[an error occurred while processing this directive] Written by: Krowe
Posted on: September 19th, 2002

Moriquendi Tears

Chapter XIX : A Mending Of Wounds, Old & New
The company rode in to the castle walls looking ragged and tired. Erufailon was weary looking and his eyes were glazed and puffy, and he looked like terror had laid hold of him good and tight. Nicodemus looked none the worse for wear besides needing a good bath and a good nights rest. A fury seemed to burn in his eyes. Captain Farantil and what remained of the Helcarduin were the worst of the bunch. Armour and clothes were torn and ripped; their hair was disheveled; eyes were open but unblinking, staring to eternity and there was nothing in between.

The men pulled up to the stables and dismounted while stablehands took their recently occupied horses to cubicles for holding and grooming and feeding. Captain Farantil gave the word to the Helcarduin to go and see surgeons for their wounds, to rest easy that night, and to eat and drink well. The men seemed only barely delighted to hear these words and replied with half-lipped grunts of agreement as they drug themselves off in their own directions.

Elric came strolling out of the keep with a slight differance in walk. He scanned the courtyard before him and gawked at the sights that befell his eyes. Across the way Erufailon and Nicodemus were taking care of some last minute details with Captain Farantil and the stablehands. Erufailon looked like terror still held a stone hard grip on his heart and soul. Nicodemus looked angry, but at what could not be discerned. The sight of the Helcarduin made the Elf's heart dropm seeing them in such a humiliated and distraught state, and with there being far fewer than he remembered.

Elric crossed the space in between him and his fellow Knights of Azuron in a matter of heartbeats, watching Captain Farantil walk off to join the disheveled remnants of his group. "What has happened, my friends? Were there not more of you? I seem to remember a good number of 25 with you when you departed Sir Nicodemus and now you and the Squire come rolling in with maybe 10 men left? Are the two of you alright? Tell me, what news?"

Nicodemus finally let his rage out, yelling at no one in particular, just yelling. "WE WENT TO LOOK FOR THE MOREQUENDI. WE FOUND THEM. WE LEFT AND THEY ATTACKED US. WE LOST HALF OF OUR TEAM RIGHT THERE TO 3 OF THEM! 3!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??!? 12 MEN GONE TO 3 MEN! IT'S INCREDULOUS! AND THEN WE GET AWAY AND TRY TO MAKE IT BACK HERE TO YOU AND THEY FIND AND ATTACK US AGAIN! AGAIN! BAH! WE LOST A FEW MORE THERE AND LO AND BEHOLD, WE ARE SAVED. BUT BY WHOM? MOREQUENDI! AHHHH! I WOULD LIKE TO KILL THEM ALL! HOW CAN 3 MEN WIPE OUT A BATTALION OF 25 LIKE THIS???"

Nicodemus silenced after his outbreak and calmed back down. "I apologize, m'lord. I've never seen anything quite like it before in my whole life. And to be saved BY MORE Morequendi bothers me even more!" The angry Knight crossed his arms and knitted his brow, not knowing what else to say.

Elric grimaced in what seemed like pain and turned to Erufailon. "So you were saved from the Morequendi BY Morequendi, eh? Care to elaborate on this, young Squire?"

"All I can tell you, m'lord, is that the second time the 3 beset us we were going back into the frey and surely would have lost if some female Morequendi named Morķe and her companion wouldn't have shown up and killed the three of them."

Elric whom was already pale looking and rather anxious seeming suddenly grew much paler and quieter as his eyes darted about looking here and there and to and fro. "Let us continue this discussion...." Elric's eyes darted about even more as he finished, "... inside. It is.. not..." Elrics breathed out a pained sigh, "..safe here."

The High Lord turned and started back off towards the castle keep when Nicodemus and Erufailon swooned with the image presented before them. A large gash was slit across the Elf's back, with fresh blood still flowing from the wound. Redness and swelling had begun to spring about the exposed flesh surrounding the nasty laceration. Elric paused and remembered the cut and mocked, "Bah. 'Tis but a fleshwound. We shall look to it and any of your injuries inside whilst we talk. Come. Follow me."

The two followed behind the High Lord, complacent and quiet in their thoughts as to what could have happened here in their own time away from Elric and King Ell'drill.

**********************************************

The three sat in quiet within the sanctity of the library sharing tea. Serache was of course with them, listening whole-heartedly, in hopes that he would not miss anything might need to be chronicled. Erufailon had indeed turned out to be a quite knowledgeable herbologist. He had tended to his High Lords wounds with some common herbs he found within the castle walls and within a few hours the bleeding had stopped and remained clean, while the redness and swelling were almost gone. A strong bandage was laid around his midriff to keep any outside dirt from infecting the freshly cleaned wound. Erufailon and Nicodemus had both retired for a few hours to bathe and change into a fresh set of clothing bestowed by the graciousness of King Ell'drill.

After all had been taken care of, the three sat talking about the misadventures that had befallen all of them in their absence from each others presence. Erufailon looked at Elric with a puzzled expression. "So... this Morķe person... you.. know her? What is she doing here? And what does she have to do with any of this?"

Elric sighed deeply. "That, my young friend, is an old tale I would rather not get into now. Maybe some other day I shall tell you. For now... I think it best we retire to our rooms and rest. There are things that we need to do when tomorrow eaves upon us."

Nicodemus yawned and replied with some form of grateful sound amidst the yawn. Elric smiled. Erufailon sat still and remained quiet. The High Lord and Nicodemus stood and walked out to the hallway. A little further on they shook hands and exchanged a final pleasentry before heading to their own respective rooms. Serache sat with Erufailon in silence.

"Young one. You have done a great service to my friend Elric. And you have done commendable deeds by helping us in this gravest of hours. Do not fret yourself with questions of Elrics past. As you come to know him, more will be revealed. Until then, care for yourself and him; and keep your head in the present. If you ever need to know that past, come in search for me. I can tell you all that you will ever truly need to know of the past, or so I hope," Serache smiled throughout speaking these kindnesses.

Erufailon smiled weakly and shook his head, as if to clear the thoughts within. He stood and looked down at Serache's warm and friendly face. "Thank you, good sir. I shall see you on the morn'."

"Indeed, you shall, young Dryad. Sleep well."

Erufailon nodded and turned off in search of his own room and a good nights sleep.
[Previous | Next]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]