"It's of a gentleman soldier as sentry he did stand...He saluted a fair maiden by a waiving of his hand...So then he boldly kissed her and he passed it off as a joke...He drilled her up in the sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak..."
Finally up and about. Sort of. I still have the plaster on my foot and I can't go very far without it throbbing, but I can get out of bed and hop down the stairs. I can cook dinner for everyone. Feel a little useful again. Tonight, I am using the last of the fish Heriwulf caught and some vegetables left over from my allotment. I am frying the fish in butter and seasoning it with Dijon and thyme. Thank you whoever found mustard seed! I am roasting sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts AND I am making some bread to go with it all.
"All night they tossed and tumbled 'till the daylight did appear...The soldier rose, put on his clothes, saying, fare you well my dear...For the drums they are a beating and the fifes they so sweetly play...If it weren't for that Yrch my dear with you I'd gladly stay..."
Heriwulf!!! I love it when he calls me sweetness. I love all his little names for me. He is worried I will overdo it. After the whole debacle with my foot, I don't blame him. Sweet man. Sweet love. He likes my baudy song. Oh! He has one of his own!! Won't sing it. Bagh! I don't care if his voice isn't perfect. I like the sound of it just fine. Maybe I can get him to sing it to me later when we are all alone? He might then. Maybe if I give him an incentive?
Tree-Walker is here with Fang. He is hurt!! Poor little sausage!!! Heriwulf is healing him. Look at him go! Can that man get any sexier? Healing a puppy. I would swoon if it wouldn't hurt my foot and make me look ridiculous. That smells like the salve I use! Oh! Nope. Mine doesn't have that fishy smell. Why?! Oh! To keep him from licking it off. Got it. Clever man! By Elbereth he knows hounds! Is it wrong I am attracted by this? Nope. Here, focus on your embroidery until the food is done. It still has a little while to go.
Hmm. Looks like Heriwulf has an errand to run before dinner. So much for a quiet few moments. I understand completely, of course I do. He is a chieftain, there is a battle coming up, new warriors visiting, so much to do on top of his clan duties and his personal life. I rank far down on his list right now. Better turn the sweet potatoes. I am glad Heriwulf didn't stop me from doing this tonight. I needed this. To feel useful again.
Tree-Walker is keeping me company while I finish dinner. She even got me a drink. Love her. She sings!! So prettily too!!!! I have no idea what she sang, but it was in that pretty Woodmen language Heriwulf's sing in. She says it is a sad song. About war and how after the war is bad. Appropriate for right now. That battle! I wish it was already over and we could all move on without it looming over our heads like a dark cloud!
Seems Tree-Walker feels useless too. I would think she would feel useful with all that she has been doing. Scouting, pestering the Orcs, making them think they are attacking themselves (clever lass!) and making arrows and the like. She is so busy. Though, lots of that might be calming down with the battle only days away. I understand where she is coming from though. All this talk and not enough action. Just do it already! She wants to learn to cook. Neat. Sounds like she is looking for something else to do to contribute and feel useful. Have I got ideas, lass! Become a healer!!!! I could use a back-up in case I go down. That way I know they would all be taken care of when I am gone.
Dinner is done and served! More talk of the battle at the table. What does he mean he wonders if their friend will let them stay after the Orcs are dealt with and their task is complete? I know they have a mysterious task for their mysterious friend, but I thought they were planting roots down here. Not setting up temporarily until they leave!! Maybe he will let me come with them when they do leave? That man, this clan, is my home and heart. I am not giving that up without a fight.
Ljota is here! Aww! That will make Tree-Walker happy to have dinner with her love! Think of that and not the pit in your stomach at the thought of Heriwulf leaving. I hav felt terrible today. Side effect of the feverfew. It is almost out of my system. Then I will get my appetite back with full force! My love suggests eggs. He is right. Eggs would help build up my strength more. He went to get the eggs without saying anything. Just got up and left. Sweet man. Hmm. Need more cider. Look at him standing there eggs in one hand and his other reaching for me. I need to kiss this man.
I love his confusion over the behavior of Bree-folk. So adorable! We are odd, I will admit. He is confused over wanting coin for everything (I think he is used to bartering), then not accepting coins for the job. Like Jess and I have done. Jess more recently, whish is what brought on his comment. Time to explain "Being Neighborly" to Heriwulf. What to spend all his "pennies" on now that he doesn't need to hire sellswords? I suggested an allotment and a party. A big celebration for after the battle. Heriwulf went farther with a celebration for the warriors after the battle to say thank you and another smaller party for just us. How perfect is my love!!?! HA! Now to explain housing and land deeds to these Woodmen. I love them all so much! What a lovely place their home must be. No need for coin. No need for nonsense like dealing with Town Hall to buy land.
Talk has drifted back to the battle and preparations. Seems everyone is getting anxious. Trying to keep themselves busy. It has always fascinated me how everyone reacts to upcoming battles differently. I sleep. Can't get enough of it. As a healer, my work doesn't stop once the battle is over. I still have wounded to tend to and patients to check up on. I may not sleep for days after the battle, so I sleep as much as I can ahead of time. Rob would get a barrel of ale, find a willing lass, and lock himself in a room at the nearest inn until he had to report for duty. Hmm. That is bad luck in the Woodmen culture. Depressing topic.
Oh! Maybe I can get River-Wader to take the plaster cast off my foot! Then I can get at that itch at the bottom of my foot that has been driving me mad for the past couple of days. Every time I try to go to sleep it starts up. I have been seriously contemplating the need for two feet. It should really stay on for a few more weeks, but that itch! That would be a no on cast removal. I didn't have the heart to leave out that it would be medically wise to leave the cast on and get a long stick to scratch my foot. No matter how much I hate this thing.
Seems Heriwulf is ready for bed. I love it when he scoops me up without telling me. He wants his own cabin. I wonder why the sudden need? He looks so tired. I'll ask him another night. For now, he needs sleep. We both do. Good night, my love.
