Should I tell her? (part 1)

Writers: Teresa
Date Posted: 28th March 2008

Characters: T'nel
Description: Terainel tries to sort out his sleeping problem by talking to someone who had the same problem for a while.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 4

Terainel walked slowly toward the dining cavern. Having just finished his chores, he was very hungry and very tired. Filling his plate and grabbing a pitcher of juice, he made his way to the nearest table, not really paying attention to who was there. With a heavy sigh he sat down and rubbed his eyes. * guess I am more tired than I thought*

"Hey there" came a soft voice from further down the table.

"oh, hi Rolada. I did not see you there." he responded with a weary smile.

"Then you must not be looking very far, I am only two seats away." she told him with a devious twinkle in her eye. She liked Terainel, he had a good sense of humor.

"I can't see past my food right now" he said with a lopsided grin.

"You look tired, that is, more than usual. Is everything OK?" she asked, her tone sounding a little more concerned than she had intended.

"Yeah, everything is fine. I am just studying a lot, and having some dreams that keep me up most of the night for the last few nights." He didn't know why he had just told her that. He didn't share that kind of thing with just anybody. "

"Really?, what kinds of things are you dreaming about that it keeps you up all night?" she moved to the seat next to him dragging her plate and cup with her. "May I ?" she asked pointing to the pitcher.

"Sure, go right ahead." he replied as he slowly chewed his food. *I can't believe I am this tired, maybe I should talk to a healer* he thought as he ate.

"Well?" she asked moving her head to look into his eyes.

"What?, Oh, It is just some things in my past that are coming back to haunt me is all." He looked away from her eyes, and down at the table She sighed, "It must be pretty bad when you have dreams like that"

He looked up from his plate. *should I tell her?, Do I really want to tell anyone about my past?* he gave another tired sigh.

"well," she said still concerned "you should talk to someone about it. You can not function if you do not sleep, if you don't feel like you can talk to me at least go to see a healer. Maybe they can give you something to help."
she paused and dared put her hand on his. "I like you, I don't want to see anything happen to you. Please, go to see the healer"

*she likes me?* he looked at her and could feel the heat rise up and gush out of his ears. "The thought of going to a healer had occurred to me, but I am not sure I am ready to tell why I am having these dreams."

Rolada tilted her head slightly, "Why not? did you do something that you regret? something bad?"

He let out a nervous chuckle, shaking his head looking at her hand on his, letting it stay and, enjoying the sensation that ran from his hand up to his head and down to his toes. "no, no, no, nothing like that."

She slid her other hand under his so that she had one hand on top and one on bottom of his. "Terainel, I know you have not been here long, and I know you have not known me for very long, but I would like to help if you would let me."

He smiled one of his lopsided grins, and gave a mock sigh of defeat. "I am not sure if you can help me. I will go to see the healer, only because I need to get something to help me sleep."

"May I come with you?" she asked hopefully " Uuummm, Sure, I guess" He said, not so sure if it was a good idea or not.
He was still uncomfortable with the idea of anyone knowing about his past.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it? Maybe it would help you so that you can sleep." she said still holding onto his hand.

"I don't know," he replied uncertainly as his eyebrows wrinkled and his smile faded. *If I told her, would she think less of me?* He finally had a few friends and he wanted to keep them. Would she think that he was a bad person, that perhaps he had done things to deserve the beatings he had received? *

"I won't push you to tell me, but I would like to go with you to see the healer" she looked into his eyes once more, and thought she saw dark shadows hiding in them which caused her to be a little more concerned.

"OK, you win, you can come with me to see the healer. I am not sure what you are so worried about, but if it make you feel better, than by all means, fair lady, I would be happy to have you come along." He said with a slight grin, but still unsure if he should really say anything in front of her or not.

Rolada had finished just before Terainel had arrived, so he finished up his meal, and they both finished off what was in their cups and cleared the table, then headed off to see the healer. They arrived, and waited for the healer to finish with the patient he was dealing with at the moment.
Finally the healer looked to the waiting pair.

"What can I help you two with?' the healer asked.

"Well, Sir, I am having problems sleeping, I was wondering if you could give me something to help me sleep." Terainel said rather sheepishly looking down at the floor and rubbing his hands against one another lightly.

The healer took note of the young mans actions. "And how about you young lady, or are you just here for moral support?" he asked with a small smile looking at her.

" I guess you could say I am here for moral support." she said with a smile and looked over at Terainel, who was turning red again at her remark.

"Well then young man, have a seat over here, I would like to check a few things out and ask you a few questions before I go handing out sleeping aids."

"Uumm OK" he said as he sat down, again looking at the floor fingers intertwined and sitting on his lap, clenching and un-clenching his fingers as he waited.

"There is no need for fear in here," the healer said in a gentle voice.
"try to relax a little" *well, most of the signs are here, it must have been rough for the poor boy.* "If you would, please remove your shirt, so that I may listen to your heart and lungs."

Terainel faltered, and gave a pleading look to the healer, then looked over to Rolada, then slowly took off his shirt. The healer looked him over for any physical signs, and listened to his heart, then moved to look at his back to listen to his lungs. Rolada saw the healers eyes widen a little when he looked a Terainels back, so she dared move to see what the healer saw. Rolada covered her mouth least she make a noise to make him even more uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Terainel did not hear or see her actions. "Well young man, you seem to have had a bit of a rough time."

"Yes Sir" he said with a weak smile.

"Is this the reason you need to have something to help you sleep?" the healer asked almost knowing the young man would know what he meant.

"Yes Sir, you might say that. I have been having really bad dreams, when I wake up, I have to clean the sweat from my body, and change my bedding.
After that I can't seem to close my eyes without seeing the images from my dreams again."

"I see, well, I have two suggestions. One," he said as he walked over to some vials on a shelf "talk to someone you trust. It will help you to release some of your worries and fears. Taking the sleep aid I am giving you will do little to help if you don't try to remedy the cause." He handed the small vial to Terainel and looked him sternly in the eye. "Two, take only one drop of this with water or juice, I would suggest juice, it will taste better," he added with a smile. "take it about a half a candle mark before you are to turn in for bed, tonight. If it doesn't help let me know, and I will talk to the Headwoman about other avenues."

"Yes Sir, I will." Terainel handed the vial to Rolada and put his shirt back on. "Thank you Sir"

"Not a problem young man. Sleep well" the healer waved as the two went out the door.

Last updated on the March 29th 2008

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Should I tell her? (part 1)