handwritten text; day 6?

[bearshermark]

sweet lily of the hidden valley:

I have healing magic

[Then, after a few minutes, he decides signing it might be a good idea, in case this works as he's been told]

-Eleven

Comments

[yourdistraction]

[ She would have happily explained! But leave it to Merrill to just assume that people know, because who doesn't? ]

Hm? Oh, yes! Hello!

[ Her leg gets caught on the stool in her hurry to get up, but she manages to untangle herself so that she can nod her head in greeting. ]

Thank you so much, Eleven. Hm, Eleven... Is that your real name? No, sorry, that must be rude. Anyway, if you like I have a cot that I've managed to block off with my sheet. For some privacy.

[ The last thing they need is everyone staring because of magic. Merrill isn't always the sneakiest, but even she knows not to shit where she eats, or...so to speak. Nobody in her old alienage home ever suspected her of being a blood mage, at least so far. ]

[bearshermark]

[Eleven ducks his head in a nod and follows her lead.]

It is my real name, but you can use 'El' if you prefer.

[He kneels at the edge of her cot once she's settled comfortably and soaks one of the rags. Now that he's paying more attention, he wonders if an elve is someone with markings like hers]

...It looks like we'll need to clean your injuries, first. Is it just your arms?

[yourdistraction]

Yes!

[ Of course, she's also got several bruises all over, even a big one on her jaw, but that shouldn't be unusual for anyone who escaped the prison.

While he soaks his rags, Merrill tugs free her shoddy bandages (doing it one-handed is difficult!) and then yanks up one of the ruined sleeves to reveal several cuts; some hours older than others, some very recent. They're pointedly deliberate, not haphazard scrapes like she claimed or even injuries from battle, which would be far more chaotic than this. ]

Thank you so much for doing this... If I can repay you, I certainly will!

[bearshermark]

[His brows furrow as he squeezes the excess water from a cloth, then reaches to press it gently over her cuts. It may sting a bit; the water is mixed with antiseptic.]

I don't mind. It's important we're all healthy. If ever you find yourself with extra food however, I'd be happy to accept.

[yourdistraction]

I think I angered somebody in the kitchen alre─

[ Merrill's back straightens with a snap as she yelps a little in surprise. She's used to worse pain, but it seemed to come out of nowhere! Antiseptic, what the fuck is that. She didn't see him use any herbs. ]

What did you do?!

[ Betrayed! ]

[bearshermark]

[He blinks, cloth retreating a few inches so he can peer at the injury, but it doesn't look much different.]

Nothing yet. Sorry, I should have warned you it might sting a little. Are you okay?

[yourdistraction]

[ He looks sincere enough, and Merrill tries to relax again. Yes, he should have warned her! But if he is really a healer, then he might have put some kind of herbal tonic in with the water. She isn't used to stinging as a result, but she doesn't know every herb in Thedas and beyond, so she'll have to trust him. ​]

It surprised me, only. It doesn't hurt!

[ He must think her a child! Only the cuts don't seem to bother her too much, even with blood dribbling from fleshly cleaned wounds.

In the field there isn't time for this kind of care before using healing magic, so she's not really used to it, and feels awkward just sitting here not contributing anything. ]

Do you know of other mages among us?

[bearshermark]

[Relieved, Eleven reapplies the cloth, touching down in careful presses to dab up the bits of blood. How embarrassing it would be if he failed to heal the first person he tries to help. He doesn't have Serena's expert care, but he'd like to think he's somewhat competent.

He hums shortly]

Not yet, I don't think. I suspect at least one other person has a power of some kind, but I don't know what sort it is. Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll use it in our defense if it comes to it.