"I don't think she can do anything Aalyssa hadn't already done." Pinja said.

"What Fi practices is different from Elven magic. So we don't know that Fi couldn't do something different."

"She couldn't undo what happened." Pinja said.

"That's true, she couldn't," Sileas conceded.

"Or make them not be there every time I close my eyes." Pinja said.

Sileas nodded empathetically. "True, only time can take care of that."

"It will never stop." Pinja said. "I was still having nightmares from when Jack took me the first time."

A small whimper of pain escaped Bai. He needed to get out of there and back to normal.

In reply to Pinja Esposito (msg # 237):

Sileas sighed. She wasn't getting through to the girl. It wouldn't get any better if she wasn't willing to at least allow someone to try to help her. "A good support system would help you immensely." Sileas got to her feet. "I'll let you rest. Difyr didn't want me to exhaust you. I hope things soon ease up for you."

"Thank you for trying." Pinja said quietly.

"I only wish I could do more," Sileas said quietly. She walked slowly away from Pinja, hoping she would change her mind.

Bai stood up when he saw Sileas walking away from Pinja. He clutched at his stomach.
"Come on." He said to Sileas.

Sileas finally had to admit that Pinja would not relent. She hurried to Bai and left the room with him.

"Let's go somewhere I can change." Bai said.

"We'll go back to my rooms...well, I guess they'll be your rooms once I get moved elsewhere."

Bai grunted and stumbled towards Sileas's rooms.

----- To Sileas's rooms

After so many patients, the healing room almost seemed empty. All of the patients had recovered enough to move out of the healing room, even Pinja was well enough to share a room with Millie. Difyr checked on her at least once a day but the girl was stronger, though she still threw up almost as much as she ate.
Difyr knew the respite was only temporary. It would not be long before roughly a dozen women would be having babies, all due within two weeks of each other.

Today Difyr wore her best dress, this one only had one small stain, an old bloodstain. She thought about getting a new dress from Millie for today, but she knew it would just wind up getting stained. Being a healer was hard on clothes.

"Aalyssa?" Difyr called to the elf gently. "Do you want to go to the feast or should I have a tray sent up?"

Aalyssa was sitting behind the screen she had set up to sequester herself from everyone and everything. "Just a small tray, please." Her appetite had still not returned.

Difyr sighed. "You know there's no place safer that the Hall. Most of the guard is going to be there."

"I know. I just don't feel up to a party," Aalyssa replied.

"Things are doing better. Our patients are doing better. There are babies on the way. Sileas is getting married." Difyr said. "Even Aislyn is to be released today. You were integral to the healing making it all possible."

"I'm happy for everyone, I really am. I don't need to be celebrated for my part. I was happy to help."

"Others would be happy to see you." Difyr said. "It's nice to see people when they aren't patients."

"It is time for me to heal," Aalyssa said softly. There was a soft shuffling sound, indicating she had made herself comfortable.