We are made of star-stuff [fanfiction]
Posted: December 30th, 2015, 11:42 am
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you”
She had come a rather long way from the girl who had arrived trembling, from a mixture of fear and anger, at the gates of the Grey Tower. Now she was one of the Accepted, her mastery over the basics of the use of the One Power becoming so much more confident and skilled. It hadn’t been an easy achievement and the months and years of effort had certainly taken their toll on the innocent girl she’d been before arriving.
While Betrys regretted very little about the choices she’d made since coming here; that hadn’t prevented her from being exposed to some of the less pleasant moments in life. The time she spent in the Infirmary had certainly seen to that; which was why she had decided to take the extended classes in Healing which were taught by the Yellow Ajah. She might still remain uncertain about whether she wanted to become a member of such an auspicious and complex Ajah but Betrys wasn’t about to deny how fascinating it all felt to her when it came to experiencing the lessons and encounters that had occurred since her very first visit.
As with all her classes she arrived early, settling into place and at least making the effort to become comfortable while they all waited for the teacher to arrive.
She found herself swallowing as the introductions began - Miliane Sedai - she would remember that name. As she began to explain the first steps to a proper Healing using Saidar Betrys nodded, only distracted for a moment by the efforts of a pair of Novices who seemed to want to indulge in some kind of horseplay - highly inappropriate.
As soon as Betrys was sure her Novice had understood what was going on, she made the attempt. The Weave easy to accomplish now that she had guided someone else through it “Yer one for headaches, eh?” she questioned as her eyes looked over at the Novice “Be an idea tae try fer some willowbark tea - nae that it be good but should suit yer well enough” Betrys murmured, relying on the knowledge which had been gained from her training and previous experiences with herb-lore.
This action, along with taking on the role of a guide and tutor towards the errant Novice secured the attention of Miliane Sedai “I think it best you remain behind Accepted Betrys...isn’t it? You and I need to talk” at first Betrys had been nervous but as the last of the class shuffled out and Miliane gestured for her to stand and join her at the front of the desk, the smile which arrived secured the removal of that initial worry “I wanted to focus on some more training with your Accepted Betrys, only the Healing Weave and then tomorrow I want you to meet me in the morning; providing this works, in the Infirmary where we can put your skills to some actual use...I’m not wrong to think you’ve been in the Infirmary before?” Miliane Sedai questioned.
She nodded “Yes, Miliane Sedai. I’ve assisted with some of the herbcraft knowledge and the like - just been willing tae offer a hand” she struggled to maintain the control over her accent that needed to be held when talking to others in order to avoid the possibility of confusion. Although it had been a while since that had been the case.
"Well done. Now release it and do it again" the Sedai insisted and Betrys nodded, performing the exercise of bringing Air and then the Spirit before finally placing the water into it. She was surprised at how difficult this was without Earth but she also accepted it as being necessary for this lesson and therefore it couldn't be avoided.
By the end of it all Betrys felt worn out but she could perform the Weave with more ease and confidence than at at the start of things, but she knew that only by continuing to work would she get any better. The slight flutter of nerves was prevented from being overwhelming as Betrys nodded and said her farewell to the Sedai and headed off to tend to her other classes and remaining chores.
“You were born a child of light’s wonderful secret— you return to the beauty you have always been” As she'd already intended to be at the Infirmary, it wasn't particularly hard to be settled and comfortable long before Miliane arrived in the morning. One of the advantages to having been born so low...sleeping in had never been an issue.
Although that did seriously beg the question about when might be a good time.
Betrys knew that speaking up could be a important but right now that was probably not the best time as her patient...whomever it turned out to be would need all her attention, especially when this new Weave for the first time on an actual person.
The rest of her attention watched not only the slight remaining parts of the bruise vanished but also finally the underlying injury, Betrys felt exhausted from the effort but it was a good sensation all the same "Everything will be just fine now" she reassured him gently and looked over at Miliane Sedai who nodded her head slowly in approval.
It was a look and a routine that developed over the rest of the day as Betrys worked with various other patients and their ailments. By the end of it she collapsed but it didn't stop her from turning up again and again. As she advanced Miliane Sedai explained other aspects of the use of saidar in Healing; using it to treat colds and coughs and eventually building up to fevers (Betrys had been surprised to learn about hot and cold fevers along with words like virus), she continued to work hard and when the lesson involving curing fatigue arrived she could understand why some would view it as a easy shortcut to continue working. Betrys didn't feel the temptation personally but she could accept that it existed all the same. In fact, she spent an afternoon discussing the potential risks of having it applied to someone over the long term and why she hoped not to ever need to reply upon it to help others.
The Battle was coming but that didn't mean that Betrys was looking forward to it. Even as she spent the afternoon tending to broken bones with the final Weave which Miliane had to teach her on this occasion. She couldn't believe that a whole month had passed since she'd begun this and while she was much more use as a healer and help-meet for the Infirmary Betrys knew she was long way from building either as skilled or experienced but she was looking forward to continuing her time here. It seemed more and more that she had found the right place to belong here with the Yellow Ajah helping tend to the sick, wounded and those in need.
While Betrys regretted very little about the choices she’d made since coming here; that hadn’t prevented her from being exposed to some of the less pleasant moments in life. The time she spent in the Infirmary had certainly seen to that; which was why she had decided to take the extended classes in Healing which were taught by the Yellow Ajah. She might still remain uncertain about whether she wanted to become a member of such an auspicious and complex Ajah but Betrys wasn’t about to deny how fascinating it all felt to her when it came to experiencing the lessons and encounters that had occurred since her very first visit.
As with all her classes she arrived early, settling into place and at least making the effort to become comfortable while they all waited for the teacher to arrive.
She found herself swallowing as the introductions began - Miliane Sedai - she would remember that name. As she began to explain the first steps to a proper Healing using Saidar Betrys nodded, only distracted for a moment by the efforts of a pair of Novices who seemed to want to indulge in some kind of horseplay - highly inappropriate.
As a result she had elected to pair up with one of them to make sure they learned to play nicely and focus on the lesson being taught “Ya try the Weave first...I’ll watch and make sure it’s being done properly” she stated and moved to embrace the warmth and generous sensation of increased energy that arrived with the connection with the One Power - this time Betrys also opened her awareness towards her partner, pausing to correct what was an error as far more water was placed into the Weave than was necessary before she allowed it to wash over her own body in the embrace that should provide her companion with the information that they would need to understand any possible ailment which could be possessed.After checking to be sure all the girls had seen the weave, Miliane began again, slowly this time, explaining as she wove. "Delving requires primarily Spirit with some Air and Water. Earth and Fire, of course, can be used also, but using those elements is dangerous because it is highly advanced. The weave is formed like a net and laid over your patient. As it settles over your patient, you will become aware of the ailments afflicting them." She had woven the 'net' with the experience and ease she had gained trough years of practise, adding Air and Water occasionally through the Spirit. "Each of you, you will break into pairs and practice on each other. In any case, you must recieve permission to Heal someone before you begin. If you have any problems, please wait for me before doing absolutely anything."
As soon as Betrys was sure her Novice had understood what was going on, she made the attempt. The Weave easy to accomplish now that she had guided someone else through it “Yer one for headaches, eh?” she questioned as her eyes looked over at the Novice “Be an idea tae try fer some willowbark tea - nae that it be good but should suit yer well enough” Betrys murmured, relying on the knowledge which had been gained from her training and previous experiences with herb-lore.
This action, along with taking on the role of a guide and tutor towards the errant Novice secured the attention of Miliane Sedai “I think it best you remain behind Accepted Betrys...isn’t it? You and I need to talk” at first Betrys had been nervous but as the last of the class shuffled out and Miliane gestured for her to stand and join her at the front of the desk, the smile which arrived secured the removal of that initial worry “I wanted to focus on some more training with your Accepted Betrys, only the Healing Weave and then tomorrow I want you to meet me in the morning; providing this works, in the Infirmary where we can put your skills to some actual use...I’m not wrong to think you’ve been in the Infirmary before?” Miliane Sedai questioned.
She nodded “Yes, Miliane Sedai. I’ve assisted with some of the herbcraft knowledge and the like - just been willing tae offer a hand” she struggled to maintain the control over her accent that needed to be held when talking to others in order to avoid the possibility of confusion. Although it had been a while since that had been the case.
Betrys nodded and once more embraced the One Power, drawing on it so that she witness and start to participate in the construction of this new Weave to her knowledge base. It was rather exciting to try something so very different from what she normally attempted but she concentrated on avoiding giving into it before it distracted her from the focus which she was going to need for this effort.“I'll first teach you how to form the basic Healing-weave," the small Yellow Sister began.
She listened carefully but it was far more about seeing with those additional senses that were provided by the saidar that connected her to the wonder of the One Power, nodding along though, she started shaping the braided pattern of Power into the Weave that Miliane Sedai was showing her at the moment, it wasn't as hard as some of them she'd attempted but Betrys didn't want to seem like she was being arrogant though so she took her time with it. As the time came to tie off Betrys found herself having to concentrate a trace more than she would have otherwise and a sheen of sweat appeared...but it worked."The weave is begun first by taking a strand of Spirit. Lay it out in front of you -" she explained, weaving her example as she spoke, "then lay a smaller strand of Air to the Spirit’s beside that. "Next lay a strand of Water, the same size as the strand of Air, to the Spirit’s other side. Now twist them all together in a woven braid, and make the two ends of the braid touch, making an "O" shape. Tie the two ends together. You should now have a circular braid of Air, Water, and Spirit. If you were performing this weave on a person, the body part being Healed would be in the center of the circle."
"Well done. Now release it and do it again" the Sedai insisted and Betrys nodded, performing the exercise of bringing Air and then the Spirit before finally placing the water into it. She was surprised at how difficult this was without Earth but she also accepted it as being necessary for this lesson and therefore it couldn't be avoided.
By the end of it all Betrys felt worn out but she could perform the Weave with more ease and confidence than at at the start of things, but she knew that only by continuing to work would she get any better. The slight flutter of nerves was prevented from being overwhelming as Betrys nodded and said her farewell to the Sedai and headed off to tend to her other classes and remaining chores.
“You were born a child of light’s wonderful secret— you return to the beauty you have always been” As she'd already intended to be at the Infirmary, it wasn't particularly hard to be settled and comfortable long before Miliane arrived in the morning. One of the advantages to having been born so low...sleeping in had never been an issue.
This was where her nerves were born again, that sense of what could go wrong stepping up and reminding her that used incorrectly she could end up hurting someone unintentionally. After all, what could heal could also be used to harm at least that was true in herbcraft and there as no reason as yet to doubt that it was going to be any different when using saidar instead. Betrys almost asked the question but decided against it choosing to believe there would be a better time and place for that sort of questioning or at least one with fewer ears to overhead what might in the end up come out sounding more than a little foolish."As you may recall, you will be using the Healing weave you learned in our previous lesson. It will be altered, slightly, to be used on cuts and bruises from the patients waiting for us in the Infirmary. There are always patients with different injuries in the Infirmary, and I am certain many Trainees will be waiting for us there." Miliane smiled and nodded toward the door.
Although that did seriously beg the question about when might be a good time.
Betrys knew that speaking up could be a important but right now that was probably not the best time as her patient...whomever it turned out to be would need all her attention, especially when this new Weave for the first time on an actual person.
She watched Miliane Sedai approach the chosen patient and felt her face twist slightly with the knowledge of how he must be hurting from the injury, as her teacher embraced the saidar aspect of the One Power Betrys found her head nodding along with her actions before she gentle reached her hand out to touch his arm with her own hand, using the contact to assist in her Delve - just as she had been taught to do with every patient who required Healing with the One Power. As she assessed him, Betrys waited for the right moment and started to concentrate properly on the needs of the Weave she was planning on creating right now, as very carefully she tied it off and then tried to calmly focus on the man as she placed her hand up on his head and released the Weave allowing it to fit over and then sink within his body, searching and seeking along with that enhanced awareness of everything else that came with using the One Power.Miliane approached a pale Drin'Far'Ji. The Gaidin nodded for her, and Miliane saw an ugly-looking bruise on his upper torso. Already embracing the Source, Miliane laid her hand on the young man's forehead, Delving him immediately before she began threading together the Healing Weave. The bruise disappeared in short time with a shudder from the young man, and she turned to the observing Betrys.
"If you prepare the weave properly, the injury will heal itself. You may begin."
The rest of her attention watched not only the slight remaining parts of the bruise vanished but also finally the underlying injury, Betrys felt exhausted from the effort but it was a good sensation all the same "Everything will be just fine now" she reassured him gently and looked over at Miliane Sedai who nodded her head slowly in approval.
It was a look and a routine that developed over the rest of the day as Betrys worked with various other patients and their ailments. By the end of it she collapsed but it didn't stop her from turning up again and again. As she advanced Miliane Sedai explained other aspects of the use of saidar in Healing; using it to treat colds and coughs and eventually building up to fevers (Betrys had been surprised to learn about hot and cold fevers along with words like virus), she continued to work hard and when the lesson involving curing fatigue arrived she could understand why some would view it as a easy shortcut to continue working. Betrys didn't feel the temptation personally but she could accept that it existed all the same. In fact, she spent an afternoon discussing the potential risks of having it applied to someone over the long term and why she hoped not to ever need to reply upon it to help others.
The Battle was coming but that didn't mean that Betrys was looking forward to it. Even as she spent the afternoon tending to broken bones with the final Weave which Miliane had to teach her on this occasion. She couldn't believe that a whole month had passed since she'd begun this and while she was much more use as a healer and help-meet for the Infirmary Betrys knew she was long way from building either as skilled or experienced but she was looking forward to continuing her time here. It seemed more and more that she had found the right place to belong here with the Yellow Ajah helping tend to the sick, wounded and those in need.