Eleanor knelt in the monastery garden, carefully pulling weeds from around the mint plants. She was eleven years old and lived in the monastery where her father worked as a scribe. Brother Thomas, the monk who cared for the herb garden, was teaching her about healing plants.
"This is comfrey," Brother Thomas said, pointing to a plant with large, fuzzy leaves. "We use it to help broken bones heal. And this one is feverfew—it helps with headaches." Eleanor repeated the names quietly, trying to memorize each one.
"Why are herbs so important?" Eleanor asked. "In these times, we have no doctors like in the great cities," Brother Thomas explained. "When people get sick or hurt, they come to the monastery. These plants are our medicine."
Brother Thomas showed Eleanor how to harvest lavender without damaging the plant. "Cut here, just above this leaf. The plant will grow back stronger." They worked together in the peaceful garden, surrounded by the buzzing of bees.
Later, in the stillroom, Brother Thomas taught Eleanor how to dry herbs by hanging them upside down. "Once they're dry, we'll store them in clay pots. They'll last all winter," he said.
A woman arrived at the monastery gate, holding her young son. "Please help! He has a terrible cough." Brother Thomas quickly made a tea from dried thyme and honey. Eleanor watched as he gave careful instructions to the mother.
After they left, Brother Thomas turned to Eleanor. "Knowledge of herbs is a precious gift. You're learning skills that can help people for your whole life." Eleanor looked at the rows of plants with new appreciation. She was learning to be a healer.