Is That Necessary?

Writers: Emma, Noola
Date Posted: 16th March 2010

Characters: Barnek, Miranek
Description: Barnek goes looking for a headache remedy and is given some unexpected (and unwelcome) information.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 8 of Turn 5

Barnek loved teaching, he truly did. And, honestly, teaching ranking
children at the Hold was a cushy job compared to some. But children
were children and though he enjoyed working with them, sometimes they
could be a bit much. Today was one of those days and he had the
headache to prove it. Which was why he was looking for a healer at the
moment instead of grading slates full of spelling problems.

"Can I help you?" Master Crafter or no, all took turns in the infirmary to
keep up their skills. That was why Miranek happened to greet the person
walking into the infirmary.

"Ah, Master Miranek. I don't suppose I could trouble you for something
for this blasted headache I have, could I?" He hadn't expected the
healer on duty would be the Hold's Master healer.

"Of course Journeyman. But I will need to check you over first."

Barnek gave the older man a dubious look, "Surely not, Master Miranek.
It's just a headache, the children were particularly trying today." It
had been some time since his last physical and the harper would be
perfectly happy if it continued to be some time more before he had
another.

"Surely yes, we have some different teas for different types of headache,"
pointed out Miranek. "I wouldn't want to give you something that was too
mild, or too strong."

The harper sighed. This was what came of seeing a Master healer for a
headache. "Very well. Where do you want me?"

"If you'll just take a seat over there?" Miranek indicated an examination
room, even as he took a neatly prepared tray of instruments, and went to
wash his hands in a diluted redwort solutions.

Barnek did as he was told and prepared to suffer the indignities of a
medical exam. Perhaps next time he had a headache, he'd just take a
nap or something. Hopefully this wouldn't be a full exam. Maybe it
would just be a quick glance-over and a few questions. Heartened by
that thought, the harper hopped up onto the exam table to wait on the
healer.

Miranek was thorough, but quick. He knew that not everyone liked the
'prodding and probing' as some described it. "So, do you get these aches
often?"

"Not too often," the harper replied. "Usually only when the children
are being particularly trying."

"How's your vision?" This could either be stress related, or perhaps irt
was the early signs of eye problems developing.

"I haven't noticed anything amiss with my vision," Barnek replied
after a moment's thought.

"So you won't mind covering one eye and reading that chart on the wall over
there for me, as far down as you can."

Barnek covered his right eye and began reading. He made it through all
but the bottom two lines easily, though he had to guess at a couple of
the letters on those bottom two rows.

"And cover the other eye, then try again."

Once again, the harper covered an eye, the opposite this time and
began reading down the chart. This time, however, about a third of the
way down, he began having difficulties making out the letters and
having to try to remember what he'd said before.

Miranek made notes. "Do you have these headaches more often when you've been
giving the children reading lessons?"

"Sometimes," Barnek replied, not liking where this was going one bit.

"And if you've been marking assignments?"

"Yes, sometimes." The stacks of slates sitting on his desk loomed at
the front of his mind. He'd left them to come get a headache remedy.
But that didn't mean that the grading had caused the headache, did it?
The children -had- been particularly trying today.

"Right," Miranek made a final note. "I'll have a tea made up that will help
ease the headaches, but I'd like you to come back next sevenday for a more
thorough eye examination with Journeyman Tarven. He specializes in
ophthalmics, and I think he may suggest that you need glasses." He watched
the Harper's face, to see what the reaction may be. Some didn't take well
to the idea, insisting there was nothing wrong with their sight, until they
tried a pair of spectacles and realised just how much of an improvement they
had with them.

"You're sure that's really necessary?" The idea was unsettling. He'd
never imagined himself wearing glasses before.

"I'd not be doing my best for you as a Healer if I didn't follow through
with this," pointed out Miranek. "Sometimes people who have very slight
vision problems can develop headaches as they try to deal with things, we
need to make sure what is causing your headaches and get you the right
treatment."

"I supoose so," Barnek sighed. "I'll be here for the appointment to
see the Journeyman if you think ti's best, Master Miranek." He didn't
like it, but the Master healer had a point and for that matter, what
sort of example would he be setting for the children if he didn't mind
what the healer told him?

"Good. Now you can take this tea three times a day, but no more. If it
doesn't seem to be helping, come back here and see whoever is on duty."

"Yes, healer, thank you." Barnek accepted the tea with a wry smile,
glad to have gotten some medicine for his headache, but ambivalent
about the rest.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2010

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Is That Necessary?