Falik sighed and pushed himself up on his pillows, wincing as the movement pulled on the wound in his side. He'd been in the infirmary for a week now and he still wasn't strong enough to be up and walking around. The knife had done a lot of damage.

He'd been sleeping for most of the week but now he was fed up. The healers hadn't let anyone come to see him yet, not while the attack was still being investigated. Today, however, he hoped someone might be allowed to come and see him.

"Is he alright to visit today?" Katherine asked the healer. She had stayed at the Infirmary for only three days. They had told her not to move her arm for the next two weeks. So that had meant that she couldn't go to classes.

"Yes, he just woke up. You can go and see him." Katherine bowed and walked over to Falik's bed and sat on a stool. She was in a simple blue dress and her arm was in a sling.

"It's good to see that your okay..." she said tears forming in her eyes. "I was so worried that you were going to die..." She turned and pulled something out of her belt pouch. "Your father was here...he told me to give you this." she placed a envelope on his bed. "And he also told me to tell you that he was sorry that he couldn't stay until you had awakened."

Gwynn peaked through the infirmary door. The page's copper hair was tied back in a simple knot, and she was dressed in a plain periwinkle gown, cream embroderies tracing the edges. Gwynn smiled warmly at one of the healers, and inquired in her most polite voice.

"Sir, please, do you think I could visit Falik?"

The healer scowled at Gwynn who was still beaming broadly. "Miss, there's already a visiter."

"Oh, but Sir, I've been so worried, I didn't even find out Falik wasn't dead, 'till just...just yesterday," Gwynn lied. The page put on a sad face, faking tears in her eyes. "I...I've been so worried."

The healer raised his eyebrows, uncertain. "Well..."

"Oh, please, Sir," Gwynn begged.

"I guess. Alright."

Gwynn could barely stop herself from dashing into the infirmary.

"Falik!" Gwynn grinned at the bazhir. "How are you feeling?"

A smile touched the corners of Falik's mouth, as much emotion as he could muster at the moment. He was still trying to make sense of what had happened in his head. The experience had left him feeling drained of anything that felt normal.

"Thank you," He muttered at Katherine put the envelope from his father on the bed. He desperately wanted to say something more to the girl who had saved his life by getting help but nothing came to mind. He frowned.

He was just just about to ask how her arm was doing when Gwynn came, beaming merrily, round the door.

He raised a hand in greeting to her.

"Never better." He replied wryly to her question. "So how did you two manage to get past the gatekeeper out there?"

"Since I was only in here 3 days ago...he said when I left I could back and visit you when you were awake."

"Hey Gwynn." she said smiling at the girl.

As much as she tried she just couldn't get over the fact the Falik had been knifed. She kept playing the scen over and over in her head. She had come to realize that the dagger they had used was her own, and she felt terrible about it.

She looked up at Falik not realizing that she was now crying. She saw the look on his face and said. "Sorry...I..." She looked back down and blushed. I don't know what else to say to him...

When Falik saw that Katherine was crying, he took a guess at what was wrong.

"There was nothing else you could have done." he said, matter of factly. "They'd have beaten me until I was done in anyway and no one would have even known, at least you got help, I'd have died otherwise."

He felt bad for speaking so bluntly, but it was the truth. The hatred welled up in him again at what those boys had done to him, physically and mentally.

He tried for a joke, "At least this way I'm still pretty," he touched one of the many scabs on his face, "sort of."

Katherine looked at him then looked at her arm that was in a sling. "I'm just glad your okay Falik..." She took one of his hands in hers. She didn't care who would see. "Just please tell me you don't plan on going to look for these people that did this to you...you'll leave it to someone else..."

"Hello," Gwynn nodded at the two pages. "Er," Gwynn answered Falik's question, "I, well, kinda convinsed him I thought you were dead, and, er, started to fake cry, and, well, you know..." Gwynn giggled. "Glad to here you're better."

Gwynn grinned at the Falik and Katherine. "You know? I just remembered, I have a mathmatics assignment. Mithros, it's due today! Well, I'll leave you two in peace." Gwynn winked rogueishly, and sidled casually out of the infirmary, giggling wickedly.

Livia skidded into the infirmary at the very last minute, almost knocking into Gwynn. "Congrats, you're the first victim of Livia's Clumsiness Syndrome of the day!" she joked, and hurried over to the bed where Falik and Katherine were.

"So, have the almighty Healers finally let visitors come?" she asked. "I'm SO glad to see that you're awake for once, Falik." Hardly stopping for breath, she asked, "Any news on those...those...demons that attacked?"

Katherine shook her head at Livia. "Nothing has been found yet...I've been questioned by so many people about this...and they have yet to tell me if they have found anything." She sighed.

"I wanted to thank-you Livia for helping Falik in the courtyard...I don't know what would of happened without you..."

She was cut off when the healer came over to Katherine with a worried look on his face. He felt her forhead. "Your paler then yesterday and your temperture is rising...have you been eating, or sleeping?" Katherine shook her head and let go of Falik's hand. The healer placed a glowing hand on her forhead.

"No...please...no more healing..." She fell sideways off her stool into the healers arms. He brought her over to a bed next to Falik's. He placed her in it and covered her up. He turned back to look at Falik.

"She's had it rough, and she been overwelmed by all the questioning that has taken place. She's been here everyday worrying about you. It's making her sick because she won't eat or sleep anymore. She says it givers her nightmares..."

((Edited))

((ooc: Don't take this the wrong way, but be careful about moving or prescribing how other peoples characters are acting or what they're doing. It's not allowed. It doesn't bother me too much but god moding is against the rules. I'm going to make Falik be a bit of a grumpy gitbag for a while, he's nowhere near dealing with what's happened to him. =) ))

Falik frowned at Katherine as the healer helped her in to a bed.

"It's not going to help either of us if you get sick you know. If you let it make you ill then they've won."

He knew that was unecessary but he couldn't quite bring himself to take it back.

A dark look crossed his face.

Turning to Livia he said, "Lord Genlith has seen me briefly. Nothing yet. The boy who stabbed us, he's fled the palace unsurprisingly."

Daniel walked into the Infirmary looking for his sister. "Excuse me...have you seen Katherine?" He asked the healer.

"She's over there, she has fallen ill again."

"Again? What's wrong with her?"

"She hasn't been eating or sleeping. And right now she has a fever..."

"Thank-you." He bowed to the healer.

He walked over to Katherine's bed and looked down at her. He pulled up a stool and sat down. "What am I going to do..." he asked himself. What I need to do is go talk to Lord Genlith about this investagation...See if there is anything I can do to help...maybe that will help Katherine feel better.

(ooc: Sorry about Katherine's post I edited it.)

(( ooc: no worries! thanks for doing that.))

Falik looked up as a new face came in to the room. The man looked too old to be a squire. He also looked somewhat like Katherine. Falik had heard her mention brother, this must be him.

He looked down at his hands for a second. He felt guilty at the end of the day, guilty about getting Katherine invovled in this whole mess.

Daniel looked at the bed besides Katherine's. This page has a stab wound... He got up and went to the healer.

"Excuse me..." he whispered. "Would you mind telling me you that boy is next to my sister."

"That is Falik Al Basiri, Master Daniel."

"Is he the one this investagtion is taking place for?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank-you." He bowed once again to the healer and walked back over to his sister's bed side and sat down on the stool. Though he didn't face his sister he looked at Falik.

"So your the one my sister saved...and is getting ill over." His faced hardened. "Nice to meet you. I'm Daniel of Blackwater. Katherine's older brother..."

"I'm sure that they will find out who did it. Mithros, I'd REALLY like to give them a piece of my mind right now!" Livia swung a tightly clenched fist in an imitation of a punch. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Ugh, sorry. Got away with myself there." She gave a worried glance at Katherine.

(((OOC: sorry, forgot to switch logins.)))

Falik turned his eyes back to Daniel's face. That comment stung.

"With all due respect sir, for all the world I'd rather that Katherine had never come in to the courtyard that night. I'd rather have been beaten to pulp than have anyone else hurt on my behalf. I certainly would never she got this ill over this. I wish..." he faltered, "I wish there weren't such people in the world that they would want me dead over the colour of my skin or the nature of my heritage, but there we have it. These so called nobles."

He spat out the last words, his voice raised with anger.

He clenched his jaw.

To Livia hea said, "I need to get out of here and get some air before I loose my mind. If you help me walk I think I can make it out to the courtyard."

"I know how you feel," Livia replied. She checked to make sure the healers had their attention diverted, and then attempted to hoist Falik up. "How much support do you need?" she asked.

"If I can lean on you, I think I'll be okay." He took a grip of Livia's arm as she helped him leaver himself out of bed, groaning slightly as the wound pulled again.

Once he was upright his slung his arm around Livia's shoulder, leaning on her for support, but he tried carefully not to put too much weight on the considerably shorter woman. He clasped his free hand to his side, gingerly protecting it.

"Shall we hobble along then?"

In the last couple of days, Livia was one of the few people in the infirmary who hadn't treated him like he was made of glass or tried to pretend he wasn't there because they didn't know what to say about the attacks.

"All right!" Livia agreed. Carefully, she steered Falik through the infirmary and out the door. "Where do you want to go, sir?" she joked.

OOC: Shall I start a thread in the Courtyards??

((OOC: No lets just keep it in here, a courtyard could be attatched to the infirmary. I'll get confused otherwise. hehe.))

IC:

A small smile crept on to his lips. "Shall we sit out there?," He replied, "I don't think I can make it too far and sir happy over there won't like it if I go to far out of his sight." They slowly made their way to the small door leading out to a little sunlit courtyard.

OOC: Very well then...

IC: Livia continued to steer Falik out into the tiny infirmary courtyard, keeping an eye on Sir Daniel.

When they finally got to the bench, Livia carefully let go of the page. "Stay as long as you please. I could use some fresh air myself, frankly. I don't have a day off for another week."

Katherine jerked up suddenly causing much pain to her shoulder. She had just had the same dream that had kept her awake for the last few days. She pulled her knees into her chest and rested her head on top of them. Why won't this dream stop...

She looked up at her brother who was now sitting next to her bed. "Daniel? What are you doing here?" She looked at the bed next to her which was now empty. "Where's Falik..."

She looked back up to him. "What did you say to him Daniel." Her chin quivered and tears came rolling out of her eyes. "What did you do..."

"Stop it Katherine. I didn't do anything to him." He sat down on the bed next to her and folded her into his arms. "He's in the infirmary courtyard. He's not himself right now."

He gently wiped her tears away with fingers. "I want you to stay away from him for awhile. And that's a command."

"Daniel...That's not fair. I'm not going to stay away just because he was rude to you." She pulled out of her brother's arms and got out of bed. She tied the sling back around her neck and gently layed her arm back in it.

She walked to the door to the infirmary courtyard and opened the door.

She saw Livia and Falik sitting on a bench, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

she walked up to Falik and tapped him on the shoulder. "Falik, I'm sorry if my brother said anything to you that was rude. He's just very protective of me..."

Livia saw Katherine enter the courtyard. "Oh, Katherine!" she exclaimed. "Are you all right?" she shot a look at Daniel, and muttered something about meddling brothers.

She turned to Falik. "And are you feeling any better?"

Katherine turned to Livia and gave a small nod. "Yes, I'm alright. But I wish my brother would leave me alone. I'm already overwhelmed as it is, and the only thing he is doing is making it worse." she sighed.

"It's deffinately good to feel the sun on my face." Falik replied to Livia.

To Katherine he said, "He's just doing what brothers do. I'd be the same if it were Aneela, my little sister." He shrugged. "I put you in danger."

[Trying to reactivate a dead character, excuse the randomness]

Arty walked quickly through the main room of the infirmary, yet another bottle of stain remover in hand. Nan had complained, but there was really nothing for it - just too much ink, and it was inevitable that it would spill. A chattering group of young nobles over to his left drew him out of his daze, and he turned his head slightly to look in their direction.

"Ah," he breathed, coming to a stop. "Er, you would be the page who - oh, no... I'm sorry," he said, pushing his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose self-conciously.

Damien ran into the infirmary, looking wind-blown and tan. He leaned over as he tried to catch his breath. When he looked up he saw a healer walk past.

"Excuse me, I heard Falik Al Basiri was here? WHERE?" Damien said as he grabbed the healer's arm, worry written all over his face

The healer looked at Damien looked around the room to where the page would be and then looked back at Damien with understanding eyes, "I believe he may have gone to the courtyard for some air," the healer pointed to the doors that led to the courtyard and watched as Damien passed in a hurry

"Thanks!" Damien exclaimed over his shoulder as he rushed by.

Flying through the doors he saw Falik and a few others, "WHAT HAPPENED!" he almost shouted as he marched towards them.

[This post is way to short to even *bother* logging in.]

That was just what I was wondering, Artemis thought.

Katheirne turned as she heard Artemis appear. Then Damien appeared all worried. "Damien don't yell. He's fine. We were attacked by an older squire, and Falik ended up getting stabbed...That was a very tough night." She told him quietly.

Damien stared at Katherine for a second blinked his eyes took a deep breath and then stated dramatically, "I'm not shouting, I am just overly exclaiming my need for understanding on why a good friend of mine is currently injured in here when the gods know he is the most easy-going and respectiful person around. Yet someone injured him in an unjust fight," glancing at Falik he said questioningly, "it was unjust, right? Or were my palace informants lieing to me? ALSO who is this older squire?"

Damien looked around and finding no place to sit flopped himself down on the grass floor, meditation style. Waving his hands away from his chest a gesture usually meaning he was done arguing, he then placed them on his knees and looked at Falik, "now the question of the week, how are YOU?"

((OOC: sorry forgot to log out))

Falik, half dazed by all the sudden excitement cast a lopsided smile at Damien.

"Oh never better. Aside from this hole in my side that is." He gestured at the area where the knife had gone in.

He was still very pale from the blood-loss and from the repeated healings he had undergone.

"And you're right," he continued, "it wasn't a fair fight. I was jumped in the dusk and severely outnumbered. The boy responsible has fled the palace aparently so you get the measure of the kind of man he is."

His face had become grim again. It was only then he took in Artemis' presence.

"I'm sorry...did you want something?"

"No, I was just... curious..." It suddenly occurred to him that he didn't even *know* this boy. "I... uhm... heard some rumors, and I happenned to be walking through, and so I was wondering if you were the one they were talking about. And so I guess you are," he concluded lamely, cheeks reddenning.

[Do we know *exactly* who it was?]

"I keep forgeting how fast news travels here. And to answer your question yes he is the one who got stabbed."

She looked back at the doorway and realized that her brother was still standing there, she turned around ingoring him. "Is he ever going to go away..." She whispered.

((No I don't think we know who exactly it is. I think we just made him a third year squire.))

"It hasn't ceased to amaze as to how well the place grapevine has worked." replied Falik slightly petulantly. He frowned.

He remembered Damien's travels. "How was the desert?" he asked. "My father's been here at the palace for a few days because of everything. But tell me, did you get to see my mother or my sister?"

Artemis grimaced and walked away. While he felt sorry for the boy, there was nothing he could do - and, besides, he had work.

Damien gave a soft smile, inside he felt terrible he was down in the desert have tons of fun while his friend got hurt, his eyes beamed a strange mix of confusion between wether he should share everything or just some parts.

"Well I met your sister and mother, very nice ladies, i enjoyed talking to them," nodding he smiled alittle more, "my sister Eva showed up and met with the Bazhir, even joined a tribe, she didn't fight or anything fun like that she convinced them that since she was my younger sister then by all rights she was to join," shrugging he informed the group, "she's likes to debate with people about things, infact she had a nice LOOOONNNNGGGG arguement with your dad before he left." he said as he smiled at Falik, "you should of seen them!"

Falik smiled genuinely for what felt like the first time. He laughed. "Oh my Father would have loved that. If he had his way I should imagine they'd still be there arguing and debating right now, in between the date wine and the endless courses of food he'd insist on. Your family will have won great approval with mine then."

He was pleased that Damien had got on so well with his family. It did make him feel a pang of homesickness though. Something that had been growing all the more since the stabbing.

Damien felt bad for a bit, realizing he probably made Falik homesick and upset, trying to make Falik smile he bubbly continued with his story,"Well yes your father seemed to quite enjoy my sister's company, which was quite embarassing on my part. Your sister and mother say hello and they can't wait for you to come home. I personally think you should have them come up. I'm thinking my sister needs to come up here so i can keep a better eye on her and keep her mouth shut," shrugging Damien looked down realizing he probably said something again that would make Falik jealous, in his mind he called himself seven kinds of an idiot, he mumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair, "I really should start thinking of what i'm saying before saying it."