My Status

So...

I've been pretty busy, and also pretty procrastinating-y. I'm still going, but I'm pretty behind and not catching up very quickly. I am getting more excited about the novel, though. I really like the silliness in days 14 and 17. And I have something approaching a plot, now! It looks a lot more romance-like and a lot less generic-fantasy-quest-like, which does make me happy. I feel kind of guilty throwing too many plot coupons in the way.

Why haven't I been updating when I've been writing? Well, I have my computer set up to shut itself off when it gets too late at night. I've been writing my NaNo entries late at night. I have just enough warning to save my work before the computer powers down. This is why I haven't really been posting my progress.

Day 17

(cont from Day 15)
"You're not sure if you should? My dear, you don't seem to me the type of woman who would let that get in her way."
"No, it's not that." Etana rubbed the bracelet again, absent-mindedly. "I think this is something I need to figure out on my own, first, before I go looking for help. I don't think I'm ready yet." She looked at Ma Belda and smiled. "But thank you for your offer. I hope you will keep it open until I do feel ready."
Ma Belda grinned at that. "Well then, child, I wish you the best of luck. And remember that you can always come to Ma Belda for mundane advice, like dealing with a certain someone." She winked, and left.
Etana sat, watching the fire and the players for a while. Why did I refuse Ma Belda? I don't know where that came from. But... it feels right, I think. It would be too easy this way, and this isn't supposed to be easy. Soon she grew tired, and asked directions to the prop wagon. Someone directed her to it.
The wagon was a little ways from the fire, since many of the props were flammable. It was rather dark, and the moving shadows from the fire didn't help. She opened the door and stumbled as she stepped on something unexpectedly soft.
"Ouch!"
"Gaah!"
"Is that you, Etana?" said a groggy voice she recognized as Aleth's.
"Um, I'm sorry I didn't see you."
"Probably not going to be able to sleep after that," he whined.
"It was dark, okay?"
"Sure, sure. Why don't you go looking for your bedroll in there somewhere?"
"Can you be more specific?"
"Yes." She thought he heard him swear under his breath after that.
Etana waited for more specific instructions. "Well?"
"Urgh... Okay. Your bedroll is definitely not deeper in the props wagon, and it is definitely not behind the painted trees. And don't you dare believe a word I'm saying."
"Are you trying to tell me that my bedroll is deeper in the wagon, and that it is behind the painted trees?"
"No." He swore again, a little louder this time. "I mean no. Argh!" He pulled himself to a standing position, groaning, rubbing his eyes, and trying to get his hair out of them. "Follow me," he said curtly.
"Are you drunk?" She asked as he led her deeper into the wagon, stepping carefully so as not to crush the props.
"Yes. I mean, not very drunk."
"You sound drunk."
"Grargh." She'd never seen him this cranky before, although admittedly she usually didn't accidentally wake him. Etana did notice that he didn't smell at all as if he'd been drinking, and certainly not to excess, although he certainly staggered like a drunkard.
She decided to try to be courteous if he was being grumpy. "Thank you for showing me to my bed."
"Mhm." Aleth's hair had fallen in his eyes again, and he pushed it back. Then he paused a moment, thinking, and finally spoke. "Have you noticed that there is a wall of props between you and me? Do you think this is a good enough guarantee of your privacy and modesty?"
Etana looked at the layout of the wagon. Her bed had indeed been made in what was effectively a small alcove. And in addition to there being walls between her and Aleth, the fact that he slept at the door meant that she would be safe from any intruders. It definitely seemed like Ma Belda's handiwork. She realized that Aleth was expecting an answer of some sort, so she said "Yes, I think so."
"Good night," he said, and staggered back to his own bed.

Over the next days, they stayed with the troupe. Aleth did not spend that much time with her, preferring to spend it with the players. He seemed to be rehearsing for the play they wanted to put on, and catching up with Dacore. Etana found herself spending a lot of time with Ma Belda, who taught her more mundane lessons--such as how to drive a wagon, and how to sing.
"You've got a fine voice, girl, but untrained," Ma Belda had said when she encountered Etana singing to herself as she did some knitting.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You have an ear for the music, and your voice is pleasant, but if you practiced and worked at it, you could be really good. There's still parts where you don't hit the notes quite right. And if you practiced, you'd be able to hit higher and lower notes than you can now."
"Oh."
"I can teach you that, if you're interested."
"I'm not sure why I would need to learn."
"For the joy of learning, why else?" Ma Belda saw the doubtful look on Etana's face. "And besides, you're travelling with a minstrel. Folks are going to wonder how come you two don't perform together. Unless you tell them more about what you're doing than you want other people to know, or come up with a real good excuse, it's easiest to just go with the flow."
"Well, okay, then." But really, the idea of performing did appeal to Etana, more than she'd have liked it to. It was not a very sensible thing to do.
"Good! Now, to start with, there's this thing called a 'scale'..."

Eventually, they arrived at Fernhom after an uneventful journey. Some of the kids were sent out as criers to make sure that people knew about the play. Etana took the opportunity to see what dyes and fibers were available, and she managed to trade away some of her golden yellow thread for a batch of lusciously blue dye powder. The dyer she dealt with was quite impressed by the quality of her wares; he mentioned that he'd never found the right mordant for the blue dye powder, which was made from the stems and leaves of a local plant. But he was sure that she could figure something out, because he'd never seen that kind of yellow before, and certainly not a yellow so waterfast. After hearing a description of the plant, Etana already had several ideas for substances to use as a mordant, or possibly as a fixative.
As she came away from the market, she heard a familiar voice raised in song, with an unfamiliar instrument accompanying it. Aleth was singing in the town square with his hat out. Some pins and copper bits had been tossed into the hat already. Beside him was Birom, who was playing a lute rather better than Etana had expected. Aleth inclined his head in greeting when he caught sight of her. When the song was finished, Birom waved madly at her in greeting.
"Hi, Etana!" He shouted.
"Hi, Birom," she said when she got to within speaking range.
"Dacore said I was ready to play accompaniment if Aleth would let me and he did!"
"That's wonderful!"
Aleth turned to Birom, but instead of saying anything, he just smiled and gestured in approval. Then Aleth turned to Etana. "Would you like to join us?"
"What, me?"
"Yeah! I've heard you practicing with Ma Belda!" said Birom.
"I'm not very good yet."
Aleth shrugged. "Very well, then."
Birom looked disappointed. "Awww." He tugged at her sleeve. "Are you sure? Not even just one song?"
"I don't know any songs for two people."
"So just sing along. I can sing along, too!"
"Please don't," said Aleth seriously, without a trace of a teasing tone.
"Aww!"
"Why not," Etana asked Aleth.
"Ask him."
"Dacore says my voice is breaking," said Birom. "I'm not supposed to sing until it's settled."
"Oh. He's probably right, you know."
"Awwww!"
Birom looked really disappointed, and Etana felt sorry for him. Finally, she said "Fine, I'll sing a song with you guys."
"Yay!"
"What song would you like to sing?" Asked Aleth. "What songs do you know?"
"The last song I was practicing with Ma Belda was 'I lost my heart one summer's day.' "
Aleth grimaced. "And you want me to sing that?"
Etana laughed at his expression. "No, it's just the first thing that came to mind. I know it's meant for a girl's voice."
"Ooh, I know," piped up Birom. "How about 'Merry Fair'? You can alternate the verses and sing together on the chorus! And I actually know the fingering for that one!"
Aleth laughed at Birom's last point, but nodded. He turned to Etana. "Well, are you willing to try it?"
"I haven't really sung in public before."
"Don't worry too much about it." He smiled reassuringly at her, then turned to Birom. "Birom, would you like to start?"
"Of course!" And Birom began to lay the ground for the familiar song.

("Merry Fair" is not not "Scarborough Fair". I'm tempted to introduce the "nightshade and thyme" theme here.)

Etana was surprised at how well she did. Her first few notes were definitely wavery, but Birom grinned at her encouragingly, and played bits of the melody, and she found her way back on track. They ended the song to applause, and a small shower of bits and pins rained into the hat.
"See, you did good!" said Birom.
"Whew. I don't think I want to do that again in a hurry."
"Why not?" Asked Aleth.
"I don't know how you can stand having all those people just staring at you! It's like they're just waiting for you to make a mistake!"
"Close your eyes, and you won't have to see them."
Etana frowned at Aleth. "That doesn't sound very helpful."
"It's what Dacore told me to do the first time I had to sing! I was really nervous! Of course, I can't do it now because I need to be able to see my lute to play it..." said Birom.
"You played very well, Birom."
"Thanks, Etana." He seemed to blush a little at the compliment.
"I really should be getting back. I think Ma Belda wanted me for some last-minute help with the costumes."
"See you!"
"Bye."

Day 15

This happens right after Day 14's stuff

They stopped for the evening in a clearing near the road and set the wagons up in a circle with a fire in the center. Preparations were quickly made for a meal of roasted meats and vegetables. The meat was heavily spiced, and unfamiliarly so, but Etana found it tastier than she would have imagined. She ate a lot, and tried to ignore Ma Belda's approving glances. There was some cider passed around, and the smell of it reminded her of home. She found herself wishing she were back there, with everything alright and no dabbling in the mystical arts required. She felt someone settle in beside her and looked up.
"You alright?" Asked Aleth.
"Yes, why?"
"Weren't you looking homesick just now?"
Etana looked away, and then looked back. "Yeah, I guess I was."
"What made you think of it just now?"
"The cider. The inn would always have this amazing cider they made. Nobody knew what went into it, but it wasn't like anyone else's. My mother always used to trade some of her best threads and cloths for jars of it, and she would ration it carefully through the year." She smiled wistfully, staring at the campfire. "In apple season, Moren would always smell like cider."
"Ah." He seemed to be at a loss for words.
"I miss him. A lot. Sometimes, I don't know what I'm doing, running off trying to find some woman who lives in some hills in the hopes that she can help him get well again. Shouldn't I be staying behind and letting real doctors look at him? And instead I'm going off across the countryside when I've never travelled further than the next town."
"Isn't there anything you like about travelling?"
She looked at him again. His expression was unreadable. "Yes, I suppose there is. I've seen so many new things already, and we're barely past Broomholt. It's just that sometimes I wish I had a solid mattress rather than a lumpy bedroll placed on too many rocks, and a roof over my head instead of the stars."
"Ah." He seemed about to say something more, but stopped himself. There was an awkward silence that stretched on for too long. Finally, he stood and said "I feel the need to stretch my legs." And he walked off.
Etana watched him go. He seemed to be looking for someone. He crossed between her and the fire, and she was struck by how absurd it seemed that the light formed a halo through his messy blond hair. She continued sipping her cider. She heard someone else approaching.
"I've set up your bedrolls in the props wagon," said Ma Belda.
"Oh, thank you!"
"Ha, it was no problem at all. I saw you've been eating well tonight."
Etana smiled at her. "I was hungrier than I thought I was."
"What have the two of you been eating?"
"Umm... Lots of dried stuff that we bring with us. Fruits and vegetables if there are any nearby when we camp. Once we found a patch of blackberries, mmmm."
Ma Belda grinned at that. "Blackberries are good for you. Keep your gums from bleeding."
"I haven't had that problem before."
"You been getting any meat?"
"Yeah, Aleth sets up snares at night. He's showed me how to make some of them, but he's better at it than I am."
"Good, good." She seemed very pleased.
"Why?"
"Aleth's a good young man, but sometimes he forgets to take care of himself properly, especially when he's travelling. First time we met him, he'd run out of food somewhere in marshy country."
"Oh." Etana didn't know what to say.
"And sometimes he forgets to charge when he performs, or decides to give his earnings away to someone else and doesn't leave enough for him to eat. That's why he's so skinny."
"I don't think he's that skinny."
"No, not right now. My lessons must have gotten through that thick skull of his finally." Ma Belda pantomimed whacking him over the head with a board repeatedly. Etana laughed. "But I overheard you say earlier that you're not much of a traveller. So why're out on the road?"
"Well, it's kind of complicated."
"I got time."
"Back home there's a man I love who loves me back. We were intending to get betrothed, as soon as his father thought he was ready and he asked my father for permission. But one night he came to me with a gold ring he'd found somewhere in the forest. You could tell it must have been fine gold, even old and worn as it was. He wanted to give it to me, but I refused because... I was afraid of the tax collectors, and of having to hide such a thing. So I told him to keep and hide it. Then a couple of nights later, he fell ill, and nobody was able to wake him up. I asked the priest and he said there was an evil spirit at work, but he couldn't cast it out. And my love was just lying there, sick like he could die at any moment, but not dying."
"That sounds like a bad piece of work, indeed. You figure it was the ring."
Etana nodded. "That first night, I noticed he was wearing it. And I tried to pull it off, but I couldn't. His parents couldn't see the ring. The priest couldn't until he'd said prayers over the room. Then..." Etana paused and swallowed, not sure how much she should tell.
"Then what?" Ma Belda placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Since the priest wasn't able to help, I decided to look elsewhere. In the woods near my village lives a... a wise woman called Granny Rumple. So I put together a basket with some gifts for her, and fresh bread of my own hands, and visited her house. I broke the bread with her, and gave her the gifts, and she agreed to help me as she could."
"You must have great insight, to know what gifts to give her."
"I gave her what I had."
"And what did you give?"
"My family raises sheep. My mother and I dye the threads and the cloth. I gave Granny Rumple threads of three colors, spun with my own hands and dyed with herbs I had picked -- sun, earth, and night."
"Hmm," said Ma Belda. After a moment, she said "And what did Granny Rumple give you?"
"She told me to seek the Lady of the Hills, and she made a charm to protect me on my way." Etana pulled her sleeve back to show the bracelet around her wrist.
Ma Belda breathed in audibly when she saw it. "As true a charm of the Fair Folk as I have ever seen." She looked closer. "Are those the threads you brought her?"
"Yes."
"There are four colors here, not three."
"She asked me for a fourth thread, 'something of the heart'. This" -- she ran her finger along the red strand -- "was the best red I ever dyed, but I have been scared to use it."
"Why?"
"Because it has my blood in the dye -- I cut myself on thorns as I dug the roots for the making of it."
Ma Belda smiled at Etana. "You have power, girl. I sensed it when I first saw you."
"What do you mean?"
"I have dealt with Granny Rumple before, and she is not usually so generous. And seeing this charm, I can tell that its potency is not entirely her work. It would not be as effective on the wrist of anyone else."
"But I --"
"Right now, you work on your intuition, on your sense of what needs to be done. Likely the real reason you refused the ring was because you sensed the evil within it. I wish to make you an offer."
"What is it?"
"Our route is not set in stone. It would be easy for me to talk to Dacore and convince him that we take a route that heads more directly for the Lady of the Hills. While you travel with us, I want to teach you the things you should know."
"I don't know if I should..."
(cont next day)

Day 14

(cont from Day 13)

"Umm... not really, no."
"Oh?" Ma Belda sounded interested. "And why not?"
"I don't see how it would help me to 'know my future'. "
Ma Belda laughed at that. "A pragmatic one, ay? Well then, I won't press you. But if you want plain old common-sense advice, feel free to ask Ma Belda anytime."
Etana nodded. "Thank you. I'll remember you if I need help in the future."
Aleth caught Ma Belda's attention. "If we join you on the way to Fernhom, where shall we stay? And how can we help out?"
"Well, we don't have any spare beds right now, but we can make some room for your bedrolls in the props wagon. Then at least you'll be under a roof of some sort."
"That will do fine," said Etana.
"Thank you," said Aleth.
"We won't be stopping again for another couple of hours, though. Dacore's impatient as always. Why don't you hop on the back of this wagon and accompany me?"
"Done," said Aleth. He raised himself up into the wagon, then turned around and held out a hand to help Etana up. Etana hesitated a moment before taking it. They settled themselves into the wagon amidst some of the random furniture, and soon the troupe started off again. Ma Belda herself drove the horses with what looked to be a very capable hand.
Aleth began rummaging around in his pack. "What are you doing," asked Etana.
He finally pulled out his flute case, looked at her, and grinned. "Have I told you what I love about riding with a troupe?"
Etana shook her head. In answer, Aleth pulled his flute out, did a few warm-ups, and began to play a lively tune. Etana saw Ma Belda lift her head as the music began and nod in recognition. Then she began to sing:

Merry along the road go I
Hills and forests pass me by
Sun shines warm upon my back
Wandering the beaten track

Someone else joined in for the chorus. Etana thought it might be Dacore, but she wasn't sure.

So long I travel, far from home
My restless feet will ever roam
Even when in slumber deep
I find I travel in my sleep!

Far away the sunlight dies
Miles before I close my eyes
Rest from travel in sweet dreams
Dance along the moon's bright beams

With the next repeat of the chorus, even more people joined in. Their voices mingled pleasantly with the flute's spritely playing.

So long I travel, far from home
My restless feet will ever roam
Even when in slumber deep
I find I travel in my sleep!

Wide the world I want to see
Every bird in every tree
Will I make it 'fore I'm old?
Oh the stories I've been told!

So long I travel, far from home
My restless feet will ever roam
Even when in slumber deep
I find I travel in my sleep!

The mood was so infectious that Etana found herself joining in for the last repeat of the chorus, even though she had never considered herself much of a singer.

So long I travel, far from home
My restless feet will ever roam
Even when in slumber deep
I find I travel in my sleep!

After that, there was a burst of laughter and applause. Ma Belda turned to Etana. "You see, this is why we like having him around." She gestured at Aleth, who smiled graciously and bowed his head in acknowledgement.
"Where would I be without such an appreciative audience?" He asked.
"Starving, that's where! Is that why you've gotten so skinny?"
"What makes you say I'm skinny?"
"Just look at you!" Ma Belda turned to Etana again. "You, girl, don't you think he's too skinny?"
"Umm," said Etana, who felt put on the spot. "He looks fine to me."
"Pah! You could use some more padding on your bones too, girl!"
Aleth grinned at Etana. "You know, maybe you could."
"Hey, you're scrawnier than I am!"
He shrugged. "Oh well." He raised his flute to his lips again and began to play, this time a slow, lilting melody.
"Are you avoiding answering me?"
She heard him snicker into the flute, interrupting his notes. "Don't make me laugh while I'm playing."
"I just asked you a question. You laughed."
Ma Belda spoke up. "I think she's got a point there."
"Oh, stay out of this," he said lightly. He turned back to Etana. "So what makes you say I'm scrawny? And didn't you say earlier that I looked fine?"
"Maybe I changed my mind." Etana grinned back at him, and suppressed the urge to stick out her tongue.
"Those are big words from someone built like a stick!"
"Hey! I am not built like a stick! You take that back!" That last comment had annoyed Etana more than she expected it to. It was the kind of hurtful thing some of the boys in her village had said to her sometimes...
But Aleth didn't seem to notice her annoyance. "Make me."
"Oh, you!" Etana got up, intending to give him a good thwack, but was unused to standing in a moving wagon. As the wagon lurched over a small rock in the road, she lost her balance and started to fall. Aleth caught her, dropping his flute in the process. Etana found herself in his arms. They shared a rather embarassed look and Aleth quickly helped her upright and backed away.
"Um, will you accept my apologies?" He asked. He looked more embarassed than she'd seen him before.
"I will." She sat down. "But no more about my figure!"
He nodded, retrieved his flute, and began to play again.

Day 13

This is probably soon after Aleth and Etana leave her village.

On their way, they met a group of travelling players. Aleth spotted them first, and hailed them. One of the children at the back of the wagons jumped off and ran towards Etana and Aleth. When the boy was close enough to be easily recognizable, Aleth laughed and waved at him. The boy let out a yell and sprinted the rest of the way.
"Heya Mr. Aleth!"
"Hi, Birom." Aleth playfully messed up the boy's hair. "How'd you manage that? You've grown shorter since I last saw you!"
Birom stuck out his tongue at Aleth. "I'm taller and you know it!" Then he noticed Etana's presence. "You're travelling with a girl! Who is she? Are you married yet?"
Aleth spluttered at that last comment. "We're --" he cut himself off. "What makes you think we're married?" He looked more discomfited than Etana had seen him before. Usually he was very calm and collected.
"Cause my ma said that when a guy and a girl get married they have to go off and travel and you're a guy and she's a girl and you're travelling!"
Etana decided to rescue him from the over-inquisitive youth. "We're not married. I'm travelling with him because he's agreed to help me."
"Help you with what?"
"A friend of mine is really, really sick, and we're going to find a cure."
"Oh, okay. Well, I should tell the rest of the troupe to wait up for you cause you'll probably want to stick with us for a while. My ma says there are bandits around here!"
"You do that, then," said Etana, and Birom raced off towards the wagons. Etana turned to Aleth. "I'm guessing you know them."
Aleth nodded, but refused to say anything else. After a moment, he finally spoke. "Why don't you ask them about it? I don't feel like explaining the story to you." It was the kind of statement that Etana might normally have taken some offense at, but something in the way he said it made her think that he might have good reasons for being evasive.
They caught up to the wagons quickly enough, and what looked to be the head of the troupe came down to greet them. He was a large man with a prominent black moustache and beard.
"Ah, Aleth. It's good to see you again!" He clapped Aleth on the back heartily, staggering him.
"How have you been?" Asked Aleth.
"Good, good! Met a playwright in Daisyhill and got a couple of plays off him. Picked up some new people, lost some old ones. The usual." The man turned to Etana, swept off his hat, and bowed. "Greetings, fair lady. I am known as Dacore, and I am the head of this humble troupe of players. May I know your name?"
"I'm Etana."
"You have a beautiful name to match your beautiful features." That made Etana blush a little; the last person to call her "beautiful" had been Moren.
Aleth nudged Dacore. "I don't think your flirting has embarassed her enough yet," she heard him whisper.
Dacore nodded, and backed away a little. "In any case, you're welcome to accompany us as far as you wish. We're headed to Fernhom next. This stretch of road is known for bandits and other ruffians, but we can handle any of them that come our way. They know we're not easy targets, so they usually don't attack. You two travelling alone, though, would make a much better target."
"Is there anything we can do for you in exchange?" Asked Etana.
"Oh, no worries about that. Aleth is always welcome with us, and so are any of his friends."
Etana noticed that Aleth seemed a little bit embarassed, but she couldn't imagine why. "Thank you, then. We're actually headed for Bridgewater, and Fernhom is on the way."
"That's convenient, then! Aleth can help us when we perform in Fernhom. Right, you old whistler?" He clapped Aleth on the back again, more gently this time.
"You know how much I hate playing for you," said Aleth, but his tone was playful and teasing. There was something about the interaction between Aleth and Dacore that seemed odd, but Etana couldn't put a finger on it.
"Well, anyways. Why don't you go back over there" -- he pointed -- "and talk to Ma Belda about the two of you joining us for a spell."
Aleth nodded, and started walking. Etana said goodbye to Dacore and then followed him.
Ma Belda was an old woman, just as large as Dacore, who wore a huge apron. She greeted them exuberantly, squished Aleth in a hug, and insisted that he was still too skinny and needed to eat more. She was about to treat Etana the same way, but at a gesture from Aleth, restricted herself to a big smile and a very quick embrace.
"So you're Aleth's friend? Good! What's your name?"
"I'm Etana."
"Your name means 'strength'. Did you know that?"
Etana shook her head. "No, I was named after my grandmother."
Ma Belda put a finger under Etana's chin and lifted it to see her face better. "I think the name suits you." She grinned. "Want your fortune told?"
(cont next day)

Much later, Etana realized something that had failed to register earlier. Aleth seemed much more comfortable talking with Dacore, and with most of the troupe, than he did talking with her. The thought bothered her for some reason.

Day 12

Not related to Day 10. This is somewhere in the future compared to Day 10. Notice that Aleth isn't around. Whoo.

The old woman brought Etana in to a corner of her hut, curtained off from the rest. In the corner was a small mattress, on which a young child lay, curled up in a ball. She seemed to be asleep, but every now and then would gasp out a cry as if she were being attacked by unseen enemies.
"Please help her," said the old woman.
"But I don't know what I can do," protested Etana.
"Please, miss. You helped Lessie's child."
"But that was different. That was just a small fever. You said that Nira has been like this for weeks."
"The old doctor couldn't cure Lessie, but you did. I know you can do this."
Etana looked at the old woman, surprised. "Why are you so sure?"
"Because..." She looked away for a moment, as if embarassed, or perhaps ashamed. "Because you wear a bracelet of the Friendly Folk. Did you not call upon them for help when you cured Lessie?"
"The Friendly Folk? What?" But the old woman pointed to Granny Rumple's charm, which still hung around Etana's left wrist even though she had passed safely to the Lady of the Hills.
"That bracelet. I know it's one of theirs."
"I --" I don't know what to say, she thought. She looks so hopeful, but I don't know what I can do. I'm no healer. I'm just a spinner, a dyer. "I don't know what I can do."
"Please try," implored the old woman, tugging pitifully at Etana's sleeve. "The doctor said he couldn't do anything and he wouldn't tell me wrong."
Etana frowned doubtfully, and started fiddling with the bracelet. She remembered how Granny Rumple had described the threads she had brought -- that she had captured the essences of the elements in them. And she had used them to weave this bracelet, the one that this old woman claimed must be one of the Fair Folk's. Perhaps... She remembered the pattern of Granny Rumple's fingers as she twined the strands together. There was power there. And there was power in the herbs she gathered. Perhaps there was something she could do. "How sick has Nira been? Has she been coughing? Sweating or shivering?"
The old woman shook her head. "Almost nothing. Just those little cries, now and then, and she won't wake up. She used to have nightmares all the time, real bad ones. This is like those, but I can't wake her up."
"Lost in nightmares..." The thought tickled something at the back of Etana's mind, but it refused to surface. And this... she approached the sleeping child and felt her forehead. It was as cool as if she had been merely sleeping, not feverish. But more, it felt like there was something essential missing.
"Megsie?"
"Yes, Miss?"
"Is there someone with an herb garden here?"
"Yes, the doctor has one. He'll probably let you take a bit."
"Thank you." And with that, Etana left.

The doctor's cottage was no bigger than anyone else's. The main way it could be differentiated was by the faded sign on the front, and the herb garden at the back. Luckily, it seemed to have the herbs that Etana wanted. She knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" came a creaky voice.
"This is Etana, the visitor?"
The door opened "Oh, hello," said the doctor pleasantly. "I hope you're not sick, too."
"What do you mean by that?"
"We-ell, it's just that most of the children in the village seem to be sick with something or other, and I can't possibly treat them all."
"I'm here about Nira."
"Oh." The doctor looked embarassed. "I -- I really don't know what's wrong with her. I don't know anything good for wakefulness..."
"Well, I don't really know either, but I wanted to look at your herb garden, and perhaps take some cuttings?"
"Oh, okay. Um, go ahead. Just be careful. And ask me if there's anything you don't recognize." The doctor limped back inside and picked up the book he had been poring over. Occasionally she heard a scritching sound as he made notes in the margins, probably about which remedies actually worked. Etana headed to the garden.
It was bright daylight now, a good time to gather sun plants. She found some marigolds in a corner -- she remembered someone telling her that they could be made into a cream that soothed pains -- and plucked some. Sunlight, earth... she drifts now, so I think that's all I need. She found some of the plants whose roots she needed, and went in to ask the doctor if she could have some roots. He luckily had some dried root, which was good enough for making dye.
Somewhere during the day, she stopped to ask herself "What am I doing? Am I really going to try to cure a girl by dying thread?" But she absent-mindedly touched Granny Rumple's bracelet again, and remembered the times it had saved her, and thought that maybe it was not so far-fetched an idea as it might sound.
She asked the old woman for a mortar and pestle, and ground up the ingredients. She had others in her pouch, which she had been saving until she had a chance to do some more dying. She mixed those in, and left the dyes to steep overnight. Then, tired, she went back to the inn and rested. She had no dreams.
The next day, the dyes were just concentrated enough for use, although they could have used a few more days of steeping. She asked the old woman for some undyed thread, and for some hair -- both the old woman's and the little girl's. Then, with her makeshift dye equipment of cooking pots and jars, she began to dye the threads. Yellows and oranges, for daylight and sunlight. Earth for the grounding and the call home. The hairs she dyed brown as well, with the root-based dye. Connections... The light from the sun was nearly gone when she had finished hanging the last of the skeins to dry. The old woman still seemed confused by the proceedings, but seemed to trust Etana. Again, she slept without dreams.
Early the next morning, Etana returned to the old woman. The dye had dried, thanks to the dry summer wind. She pulled the skeins down cut them to the right lengths. Then she began to braid them, concentrating first on the girl, and then on her surroundings. She let the gentle winds make their way into the rhythm, and the scent of the herbs she had used. She lost track of time in the weaving. Before she realized it, there was not enough left of the strands to braid, and she blinked confusedly at them for a few moments before she realized why she'd stopped. She tied the last of the strands together in a complex knot. Then she took the plaited cord into the house, and tied it around Nira's right wrist. "Please come home," she whispered. "This is the way home." She knelt by the bedside, waiting.
There was not a sudden change, but gradually, almost imperceptibly, the pattern of Nira's breathing began to change. It grew more even and regular from the shallow gasps of the nightmares, as if she were falling into a more peaceful natural sleep. Then her breathing began to speed up again, and she moved ever so slightly, and when she opened her eyes, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
"Granny?" Asked the little girl.
"Nira? Nira!" The old woman rushed to the bedside, overjoyed. Etana quickly moved out of the way. "Oh, Nira, I've been so worried about you! Thank the Light you're well again!"
Nira hugged her grandmother tightly. "It was scary, Gran. There were bad things chasing me and it was dark and I was so lost... I wanted to go home but I didn't know where to go!"
"It's okay, Nira. You're home now."
Nira just hugged the old woman tightly. Etana moved further out of the way. She felt a sense of... exhiliration.