."
She gave him a smile. "No, I won't ask that. Actually, it makes it
easier to treat your headache." The healer opened a drawer and pulled
out a small bottle. "Substitute this for your usual snuff. It is hedge
mustard, and will be quite effective. But as I have never used snuff, I
can't vouch for the taste."
Sir Armona chuckled. "If I can handle an army of damned moogs, I can
handle a wee bit 'o snuff." The knight rose from the bench, his armor
creaking. "I am much obliged to ye, Lady Paladin." He bowed to the
white robed woman, then left.
She heard his steps fade down the corridor. Lady Paladin closed her
eyes, murmuring under her breath. With a gloved hand, she tugged a
platinum medallion from where it lay warm between her breasts.
"Oh, Bacca, I need you," she murmured, tears welling in her eyes. She
could sense his every breath, his heartbeat, his strength. "And you need
me..."
-------------
(Note: The use of aspen and hedge mustard are true medieval uses of
these herbs. I have a book of medieval herbs now that I will use as a
reference for my posts. ^-^)
Beth Davis, the Lady Paladin
(Do NOT mail my GeoCities address!)
wentchia@hotmail.com
***
Lady Paladin's Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/3458/
***
The Complete Prequel Character Resource
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/9070/
***
Of all the things I've lost, it's my mind I miss the most!
***
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Date: Fri, 06 Nov 1998 22:48:39 PST
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Subject: [ffml] [MW] A Time of Recovery