Post by Ted Kennell on Jun 3, 2009 10:45:56 GMT -5
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
The trip from the battlefield (who could have possibly thought of it any other way?) had seemed to be a longer one than it likely really was... Obran had said that he was taking her back with him. He rode gently enough that she was able to drift off for a few minutes at a time a couple different times during the course of the hour to hour and a half that it took to get from where they had been to where they were going....
One of those small naps encompassed the time when their travel veered away from a route that would enable him to take her back to the castle, so she had no clue that they were going anywhere else for quite some time.... Right up until the point when they entered the small encampment/village that was his home with Richard and the others....
.... her eyes widened and she gasped quietly as she looked around the small village..... tiny village, really..... that Obran was bringing her into.... The mannerisms and way that these people dressed.... the looks that some few of them gave her... the tone of the snatches of conversation that she caught from various people going about their nightly tasks before they would be able to finally go to bed themselves....
... all of it combined to give Rebecca a very very clear picture of what was going on here, what Obran had to be a part of.... It was clear that none of these people were overly fond of her father's rule (really, neither was she, though she had never actually said those words!), and they were clearly building up armor and weapons (She had helped Obran to gather some herself even as he has told her about his `secret mission`, lying and telling her that it was under the orders of the King!) in preparation for a fight.... a fight that would be against her father unless she missed her guess by several miles!
And here she was, so grievously wounded and in the middle of a whole camp of people that hated her father, that must think that she was just as bad as he was... If it were not for Obran, she was sure that there would be plenty of people here that would be glad to take hold of the dagger in her belly and twist it, finishing off the `Brat Princess` in their midst!
If it were not for Obran, who only hours ago had been flirting with her, who for the past five months had been a bastion of sanity and excitement for her, who ever since she had met him had been a wonderful friend to her and listened to her complaints without getting irritated even once and walked with her through night after night of sneaking away from her guards and servants.... Obran, who was so much to her even now, even without being more than a very close friend.... He was so much to her, and would have been so much to her even if it weren't for the knife that she was holding steady so that it would not damage her even further...
Once the horses came to a stop and she heard the thump of Obran's feet hitting the ground when he dismounted, she opened her eyes a bit wider and looked up to him, her lips forming into a smile, her hazel eyes showing clearly that she knew, she understood where she was in a way that went beyond just the fact that she was in his home.... far beyond just that....
"Obran..." Her smile never faded in the slightest, even past all the pain that she was in. "...Obran.... thank you, m-.... my friend...." In order for him to think to bring her here of all places.... He had to hold her in very high regard indeed! He had to care for her a great deal, to do this for her even with her in this bad a state...
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
As Rebecca looked up at him and smiled, Obran smiled back at her, then when she said thank you, he smiled even more, "I would never have left you alone and wounded to fend for yourself until I could come back."
Obran looked up at the people that was starting to gather around, "Someone go get the healer... Don't just stand there gawking like you've ne'r seen someone wounded before.", With that a couple of people took off running to fetch the healer, "Oh, and someone call Richard!"..
Obran helped Rebecca get up from the stretcher and into his small house, then she laid down on his meager bed and waited till the healer arrived. After helping Rebecca to lay down Obran moved to his door and stepped out, "You, come here and take these supplies to the supply house and find some food and water for these horses.. Pay special attention to the Mare."
He then walked back into his house and closed the door, slid a rickety looking chair over to the side of the bed where he would sit and wait for Richard and the Healer while watching over Rebecca.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
Rebecca wasn't really in any condition to insist that she would be able to do more in the way of getting herself vertical and to the small house that he was helping her to get to... Though she wouldn't have fought against that even if she had been stronger. There would have been no point to it to begin with, and then there was the fact that she would have ended up hurting herself worse in the process of fighting. Rebecca was a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them.
She winced a bit as he helped her to lay down on the meager bed that he had brought her to, but didn't complain in the least bit... Once she was laying down fully, she released her hands from around the knife's handle, allowing it to lay as it would. Now that she wasn't moving, there was no need to hold onto the knife's handle, it wouldn't move any more than she did.
She smiled as he came back in and slid a chair close to the bed even though that chair looked like it had seen better days. She would reach out for his hand, curling her fingers slightly around it and closing her eyes as she waited for the Healer to show up... She trusted that Obran would make sure that everything possible was done for her, even in a place where her very relationship to her father could mean that she would be dispised on principle.
He was her friend (and one of the closest ones that she had), after all.
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
Richard and Niv were the first to arrive at Obran's and entered the door that had been left open for them.
As soon as Obran noticed that the were there he raised and bowed to Richard showing his respect for him, "M' Liege, I have brought back some supplies and they are being put away as we speak, and I would also like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine. If it were not for her, this night could have very well been m' last to walk amongst the living."
With that Obran steped back slightly and motioned to Rebecca, "M' Lord, may I introduce Rebecca Dragonsbane of the Royal family. Rebecca.", and as Obran motioned towards Richard,"Rebecca, may I introduce m' closest friend, aside from yourself and m' Liege, King Richard Silvermire. The first of the new Royal family. No offense intended of course."
Obran was not exactly sure how this was going to play out nor how Rebecca would respond to being introduced to the first of the 'new' Royal family but, so far she had accepted him as he is and he hoped that she would do the same in this situation and not hate them for what they were going to do.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
Rebecca smiled as Obran introduced her as a very good friend of his... and when he said that if it were not for her, he could very well have died tonight.... Honestly, she wasn't sure if that was entirely accurate a statement, but that wasn't something that she was about to argue with him about right now either... As soon as he had began speaking, she opened her eyes to regard both Richard and Niv for a moment. Despite how pale she was and the state that she was in, she still managed to smile to the both of them.
"A pleasure to meet.... thee, K-... King Richard..." In fact, her smile had softened a bit when Obran had introduced Richard as the first of the new Royal family.... No, there was no way that she would hold any offense to being introduced this way, despite the circumstances.
"And I h-... hope thou thinks it.... not overly str-... strange to hear me say..... the t-.... time for someone to t-... teach my father a.... lesson.... has long since .... arrived!"
GK Ted Presents (tedk32)
The healer arrived to Obran's house just as the introductions were finishing up and he caught wind of the last part of Rebecca's words.. 'teach my father a lesson' .. Who was this young woman anyway and who was her father. He had heard that the Princess had come into the camp but, surely this could not be her, Not talking about someone teaching her father a lesson.
The healer moved over to Rebecca and looked at the knife sticking from her stomach and made his initial determination of what to do, He proceeded to lightly touch here, and there feeling as he went to what was going on inside as much as outside.
He did not believe that the internal damage was that severe and did not believe that the knife had hit anything important and so, gathered together a few herbs from his pouch, a clean length of cloth, and asked for some water.
He laid the herbs on the cloth and ground them into a mushy mass before walking back over to Rebecca and the bed.
The healer looked back at Richard, Niv, and Obran, "I believe there you three need to leave the room now. I have to remove certain thing to get to the wound."
The healer waited until they had left the house and closed the door before proceeding, He removed her leather breast plate then, "My apologies young lady but this has to be done.", and with that the Healer took his own knife and slit the dress that she wore from the blade of the knife that stuck out of her all the way to the end, then began the process of disrobing her lower half to that he could get to the knife and wound easier.
After this was done, He Grabbed the knife in one hand and quickly pulled it from her then just as quickly placed the compress of herbs over the wound and pressed firmly on it. Then as any good healer would or should do, he wrapped the compress with more clean cloth so that it would hold it in place and put enough pressure on it as to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible.
After doing this he checked the bandage over a couple of time and watched to see how much she would bleed before it would stop. The Herb mixture was one that should promote quick clotting of the wound, cleansing of the wound and removal of any germs that might cause Infection as well as faster healing then it would take on its own.
After covering her with a light blanket that he found under the bed he moved over to the door and opened it, "I have done all that I can do for her, it is in the hands of the Gods now.", Then he left without another word.
Niv Namrahs (GloryChan)
Niv gave a quiet chuckle when the princess declared that the time for teaching her father a lesson had long since arrived... It was far more common than many of those present in the entire encampment would realize that there be conflicting opinions within a single famile, especially a royal family.
Then he watched as the healer moved about the room, attending to his work in a way that led Niv to believe that this Healer was one that would do a very good job indeed. The young princess was in good, capable hands as far as he was able to tell.
Once he had been told that it might be a good idea for him and Richard and Obran to leave the room, Niv simply bowed to the healer and... well.... left the room as he had been instructed to do.
After they were all three out of the room, there was just the waiting to be done... He winced slightly when he heard the telltale scream that would indicate that the Healer had just removed the knife from the princess's belly.... At least it was a short scream, indicating that the operation had been a quick one... That meant that the healer was not causing her any undue pain, only what was necessary for tending her wound in the best way that he knew how to.
Once the healer had announced that he had done everything that he could for the young woman, Niv nodded slightly to him and smiled.
"Thank you for your efforts, Healer." The show of appreciation for what had been done was something that Niv was accustomed to giving to anyone that provided a service. It was only what respect for their skills demanded.
Richard Silvermire (tedk32)
As the introductions went, Richard just gave a polite nod to Rebecca as she was introduced to him, then as the healer came in he moved slightly so as to not be in his way at all.
Once they were asked to leave the room he done so with out as much as a thought but knew, that it was necessary for what was about to happen.
Once outside he looked to Obran, "So my friend, tell me how all of this came about and what happened while you were away. Oh, and I have already seen the written report that the supply master has prepaired for you concerning the supplies that you brought back. I have to say that I am very impressed indeed with your skill of acquiring the things that we need.".
Richard heard the scream as the knife was removed and placed his hand on Obran's forearm, "It is ok my friend, She is in good hands. Just calm yourself, we have things to discuss."
Richard removed his hand as Obran returned his gaze to Richard and Niv then continued with what had happened in the last 5 or 6 hours while Obran was gone.
"Two of the others have already returned with a handful of people each that is willing to join our cause and a few items of interest. Also, we now have a total of 15 horses as one person was able to bring back an entire livery."
Richard looked around for a moment then continued in a slightly hushed tone, "We are almost ready to get the camp kicked into gear and remove those that would cause us harm if they were to find out. This should be completed by morning."
"Now, on with it man, what are the details."
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
Obran really did not want to leave her side but, knew that it would be better for her if he did, after all, He was pretty sure that she would not want him to see those things that were supposed to be left unseen until the night a marriage but, As with most women, Who knew.
After leaving the house and starting the wait he listened and talked then almost rushed into the house when he heard Rebecca scream and would have done so if Richard had not stopped him, so he just listened more, and After Richard was finished and waiting for him to tell of how things went and what happened he begain.
He recounted everything important from the time that he left the camp up to the time that they returned, including his failure to protect Rebecca in the course of the fight with the Bandits. He felt ashamed that he let her get involved and injured in the process but would do his best to make amends to her and gain her forgiveness for not being able to protect her.
As soon as the Healer had left he was the first one through the door and to Rebecca's side. "Rebecca, are you ... ... awake?"
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
When the Healer said that everyone else should leave the room if they didn't want to see the things that was going to have to be uncovered in order for him to work on her wound, she might have argued against Obran leaving the room if it weren't for the fact that she was taught that when one was in the care of a Healer.... doing exactly as the Healer ordered could mean the difference between life and death. Especially when one was in a particularly bad condition to start with.
When the Healer yanked the knife out of her wound, she couldn't help but scream from the sudden flash of pain that turned her entire field of vision red and then black for a moment.... blinking her eyes several times to clear her vision, she bit on her bottom lip as the Healer worked on bandaging her and closed her eyes so that each inidividual checking of her bandaging wouldn't seem quite so bad...
... it wasn't long at all before she heard footsteps approaching even though her eyes were still lightly closed as Obran approached the bedside... Without opening her eyes (the pain was much less severe now than when the knife had still been in her belly), she spoke in a quiet voice that was more filled with amusement than with pain.
"Nay, Obran.... I am fast asleep and talking to thee through mine slumber...." The fact that she gave a faint giggle after saying that probably ruined the believability of it if there ever was any believability.... But it would show that she was feeling worlds better than she had been.
Niv Namrahs (GloryChan)
The signs were clear upon Obran's young face as he kept looking to the doorway while they were still outside and in the way that he very nearly barged right back into the room upon hearing the Princess Rebecca Dragonsbane scream in pain when the knife was removed from her body.... Whether Obran fully realized it or not, Niv was more than sure that the young man had already fallen in love with the woman that he had brought intot he encampment so badly wounded and proclaiming that she had saved his life.
Love was something that Niv knew a great deal about, so recognizing it in others was something that he was very well able to do.
Once they were inside again and Obran asked if she was..... awake...... The elf couldn't help but to chuckle at the joke that she cracked in response to his obviously worried question. That... was a young woman after his own heart.
To show that she was very much alive and at least on the way to being well again in that way.... was exactly what Niv would want to be able to do in the same sort of situation. to show a sense of humor in these matters was something that he could appreciate very well.
Richard Silvermire (tedk32)
Richard just looked at Niv as Obran rushed into the door as soon as the Healer had left out of it then turned his eyes to where Obran should have been but had already disappeard behind the door and into his house then just shrugged his shoulders in what would amount to him saying, ~Well, I would probably do the same so, what can I say~ expressions.
The Young King turned and headed back into the house to find Obran at Rebecca's side and heard the little joke that Rebecca cracked at Obran's question and he could not help but to chuckle at it.
"I am glad to hear that you are already feeling better Princess, I hope that you find your stay here a pleasant one, even considering the circumstances that you were brought here. You are our guest and will be treated as such."
Richard looked to Obran and gave him a slight nod then looked to Niv and motioned that they might wish to leave the two alone for a bit so that she could get some rest and heal from her wounds.
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
As Obran stood by Rebecca and heard her response and could not help to snip back with a slight chuckle, "Yes well, if that be the case then thou might wish to awaken considering that you might give away thy secrets while speaking in thy slumber." of course, poor Obran had not had much dealings with humor and such in his life but, he was at the least trying to do so and hoping that it did not make him sound like the court fool.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
Even if he did sound a bit like a court jester, that certainly wasn't something that she was going to comment on... The fact of the matter was, she was feeling better than she had been by leaps and bounds, even if what she was wearing was little more than tatters below the waist by necessity (okay, so there was only one long cut in it, but she was unused to being in clothing that was anything but in perfect repair!).... She smiled and opened her eyes, looking up into Obran's face as she very slowly sat up in his bed, being careful to move slowly enough that she wouldn't strain her wound any more than she had to and being extra careful to keep the light blanket over her lap so that the condition of her clothing would still be hidden from sight.
It was right about then that Niv tossed Richard a grin behind the pair and turned around, walking sedately from the room and out of the house.... The two could likely use some time alone, yes.... He'd have to agree with that observance.
Rebecca smiled, reaching out for Obran's hand and squeezing it with quite a bit more firmness than she had managed just after being wounded in the first place. She wanted him to know that she was already feeling so much better... Their Healer was good at what he had done.
"How long has it been.... since you left your home, Obran?" She paused for a moment, her curiosity clear in her tone, but also a sadness for what Obran and the rest of the people here must have gone through in the past several months.... She could only imagine, and even that imagining had to be a poor substitute for the reality of it! She hesitated slightly before asking one more question.
"Did you.... .... have a family there?" There was a part of her that didn't want to imagine that he might have had a family back where he had come from... that he might have conceivably lost a wife or even a child?.... but at the same time, she felt that she needed to know, if he would tell her....
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
Obran did not even notice as Richard and Niv left or when they shut his door but, was intently watching Rebecca and listening to what she was saying.
Obran thought for a short moment remembering his time at home and the time when he had to leave it, How long ago had it been, it seemed like an eternity but in actuality it had only been about a year and a half.. That time was difficult for him, he had to abandon everything that he and his father had worked for and just leave it for the vermin and buzzards that would eventually call it home.
The fields, cattle, and their home was gone by now, either destroyed in the fighting or crumbled to the ground from non repair while life went on around it.
Obran felt a small about of pain in his heart for having to leave it but knew that it was for the best, for if he had not then he would more then likely be dead himself now.
"It has been about a year and a half now since I last saw my home, but, I call this home now and as long as I have breath in my lungs I will survive and find another home if need be until there is no more fleeing needed to be done."
He listened to her as she asked her second question and noticed the hesitation in her voice, He knew that she knew that it would not be an easy thing for him to talk about or remember for that matter but, considering everything that had happened so far, it would be for the best that she know something of his past and life before the war had started.
He lowered his eyes slightly before answering, remembering fondly his family, ma and pa and his brother. He could only guess as to what had happened to his brother but knew, what had happened to his ma and pa and it brought him a new since of mission in what Richard was doing and renewed his faith in his own hands in the process.
"Yes Rebecca, .. .. .. I did have a family before the war started, I worked our farm with my ma, pa, and brother. Ma and Pa were put to death as they were unfit to serve in the Kings army and too weak from the taxes that the King had imposed on the food supplies of the farmers. So, they were taken outside and beheaded on our own land by his executioners while his soldiers captured my brother and I and shackled us into a wagon that they filled with as much food that they could carry. Other then that no. No wife nor children, the one person that I was interested in was more interested in one of the Kings Generals and was betrothed to him within a week of their meeting. She never even knew that I existed."
Obran thought back and remembered things that he had tried to forget for the longest but realized that these very things is what made him who he is and gave him the skills that he now has to lead Richard's army to victory. "Na, I escaped from the shackles and wagon but my brother, he was unable to escape and last I saw of him, he was carried off in that wagon to the King's castle after they gave up looking for me."
Obran just bowed his head now in thought. deep deep thought of all that he had lost up to this point then looked up at Rebecca and smiled, "But all is well, for I have found thee and I would give anything for thee for, thou art my closest and dearest friend and for that I love thee."
Obran looked down again as he felt something stirring within his loins, but he would not admit that he had any feelings other then that of deep friendship for young Rebecca at this point.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
A year and a half.... That was a very long time to be away from the place that he had once called home... a very long time indeed to be away from the place where he had grown up into the handsome and strong man that he was now, that had quite literally saved her life when the Bandits had wounded her so grievously that she wasn't sure if she would have been able to draw her bow even one more time.
"I truly hope that thou hast no need to find another place to call home.... lest thou have wish to find a better place to call your home...." Perhaps even a place that she could truly think of as home and not just a place that she would simply live as she did in her father's palace... But that was a thought that she did not voice... Surely, he would not wish to hear a sheltered girl's complaints of feeling out of place in her father's home, especially knowing how he and everyone else in this camp would fight against him as soon as they were able and she could hardly blame them...
.... as disloyal as that made her to her family, to the legacy that her father and his father and his father before him had built..... she found herself wanting to help them in the war that they would be waging with her father....
She listened to him speak of his family.... and then the way that his mother and father were put to death simply because they could not meet the quotas that their King imposed upon farmers.... and frowned softly. That was just the sort of policy that her father seemed to be barely half a step from implementing himself.... just the sort of policy that she could never abide by!
"Oh, Obram.... I cannot even imagine....." And that awas the truth of the matter, too. There was no way that she could imagine having what amounted to her entire family ripped from her, most of it in senseless death and the rest steeped in uncertainty.
When he looked up at her again and smiled at her like that, she smiled softly.... The words that he spoke next.... quite literally brought her vision to fade with the misty effect of tears that gathered in her eyes but she did not allow them to fall. Her voice was warm as she replied. "And I thee, Obran.... Thou art the very best friend that I could e'er ask for... and I would give anything for thou.... anything at all...."
She was quiet for a long moment after making that admission, seemingly lost in thought as she sat there on his bed, her hands keeping the light blanket from moving out of place upon her lap.
Finally, though, she spoke again in a thoughtful tone. "By morning, I will likely be missed, but.... it would almost be worse for me to return home... There could be.... uncomfortable questions." If she were to return home wounded in some way, her maid would know of her wounds soon, and someone else might overhear the conversation and that would be all that would be required to spread the word across the entire palace... And that was the last thing that she needed to happen... Better (as bad as this sounded) for her family to think her abducted than to ask her how she had managed to get such a serious wound...
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
"Yes, a better place to call home would be much better then hiding like this. But would be even better if it twas not too far from thee."
Obran listened as Rebecca spoke and watched her face for signs and clues, "It is ok Rebecca, do not let my past trials trouble you so, they are what has made me able to save you this night and bring you back here to safety."
Obran was starting to feel the fatigue from the nights and days events and was starting to nod right there in the chair beside the bed that rebecca was in, He would soon need sleep for there was still much to do and little time to do it all in.
Richard Silvermire (tedk32)
As Niv and Richard walked back to Richard's place they talked, "Niv, It is closing on the time that the entire camp will know about you and what you can do. As soon as that happens we will need to start putting up the defenses and underground passages and try to get them all up and finished before word spreads too far. There are already more people here then the camp can hold comfortably and this is only a small portion of the neighboring camps. I fear that we may run out of space for food as well as gear, horses and people within the next day or two. If you can do what you can to help make that problem go away then it would be most welcome. However, if it is not something that you can do within that amount of time without harm to yourself then I will understand and we can make due until things are able to be done."
Richard thought alot of Niv and trusted him more then any man alive so far. He only asked for his help in this because he did worry about his people and their well being. The stores were starting to fill, the coffers were also starting to fill nicely. and as far as the people, The camp had gone from a population of around 30 to around 110 in just one full day and there would be more people coming, Richard knew this and wanted to make the transition as smooth as it could be for these new allies.
Niv Namrahs (GloryChan)
"I will begin work on the underground portions of the camp in the morning... There is no time like the present to begin addressing the problem of needing the extra space, and I can begin the tunnel system branching out from under my house... That way, no one need see the work's beginnings and there will be little to no chance of anyone that doesn't already know of my abilities seeing something that they shouldn't." The spellwork would not be particularly easy... not because the spell itself would be complicated... but because of the sheer volume of work that he was going to be doing in order to create an entire network of underground passages and rooms for the use of the camp.
Working with the trees at the perimeter of the camp was something that would simply have to wait until the secret of his Earth magic was out to the entire camp, if only because that was something that could not be done without some indication of what he was doing being possible to see from a distance.
Niv was going to be a very very busy elf very soon now.
The trip from the battlefield (who could have possibly thought of it any other way?) had seemed to be a longer one than it likely really was... Obran had said that he was taking her back with him. He rode gently enough that she was able to drift off for a few minutes at a time a couple different times during the course of the hour to hour and a half that it took to get from where they had been to where they were going....
One of those small naps encompassed the time when their travel veered away from a route that would enable him to take her back to the castle, so she had no clue that they were going anywhere else for quite some time.... Right up until the point when they entered the small encampment/village that was his home with Richard and the others....
.... her eyes widened and she gasped quietly as she looked around the small village..... tiny village, really..... that Obran was bringing her into.... The mannerisms and way that these people dressed.... the looks that some few of them gave her... the tone of the snatches of conversation that she caught from various people going about their nightly tasks before they would be able to finally go to bed themselves....
... all of it combined to give Rebecca a very very clear picture of what was going on here, what Obran had to be a part of.... It was clear that none of these people were overly fond of her father's rule (really, neither was she, though she had never actually said those words!), and they were clearly building up armor and weapons (She had helped Obran to gather some herself even as he has told her about his `secret mission`, lying and telling her that it was under the orders of the King!) in preparation for a fight.... a fight that would be against her father unless she missed her guess by several miles!
And here she was, so grievously wounded and in the middle of a whole camp of people that hated her father, that must think that she was just as bad as he was... If it were not for Obran, she was sure that there would be plenty of people here that would be glad to take hold of the dagger in her belly and twist it, finishing off the `Brat Princess` in their midst!
If it were not for Obran, who only hours ago had been flirting with her, who for the past five months had been a bastion of sanity and excitement for her, who ever since she had met him had been a wonderful friend to her and listened to her complaints without getting irritated even once and walked with her through night after night of sneaking away from her guards and servants.... Obran, who was so much to her even now, even without being more than a very close friend.... He was so much to her, and would have been so much to her even if it weren't for the knife that she was holding steady so that it would not damage her even further...
Once the horses came to a stop and she heard the thump of Obran's feet hitting the ground when he dismounted, she opened her eyes a bit wider and looked up to him, her lips forming into a smile, her hazel eyes showing clearly that she knew, she understood where she was in a way that went beyond just the fact that she was in his home.... far beyond just that....
"Obran..." Her smile never faded in the slightest, even past all the pain that she was in. "...Obran.... thank you, m-.... my friend...." In order for him to think to bring her here of all places.... He had to hold her in very high regard indeed! He had to care for her a great deal, to do this for her even with her in this bad a state...
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
As Rebecca looked up at him and smiled, Obran smiled back at her, then when she said thank you, he smiled even more, "I would never have left you alone and wounded to fend for yourself until I could come back."
Obran looked up at the people that was starting to gather around, "Someone go get the healer... Don't just stand there gawking like you've ne'r seen someone wounded before.", With that a couple of people took off running to fetch the healer, "Oh, and someone call Richard!"..
Obran helped Rebecca get up from the stretcher and into his small house, then she laid down on his meager bed and waited till the healer arrived. After helping Rebecca to lay down Obran moved to his door and stepped out, "You, come here and take these supplies to the supply house and find some food and water for these horses.. Pay special attention to the Mare."
He then walked back into his house and closed the door, slid a rickety looking chair over to the side of the bed where he would sit and wait for Richard and the Healer while watching over Rebecca.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
Rebecca wasn't really in any condition to insist that she would be able to do more in the way of getting herself vertical and to the small house that he was helping her to get to... Though she wouldn't have fought against that even if she had been stronger. There would have been no point to it to begin with, and then there was the fact that she would have ended up hurting herself worse in the process of fighting. Rebecca was a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them.
She winced a bit as he helped her to lay down on the meager bed that he had brought her to, but didn't complain in the least bit... Once she was laying down fully, she released her hands from around the knife's handle, allowing it to lay as it would. Now that she wasn't moving, there was no need to hold onto the knife's handle, it wouldn't move any more than she did.
She smiled as he came back in and slid a chair close to the bed even though that chair looked like it had seen better days. She would reach out for his hand, curling her fingers slightly around it and closing her eyes as she waited for the Healer to show up... She trusted that Obran would make sure that everything possible was done for her, even in a place where her very relationship to her father could mean that she would be dispised on principle.
He was her friend (and one of the closest ones that she had), after all.
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
Richard and Niv were the first to arrive at Obran's and entered the door that had been left open for them.
As soon as Obran noticed that the were there he raised and bowed to Richard showing his respect for him, "M' Liege, I have brought back some supplies and they are being put away as we speak, and I would also like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine. If it were not for her, this night could have very well been m' last to walk amongst the living."
With that Obran steped back slightly and motioned to Rebecca, "M' Lord, may I introduce Rebecca Dragonsbane of the Royal family. Rebecca.", and as Obran motioned towards Richard,"Rebecca, may I introduce m' closest friend, aside from yourself and m' Liege, King Richard Silvermire. The first of the new Royal family. No offense intended of course."
Obran was not exactly sure how this was going to play out nor how Rebecca would respond to being introduced to the first of the 'new' Royal family but, so far she had accepted him as he is and he hoped that she would do the same in this situation and not hate them for what they were going to do.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
Rebecca smiled as Obran introduced her as a very good friend of his... and when he said that if it were not for her, he could very well have died tonight.... Honestly, she wasn't sure if that was entirely accurate a statement, but that wasn't something that she was about to argue with him about right now either... As soon as he had began speaking, she opened her eyes to regard both Richard and Niv for a moment. Despite how pale she was and the state that she was in, she still managed to smile to the both of them.
"A pleasure to meet.... thee, K-... King Richard..." In fact, her smile had softened a bit when Obran had introduced Richard as the first of the new Royal family.... No, there was no way that she would hold any offense to being introduced this way, despite the circumstances.
"And I h-... hope thou thinks it.... not overly str-... strange to hear me say..... the t-.... time for someone to t-... teach my father a.... lesson.... has long since .... arrived!"
GK Ted Presents (tedk32)
The healer arrived to Obran's house just as the introductions were finishing up and he caught wind of the last part of Rebecca's words.. 'teach my father a lesson' .. Who was this young woman anyway and who was her father. He had heard that the Princess had come into the camp but, surely this could not be her, Not talking about someone teaching her father a lesson.
The healer moved over to Rebecca and looked at the knife sticking from her stomach and made his initial determination of what to do, He proceeded to lightly touch here, and there feeling as he went to what was going on inside as much as outside.
He did not believe that the internal damage was that severe and did not believe that the knife had hit anything important and so, gathered together a few herbs from his pouch, a clean length of cloth, and asked for some water.
He laid the herbs on the cloth and ground them into a mushy mass before walking back over to Rebecca and the bed.
The healer looked back at Richard, Niv, and Obran, "I believe there you three need to leave the room now. I have to remove certain thing to get to the wound."
The healer waited until they had left the house and closed the door before proceeding, He removed her leather breast plate then, "My apologies young lady but this has to be done.", and with that the Healer took his own knife and slit the dress that she wore from the blade of the knife that stuck out of her all the way to the end, then began the process of disrobing her lower half to that he could get to the knife and wound easier.
After this was done, He Grabbed the knife in one hand and quickly pulled it from her then just as quickly placed the compress of herbs over the wound and pressed firmly on it. Then as any good healer would or should do, he wrapped the compress with more clean cloth so that it would hold it in place and put enough pressure on it as to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible.
After doing this he checked the bandage over a couple of time and watched to see how much she would bleed before it would stop. The Herb mixture was one that should promote quick clotting of the wound, cleansing of the wound and removal of any germs that might cause Infection as well as faster healing then it would take on its own.
After covering her with a light blanket that he found under the bed he moved over to the door and opened it, "I have done all that I can do for her, it is in the hands of the Gods now.", Then he left without another word.
Niv Namrahs (GloryChan)
Niv gave a quiet chuckle when the princess declared that the time for teaching her father a lesson had long since arrived... It was far more common than many of those present in the entire encampment would realize that there be conflicting opinions within a single famile, especially a royal family.
Then he watched as the healer moved about the room, attending to his work in a way that led Niv to believe that this Healer was one that would do a very good job indeed. The young princess was in good, capable hands as far as he was able to tell.
Once he had been told that it might be a good idea for him and Richard and Obran to leave the room, Niv simply bowed to the healer and... well.... left the room as he had been instructed to do.
After they were all three out of the room, there was just the waiting to be done... He winced slightly when he heard the telltale scream that would indicate that the Healer had just removed the knife from the princess's belly.... At least it was a short scream, indicating that the operation had been a quick one... That meant that the healer was not causing her any undue pain, only what was necessary for tending her wound in the best way that he knew how to.
Once the healer had announced that he had done everything that he could for the young woman, Niv nodded slightly to him and smiled.
"Thank you for your efforts, Healer." The show of appreciation for what had been done was something that Niv was accustomed to giving to anyone that provided a service. It was only what respect for their skills demanded.
Richard Silvermire (tedk32)
As the introductions went, Richard just gave a polite nod to Rebecca as she was introduced to him, then as the healer came in he moved slightly so as to not be in his way at all.
Once they were asked to leave the room he done so with out as much as a thought but knew, that it was necessary for what was about to happen.
Once outside he looked to Obran, "So my friend, tell me how all of this came about and what happened while you were away. Oh, and I have already seen the written report that the supply master has prepaired for you concerning the supplies that you brought back. I have to say that I am very impressed indeed with your skill of acquiring the things that we need.".
Richard heard the scream as the knife was removed and placed his hand on Obran's forearm, "It is ok my friend, She is in good hands. Just calm yourself, we have things to discuss."
Richard removed his hand as Obran returned his gaze to Richard and Niv then continued with what had happened in the last 5 or 6 hours while Obran was gone.
"Two of the others have already returned with a handful of people each that is willing to join our cause and a few items of interest. Also, we now have a total of 15 horses as one person was able to bring back an entire livery."
Richard looked around for a moment then continued in a slightly hushed tone, "We are almost ready to get the camp kicked into gear and remove those that would cause us harm if they were to find out. This should be completed by morning."
"Now, on with it man, what are the details."
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
Obran really did not want to leave her side but, knew that it would be better for her if he did, after all, He was pretty sure that she would not want him to see those things that were supposed to be left unseen until the night a marriage but, As with most women, Who knew.
After leaving the house and starting the wait he listened and talked then almost rushed into the house when he heard Rebecca scream and would have done so if Richard had not stopped him, so he just listened more, and After Richard was finished and waiting for him to tell of how things went and what happened he begain.
He recounted everything important from the time that he left the camp up to the time that they returned, including his failure to protect Rebecca in the course of the fight with the Bandits. He felt ashamed that he let her get involved and injured in the process but would do his best to make amends to her and gain her forgiveness for not being able to protect her.
As soon as the Healer had left he was the first one through the door and to Rebecca's side. "Rebecca, are you ... ... awake?"
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
When the Healer said that everyone else should leave the room if they didn't want to see the things that was going to have to be uncovered in order for him to work on her wound, she might have argued against Obran leaving the room if it weren't for the fact that she was taught that when one was in the care of a Healer.... doing exactly as the Healer ordered could mean the difference between life and death. Especially when one was in a particularly bad condition to start with.
When the Healer yanked the knife out of her wound, she couldn't help but scream from the sudden flash of pain that turned her entire field of vision red and then black for a moment.... blinking her eyes several times to clear her vision, she bit on her bottom lip as the Healer worked on bandaging her and closed her eyes so that each inidividual checking of her bandaging wouldn't seem quite so bad...
... it wasn't long at all before she heard footsteps approaching even though her eyes were still lightly closed as Obran approached the bedside... Without opening her eyes (the pain was much less severe now than when the knife had still been in her belly), she spoke in a quiet voice that was more filled with amusement than with pain.
"Nay, Obran.... I am fast asleep and talking to thee through mine slumber...." The fact that she gave a faint giggle after saying that probably ruined the believability of it if there ever was any believability.... But it would show that she was feeling worlds better than she had been.
Niv Namrahs (GloryChan)
The signs were clear upon Obran's young face as he kept looking to the doorway while they were still outside and in the way that he very nearly barged right back into the room upon hearing the Princess Rebecca Dragonsbane scream in pain when the knife was removed from her body.... Whether Obran fully realized it or not, Niv was more than sure that the young man had already fallen in love with the woman that he had brought intot he encampment so badly wounded and proclaiming that she had saved his life.
Love was something that Niv knew a great deal about, so recognizing it in others was something that he was very well able to do.
Once they were inside again and Obran asked if she was..... awake...... The elf couldn't help but to chuckle at the joke that she cracked in response to his obviously worried question. That... was a young woman after his own heart.
To show that she was very much alive and at least on the way to being well again in that way.... was exactly what Niv would want to be able to do in the same sort of situation. to show a sense of humor in these matters was something that he could appreciate very well.
Richard Silvermire (tedk32)
Richard just looked at Niv as Obran rushed into the door as soon as the Healer had left out of it then turned his eyes to where Obran should have been but had already disappeard behind the door and into his house then just shrugged his shoulders in what would amount to him saying, ~Well, I would probably do the same so, what can I say~ expressions.
The Young King turned and headed back into the house to find Obran at Rebecca's side and heard the little joke that Rebecca cracked at Obran's question and he could not help but to chuckle at it.
"I am glad to hear that you are already feeling better Princess, I hope that you find your stay here a pleasant one, even considering the circumstances that you were brought here. You are our guest and will be treated as such."
Richard looked to Obran and gave him a slight nod then looked to Niv and motioned that they might wish to leave the two alone for a bit so that she could get some rest and heal from her wounds.
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
As Obran stood by Rebecca and heard her response and could not help to snip back with a slight chuckle, "Yes well, if that be the case then thou might wish to awaken considering that you might give away thy secrets while speaking in thy slumber." of course, poor Obran had not had much dealings with humor and such in his life but, he was at the least trying to do so and hoping that it did not make him sound like the court fool.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
Even if he did sound a bit like a court jester, that certainly wasn't something that she was going to comment on... The fact of the matter was, she was feeling better than she had been by leaps and bounds, even if what she was wearing was little more than tatters below the waist by necessity (okay, so there was only one long cut in it, but she was unused to being in clothing that was anything but in perfect repair!).... She smiled and opened her eyes, looking up into Obran's face as she very slowly sat up in his bed, being careful to move slowly enough that she wouldn't strain her wound any more than she had to and being extra careful to keep the light blanket over her lap so that the condition of her clothing would still be hidden from sight.
It was right about then that Niv tossed Richard a grin behind the pair and turned around, walking sedately from the room and out of the house.... The two could likely use some time alone, yes.... He'd have to agree with that observance.
Rebecca smiled, reaching out for Obran's hand and squeezing it with quite a bit more firmness than she had managed just after being wounded in the first place. She wanted him to know that she was already feeling so much better... Their Healer was good at what he had done.
"How long has it been.... since you left your home, Obran?" She paused for a moment, her curiosity clear in her tone, but also a sadness for what Obran and the rest of the people here must have gone through in the past several months.... She could only imagine, and even that imagining had to be a poor substitute for the reality of it! She hesitated slightly before asking one more question.
"Did you.... .... have a family there?" There was a part of her that didn't want to imagine that he might have had a family back where he had come from... that he might have conceivably lost a wife or even a child?.... but at the same time, she felt that she needed to know, if he would tell her....
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
Obran did not even notice as Richard and Niv left or when they shut his door but, was intently watching Rebecca and listening to what she was saying.
Obran thought for a short moment remembering his time at home and the time when he had to leave it, How long ago had it been, it seemed like an eternity but in actuality it had only been about a year and a half.. That time was difficult for him, he had to abandon everything that he and his father had worked for and just leave it for the vermin and buzzards that would eventually call it home.
The fields, cattle, and their home was gone by now, either destroyed in the fighting or crumbled to the ground from non repair while life went on around it.
Obran felt a small about of pain in his heart for having to leave it but knew that it was for the best, for if he had not then he would more then likely be dead himself now.
"It has been about a year and a half now since I last saw my home, but, I call this home now and as long as I have breath in my lungs I will survive and find another home if need be until there is no more fleeing needed to be done."
He listened to her as she asked her second question and noticed the hesitation in her voice, He knew that she knew that it would not be an easy thing for him to talk about or remember for that matter but, considering everything that had happened so far, it would be for the best that she know something of his past and life before the war had started.
He lowered his eyes slightly before answering, remembering fondly his family, ma and pa and his brother. He could only guess as to what had happened to his brother but knew, what had happened to his ma and pa and it brought him a new since of mission in what Richard was doing and renewed his faith in his own hands in the process.
"Yes Rebecca, .. .. .. I did have a family before the war started, I worked our farm with my ma, pa, and brother. Ma and Pa were put to death as they were unfit to serve in the Kings army and too weak from the taxes that the King had imposed on the food supplies of the farmers. So, they were taken outside and beheaded on our own land by his executioners while his soldiers captured my brother and I and shackled us into a wagon that they filled with as much food that they could carry. Other then that no. No wife nor children, the one person that I was interested in was more interested in one of the Kings Generals and was betrothed to him within a week of their meeting. She never even knew that I existed."
Obran thought back and remembered things that he had tried to forget for the longest but realized that these very things is what made him who he is and gave him the skills that he now has to lead Richard's army to victory. "Na, I escaped from the shackles and wagon but my brother, he was unable to escape and last I saw of him, he was carried off in that wagon to the King's castle after they gave up looking for me."
Obran just bowed his head now in thought. deep deep thought of all that he had lost up to this point then looked up at Rebecca and smiled, "But all is well, for I have found thee and I would give anything for thee for, thou art my closest and dearest friend and for that I love thee."
Obran looked down again as he felt something stirring within his loins, but he would not admit that he had any feelings other then that of deep friendship for young Rebecca at this point.
Rebecca Dragonsbane (GloryChan)
A year and a half.... That was a very long time to be away from the place that he had once called home... a very long time indeed to be away from the place where he had grown up into the handsome and strong man that he was now, that had quite literally saved her life when the Bandits had wounded her so grievously that she wasn't sure if she would have been able to draw her bow even one more time.
"I truly hope that thou hast no need to find another place to call home.... lest thou have wish to find a better place to call your home...." Perhaps even a place that she could truly think of as home and not just a place that she would simply live as she did in her father's palace... But that was a thought that she did not voice... Surely, he would not wish to hear a sheltered girl's complaints of feeling out of place in her father's home, especially knowing how he and everyone else in this camp would fight against him as soon as they were able and she could hardly blame them...
.... as disloyal as that made her to her family, to the legacy that her father and his father and his father before him had built..... she found herself wanting to help them in the war that they would be waging with her father....
She listened to him speak of his family.... and then the way that his mother and father were put to death simply because they could not meet the quotas that their King imposed upon farmers.... and frowned softly. That was just the sort of policy that her father seemed to be barely half a step from implementing himself.... just the sort of policy that she could never abide by!
"Oh, Obram.... I cannot even imagine....." And that awas the truth of the matter, too. There was no way that she could imagine having what amounted to her entire family ripped from her, most of it in senseless death and the rest steeped in uncertainty.
When he looked up at her again and smiled at her like that, she smiled softly.... The words that he spoke next.... quite literally brought her vision to fade with the misty effect of tears that gathered in her eyes but she did not allow them to fall. Her voice was warm as she replied. "And I thee, Obran.... Thou art the very best friend that I could e'er ask for... and I would give anything for thou.... anything at all...."
She was quiet for a long moment after making that admission, seemingly lost in thought as she sat there on his bed, her hands keeping the light blanket from moving out of place upon her lap.
Finally, though, she spoke again in a thoughtful tone. "By morning, I will likely be missed, but.... it would almost be worse for me to return home... There could be.... uncomfortable questions." If she were to return home wounded in some way, her maid would know of her wounds soon, and someone else might overhear the conversation and that would be all that would be required to spread the word across the entire palace... And that was the last thing that she needed to happen... Better (as bad as this sounded) for her family to think her abducted than to ask her how she had managed to get such a serious wound...
Obran Ravyn (tedk32)
"Yes, a better place to call home would be much better then hiding like this. But would be even better if it twas not too far from thee."
Obran listened as Rebecca spoke and watched her face for signs and clues, "It is ok Rebecca, do not let my past trials trouble you so, they are what has made me able to save you this night and bring you back here to safety."
Obran was starting to feel the fatigue from the nights and days events and was starting to nod right there in the chair beside the bed that rebecca was in, He would soon need sleep for there was still much to do and little time to do it all in.
Richard Silvermire (tedk32)
As Niv and Richard walked back to Richard's place they talked, "Niv, It is closing on the time that the entire camp will know about you and what you can do. As soon as that happens we will need to start putting up the defenses and underground passages and try to get them all up and finished before word spreads too far. There are already more people here then the camp can hold comfortably and this is only a small portion of the neighboring camps. I fear that we may run out of space for food as well as gear, horses and people within the next day or two. If you can do what you can to help make that problem go away then it would be most welcome. However, if it is not something that you can do within that amount of time without harm to yourself then I will understand and we can make due until things are able to be done."
Richard thought alot of Niv and trusted him more then any man alive so far. He only asked for his help in this because he did worry about his people and their well being. The stores were starting to fill, the coffers were also starting to fill nicely. and as far as the people, The camp had gone from a population of around 30 to around 110 in just one full day and there would be more people coming, Richard knew this and wanted to make the transition as smooth as it could be for these new allies.
Niv Namrahs (GloryChan)
"I will begin work on the underground portions of the camp in the morning... There is no time like the present to begin addressing the problem of needing the extra space, and I can begin the tunnel system branching out from under my house... That way, no one need see the work's beginnings and there will be little to no chance of anyone that doesn't already know of my abilities seeing something that they shouldn't." The spellwork would not be particularly easy... not because the spell itself would be complicated... but because of the sheer volume of work that he was going to be doing in order to create an entire network of underground passages and rooms for the use of the camp.
Working with the trees at the perimeter of the camp was something that would simply have to wait until the secret of his Earth magic was out to the entire camp, if only because that was something that could not be done without some indication of what he was doing being possible to see from a distance.
Niv was going to be a very very busy elf very soon now.