"Is everyone alive?" The winded voice of the Rohirrim captain sounded like a desperate cry to his men. His arms and legs were still shaking. So was his voice. The other Rohirrim came down from their horses. their bodies exhausted and their thoughts confused. Angelnarth carried the insensible maiden down from her horse, and placed her body upon a thick linen bedroll by the fire. She was half awake already. "Wh..What happened?", her voice came out of her lips, weak and low.
Angelnarth turned to the other men, with a firm, loud voice: "We are blessed to return here alive this day!", he said, trying to encourage them. A cracking sound was heard, as Angelnarth broke in half an arrow which earlier penetrated his chain armor, and was impaled less than halfway through his right arm. "Well, more or less..", he bantered. "Everyone is still breathing, and for that you can be assured that your mission today has been a success."
The Dunedain then stood down, as Daellas , the captain of the company, was about to speak. "My friends, we began for this mission with hope in our hearts, but it brought us back here with nothing but desperation. We.." the Rohirrim's words were interrupted by the loud, abhorrent noises that were coming from the north of the camp, where the tower of Orthanc lied. It felt like the White Hand was now on the move to wipe out what was left of the Free Peoples in these lands. Marching of hundreds, maybe thousands was heard all around the camp, drums beating and horns blasting.
The captain turned back to his men."We must not let them reach us. I want everyone set and ready to ride at once! Gather your supplies and saddle your horses. We need to inform our people in Bree, warn them that the Gap is lost. We are their only hope.."
As the men of the Mark rushed to pack what they could and escape the upcoming threat, Angelnarth tried to help the shield maiden get up on her feet. "Lady Wulfreda , stand up. I need your help now, please...come with me.". The woman followed him, somewhat doubtful. Angelnarth led her to a fire in the rear of the Rider's encampment. He then handed her a slim, pointy dagger, before taking off his shoulder-guards and chain shirt underneath. "You need to take out the arrow now...and cauterize the wound. Do it quickly, otherwise i may die of infection.".
"I know what you did, Angelnarth. I owe you. I'll do my best." she said and placed the dagger above the flames. A few moments later, the dagger was hot enough for the woman to barely be able to hold on to it, even with her thick leather gloves on.
The arrow's head was visible, so the woman wasted no time, pulling the arrow right out of the wound. Angelnarth closed his eyes in pain, but made no sound whatsoever. A small river of blood came out of the hole the arrow left on his arm, as Wulfreda temporary covered the open wound with a piece of clean linen. "Burn the wound now, quickly! Or i will soon fall to the ground from the bleeding." Angelnarth called in pain. "Yes...yes!", she anxiously replied, as she readied the dagger to burn the flesh around the open wound. She then quickly pulled the linen cloth away and placed the hot metal upon the wounded flesh, making a hissing sound as the skin was slightly being melted upon his arm. Angelnarth would silently cry in pain, much to his own disgrace. The tremendous, burning pain was surpassing his own self-discipline, even by a little. Wulfreda would look away, as she fended the dagger off the wound, throwing it into the fire with disgust. "You are brave, Angelnarth. I have seen aged riders cry in pain as they had their wounds burned like that.", she said with a comforting expression. "A matter of habit, my dear.." Angelnarth answered, trying to banter with her once more.
"Here, use this please..it will help the recovery.". He would then pass over to her a small roll of light-green colored bandage. "Wrap this around my arm, so that i can wear my armor again."
The woman replied in anger. "You do not mean to ride alone out there with such a wound, do you?". Angelnarth was still in pain, but he wouldn't show it. He once again jested: "I am no man of the Mark, but i can outride any of these cursed warg riders of Isen..that, or at least i will already be half-baked to be their dinner.".
"You were much more cute with your mouth closed, you know that, Angelnarth?", Wulfreda answered in anguish. "Go with my blessings. Ride fast, and don't look behind until you cross Isen. May the Seven watch over your way, my friend."
Angelnarth put on his armor again. He tightened the leather straps the best he could and put on his long,dark blue cape with the Seven Stars on it. He finally got up on his horse, and pulled his hood up, hiding his face.
He then turned at Wulfreda. "I will not forget about you and your people. Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i Valar tielyanna nu vilya..". He then kicked his horse and rode far away from the camp, and into the dark veil of the night..
