Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, I do own Juniper
(A/N)- many thanks go out to my friends, who are the only people who have reviewed at this point. I will continue to update, usually either on Sunday or Monday, whichever my schedule permits. Some of the characters may not act like themselves, because I haven't seen that many episodes… be kind gentle reviewers.
story notes: signifies character thought and ~*~*~*~*~ means time or location change
2. Inside
Juniper knelt, the bottom of her coat crumpling on the ground. She moved his wild hair aside and felt his forehead with the back of her hand. He was burning up with a strange fever. Whoever he was, he needed some medical attention. Even though her training had ended when she was six, Juniper could try. I could try, I guess. I haven't helped anybody since I was very young… But from the looks of things, all I can do is help. This poor soul has been through so much.
With her decision made, Juniper struggled to pick the man up. Dragging him was not an option and dropping him would also have a negative effect. She struggled to keep him in her arms. Finally after much huffing and puffing, Juniper had him on her small sofa. This will have to do. I wish I could make him more comfortable, but I can't carry him any farther.
Juniper rushed over to the kitchen area, pulled out a bowl and a clay pitcher filled to the brim with cool spring water. She searched for a clean washcloth and found one lying on the tiny table. With those items in hand, she crossed over to the sofa. The stranger had relaxed a little, he no longer looked as if he would keel over and die. Juniper pulled up a rickety stool and began to wipe the blood and grime off his face.
Most of this blood isn't his. I wonder what he was doing, there were no signs of any fighting, and I would have heard it. Juniper frowned. Why is his shirt torn to pieces? She removed what was left of it. It had just been getting in the way and it was so blood-soaked and dirty… It took some time to get him cleaned up. When she had finished, she was relieved to see that he was not seriously hurt. There were minor cuts on his upper body, but nothing serious. He had angry purple bruises everywhere else though. It must have been a very nasty fight, but he got through it okay.
Juniper stood up and walked over to her sink. She rinsed out the bowl as well as the washcloth and set both on the table. I'll deal with them later, after he wakes up. As she sat back down, careful not to tip over since the stool was so very close to breaking. Juniper felt his forehead again. A faint smile crept across her face as she realized his fever had broken and he was sleeping peacefully. The stranger had black hair which obviously had a mind of its own. He was a little on the scrawny side, but overall he was decent looking. She hadn't seen any men like him for a long time.
She got up and took the patchwork quilt off her own bed and draped it over his body. Satisfied that her patient would sleep through the night, Juniper made up her bed with the few sheets she had remaining. She was very tired. This ordeal had woken her up and kept her that way for hours now. Hopefully she would wake before he did…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Millerna… Millerna… Millerna!! Wake up before I sit on your face and rip your hair out!" Merle jumped up and down impatiently beside Millerna's bed. Millerna groggily opened her eyes and rolled over to face the hyper cat-girl. Millerna had been staying at Van's castle for an upcoming celebration. She couldn't even remember which one right now. Merle kept bouncing until Millerna replied.
"What is it Merle? Why do you feel the need to awaken me at this hour?"
"The sun is up slowpoke. Is Lord Van coming back today? Is he? Is he?!?!"
Millerna sighed. Where did Merle get her energy in the morning?
"That is his intention, I believe. I think he is still sticking to that plan. Why, have you heard otherwise?"
"No Millerna, it's just the airship hasn't been seen for days and I'm really getting worried and-"
Millerna cut her off. "Don't worry. Wherever he is, I am sure he is fine. Besides, he is coming back for that festival or whatever. Shouldn't you be getting ready for that yet?"
"I guess I could help out a little, the party isn't for a week silly goose! Thank you Lady Millerna!" With that Merle bounded from the room, leaving Millerna to shut her eyelids tight to block the morning sunlight. I hope Allen is all right. Usually he would have sent somebody to tell us where they are. Maybe they found what they were looking for…
(A/N)- many thanks go out to my friends, who are the only people who have reviewed at this point. I will continue to update, usually either on Sunday or Monday, whichever my schedule permits. Some of the characters may not act like themselves, because I haven't seen that many episodes… be kind gentle reviewers.
story notes: signifies character thought and ~*~*~*~*~ means time or location change
2. Inside
Juniper knelt, the bottom of her coat crumpling on the ground. She moved his wild hair aside and felt his forehead with the back of her hand. He was burning up with a strange fever. Whoever he was, he needed some medical attention. Even though her training had ended when she was six, Juniper could try. I could try, I guess. I haven't helped anybody since I was very young… But from the looks of things, all I can do is help. This poor soul has been through so much.
With her decision made, Juniper struggled to pick the man up. Dragging him was not an option and dropping him would also have a negative effect. She struggled to keep him in her arms. Finally after much huffing and puffing, Juniper had him on her small sofa. This will have to do. I wish I could make him more comfortable, but I can't carry him any farther.
Juniper rushed over to the kitchen area, pulled out a bowl and a clay pitcher filled to the brim with cool spring water. She searched for a clean washcloth and found one lying on the tiny table. With those items in hand, she crossed over to the sofa. The stranger had relaxed a little, he no longer looked as if he would keel over and die. Juniper pulled up a rickety stool and began to wipe the blood and grime off his face.
Most of this blood isn't his. I wonder what he was doing, there were no signs of any fighting, and I would have heard it. Juniper frowned. Why is his shirt torn to pieces? She removed what was left of it. It had just been getting in the way and it was so blood-soaked and dirty… It took some time to get him cleaned up. When she had finished, she was relieved to see that he was not seriously hurt. There were minor cuts on his upper body, but nothing serious. He had angry purple bruises everywhere else though. It must have been a very nasty fight, but he got through it okay.
Juniper stood up and walked over to her sink. She rinsed out the bowl as well as the washcloth and set both on the table. I'll deal with them later, after he wakes up. As she sat back down, careful not to tip over since the stool was so very close to breaking. Juniper felt his forehead again. A faint smile crept across her face as she realized his fever had broken and he was sleeping peacefully. The stranger had black hair which obviously had a mind of its own. He was a little on the scrawny side, but overall he was decent looking. She hadn't seen any men like him for a long time.
She got up and took the patchwork quilt off her own bed and draped it over his body. Satisfied that her patient would sleep through the night, Juniper made up her bed with the few sheets she had remaining. She was very tired. This ordeal had woken her up and kept her that way for hours now. Hopefully she would wake before he did…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Millerna… Millerna… Millerna!! Wake up before I sit on your face and rip your hair out!" Merle jumped up and down impatiently beside Millerna's bed. Millerna groggily opened her eyes and rolled over to face the hyper cat-girl. Millerna had been staying at Van's castle for an upcoming celebration. She couldn't even remember which one right now. Merle kept bouncing until Millerna replied.
"What is it Merle? Why do you feel the need to awaken me at this hour?"
"The sun is up slowpoke. Is Lord Van coming back today? Is he? Is he?!?!"
Millerna sighed. Where did Merle get her energy in the morning?
"That is his intention, I believe. I think he is still sticking to that plan. Why, have you heard otherwise?"
"No Millerna, it's just the airship hasn't been seen for days and I'm really getting worried and-"
Millerna cut her off. "Don't worry. Wherever he is, I am sure he is fine. Besides, he is coming back for that festival or whatever. Shouldn't you be getting ready for that yet?"
"I guess I could help out a little, the party isn't for a week silly goose! Thank you Lady Millerna!" With that Merle bounded from the room, leaving Millerna to shut her eyelids tight to block the morning sunlight. I hope Allen is all right. Usually he would have sent somebody to tell us where they are. Maybe they found what they were looking for…