Sleep has a way of restoring much to a body and to the mind, though it also has a way of letting time pass you by like a slow gentle flowing river. I was aware of furs covering me and every now and then aware of voices drifting around me, but while I stirred I was not really awake. My eyes felt as if they had weights tied to them. I wanted to know what they were saying, or better yet who was there. I tried to get up but I couldn't seem to find my way thru the layers of fog that wrapped about me, and I felt some frustration as nothing seemed to be working right, I felt two hands on me, I knew from the touch one was female and one was male, I knew by the feeling that I knew them and they were two that would do anything if they knew I needed something, even when I do not ask. I rarely ask and this is known, so the fact they were here made me wonder what was going on. I could barley absorb their words, and they sounded so far away, it seemed as if they wanted me to lay down and rest more, but I wanted to speak but the words would not form and barely a sound escaped me, well now this was even more frustrating, and before the emotion could surface I heard him speak low, to relax and rest. I felt the strength and warmth surround my hand as I was pushed back to the furs. At least I think that is what I heard and within moments I felt sleep invade my mind, damn it, that is a spex trick and not one I am used to having used on me. I did manage to mutter something about that was not a nice thing to do. I swear they found it humorous. Go figure, one of the few times I don't have all my faculties together and they take enjoyment out of seeing a vulnerable side of me that is not usually seen. I am not sure I liked this helpless feeling and knowing that at the moment my well being was not in my own hands, that is not a comforting thought but it was lost as darkness consumed me and then for some time there was nothing. .
I do not recall the last time I slept so much or so deeply, if I had dreams I do not remember them. When I awoke , I lay there for a few moments letting my eyes focus on the top of my wagon, studying for a moment the shades of color that hung over me, I felt a fur laying half across me, I am guessing I had gotten hot as my feet and legs were thrust from beneath its soft touch. I do that when I am too warm, I push my feet from beneath the furs so I can feel the air about me and let it slowly cool me. I also realized a couple of things, someone had undressed me,unbraided my hair and I was not alone in my wagon.
Now this gave me pause, I was in my own wagon wasn't I?
I let my eyes wander about the wagon, it was mine for I recognized the colorful tapestries that hung all around me, the pillows were tossed about to lay where they would and so many other small things that made it uniquely mine. I heard a movement near me and a familiar voice would drift about me. " How do you feel?" he would ask, I knew why the question was put to me. And I had to think for a moment as I slowly pushed myself upward making sure the fur did not fall from me, not that I have an issue with being naked but, well I wasn't one to tempt fate and end up with a ring about my neck, so some modesty was in order. I heard him chuckle, and I felt a warmth suffuse my skin, it is rare that anything makes me blush but be damned if I did not feel such occurring, and that brought forth even more amusement. " You were burning up." That statement told me a lot and I looked around noticing that no fire had been warming in the pot near by and I breathed a sigh of relief. " We removed anything elemental" was offered in explanation. I felt my hand move thru the tangled strands of hair, "I feel like a herd of bosk have run me over and that someone left me out in the sun for days." I lifted my hand as water was offered to me and I took small sips, grateful for the liquid coolness of it as it flowed down my throat like a soothing elixir.
Then I felt a wave of self consciousness hit me, and my hand rested instinctively along my leg and side, damn I thought to myself as I knew that every scar and mark that adorned me had been revealed. I hide much beneath my clothing, it is a discomforting feeling to realize just how much of yourself is exposed without clothing, and I do not mean in just the physical sense. For clothing is like a cloak of protection or armor in a manner of speaking, without it, the things of ourselves we try to conceal cannot be. Odd is it not that it was simply the woman that was sitting in my place, everything else that I was, had been stripped away. I almost felt like a newborn colt for a moment. Then finally I looked to him as he spoke. "You need to eat, as you have been a sleep for days." I started to ask and before the words were formed, "No one but four know what has occurred, most know you work for days at time." I breathed a sigh of relief, some things no one needed to know but those that should know. "Your children have been kept busy with work with the tribe and clans." I would nod and give a grateful smile.
I frowned a bit, and nodded, not sure what I felt at the moment, "I need to clean up." A nod of understanding was given but only after I agreed to eat. "The slaves can prepare the bathing wagon," and I wrinkled my nose at that,and shook my head. " No, I need to go to the stream." Though I could see there was a reluctance, I do not think he knew that I often bathed in the stream, although it was in an area away from the eyes of others. So reluctantly I ate a small amount of bread and cheese and some black wine. Eventually, I got up and dressed after I was left alone and gathered a few things I needed and loosely braided my hair back up.
I made my way along the winding path of the stream and moved up to the area that branched off into a hidden isolated area. Here I could do what was needed, I would burn some sage and then step into the water and sink down into it. There was much to think about, the dreams began to make sense as did many other things. I allowed myself to release the shackles of not only the past but things of the present, I released the energy of others. No one usually ventures to this area and when I heard a sound I panicked for a moment, but it was only a slave and she held various items in her hands. "The master sent me to help you if you would allow it mistress." Now I had to lift a brow, it was common knowledge I was not one who would let others do things especially a slave. But, I nodded that is was alright. I would let the water work its magic on me as I relaxed in its touch, the girl would offer to wash my hair and I allowed it, for a moment allowing myself to enjoy a moment of what I call being pampered, but then again, I had a weakness for someone drawing their hands thru my hair, usually I prefer a mans touch but right now the gentle massage on my scalp was like ambrosia to my soul.
When I emerged from the water and dried off and dressed I would sit on a nearby rock and let the sounds of the plains drift about me, I felt different, something I could not define, there was something that had changed, it was as if I found a part of myself that had been missing,scattered to the winds and it had all been brought back into one place. I thought to this as the girl braided my hair entwining the black and purple beads in the dark strands. The herlit feather and the larl tooth had been slipped within the dark depths of the braid. I dismissed her and I sat by the stream for a few ahns.
I pondered many things, one of which, what path would I now walk, what was my purpose, and how would I once more feel productive and useful. These were things that would reveal themselves, today I would simply relax, no work, no teaching,no nothing, She was just taking a day to be absolutely lazy,
I do not recall the last time I slept so much or so deeply, if I had dreams I do not remember them. When I awoke , I lay there for a few moments letting my eyes focus on the top of my wagon, studying for a moment the shades of color that hung over me, I felt a fur laying half across me, I am guessing I had gotten hot as my feet and legs were thrust from beneath its soft touch. I do that when I am too warm, I push my feet from beneath the furs so I can feel the air about me and let it slowly cool me. I also realized a couple of things, someone had undressed me,unbraided my hair and I was not alone in my wagon.
Now this gave me pause, I was in my own wagon wasn't I?
I let my eyes wander about the wagon, it was mine for I recognized the colorful tapestries that hung all around me, the pillows were tossed about to lay where they would and so many other small things that made it uniquely mine. I heard a movement near me and a familiar voice would drift about me. " How do you feel?" he would ask, I knew why the question was put to me. And I had to think for a moment as I slowly pushed myself upward making sure the fur did not fall from me, not that I have an issue with being naked but, well I wasn't one to tempt fate and end up with a ring about my neck, so some modesty was in order. I heard him chuckle, and I felt a warmth suffuse my skin, it is rare that anything makes me blush but be damned if I did not feel such occurring, and that brought forth even more amusement. " You were burning up." That statement told me a lot and I looked around noticing that no fire had been warming in the pot near by and I breathed a sigh of relief. " We removed anything elemental" was offered in explanation. I felt my hand move thru the tangled strands of hair, "I feel like a herd of bosk have run me over and that someone left me out in the sun for days." I lifted my hand as water was offered to me and I took small sips, grateful for the liquid coolness of it as it flowed down my throat like a soothing elixir.
Then I felt a wave of self consciousness hit me, and my hand rested instinctively along my leg and side, damn I thought to myself as I knew that every scar and mark that adorned me had been revealed. I hide much beneath my clothing, it is a discomforting feeling to realize just how much of yourself is exposed without clothing, and I do not mean in just the physical sense. For clothing is like a cloak of protection or armor in a manner of speaking, without it, the things of ourselves we try to conceal cannot be. Odd is it not that it was simply the woman that was sitting in my place, everything else that I was, had been stripped away. I almost felt like a newborn colt for a moment. Then finally I looked to him as he spoke. "You need to eat, as you have been a sleep for days." I started to ask and before the words were formed, "No one but four know what has occurred, most know you work for days at time." I breathed a sigh of relief, some things no one needed to know but those that should know. "Your children have been kept busy with work with the tribe and clans." I would nod and give a grateful smile.
I frowned a bit, and nodded, not sure what I felt at the moment, "I need to clean up." A nod of understanding was given but only after I agreed to eat. "The slaves can prepare the bathing wagon," and I wrinkled my nose at that,and shook my head. " No, I need to go to the stream." Though I could see there was a reluctance, I do not think he knew that I often bathed in the stream, although it was in an area away from the eyes of others. So reluctantly I ate a small amount of bread and cheese and some black wine. Eventually, I got up and dressed after I was left alone and gathered a few things I needed and loosely braided my hair back up.
I made my way along the winding path of the stream and moved up to the area that branched off into a hidden isolated area. Here I could do what was needed, I would burn some sage and then step into the water and sink down into it. There was much to think about, the dreams began to make sense as did many other things. I allowed myself to release the shackles of not only the past but things of the present, I released the energy of others. No one usually ventures to this area and when I heard a sound I panicked for a moment, but it was only a slave and she held various items in her hands. "The master sent me to help you if you would allow it mistress." Now I had to lift a brow, it was common knowledge I was not one who would let others do things especially a slave. But, I nodded that is was alright. I would let the water work its magic on me as I relaxed in its touch, the girl would offer to wash my hair and I allowed it, for a moment allowing myself to enjoy a moment of what I call being pampered, but then again, I had a weakness for someone drawing their hands thru my hair, usually I prefer a mans touch but right now the gentle massage on my scalp was like ambrosia to my soul.
When I emerged from the water and dried off and dressed I would sit on a nearby rock and let the sounds of the plains drift about me, I felt different, something I could not define, there was something that had changed, it was as if I found a part of myself that had been missing,scattered to the winds and it had all been brought back into one place. I thought to this as the girl braided my hair entwining the black and purple beads in the dark strands. The herlit feather and the larl tooth had been slipped within the dark depths of the braid. I dismissed her and I sat by the stream for a few ahns.
I pondered many things, one of which, what path would I now walk, what was my purpose, and how would I once more feel productive and useful. These were things that would reveal themselves, today I would simply relax, no work, no teaching,no nothing, She was just taking a day to be absolutely lazy,
