She took Hreddere from his place in the stables when she was stopped by a young face. The young shieldmaiden was giving her a confused look as the Quartermaster was dressed in chainmail.
“Quartermaster,” Niehstu spoke softly, “Is that you? I almost did not recognize you. You almost look like a shieldmaiden.”
“You are not mistaken. At a time, I was.” Ceolswith looked down slightly, "Life got in the way of my training, but that is for another time. Busy?"
Niehstu shook her head, bringing her steed closer.
The Quartermaster continued, “I am about to fetch some water and the Aethelwigend prefers that I do not go out of town by myself. Mind joining? Think of it as a chance away from duties.”
Niehstu gave her a long look, her thoughts trailing away for a moment. She nodded slowly, “I've only been outside once, but I'll do my best.”
"Then I will lead the way. Keep an eye out for the men that have been raiding us. They tend to enjoy ambushing me as I work."
Niehstu gave the Quartermaster a fearful look. She still nodded, stirring uncomfortably on top of her horse. Ceolswith pulled one of her spears from her pack. She gave her steed a bit of a tap on the rear with it as she directed them to the western gate, "You are fine with the idea of fighting, no?"
Niehstu cleared her throat, “Never did any.”
Ceolswith halted, waving for her to stop beside her, "You can fight though?"
The young woman opened her mouth, hesitating as she's not quite sure herself, “I've trained for it Quartermaster.”
“If you are not ready, just speak. I will not force you into anything you are not ready for.” She spoke in a concerned tone.
Niehstu tightened her lip then speaks up, “We need to get water for the Aethelwigend no?”
Ceolswith looked her over for a bit, studying her. The chance of getting into a fight was bound to be high, as Alf’s men were lurching around Stangard, seeking easy prey, "Aye. Langhund thinks everyone is getting sick from the water in town."
Niehstu nodded once as she reached down to stroke her horse's crest, more to calm herself than the beast.
Ceolswith tapped her horse again. She kept a slow pace, glancing into the Limlight Gorge and studying it for anything out of place as they reached higher ground. It was certainly a beautiful place in their homeland. Niehstu looked around warily, then down at her gear, to the side of her horse when some of her weapons are strapped. She licked her lips feeling them dry.
The older woman took a glance back, speaking with a cautious tone, "Last time, Aodhred and I found ourselves in trouble. Be prepared for anything."
Niehstu winced uncomfortably as she feels the light has become lesser, maybe it is that the sun is hidden behind the clouds. She looked around at the unknown territory as small talk is made. They continued along a road as Ceolswith stopped at the sight of horses tied outside of a strange, wooden building. The Quartermaster stood in her saddle to get a better view before dismounting. Niehstu slipped down from her horse after taking her spear in hand. She led her horse by the reins with the other.
Ceolswith moved her spear to her left hand before loosening her sword, "Odd, I do not recognize those horses. Be prepared for anything." She walked slowly; her spear ready to throw with her sword arm holding her blade. The young shieldmaiden blinked, the words of the older woman echoing in her ears, though their meaning still obscure to her. She fell a few steps behind, her gaze flicking about, having no clue what to do. The Quartermaster stopped by the horses, inspecting them further for items. The beasts make some nervous noises before Ceolswith waves on.
Niehstu followed quickly, feeling her heart beat so fast she thinks she can almost hear it. She tried to stay behind the cover of the trees. Ceolswith stopped again at the next tree as the door to the sawmill opens. Three rough looking men walked out, one complaining about being in the gorge. The Quartermaster looked back at Niehstu, looking to see if she is ready to fight. Niehstu gave Ceolswith a fearful stare, already panting. It was more than obvious that she was not ready, even forgetting to get in a ready stance, at the edge of panicking.
The older woman hummed as she switches around her weapons. She then called out, "Who rides in the lands of Regnwald, Aethelwigend of Stangard?" The men stopped in their tracks, fearful of possibly meeting a patrol. They drew weapons.
Niehstu edged closer to the cover of the tree, allowing the reins to slip from her hand. Ceolswith glanced around the tree at the three men coming towards them. She threw her spear, regretfully missing on a rare bad throw. One of the men's swords then clashed with her blade as she reached to pull her dagger out with her sword arm. Niehstu startled as the first blow came. She stepped back, finding herself further around the tree. She continued on that route, to poke herself on the other, waving her spear, hesitating to engage.
Ceolswith struggled on being pushed with the one man. The third man seemed unsure on who to attack as his friends fought. Niehstu's face turned pale as the third man takes notice of her finally. He turned to face her, waving his sword and she can't think of anything better than ducking and going back around the tree. The man's sword, hit the bark just an inch over her head.
The Quartermaster finally wrestled her knife out, sticking it in the man in front of her quickly. She then moved on to the next, looking for the younger woman. She quickly found her as Niehstu cries out in fear as the man charged after her. She raised her spear, holding it with both hands to protect herself from a blow aiming her head. The impact of the blow sent her down to the ground.
Ceolswith charged in, swinging her sword at the thigh of the second attacker, dropping him in pain. She then stared down the third. Niehstu turned over her right side, as the man swings his sword from above aiming to cut the girl in half. The man’s sword hit her shoulder-guard. With what was left of its force, the sword scraped down her arm. Blood springs from her cut flesh and she yelps, feeling pain for the first time.
Ceolswith shouted at the man, hearing the young folawigend yelp in pain, "Come fight me instead!"
The man took her challenge, but not before he sends a kick straight in the young girls face, laying her flat on the ground for now. Ceolswith braced for the attack, as the man swings his sword at her. She moved, feeling the blade leave its mark in her sword arm. She landed with her back on the trees before she tries to attack again.
The young shieldmaiden raised her head, her vision a little blurry from the blow and her nose bleeding as well as her arm. She crawled to get on one knee and hurled her spear against the man. Her weapon found its aim, the blow enough to hit the man, but as strong as to go deep under his armor.
Ceolswith watched the last one drop with relief before rushing to the young woman, "Are you alright?"
Niehstu placed her hand over her bloody arm. She shook in pain and in fear, unable to utter a simple word. She tried to get back on her feet, but the feeling of her head handing low from the blow halts her.
The older woman stuck her sword and dagger in the ground as she fumbled to take her helm off to check on her, "Sit... you're hurt."
Niehstu obliged, sitting back down to allow the woman to help, though her eyes search for the figures of the men behind her. She suddenly tenses, “He's moving still.”
Ceolswith glanced back before shifting in her spot to block the woman's view of the injured men, "Don't look at them. Look at me. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Niehstu looked up at the Quartermaster with the trusting eyes of a hound-pup. Her eyes began to water and she bit her lip, “My arm. My head feels heavy.”
Ceolswith pulled the shieldmaiden in for an embrace as she pat her back, "I am so sorry. I should not have brought you into this mess."
Niehstu leaned into the woman's arms and right then busted into tears over the woman's chest, her right hand firmly placed over her own arm. "It hurts..." she murmured in between her sobs.
Ceolswith nodded, speaking softly, "Aye... it will for a little bit. Let me find something for it. Just... sit here and don't look at them."
Niehstu sniffled and nodded obediently, staying where she was, fixing her gaze upon the grass. Ceolswith got up to check on the injured men, finding that the one that was speared died. The man with his thigh cut up had his hands on his face. The first one with a dagger wound mutters his goodbyes to Bema. The Quartermaster disarmed them all before searching the thieves' horses for anything of use. Ceolswith soon returned with spare cloth. She smelled it first before tearing it, "I have to tie this over your wound. I won't lie, it will hurt."
Niehstu gulped looking up at her. She slowly removed her hand, and moved it over her face to wipe her bleeding nose. She did not dare ask or say anything else as Ceolswith made a few strips, pressing some of the cloth into her arm. She asked the woman to hold it before tying another bit of cloth over the wound, tying it tightly. Her teeth grind some as she felt and looked guilty of bringing her into this. Niehstu listened closely as the Quartermaster instructed her, though muffled cries of pain escape her as they tied up her arm. The tears ran down her cheeks freely.
Ceolswith finally put both of her hands on the shieldmaiden's shoulders, forgetting her own wound on her arm, "Look at me; you did fine. Be proud of yourself. Sit here and rest. I'm going to take care of the men here. Just... rest some."
Niehstu gaped at her for a moment, finding much comfort in the unexpected words of praise. She nodded slowly, then spoke in a weak voice. "We're getting the water still?"
Ceolswith gave her a bit of a smile, "Aye. We came here for water. Rest. I'll come back for you." She then stood, cleaning her blades off before getting to work on removing the dead man. With Niehstu's spear in hand, she stopped above the muttering man before ending him, knowing she could not help him. The last man looked at her, begging for his life to be spared. Ceolswith forced him to his feet before marching him to one of the thieves' horses. The Quartermaster then bound the man's arms. She took the saddle and bags from it before getting him onto the horse. Knotting her brow, she slapped the horse on the rear, letting it take off with the bleeding man on it.
Niehstu raised her eyes to follow her with her gaze observing the older woman, the ongoing scene forever engraved in her memory now. In the end her gaze fell back on the dead men.
Ceolswith took her gloves off before pressing her left hand onto her wound. She cringed from the pain, trying to hold a strong look upon her face. She then came back for her helm, removing her hand to tie it to her belt, "Let's go search the mill."
The Quartermaster handed the shieldmaiden her spear. Niehstu lingered over the dead men for a second before rushing behind Ceolswith.
The Quartermaster looked around the mill, taking note of the supplies, "Stay here. I will bring our horses over. All of the skins for water are in my saddle bags.
Niehstu looked around, the water and the creaking wood covering up some of the woman's words. She nodded, walking further inside, “Who were they?”
Ceolswith cringed again as she presses her hand into her wound again, "I think it is safe to say that they belong to a man named Alf."
“It sounds like a horse name.” Niehstu said with all honesty and no hint of joking.
Ceolswith shrugged, "I'll be back shortly."
“Aye.” Niehstu murmured. She took a couple of steps forward to watch the turning of the big waterwheel.
Ceolswith returned to the mill with many water skins in her hands and on her shoulders. She headed down the stairs to test the water first before filling them.
Niehstu called out for her "Do you want help quartermaster?"
Ceolswith called back, "I'm going to throw these up. Can you take them to the horses?"
Niehstu nodded. She readied herself to catch them, only to feel a sting from her newly injured arm. She held firm, not showing the pain from her wounds. Ceolswith continued to fill each one before tossing them up and over the wooden floors.
They then, brought all of the water skins to the saddles. Ceolswith returned her gloves back to her hands as well as replacing her helm. With a bit of spare cloth, she tends to her wound, tying a knot over the cut. Her sleeve was already stained, not that she cared about it, "How are you feeling?"
Niehstu gave her a blank stare, the events of the evening too many for her to process, “It ... it hurts.”
Ceolswith nodded, "Can you make it back?"
Niehstu returned the nod.
The ride back was quiet, other than the sounds of the horses. They brought along the brigands’ steeds as Stangard was in need of healthy horses. It left Ceolswith in her thoughts. It was odd, that now she was not a shieldmaiden, she was finding herself in more small fights than when she was. The thoughts left her reconsidering her place in Stangard. Would it be worth recommitting to an oath, again forsaking her womanhood to become a Rider of the Riddermark again?
((Taken from in-game RP between myself and Niehstu. I got tired of editting, so verbs are messed up some.))
