The day of the battle. I've never been so nervous in all my life. I have been in battles before. I am usually very calm before. Not today. The only difference I can find between this battle and the others is Heriwulf. I've fought with my brothers, my family, at my side. Healed their wounds. I was still never this nervous. Today is different. Heriwulf could get hurt...or..or...Don't even think it. No one will die so long as I am here to heal them. NO ONE that passes through my healer's tent will die. NO ONE. Please, My Lady. Please let them all live. Let me keep my perfect record of no patients dieing under my care. PLEASE.
The Lodge is busy with preparations. Heriwulf in the middle of it all coordinating everything. They are putting up my tent now. River-Wader and I already brought out my supplies. He is such a help. I needed to calm my nerves a little, so I am playing my lute. Maybe others will be calmed by it or think I am calm?
Heriwulf is kissing my cheek. I love him so much. Please, My Lady, keep him safe. Let him come back to me. He asked about my foot. He looks so happy it is feeling better. How is he so calm!? He worries after the battle. I wish I was like that. After the battle I will be so busy with wounded, I won't have time to worry. Until I sit down. Then all my emotions come flooding out at once. Usually involving me crying my eyes out somewhere. I hate battles. I am meant for love and music and dancing. Not battle. Needs must I suppose.
Looks like I will have a few helpers in the healer's tent. Em and her message ribbons, Arastal, River-Wader (my sweet little apprentice I will miss terribly when he goes home!!), and some elf friends of Arastral. I will have to ask their names when they get here. If I remember.
I wonder if it is bad luck to kiss a Woodman before the battle? Nope. Just no love making. Got it. Well, get ready Heriwulf. I have been holding this in for a bloody week! He is worried the others will be jealous. Be jealous of me!! Heriwulf is mine and I get to kiss him! HA! Heriwulf notices I was looking at Scarlett Jay yesterday. He sees everything! That's ok. He was looking too. Seems we both really like redheads. Good to know. Seriously should think about going red for him. Drive him wild. After the battle. Please let him be safe.
Please come back to me, my love. Please.
Tree-Walker, Ljota, and Home-Wright are here and ready for battle. Here comes Wood-Sculptor, Jess, Marney, Em, and Arastal. They are moving into positions now. Leaving the safety of the stockade.
"My Lady, please watch over my friends. Keep them safe."
Time to get down to business. The long wait until the wounded start coming in. Give my helpers a quick briefing, get the water on to boil, keep water on the boil, and make sure everyone knows their jobs. The elves can be in charge of triage. They probably have more experience than I do. They should really be running the healer's tent seeing as they are actually part of the clan. River-Wader will be dealing with the less severe wounds. Stuff that needs stitching and cleaning mostly. Broken limbs. I will get the worst. The triage team can deal with River-Wader's surplus.
Here comes Em for her ribbons. Made sure they were neatly in a basket and ready for her. PLEASE keep my friends safe. Em can help with the hounds. Nice. Please don't let any hounds die either My Lady. I should mention to the triage team to treat the hounds as people when doing triage. If they have a severe wound that is worse than a person's send them over immediately. No argument or odd looks. Very nice. The Widow is making her battle speech.
"Woodmen, and our friends from Beorn's Lodge and the Woodland Realm, we have fought many a time against orcs, and worse. Many, and foul. Treacherous, and brutish. Cunning, and foolish. We have made acre after acre of the once-proud, once-befouled Mirkwood green and hale again. Today we find a wood that has never felt the withering touch of the Shadow. Far better would it have been, had we been able to bring axe and spear to Greenwood the Great and keep the darkness away, as we can here, than to have to reclaim it furlong by blood-soaked furlong. Today we save the Chetwood. Let your bow thrum, your axe howl, your spear shriek!"
So it begins.
They left where I can see them. Can't hear them either. I love and hate they all move so quietly through the woods. Keeps them safe, but means I can't hear where they are. This Lodge is too quiet. PLEASE let them be safe. I swear, I will promise whatever you want. I will quit flirting with dwarves! I know how much Da hates that. Please!!
Brenn is here. Good boy. You be my ears. Let me know how they are. Em has her birds and are relaying messages of what is going on from the other Captains. I'm Captain of the Healer's. No ribbons for my station since Em is here. Not sure what message I would send if I could. Don't die. That's a good one.
Em and Arastal are making conversation. About my foot mostly. I think they may be worried I will fight. I hope I don't have to. What was that? I can hear the battle now. Oh, PLEASE let them be safe!! The shouts and cries of a battle unseen is the worst! I can't see what is going on. I can only hear screams and hope they aren't screams and death cries of anyone I love. Please let Heriwulf live. Please. Please let the gambesons I made do their jobs. Maybe I should have reinforced them more? Made them thicker? Thicker would have meant less movement. Ugh!!! I hate waiting!!! Please let them be ok.
Em says she will keep orcs away from me should they get this far. She should protect the wounded and River-Wader. I have my sword and armor. I can defend myself. They can't. Arastal seems to be worried about me. One moment she is barking an order for me to be safe in Sindarin and the next she is smiling and offering sweet words in Westron. Why is she so protective of me? Little weird, but ok. Use that enthusiasm on the patients, melon.
The wounded are coming. Time to go to work. Wood-Sculptor and Ljota are here to help. Must have finished their job on the field. I wonder if they say Heriwulf and Home-Wright? No time to ask. This man could lose his leg if I don't focus on what I am doing. Hey, that guy is Home-Wright's friend!!! Which one is he? Tree-Hewer? Plank-Feller? Plank-Hewer? I'll get it. Nasty wound. Poor lad. Don't you worry Plank-Hewer (that's his name! I had to ask, feel kinda bad about that.), I will take good care of you. You will be lumberjacking with Home-Wright any moment now.
Lots of wounded warriors, cuts, near severed limbs, stab wounds, arrows...thankfully no hounds. I don't know if I could deal with having to...Oh no. Not Dalgo! Oh My Lady!! No! NO no no no no!! Please My Lady! Please! Not today. By Elbereth that wound! Please let me save him. Please. Come on Dalgo, pull through. Stay strong. I've got you. You're safe and home. I just need you to be strong. Fight, Dalgo, fight!!
What is that sound? Orcs!!! In the stockade!! Charging my wounded!!!! MY WOUNDED!! You are all dead!!! I can't take on them all and I can't whistle for help, cause everyone is fighting. None of the warriors see them!! That's it. I know I don't call upon you often, My Lady, and it physically hurts to do so...but depserate times....
"What the Orcs see: Leo charges forth pulling her sword. She stands her ground ready for the onslaught. As they near, about 10 feet in front of her, she will lift her face to the sky and call out in an ancient elvish language (Quenyan), "By the flame that burneth bright, O my Queen! I call thy name into the night! I beseech thee my great Queen!!Send these beasts into the abyss! Vala Elbereth!" Her face and eyes light up with the divine presence of her Great Lady. The light blinding those near. Her voice rings out like a primal cry gripping their hearts with icy fingers. Her cry drives a fear into them greater than the threat of failing their masters. Those affected would run away screaming in terror.
What the Woodmen see: Leo charges forth pulling her sword. She stands her ground ready for the onslaught. As they near, about 10 feet in front of her, she will lift her face to the sky and call out with a primal sounding cry to the heavens. She mutters gibberish then looks to the Orcs with her sword raised for combat. The Orcs shriek and run from the 4 ft 11 in, petite woman."
Brenn is guarding Dalgo and my wounded!!! Good boy!!! Honeycakes!!!! My darling!!!! Get them!!! I love these hounds!!! HA! Look at those Orcs run!!! Oh, look, the warriors and archers saw them. Looks like I gave them enough time to get themselves in position. Nice. Now if I can manage to stay awake long enough to heal my wounded...that hurts so much...so tired...Why not call the Valar all the time if you know they will answer? Because having one of the Valar take over my tiny body, even for that brief moment, hurts. Her light is both hot and cold and it feels like my insides are being scorched and frozen at the same time. The pain is unbearable. The exhaustion once She leaves is worse. Last time I passed out. Thankfully, I stayed upright. Em will take care of the Orcs. Good. I don't think I could lift my sword after that let alone swing it.
Back to Dalgo and the wounded. Poor Dalgo. If I can get him stable, if might pull through. Just need to keep an eye on him while I help everyone else. Please pull through Dalgo. An Orc!! No one sees him charging my tent and me with my hands deep in a patient's poisoned wound!! No!! Save my patient, My Lady. Save Dalgo. I gladly give my life to save them. Please! BRENN!! PUPPIES!!!! GET HIM!!
"GOOD BOY BRENN!!!"
I love these hounds!!! Thanks to them, this lass will make it!! Come on Dalgo, follow her lead. Come on! Please fight. Just a little longer. I just need to get you stable. Please!! I know My Lady I have asked much of you today, but please let him live. Please! I will stop flirting with everyone I see and only flirt with my love. Please save Dalgo!! Please let me be good enough to save him!
So many wounded. No casualties. No lost limbs. Sounds like the fighting is about over. Only a small handfull of orcs left and they are being pursued by the warriors. Is that? Home-Wright carrying Honeycakes? No!! Home-Wright!! Don't worry love! I've got you and Honeycakes. You are both safe. By Elbereth! Poison! I'm out of my salve!!! No!!! No! I will NOT lose you Home-Wright! No! Please My Lady!! I will promise whatever you want! Let her live!! Please!! I'll stop burning my lutes! I'll stop flirting!! I'll only eat bread for a week!! PLEASE!!! Stay awake. Got to keep her talking and awake. We both need to stay awake. Come on Home-Wright!! Wood-Sculptor!! YES!! She had some salve for the poison!!!!!!! I love you Wood-Sculptor!!!!!!! You are going to be fine now Home-Wright. I've got you. I am not letting go. You can sleep now. Honeycakes, minor injury. Looks like Honeycakes will be sore and slow moving for a few days. Poor little sausage. So brave.
Why do I have this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach? DALGO! On no! Oh please no! Come on! Don't die! Don't die! Stay with me Dalgo, please! Please! NO!! Please My Lady!!! I will promise whatever you want! Anything! I will get married and have babies!! Just like Mum and Da wants! Please!! I will do whatever you ask of me!! Take me instead!!! I will give my life for his!! Whatever Númenórean blood strengthens my blood, give it to him!!! PLEASE!!! NO! NO! NO! NO! Dalgo!! Oh please...no....Dalgo. I am so sorry. So very sorry. I wasn't good enough.... I'm so sorry....
I hear Heriwulf....He is safe!!!! THANK YOU MY LADY! MY QUEEN! Oh no...I have to tell him about Dalgo. He is going to hate me for sure. I killed his hound!! Here goes everything. I am so sorry Dalgo. I should have saved you. I should have been better. I am so sorry Heriwulf!!! He is crying! NO!! Oh no...Heriwulf. I am so sorry, my love. So sorry! Clean his cut Leo. Don't you dare cry!! You still have wounded to check up on. Including Heriwulf and his cut. Not a deep one, thank Elbereth, but still needs cleaning. I doubt it will scar his handsome face. My poor love. I am so sorry. Oh, love. Don't thank me. I killed your hound. Please don't thank me. I don't deserve your thanks. He is off to sleep...probably to bury Dalgo first. Don't cry Leo. You have more to do. Stay strong.
Tree-Walker is being tended by Ljota and Arastal. Looks like her shield is stuck on her back with a bunch of arrows. Poor thing. Must be torture for her with all that weight. Enough people over there already and Arastal seems to have it handled. Wood-Sculptor is looking for Snow-Hair. That is one I haven't seen at all. Not before or after the battle. Didn't even pass through my tent.
Looks like I have a moment where I am not needed. I need to sit. Thank you, My Lady, for keeping my friends safe. Please watch over poor Dalgo and see he reaches the land of his forebearers in peace. He deserves a heroes welcome in only the finest halls. I have blood on my hands. I should wash them. Get the tent cleaned up. So much blood everywhere.
Tree-Walker is apologizing the gambeson I made her got damaged and is ruined. It did its job and kept her safe. That is all that matters. Not some piece of boiled leather I can always make another of. Looks like the shield and the gambeson stopped all the arrows. Might be a fracture under there or some nasty bruising at best. She is in capable hands. Probably more alert hands than mine right now. I am in so much pain and so tired I feel like I could drop here. No time for that. I have to make my rounds among the wounded and see who needs something for the pain. Ljota and Tree-Walker are going home. Tree-Walker in a sling. I need to make her one of silk. Might make her feel a little better. Arastal and her elf friends left. Now it is just me and the wounded.
This is going to be a long night.
BUTCHER'S BILL:
3 dead on the battlefield, one hound dead in my tent, many wounded, no limbs lost. All wounded will survive.
