(Archive) - Kadareth and Kerowyn

September 10, 2000

Logfile from Elendor

*Note - logged by Kadareth*

Secured Room

A smaller room than the general healing halls, this room is kept for those who have been taken prisoner by Gondor yet still need the attention of the healers. A few small beds line the walls near tables which hold nothing but deep, wide-mouthed bowls and towels. A small window in the far wall provides some light and fresh air, but the main source of illumination comes from the tall candle-ridden braziers in the corners. Two guards sit either side of the entrance, lounging on their stools and speaking quietly, yet always watching those within.

Contents:

Kerowyn

Obvious exits:

Out

[Kerowyn(#10288)] THe gentle breezes of spring bring a chill to this room, for the window has not been shut for the night as of yet. THe men and women here, seperated by a scant curtain\'s barrier, have been left with naught but teh guard\'s quiet presence. ANd the chill air.

\"HEALESS!\" there is a potent shout from inside the room. Immediately following come the wails and screams of the remaining denizens of the secure ward: sounds of terminal fear and delirious anger. Amidst the din, the voice echoes once more.

\"HEALESS!\"

[Kerowyn(#10288)] THe guards stir, poking their heads within the ward frightfully, as if afraid mere contact with the air within will make them bedfellows. \"There, now. Let me through if you please.\" THe voice of command is soft, yet echos through the room itself, bringing calm to some few of the hysterical.

The room, quiet but a few minutes ago, is filled with the sound of wild ramblings and lamentations. The odour of herbs is still overwhelming, despite most of it having been cleared by the chill wind. In the cot by the corner, mad Kadareth cries out for a healer, twisting and turning in his bed despite the restraints. The straps, forced against the guard\'s convulsing body, have carved gashes into his flesh and now blood soils the white sheets that cover him.

\"HEALESS!\" he yells, bloodshot eyes wallowing maniacally around.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] Into teh room pour three women, and the least reluctant of the guards, though he appears cowed into his entrance by the woman in the lead. \"Restrain him, \'ere he wounds himself greater. Now.\" THe scent of lavender and rose is, for a moment, overpowering as the woman herself leans forwards, pressing surprisingly strong hands to the man\'s shoulders. \"Hush now. THere. We are here.\"

\"Behind you! BEHIND YOU!\" Kadareth panics, and his face is overcome by a severe shuddering. He twists around some more, despite the healesses best efforts to restrain him. Tears roll down his cheeks as he tries to turn away, although his look remain transfixed to a point somewhere in the middle of the room.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] \"It is gone, see.\" The woman\'s head turns, and returns, to speak softly once more. \"NOw, you will drink this,\" A questing hand finds a slightly pungent and steaming cup.

\"It\'s /RIGHT BEHIND YOU/!\" the man yells. He shakes his head frantically and as his body tries to arch upwards, the leather straps dig their edges deeper into Kadareth\'s flesh.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] \"Get a hold of yourself man!\" It is the guard that shouts now, his own voice deep and echoing in teh hall as he leans his weight onto the raving man\'s chest.

Despite almost two weeks of confinement, the leather around the insane guard is put to immense stress and the buckles are dangerously close to snapping. There is no way the guard can calm Kadareth by means of his voice alone, it seems, although his weight certainly helps pushing him down into the bed. Prevented from moving, Kadareth can do naught but shake his head and yell at the top of his lungs. \"NO! *gasp* BEHIND YOU! BEHIND *gasp* YOU!\"

[Kerowyn(#10288)] The healer sighs softly, moving so that her body is all that can fill the man\'s vision. \"There is nothing there. Nothing. NOw calm yourself.\" THe words are soft, calming in themselves, andyet they hold the steel of command.

\"Yes there is,\" Kadareth gasps. \"Yes there is. Behind you.\" The man\'s eyes swivel in frenzy, and sweat and tears soak his reddened face. He silences for a while, frowning in an attempt to focus the woman\'s eyes in his own blurry vision.

Kerowyn shakes her head. \"Perhaps a moment ago, but teh guards have taken care of it. See?\" She moves then, sliding aside to reveal the empty chamber beyond.

\"THEY CAN\'T TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE IT ISN\'T THERE!\" the man shouts despairingly in the ears of the woman. Then he starts to sob, and his body relaxes noticeably. The guard, sinking his weight on Kadareth\'s chest, puts himself more at ease -- although still quite ready to respond if the madman snaps into another fit.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] \"Exactly. NOw drink your tea.\" THe woman holds out the now lukearm mug, settling herself onteh low chair that occupies the space between beds.

Kadareth takes a mouthful of the tea, but freezes with a grimace as he is about to swallow . . .

. . . and spits it back out!

\"You try to poison me, woman!\" the madman shouts.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] Worse things have stained her dress. THe woman seems rather nonplussed at action or accusation. \"Have I?\"

\"Stay away from me,\" Kadareth says coldly. \"You are not a healer!\"

[Kerowyn(#10288)] One golden brow arches upwards. \"Pray tell then, what am I?\"

\"You . . . you are here to kill me,\" Kadareth says a bit uncertainly. He eyes the healess fearfully.

Kerowyn blinks once, and hmmms softly, \"By whom, I wonder, for I know of no such orders myself.\"s Did I miss one?

Kadareth breathes heavily, and the guard pressing his chest is heaved and lowered by the madman\'s powerful movements. He seems calmer now, unless of course fear has taken over his nerves. Kadareth lowers his eyes to the blood-besprinkled sheets and sighs sadly, then utters stiffly, \"I\'m bleeding.\"

Kadareth breathes heavily, and the guard pressing his chest is heaved and lowered by the madman\'s powerful movements. He seems calmer now, unless of course fear has taken over his nerves. Kadareth lowers his eyes to the blood-besprinkled sheets and sighs sadly, then utters stiffly, \"I\'m bleeding.\"

Kadareth dutifully drinks from the cup help by Lady Kerowyn. He makes a grimace as the bitterness flows past his tongue, but offers no resistance.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] THe drink havng been finished, Kerowyn nods to teh guards. \"Release him.\" Her assistants are busied with more healer centered tasks, bringing warm water in a basin and fresh linesn.

Kadareth\'s eyes suddenly glaze over as the healer\'s drink starts to take its effect. He mumbles incoherently to himself for a while, but then his eyelids grow heavier and heavier until he falls fast asleep.

As soon as the guards unstrap the torpid hulk of Kadareth, the healers go about their business, cleaning and bandaging the wounds . . .

A terrified shriek!

\"BY THE POWERS!\" one of the apprentice healers screams, and stumbles away out of the room and climbs into the arms of a guard posted at a door.

[Kerowyn(#10288)] \"HOld her!\" Kerowyn\'s voice is one of nothing but comand now, gone is the softness of usual. \"What in Bema\'s name is going on now?

The woman, squeezing the astonished guard around her arms, is hysterical. She screams and cries and gasps, but does nothing to reply to Kerowyn.