The First Patient

Novice Brileia Narelleva, Written by Katie
Posted on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 17:43 pm

After dumping out the last bucket of filthy water, Brileia paused a moment to wring out each cloth she’d used for that particular chore. She glanced around at the areas she’d cleaned, satisfied that she had done a good job, at least until it needed to be done again. Gathering up the cleaning supplies, she quietly began to put them back in their place within the cupboard, taking care to leave them in the same way she’d found them.

A commotion at the door of the infirmary caught her attention, making the petite Novice turn from the cupboard to see what was going on. Cerulean eyes widened slightly at the sight of a gaidin-in-training being supported by another, his face pale and drawn. Seeing that Perie Sedai was currently checking on the young pregnant woman from Tar Valon, Brileia hurried over to greet the two politely. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Perie Sedai is currently with another patient, but is there something I can do for you?”

The taller of the two was the one to answer, as he helped the other trainee to sit down on the bed Brileia had indicated. “Gyabrel had a bit of an accident during training. We think that he may have broken his arm.”

A broken arm? Well, Brileia really wasn’t qualified to do anything about that, other than to make certain he was comfortable and ready for Perie Sedai when she was finished with the other patient. Her eyes dropped to the trainee’s left arm, it being very obvious that there was something very wrong with it. She frowned slightly before addressing the man sitting on the bed. “Well, it would be best for Perie Sedai to make that diagnosis. But for now, you should get out of your shirt so that she can see the area better. Or…rather…” Her gaze shifted to the other trainee standing beside him. “Would you please help him with it? Just cut that sleeve away so that his arm isn’t disturbed too much. I’m going to fetch Perie Sedai.”

With one last concerned glance at the trainee, the young Novice quickly made her way across the infirmary to the small area set aside for the pregnant patient. Slipping past the drawn curtain, she immediately slipped into a respectful curtsy before the Aes Sedai as well as the patient. “Forgive me for interrupting, Aes Sedai. But there is another patient in the infirmary that desperately requires your attention. I’m afraid that it is beyond my capabilities.” Lapsing into silence, she waited patiently for Perie Sedai to step from behind the curtain before continuing. “One of the gaidin-in-training is waiting for you over here, Perie Sedai. His friend thinks that he may have broken his left arm. And honestly, by the looks of it, there is something very wrong. But I thought it would be better to bring it to your attention right away.”

Brileia watched silently as the Yellow sister stepped behind the other curtain to examine the trainee. Gyabrel was very pale and clammy as he sat there on the bed, his shirt having been cut off him while she had been retrieving Perie Sedai. His arm was obviously broken, the bone having punctured through the skin just above the elbow. The young Novice winced at the sight of it before looking away, her attention brought back to the Aes Sedai, who was quick to send her off to gather the needed supplies for this particular patient.

In reply to Dealing with Consequences[show]/[hide]

The young Saldaean girl had awakened early to find the pain completely gone from her ankle. Ever since she had that encounter with the wolf when she was eight years old, her ankle had never been the same. From what she’d been told by her brother Uriel, the wolf had clamped down her ankle and had been dragging her unconscious body into the woods. One would think that there would have been nasty scars left behind by its fangs; but to the surprise of all, there were no visible scars. However, her ankle had been weakened by the attack, and even one wrong step would aggravate it, causing it to swell and ache considerably. Normally it would have taken days for the swelling and pain to disappear completely; but obviously Perie Sedai was very skilled with herbs. She would have to take the opportunity to learn more about herbal remedies when her penance was done. There certainly had to be books within the Library that would aid her.

If not for the sleepwell root the Aes Sedai had given her the night before, Brileia was certain that she would not have slept at all nor as well as she had. She had never been so ashamed of her actions as she was in this particular instance, not even the time her cousin had talked her into helping him prank their fathers by lacing their clothes with itch oak just before an important meeting with the head of the Kandori Merchants’ Guild back home in Maradon. How could she have disobeyed a direct order like that? How could she have let Sadrok convince her to dance when she knew that her ankle wouldn’t be able to handle it in that condition? There was no way around it; she was well aware that she deserved whatever penance Perie Sedai gave to her, and she would do it to the best of her ability.

Humiliation made her cheeks burn as she stared down at the breakfast that had been prepared for her, Perie Sedai’s words echoing in her mind. She was in even more trouble for kissing Sadrok, and she’d only done so to bring him back to reality when he’d been lost in sad memories. But now it was being said that she had been canoodling with Sadrok, of all people. Why? One kiss was considered canoodling now? It was not as if she was planning on kissing every male she came across; but that was certainly what she felt was being implied. It really hurt to realize that was the impression she’d given to a superior. She didn’t dare to look up at the male Novice to see what his reaction was, having a feeling that such a move would validate the Aes Sedai’s beliefs even more.

Despite the knot in her stomach, the petite Novice forced herself to eat as much of the food provided as she could, knowing that she would need the energy to be able to last through the day. Silently she made a resolution to simply keep her mouth shut unless specifically addressed and do her best to complete whatever was asked of her this day. Brileia was determined to make certain that she was not known throughout the Tower as a lightskirt, but as a hard-working and conscientious student. That was not what she had come to Tar Valon for, and it had no direct bearing on her goal for the rest of her life. Sadrok may be a nice person, and he may have turned out to be her betrothed; but she wasn’t going to associate with him if it was going to damage her reputation and chances for success here.

After finishing with breakfast, Brileia obediently accompanied Perie Sedai through the infirmary towards a closed cupboard. Wordlessly she gathered the cleaning supplies from within the cupboard, intent on beginning with her first task. Cleanliness was a necessary and vital component of the healing process, and she was determined to make this the most hygienic infirmary anyone had ever been in. Calmly she filled a bucket with steaming hot water and disinfectant before carrying it over to her work area. Ignoring the sting caused by the heat of the water, she dipped a wash rag into the bucket and wrung it out before beginning to scrub one of the empty examination tables. She paid no mind to anything or anyone else as she made certain to reach every inch of the first table, even slipping to her knees to clean the underside as well.

The fresh scent of soap and disinfectant filled the air as the small Novice noiselessly made her way through the portion of the infirmary she’d been directed to clean by Perie Sedai. Each piece of equipment and every area that she could reach received her personal attention, being scoured until it gleamed in the light. Several times Brileia would have to stop to change the water in her bucket before continuing to the next spot. Not once did she complain or show any emotion other than determination, despite the fact that her hands were all red and chafed from the cleaning solution she’d created. 

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Replies to The First Patient

  • Herbs and Conversations — Novice Brileia Narelleva, Thu, Sep 9, 2010 20:36 pm