RP:Beserkers Encounter With a Healer

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Part of the What You Leave Behind Arc

Location: Lucy’s Crossing

Synopsis: In the aftermath of Kahrans attack, Eirik studies the monument at Lucy's Crossing. Emilia, the co-leader of the healers guild, comes upon him there. They both have a brief conversation which ultimately ends with Eirik going back to clearing rubble. Emilia agrees to inform the Healers guild that Larket needs help still.

Lucy’s Crossing

The crossing here is marked by a massive tree, old and gnarled. Underneath the spreading boughs, a small shrine stands, beautifully engraved with the names "Lucy" and "Kelly". A flowerbed surrounds the base of the shrine, kept carefully tended by Mary-Lu, the cousin of the two dead women, who also runs the adjacent merchant stall. Because of the violent history of this place, a pair of guardsmen stand nearby, stationed here to prevent the need for a third name on the shrine. The cobblestone street swirls around the old tree in an orderly manner, the set of the stones drawing attention to the shrine and stall. To the west, a smaller road branches out, while to the east, an ivy-covered wall rises high, with the sounds of exotic animals drifting into the air.

Eirik is no longer the disheveled mess that he had been a few days ago. He is not just some man filled with the emotions of empathy that Valrae had cursed him with towards all witches. The fact that she had been captured by Eirik and his lackeys still weighs heavily on his mind. It would, without doubt, have been considered a dark stain upon his soul. But the old Eirik, who sought to singlehandedly cast all witches on a pyre, has been burned in the wake of that captured witch. Truthfully he is lost, lost in the thought of what he must do. What he might do. Already, a few witches, who had fled from Larket, have asked for his protection as a way to make amends. He had already given a proper burial to those that had been slain in Kahrans most recent attack. His gaze falls to the memorial which stands here for Kelly and Lucy, figures that he does not even know. It’s a reminder. A sudden alarm blaring in his head. Those he had laid to rest a few feet beneath the ground by an oak tree, still need a memorial stone of their own. He still intended to give them one. Beyond the northman, the guards still actively work with the people, attempting to rebuild from the devastation of Kahrans forces. A couple of workers nearby try clear rubble that has fallen to open the pathway more. While others work on clearing bits and pieces of burnt wood and bodies. Truly, the people had become concerned with their own well-being. In fact, Eirik is sure that they could all remember that fateful night. Where he had rallied Larket and other defenders to put up a fight against that evil Villain. Even though Eirik at the time was still considered one himself.

Emilia had not set foot in Larket in months. Many has assumed that the co-leader to the Healers Guild had vanished off the face of Hollow with her long term absence from all cities. Yet here she walked barefooted through the streets of the city clothes in almost nothing at all. A piece of fabric was tied about her chest and a pair of bikini like bottoms on her lower half with a tattered long skirt hanging off her bony hips. Each foot fall left a frosted print of ice on the wrecked city that had been torn apart in her absence. Walking along the sight of Eirik intrigued the Genasi as she had not seen him in some time. Her approach came with a drastic drop in temperature, a tell take sign for some that the Healer was near. Stopping just near to the man the small woman reached a hand out to rest lightly on his shoulder, “A sight for sore eyes. What brings you to Latket?” Seems the news of late had not fully reached the ears of the Healer. It was like she had just walked in from another dimension.

Eirik caught the drop in temperature, but he does not think it belongs to the co-leader of the healers guild. It had been a long time since he had seen her, and instead, pulls his cloak tighter around his neck; bracing his body further still against the touch of winters grasp. Her voice, and hand startle him, and he twists his eyes to meet her. His features squint up, attempting to recall who she is. Of course it only takes a moment, and the twinges of a smile grip at his visage. “Emilia,” he states her name before responding to her question. Last they chatted, she proclaimed she’d kill him if he messed with Sabrina again. Obviously Eirik had stayed away, so her appearance must mean something else entirely. A hand waves to point at the devastation around. “My exile was lifted a while back,” he states matter of factly. “And I was asked to investigate a few things for Josleen.” His tone of voice now denotes sorrow. All the twisted things he had done while under the guise of self righteousness. It had been a truly horrible affair. “While I was here, Larket came under attack by both Valrae and Kahran.” He drops both names as if Emilia should know them. “After the battle I stayed, sick with what I had become. Gave a few, -very- deserving people a proper burial and then have been helping clean up.” Of course he fails to mention how he rallied the guard. “And you? I’ve not seen you in some time.”

Emilia patted his shoulder with a gentle touch before letting her hand fall back to her side. Since their last meeting the Genasi had not gone out hunting him proving his well behavior to listening to her words of threat back then and even now she was not attempting to kill the man. Instead, she was attempting to comfort him, “I feel like Larket is doomed for attacks upon it. If it is not one monster it is another. I am sad to see the city in another state of wreck upon my return. I have been away…yes. Never mind you to worry over my absence. I am here now and in one piece.” Something about the way she spoke of her absence gave away a hint that perhaps she was not in one piece for a moment in the past. Not that Eirik would know the exposed body of the Genasi well, but it was littered with fresh silvery scars. The woman had seen better days it was fact. Shaking her head the curls of the woman fell into her face, “I am sorry you had to hurry people. Anything I can do to help?”

Eirik tilts his head and lofts both brows at her words. He hadn’t really been concerned for Emilia, she had just fallen into the precipice of his mind. Which is not that she isn’t important, per se; it’s just that his mind has been stretched thin over all these recent events. And Emilia is right. “I can’t argue those words. Larket will probably see more in the future.” It might even see some in the near future depending on how they treated those few casters that remained. The cuts and scrapes she carried upon her body are noted, he hadn’t seen her so underdressed before, but states nothing. Only wondering if they were new or not. He is suddenly reminded about an axe he used to help her gather strength, which subsequently shattered. She was near dead at the time. These thoughts pull another smile over his scar streaked features. “I buried those I killed.” He adds to her words. They were people he didn’t know, when the attack happened. Eirik had ruthlessly cut them down as traitors to the crown. In his mind they were with Kahran in the attack, regardless of the fact that they sought to use the chaos as a means to escape. “They didn’t deserve it.” He twists his gaze to the ground. Valrae’s curse has wreaked havoc upon the Northman. It’s now apparent that he has actually gained a sense of feeling. A sense of wrongdoing. At one time, he was a monster to her people. “I’m sure they have need of a good healer.” Those that remained in Larket were probably exhausted. She could give them a moment of respite. Perhaps even pull strings within her guild to bring more healers. “In fact I’m quite sure they could use the guild.” He mentions to her absentmindedly. Obviously she ran the guild with Sabrina and would know what is needed far better than he would.

Emilia ran fingers through her tangled mess of white curls, “I will arrange with the guild to make sure they are aiding in the help of Larket. This attack would explain why Ara was so full when I came into the city, but I did not actually venture inside to see what or who was filling the beds. I have found that isolation from the masses works best for me. People know who I am and do not need to see my face on the daily to know I exist. I know I should be more involved again, but I am no energy for it as of my return.” Simple answer that left things open for more mystery on her absence. Turning the Genasi cast her eyes upon the city, “Sometimes things happen to people that they do not deserve. In the same meaning people do things in the moment for what they believe is the right choice. It is being caught in between a rock and a hard place, but good job at trying to make the amends for what happened. It is not always easy and it can go on for a life time.”

Eirik watched the ice gensai with a mild sort of enthusiasm. At this moment she seemed so normal, he couldn’t fathom why he thought they might cross blades. Its only now that he really realizes that she had only been concerned. The Northman was a danger at the time. “Thank you.” He states with a half grin, though still stuck upon those thoughts of Larketian witches. “To both your words about making amends, and bringing some help to the healers of Larket.” Even if it’s not Emilia herself, aid is aid. But it’s odd talking about such a topic. Sabrina had always referred to her as the ‘face’ of the guild. The chatty one. Why would she try to avoid as much contact as she seemed to want to? “Are you doing alright?” He asks smoothly, finely taking note of her state. Did she need aid of her own kind?

Emilia rubbed her hands over her bare arms as if she was cold without proper clothing, yet everyone knew the Healer was never affected by the cold. The heat perhaps, but never the chill of winter. Folding her arms over her chest the woman offered a shrug, “Of all the people in this land to place your worry upon I am not the one you should be worrying about. I have survived both better and worse and I will continue to survive. I may be tiny but I am not weak. A monster but not evil. If it makes you feel better I will make an appearance in the city myself to help with the healing for a short stay. How about a drink? I think that it is much easier on the soul to sit in the warmth, rest and have a drink over standing in the cold staring at the sadness of the world around us. One will find better comfort in finding the little joys left in the middle of chaos.”

Eirik thinks upon her words for a moment and then offers his own cloak, pulling the heavy red colored, woolen thing from off his own shoulders. It might be too big for her, but she could use it as a blanket. In fact, he doesn’t wait for her to even accept it, instead laying it across her shoulder, to hang there until she would use such a thing. “It’s not weak to accept help.” A lesson he had learned so recently, despite her own words saying he didn’t need to concern himself. There are a few who had helped him to work through the thoughts and emotions of so many different witches. Their memories would forever live on in his mind. As for a drink, Eirik frowns. “I cannot join you.” He gives another sigh to Emilia, enjoying the idle chat she brought. It was a great distraction, but ultimately that’s all it was. “I’m still on duty.” On duty? What exactly is he referring too? “Perhaps another night, when there isn’t still so much to do?” Eirik would then pull a small coin purse and hand her a couple. “First couple are on me.” He is hinting at the fact that he needs to go back to working with the civilians. What exactly has caused this man to become so engrossed in Larket? Last she had met him, he wouldn’t have given the last bite of his bread to save a starving person. Something altogether different about his demeanor stands before Emilia. “I’m sorry.” He further adds to the Co-leader of the healers guild.

Emilia looked like a child drowning in their parent’s shirt with Eirik's cloak hanging off her bony shoulders and pooling around her feet on the ground. Man was she ever short compared to the man next to her. Not that she was cold, but the lass pulled the cloak around herself embracing the slight comfort that comes from his cloak, one of the closest moments for her to physical contact with another being. “If you work too hard you will find yourself exhausted and then unable to do the work in which you are so desperate to continue with. Remember you need your own breaks to rest if you want to keep up the good work?” Was it good Work? The man had changed from last she seen him, then again he kept her from dying once so he could not have been always a bad egg. The coin was accepted for the drinks before her hand vanished into the cloak again, “I will enjoy the drinks and I will bring you one back since you cannot come with me to get it yourself.” There a small smile fell upon those frosted blue lips.

Eirik wants to laugh, seeing Emilia drowning in that cloak. Whether she was cold or not, the material substance is all that he had to offer her. Eventually he nods in agreement. While her words are very true, he is still too determined to let work fall to all of the others. This time there is a personal interest at work here. An interest that had been thrust upon him. A smile returns to his scar riddled features, “Go get yourself a drink.” The northman flicks his head towards the tavern. He didn’t want to admit that her words were right. He would just keep telling himself ‘tomorrow.’ However, tomorrow never came. More and more sought help. More and more needed help. “Will you be in Larket long?” He asks while shifting on foot, preparing to take off once she had answered.

Emilia would slip the cloak from her shoulders to return it to Eirik. Once he had taken that which was his again she would turn to head toward the Inn for a drink. Bringing herself into the eye of the public in full force while scantily clothes. Pausing she would turn to face him once more, “Yes.” A simple answer, but it seemed that Larket was more in need of her now than other places.

Eirik proffers a small nod, and unwillingly takes his cloak back. It was a gesture of goodwill, that she had chosen to refuse. Such things aren't well received, "I see." He nods though mildly offended. Not everyone has the same customs. "Then perhaps I'll see you soon." Eirik turns and walks off into the distance to help the civilians at work, clearing rubble.