For Dave Strider and Dave Strider

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve is taking this time in the infirmary to portion out and label more of her simples, tisanes, and poultices for general use.

Her hair -- shorn now to her shoulders -- is pinned up, and she wears a yellow-fringed shawl on her shoulders.

" -- for headache," she mutters to herself, writing down dosage instructions in neat, even letters. "One cup at need, no longer than a week."

Comments

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve lifts her chin.

"I am Aes Sedai."

She'll pin him with flows of Air, is what she'll do.

Or, you know. Quell him with the force of her crankiness. Whichever.

"Now drink the bloody tea!"

[stridersgonnastride]

"fat chance"

Dave's voice is flat and uncaring, but his eyes are glued to the piece of paper. It has a few spare lines of red ink on it. It isn't signed.

"huh"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve exhales sharply.

"Good, so you've found it."

Then she goes back to the desk, sifting through her bag of herbs and simples until she finds a sachet of the same herbs in the tea.

Maybe if she brews some more and drinks it herself . . .

[stridersgonnastride]

The note vanishes into his sylladex for further study, when he has more privacy.

"did you talk to him"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve arches an eyebrow, though it doesn't really disturb the scowl on the rest of her face.

"Who? The other you?"

She's already begun brewing another pot of bitter-tasting tea. Judicious (and visible) weaves of fire make that a lot easier than having to find a stove.

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah he say anything"

He apparently finds the contents of the letter not completely satisfying.

[not_only_wisdom]

"Just that you'd hurt yourself your first time here, and that you would have a headache when you woke up. I believe that's because he remembered it."

She snorts again.

Loudly.

Time hijinks. Thanks, Milliways.

"I didn't ask much else, as I was mainly concerned with making sure you suffered as little damage as possible from your fool stunt."

Hmmph.

[stridersgonnastride]

"with magic right you some kind of life class"

He saw the fire too, though.

[not_only_wisdom]

"I'm Yellow Ajah."

Her scowl deepens for a moment as she realizes that in Milliways this requires more explanation.

"We're the Healers among the Aes Sedai."

[stridersgonnastride]

"so yes then"

[not_only_wisdom]

"If that's what this life class means for you, then it will do as well as any."

She reserves the right to object later.

[stridersgonnastride]

"so this shit is like healing tea"

He sounds unimpressed.

Or maybe just bored.

Or tired.

[not_only_wisdom]

"Pain-relieving tea, more like. I don't trust you stumbling about now with that much of an ache in your head."

Drink the tea and you can leave, Dave. Sooner than if you don't drink it, anyway.

[stridersgonnastride]

"it smells rank what's in it"

Is it poison, Nynaeve?

"i guess even if it kills me death from tea isn't very heroic probably come back from that one real fast"

[not_only_wisdom]

"Sleepwell root. I can drink some, too, if it will make you feel more comfortable. I might take a nap after. It does make one drowsy."

There is no lie in her words.

[stridersgonnastride]

"sure because drinking shitty tea and sleeping in a weird hospital in a bar sounds like fun and games for everyone. pass out some party favors maybe a round of hot potato and musical chairs"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve hmmphs.

"As if I'd leave you here unattended. Or unwarded, if you prefer."

Or both.

[stridersgonnastride]

He never thought he'd miss Davesprite.

"what's warded"

[not_only_wisdom]

"Protected from harm and some types of observation, if you like."

[stridersgonnastride]

"you mean with magic or something"

[not_only_wisdom]

"The One Power, which is as well called magic here, though it is most definitely not."

Hmmmph.

"Does that bother you?"

[stridersgonnastride]

"no i'm cool with magic i got no particular beef with it considering the constant application of magical shenanigans is the only reason i'm alive and not like octuple dead right now

"show me the thing and i'll maybe drink the tea"

[not_only_wisdom]

Again she begins glowing like a tiny sun, and weaves of varicolored light spring from her hands, some to flatten against the walls and the door, some to twine around the base of the bed he is lying on, and others to trace along the ceiling.

"There. Trouble should stay far from your door for some small time. I've tied them off so I won't need to be here in order for them to work."

[stridersgonnastride]

It reminds him a little of Rose doing her Light thing.

"fucking weird but okay"

He takes a sip of the tea and curls his lip in disgust. "oh man that is rank did you brew this in a dirty sock or something holy shit maybe i changed my mind"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve doesn't smile, but her scowl soften just a fraction.

"I have teas whose only purpose is to taste terrible. You're getting off quite lightly with the sleepwell."

Just ask Egwene and Elayne. Or Matrim Cauthon. Or any number of other people Nynaeve has been friends and acquaintances with.