Daddy's Little Girl

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 4th March 2012

Characters: Chupsin, Livren
Description: Alivya's father comes to see the healer for ailments and talks about his daughter.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 28 of Turn 6

These cold days took their toll on older bones and joints, especially ones which had spent a lifetime in physical labor. Livren struggled by on most days but lately it had been harder than ever. He was stubborn, but knew when the time had come to ask for help. Walking as fast as he could manage, he paid a visit to the infirmary.

The journeyman was in the back putting a shoulder back into place but an apprentice greeted the farmer when he came in. "What can we do for you sir?"

"Aye. My joints have been troubling me to no end this winter. I was wondering if the healer can take a look and maybe give me some ointment or some such to ease it up a bit?"

"Allright follow me." The apprentice led the man into a cubicle, asked some questions, then disappeared.

When he told Chupsin who was here to see him, the healer immediately became suspicious, though when he said why, he tried to refocus himself. **Maybe he just needs some help for his joint ailment**

Forcing himself to breathe deeply, he headed into the cubicle and sat down on his stool. "So you're complaining of joint pain aye?"

Livren nodded. "That's right. The older I get, the more they seem to hurt. It's as if the winters get colder every turn too!"

Trying not to show his discomfiture, Chupsin went about his business. "Going to test your reflexes." He pulled out his little hammer and then quickly tapped Livren's knees. "Which joints are hurting?"

Livren winced. "Those," he said with a wan smile. "And my elbows, wrists, and fingers. Too much bending and digging." Not that he was complaining, he loved his work. "A man has to work hard to look after his babes. Especially when his wife keeps popping them out." As if that wasn't also his fault!

**Babies? Was he saying that on purpose?** "Hmm well, there's not much I can do I'm afraid except give you something for the pain. I'd also say warm baths and heating pads can be useful. Avoid eating too much dairy and eat more fish." He frowned, scribbling on his hides before he started to massage and feel around his elbows for any signs of obvious thickening.

"Fish is a bit expensive, what with so many mouths to feed. And the bathing room is always full of females! And the older they get the worse they get! Why my oldest girl, Liv, for the last sevenday has been moping around like the world is going to end. It's enough to drive a man to drink!"

Chupsin knew exactly why she was moping, but he didn't want to say of course. "Fish isn't expensive when you catch it yourself. It would be a good skill for a son to have. And those grubs are easy enough to find for bait." Not that he was much of a fisher, but he had gone down with the brats in the old days

"Aye but the boys are young yet and what with being busy I'd have to send them out with Liv and I can't send a girl off to do a man's job. Next thing I know she'll be getting more of her fanciful ideas. Silly flit thinks she'll go off and impress a dragon someday!" He laughed out loud. "The sooner she's married, the better. Don't get me wrong, she's a good girl, always does as she's told, great with her siblings, but she's a day dreamer. Maybe I should have been tougher on her. Spare the rod and spoil the child they say." Not that he was into beating women, but that would be her husband's choice if that was what she needed to keep her head out of the clouds.

Not feeling any serious thickening, he confirmed his suspicions. He was only half listening to what Livren was saying when he picked up on the impression remark. The girl wasn't too old, but he didn't see her going to the Weyr-her difficulties notwithstanding. "They say all these girls go to Weyr and don't impress but don't have the sense to come home. They stay there and become whores for the riders."

Livren's eyes narrowed. "Aye, well Liv has more sense than to let her best asset go before she's wed," her growled, referring to her virginity. "She better or she'll be looking for a bed in the snow. I'll have no whores under my roof!"

He could understand the man's anger. On the other hand, he thought the fellow should have kept better watch of his daughter. Still, Chupsin didn't say anything. "Allright, well I don't see any serious thickening of the joints so it's mainly normal wear and tear and aches. My apprentice will give you some numbweed to put on it as well as some willowbark to steep in tea to drink to help with the pain."

Livren rubbed one elbow with the opposite hand. "That'll have to do. I'm sort for prattling on. I must sound like an old gossiping woman! But if the healer won't listen, who will?"

Last updated on the March 9th 2012

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Daddy's Little Girl