Good Days and Bad Days

Writers: Emma, Vix
Date Posted: 2nd January 2008

Characters: Vanea, Miranek
Description: Vanea takes her mother to Healer Miranek for a check-up.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 10 of Turn 4

The Master Healer filed the notes from his last patient away in the cabinet, before going to the door of his examination room, and calling out for the next patient to come in.

"This way, Mother." Vanea forced a smile as she guided Neana through the door.

"I know that," the older woman shook her daughter's hand away from her arm, glaring at her. "Will you just leave me alone? Why do you keep coming to bother me?"

"Would you ladies like to take a seat?" offered Miranek as he moved to pull out a seat with a nod to the Headwoman.

"You can sit here, Mother," Vanea told the other woman.

"I know that," Neana replied contentiously before turning to Miranek with what may have at an earlier age been a flirtatious smile. "Well, hello there. How nice to see you again."

"It's nice to see you again too," replied the Healer, aware of the older woman's condition. "And your daughter as well."

"I haven't seen my daughter in over a turn," Neana told him. "She married and went off to live with her husband."

"I see, so it's a friend who came with you today is it?" he said gently, whilst watching the Headwoman's face. This could not be easy for her to deal with.

"Her?" Neana inclined her head toward Vanea, then spoke in a loud whisper. "I don't know who she is but she won't stay away from my rooms. I think she must be holdless."

Vanea glanced away, leaving the healer to reach his own conclusions about her mother's condition.

"Have you written to your daughter to ask her to come?" suggested Miranek, passing her a hide and a stylus. He then turned his attention to Vanea. "She's not showing any signs of deteriorating further besides this?"

"She has her good days and her bad," the Headwoman told him. "Though they can change. . ." Her voice trailed off as she watched her mother.

Neana had started by laboriously making notations on the hide but now stabbed at it with the stylus, punctuating each word. "Why. . . will. . . they. . . not. . . look. . . right?" She dropped the stylus and burst into tears.

In reaction, Vanea rose to her feet, cradling her mother's head to her. "It's alright, Mother. I can read them."

"Should I give you a minute?" asked the Healer softly. Sometimes like this there was nothing that anyone, Healer or not could do.

"I want to go home." Neana pouted as she spoke, shoving away from her daughter.

"Soon, Mother," Vanea told her. She turned to the Healer. "Did you want to try to examine her?"

"Perhaps I should wait until she is calmer, you said she has good days and bad days."

"She does," the daughter admitted, "but there's no predicting when she'll be cooperative."

"I suspect that today is not going to be one of those days." And you didn't need to be a specialist in this particular area to see that Neana was not going to get any better, only worse over time.

"No, definitely not," agreed Vanea, rising from her seat. "Come along, Mother. You can help wash greens in the kitchen."

The older woman pouted as she thought about that proposal. "Will there be treats?"

"Probably," replied her daughter. "We should get there in time for you to taste the desserts for this evening. You can let the cooks know whether they're suitable for the Lord Holder's table."

"And maybe save one for me?" suggested the Healer.

Neana turned and shook her finger at him. "Only if you're good, young man."

"I think I can manage that," the Healer said lightly. "And you should come back and see me again in a month's time."

"If I can," the old woman sighed. "After all, I'm very busy."

Vanea nodded at the Healer as she took her mother's arm to lead her from the room. "A month," she repeated.

"Unless you think you need an appointment before then."

This brought a frown from Neana. "Why would I?"

"I say that to all my patients."

The frown deepened. "Patience?"

"Patient, Mother," Vanea told her gently. "Master Miranek is a healer and you're his patient."

The older woman rolled her eyes. "I don't know where you get the idea that I need a healer. I'm fine."

"And you see me to make sure it stays that way."

"Oh. That's alright then." Neana turned to her daughter. "I suppose you intend to lead me away somewhere?"

Vanea nodded. "To the kitchen."

"Can I sample the sweets?" her mother asked, the earlier promises only vaguely remembered.

"Of course." The Headwoman smiled at the healer. "Thank you, Master Miranek."

"You're welcome," he replied.

"Say 'thank you' to the Healer, Mother," prompted Vanea.

"He's only doing his job," was her reply, the older woman already on her way to the door.

The Headwoman shrugged as she followed her mother.

Last updated on the January 4th 2008

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Good Days and Bad Days