Therapy Begins|Skyheort, Talen'sul

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi glanced around with interest after the teleport. ~So this is Caelium.~ The Mind curiously poked his head out the door and sought out a window. From the sharp intake of his breath, it was obvious he liked what he saw. ~Talen'sul is very beautiful! I didn't see very many Winged Winds in Ilyamen, but there seems to be a veritable flock here. Such pretty people, aren't they?~

Realizing he was rambling, Mikasi cut off with a little blush and a sheepish smile. ~So, where's the Queen?~

[Deleted]

Locke did a quick mental search; not enough to invade privacy, but enough to find his employer's location. "Right this way," he said, leading Mikasi into the hall and through the route that would take them to Lya's quarters. Upon reaching them, Locke knocked. "Lady Lya?"

[Kender Bard]

"Enter," came the voice of Lya. She was almost hoarse, and it came out as a whisper, but a little judicious use of Wind power could amplify even the slightest of murmurs. Mikasi glanced at Locke before heading in.

~Will you be staying? Sometimes it helps the patient to have someone they love or care about with them, to help them through the tough spots.~

[Deleted]

"If Lya asks it of me," Locke murmured as he opened the door and ushered his fellow Mind in. "When it comes down to it, though, I am just her employee. Lady Lya, this is Mikasi of Sensatia. I brought him here to help you," he explained in a louder tone, bringing Mikasi towards the distraught queen.

[Kender Bard]

Lya lifted her head slightly. She hadn't slept, but had dozed off at one of her dressers, head in her arms. Already she looked moused and frazzled from her night of crying.

Mikasi watched her in awe for a moment. Even at her lowest, the Queen was breathtaking to someone who had never seen her before. He shook off his reverie and approached slowly. ~Why don't we find you somewhere more comfortable to rest, Your Majesty?~

"I can't sleep," Lya protested. "I can't close my eyes without thinking of him."

Mikasi tried not to smile. He'd heard this before and knew exactly what to do. He always felt guilty when he insinuated himself into someone's mind without their permission, but, well, sometimes it was just easier to ask for permission; and for once, he didn't have to even navigate against a mental barrier. It was child's play. He lay, like a soothing hand, a presence over her surfacemost thoughts. ~How about now?~

She shut her eyes and found only soothing blackness. "Th.. Thank you.."

~Lie down?~ Mikasi asked again. The Queen nodded and got up, heading to the bed, but stumbled and started to fall.

[Deleted]

"Whoa!" Locke teleported to Lya's side and caught her around the waist, pulling one of her arms across his shoulders. "Careful," he cautioned, helping the queen to her bed. The poor woman. She really was worn out. And at the moment, with Twilight and Salacia taking care of everything, she didn't even have the option of working hard to take her mind off her grief, like he had two years ago.

Locke's heart twisted on behalf of his friend.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi was glad that Locke had caught the Queen since he had already started digging into his things, sorting through small bags of dried herbs that gave off pleasant smells when burnt or simply left to lie. He nosed around in the Queen's memories, deeper and deeper, looking for the perfect scent to calm her. It had to be something comforting without sending her into hysterics of grief again. Eventually, he settled on some vanilla; apparently her mother was fond of the scent. While grabbing the appropriate bag, he also selected an extremely soft cotton cloth and teleported it into Locke's hands.

~Take that, moisten it with cool - not cold - water and clean her face with it. I think that even if you are just an employee, you'd be better for the more intimate tasks right now than I would be.~ he instructed Locke while opening the bag and sprinkling dried stripes of vanilla around the bed, near Lya's head.

[Deleted]

Locke nodded assent and teleported out of the room, returning approximately seven minutes later with a bowl of water and the dampened cloth. Assuming this was what the mind-healer wanted, Locke mentally pulled a small table close the bed, placed the bowl on it and carefully lay the cloth on Lya's forehead, brushing her hair away from her face.

[Kender Bard]

Lya's eyes fluttered open as she glanced at Locke, but there wasn't any reproachfulness or annoyance; just noting his presence, perhaps a touch of surprise, and then she shut her eyes and breathed deeply of the vanilla in the air.

"I feel like a kid, almost," Lya murmured. Mikasi was pleased; that was exactly what he had been aiming for. Satisfied, he sat on the edge of the bed and pondered how to go about this.

~I need to smother out any feelings of guilt first~ Mikasi decided, speaking aloud for Locke's benefit. He brought his left index finger up to his left temple and rubbed, as if he had a headache. In effect he was touching his two signs. A whispery sound escaped him, nonsensical and a little awkward, but it still passed for a chant as he bridged a connection between his mind and Lya's.

Lya's guilt was strong. Though she knew she had done what she had to in order to get her daughter back, she had a roundelay of "I should have thought of something else than sending him to his death" chanting in her head, chasing itself in circles and only enhancing her misery. Mikasi winced at that; she'd already been worried, and had gone against her better judgement. That was only compounding the problem.

Mikasi picked a memory of Shadow assuring her, and tried to reflect it back to her. ~Your husband was set in his decision, Lya. Neither of you could have known.~

"Shaadoww," Lya moaned sadly as the visage of her husband filled her thoughts. Her hand clenched the bedsheets desperately. Mikasi sighed and brushed away a few beads of sweat. His work, in a way, was as delicate as surgery at times. Using one memory usually set off a chain reaction of others, causing a cascading effect.

He glanced at Locke and frowned, wanting a second opinion. ~How soon does she need to be back to herself and taking control over her position again?

[Deleted]

<< Soon, >> Locke returned privately. << At least in two or three days. I heard the servants whispering about plans for war before I went to Sensatia. Lya's people must know what they're up against and why, and how they can help or be prepared. >> He winced as a twinge of pain manifested in his right temple, and hoped that had gotten through clearly. Short-range communication was still a problem for him.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi looked at Locke in confusion, not knowing why the man was in pain. He decided he'd ask later, if at all.

~Allow me to explain. There are many, many methods for overcoming grief. Some are for short term, and some are for long term. Some are moral and others...~ He tugged the collar of his shirt likely and looked uncomfortable. ~I employ both as they should be; as tools. The amount of need for speed is proportionate to the types of methods I use. Since you're demanding such a short time frame in which to work, I'm afraid I can't go about this the healthy way. It takes much longer than a few days to get over the death of a loved one, even with help.~ He blew a gusty sigh. ~So I ask you what you feel would be the best course of action; manipulating her emotions so she feels something in place of grief, something equally strong and often related. I'm leaning towards anger but there are others. Or... I could simply erradicate any memory she had of receiving news of Shadow's death. I trust she will still be fretful for why he is not home, and if someone brings up his death then the whole thing falls apart. I would have to be constantly at hand to repress any unwated memories as they bubbled up. But it's.. more moral, I suppose.~

[Deleted]

<< I'm not asking you to help her get over her grief; only time and support can really help with that, >> Locke explained. << I'm asking for it to be set aside temporarily until this matter is resolved. So don't erase any memories: As you said, forgetting now would cause her grief all over again when the truth is revealed. Just.... replace her sorrow with resolve for now, if that's possible. >> The Mind broke off communication temporarily and rubbed his forehead; pain was gathering there too.

[Kender Bard]

Mikasi nodded; he could do that, and he didn't want to cause Locke anymore pain with their chatter and so bent his thoughts to the task at hand.

He couldn't help but marvel a little at the irony that the least healthy solutions were the easiest. He couldn't turn sorrow to joy; that would be like making a river run backwards. But he could alter the course of that 'river'.

~Would Shadow want you wallowing in sorrow?~ Mikasi whispered to Lya as he subtly began to turn that pain into adrenaline. ~Or would he want you to get vengeance?~ He hated himself a little for this.

Lya stopped crying, abruptly. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, almost as if the epiphany that Mikasi had provided her had truly been her own. Almost as if in a trance, she sat up and took a few deep breaths, the shock wearing off, replacing with fury and determination.

"Mathew," she hissed, drawing the name out so each syllable could convey the deep, soul trenched hatred she had for the man. "Yesss..."

Mikasi repressed a shudder and watched as the Queen got up abruptly. She had to still be tired, but at the moment Taed himself would be all that kept her from putting into motion the first steps of her revenge she now thirsted for.

[Deleted]

Locke gave Mikasi an almost admiring look. You're good, he thought, hoping Mikasi could "hear", and addressed Lya. "I assume you're returning to duty, Queen Lya?" he inquired. "Would you like me to call a servant to look after Luminous?"

[Kender Bard]

"I trust no one with my daughter now," Lya growled in Locke's general direction. "Not after last time. I will take my daughter with me where I go. Should something happen that I can't do that, Queen Salacia will be her caretaker. Thank you, Locke, and sir Mikasi. You are both dismissed."

Curtly, she strode out of her room.

Mikasi watched her go. ~Etaf forgive me, but I do hate doing that. I hope this wasn't a mistake, but truly I saw no other way. Let's just hope those who give her council are wise enough not to let herself get killed. I warn you, Locke, she is dangerous right now; to everyone, if not properly guided, but especially to herself. Keep an eye on her.~

He started to clean up the herbs. ~Also, why does it give you such pain to speak telepathically?~