Lessons in Healing

Winter grips the ruined city of Osgiliath, deepening the eerie pall of despair that appears to have infected so many men since the last battle. A light snow covers roofs and untrodden places.

Perhaps the only bastion against this grim spirit is the infirmary where healers battle all ailments that can be bent to their command. A cheery fire burns brightly - doing its best to ward away the frigid cold that presses from without on this early morning day.

Lady Azrabar enters the room, well-muffled in cloak, scarves and gloves. She makes her way immediately to the fire, stopping near the table in the process. Nodding her head to those seated at it, she removes her scarf from her face and smiles. \"The worst morning yet,\" she observes.

\"Should she?\" Lirael asks, sounding surprised. \"I do not see why. There is no time for an elaborate ceremony, not if you wish it done and your lordship confirmed at once. But I speak to her, if you like.\"

\"Oh,\" says Morwenn, midway down the room, cheeks coloring. \"It is tincture of redwort, with water. Good for keeping away infection. I am sorry that it stung so badly.\" She removes both her freezing hands and the offending cloth, then plunges her hands into the basin again. As she dries them briskly, she adds, \"Only a moment more to wind the bandages on, and your tea will be done.\"

When Zaira walks out of the store room, her arms are burdened down with various dried plants and implements of herbology, including a rather heavy granite mortar and pestle. She sets them down on a worktable before casting a silent glance in the direction of the trio around the hearth. Two seconds later, however, and she disappears back into the store rooms.

\"There should at least be some sort of celebration, should there not? As long as it was planned to be not long after your return to Minas Tirith.\" There is some shock evident in the apprentice\'s tone as she questions both cousins. \"This is not the marriage of some minor members if a House.\"

\"Do not apologize,\" responds the Knight-Captain. \"It is your job.\"

\"As mine is to kill. You shalln\'t find me apologizing to my enemy,\" he notes, shivering. His eyes follow the girl\'s every movement hawkishly.

\"The tea is for the pain, I presume? And then I can go?\"

Mithwen steps inside, removing her cloak as she goes to the fire. She offers a tentative smile at the three sitting near the hearth and moves toward the worktable, trying not to eavesdrop.

\"Haste is my only regard, Lirael. Though an appropriate location would be well, and someone worthy to preside over it.\" The Cuthalion yawns and it seems that the night is soon to overtake him. He readies himself within his cot. \"Midhwen speaks truthfully, though. Perhaps a banquet of some sort is in order, feast and all. That should please the nobility.\" Another yawn. \"But tomorrow. For now, permit me my rest.\"

\"We can celebrate when we are not all huddled around campfires in Osgiliath,\" Lady Mormegil replies, yawning again. \"When we have all gone back to Minas Tirith. For now, a simple ceremony suffice for both Endaerion and my Lord Mormegil. Go and rest, Endaerion.\" There is an air of finality to her voice as she rises to greet Laeraelin in a weary voice. \"Too cold for sleep,\" she says.

Morwenn nods. \"Yes, for the pain.\" Again she seems to embrace him, her hair smelling of herbs and woodsmoke and leather instead she is re-wrapping his chest snugly with the bandages, doing her best not to touch his bare flesh with her chill-blained fingers. When the cup of tea is brought by the healer who prepared it, the novice thanks her gently and turns with cup in hands. \"Do you want a bit of honey to sweeten it, my lord?\"

\"Ah, Zaira,\" Laeraelin says, shifting her gaze to her niece. She leaves the warmth of the fire to join the young Apprentice at the worktable. \"You have everything you need?\"

She is removing her gloves and cloak when Mithwen joins them. \"Good morning, Mithwen.\"

\"Sleep well cousin.\" Following Lirael, Midhwen makes her way over to the group of three healers. \"Good day lady Azrabar, Zaira, Mithwen. Or it might be if it was warmer.\"

Moving so that she is next to the young Ephalkhir healer, she lowers her voice, a smile on her face. \"Congratulations on your betrothal.\"

Bor looks upon Morwenn, puzzled. He narrows his eyes.

\"Does it taste bad?\" he asks her guardedly.

\"Good morning,\" Mithwen replies, smiling at the others.

Morwenn sips from the cup, her eyes fixed on the wall in thought. \"No, it is not terrible,\" she replies finally, looking back at the man. \"But it is not exactly pleasant.\" And she holds out the cup.

Smoke pours from Mt. Doom as the Dark One\'s evil sorcery lags the game.

The smoke clears as good triumphs and the database saves.

The Knight-Captain does not move his eyes from Morwenn, even as he takes the cup from her hand. He sips slowly and does not grimace at the taste.

And then a long moment passes wordlessly, until finally...

\"Thank you. It is as you said.\"

When said Ephalkhir comes back into the main room of the infirmary, she looks up as Laeraelin approaches, cracking her first smile thus far. \"Aunt,\" she greets the woman. \"And yes. I just finished gathering the last of the ingredients.\" She moves over to stoke the fire under the cauldron of boiling water, making the flames leap higher and bringing the surface of the liquid from an occasional ->pop<-, ->pop<- to a rolling, angry mass of bursting water bubbles.

As for Midhwen, the young bride-to-be smiles a little. \"Thank you, Cousin,\" she responds softly.

\"Very good,\" Lady Azrabar responds, satisfied with the girl\'s preparation.

\"Lady Mormegil, Midhwen,\" Laeraelin turns to greet the other two with a polite smile. She cranes her neck to look across the room. \"Is your daughter going to join the lesson when she has finished tending the Knight-Captain?\"

\"You are most welcome, my lord,\" Morwenn says, bending her head. \"Do you require anything else?\" She turns to tidy up the soiled bandages into a basket while she waits for answer.

Lirael, meanwhile, looks up. \"Yes, of course,\" she replies to Laeraelin. \"He came in demanding attention, and she was the only one available just then. She looks to be nearly finished.\"

\"No,\" answers Bor evenly, \"That is all.\"

He pushes himself off the cot and to his feet. \"I must be off,\" he says.

\"You were...most kind. Thank you.\"

Morwenn makes Bor a curtsy. \"You are welcome, my lord,\" she says with a faint smile at the man. Then she takes her things and heads for the hearth end of the room.

Bor watches Morwenn as she goes before his own steps lead him out.

\"Good morning, Morwenn,\" Laeraelin greets the young Mormegil girl as she joins them. \"We are complete, Zaira, you may begin.\"

Gesturing to the quietest of the girls, the Master Healers says, \"Come foreward, Mithwen make certain you have a good view of the lesson.\"

Mithwen smiles and steps forward, glances at Zaira briefly before turning her attention to the table.

Zaira nods to Laeraelin and steps behind the worktable, making sure that everyone has a good view of her hands and the materials. \"Good morning,\" she begins, her voice and manner relatively no nonsense. \"This lesson is to demonstrate the proper creation and application of a poultice to draw out infection. Firstly, the primary difference between a poultice and a compress is that a poultice is applied directly to the skin. Such an extra element, like muslin or linen in between the skin and the herbs creates a compress.\" She reaches over and picks up various ingredients, naming them each as she does so.

\"For this poultice, we are going to use goldenseal to attack the core of the infection, comfrey to promote faster healing, silppery elm to bind the poultice together and juice from the aloe plant to carry the ingredients beneath the skin and into the injured flesh.\" She looks around. \"Any questions so far?\"

Moving so she can get a better view, Midhwen looks over the ingredients. \"Can a poultice be made with dried herbs, or only fresh?\"

\"Is not golden seal better used in digestive complaints?\" frowns Morwenn, head tilted in concentration. \"I have seen it used in putrid sore throat, though... interesting.\" Her voice trails off to inaudibility and her cheeks flush crimson. \"Forgive me for questioning you, my lady. We have used slippery elm in Pelargir as a soothing balm for wounds I...\" Redder still, she simply stops speaking and looks down at the poultice.

\"I have to go,\" Mithwen says suddenly, paling, and hurries to the door.

Zaira nods at Midhwen. \"Good question. Does anyone else know the answer?\" she directs the rest of the novices and apprentices. Should no answer be forthcoming, the girl continues. \"Herbal poultices can be used with either dry or fresh herbs. Dry herbs require powdering and different quantities to parts carrying agent, while fresh herbs are usually simmered in hot water to produce a mash or slurry.\"

Moving on to Morwenn\'s question, she smiles encouragingly. \"No, no. I asked for questions, Morwenn,\" she says gently. \"Golden seal -is- often used to ease digestion, but it is the very same property that makes it effective in a poultice as well. Something in the golden seal causes it to bind with the root source of an infection and carry it to the surface, flushing the toxins out of the system much in the same way that golden seal flushes toxins from the stomach.\"

Laeraelin moves to stand behind Mithwen. Unconsciously, she rubs her swelling stomach while her attention remains on the lesson. Nodding in approval when first Midhwen and then Morwenn speak up, she remains silent until Zaira has a chance to respond.

Then: \"It is a very excellent question, Morwenn. You will find that many herbs have more than one use and that different healers will prefer different herbs over others. I use, for instance, thyme as the main ingredient for all external applications intended to fight infection.\"

She looks a little startled at the Novice\'s sudden departure, watching her leave the room with a worried expression. \"I hope she is alright,\" mutters the Master Healer.