Reflections of a Friendship

By TSS

See first chapter for disclaimer & notes.

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CHAPTER FOUR: Female Problems.

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PAST, 20 Years

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Ibrahim Makeen glared at the girl before him as she turned noticeably red. It was a practice with him to intimidate all the young Med-jai that came to him, perhaps putting a little fear into them of being injured. Some took extra precautions to stay unharmed just to avoid him. "Who are you?" he asked, indignant. He knew, of course, who she was. Everyone knew her, she was famous in all the tribes as the only female Med-jai warrior to ever be brought into training under the prince.

"Adira Haddad, Comrade to Ardeth Bay. I-I was told you were the one to see if...if I was injured...." She did not seem afraid of him, just slightly confused or uncertain of herself.

"So I am. What is the problem? You don't appear to be in any danger of collapsing into a coma." He leaned down towards her, his eyes narrowing. "How old are you? You don't even look as if you should be sustaining any sort of combat wounds."

She drew herself up to her full, unimpressive height, and glared right back at him. "I have come to see that you do your duty by assisting me with your skill," she bit out, her eyes filled with fire. "If you refuse to do so I will go elsewhere, even if you are supposed to administer to the Bays and their guard." She turned as if to leave, but the laughter of the man made her stop and turn back around, her anger turning to confusion. "Are you laughing at me?"

"Not at all," he chuckled. "But rather myself. You do not seem to be one to give up so easily. Very well. What might I do for you?" His amusement with her outburst had given him reason to drop his hostile character for a moment.

The girl blushed and looked away, her anger completely gone. "I...I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me. It's...it's...." She shrugged, her cheeks flaming red. The girl could have been no older then twelve or thirteen.

"Young lady," he said with a smile, "I am a physician. I have dealt with it all, nothing you could have is beyond my expertise. Now. What ails you?" He was becoming concerned, she was beginning to pale and fidget now.

Leaning forward, the girl whispered softly in his ear, then sat back, her eyes diverted.

"Ah," he said, completely serious. "I see." It was also well known that her father and an uncle had raised Adira after the death of her mother, and she had little feminine influence by living among the other young warriors. It was easy for Ibrahim to see why she would not have the understanding her problem needed. "We can take care of that, but there is no immediate cure for it." He smiled, put his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her frightened brown eyes. "You are not the first to have this problem, nor will you be the last."

The healer took it upon himself that day to see to Adira's education when it came to the medical needs of women.

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PRESENT

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Adira had lost a great deal of blood, and Ibrahim was glad he had not come a moment later. He was worried, and began to wonder if there was any more that he could do. It was up to her, now, to see if her body would wish to recover. She was a fighter, which he knew, and he was sure it would not be long until she awoke.

The commander was back, and Ardeth was a much humbler man then he had been before. He nodded to Ibrahim with respect, and the two would never speak of the incident between them again. Now Ardeth knelt by the woman's side, noticing that she had been put into a clean tunic. He raised an eyebrow and looked up at the physician.

"I found it among your things," was his explanation as he pointed to Ardeth's saddlebags. "Better then her just laying there in bandages." Ibrahim sighed, then put his hand on Ardeth's shoulder. "She will be well if she awakens soon. We need to give her something to eat and drink, to make her blood strong again."

Ardeth placed a hand on her forehead, above the wound that would one day be a token of her bravery. Someday she would tell her children of the battle, of disobeying her commander for the cause that she believed in. Ardeth was beginning to wonder why she had come, when he had told her not to. She had never disobeyed him before. "She confuses me," he murmured aloud.

"Most women have that affect on men," Ibrahim said quietly, pleased that the young man could smile slightly at the wry humor. "But Adira is a puzzle not soon to be solved, she is even more mysterious then the usual women. She has become a Med-jai warrior, and that on top of her sex is something different all together." He regarded the younger man kindly. "But you speak of something more. Tell me."

"She has never disobeyed me before, not once. But today she has fought against my wishes, against a direct command. I cannot understand it. Why?" Ardeth looked up at the old healer, his eyes wide and slightly afraid. "She could have died today."

"As you could have," Ibrahim pointed out. "And that, my friend, is why she came. Or so it is my guess."

A moan interrupted their conversation as Adira began to regain consciousness.

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