Found

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 31st May 2008

Characters: Vanea, Neana, Elitan
Description: Elitan comes to the Hold and reports that Neana has been found.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 17 of Turn 4

"Excuse me, ma'am." The voice that spoke was low and smooth, coming from a fairly young man, tall enough to tower over most everyone else and a well built frame. His skin was so dark it was almost completely black, his nose flat, lips full and tightly curly hair cut short. When he smiled, his teeth shone stark white against his darkness and his brown eyes were warm. The knots upon his shoulder gave evidence to his craft - that of a healer, and he bobbed his head politely to the woman before him. "You're Headwoman Vanea?"

She turned to him with a tired look. Threadfall had been difficult – busy as always and during those moments when she suddenly found herself with nothing to do, she searched out a new task to keep herself from thinking about her mother's disappearance. "Yes, I'm Vanea." "I'm sorry for bothering you." The healer clasped his hands behind him, "But I understand that your mother is missing."

"Yes." The headwoman swallowed, wondering if she were about to hear the worst. "She wandered off before Threadfall." "Well, I believe I may have found her. A woman wandered into my cot this morning, not making much sense. She stayed with me through threadfall and I managed to get her name out of her - Neana."

"Neana? That's her!" Vanea could barely believe her ears – she had been steeled to receive other news about her mother. "Where is she now?" "Well, I left her asleep in my cot." The healer smiled a little, "I'll take you to her now if you like."

The Headwoman nodded. "She's alright?" "Well, she's fine physically. Mentally..." The healer trailed off, then stated softly, "I'm assuming you know of her condition?"

This produced another nod from Vanea. "I assume that's why she wandered off, though I have no idea why she ended up at your cot." "All I could get out of her besides her name was the name of a man, whom I presume is her husband and something about the Harper Hall." The healer shrugged slightly. "I guess she remembers when Harper Hall was here - my cot is built on the site where it used to stand."

"I hadn't thought of that," the headwoman admitted. "My parents lived at the Hall before I was born, when they were first married. Has her memory gone back that far?" "People in her condition often remember the past, even the far past." The healer said softly. "Although sometimes events from the past are mixed up, or thought to be recent events as opposed from many turns ago."

"So she thought that she was going home?" "So it seems." The healer nodded. "If you'll come with me, I'll take you to her."

"Thank you." Vanea glanced around to be sure that all was in order within the Hold dining hall and then followed the man.

Elitan made his way out of the hold proper, glancing back occasionally to make sure his long legs didn't carry him too fast for Vanea to keep up. They made their way past the Runner Stations and stores and finally to where the Harper Hall had once stood. Several cots had been built, and it was to one of these that the healer led her and then inside. He brought her to a stop before a door and knocked upon it softly. "Neana...I have your daughter here with me." He took a step back. "It might be best if you go in first."

The Headwoman did not need a second invitation. She pushed her way through the door, her greeting that she had used as a child. "Momma?" "Where am I?" Neana's voice was querulous. "And why did you bring me here? Are you trying to get rid of me?" "Of course not Momma." Vanea reached toward her mother. "We were worried about you – we had no idea where you had gone." The older woman hugged her arms about herself. "I want to go home. I don't like this place." "Your daughter has come to take you home." Elitan stated gently. "You're going to go home. Do you think you're okay to walk?"

Neana glared at him. "Of course I can walk." She started for the door, moving fast and with minimal wavering of her thin frame.

"I suppose I should get her back to the Hold," Vanea said with a sad smile for the healer. "Thank you and I'm sorry for the trouble." "It is no problem at all." Elitan bent slightly at the waist. He was about to offer assistance, but glanced over at the woman quickly disappearing from view. No, she needed no help. "Be well."

"And you as well." She hurried after her mother, intent on getting the woman back to the Hold without further mishap.

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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Found