"I'm gonna love ye.... like nobody's loved ye...Come rain or come shine... High as a mountain.....deep as a river..."
That reminds me. I should take a bath while there is a lull. All the wounded have been looked after. Took me all night to get everyone sorted. The worst will be fine in a few days. Well enough to travel. Still will be stiff and sore, but they will make it home. Oh! This cast!! It has got to come off. I can't stand the itching and it is slowing me down reaching my patients. Where is that dagger? Aha! Here we go. HA! I am free!!! No more cast...until Heriwulf makes me put one back on. Speak of the handsome one.....Please let him still like me...
Just "Hello." No sweetness. No dear-heart. Just "Hello." PLEASE let him still like me. I don't think I could take it losing him. It would break my heart. It would break me. Don't cry. Act normal and see if he does anything different. Of course, I am standing here naked when he walks up. Everyone loves being broken up with when they are stark naked. He is worried about my foot. Maybe that means he still cares and doesn't hate me for killing his hound? Why is he down by the river? He never comes here unless he is taking a bath? Where was he coming from? Oh, back there where the tiny grave...Dalgo. Please don't let him hate me. I know he has every right to, but please, please, please don't let him hate me.
He called me dear-heart!!!!!! He doesn't hate me!!!! I want to cry!!! He called me dear-heart!!! Don't cry. Don't cry. I know you are exhausted and overwhelmed and still haven't dealt with...everything from yesterday, but stay strong and don't...and I'm crying. Great. Just great. He is touching my shoulder!! I wish he would hug me. NO! If you hug him you will cry more. Don't. Be strong. He needs to see you strong, not weepy.
He heard about what I did on the battlefield with the orcs and invoking My Lady. Here we go... He isn't scared of me? This is the part they usually run away. He doesn't look all here. Oh, love. Is he upset with me? No. What is it then? Why is he so stiff? Did I miss something???!!! Is he hurt?! No. Not hurt. Thank Elbereth. I didn't miss anything. Just sore from the battle. Poor love! He needs a massage. And the stubborn man says tomorrow. UGH! He is in chieftain mode and is checking up on everyone else. That is all well and good, but how is HE doing? That's it. He is sleeping with me when I head up to nap. I will put River-Wader in charge and drag that man to bed with me if I have to.
HA! We have an 'accord'. Love this man. I will get some food, brief River-Wader on the care of my patients, and take a nap with him. After, we will make the rounds and help the others as needed. HE KISSED MY CHEEK!!!!!! And...Oh!!! He wants me. He doesn't hate me. He still wants me. THANK YOU MY LADY!!!!!
"Yer gonna love me.... like nobody's loved me.... Come rain... or come shine. Happy together.... unhappy together.... And wooon't it be fine? Days... may be cloudy or sunny... We're in... or we're out... of the money... But I'm with ye always... I'm with ye rain or shine..."
I don't know what I would do without him. How would I live? How would I go on if he didn't love me? I won't lose him. Like he reminds me, I called Dibs. I want eternal Dibs that no one can take away. I want the world to know I am the lucky one who gets to love him forever. That I get to love him until the end of my days. That he is the home for my heart I have always dreamed of. The one I have searched the world over to find. How do I do that without marrying him? Maybe Mum knows? I should walk over when I have a few moments to myself tomorrow. See what she says about all these thoughts I am having about Heriwulf. Maybe it is just leftover feelings and anxiety from the battle? Maybe it will pass with time? Maybe I should give it a few days and see how I feel then? Yes. That sounds about right. If I am still feeling...this way, I can talk to Mum about it.
So, first time in trousers. Feels...odd. Comfortable, but odd. Like everyone can see my bottom and bits. They are easier to move around in without having to worry about skirts getting stuck places AND the puppies can't chase my skirt when there isn't one. I need to remember to clean the blood off my armor and oil it properly so it won't rust when I put it back in storage at Mum's. Maybe I should keep it here? Just in case.
These warriors from the Vales no longer look like strangers to me. I treated most of them. No more funny looks either. Well, less funny looks. The few that saw me...do what I did on the battlefield still give me odd looks. Others have decided I am not a child and have resorted to flirting and bottom pinching. I put a stop to that real quick. Threatening to sew their hands together worked. Telling them I was Heriwulf's and Heriwulf's ALONE helped as well. I don't remember all their names, but I remember their wounds. That one had a spear in his leg. That one a poisoned arrow in his chest. That one nearly lost his eye. All up and about and patrolling like nothing happened. All giving me friendly smiles and....did he just give me the Woodmen salute? Awww!! I love these Woodmen.
Heriwulf suggests trying things that make the battle retreat from your mind. I wish I could do that. I would spend the day sunbathing by the waterfalls while Heriwulf sat beside me fishing. I would make a picnic lunch with some good cider from Undertree's and my award winning apple pie. Then when there was a lull in fishing and sunbathing, make love until we are both asleep under the stars. Can't do that though. Too much work to be done. I won't be able to do anything to put the battle behind me until after the warriors return to the Vales. Of course, by that time, my services won't be needed anymore. My purpose here will be ended. No. That isn't right. My original purpose will have ended. Not my new one. Find my true home.
I know that sounds odd, but that has always been my purpose since I was small. I never felt at home on Mum's farm and I never felt at home in Da's wagon. I thought if I traveled the world, I would find where my heart belonged. Problem was, I traveled the world. Between Bree and Gondor and every place in between, except the Vales of Anduin where Heriwulf is from. The one place we never ventured were the woods. Da was afraid of them. I searched the world over and it wasn't until I returned to Bree that I found the home for my heart. He came to me thanks to some mystery mission. Who knew I would find home with Woodmen from far away? Stop that. These are silly notions left over from the battle and your fear of losing Heriwulf. Give it a few days and they will pass. We talked about this. Lug your armor up to the healer's tent and do what Heriwulf asked.
Heriwulf is talking to Jess and Scarlett Jay. I will leave them be and get on with fullfilling my end of the accord. I am struggling too hard to stay awake. Don't let anyone see though. Be strong! No one wants their healer to look sleepy. They want strong and assuring. Not sleepy and weepy. Scarlett Jay is threatening to carry me. I am so tired, Beautiful, you are more than welcome. See River-Wader too. Can he add on to an accord once struck? I don't care. It is a good idea and I am too tired to argue. Just keep smiling, forget the exhaustion, and the pain. Keep moving forward.
Ah, the healer's tent. My home away from home the past couple of days and looks like a few more. Time to set my armor down and make the rounds with River-Wader so he knows how to treat everyone while I am asleep. He can do this. Should be easy for him. What is this? Oh, yes. The camp cook from the Vales with a bowl of oats and fruit. Do I taste honey? Not bad. Not as good as my cooking, but it will make Heriwulf happy. I am grateful for anything they give.
Food, eaten. Report from and to River-Wader, received and given. He knows to wake me if he needs me and to find me in Heriwulf's room. Done. Now to sleep. First, a detour to see if I can drag Heriwulf with me. Might have to lure him away from the Beautiful red haired Scarlett Jay, but I think I can manage. He is holding my hand!! Even exhausted he still excites me with the little things he does. SHE IS STAYING!!!!!! The Beauty is staying!!!!!!! This day just got better.
"I guess.... when ye met me... It was just... one of those things... But don't... ever bet me... 'Cause I'm gonna be true... if you let me....."
Wait...He said a cabin for him AND me? I thought he was kidding about that. Bedroom banter. He really means to live with me. Oh love!!! Don't cry!! Whatever you do, do not cry! Yes, they are happy tears, but don't let everyone see you cry!! The woman who charges orcs with a sword and a limp does not cry. Be strong! There you go! Answer Heriwulf's question about your foot. There you go and now to....HAHAHAHA!! I love when he scoops me up like that without warning. I love him so much!!
He wants me!!! Shame we are both exhausted. Tomorrow or the next day and I will get to love him good and proper. Thoroughly. Until the battle and all the wounded are a distant memory or as close to it as I can get. I could fall asleep in his arms. Oh! On the bed. When did that happen? Did I doze off talking to him? I might have. Just going to lay down then I will take my boots....
**FALLS ASLEEP**
"But I'll love ye always... I'm with ye rain or shine.... Rain or shine...."
