Seeking aid

Writers: Paula, Avery
Date Posted: 5th July 2015

Characters: Olwinna, L'pin
Description: L'pin realizes he needs to seek out help and reaches out to Olwinna.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

L'pin entered the Infirmary and smiled at the apprentice standing by,
waiting for new arrivals. He was clearly a junior, he looked so young
and fresh-faced, like he shouldn't have been out of Harper classes
yet. It made his heart hurt. "I need to set up an appointment," he
said.

"What kind?" the boy asked, looking him over as if expecting the
bluerider to be bleeding or something.

"Mindhealing."

The apprentice's eyes widened at that. "Oh, yeah. You got a preference on
who?"

L'pin shrugged. He'd considered whether or not he wanted to deal with
someone who'd seen him after his son died. On the one hand,
familiarity with the issues. On the other hand, that could bring out
bad memories of his own, of sitting in the offices with his heart
spilling out. So he figured he'd leave it up to scheduling chance.
"Not really."

"How soon?"

This was the part that stung his pride to admit. "As soon as possible."

"Wait one." The apprentice disappeared into the back, sticking his
head into Olwinna's office. "Somebody's looking for a mindhealing
appointment today," he said.

"Someone got lucky, I've got a cancellation," Olwinna replied. She
hated when that happened, although she was using the vacant slot to
update her hidework. "Show him or her in," she told to the apprentice.
Hidework could wait.

The apprentice trotted back out. "Got one right now. Come on back."

L'pin followed and was ushered into the office. "Healer Olwinna, good
to see you," he greeted her.

"L'pin, my duty to you and Chaneth," Olwinna greeted with welcoming
smile. She indicated him to take a seat. "What brings you here?" she
asked although she could quess. She was nothing but well informed.
Keeping tabs at the rumours and happenings on the Weyr was part of her
specialty.

"I assume you heard about the flaming accident?" he asked as he settled
down.

"Who hasn't?" Olwinna asked rhetorically. She often worked with the
Weyrling Staff and sometimes gave lessons. Her own son had been in
Weyrling's wing's staff for awhile, until he became old enough to join
the fighing wings.

Of course the whole weyr knew how he'd screwed up. "This isn't a good
month for me. Losing my son, it's why I took off being weyrlingstaff
for awhile. I thought I was a horrible teacher. Now that we've got a
badly-burned weyrling..."

"It's not your fault, you're not a bad teacher," Olwinna said and
leaned over to place her hand on his.

"N'vanik said that every leader loses some. But my brain keeps
sticking on the idea that I didn't teach my son enough to save him. I
must have missed something with Hevalda. Am I really the right
choice?" the bluerider wondered. The mindhealer's contact was
reassuring and grounding.

"He's right," Olwinna said. "I tell you secret: he asks these same
questions from himself everytime a dragonrider dies. I and I presume, every
healer, asks those questions when a patient dies. Did I do something wrong?
Was it my fault? If I had done something differently, been more skilled or
just faster, would he still be alive? Analyzing these questions can make
you better teacher or better healer but if you ponder them too much, you
start to doupt your abilities."

He nodded. There was wisdom in her words. He knew that. So why couldn't he
believe it?

"And once you doubt, it's toxic?"

"Yes, it creeps in and makes you question your judgement, your decisions.
It's a venom which paralyzes you and depresses you," Olwinna replied.

"That's exactly what's happening," he said.

"Then we have to figure out how to fight againsta it," Olwinna smiled
encourgingly.

"This process takes some time, doesn't it?" It would be naive if he
expected a quick fix.

"Yes, it does. It takes patience," Olwinna confirmed. "Matters of the
mind are the most complicated ones."

He trusted in her expertise. "So tell me when I need to come in and
what I need to do, and I'll work with you," he promised.

"We can make you a schedule for regular meetings," Olwinna suggested.
"Of course, if you absolutely must and feel it's emergency, you can
come to me anytime. Even at night. I just kick out whoever happened to
be in my bed," Olwinna continued, her eyes twinkling merrily. As far
as she considered, perfectly functional Weyrlingmaster's Third was a
top priority.

"I'll try to spare you from that," he said with a laugh.

"I don't know, depending who it is, we might invite you to join us,"
Olwinna winked.

"That's one kind of a way to get personal time." The image made him
grin and feel better.

Olwinna was pleased to see that grin.

Last updated on the July 8th 2015

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Seeking aid