Hello, sorry for not putting up an update sooner, but I've been busy well..... I'm not getting many reviews, except from two people who have reviewed pretty well all along, thanks! Well, I'm not letting that get me down, and I'm still going to write my chapters, no matter how many reviews I get. I guess I'll stop bugging you all, here's the chapter!
Chapter 5, An Odd Gift
Naomi and Aoko stumbled tiredly into the healing room that Aoko was currently staying in. they had explored the country side all day long, and the long rides had taken their toll in them. The sun had set as they were arriving at the hold's front gate.
:My dear, you need a good rest. You are weaker than you were a couple days ago, back in Edinbrook, and rest will help you regain some of that lost energy.: Naomi had Talked to Aoko all day, and now she did not startle when she spoke into her mind, and Aoko was even getting the hang of Mindspeech.
:True,: She yawned and switched to open speech. "I guess that you know that better than I would Oh, Naomi," Aoko paused.
:Yes my love?:
"How long have we been here?" Aoko looked puzzled, "And do you know if anyone else survived the attack from the raiders?"
:Well, we were on the road for nearly five days, and we have been here at the hold for about six days now.: Naomi paused, she didn't know how to say this to her. :Aoko, we had a Herald that was near Edinbrook go and check out the city. It seems that your parents died in a fire that ripped through your house after we left. I'm sorry love.:
Aoko nodded, "I expected that the whole village would be gone, and I think that I should be thankful that they were not all killed. I'm glad that the result is better than what I expected to hear. Thank you Naomi, I think that I will retire for the night now."
Naomi nodded, turned and walked from the room, shutting the door gently with her nose.
:You know, I could have gotten that if you had asked me to, or did you forget our planned meeting tonight?: Naomi turned sharply and found Midori sitting a small wooden bench, one that was laid out by the Healer's room for a patient's relatives, or just so that someone could get a light rest if the day had not been going as well as they had planned.
:You frightened me Midori, though no, I did not forget our meeting, I just thought that I might have to wait for you for a little while after getting Aoko to sleep.: Naomi was surprised at the healer's proficiency at being at a certain place at the right time.
"You asked me to be here, so I came as soon as one of the guardsmen told me that he had seen you arrive back at the hold. I thought that you might bring her back as soon as you got in, she must be a tired little thing right now." Midori rose from the bench, and made a sour face when one of her joints protested to her quick movement.
:I think that you aren't in as good a shape as you thought either!: Naomi gave a whinny, which sounded much like light laughter.
"I noticed that. Well, if you don't mind, I think that we should talk in a more private place, my rarely used office might come in handy right now." When Naomi nodded, she continued, "If you would so kind as to follow me."
Midori led Naomi further down the hall, and Naomi noticed that there were more healing rooms, but they looked as if they were meant for those who were not as greatly injured, or for those who just needed a place to rest while a healer looked a small wound. Next, Midori led her past a few rooms that were currently being used as storage rooms for healer supplies.
"This place used to hold a lot of healers, with the war on Hardorn usually being so close to this region, soldiers used to come here after battle to heal and rest up. That is why this town has prospered so much, and why this building is mostly healing quarters." Midori stopped at a large, carved, oak door, which had a small cave like spot where a name plate could be set. The plate currently held the name Midori, signaling that they were at her office. "Mind you," She added while opening the dusty door, "We are adding onto the hold to make room for more soldier quarters, so we can help with storing spare soldiers for the war. We are also have a family move in, one with the parents being healers."
:I see, with Edinbrook being so close to the Holderkin, and the wars, we used to have a lot of soldiers passing through. You are more to the East, you are closer to the battles, and having a small House of Healing so close by, it would be a perfect thing to help us win more battles.: Naomi could see the reasoning behind their actions.
"Exactly right, my dear Companion." Midori finally got the rarely used door open, walked in and chose to sit in a rather large green leather chair while Naomi kindly closed the door, and laid down in front of where Midori's feet rested.
:Well Midori, I think that we should get to what tonight's conversation is about, don't you agree?: Naomi looked up at the healer, she looked worried.
"That would be a good idea, my friend. What exactly is it that you would like to know about her condition? She is stable and I think that she should stay in that condition for a few days, and then after that she should get even stronger." Midori looked at Naomi, she bit her lip in agitation.
:I know what her state is right now Midori, I just want to know how she got in that state from that of yesterday! Yesterday, you thought that she would not make it through the week, and now she looks almost as fit as when she was living at Edinbrook. what is it that you aren't telling me?: Naomi looked at the woman in front of her and snorted with discontent.
"Well Naomi, your Chosen is an odd one. when you brought her here, she was in a very bad state, one that I thought impossible for a person to survive for over two days with, and that's resting, not riding a horse, or even a Companion! That was when I figured that there was something special about her. Then, when she stayed alive for five days with getting any worse, and showing a few signs of getting better, I knew there was something different about this girl from those I had treated before." Midori paused.
:Well, I would have thought the same thing, had I known that she was showing signs of getting better all along! But, that's not the point, is it? Why did this happen, and what is so special about this girl?: Naomi quit asking questions hen Midori motioned with her hand that she wanted to speak.
"No, that is not this point, though I should have told you about her improving condition. Well, when I went into check on her today, she was up and wondering about in her room. I found it... it, rather, interesting that she had improved so quickly. I examined her and I have found that she has an odd Gift in her. It's one that I have never seen before, though it is close to what a healer has." Midori rose, and paced between the two bookshelf walls. "Aoko is able to heal herself, she was slow at first to get the hang of, hence the reason for a slow start in her recovery, and became rather good at it once the sixth day came around. when I probed her today, I noticed that the Gift is different from that of a healers, but similar. Most healers cannot heal themselves when seriously injured, or even when unconscious. But, they can if the injury is minor. Also, healers can heal people other than themselves, which you already know."
:And how does Aoko's Gift tie in with all of this?: Naomi was confused. she looked up at Midori, who was twirling her dark brown hair around her long, slender index finger, and thumb.
"Well, Aoko's Gift is like the Gift that I, myself have. But, Aoko cannot heal anyone else but herself. She can heal herself, no matter what condition she is in, as far as I can tell. and she can do it with a relatively low amount of Power." Midori stopped pacing, but continued twirling the few strands of hair she was holding.
:This is remarkable! She could be very useful during a battle against the King of Hardorn, but only to herself for healing purposes.:
"Exactly. Once she is finished with her training to become a Herald, she could go into Hardorn in secret missions, and that would be perfect for getting this war over and done with before we lose any more men and women, warriors and civilians alike." Midori sat again, but kept the hair in her hand. Her hair was nearly at her shoulder blade, so holding it did not cause a problem with moving her head.
:I think that, that would help out a lot with this problem in the East. do you think that this Gift will be with her for her while life, or do you think that it is just some fluke and that it will disappear sooner or later?: Naomi thought about what could happen if she went for a secret mission and it turned out that her Gift vanished over time and she could not heal herself in a time of great need.
"I think that since it has been awakened, it will be with her for forever. I'm, not sure how this Gift has risen from inside her, or even how it was created, but it sure is useful for her to have. I'm only wondering if there are other people out there with the same thing, but do not know how to deal with it, and are using it for other purposes than for the good of things. I wonder if there s anyone in Haven with the same Gift, but they have not really noticed, or have not gotten into a situation where it is needed." Midori looked thoughtfully at the top of the room.
:Well, I'm not sure, but I am sure that it is late, and I have spent the day galloping through fields, and that tires you out quickly! I think that if you don't mind, I'll retire to my nice and warm stall in the sables!: Naomi yawned and rose to meet Midori eye to eye. :I expect that you will be watching Aoko quite closely as she heals more thoroughly, and I have no problem with that. I think that it would be a good thing to study this odd Gift, and find a way maybe to detect it in others, so we might be able to find another like her.:
"I thank you or your permission, and I too will leave for my rooms. Until later," Midori nodded at Naomi and opened the door again, this time, it opened more smoothly.
:Until later.: With that, Naomi left Midori to shut the door and to make her own way back to her waiting bed.