"A noble young squire that lived in the West...He courted a young lady gay.....And as he was merry he put forth a jest....a wager with her he would lay...."
I am making excellent progress on my embroidered tapestry for Heriwulf and the clan. The left side has a border and trees! I am pretty happy how it turned out. I finished mending Heriwulf's tunic, Pipsqueek's blanket, and the gambeson for Tree-Walker.
"A wager with me...the yound lady replied....I pray about what it must be? If I like the humor ye shan't be denied...I love to be merry and free...."
Not exactly what I hoped I would be doing on this day, but it is something. My foot hurts, still. I think Heriwulf is bringing one of the healers from the group from the Vales to look at my foot today. I am pretty sure something is wrong with it, but I am too delirious to figure out what and I don't trust myself to fix it. Observe or instruct someone else, sure, once I know what is wrong. but not fix it. I would do more damage and make everything worse. I am so glad Heriwulf is looking out for me. This foot proved more bothersome than I thought it would be. I probably would be dead from infection if it wasn't for him.
"Quoth he, I will lay you a hundred gold..... A hundred gold, aye, and ten...That a maid if ye...go to the merry Broomfield...That a maid ye return not again...."
Someone is touching my shoulders. I would know these hands anywhere. Their warmth, their feel, their strength, the pressure of them on my skin. Blind, deaf, and on my death bed I would know these hands. Heriwulf! He is smiling too! He has been upstairs all day talking about the battle with that Widow. Quick! Hide the embroidery! Don't let him see it until it is finished!! Keeping secrets. Yes! Yes I am love! He kissed the top of my head! Everything about him is so warm. His touch. His kisses make me all warm and fuzzy. My head has this lovely warmth spreading from where he kissed me. I love this man!!
Wood-Sculptor and Jessandra are here. Probably for dinner. I wish Heriwulf would let me back in the kitchen so I could cook for everyone again. He had leftover fish. Blegh. Leftover fish. How good is fish the second day? Can't imagine it would have been better than the double roasted potatoes I would have made with cream and bacon and cheese. Leftover fish. Now he is off to fetch River-Wader to look at my foot.
"I'll lay ye that wager...the lady she said..then the money she flung down amain...To the merry Broomfield I'll go a pure maid....the same I'll return home again...He covered her bet in the midst of the hall...with a hundred and ten jolly gold.."
From what I am told, River-Wader is the healer in the Vales' apprentice. Lad of about five and ten. Eager to learn they all say. We'll see how well he does when he sees my foot. I don't doubt Heriwulf's word the lad is good. I trust my love with my life. We'll see how much instruction he needs and where his strengths lay. Lady Gailedhel keeps saying I need to find an apprentice and start teaching. We'll see how it goes with River-Wader and see if I am really ready.
"And then to his servant he straightway did call...for to bring forth his hawk and his hounds....A ready obedience the servant did yield...and all was made ready o'er night. Next mornin' he went to the merry Broomfield...to meet with his love and delight."
It will be nice having a second set of healing hands around here. If I were ever to get really sick, there wouldn't be anyone who could take care of me. I know Heriwulf would try, but we don't have anyone with advanced healing knowledge around here except me. Maybe I should talk to Heriwulf about that?
"Now when he came there...having waited a while among the green broom down he lies...The lady came to him and could not but smile...for sleep then had closed his eyes..."
And he is back. Look at this nervous lad! You would think I was going to eat him or something. He is looking everywhere except where I am. Stammer and a thick accent. Sounds like a Dale lad. Thicker than the others' accents. Heriwulf is whispering in my ear!! Sends a shiver down my spine every time! Probably should never tell him it drives me wild when he does that. He already has way too much control over me with his eyes and smile and his arms...no need to let him know his whispers in my ear make me want to agree with everything he is saying just to get him to keep doing it. Nope. Our little secret brain. What did he even say? I was too focused on the whisper. Oops. I wouldn't have remembered it with the fever any how.
The lad is asking some good questions. Not even flinching when I described what happened. I feel a little guilty I never told Heriwulf everything that happened to my foot. I never lied when he asked how I was doing, but I never offered up more information. Didn't lie. He didn't ask. I didn't want him to worry any more than he already is. Sweet love. More good questions! This lad has promise! Intuitive. Comes naturally for him. If only he weren't so shy and nervous. The lad keeps stammering and fidgeting. Not something that will strike a lot of confidence in his patient's hearts. He'll get there.
Oh, look! Tree-Walker and Ljota are here! Maybe if this goes well, I might be able to convince Heriwulf to let me into the kitchen to make something special and we could all eat something sweet and have a drink to celebrate the day!! That is exactly what this day needs to brighten things up! Oh! Scarlett Jay is here too!
He suggested feverfew. Good! I don't do well on that either, but it takes more of the pain away. I get more drunk on it and never remember what idiotic and embarrassing things I do or say, but it knocks out the fever and the pain like nothing else. Far better than willow bark. Quick mind this one! Get him talking about healing and something he knows and look at him go!! No stammer either. Must be a confidence issue. We can fix that! I am the Queen of Confidence!! Courage my young friend! Cour---!! Son of a motherless goat!!!! He found the bone. Not set right. So not set right. This is going to hurt. Guess the celebration is out. Great. Just how I wanted to spend my day. Stuck inside all day with a broken foot. No company. No pups. Embroidering and mending. Not able to cook. And now he has to rebreak my foot in order to reset the bone. And now I scared the lad. Great. Smile and let him know he didn't kill you.
Good lad. Keep talking. Let's both focus on something other than how we feel. Your nerves and my pain. Let's forget about them both. Looks like River-Wader is not for fighting in the battle and is here as the only healer from the Vales. Wow. I really need to talk to them about getting more than one healer. Seriously. The Vales has this lad and a healer who was too old too travel. Redundancy is not something you have to worry about with healers. It is a good thing!! Seriously need to get a second healer around here.
He is doing really well as a healer. Taking the lead. Making good suggestions. Asking the right questions. He is going to be invaluable during the battle. He even has Heriwulf running around fetching things at his command. Now we have plaster, which means it is going to be broken soon. Soaking it for now. The calm before the storm. I should buy Home-Wright another bag of plaster after this. Oh, she makes it! Well then. HA! Jess!! Not buying anything with my foot! HA! Love her. Too focused to reply though. Sorry lass.
River-Wader is checking my foot still under the water. Gentle hands this one. Giving me instructions on not getting the cast wet and how to care for my foot. Sweet lad. Guess no skinny dipping in the cold water. So refreshing! HA! Heriwulf! "It's not warm enough unless you want to have to gargle salt water." Ha!! Love that--- WHAT! THE! EVER! BEAUTIFUL! AND! GOOD! JUST! HAPPENED!?! THAT LITTLE!!! PIECE OF!!! BROKE MY FOOT!!!!
Don't throw up on him.
Don't you dare throw up, LEO! Ljota cleans this floor. Do. Not. Throw. Up. On. It. Or the lad. Or Heriwulf. Just don't throw up. Focus on that. Focus on not throwing up. And not crying. Don't scare the lad or make Heriwulf worry. Don't throw up and don't cry. You can do it. Maybe. Probably. Breathe. Answer the lad's question. Don't open your mouth though. Keep those lips clenched! No escapees!
Oh, look! Heriwulf has alcohol. Don't mind if I drink copious amounts of this, thank you! Oh! He was right. He was so right about needing a second healer. I couldn't have reset this on my own without passing out. I might still. By Elbereth that hurt!! Cider, finished. Hold onto Heriwulf's hand for strength and to steady yourself and focus on your breathing. Breathe. Don't think about how much you want to throw up right now. Or how you want to chop off your foot to stop the pain. Just feel Heriwulf's skin. His strong, perfect, rough hand.
NO! Don't leave to get a bowl!! Come back! Ok, Leo. You can do this. Breathe and focus on something other than the pain. Oh! Mention that book with the anatomy pictures! River-Wader would love that! Might need to find someone to teach him to read and write. He could go back home like a King. Extra knowledge, having survived a battle, able to read and write, girls will swoon. His confidence will soar.
He is back! Hand. Now. So tired. I feel like I am going to pass out. Or throw up. Or both. Probably both. Please not both.
Heriwulf wants to learn to read and write too. Might see if my friend can come in and teach everyone. Should bring it up to Heriwulf after everything is over. Battle. Orcs. Later. So tired. Heriwulf can draw? Oh, right. He mentioned he needed drawing supplies. Cider is kicking in. Hoorah for an empty stomach! Still hurts, but maybe now I will sleep through the pain? And River-Wader is off. Shy lad. Heriwulf is back. With a half-eaten cheese danish hanging out of his mouth. Love him. Cheek kisses! Thank you love. I needed that.
I should gather my things and head upstairs before I pass out or throw up. Stand up...nope. Bad idea. Sitting is good. Heriwulf's arms. Yes. This is what I need. More cider and more Heriwulf. This hurts! So much! I want to cry, but can't while every one else is looking. They already probably think I am a hazard based on Spear training. I don't want them to think I am a giant baby too. And in bed. Heriwulf! Hug me! I need hugs from my love to feel better. And I am crying. At least I held out until we were alone. Good job, Leo.
Snuggles with Heriwulf makes everything better. If only the hounds could be on the bed too. One big cuddle pile. We need a bigger bed. And more hounds. He says when his cabin is build he will get two rooms. One for the bedroom with a big bed and one for everything else. He mentioned me and my embroidery. He wants me to live with him in his cabin! Love! That was the best gift I could have gotten for my birthday. The day started awful and got worse, but I didn't throw up and I get to end it in Heriwulf's arms. So...tired....Love him...
