The Valley of Stars - A Chronicle of Skye

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

A Noble Puzzle: "Commander, Sir, in to what are we going, excactly? We were
briefed, yes, but -- " A boy walked at the side of a silent, thoughtful man
who sat astride and equally quiet horse. He was no more than 12 years of
age, the boy, and
A Noble Puzzle: his name was Yodric. The man in his company was not deemed
imposing under the conditions he was able to speak with him at the camp. It
was as the rode further through the valley on the cusp of a thickened
twilight that his heart
A Noble Puzzle: lept wild in his chest like the impending drums. He found
the landscape lush, fertile. Summer still hung ripe on the air here, as if
it were June and not the waning time of August. Harvested grain fields were
still gold at the
A Noble Puzzle: back of the bend for gleaning from. There was a green here
that ought not be anywhere, as if God took more time to preserve a piece of
Eden to return to the sons and daughters of man after the fall. A winding
line of supplies and
A Noble Puzzle: men were heading into the bedrock of the battlefield. No
place was more breatheless than this, thought Kendrew, as he turned to his
young associate, "We're going to fight, lad, and we're going to be doin' it
in heaven. It seems
A Noble Puzzle: wrong, to defile heaven." One of the few men to retain his
horse, those that did not roamed on foot. With the animal he would look over
the battle though he would go down on foot for the charge. He had with him
his broadsword,
A Noble Puzzle: his shield, and a menancing pike that earned him the name
"Steel Tooth" many years ago. Maahes prowled the front ranks to ready the
order. Both men had little to say other than what was necessary. Both men
felt as though the
A Noble Puzzle: silence here, the sweet splendid peace....hid too much (d)
Balian Windsor: Savage thoughts became the days mind, the discplined veteran
knight of the white talon had lived his life by the tip of the sword. A
product born from the ash of the crusades and driven to service with a
passion of virtue and honor

Balian Windsor: Icy blues fixed dead ahead, the hard hoof falls of the noble
armored piebald Aries herald the coming of the horsemen. The thick long white
cloak draped back over the flanks of the stallion leaving the arms and
arsenal of the
Balian Windsor: knight to the imagination of his foe. His left arm bared the
kite shield carying the crest of the calvalry of Skye while his right arm
held strong to lance aimed for the heavens. The Banner of the calvalry
whipping back in the open
Balian Windsor: field breeze for all the world to see the colors and crest
of the bold. His eyes drift closed if only for the briefest of moments while
that final breath was taken of peace. He could feel the soldiers of Skye
gathered in the very
Balian Windsor: neart distance. Just over the footfill he was sure, the
sounds of the men and shake of the ground was enough to rouse the inner lion
of Windsor but he was gaining ground on the other troops. His blues opened
again to gaze over the
Balian Windsor: beautiful landscapes touched by the Gods he was sure, A fine
place to die. [d]

Defective Beauty: Unknown to two very important men in her life, had she
gone to the Duchess, requesting permission for her to follow those men and
the ones under them. To go and be of aide the only way she knew how, that
would be tending to the
Defective Beauty: wounded, the broken, as well as the dead when time came.
With it granted, the lil Slavic woman, the Lady In Waiting did manage to
gather up supplies and manpower to help her on this. Purposely, they would
leave after the Knights,
Defective Beauty: troops and all others that went to fight for a greater
reason. Sitting upon her steed Dulcenea, wearing nothing that told the title
she held. Her dress a mixture of brown and white with matching brown lil
boots. She did not ride side saddle, no, for this was not one
of those occasions that called for it, but something much more serious.
Beside her a man elected to
Defective Beauty: ride with her. Many of his men following and behind them
those that would volunteer their services. Horses and wagon with supplies and
people follwed. Jelenah would turn in her saddle, gazing back behind her to
the line that
Defective Beauty: followed. Sapphire eyes taking the sight to memory,
sighing and looking to Liliana as she resettled herself within the saddle.
The look? A look that only women knew the answers to when it was made. <d

Flanman69: -=Indeed the sweet splendid peace did hide too much. The
familiar profile of oilskin cloth would have proven quite conspicuous amongst
the heavily armed men, and as such was notably absent. The lush valley was
quiet, but a dark
Flanman69: shadow moved through the thick foliage, seeming to pass through
it than brush past it.
Flanman69: It paused at the base of an old and venerable tree, muttering
something unintelligible
Flanman69: about guerilla warfare and parades. In the next moment the burly
figure was gone again, moving with a swiftness beguiling its size. Nearing a
clearing, it hopped adroitly onto
Flanman69: the trunk of another tree. In mid-hop, folds of oilskin cloth
parted and two clawed guantlets sunk into the soft wood as they hauld his
bulk to a vantage point within the
Flanman69: shaggy boughs. The weather-beaten brim swivele back the way the
parade had just come, waiting.=- (d)

JackoftheFaerie: Although Ulster was still wrapped in the growing pains of
an emerging nation, the Scotsmen had not marched to their war alone. As had
been sworn to the Duke and Duchess: if Skye would stand beside Ulster in her
time of need, Ulster
JackoftheFaerie: would repay such kindness. And the word was upheld. At
the every end of the Scot's marching formation, the Ulstermen marched in lock
step. Small was their contingent, but there in lay the strength. At the head
of the Irish column
JackoftheFaerie: was Mairi Mac Tuatha'an herself, riding upon one of the
most ancient of Irish war machines: a chariot. Although the Ceannfort was
five months heavy with child, she had stubbornly refused to see such a fight
left in the hands of her
JackoftheFaerie: brother, Carrick, and her Consort. And so it was that
Mairi rode to war, as Boudica had in times long past, with a veteran warrior
as her charioteer. Flanking Mairi was her brother and her Consort, Jack
riding to Mairi's right
JackoftheFaerie: while Carrick rode to Mairi's left. Behind them came the
three hundred Ulstermen that had been mustered in support of the Scots.
Fifty were the esteemed Knights of the Red Branch, who answered only to the
Ceannfort herself, riding
JackoftheFaerie: behind Mairi's chariot. One of the Knights carried high a
large battle standard bearing the O'Brein clan's war standard. Behind the
Knights marched a new and elite unit: the Fianna. Fifty strong, the Fianna
were armed in an odd
JackoftheFaerie: fashion: the front rank of ten men were armed with
handgonnes, while the remaining forty were armed with pikes. All of the
Fianna were heavily armored. Behind the Fianna marched the remaining two
hundred Irish soldiers,
JackoftheFaerie: professionals and veterans all. (d)

Knights of Skye: Jonas found himself somewhere in the mddle of the
converging masses of soldiers. With him were thirty of the Robertson's
best warriors. He sat tall in his saddle, his clansmen along side him and
behind him. He felt the bite
Knights of Skye: of age as he shifted. The ride had been long and he was
not as young as he used to be. With Caden gone, guarding Eirian as he had
sworn to do, it had been Jonas who stepped up, gathered warriors and set out
to protect their
Knights of Skye: cousin's lands. Beside him rode his cousins Robert and
Greggory, brothers, and burly men both. All the clansmen were armed with
battle axes and broad swords and shields. A few carried bows and arrows, for
that was where
Knights of Skye: their strengths lay. Jonas glanced around at the others
that were gathering suprised to see so many, and yet not either.
Knights of Skye: Raven stopped Seledorn at the side of the procession to
watch as several filed past him and his Arganian Knights. His mind wandered
for a moment wondering exactly where his wife was at the moment, wishing he
could go after her
Knights of Skye: but knowing if he had he would have to face her anger for
not helping to protect Skye. That and his own since of Honor had him
trusting in those his wife was with to keep her safe while he lead their
Knights in the aide of
Knights of Skye: another pending battle. He glanced to Ademar at his side
then back to the twenty knights he had brought with him. More would have
come but they had been sent back to Blackmoor to help with repairs after a
storm. (d)


VeiledProphecy: That very look that crossed between the women was the reason
that Liliana sat astride a horse with head held high and back straight. Even
though fear made copper-skinned cheeks seem pale and gloved hands to clench
reins tighter
VeiledProphecy: as she awaited the finishing of preparations. When
approached about the idea of going to offer aid in those who would suffer
injury, Liliana had been quick to answer. Even though frightened of violence
and the idea of seeing the
VeiledProphecy: horrors one could find on a battlefield...she had decided to
go. Kendrew's words, his promise, had been her reason for going. If something
she befall him then she would be there to help him. It was that simple.
Giving a gentle smile
VeiledProphecy: to Jelenah, face showed clearly by the way ebony hair was
secured tightly in a bun, she'd wait for some sign to ride. (d)


A Noble Puzzle: The veteran calculated the numbers in his head before the
ride to what was known to be the place where they would enact the might of
the nation: 300 at the least, 400 mayhaps, a little more than that with the
might of the allies
A Noble Puzzle: and the gathered of the brave. Maahes had asked him once
perhaps seven days prior if what they could conjure would be enough. Would
it ever be enough? "Yodric, ye will keep trace o' the other lads. Keep the
horses fresh them tha'
A Noble Puzzle: don't move..and stand near the heat tae be messanger when
the time comes." He left the boy to consider this -- his first battle - -to
let it soak in as he moved over toward where the heads of each contingent
were told to gather.
A Noble Puzzle: On a slope before the dip down into the star-ridden night
cascaded down into tall trees where they would be nearly blind save for the
moon, if it came through the canopies. Some glens would allow them places to
regroup..but the
A Noble Puzzle: enemy was not fool in moving hence. The General of Skye
bowed his head to the party for he was a man of little words as he gripped at
his sword..giving his second league to speak. "We're ready.The ranks are
formed.." he spoke low.
A Noble Puzzle: His face told in the tight set he didn't trust the quiet.
He felt there was a life in it, watching at every moment.."Balian, are ye
certain ye can arrange the rank to encircle.. " he acknowledged the half bowl
shape of the valley
A Noble Puzzle: floor. He didn't want to compromise man nor horse, or leave
the White Knight unprotected. Gloved hand gripped in his right hand his pole
arm, fixed with a tip favored by the Danes. From the corner of his eye he
looked to the
A Noble Puzzle: treeline as birds flew to the North (D)

Balian Windsor: Aries climbed the final foothill the horse snarled a breath
when Balian's thick gloved hand drew back the reins of the eager war stallion
just as the troops below came into view. He grinned and his right arm lift
throwing the
Balian Windsor: lance baring the banner of the calvary skyward. From the
wake of the veteran knight came the line of one hundred mounted strong. Each
baring the colors of Skye's elite calvary. The uproar of the men cast an echo
across the
Balian Windsor: battlefield. The heavy Horse had come. He licked the front
of his teeth and lowered the lance back to his side just as the formations of
the men shifted into two's at his back. Now like any good soldier they would
wait and bare
Balian Windsor: witness to the movements and orders given from the Command.
Balian's blues were sent a drift once more, spying the arrival of the supply
train and non-combative's. The movement of the small details of men given
commission to scout
Balian Windsor: the flanks. Balian lift that lance once more, despite the
burn and sting of the still fresh wound in his shoulder to gesture to one of
the horsemen. The order that was given just hours before by Balian for him to
scout out the
Balian Windsor: nearest water supply behind their lines was quickly carried
out. One rider elected his fastest on hooves galloped back down the hill and
toward the tree line to find that small waterway. He had seen his share of
battle as a General
Balian Windsor: and knew that this battle wouldn't last long without water.
Another slow glance was given back over his broad shoulder before his deep
tone would be heard over the ranks of the calvary. "Easy lads....Pray to God
by whatever name you
Balian Windsor: call him.. ..Nay for you.. but for our enemy. When word is
given by the Commander.. we will make these motherless dogs remember the day
they crossed steel with some of the finest men I have ever served
with....Forever lads!....Fear
Balian Windsor: not your death.. ..Should you fall on this field today and
wake in the Halls of Valhalla...know the men beside you today will remember
your blood.. your name brother.. ..And there is nothing greater a soldier can
find in this life..
Balian Windsor: And when we meet again in the Halls .. ..That first round of
drinks are on Balian." He grinned and lift that lance back toward the
heavens, the calvary roared up once more, thudding lances against shields
loud enough to throw fear
Balian Windsor: into death himself. Indeed it was a good day for war. His
icy blue gaze lowered back to the troops in the rock bed below. Bring the
pain. He tossed the lance to the ground and road for the meeting grounds
bowing his head to
Balian Windsor: the General and then once more toward the others. "Aye
General..I trust the mens skill with the horse, The Marshall's skill shines
through them each."[d]

\Flanman69: -=There in the tree, the stolid figure waited silently. Peering
up at the foothills that lined the cusp of the valley, time passed ever so
slowly. The parade passed by, perhaps noting his presence, perhaps not.
Flanman69: It was of little consequence. They all looked long on bravery,
but the march seemed short on strategy. The brim stayed focused on the
foothills until for the breifest of moments, a small light could be seen
waving back and forth
Flanman69: at the top of one of their crests. The brawny frame now moved,
producing a small lantern with darkened sides. In a few practiced motions,
the lantern was lit, raised in a wave for another moment as light spilled out
only from the
Flanman69: front, and was extinguished. Haste was put into descending from
the tree, and the dark oislkin again slipped back into the foliage, moving
ahead of the column and forging into the darkened valley.=- (d)

A Noble Puzzle: The General gave one of those indisternable crinkles of the
face - a smile at Balian's words? Kendrew nodded to the words the calvaryman
said. Behold, after this battle perhaps he'd be the full commander of the
calvary situated at
A Noble Puzzle: Turas Lan. The Lord Marshall would have found pride in his
choice. Maahes' spoke of how surely Kendrew himself might become lauded,
more than the mere commander he assumed. " I seek nothin' other than victory
and for my men to
A Noble Puzzle: live," he'd said. Now would be the proof. He dismounted
from his steed, moving in his armor toward the front lines with the pikemen
and the infantry. He began his career on the front lines and would not take
the advantage of a
A Noble Puzzle: horse while his men had only their feet and a prayer.
Melding beyond the assembly, his raise pole arm spoke for him as he looked at
them all. A thrown light in the distance was as slick as the man who bore
it. Somewhere, Jack-
A Noble Puzzle: of-All-Trades. Somewhere, other eyes. On the other side of
the rise the enemy gathered, the roar of forces, of hooves clattering. The
rag tag men gave the appereance of orginization tonight. Some mounted, some
on foot, all
A Noble Puzzle: sharpened weapons." It's a good night to fight! A good
night to spill blood, and mayhaps e'en a good night to die! READY!" The
pikes moved forward in one quick movement, and so it seemed the advancing of
men began. Careening down
A Noble Puzzle: toward the next hill , Robertson Clan colors caught the
fading lantern's light. Brave men, they, and elected of Jonas Robertson to.
Mid way through the din of sound
A Noble Puzzle: , Kendrew found his ears attracted to the transistion of
roots from the earth. By the time it was in sight..for some, it would be too
late. In horror he watched as an old tree was toppled down onto the infantry.
Cracking, smashed
A Noble Puzzle: bodies mixed with scattered weapons. A line stumbled down
over to trip on the sword of fallen friends. Those that could continue with
the charge did. "FALL BACK AND AWAY!" (d)

Balian Windsor: He studdied each of the men in the gathering before him,
taking note of any detail that may have given a hint of there demeanor or
style. He had been left for dead by cowards in brass a time or two before,
save for the fortune of
Balian Windsor: the fates he might not be here now. He saw nothing of this
in these men. None yet though the few he knew such as Kendrew and Maahes he
had spilt blood with before and knew that each of them would do as he would.
All of them would
Balian Windsor: rather sacrafice themselves then let the other fall. They
were true of heart and if there was one thing the veteran knight knew was
character of people. He bowed his head once more toward them and lift his
chin back up only to bring
Balian Windsor: his right fist up to thud against his chest just over his
heart in a salute. The horse was eased back up the foothill to retake his
position at the head of his men. His gaze lift catching a dim glow off the
twlight of the moon just
Balian Windsor: as the roar of the enemy pounded across the field. Balian
grinned and reached back taking his lance once more. "READY THE LINES!" He
barked back in that deep tone. His grip tightened, one against the shield,
the other the lance.
Balian Windsor: Just when the horse took those few steps forward the
snapping of heavy would thundered behind the ranks. A second large oak came
smashing against the back of the line. The whinnie of horse and scream of men
haunted up the night air.
Balian Windsor: Balian's teeth ground down against one another but he knew
holding the charge now would leave the infantry still charging to a
slaughter. "GOD DAMMIT! REFORM THAT LINE!.. ..PUT YOUR BIG BOY TROUSERS ON
LADS." He snarled back over
Balian Windsor: his shoulder and he flipped the helm of his visor down. "ON
ME!" His boots snapped back into the flanks of the piebald horse. The heavy
horse lunged into a hard charge down the foothill, a shift of Balian's weight
in the saddle had
Balian Windsor: the calvary shift its direction a moment before the impact.
The lance lowered just as the one hundred strong did the same. Thunderstruck
ripped across the battlefield with the smash of metal and flesh. [d]

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

Flanman69: -=At the sound of the timbre falling, the burly figure stopped
and turned back, or at least made the attempt. A hob-nailed boot slid on a
spot of moss and his bulk fell to the ground. In a half-moment before he hit
the ground, he
Flanman69: felt the boot slide through a make-shift tripwire. A curse
unbiddenly escaped him as the turned the fall into a roll, rolling down the
gentle slope as crossbow bolts whistled past. The rolled turned to a
scramble and did not stop
Flanman69: until his bulk came to a heavy stop against the trunk of a tree
now sporting the stubby end of a bolt. The oilskin poncho rose and fell in
heavy breathing as the brim swiveled about in a frantic search. The enemy he
expected to
Flanman69: find was not present, but rather merely crossbows tied in the
trees and rigged to fire when the ground was disturbed. Grumbling, the
brawny frame regained his feet. The clash of steel told him what he needed
to know. He was
Flanman69: already too late to catch the first counter charge. Moving
swiftly and silenty parrallel to the sound of battle, steele grey eyes peered
into the darkness. They were slow, and stealthy, but they were there.
Infantry to mop up the
Flanman69: cavalry charge. He stopped, hid, and waited for them to come
close. When not much further than a stone's throw away, the burly figure
presented himself to them at a full stand with a crossbow in hand, oddly
sparkling with a lit
Flanman69: fuse. A few balked in surprise, but the rest drew their weapons
and rushed at him. The crossbow lifted skyward and released, launching a
bolt straight up. It burst brightly in the dark night sky, illuminating the
forest around
Flanman69: them. In the breif moment while the bolt made its ascension,
Jack had already turned and fled, charging back towards the sound of
battle.=- (d)

JackoftheFaerie: When the brigandines came screaming out of the wood across
the valley, the Irish had not yet completed their deployment. The Ceannfort's
Consort had been directing where the Irish were to go, where best their
presence could sway the
JackoftheFaerie: tide of battle. And then the roar of the enemy charge had
reached them, as had an equally frightening had reached Jack's ears:
conflicting orders. One voice had screamed, "Charge!" Another had given a cry
of, "Fall back!"
JackoftheFaerie: The Irishman looked off in the direction of the Scot's
battle lines, before he rode up the line of his marching men. His voice, in
Irish-Gaelic, ringing clear, "Clear tha roads! Get off tha roads an' inta tha
trees! Let tha wounded
VeiledProphecy: (sorry to splice..skip me next. Dinner done.)
JackoftheFaerie: an' tha routed pass!" The Irish instinctively bunched up,
to free space on the road, as they clambered up the earth tracks and a ways
into the woods, allowing those fleeing a line of retreat. On either side of
the road, sixty Irish
JackoftheFaerie: infantrymen with shield, spear, and sword lined the road.
The Knights of the Red Branch and the Ceannfort were walked back aways, into
the nearest clearing that the army had passed through. The Finnia stayed
with their commander,
JackoftheFaerie: Cap'n Flynn, although they stayed off the road as well.
Jack watched the road, wondering if any injured or retreating would pass
through. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: The quiet hid traps. The valley with glens, dark forests and
encased in hills was going to be where The Watchers were intent to bury the
forces come out against
A Noble Puzzle: the lot. "Gather yourselves! Reform! Up and Reform!" He
had fallen back on his side, groaning as he came to his feet on the slope
that held the line of men. "Ye must give the calvary a way in lads! IMPALE
THE BASTARDS, SKEWER
A Noble Puzzle: 'EM DOWN!" Across his left, he picked up the men, shook
their spears, their pikes, looked over his shoulder to the men behind them as
levied the call for them to go in against. It didn't take long for the men
to encounter the foe
A Noble Puzzle: on the end of a blade. A line of thirty men met with the
shaken spears of Skye, tossed backward and to the side to make room for the
second line behind them with fresh, unblemished stake only needing a body's
blood to coat it.
A Noble Puzzle: If the battle was infront of them, why did he hear the sound
of an arrow's twang from behind? Reaching over his shoulder, his shield was
brought forward and over his head. Kneeling down, he deflected once, twice,
thrice of arrows
A Noble Puzzle: that caught the leg of the man on his right...the shoulder
of the fellow to his left. "Shyte!" He snarled...looking through the dust
left in the Irish reformation in the distance. "IT BE A REVERSE CHARGE!
BALIAN, JONAS....JACK,
A Noble Puzzle: MAAHES! REVERSE CHARGE!" Men were disappearing to to
battle in the dark. The fade of an arrow of color shot into the sky was
paralleled by this: God opened his mouth to release a
A Noble Puzzle: bevy of stars that fell from on high. Silver steaks
reflected on armor. A Beautiful place, a holy place -- to die. They were
outnumbered by three hundred men, it might have seemed more to those that
were on the road.
A Noble Puzzle: From the trees came arrows peeling out, infantry to drive
them like sheep down, down to be for the wolves. Kendrew was never a man
labeled as brash, indifferent. Calm and collected, full of wisdom with humor
to better his years...
A Noble Puzzle: the young would see an oath fufilled. No one would drive
him down. He cried out, lifting the weapon to which he had tied the banner of
black and gold, the silver hound curled over the white flag of the Lady of
the Isles. His own
A Noble Puzzle: color? The black tunic, the silver in his chainmail and
armor the streak of him as he thrust the tip of the pike into the belly of
the beast. Pushing him away, he charged forward
A Noble Puzzle: toward an oncoming portion of the valley's oval. A few
pikeman scrambling to stand watched in amazement as the Shadow of the White
Hound became a fleshed entity all his own. Ducking under the branches of low
lying trees, he'd
A Noble Puzzle: emerge in a patch of light. Using the tree as his brace,
one foot came to it to hold him on the unstable ground as he took out three
men before drawing his broadsword. Steel Tooth of the West (d)

Aslan Burning: The night before stationed men had been set to trigger traps.
Logs held high released and barreled through lines of men. Deep trenches had
been dug in secrecy even to those closest to the General, for he trusted few.
Like ghosts in
Aslan Burning: the dark, men moved quietly well beyond the ranks. Not a
sound other then the cries of battle could be heard as the night swallowed
most sound. What a feeling it must have been to hear the swords and yells of
men to those who waited
Aslan Burning: outside the lines of fire. Women and children huddled
together as soft whispers were soothed over the flesh of devoted nerves.
"Shhh, my child." One mother spoke softly to her child. The open eyes of
innocence watching the stars and
Aslan Burning: praying along with the rest. "Momma? What's that?" Little
chubby fingers pointed to the sky as against the velvet navy of the sky,
three black figures crossed the night. Eyes of those who waited followed the
child's point, and those
Aslan Burning: of Avarian birth smiled. "Communication, my dear." Maahes
stood there frozen in time as the rest of the world battled around him.
Second nature was kicked in as no longer he needed to think before a heavy
blade was lifted and heads
Aslan Burning: would start their roll. Around him he heard nothing, until
the shrill cry of one falcon broke chills over his flesh. "Finally." He
huffed, "We must get them into the forest." He spoke to an officer flanking
his side, and the man
Aslan Burning: gave a quick nod. Breaking through the lines of dead bodies
and quick falling ones that Sir Kendrew littered the ground, Maahes came to
stand behind the man, back to back he fought along side. So many of their
enemy around, he
Aslan Burning: suddenly wished Kendrew spoke Arabic, a language none of
these fools had probably ever heard of. (d

Balian Windsor: His lance exploded with the impact of colliding into the
first line of the watcher ranks blowing shards of busted wood into the air.
The spray of blood splashed against the white cloak of the knight. His eyes
narrowed beneith the
Balian Windsor: slit of the helm on the men to his left crashing into the
thick of the fight beside him. He grinned only to snap kick his right boot
down into the next watcher to his left while the calvary plowed straight
through breaking the first
Balian Windsor: line. Leaving a line of men in there wake. The cries of
horse and man a like pooled behind him when the moon light met them once more
in the clearing. He lift his fist skyward calling for the attention of the
men still riding hard
Balian Windsor: behind him and they turned to circle back for the next
charge leaving that opening for the infantry to take advantage of. "STAY ON
ME!" He yelled back, dropping his hand back down to grip the black woven hilt
of the nameless sword
Balian Windsor: ripping it up from its sheath and aiming it toward the
heavens. Again that one hundred strong calvary followed his lead and drew
steel while they reached the backs of the Skye ranks. Others that had fallen
behind fell back into
Balian Windsor: formation, though he couldnt help but give a glance toward
the fallen trees and see the uniform colors of his fallen comrades and growl.
He drew back the reigns long enough to study the battle movements unfolding.
Balian Windsor: And there it was, the snap of bow strings and the yell of
Kendrew over the war cries had icy blues catching the faint glimpse of the
reverse charge. He knew that the horse became more vulnerable against that
movement but then again
Balian Windsor: if they didnt ride right for the line coming at them from
behind the damage to the ground troops could be catastrophic. His heels
snapped back into Aries, spinning the sword forward in his palm he pointed it
directly into the fray.
Balian Windsor: "LETS GET SOME!" He lowered in the saddle, thundering hooves
pounded packed earth, his long white cloak snapped back behind him in the
hard winds of his wake. They road clear through the dust clouds of the Irish
movements and his
Balian Windsor: steel spun down colliding with the skull of the first in his
path. The crunch of the impact bellowed back when the second line of men
followed the first of the enemy and the true fight was on. The up roar of the
fight would alarm
Balian Windsor: the nine hells and rouse the dead. "HOLD THE LINES!" He
screamed back while his shield took an onslaught of assaults that sent hard
vibrations down an already wounded shoulder. He cringed and held his weight
knowing
Balian Windsor: they had to hold and give Kendrew aid and the others time to
group. He heard the collission of the second row of calvary mowing over the
next line of enemy and he grinned feeling the weight shift ahead of them. It
was
Balian Windsor: time. "FORWARD!" He slammed his shield ahead plowing into
anothers chest to knock the enemy from his horse and his sword rocketed
forward to collect the throat of another. To start driving the enemy back.
[d]

Defective Beauty: As the battle began, so to did the work of setting up the
tents, organizing the supplies and getting ready for those that were injured,
wounded and deceased. Jelenah had asked for a few brave souls to be the ones
to make trips back
Defective Beauty: and forth on horses and wagons to bring in those in need.
As a few set out to do so, Jelenah along with the help of Liliana gave out
orders and requests to those with them in getting ready to recieve the ones
that would surly be on
Defective Beauty: thier ways. Off in the distance, she and those with her
could hear the creies of the men as steel met steel and steel met flesh.
Either sending men to their graves, or sending them into a fit of rage for
more blood shed. <d

Flanman69: -=Nearing the sounds of the cavalry charge, the weather-beaten
trim turned sky-ward, wondering what was taking so long. The flare he had
launched was drifting placidly back down toward the treetops, casting eerily
artifical shadows
Flanman69: through which he ran. It was then that he noticed a gray puff at
the crest of the hill he had signaled earlier, followed by another, and
several more. The night air shuddered over them, followed by the crashingand
ripping of tree
Flanman69: boughs and thundering booms. The forest and unlucky members of
the advancing infantry were smashed by stone and iron balls skipping and
rolling through the trees and brush. Screams of the maimed mixed with the
screech of ripping
Flanman69: timber. The shots centered on the falling flare. Now nearing
the friendly lines, he was exaclty where he wanted to be:
Flanman69: behind the enemy charge. The air still shuddered as balls
streaked overhead. He sat a moment in cover, getting the timing down as the
oilskin poncho began to smoke. With a fluttering of the poncho, he began to
lob what looked
Flanman69: like smoking iron squashes into the ranks of the advancing enemy.
After a few pregnant moments, the ground would tremble with explosions as
plumes of earth, wood, men, and horseflesh were thrust into the air. While
the whole
Flanman69: process took less than a minute, and ended when another flare was
launched skyward, and the oilskin-clad figure raced back for the shadows.
The artillery shifted its aim, raining destruction upon the spot he had just
been.=-(d)

JackoftheFaerie: Despite the tongue lashing that the Consort would receive
later, Cap'n Flynn called out, "Finnia! Protect tha Ceannfort!" With one
voice, the Finnia answered, "Protect tha Ceannfort!" And with that, Finnia
effortlessly moved to
JackoftheFaerie: form a forty-strong hedgehog of pike and shot around the
Ceannfort. The ten warriors in the front rank of the hedgehog protecting the
Ceannfort were armed with handcannons and were heavily armored. To the rest
of the Irish he gave
JackoftheFaerie: but a single command: "Shield wall an' protect the camp!"
The Irish infantry, all hundred and twenty of them, formed up in shield wall.
The warriors crouched behind their shields, their spears bristling between
them, as the Irish
JackoftheFaerie: soldiery began moving slowly and methodically forward. As
Jack rode behind them, he bellowed, "Carrick! Take tha Red Branch a
JackoftheFaerie: 'round tha flank an' keep tha brigandines from attackin'
tha back o' tha Scot lines!" The armored fist of the Irish, the Knights of
the Red Branch, rode off. As the Irish warriors closed with the infantry of
the Watcher enemy,
JackoftheFaerie: Jack bellowed, "We're close 'noug, lads! Let 'em 'ave it!"
And that's when the Irish fought in their own traditions. Their spears were
cast high in to the air, letting them rain down on the Watchers launching the
attack on the
JackoftheFaerie: camp. Then each man let out an unholy scream, as the
shield wall exploded as the Irish raced into the fray. The Irish were only
keen on unit tactics to a degree. They fought as though each one were Finn
McCool or Cuchulain.
JackoftheFaerie: As though each man were a hero. The Irish believed in
one-on-one combat. And that is how they fought the watchers. One-on-one.
With a ferocity the Scots couldn't hope to match. (d)

VeiledProphecy: Standing outside one of the tents, awaiting the arrival of
the wagon of injured, Liliana stood next to Jelenah with wide chocolate eyes.
The sounds of battle assaulted her ears and made nerves knot her stomach.
This was violence on
VeiledProphecy: a scale she had never seen! The sound of the first group of
injured coming in made her head swivel to the side as she flinched from their
cries of agony. Immediately she searched for a healer to aid, to be of use,
as her skills were
VeiledProphecy: not what others were. Now was not the time to show fear or
weakness. Those that were injured needed to see bravery and strength.
Hopefully she could give that. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: Let the Irish have their Cuchulain and recorded stories of
merits with the Goddess Morrigan teaching the heros. Let them have Finn
McCool, for they would take a time when in 1314..in a time of memory for many
rag-tag men gathered
A Noble Puzzle: from the rabblery of peasents to become warrior-poets on the
fields. Let them have the history that was rightfully theres for on Skye
there would be stories better than the likes of William Wallace or Rob Roy.
There would
A Noble Puzzle: be tales beyond blue-face. They would say: In 1328, the
worthless became worthy. When Scotland was fractured under the thumb of
tyranny they rose to be beaten. They rose again, and again. With a cry that
rivaled the ancient
A Noble Puzzle: gutteral call from the sacred groves they rose, and in the
mists where space on the sea was counted once only as jewels in a King's
crown, power rose . " COME DOWN! AYE COME DOWN!" The broadsword was the
bite
A Noble Puzzle: of the Steel Tooth that the enemy couldn't survive. Men
cheered him, but he was deaf to the roar of all but the battle cry. Looking
over his shoulder, a man who did little more than nod most days would set his
face in a smile. If
A Noble Puzzle: he died tonight let them know he took them down with him.
The earth rumbled underfoot as in the bowl of the valley the twang of line
snapped. Enemy, friend alike began to slide toward a spiked trenches. The
line pulled
A Noble Puzzle: crossbows anew as through the forests the snap of the bolt
sliced through armor to pin even horses to the trees. He ducked, pulling a
Robertson clansmen down with him to avoid the crossfire. He bid him pick up
the fallen's spears
A Noble Puzzle: and launch the return to the answer of if they were weak.
No, it said, as through the sinew of the shoulder went Kendrew's aim. "DRIVE
THEM TO THE DEEP! KEEP YOUR FOOTIN'" Amid falling stars, the moon, they
fought. A battle to
A Noble Puzzle: others...an out war to them. This would not be the last
time they fought the Watchers..but it would be the time the Watchers
remembered those they'd caught by suprise had fire in their ranks (d)

Aslan Burning: Peregrin had always been good at waiting, patients was
something that came with a carefree nature. His entire life had been styled
around growing and bending with the will of nature. So why start getting
upset now? High
Aslan Burning: in the treetops he couched on a heavy tree branch, bow
notched with the first arrow ready and waiting. Crystal hues of ocean blue
whose eyesight had always been beyond perfect slowly started to go over the
other rangers
Aslan Burning: ready and waiting. At least thirty men and a few spirited
women were well hidden in the tree tops just waiting for their turn. It had
been a surprise when the General had come to ask him for a favor, but when it
came to
Aslan Burning: Eirian there wasn't much the Beast wouldn't do. Peregrin
could easily see why. Here is to hope that this would bring peace to the
valley, and their future Queen could rest at ease. A kiss was blown in the
Danae's
Aslan Burning: direction, where a waiting Scorpio fit her title. Ruler of
sex, death, and war..Mmmm.
Aslan Burning: Ulster was here, thank God! Maahes could not help but wonder
how many lives would have been lost had it not been for the brave acts of a
land that was fresh to the alliance. He'd always liked Jack, from the get go,
but
Aslan Burning: watching the man in battle only gained more respect.
Explosions, blood, and battle; a very deadly combination no? The General
would have it no other way. In a perfect world there was peace, but in
his..there was this. It
Aslan Burning: became a game, as heads rolled, and lives were snatched. One
he knew the rules to, and often broke. "Come on, Old Man." His deep voice
moved over the battle like a purr. Not once did he remove his eyes from the
battle,
Aslan Burning: but somehow he knew if he looked over his shoulder he could
see a version of himself. Well..a smaller..older..whiter version. Yet Kendrew
was already long gone, and that defiant smirk present. In the heavens he
could hear
Aslan Burning: the call of a falcon, and Maahes set a motion towards their
keen eyes. It was time. (d

Balian Windsor: Wounded calvary men surely started to arrive from the first
assault and the fall of the tree. Men whimpering doing there best to hide the
pain and failing to not show weakness while they lay cleaved and broken. The
Balian Windsor: sadness came from knowing that this surely would be only the
begining of the many to follow before this battle ended. Balian across the
field and amongst the chaos continued to pound forward hammering through the
ranks of
Balian Windsor: watchers his men loyal and brave continued to follow. His
sword clanged down clashing with anothers hard enough to throw sparks into
the night sky before he whipped that shield edge down to spike into the cap
of the
Balian Windsor: watchers skull. A snarl crept from his lips And that sword
was drawn back once more when a blunted hammer slammed into the side of his
helm, rocking his head back and throwing the knight from the saddle. His back
met the
Balian Windsor: bloodied earth, his cloak blanketed the ground. He heard the
hiss of the watcher hauling his hammer back to throw down the kill stroke.
His mind raced and his eyes dimmed and in that frozen moment he saw Jelenah
standing down
Balian Windsor: the long aisle by the altar alone. "No.." He exhaled and
rolled to his wounded shoulder with a grimace, he heard the hammer smack the
bare earth and Balians palm smacked the hilt of his fallen sword only to
drive it
Balian Windsor: straight up under the mans chin and out the top of his
skull. He rised back to his full height of six and half feet, hearing the
roar of his men bareling ahead. Balian shift his weight back onto his right
leg and rolled his
Balian Windsor: shoulders to throw his cloak back just as two more watchers
ran towards him. The helm was peeled from his head and tossed the mud,
revealing the small cut over his brow from the hammers stroke and he spun
hard on his
Balian Windsor: heel locking blades with the first. His eyes leveled off on
the mans, taking them to memory before he spun that blade back. One solid
step was taken forward and in that instant he heard the galloping hooves of
Aries riding
Balian Windsor: up hard behind him. The sword slashed downward painting the
grounds in crimson while the man fell. He turned and leapt upward, slapping
his free hand down over the horse's saddle and yanking himself back into the
mount
Balian Windsor: in a fluid like movement. "REFORM THE LINE!" [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah's own eyes and ears were being assualted by the
sights and sounds of those very men making the first of many stand-byers
hurry with knots in their stomachs. Rushing to help those from the wagons to
take them to tents and
Defective Beauty: cots. Buckets of water, hot and cool carried to and from
place to place. Screams for more help to certain men was made, needing to
restrain a few while others barely had enough strength to keep their eyes
open. Jelenah would move
Defective Beauty: from face to face, body to body and helping with each as
much as she could. Her mind however was not fully here, as part of it, along
with her heart was out there on that battle field.<

DestinyOfValor: Danae and her rangers had already been there, waiting,
watching and ready to tear into some Watcher ass. Those perilous icy hues
watched as the battle raged on. Upon those men that entered into the trees,
Danae gave her signal and a
DestinyOfValor: rain of Avarian arrows came down. The yells and screams from
the injured were heard, making the Commander and her rangers smile, wanting
to hear more. Merick and Balain were in positions nearby, Balian was
searching out for Maahes
DestinyOfValor: waiting for that particular signal. Merick too was ever
watchful, looking to his Commander and ready to do as she ordered. Danae had
caught that look from Perry and she simply shook her head, but he did get a
wink back in return.-d-

Flanman69: -=His breath was labored, but the hulking figure continued to
race through the woods parallel to the battle, calling artillery fire with
flares lauched over the heads of the enemy. This would go on indefinitely as
long as he could
Flanman69: move and the artillery still had shot to fire. Of course it was
just then that the snare caught him, crossbow just loaded with another lit
arrow. There before him stood five - four with swords drawn and a fifth
behind them with a
Flanman69: bow. They sneered and chuckled at him in the flickering light.
Two words spoken without ceremony were the only pretense or warning. "Come
then." With the speed of a viper's strike, the crossbow was fired at the
bowman, the force
Flanman69: of the blunt sphere knocking him back and falling to the ground
before erupting in light and fire. The rest charged while the bowman cried
out and covered his eyes in pain. The crossbow in Jack's hands was
bodilyflung at the first
Flanman69: in line as folds of oiskin cloth parted. Clawed gauntlets flew
out at the second, one actively grabbing his sword, and the other slashing
out his throat in a single calculated motion. Pulling the sword from the
gurgling soldier's
Flanman69: hand, he turned it upon the three others. There was no finess,
no fine technique, simply the hulking figure laying into the men without
restraint. The blows smashed armor outright and broke the sword in his hand,
using the
Flanman69: shattered end to rip into the armpit of the blinded archer. The
poncho dripped with blood, and little work was made of reclaiming the tossed
crossbow, and running back into the shadows.=- (d)

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

"Between one furlow and the next, there's naught much left for a man to do save wait, perhaps exchange a word or two with his fellows."




Jack-of-all-Trades: -=Hob-nailed boots thumped languidy, perhaps even reluctantly towards the fire. The firelight illuminating the vermillion-caked folds of oilskin cloth.=-

Kendrew: Thick soles of leather were planted kitty-corner to fire ring as he propped his broadsword over a wool-covered knee. The whetting stone smoothed over the side of it to sharpen it with crisp, long strokes. He looked up to see the oil-skin, the brim of a hat as he looked through undone hair. "Evenin'." One single word as he thought with a narrow focus on what lay ahead (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades -=The weather-beaten drim would dip in a prefunctory nod. Without a word, he settled his bulk on the ground in a heap of oilskin as small hardened crumbs flaked off.=- (d)

Kendrew: Crumpled tunic folds shifted as he slid down to rest his back against the trunk of the tree. Smoke curled upright in twists over the orange flames. The core of them burned red, like blood..like the heart. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades -=Without any motion, the hearty voice would rumble out over the crackle of the fire.=- Donnae suppose we had enough water fer a shower, eh?

Kendrew: "Aye. Falls. Plenty of them. Settle yourself under and see what happens." The light-brogue of the man bound out to reply to his fellow. "So where are you from." Between his lips he'd slip the end of wood to chew over as he settled about to put pipe weed in the bowl. "Ye sound Irish." (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: -=A chuckle rumbled somewhere under the oilskin, but it sounded oddly hollow and lacking of mirth.=- Where I'm from? That's the burning question on yer mind? -=his bulk leaned back, propped on still-gauntleted hands.=- (d)

Kendrew: "Seethin. Might just consume me till I burst." He replied. Flint was struck until a few sparks caught the bowl of weed. Covering it with his hand, he puffed until the embers sunk out of sight to leave a robust scent in the air. Jack-of-all-Trades hid under the oilskin while he lay almost vunerable, mocking the exposure with cuffed sleeves (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: -=A long breath was taken, and the brawny frame resumed its stolid repose in the firelight. The voice continued matter-of-factly.=- Ye'll have tae accept me apologies. I cannae give ye an honest answer tae that question. At least, nae yet. (d)

Kendrew: " Accepted. We all have a reason." A man talked to a shadow. Weather-beaten Mestopholes beside the venerable lack-luster Dr. Faustus. Trading bits of word with no promise of immortality in exlicir. With no alchemy to conduct thetwo would be proved to be merely men on the edge of all things. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: If'n I can ask ye, what be yer reason? -=The words lingered on the pipe-scented air now, and the burly figure quietly set about to removing the gauntlets, tucking them away, and producing a large canteen.=- (d)

Kendrew: "Sometimes a thought is not so much as gone unasked as it falls to the wayside. So it is." A long-line piece of twine that had gone taut long ago only to have broken with no trail to trace it back. He held it in his hand, content to walk a labyrinth with knowledge the way out was his to know. "Yours?" He held the pipe in the left hand at the bottom, rounded bowl. The right opened up, shut on the knee as he cast his eyes toward the stars. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: -=The reply came without ceremony.=- So I can give ye an honest answer. -=shifting slightly, the canteen was opened in a practiced motion, and it rose and fell to the tune of sloshing liquid.=- I know that ye enjoy poetry and theverbal intricacies that often accompany a sharp mind, but I'm afraid directly after battle is nae the best time tae engage me in such. (d)

Kendrew: "Heh. Nay, the poetry n' bard talk seems your lot. Your actions are a better way to understand ye. Farmer's sons are a little simpler than your brewd." He pointed a finger toward the man in vermillion coating before letting it fall lax. You've gone a'hunting after the fronte lines were assembled. Don't waste your strength lad, it is no where near the end. The blood still looks too fresh to be settled in." His concerns were many and his expression of them few. After a time he took a long drawl on the soothing piece of vice, " This place will burn before we are through." (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: Aye, -=the word was drawn out and punctuated with a nod=- I fully expect this garden tae be a wasteland within a week. But as fer waste, do ye think there nae be benefit tae what I do? (d)

Kendrew: "A great lot o' fire for a great lot o' work." A nightbird sang in the far reaches, being dared to warble a tune to soothe the savage soul. The irony of the nightingale would not escape him. "The land is fertile. A fire will revive it. Mayhap what we burn become field or some such in the new plantin' year. Tis a vast country. We only take a portion for our bloodwork." Lines cracked the side of his eyes as the tight marks slowed the opening. Stiffened with dried sweat and dirt. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: Perhaps, but me tastes donnae include destroying all those old and venerable trees. The parallel is nae lost on me either. Though methinks more fruit will bear from sparin' our men at the expense of foliage. (d)

Kendrew: "There's nay pleasure tae be taken in this either way, but I'd rather trees tae men. We lost enough taenight.." His voice took on a distant quality; an echo of the road behind them with the world opening out to the here and now. The good earth opened to swallow men whole. Venerable trees crushed the front lines. It was part of the game, was it not? To rape the land as much as to ruin the men. He thought of the woman who drew people here to call it home and of the sleepy villages that would still be whole. He smelled grain and fresh water, flowers, and shook his head. (d)


Jack-of-all-Trades: -=The canteen would rise a fall again in the firelight.=- Speakin' of things, have ye been here the whole night or have ye made any important visits? (d)

Kendrew: "Such as?" The pipe was pushed away for a bit of ale. It wasn't strong but it served the purpose of keeping him satiated of thirst, of warmth for the inner body. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades -=The wrinkled brim tipped up slightly at Kendrew.=- I donnae mean tae lay it in bare speech fer any eavesdroppers that may pass by, but I recall a certain lass that ye had yer eye on. (d)

Kendrew: Kendrew cokeed his head so that his his unbound hair was pushed back with a hand. Palming his forehead, he sighed as sight was no more undone by it. At that, he shook his head. "Nay. No such visit as tha'. I had the pleasure o' her company to watch yesterday's sun rise, though." He smiled with the fleeting permanence of youth but the impression lasted as long as the young lady's touch on the man's mind. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: That is a shame -=the brim re-centered on the fire. The voice rumbled on impassionately.=- So do we have any official body count yet? (d)

Kendrew: "Not so much. A bit of company takes one far enough." He kept her name close to him. He did not mention it so that to diminish the vision even slightly would produce the beautiful flaw of believing the light would be the same through the stained glass giving her wings. The fire warmed but carried the weight of her body in his arms not. "Nay count on the bodies. Have to find them all." The pipe's end tasted of treated wood. Familiar. An old habit he began as a youth allowed to smoke alongside men who were then in their prime. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades -=A short chortle would slip past his lips.=- Ah, I may owe an apology to the poor bugger they send out tae do that then. (d)

Kendrew: A snicker was the reply. The Watchers took a good quarter, but their forces sent a bevy of them to Hell. "Aye, lest they curse you. That is a shyte load to shift through." (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: -=Broad shoulders would rise sightly in a shrug.=- Well, they wouldnae be the first. So how long have ye been doing the soldiering? (d)

Kendrew: "They will nay be the last, either." He didn't have to consider the question before he said, " Twenty-eight years." (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: Three decades...-=he let the word linger.=- ...What would ye like tae do with the rest of yer life? (d)

Kendrew: "God willing to be grantin' it long?" Three decades in the blink of an eye eclipsed the question before he replied, "What I do now until it can nay be done. Retire, mayhaps train green backs fer the Duke, n' the Black and Gold. If m'leige gives me'leave to get land...och. Who knows." (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: -=The only reply was a solemn nod before the brawny frame took to his feet.=- Well, methinks I hear the falls callin' me. Though it is relaxing tae talk simply with ye. (d)

Kendrew: "Make habit of it. Shan't be goin'anywhere save to the killin' fields or to this ring. Have a good night now, lad." He looked over to the young man in the poncho, canted his head to him with a smile before staring to the fire again. (d)

Jack-of-all-Trades: -=A slightly gnarled finger would reach up to touch the brim of his hat as hob-nailed boots thumped rhythmically towards the water.=- (d)

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

A Noble Puzzle: The taste of strong pipe weed sat in the back of his mouth, permeated his tunics under his breastplate. He waited for the smithy to finish with his sword amidst the voices of men, and a few brave women, talking on what unfurled the last timet he sun went down. "It sounded a'fright, Sir," Yodric reported at the feet of the knight. His hands were hard at work assuring his knight's armor was well adjusted to his knees, shoulders, and that he had gauntlets for his hands. "Ground shakin'. Traps they said." He didn't speak but let eyes answer, a keen focus followed by the prefunctoory nod. Yodric let his eyes grow round as platters. "Think it'll be tha' way tonight, Sir?" A hint of blood struck pungent. It went unhidden by the smoke, the ale, or even the water that washed his face. "It will be tha' way again, lad. Till the last" He left the child to wonder as he went out into the night that smelled ofthe vitae many a man wore, living or dead. Against the grind stone, the broadsword was moved across until it sparked. He didn't bother to sheath it as he reached for it. (d)

Balian Windsor: The mighty elite calvary had taken a position against the hilltop over looking the rest of the Skye camp. He didn't quiet have trust in the honor of the watchers not to attack an unready camp and wouldn't past them to try and take the high ground while they laid unprepared. His guard wouldn't so easily be laid down no matter what agreements or talks of a withdrawal would be had. The calvary men were bloodied and battered and suredly had enough tales to tell of war to last a second lifetime after the first night. As the white cloaked knight made his way through the calvary camp he looked between each man and each man stood as he passed with a bow or call of his name in passing to greet him. "Sir Balian." The veteran knight himself was battered and covered in the blood and mud of the night past. His long locks of wheat were matted and crusted just as his cloak though still hung to its tie to tease his mid back. The small cut over his brow had been cleaned and stitched up just hours before, the dressing on his shoulder changed and now he found himself before his own squires giving the boys a nod while they fastened the armor back on the Piebald war stallion Aries. "Boy, cary my word back to the men.. ..Arm and ready, see the horse are fed and watered.. ..Prepare for battle." Balian turned on his heel without another word spoken and made his way back down the foothill toward the tent where the heads of the contingents met the night before. The long blood stained cloak swaying gently in the breeze of his wake. [d]

A Noble Puzzle: "Have ye got orders Sir of somethin' for me to do tonight? Anythin' sir -- anythin' at all sir." Thirteen years of age held the canvas flap pulled back as he stared to the man who threatened to grow distant with a step down the rows of tent. The blade met with stoic, hard approval. Laying it across his hands, he studied the sharpened end against a point of bare skin by applying pressure just before the breaking. While it did not cut, he kew that with but a flick it would do what he needed. "Go tae the men. Weapons sharp, tell them tae armor if they can spare it." An order that was taken to heart as words to remember, to live by. Gangly youth so anxious to please went down the rows to where the pikeman and infantry gathered around fires. Some would fetch armor, others would mutter at the cost of what it was to repair the military issued standard. He remembered what it was, perhaps only a breast plate or vanbraces. Piece by piece of steel assembled by battle or meager pay forfeit to the smithy, at other times leathers, and others? The Holy Spirit was the only shield a man on his feet had. In the center of the encampment, the tent of the leaders had a wider birth stretched over the thick poles. On the outside of it he paid his greeting to a fellow, " Sir Balian.." (d)

Balian Windsor: The walk to the tent seemed almost endless, taking into a writers scope the sights, sounds and smells of a military camp after a battle. The look on the mens faces reminded him off store windows, lifeless still like people that stood there staring. The type of stare that said a million words and carried with it a memory that would never fade. He continued his stride and gave a look toward the piles of bloodied armor and weapons that were salvaged from the battlefield from men that would never draw a breath again. Somebodies son, father, husband or brother. Someones something or love that would never be again. He had seen these days to many times and lived to carry with him the pains without a word of them. He could do it again and live for the lot of them he thought to himself. Brave men the all of them. He came directly up to Kendrew, mustering a polite dying smile and bowed his head. "Sir Kendrew... ..You fought well yesterday." Not that he expected anything but the finest swordsmenship from his brother in knighthood. "You hold well?" [d]

A Noble Puzzle: "Ye rode well. Good calvary man." Observance of the niciety of social standard reminded them that they were in a place that had been touched by the cilivized world. Battle was primal, feral drived on immediate instinct. No amount of planning done for this battle could supercede the intelligence of The Watchers. Venerable sentinals of the valley had been toppled from the firm grip of root to prove nothing under sun or moon could hold fast forever. Thinline pulled back in feeble attempt to return a smile to uphold another. "I hold," he said, nothing more or less as he slipped into the lantern lit chamber. Maahes waited at the the table; the lion was a caged beast waiting to be set free, tempered only by the likes of Sir Jonas. Forty-five years and he trained forces only to see his work come to the fore of nothing. He obtained a woman, a family in his later years only to know that if called he would not stay behind the lines but go to the front, to possibly die, leaving a woman rounding with child. Ulster's Ceanfort and Consort spoke low as lovers in the back corner, Jack touching the blossoming belly of the Morrigan incarnate."The men ready, they just await the word." What word. What plan? (d)

Balian Windsor: He grinned a little and shook his head. "Eh, the horse does all the work.. .I get the glory of it." He chuckled softly and lift his blues toward the heavens with a soft breath that followed. "I say a ground soft evening is ahead." The threat of rain lingured in the scent of the night air. It was a suspect that tonight the weather might be more a burden then the Watchers if they took the wrong terrain in the fight. He followed Kendrew into the dim light of the tent. His thick arms came together to clasp his fingers before himself. Once more he bowed his head, this time toward Maahes and the others. Then they spoke up and Balians brow had lift just a little. "If I may?" He took a step closer to the table in the center of the tent lowering his blues back to the map of the terrain ahead before his hands unclasped and his finger pointed to the map. "I think, we may have spent enough lives letting the watchers out smart us with trickery and traps.. ..If you will hear me. I may have an idea to return the favor."[d]

A Noble Puzzle: Maahes let the thunder roll in his voice as he pointed out that they sent men ahead to dig trenches, but wondered if a wall of flames would happen. How could it, he said, and what traps could be riled in rain? Kendrew was swift to come up on the side the Egyptian-Arab, "Let's see what he has tae say. Come, Balian, tell us.We need furtherance. If we can concot this trap to any we have I'll send out the men-at-arms to do it." Ademar, the representative of Ravencrest, spoke that his small body of knights would act, too, in this matter. The Irish awaited to see what the Scottish would say with attentive ears. The plans devised here would be tadamount to chancing destiny, teasing fate. If he could concoct traps to be sprung in the rain, the darkness..why not? (d)

Balian Windsor: He dipped his chin just a little toward Kendrew and shot a look back toward the others. "We do not have the range that the watchers archers have.. They obviously have us beat with missile attack.. .And learning this the hard way cost us a lot. If you recall.. ..last night we went for them and let the watchers pick the ground for the fight and we walked right into the trap." He pointed his finger at the large rock beds at the base of the bowl. "We need.. .. have them come to us tonight. ..We post.. half our horse on the hill and have them wait as a decoy and send the other half west behind the tree line .. and wait there to flank them. ....Then we ..hide some of our own infantry behind these rocks and wait.. .. we leave them thinking our forces our deminished but our pride overcomes our reason.. .. make them think they have us beaten.... let them charge at us and when they do.. we let them walk into our trap." He tilt his head looking back toward Maahes. "..If we get them close enough to us.. .. there missiles and traps mean nothing." [d]

A Noble Puzzle: The High Ranger of Avaria, Danae Galanos, was one of few who could manage to change the General's skeptacism to belief. Noting that even from the posts in the trees the allied forces had assumed was compromised, to move as Balian suggested would give each branch of the militant forces a chance to succeed. Balian and Merrick, the men always at her side joined in this agreeance even suggesting that they meld with Ademar's rangers to counter The Watchers at what seemed to be their own game. The Irish spoke of a survival of their numbers for having been at the back of the charge and offered three-quarters of their spear men to serve as part the lure. To appear that they were in retreat so that they might follow the force there after from behind. The others would be arranged adequetly to protect the camp as well as join them where the map indicated. Kendrew looked to Jonas, the pair of them nodding as Kendrew said "Aye, they led us right intae a place we could hardly run up from n' went down in..but this here, tis flatter, easier tae crest the hills, and use the land to our advantage. If we are fortunate..the Irish, they have men with hand cannons...if we can do this, before the rain..we can split holes in their guts." (d)

Balian Windsor: He nodded to the words of the men, and was thankful to hear many of them saw things as he did. He was even more satisfied to hear the Irish volunteer for what he was hoping they would. They were exactly who he pictured could manage the task. "We can take it one step further.. .. abandon the tents in the camps.. .. and set a new camp behind the cover of these hills." Pointing a hundred yards back from where it was now and well out of the sight line of the watchers. "Then.. we have all our forces not staged on the field.. behind this hill and when they charge for the camp.. we come over the hill and take them." The element of surprise, the position of the troops the men and women that now stood beside him in this tent, it would be a perfect victory and reduce there chance of losses he was sure. "The most important thing.. is we hold our real camp.. and not let them : break our supply line. .But this will work." He brought his hands back together and fell silent once more. Leaving the rest of the details to the men and women that had the rank and men to lose. [d]

DestinyOfValor: As the Scots had there ways, the Irish there's, the Arganians there's as well, so to did the Avarians. Danae would step into that very tent, staying silent as she did while those perilous icy blue hues shifted from each face of the : men nwhile each voiced their opinions. Danae was the type of women that if a plan sounded good, she went along with it. Her way of agreeing, keeping quiet and only nodding. Her arms were crossed over her chest, thinking on the plan Balian of Skye had voiced. When her eyes shifted to her own two men Merick and Balian of Avaira...she saw them nodding in agreement. Maahes as well did not seem to opposed to it.. yet...and Danae would finally speak up. "Me and my rangers will take any part of this plan... from the most dangerous to the least. These are the lands of Skye and with that, I will abide by the ways of the people in this land..even if it means to my death. As you and others of Skye know... my men will fight to the death... their enemy or their own." -d-

A Noble Puzzle: Four cultures and a plethora of opinions could come from all of them but after last night when all the blood rain the same, all death seemed the same, in the grim spector hanging over them defeat was not an option. Be it by life or death The Watchers would remember the place they had chosen as a proving ground. "Take yer men, M'Lady, out to the trees as ye did yestereve. It helped, and our footin' will be better,if the weater is too inclimate..come down." He traced his finger to paths behind the trees, "To this rise, here. Your advantage continues. Ademar, are you willing to go with them to provide a cover on the ground as they assume an upward advantage?" Asking one of Nordic descent if he was ready to die was a question received of answer by the look in his eyes. Maahes seemed to agree with the plan well enough saying how he would take men with him to cover the forward charge of course, where else would he be? He spoke of the wall of fire waiting to be set by arrow to ignite oil pots on the ground. Fire he said would block them but it could run the risk of burning the valley. "Maybe God will delay the rain just until after we've cut 'em and burned them." Wry humor had a tinge of real anxiety behind it. In the settlements, he had seen the women on their knees. He saw the brave bring them food, clothes, and medical treatment. One trap for an enemy could prove the s ruin of the people they came to save. Better foilage than figures, he told himself. Jack said he would, after posistioning other men accordingly, take his elect and join the infantry to be hidden. Jonas, too, would give Danae his archers for the trees while he would join rear Irish that would make it seem they were leaving. "So we are agreed then." He put his sword on the table in silence to lock weapon and intention with his fellow fighters (d)

Balian Windsor: His own icy blues fell on Danae when she spoke. And just as she had he brought a closed right fist up over his heart in a silent salute to her words. It might have seemed trivial or simple but those few words she spoke earned his respect and that was something not so easily achieved. But still he spoke of nothing more. He simply listened to the orders being given and the plan detailed. Though his thoughts did roam to find his betrothed in his thoughts. Until Maahes spoke up. The mans voice was deep like his own and demanded attention. The mention of a fire wall did make him nod. Firewalls were useful against a charge but did pose a threat to the calvary but he was confident in the horsemen at his back and there skill on the mount to avoid the hell fires unleashed. Balians hand came down to the black woven hilt of the nameless sword. Drawing it upward from its sheath and spinning it forward in his palm only to lock the charcoal shaded steel with the Generals. "It is my honor to fight along each of you." [d]

DestinyOfValor: Danae smiled and wanted to even chuckle. Perhaps some people just did not know how good she and her rangers were and how they were willing to stick things out whether mother nature afforded them the kind of weather they preffered or not. In any case, the plans were made... Sir Kendrew pointing out to her and her two men just where they were needed, how their skills would best be used. The Greek warrior would nod silently before her eyes shifted to the white cloaked Knight of Skye. The woman saw his salute and would give him one in return. Though there were many heriatges and races here, one things was common. The will to fight the good fight.. to give your skills and or your life to serve and preserve the life and will of others. If needed Danae would be the one to shoot the flaming arrow to ignite the fires Maahes spoke of. Yes, she was a woman, but a damn good one as she had earned the respect and the loyalty of both comrades and friends alike because of her straight forward attitude and stubborn habits. She was defiant as well.. perhaps that's why she and Maahes foguth like cats and dogs, only to come to some sort of agreement later. -d-

A Noble Puzzle: A page and humble yeoman who aspired to nothing much would see the gathered lock their hands, blades, and dedication to the cause in silence. The moment was poignant, reflecting in eyes only to be told on the mouths of the witnesses. Word came from the Irish that it seemed a good night to make a legend, to which Kendrew said, "Aye, it is, we will gathere here after it is done and tell it over whiskey n' ale!" The smile that broke over his features was genuine, determined. The broadsword was slid into the sheath only for now. As the blood boiled it coaxed the want to spill it through the veteran knight. On the wall of the tent he reached next for the spear thesize of himself, fixed with a sharpened duel toothed tip (d)

Balian Windsor: He smiled faintly watching the eyes ignite with hope and promise of peace to follow tonights blood. It was heart warming and he found himself looking between each of them. No matter the race or creed mapping each of their faces in that very moment into his memory before the sword was drawn back and thrust downward into its sheath with blind perfect percision. "Godspeed my friends." He turned and made way back through the tent opening into the failing light of night and toward the hills to find his men waiting. Dressed and ready for blood the lot of them. It nearly made the White Knight grin. He lift his hand and point to the second of his men, nearly his size and half his age he was sure but a skilled horsemen he knew him well enough to be. "Samuel.. You will lead the second half of the calvary.. here on this hiltop. .. we need switch cloaks and you do your best impromptu to be all Balian, eh?" He grinned and laid out the plan for the men. Leaving himself in a black tattered cloak and Samuel now wearing the colors of Balian. Let the enemy think it was Balian himself on the footfhill. That should help sell the plan that much further he figured. [d]

A Noble Puzzle: "Fight well." As all of the commanders dispersed, he took a long look at the man who was to marry the Sunday approaching. A day of rest, a day of celebration that would be well earned. A day he was determined the man should make. "Don't fall off the horse now lad. Ride hard." Lack-luster, sweat ridden hair flopped hard on his brow. Tired, gritty, he thrust his spear upward and couldn't help but to laugh. To laugh at the fate that wanted to tear them down and the destiny they would challenge. His lot was on two feet with weapons in hand. (d)

Balian Windsor: He pulled himself onto the mount of Aries and adjusted and checked his gear one final time then hearing Kendrew he grinned toward the Knight and lift his gloved hand to point at him. "Stay standing tall my friend.. Dont be letting the ankle biters getcha now, eh?" He chuckled and returned to his adjustments and having switched cloakes to disguise himself.The now black cloaked Balian bowed his head to his men and lightly wrapped his heels back into the flanks of the piebald taking with him half of the calvary to the west just as the plan was laid. Hidden by the thick cover of the treeline at night. His shield lay across his left shoulder and his helm resting against the saddle horn. Balians right free hand lift to signal back for the men in his wake to hold. "Shh.. ..stay your horse lads.. .. and keep quiet.. ..we wait." Waiting, it was a cross that must be bared by all fine disciplined soldiers despite all your rage and hate for your enemy. Timing on a battlefield played a role just as much as any weather or landscape. Timing meant who lived and who died by the movement of modern battle tactics. Timing would be the watchers undoing this night. Mean while the non-combatives broke camp just as planned and snuck under the blanket of night back the one hundred yards over the hills.Leaving the camp a shell of what it once was and the prime target of the enemy. The Irish made there move for the rock formations and boulders to take cover and hide. Waiting for that right moment to strike. Things were coming together. [d]

DestinyOfValor: Danae watched as the Knight of Skye exited the tent and moved to give out orders to his men. The commander herself would look to those still about before she too would exit, Merick and Balian behind her as they moved to her group of rangers to inform them of the plan. As she did, she passed the Knight of Skye, eyeing him and should he look her way, he would get a nod and a smile. A smile that told him and any others that saw it just how ready she was to go at it once more. Ready to sacrifice blood sweat and tears to see these Watchers be taken down like the cowards they were. Danae despised men that went about destroying lives and lands of innocent good people. Her father had been a Talon along side Apollo, teaching her all he knew and passing on that red sash as a sign how he thought his daughter was deserving of such. That red sash was worn secured to her utility belt, always wearing it when in battle. A reminder of where she came from, who taught her and everything he had instilled in her as a ranger and warrior. With her men informed and ready, they began to prepare to head out. -d-

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

A Noble Puzzle: Jonas and the Irishman, Consort Flynn, seemed to bond over talk of men their age and what women did to them. For Jack, it was drive him to battles or worry him sick with her madness. For Jonas, it was a pleasurable exercise in patinece. So the Scottsman and Irishman would laugh all the way up the road with their forces to the makeshift "retreat" The Watchers would be gravely mistaken to think that the Robertsons would bow to a whim, that the Avarian King would tremble because of bodies' on trees, or that the Lord of the Isles would humor the mindset of criminals. No matter how intricate, structured, or thorough the enemy was they were still just that: Criminals, vagabonds living on someone else's land and purse strings. It was time to get cut down, he thought, and beat back into the world of reality before death. Jonas and Jack spared no expense of it - lines of men, the hung head of man and beast, lowered spears of silence as they turned up the road in the direction of home while Kendrew lifted his hand. On his signal the infanty would assume the places Balian had suggested and he'd noted they'd have a foothold. Grassy knolls, behind stones, his breathing drew an unusual line of cold in the August air. A sign of Scotland's face to the North Wind. "Sir, looks like the men are leaving." "We did a right good job of making them piss their pants and hang them up by the balls. Fat purse we'll get for our troubles, too." Bartholemew MacGregor beat his hand against the round lens of the spy glass as he wrapped the hard leather around it. Tying it off to protect it from scraches, helooked up to the commander who sat on the outcropping of rock. "What's your order then, eh? M'ass itches. I need a bath or think I got somethin' from tha' whore.." Devon the Hammer, one eye, one single minded focus. The toppled forces were corpses at the valley bottom, the settlements were half undone. The King of..what was it.Avaria was gone and his little tart, Eirian was as well. Pity..one day he'd have to have a chance with the philly before wrangling her up to die. Good stock the court had. Fine stock. " Through there. Last look around, plan for next time. Tell the men pack light. Toss the rest but what we need." Light meant lightly armed, lightly padded, for quickness. His men learned to thrive off the bare essentials, but he didn't know of the heavy plan waiting for them just where they were going (d)

Balian Windsor: Once the formations and movements took hold. Samuel disguised as Balian himself on that hilltop in plain sight of the enemy threw his lance toward the heavens and let out a roar to shake the heavens. The thirty five horsemen at his back started to slam there shields and swords together and Balian could only lift his brow while hidden in the tree line, watching Samuel play Balian was certainly a sight and all the White Talon knight could do was mumble in that deep tone. "cokey son of a.." The men at his back started to chuckle and comment only to have Balians hand lift to call for silence once more. But still the veteran knight grinned even if know one had seen it. But still they wait. His eyes were sent a drift through the breaks of thick branches and leaves under the guise of shade and night to look for the watchers over the hill. "Come on.. you bastards.. .. take the bait.. .. Come to daddy." he whispered. [d]

Flanman69: -=The burly frame stood stolidly against a tree, seeming as if made more of wood than man. A gauntleted hand shaded the lens of a spyglass held by its counterpart, having spotted the evening sun's glint off the enemy lenses. About him men hustled and bustled atop a different foothill from the night before. They were oddly dressed for soldiers, and some moved as if still learning the motions. One by one, cannons were chocked into firing positions at the crest of the hill. One man approached the bulky figure, dressed in a silk shirt and walking primly as if not to sully his buckled shoes.=- "Jack, where is my payment? You think that I am going to be suckered into bringing out the townspeople for a slaughter, then you are quite mistaken my penniless friend!"-=The spyglass was replaced into folds of oilskin cloth, and the weather-beaten brim swiveled slowly towards the angry man.=- I did, promise that, and that it will be. Do ye mean tae tell me that ye've fergotten about time and interest, Mr. Rich-Banker-Lord-Sir-of-something-I-cannae-remember? -=The last word came more as a jumble of muttering, but had the desired effect. The banker stomped a foot and drew breath to speak, but was cut off by the hearty rumble.=- Yer profit be out there, still lying in the rubble. When the time comes, it will be ripe fer the vultures. -=With that, hob-nailed boots thumped past the pink-faced banker and towards the cannons.=- (d)

A Noble Puzzle: Ademar's knights were good as their word. The first men who crossed the threshold into posistioned forces were cut down so that Danae saw no trouble in posistioning her archeras she saw fit. Ademar pulled a skiny fellow into himself, eyes locking with Kendrew as he nodded. "Hold it..a might longer." He looked to the back of him, a signal of hand demanding an eye to how far Jonas and Jack Flynn had gotten up the road on the makeshift withdrawal of the forces. If the Watchers were coming down, it meant they believed it. He urged the men around him to crouch down lower, joining those that crawled down on hands and knees to a thicker line of trees. The close knit shadows and foilage would conceal the prickly surprise that awaited. "Steady lads, don't go before the time. Let them get close enough so ye smell the stench of the fat.." "Ye know," MacGregor put his axe over his shoulder, almost whistling as he went along. "I'm goin' to take my money and buy one of them Court-a-sanz. Fancy, smell nice. Won't make ya itch. Whatcha goin' to do, Hammer?" He walked along, couldn't help but to notice that a few men had dwindled. Or was itthe shadow playing tricks? "I'm going to secure us a nice base nearby and continue milking the nobles like cows until they give all the coin from the teet. Then, we'll focus on our masterwork, MacGregor. Right fine amount to sell.Never know what ruler signed an accord they'd want to change..." One by one the pikes in the wake of where the men had come..to the side of them..swords were drawn in the hush. Kendrew could hear the breath almost feel it on his skin. They brought the trick the Robertson men and Irish were playing....brought it so well that on his nod the tip of his spear brushed the cheek of a man, drawing a line of blood, by the time he looked up to call? "LAY ON!" Kendrew's first kill would be to drive the fellow into the ground, by the neck (d)

Balian Windsor: He licked the front of his teeth seeing the enemy bite and his chin lift just a little and he gave a glance back over his shoulder to his men and then back to the field. He would wait still, until the watchers had passed them by let them think they were the ones giving chase and leave there back side open to the calvary charge. Samuel on the hilltop looking over the enemy on the march toward them continued his antics and threw his lance skyward once more to provoke the watchers even more. The boy played his role well Balian thought. He reminded him of himself not so many years ago but that thought was quickly broken when his eyes passed back through the breaks in the trees to where he knew Kendrew and his men were positioned and then again toward Danae and her position. Were they ready? Were they alright? It was difficult to see but it weighed on his mind. They are ready Balian.. .. they are ready do your job and get your men home. And there it was, the first blood stroke and the fight was on. The war stallion thudded its front hoof eager to charge though calmed by Balians hand. Samuel and the other half of the calvary lunged into action and charged straight down that foothill toward the fight shouting. "..AHHHH!" [d]

DestinyOfValor: Danae and a few of her men moved towards the trees on horse back. Others traveled on foot and once there, those on foot quickly disappeared into the brush. Danae would dismount Majesty and the others followed with their steeds. Once she was firmly footed on the earth beneath, she spoke words of Greek to the horse. Telling him to do as she always asked when in battle. Find a place to hide, and come should she call. Merick always wondered just how the hell she and that horse seem to understand each other. Majesty trotted off, disapperaing into the shadows, making it easy for him to blend completely as his black coat was just as dark as the shadows in the night. The Commander took her position, hand signals and very few words used to disperse orders, getting her men in their places. Now, there was nothing else to do but sit, wait and pray to the Gods these bastards took the bait. As things progressed, it seemd the enemy did just that. Danae made a single sound, like that of a night owl. Her men readied their bows, notching them with their arrows as well as she. At the sound of a charge, Danae yelled. "ARCHERS FIRE!" -d-

lanman69: -=By now the movements of the green cannoneer squad had settled, and all eyes were fixated on the stolid oilskin-clad man. The spyglass stayed shaded and on the battle as it erupted. The hearty voice rumbled softly to those near him and corrections on windage and elevation were passed down the line, adjusting as friendly forces engaged. His targets were dangerously close, and the adjustments were very small and fine. Green fingers tightened and loosened bolts to the very slightest of touches. The adjustments stopped. A gauntleted hand was taken away from the spyglass, and chopped the air infront of him. The hilltop was crowned in fire and thunder as the cannonballs shreiked through the air, careening into the foliage as they had the night before. They did not strike into the masses of men, lest they mow down friendly combatant, but rather destruction rained upon the edges of the flanks and rears of the enemy, hemming them into a neat kill-zone for the ambush.=-(d)

A Noble Puzzle: MacGregor jumped on Devon, the men landing flat on their backs as they looked up in the trees. Avoiding one arrow more fell down on their men. "Pull the other lines from the road! Pull them back 'ere! TURN ABOUT.....WEAPONS!" They drew out swords, short swords, perhaps short bows. A few were equipped with long bows but the crossbolts were gone. The heavy artillery he'd sent in advance of them without thinking that these people would spring their own traps! "ATTACK!" The Watcher at his mercy gurgled for it, but only blood spewed out of his mouth, nose, and the wound inflicted that crushed his pipes. Seizing in the final throws of death, Kendrew pulled out the "tooth" of his weapon and drew his sword, Forming an X of both, he'd deflect an overhead pass of the sword. Ringing vibrations shook him until he was tense,using his weight to bare forward. Once his opponent lost his balance, he stuck the broadsword in his chest, sending the spear out to catch another man at the front of his thighs, ripping the flesh as he toppled to his belly (d)

Balian Windsor: The impact of the first calvary lead by Samuel could be seen for a mile he was sure. Bodies flew and horse and men screamed alike. The cannon fire ripping across the night sky and punishing the enemy grounds made the white talon knight grin once more and his hand slid down to grip the hilt of his sword drawing it upward from its sheath and lifting it skyward. The calvary at his back followed his command and trotted up to his side just as the next line of watchers passed them by leaving them vulnerable. And yet still Skye had the bulk of its forces over the foothill before the real camp. Balian threw his heels back and the war stallion bareled forward plowing through the last line of trees to break into the open grounds. The long black tattered cloak whipping back behind him like the banner of death. His sword aimed dead ahead and those icy blues narrowed under the slits of his helm visor. "TILL........DEATH!!" The mighty Calvary was unleashed. The watcher lines went into an undisciplined panic and started break but it was far to late for a retreat. His sword slammed down cleaving the head of the first watcher in his path while the hooves of Aries pulverised the next, hacking and slashing straight through the breaking lines until they found themselves rounding back for another pass. [d]

DestinyOfValor: Danae would watch as their arrows went soaring through the night sky and then be drawn down by gravity to their places with men, the weak places or armour and the ground. Anouther shout came from the comrmander. "SECOND STRING READY...TAKE AIM..." She paused, waiting for just the right moment to give the order to release. The second string of men notched their bows, raised, aimed, and held the taunt strings of their bows. While they waited to hear the sound of their commander, there was the sounds of men crying out, screaming as arrows had struck them. Wounded men of the Watchers stumbled and staggered as their own leader gave orders. Danae watched as she was perched on her tree limb, when she saw the Watched turn about she gave the order. "FIRE!" -d-

Flanman69: -=The softness of the adjusting commands had stopped. The hearty voice no longer rumbled, but roared over the cannon fire as men huffed and sweated through the burdensome task of loading and firing. The soot quickly stuck to their skins, painting them as black-grey harbingers. The spy glass was never dropped for more than the time needed to give the command to fire or tug a greener member to the proper place. The mechanized waltz continued to the music of thunder, but the oilskin-clad figure did not pace the lines cooly. Something was wrong. It couldn't be this easy, could it? There's something missing. The spyglass searched the terrain, looking for that something.=-(d)

JackoftheFaerie: As the Watchers laughed merrily, as they shadowed the 'retreating' forces of Skye and her allies, little did they know they retreated in a trap. Once the last of the 'routed' forces had slunk out of the Watcher's sight, going around a bend in the road, a great barricade was suddenly erected. When the Watchers rounded the bend, they saw not the backs of the 'routed' allies of the Duchess -- but with a wall of Irish steel. The Finnia had deployed as the grand scheme had directed. The fifty-strong unit of Irishmen had chosen one of the narrowest points in the road, shielded on both sides by deep woods and boulders. The front rank of ten-men were kneeling, while behind them were the forty-strong pikemen of their unit. Once the Watchers rounded the bend, what would they do when confronted with this odd formation? Did they stutter in their charge? As one, all ten handgonners touched their lintels to the touch holes of the primitive hand cannons. The narrow road was filled with a roar as the handgunners discharged their arms, a great haze of smoke and sulfur issuing forth, while fire like a dragon's wrath showed in the valley. The Watchers were thrown in to confusion, at least temporarily. Never before had the Watchers -- or the other members of the allied army -- encountered man-portable black powder weapons. As the ten handgonners began the laborious process of reloading, the reason for the pikemen was clear. The pike protected the now-vulnerable handgonners. As the Watchers regained their nerve, preparing to charge. there would be single voice rising from the gentlest and taken up by a hundred and twenty other voices. As one, the Irish spearmen launch their spears from the woods and into the Watcher formations -- before the spearmen, their shields raised and swords drawn, charged from the woodlands. Lead by chariot-mounted the Morrgain incarnate, led by the Ceannfort herself, the Irish charged the Watchers. Elsewhere, the fifty-strong contingent of the Knights of the Red Branch, Ulster's elite heavy calvary, barreled onward around the back of the Watcher's battle formation. Lead by Carrick and the Consort, the Knights of the Red Brnach slammed into the back of the main-portion of the Watcher's battlelines. The banner of Clan O'Brien held high. (d)

VeiledProphecy: Exhaustion crept up on those busy in the camp even as minds worried over the fate of those who fought bravely. Activity did not cease though. There were still injured to tend to and more would come. Quiet discussion passed between those who had been firmly told to take a break. If any of them were frightened or concerned, it did not show outwardly. Brave and proud, they seemed to show only an outward calm. Liliana moved amongst tents, carrying water and cloths, to aid those in need. Outwardly she tried to act as the others did, showing no sign of weakness, but it was indeed hard. Chocolate eyes would occasionally turn in the direction of a battle sound, mind filled with concern for those fighting, especially a certain handsome gentleman, before they'd returned to watch the ground beneath her feet. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: The Watchers were crushed between a line of pikes and powder-arms fire. The dust, the blood mingled up to be a lead like taste in Kendrew's mouth but he still curved a wicked smile sharp as a scythe. Irishman and Scottsman impaled the forces blended in confusion, running them into walls of sharp wood and steel spear tips. On the road the fight had broken out as the lines scrambled to prepare their crossbows, draw swords, and make an organization as the Irish and Clansmen on the road had already begn to sweep through them, driving them down as the Watchers had done the night before. The night was alive! Yellow holes shot out steel balls on the hillside as the artillery fire of heavy cannons send men, horse alike careening in pieces to meet their maker. Some of the crossbowmen had gotten ready, "Sweet out, sweep through... ready.....aim......fire!" Picking up loaded bows from the saddles of their horses, the rapid fire began. Some of the pike lines began to break as men were torn through. Holding guts in hand, entrails slithered slime through flingers as the whites of eyes rolled back. Running behind the heels of a horse, he brought his sword to cut into the heels to drive the beast down, crushing his rider. The spear was thrown forward right through the shoulderblades of another heading for the calvary. An arrow whizzed by him, causing a line of blood to break on old scar, but left him whole. Only pinning him to the tree..he yanked out the arrow in time to come hand to hand with one of the enemy. A hit to the jaw turned his face sideways,but he replied to the invitation to fight with a first into the nose (d)

Balian Windsor: Samuels calvary circled back around the bowl of the valley and ran right back into formation behind Balian. His sword was lift back skyward giving the unspoken command over the high winds of their gallop. Thunder of the cannons alarmed the night once more and Balians men rode straight through the fire bombs errupting into the lines no more then twenty yards off. The showers of Danae and her troops arrows whistled over head though Balian knew that friendly fire could be there very end he trust them just as they would him. His knees tucked back and his heels dug right back into the stirrups, lowering his weight into the saddle all the more while they drove right back through the backs of the watcher lines for the second time. Steel and flesh battered and hammered like the symphony of destruction. The veteran knights sword played that sweet melody of justice each time it cleaved through another mans flesh leaving a river of dead and dying in the path recently collected by Skye hooves. Watcher blades slammed along the knights shield, banging like a war drum only to throw the attackers off balance by the speed they rode leaving him unscatched once more. Balian spun that steel back in his palm just as the sight of Kendrew and his men were brought into his scope. The flat of his blade flicked down to tap Kendrew against the shoulder just as they passed and that deep tone of Balians laughter trailed on behind him in that newly plowed road left for the infantry. Balians sword lift once more, this time pointing toward the Watcher artillary and support units. "WE NEED TO CLEAR THAT BACK HILL AND SEAL THEIR FATE! FORM THE LINE!" He snarled. [d]

DestinyOfValor: As the second string of arrows did their mischeif, it was not enough to bring the enemy down or even slow them up enough. With the Watchers gaining ground now when heading toward the tree line, Danae gave the order. "FIRE AT WILL!" The Commander of the Avarian Rangers however continued to sit perched on her branch with one other archer. She was having a hard time in finding Maahes in all this chaos as she knew he had his plan that needed to happen. The man with her was squatting on the same branch as she, with a torch. Waiting for his commander to let him know when to light her arrow. Unfortunately it did not look like it would be anytime soon and so Danae moved from the perched position she held, to the ground. With a quickness and grace only a woman like her could possess, she withdrew both her sword and katar. The group of men charging in their direction would meet those left with arrows as well as those like the commander now on the ground and ready to do battle the fun way....sword and skill. -d-

Flanman69: -=A gauntleted hand raised and the roar bellowed to the men. Jack quickly beckoned the "captain" of each cannon to his side. As they gathered around him, gauntleted hand produced a crudely drawn map of the valley. The voice rumbled matter-of-factly and succinctly.=- They all be too intertwined now tae continue fire. At least fer now. But 'tis nae safe here any longer. We've played out hand. Break chock and move. We're headed here. -=A clawed finger jabbed the map at the top of another hill further behind their current position. One of the "captians" groaned wearily in protest.=- Ye'll do it if'n ye donnae want tae become a target. We are the slowest moving unit here, and as such must think the fastest. We cannae help them much more since they're breaking the lines. Now we must be their safety net. Fall back tae cover any potential retreat. We can still reach them even if they drive all the way tae here. -=the finger jabbed the map again.=- Now move. -=The men did as they were told and began to collect supplies and heft the cannon from the trenches invariably dug by recoil.=- (d)

VeiledProphecy: The former quiet, if one could call it that, was disturbed by the incoming of newly injured. Brave souls had been sent to wait and watch with the fighters, and their job was simple: Bring the wounded back to camp. There was no more resting now as people began to move, injured carried to tents, and healers called to tend to assess the damage. Their cries of agony tore through the camp, sending shivers up and down spines, as Liliana rushed to aid in assisting one man to a tent, her and a healer doing their best...for the man was holding his own insides in his hands. Stomach churning, sweat beading on brow, Liliana fought the nausea that threatened to make her legs buckle. The call for water and bandages rang from many voices, people rushing about, and she did her best to once again ignore the feel of the blood soaking her clothing. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "DRIVE THE LINES BACK MEN AND LET'S BE MAKIN' BOYS O' THEM AS WE DO IT AYE!?" On foot, the quickness of his boots became a blur of the body as he canted his head for the men to join. Amidst the artillery fire would be shaken spear and swords coated in blood. He lept on to a fallen tree, finding the shaking, the branches, the snagged bark no problem as his age was keen only to reveal the experience of a man who gave his weapon, stamina, and zeal to the front lines. "BALIAN! THERE!" He pointed with is spear over the heads of the charging Irish on either side. Jonas and Ademar had met, binding a group of the Watchers in one place leaving them to do the remainder of the work and drive them as deep as they could toward the waiting wall of fire to be caught. The cry issued out of his throat rocked the night sky and made his next victim falter on the wood. Darting forward one foot over the other, as his his ankles were swept at he jumped up. Landing, he kicked the man in his sex, driving the heel in as his balance split open his legs. When he'd fallen on his side, the standing Steel Tooth of the West drove his broadsword in between the ribs, not satisfied until he heard bone snap felt the plush cushion of organ sever underneath. Looking up at the crest of the road he called up "WHAT'S THE IRISH SCORE FER THE NIGHT, CAPTAIN?" Another volley of arrow was prepared "Aim for the best they have.." The Hammer was a skilled marksmen, reading the English long bow, the most suitable invention from that country with a restrung Mongolian tension. Combing the two weapons allowed for amazing volley and a quicker ability to cast another arrow into the notch. Twang! Twang! An Irish, A Scottsmen, an Arganian fell..doing so in twisted pain as the wound inflicted on legs, stomachs, or backs seethed with poison. Frothing blood, bubbling accidity set the hardest, grown of men to screaming like babes wanting mother's teet. Kendrew drew close to the fallen,turning them over to see what became of them as their eyes began to yellow. "DO NAY TOUCH THE DEAD!" He barked a warning, drawing his shield up in place of the spear, deflecting the arrows coming toward him. (d)

Balian Windsor: The terrain was cut like butter as the horsemen galloped up the back hill. The mighty calvary was given that sweet and final order. "KILL EM ALL!" He barked unleashing the calvary to fight the free for all. The reigns were drawn back on the stallion bringing it to a hault and leaving the calvary to whip past him into the fray on the charge against the watcher artillary. The fight was a challengeless slaughter but surely meant the loss of a very usefool tool and the loss of a retreat for the watchers. Balian rolled his shoulders back to adjust the sore muscles then his eyes caught sight of the watcher lines making way toward Danae's position. He turned his head to look back toward Samuel. "Finish them off.. ..here.. and regroup back by the rangers." His heels rocked back once more and Balian alone went ripping through the open night. Hooves pounding over the dead and bloodied grounds. His arm hauled back and spliced down through the open air claiming the chest of a retreating wounded watcher. While his shield bulldozed through the next. And soon enough he reached the fight, he didn't bother waiting for the horse to slow, instead his weight shift and the skilled horsemen rolled clean off the back of the mount, slashing the bastard sword to his left to send a spray of brain matter and skull fragments into the night before his boots even met the ground. His spurrs chimed with contact and he spun back on his heel, throwing his cloak back to spiral around his thigh just as his shield was hauled up to catch a wild bolt. He snarled grinding his teeth and whipped his shield ahead leaving the edge to catch the throat of the would be sniper. [d]

DestinyOfValor: As lines were broken and others were formed, Danae and her rangers began to form their own. With with arrows from the Watchers, several of Danae's rangers were hit and wounded, few killed. Those that were wounded however manage to ignore the injury if possible and keep on moving forward. While others would help assist in getting the more serious injured ones to safety and to be picked up by the aide wagon. More of the Watchers continued to charge their way toward the Avarian rangers, their Commander and those that fought along side them. Danae rooted her feet as as one man came directly after her, she ducked as he swiped his sword at her. When she came back up, she jabbed him with the left hand, holding that katar and sending the blade deep into his flesh. A trigger was pulled, having two other blades spring open and doing that much more damage before she pulled it free and kicked the man to the ground. -d-

ackoftheFaerie: As the rain of poison fell from the sky, the bravest of the Irish raced closer to the Ceannfort. Two men, carrying large tower shields, climbed aboard the Ceannfort's chariot. The men used their shields, and their bodies, to protect the Ceannfort and the unborn within her from the poison. Elsewhere, the Red Branch had driven into the ranks of the Watchers. And then, the Red Branch did something spectacular: the wheeled wide through the Watcher ranks, hacking down the Watchers with fury, before the Red Branch broke. Why? A new target had been given to the Red Branch. A great number of the enemy infantry had been sucked into the fierce melee between the forces of Skye and her allies, the Watchers fighting for their very lives. And of that amount of enemy infantry drawn into the melee? The infantry unit that was supposed to be protecting the Watcher's archers and crossbow men from attack. As the enemy archers and crossbow men filled the air with their bolts and bodkins, they hardly noticed the danger they had been placed in. The Red Branch, lead by Carrick and Jack, swung wide of the fight -- even going out of sight of their allies. When they reappeared, they were behind the Watcher's bowmen and crossbow men. "Ride 'em down!" Jack bellowed, extending his double-barreled pistol. Like a lover caressing his wife's face, Jack's finger caressed one of pistol's triggers. There was a boom of a shot, one of the crossbow men collapsing. Another pistol shot, another dead. And then the heavily armored knights slammed into the ill-prepared, lightly armored bowmen and crossbowmen of the Watchers. (d)

eiledProphecy: That men would die had been clear to all those who had went into battle. To those who came to help. Yet, healers were faltering at the horrific cries coming from men that were were known to be strong of soul when times gota stood holding cloths to the stomach of the man she had helped carry inside. Once having been white they were now covered crimson. Two others stood holding him down to avoid outraged blowsfrom the further agony inflicted by trying to mend his wounds. A call, for more cloths and more water and more aid, rang out and Liliana felt fear squeeze her heart. Would as many die today as before? (d)

A Noble Puzzle: The Watchers were going to meet the same hard casualties that the allied forces would face. A few instances later proved that Skye, Avaria, and Ulster were quick studies to tactics. They too could entrap and if need be toss all plans to hell and fight like the heathen barbarians of old. It could be said, too, that the Watchers were men of resources who had their additional men find way out of the shadows. When the forces did not meet at the scheduled time or place they were supposed to, they back trackedd with the ongoing battle as a distraction. Poised now above cannon lines of Jack-of-all-Trades, under guise to come to Danae, Balian, Captain Jack, and all of the others..Kendrew turned to notice a portion of the lines had shifted. The reserves of the Watchers were trying to draw them back out of where they were now! This was not good! How was the General's wall of fire to be had..and what would become of townspeople? A greenman found his throat easy fodder, ripe for the slitting. You will lay low, join the main camp yet vanish in the numbers. Ye won't be there tae fight, but ye may be needed tae save. Go where the enemy thinks we won't n' take them down when they think we will give in.. Adam Aberdeen was a man who took a good idea into consideration. Just as the line threatened to widen..Kendrew ran to do what he could to cease it and that was when he would see this: An Arganian Ranger was at the mercy of an archer, only for the archer to be impaled from behind, tossed aside like refuse. Jonas would have had his back slice if it weren't for an axe cleaved down seeming out of the ink black. Not much of these men could be seen..save that on their forearms was drive in fire brand the mark a Griffin. OUT RIDERS! One word..one call. The sound of hooves as three came to flank Balian, A crush of fast, hard sword play literally mowing down the lines of watchers widening the arc. Outriders were the most brutal, most horrendous of the Talon Knighthood's Order. In the towns unbeknowest to the fray, they had taken down the other leaders waiting to assemble at Struan Castle and murder the Clan leader. They had undone the plot to murder the remaining of the great Silver manor...and now came to drive Maahes plan into action. The oil pots were set, awaiting the torch and arrow for the wall of fire. In the crossfire of arrows, the man of Dumfrieshire let out a sharp cry as the flesh between his armor was impacted. Grimacing, he broke the shats. Leaving the arrow heads in place...bleeding...he drove himself on. It was all or nothing (d)


Balian Windsor: His head snapped forward to collide with another mans with a loud pop and a growl from the veteran knight. His hand slapped down over the mans waist gripping his sword and jerking it free only to thrust the mans own sword into his eye socket and out the back of his skull while his right arm flung back over his shoulder to collect the sword of another watcher with a bellowing clang! His weight shift to his right leg pivoting off his heel before he spun and slashed the second sword across the mans gut spilling his inards to the grounds. Shoulder checking the screaming horrified soldier to the ground while he made way for the ranger lines of Danae. "Now we have ourselves a fight." He locked his shoulders and spun those twin blades forward in his palms while he snap kicked the next watcher and brought both blades down on either of the mans shoulders hacking his arms clean
Balian Windsor: off. He left the man to stagger off in shock and took a solid step forward throwing his blades back into action. An bow string snapped from the thick of the ranks and Balian spun back on his heel catching that arrow in his thigh. His eyes welled with that instant burn but his rage engulfed whatever disciplines that still remained. "That." He licked the front of his pearly whites. Icy blues stared through fallen locks of wheat over his brows. "Was.....a mistake..." Those blues narrowed just as they lift to lock on the archer and the sword was hurled ahead and driven into the bowmens heart. Then the yell came of OUT RIDERS. His head snapped around and he dove back to his mount, throwing his heels back to send Aries into a gallop. His sword raised right back to his guard just when his eyes settled on the three coming for him, he didn't fear death nor pain and despite all reason he charged for the most savage of soldiers known to the parts. The only thing that Balian feared was seeing his betrothed to a funeral rather then their handfasting. Samuel and the rest of the calvary started to route back down the back hill heading for the fray and Balian was closing that distance between himself and the Out riders. [d]

DestinyOfValor: Others under the Greek warriors command were met by the steel of the Watchers The cling clang of blades sang through the air, singing the age old song of good against evil, the skilled against the mastered, and the willing against the obligated. Merick took down two men easy, Balian another three. Danae was fighting a large bald man, one that laughed at her size and the fact she was a woman. "Well, aren't yet a pretty lass... I bet ye would make a fine pet... for awhile. Hows about ye let a real man take ye by the hand and lead ye away to a fine dance floor..eh?" Danae stood her ground in a defensive stance, preparing to strike as she listen to the cokey bastard basically say how he would like to have a bit of fun with her. Danae smirked and arched those dark brows. "Then let us dance..." She replied as he then moved t oadavnce towards her. She kicked him, only for her foot to be caught and pulled. Having the Greek warrior fall flat on her back. As he reached behind him to grasp an axe, Danae lifted her other foot kicking him square in the balls before rolling to her side and regaing her footing. He was haunched over before Danae's blade did its damage, bringing down to hack between his head and shoulder, then he fell to his knees while still holding his balls, or what was left of them and Danae retrived her sword only to send it into his chest with a sicking sound. One fluid pull back had her sword free as she pushed him back with the heel of her boot. Her icy blue hues did a quick scan, picking out the bohemth of a man. Maahes... he looked as if he were ready for her to get that flaming arrow ready. Quickly, Danae sheathed her katar and and blade and retrieved her bow, notching it with the arrow."William!" She called out, needing that torch. -d-

Flanman69: -=Perched atop the new hill, the spyglass searched over the battlefield. Men around him panted and rested wearily upon anything that would hold their weight. Letting the spyglass drop from under the weather-beaten brim, the brawny frame bodily grabbed the only two in the lot dressed in what might have passed muster as armor, and old hunting bows on their backs.=- Ye two, I want ye on picket. Take a torch. Light it and holler if something approaches. It doesnae matter from where. But station yerselves higher up on that slope -=a clawed finger pointed. As they rushed away with their orders, the hearty voice rumbled out over the panting.=- Catch yer breath later. Unfurl again lads. I want three of ye he

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

Flanman69: -=Perched atop the new hill, the spyglass searched over the battlefield. Men around him panted and rested wearily upon anything that would hold their weight. Letting the spyglass drop from under the weather-beaten brim, the brawny frame bodily grabbed the only two in the lot dressed in what might have passed muster as armor, and old hunting bows on their backs.=- Ye two, I want ye on picket. Take a torch. Light it and holler if something approaches. It doesnae matter from where. But station yerselves higher up on that slope -=a clawed finger pointed. As they rushed away with their orders, the hearty voice rumbled out over the panting.=- Catch yer breath later. Unfurl again lads. I want three of ye here, and the off ye on the opposite side there. -=Brawny arms gestured with the smooth practice of a conductor.=- The rest, I want a bent line here. One drop back over here -=the hulking figure trotted over and kicked out a divot of earth.=- Ye willnae fire unless I light it meself. Understood? -=the men collectively nodded and mustered themselves weakly to do the slave-driver's bidding. Meanwhile, the spyglass continued to search hurriedly.=- Where are ye? Show yourselves already.(d)

A Noble Puzzle: Jack-of-all-Trades and his spyglass would be blessed with the sight of enemy filling the warped birth of the lens spaning the distance from where he was to the fight below. Enough of the widening line was still present to be taken out, and some moving toward where they needed to be led were close as well. " HERD THEM IN OR BREAK THEM DOWN: As if on stimultaenous cue, the Outriders lifted their blades be it on horseback or on foot, and in a great, hefted cry from inside the tone seemed to rattle the Watchers clear in their boots. One man would feel moisture on his breeches as he soaked himself. This wasn't an island of barbarians, or so he was told! It wasn't just impairment the Outriders went for, they went for limbs, heads, shredding them to pieces so others would run, terrified, into another Outrider's wait. Kendrew was drawn cold himself by the display he saw, on par with the Anglo-Saxon invasions that history had told them of. Driving his spear into the ground, he kep thimself afoot. He drove those near him into the trenches Maahes had ordered dug, deep, slick with mud so climbing out would not be an option. "GAH," he cried out as he took a knife into his side, but using the red to see only that behind his eyes, he kicked the would be murderer into the trench. Falling to his knee, he would hold one hand to the spear dug into the ground as the other loosened his horn from his belt. Pursing his lips, the horn blasted across the valley, and so Danae would have her signal. (d)

Balian Windsor: Just as that sword stroke was about to fall and collide Balian yanked the blade back and dipped his chin, laying the steel across his shoulder when he caught sight of the Griffon crest. How close that had come from ending badly was a scarey thought. He hauled the reigns back and circled Aries back around just as the calvary had slowed in his wake. Veteran attenative eyes drift back across the battlefield while the horse fought for a breath and so had the men behind him. Nearly all of them bleed, some of them slouched still in there saddles. Fatigue was and wounds were taking their toll and the loss of many of there brothers and friends weighed heavy in the ranks on all but the White Talon Knight that lead them it seemed. His blues continued to search the battlegrounds and his gloved hand gently stroked the neck of the stallion to stay the beast a while longer. He reached down and coiled his fingers around the arrow still protruding from his thigh and snapped the shaft off tossing it to the ground and his sword was raised once more calling for the horsemen to reform at his back and prepare the next charge and then the horn bellowed and his sword was lowered once more. "CIRCLE BACK!" and get the hell out of the way! He kicked his heels back and rounded the calvary back to get ouf of the rain of fire that was to be unleashed. [d]

DestinyOfValor: Both Merick and Balian fought their way toward the Greek Commander and guarding her, fighting off any threats that came their way while she waited with the notched arrow for William to come and set a fire. Several Watchers would charge, making the mistake in thinking two men could not keep at it for two long. William, along with a few others safe gaurding his life, finally managed to appear just as the Greek warrior heard her signal. Talk about perfect timing...William set the arrow afire, Danae raised, drew back and released. That arrow hit her target with perfection...setting the Maahes' plan into action. Quickly the fire spread and while doing so, Danae would take not one, not two, but three arrows from the watchers as Merick and Balian continued to fight others off. One hit her shoulder, another her stomach and the third a thigh. She fell to her knees, her hands loosening their grip on her weapons before she fell onto her side. Merick and Balian quickly gathered up the woman and began to make way to get her to safety. To have her on the wagon and sent to the tents for the injured while Danae's rangers retaliated for her in taking down those archers who's arrows hit their Commander. -d-


Flanman69: -=The spyglass dropped and the hearty voice barked orders at the cannon lines, some still in midst of setting up. The gunners trained the guns to the tune of impatient orders. The remainder of the crews unpacked shot and powder. Finally having the bearing, and the the sudden lighting of the oil fires was the perfect chaotic opportunity. No sooner did the last ramrod leave the barrel, then Jack bellowed "Fire!", and a new volley thundered down the valley side and into the bulge. Hemming them in closer to the wall of flame, the six cannon he had flanked pounded into the entrapped mass as will. The stolid figure watched on, now quiet as the crews labored.=-(d)

Veiled Prophecy: "Cora, lass, I love ye'." The words whispered on the night air, fevered delusions of an injured man, and a shriek followed. Not from him though. It came from Liliana as his bloody hand gripped the back of her head as she'd been over to see if he were still breathing. With his mind having snapped from pain as death slowly took him he was seeing another in her place, a woman he clearly loved, and then his hand cupper her face before death
finally took him home. Tearing out of the tent, fighting the urge to cry, Liliana's eyes moved around the busy camp. It was a sight for it seemed that order was still to be found even with the chaos of the dying. (d)


A Noble Puzzle: The Irish fought brave and true, protecting the Ceanfort and her Consort. Many gave their lives on the Valley of Star's moss carpeted floors as those of Skye had given theirs to see the land of Ulster liberated. When the wall of fire ignited, oil pots could be heard bursting. Enemy and good man alike caught shrapnel as fire raced up the trees, the meadows and the hillside to cut of the Watcher's elected route of escape. Startled, many fell into the trenches to be taken down by arrows or succumb to the heat. Consort Flynn and the Ceanfort's brother took their share of bruises and scratches, moving back to the camp as the battle had drawn to its close. The Robertsons took a few of the enemy with them to the otherside, those that died, while Jonas and Ademar of Ravencrest saw to helping the wounded to the wagons that came, or on rogue horses without riders. Drawing his horn strap across his body, the White Talon Champion came to his feet shakily. Blood soaked and weary..he would still offer his hand to pull a fellow from the trench who ought not belong. If this man he had would live or die..who could say. Off n the distance as the cannon volley splintered resistance..he tipped his spear to his brow in a sort of salute to the man in oilskin he couldn't see."God damn it.." he muttered. An Outrider came, putting the man from the trenches across his horse and offering asaddle less mount to Kendrew. Pulling himself on..he took hold of the reigns and began the progression to camp. His blood soaked garment, trailed to stain the horse..but he would live.(d)

Balian Windsor: The sky lit up as if the sun broke over the horizon just when that wall of flame errupted onto the battlefield. The horse reared back onto its hind legs casting the silhoutte of the white cloaked one across the grounds. "Easy.... easy." The horse dropped back to its fours shifting Balian back into the saddle with a hard breath and a grin watching those motherless dogs burn. The roar of the cries and screams of the burning was swallowed by the cheers of the men at his back. The charcoal shaded sword was lowered and driven back into its sheath with a hard breath escaping his lips feeling the weight lift from his chest. "The battle is won men.. " He reached down and started to shred a piece of his now torn and tattered cloak and used the piece to tie off the wound in his thigh. "If you are unscathed.....See to the field and help pull our wounded back to the healers and physicians.. .. those of you who are wounded yourself.. .. get back to camp." He bowed his head to them while they were dismissed to carry out Balian's final order. Balian simply lift his blues toward the skies above and turned the stallion to make way for the camp. [d]

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

Flanman69: -=One of the cannon crews paused for a moment, looking questioningly over the battlefield and at their commander. They enemy was clearly in dissarray, dying if not dead, and friendly forces were withdrawing. The wrinkled brim snapped to center upon the lagging crew, and a hand violently thrust forward towards the inferno below. The crewed ducked their heads a bit and continued to load.=- (d)


Timeless Trances: ~ Things had finally clicked between gossip and Ari's mind for the Clan. The recent assassination attempt ... the Robertson Clan ... the Battle ... it all coincided enough to but a swift boot right to Ari's behind to put aside the frivolities and put her recent profits to use. Hearing of the battle raging and the camps running low on resources, the Baroness of Dun Mhor, Struan did everything she could with what little she had that served useful in wartime. With all the carts and carriages she could manage to gather from her village and vineyard, she would stock pile everything from linens, fresh water, fruits, meats, and dairy, right down to her oh-so-special brews of wine. For even if her special recipes could not be used to dull the pains of healing wounds, they could surely be used to replace depleted sterilizing liquids. Though Ari was nothing near to a surgeon or healer, she knew how to tend to the sick and soiled, as well as how to properly clean and dress wounds and even stitch them. And so from the wee hours until now when the battle was finally won, Ari had busied herself doing just that. And for the longest period, she'd maintained a cast iron stomach...but to see a soldiers death so many times up close, made her feel a twinge of guilt and nausea to think she had so prayed for it for her husband. She saw his face on so many of the dead bodies she'd seen to wrapping up for a swift burial...even heard him cursing her name for being the death of him. Until finally, while washing her bloodstained hands off : and drying them upon the stained apron over her black dress in premeditated mourning, she would swiftly cup a hand over her mouth to bite back the urge to vomit. Racing outside of the present tent she was working in for a quick gasp of air to calm her upchuck reflex. Holding in everything as she hunched over slightly to catch her breath and stamina. She did not know why she let it get to her so...the infirmary man reporting foul play, but quickly dismissing it to be the sort of thing that happens in a war. Even now it got to her and she did not know why. It didn't rest well. It didn't stop the visions and worry from returning every so often she was faced with mortality. For now she could only the Lord Caden had survived enough to appreciate her services here. It was her second attempt in unfortunate times to get through to him as his new ally. All the while she awaited : report on all the Clansmen who had marched. But all the while knowing no one whom could catch her up on their status. ~

VeiledProphecy: The explosion in the distance brought a pause to all activity in camp. Injured and uninjured stood as if statues, holding baited breath, and then a loud cheer resounded somewhere in the camp. It spread until finally the camp moved back into motion. Moving through the camp, passing out more cloths, Liliana would touch the cheek of a tired healer or of an injured warrior. A soft smile and gentle word to help them keep their strength was the best she could do presently. Stopping to stretch, hands pressing against lower back and a groan escaping her lips, chocolate eyes would lock on one of the other women. One that she had seen at the tavern one evening. "Are you well, miss?" (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "A good battle!" "The Griffin is not to be undestimated!" "Huzzah! Ulster,Avaria, our allies! long live the house of Ravencrest and the Clan Robertson!" Even amidst the sorrowed of the dying one would not forget why they had died. They could go, with a smile as others came forward under tattered banners with colors refusing to bleed like human blood. Forever enduring. Forever there. On the last leg of the returning twixt the pride of the calvary, Balian Windsor, and the returning members of Argania, Avaria, and Ulster rode a handful of run-ragged Griffn men. Instantly they were all helped down..taken to be fed, cleansed, given rest and accolades. Yodric came up alongside his master knight and saw the white of strain on his face. Perspiration dotted his brow but he still smiled in some fashionto the boy. "Tis worth it, Sir?" "Aye, Yodric," He took his hand came down with a heady groan. Limping of his own accord, healers began to follow to his private tent near the commanders as he said, "Tis well n' worth it." (d)

Flanman69: -=A hand raised and the cannons finally stopped. Naught but the stir of fire could be observed moving from their hilltop vantage. Turning as if mounted upon hinges, the brawny figure faced down the lines and gave the order to break chock and head for camp. There were a few relieved whoops and few hands shaken as the green townsfolk could now smile to themselves as comrades in arms. The stolid figure did not join them, but was as methodical as ever in their withdrawal and the long hump back to camp where fatigued men dropped to their tents as quickly as they could traverse the distance. Jack would walk the camp, hob-nailed boots thumping rhythmically past the infirmed and deliberately ignoring and impatient banker who had somehow left the battle but felt entitled to remain in the camp.=- (d)

Timeless Trances: ~ The Baroness who always knew how to blend, with her chestnut locks hanging long and wavy, but pinned back in two twists to frame her head ... would turn with gratitude to the one who addressed her and tore her from her tormenting thoughts. She would immediately straighten up and cough, then withdrawing her handkerchief from up her sleeve to wipe at her eyes and cough out the taste of rotting flesh and all kinds of other horrid smells that had clogged up her lungs throughout the day. "Oh, aye...just...thought I'd seen the last of this with the death of my husband. Thoughts are suddenly too much to bear at the sight of so much death." she would confess, before jumping at the sound of nearby explosions. Though the cheers settled her enough for the moment until the cries and groans of agony within the tents struck her ears again, bringing her back to her tension. "Gods be with my people...this is not something I wished for them." would be added as she rubbed at a twitch above her brow. Then finally noting the familiarity in the woman. "I do know you from somewhere, don't I?" came the start at idle conversation as both women moved to cart in more supplies and distribute them. All the while, catching eachother up on as much as possible. All in due time, she would find herself torn away from the kind woman by the name of Liliana. At which time, Aracellis would move then to start distributing more wine to those newly arrived...seeing to their pain before anything else. With her tray full, she shuffled about quickly...eyes like the waters of a tropical coast darting about to land on every one without a tankard of the strongest wine in the isles. Soon, she was outdoors and tent hopping, making stops to her carts every so often to fill more tankards and deliver them as swiftly as possible. ~

A Noble Puzzle: Liliana told Ariacellis that she was the Duchess' lady-in-waiting, one of two who came down from Turas Lan on permission of the woman herself to go where their lady for once couldn't. Hands would be shaken if only they weren't soiled or chapped, but such was not a worl where a woman would care the best of herself. "GAH..SHYTE!" Curses rolled out in prolific quanity as the healing seemed worse than getting hurt! The armor was hard to pull off, tightened by constriction with liquids, stuck on by blood and sweat. Peeled back, his garments were cut until they touched the hard muscle molding under his skin. Modesty was not a trait to hold fast to in war. His nakedness meant little to the surgeons who came to extract not the three, but a total of four arrowheads from out of Kendrew: thigh, left shoulder, right lower back, under the left knee. "GAAAH! AH" He bit into his lip as the froth of boiled wines and whiskey mingled with boiling water to clean each wound. His breathing increased..brow dabbed for sweat as another call was put out by a servant with his head outside of the tent, calling for spirits the man might drink to calm the pain as the poured it in his wounds. He rolled his eyes,shutting them as he braced for the pouring liquids down his back after the extraction of the arrowhead, careful not to ruin tendon, ligament or nerves. (d)

Flanman69: -=The hulking figure paced the camp. The shadow of black oilskin cloth traversed the darker sections of the camp, and might have been mistaken for a messenger of the prevalent death by the superstitious or drunk. In this manner, Jack observed, and searched out familiar faces or holes in the medical/commisceral services.=- (d)

Timeless Trances: ~ It came as a sure fire reminder to her of that familiar female figure, and after proper introductions, she would surely not forget. And thus, felt more than inclined to at least give some name to go with her titles. and so, Ari would introduce herself as Baroness Robertson of Dun Mhor. With any hope she would be at liberty to have Lady Liliana extend her blessing to she and the Duchess both, as well as a request for personal audience soon after their return. For if it was one thing that Aracellis always knew, it was that the Robertsons and the Duchy were thicker than thieves. In this she trusted that her time here was well spent after all, and so there was a pep in her step once more. After getting yet another fill for her tray, she would note the cries of agony behind her trek were died down to groans or silence. Marking her with a grin that at least the brew was doing her trick while she got a bit of air for the next go round of cleaning wounds and stitching. That was when she noted the messenger looking man and thought to put him to good use, since he did not seem to injured to do so. "Oh, good Sir ... I pray you help yourself to some wine. And if you are on your way in, might you carry this in for me? I've still more trays to fill." came the gentle almost puppy humble voice as she bowed her head to him graciously and handed him the full tray. Turning porcelain doll face up to smile at him with the courtesy of eye contact to accompany that tamed scottish accent. But like any woman, she knew when to leave ... and that was now. Thus with a quick dip of her knees she shuffled back to her wine cart to fill up yet another tray. This time, hearing the cries from the private tent, knowing it obviously belonged to someone of high status, she would make due not to keep this one waiting. Thus she piled on a bottle of wine, a single tankard, a bowl of water, and her stitching supplies already tucked into the pocket of her apron. She would take up the tray and sprint for the tent. To a slow and cautious entrance, only to be slapped with the visage of ... flesh. She would gasp and then clear her throat to announce her entry. Keeping her eyes strictly low from that point on. ~

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

A Noble Puzzle: "GOD DAMN IT! YE ARE TRYIN' TAE BURN M'SKIN WOMAN!" He bellowed as the incinerated liquors ate away the lingering, limp skin that'd only go dead as the night wore on. It felt as if it were peeling away viable layers just for the chance to curdle the veins. He swore they were receding as all color rushed with platlets flaring around the points of entry to combat infection, making them red, angry..as his face gritted hard..for the time became only ashes. He calmed himself as the worst of it seemed to end, left only with the prod of pushing fingertips seeking other points for work. Let it be known that for a man who did favor some ounce of decorum, unless he sought to be nude before a woman he wouldn't, thus he saw the downcast eyes of the small one who was regailed with the Knight Champion in all his God-given glory. The sinew of his thigh twitched as already they began to apply numbing salves for the stiches yet to be done. Waving one of the surgeons off, he pulled a cloth over his often breeches covered prize for the sake of a woman's modesty. Any other time he might have been rather tickled so pretty a person had come to bring comfort...but as it was, splayed out as such..this made for raw introduction. "M...M'lady.." he muttered when at last he was able to sit on the chair, reasonably covered..tired (D)

lanman69: -=His bulk halted at the modest request, and a calloused hand slipped out from under the folds of oilskin cloth to take the tray. The wrinkeld brim did not rise to meet the face of the gentle attendee, but the voice was familiar. No words were given to accept, deny, or even acknowledge the task presented. But short work was made of poking into tents, and finding a live one who wdesired sustenance. The task done, the burly frame traced back the path the wine-maiden had taken. Finding the cart, the exposed hand would take up a bottle of wine. A slightly gnarled thumb popped the cork free without any apparent effort, and the neck of the bottle disappeared under the shade of the brim as the bottom tipped skyward. The laments from within the private tent did not fall upon deaf ears, but now was not the time. Walking off slowly, Jack found a comfortable patch of earth out of the way of the milling attendees and surgeons. The hand lifted the bottle, but stopped. It hesitated, then put the bottle down.=- (d)

Timeless Trances: ~ At the sound of yet another vaguely familiar voice, this time rich and masculine, her eyes would shyly and hesitantly turn up to look upon the gentleman who knew a lady by her modesty. Smiling shyly still more, she would clear her throat and hand him his wine with a low dip of her knees this time. "M'Lord, indeed, what paths Taverns cross. I only just met your Lady friend outside. How glad it makes me to see you ..." pause inserted here as she let her eyes wander over his wounds while fighting the urge not to blush or grin like a school girl. "Well, at least predominantly intact enough for us to be properly introduced this time. I am Aracellis, and today, I am your devoted wounds stitcher and dresser." she would chip the ice away with that siren smile and confidence while rinsing and sterilizing her hands and equipment over the bowl and tray. Then rounding him, leaving him to rest upright with his wine for now. With plenty more where it came from. All the while she would work on his back...get that on the mend first so he would be able to rest upon it sooner and take the pressure off his lower half which was more or less a pin cushion. ~


A Noble Puzzle: He peered out of one eye at the woman who offered him wine with bended knee. For the first time in his quarters he found a leave given by God to smile. "Ye speak with a silver tongue, M'Lady. N' ye waist it on a pin cushion." The contents of her offering were gulped down greedy throat as the healer urged him not to take it in to fast, lest he get dizzy. "Well, why nae. Ye've stripped me, burned me, n' now your goin' to stich me at least let me be a bit swim o' the head." " He's a fiesty man young miss, m'lady aye.. ayeee. Full o' zeal.." The old woman smiled a semi-toothless smile to Ari as she arranged bandages and salves in the tent, not before giving the bare assed man a smack to side exposure of his cheek. He near choked on the contents of his cup, wide eyes peering as the woman sblack personed. " Aye..Ariacellis...pleasure. Remember ye I do now, a glimpse anyhow. I be Kendrew..the man ye be puttin' back together.." "Bet when ye get home ye be goin' to a nice lassie to remember if your bits work. Nice bits he has too m'lady..but don't get fresh now with the poor man, he's not fit..yet." 65 years gave the woman a glib tongue sliding fast over tartness! He put his cup out to one passing with a pitcher..yes, he was going to need quite a bit more to drink at this rate. The old woman looked him over none to shyly as she slid off to another tent (d)

lanman69: -=On that patch of earth, the heap of oilskin cloth would sit against a tree and nurse both the bottle of wine and a canteen. The weather-beaten brim would dip. And perhaps for the first time since the battle had loomed over the valley. Jack slept.=-(d)

Timeless Trances: ~ With the antics erupting in the private tent, Aracellis fought to stifle a fit of church giggles while she set to stitching up the wound upon his back, starting low, hunched and focused, trying to keep a steady hand. Unable to shake the amusement however, still she listened intently. "Thank you, M'Lord, I see our silvery tongues we have in common. Though I fear your weakness is revealed already. Whilst you can lash a healer down with that tongue, you cannot fend off a woman twice your senior?" she'd tease, if only to keep him well distracted while she picked up the pace, once she'd gotten a good cinch upon his flesh. Not wishing to drag it out too long. "Either way, Lord Kendrew...the pleasure is all mine. For I do not know or remember many hereabouts, unfortunately. Pity it is not under more fortunate circumstances." came her own woes once more. Victory or not, she would not wish such trials upon her people. And Kendrew was obviously one of those. ~

A Noble Puzzle: "Old woman..." he rumbled, "..." the remainder of his words were muttered on her dirt ridden hems. Dirt was more in the mind and on the tongue as she dragged her mind in the guter, that one! "Och, ye should be good to your...sss. mm...your elders m'lady. Even the ones with bed matters in the mouth." She cinched skin that once whole was taught over muscles chiseled from Scott's stone. He could have been part of a standing stone circle of the ancient druidsor the tower of a castle. His head could have been the pinacle, his shoulders the ramparts. Despite the debaucle he eased under the influence of a little wine and conversation to distract him from the pain he must have felt. Even with salves, wine, the man was bruised, cut, and open. His face was pale, and his brow had the remnants of cool moisture form sweat. "Sir Kendrew..Sir.." he corrected her gently, "Nay Lord yer stichin' up m'lady Aracellis.Just a solider." He shut his eyes as her steady hand pinched a place where stiches twice over would be needed. The arrow had had cut him up the back on the way out (d)

imeless Trances: ~ "Really, now?" she would ask, as though most intrigued at the idea of him correcting her at such a time of devotion. "I pray you'll excuse that I do not beg forgiveness, Sir Kendrew. For I believe every man here has done his duty thrice over to be called a Lord of War, at least until they are on the mend again." she would correct him in return, if only to excuse her own slip of the tongue. All the while she had swiftly worked up the wound, only then to double back down again to patch the in between spots and keep the wound firmly pinched together. "Hm, perhaps if you help yourself to the bottle of my special brew you shall agree with me more easily." she'd offer and even dare to massage at his good shoulder in encouragement. As well as to ease the tension. It would do no good to his back or healing. "Also, you'll need to try not to hunch too far forwars. You'll strain the stitches 'fore their time." she'd offer before snipping and sealing the wound upon his back. Rounding him then again to clean and sterilize the needle and her hands again. And handing him the bottle of wine if he hadn't grabbed it already. ~

A Noble Puzzle: Humility before vanity. Honor of truth before elation of self over an accolade. Lord of War - Steel Tooth of the West, Lord in ye own right, I think. You, too, brother! Lords o' the West! Only he heard the residule echo of old memory of a battle from from the night of this one."Your charity be matched only by your praise, m'lady. Thank you." He stared off into the distance, summoned only by her call to mind his huncing lest she make it hard for him to work. He became from supple,moldable man to brick as he sat straighter. Muslce flexed between his shoulder blades around the wound some steel had left patched now, as she worked on the lower portion. "Do you want me to agree with ye," he partook of the bottle to take the blight out of his throat. The tolderance for spirits, by his age, had been built on ale and whiskey. Like a lover he craddled his cup between his palms, drinking slower now as the desert- like burn was soothed with wine-rain. "or do you want me to just be impressionable by ye offering?" He replied. Tired, but of no mind to be unattentive. It wasn't in him. (d)

Timeless Trances: ~ Again she had to snicker, as she then turned to face him. "Trust me, you want to agree, Sir. For if you were to get all roudy again, you might very well pop a stitch. And then where would we be? But here, with me praying whatever impression I do make, it is not for you to hate me for making of you a pin cushion." she'd retort humbly with a snicker. Eyes locking on his, her hands at the ready to sew once more as her knees slowl dipped to a kneel before his barely covered form. Set to work now on his knee, first. Though she eyed his thigh as an excuse to look...but not see. Shy glimpses and nervous gulps ensuing thereafter. "At any rate, Sir...it is the least I can do for the men of my clan and country. Offer my talents for embroidery and hearty brews, and other such supplies I squander in Court. I expect no praise for something owed to my people. To friends." she'd attempt to distract him further. To keep him talking at any rate, as well as not to bring titles and rights into an otherwise mutual conversation. ~

A Noble Puzzle: "So this is why ye women learn to needle, to stich up a cloth n' the men after a time like this. And a brew..and for Clan? Now what clan would tha' be..mmm..m'lady.." Another sip of wine but no less intent to be down in his cups for fear of being pricked or the blood running thin, sometimes the belief of liquor battled. It could clean or it could kill. Could soothe or form a habit. For him, the attentive nature was instilled, if not drilled in him to a point where to lapse now would be to lapses in upkeep of self. He did hold fast to what he had in had as she came near his knee. He looked ahead so as not to look at her, given only a bit of cloth seperated her from what laythere. What seperated Adam from Eve. (d)

Timeless Trances: ~ "Aye, you would think so, Sir. But I find only the women of Clan Robertson are as crafty to find the use is such things. I am grateful to that, for It does not leave me feeling completely useless at tims like these." she'd chuckle modestly, keeping her eyes firm on his knee after a brief glance saw his sights pinned firmly ahead. And so she kept him talking. "Tell me, Sir War Lord ... be you of Clan & Country? Any kin or relations hereabouts?" she would ask, then turning Daring eyes up at him again before casting them curiously upon his form. Lingering perhaps a little too long as she took her time in tightening that corresponding stick along his knee. Moving then to hook the remaning torn slit of layers of flesh, only then to double back again in the same reinforced fashion. Afterall, men did like to ... maneuver ... a lot. ~

A Noble Puzzle: This sort of thing demanded one be honorable and such was a man's station, a knight's vow, and a Christian man's duty (Jesus help him with that one). He listened to her talk of Clan and Country, finding that she was a member of Robertson. What drew her to his tent, then, when surely Jonas or the other men who came with him could use the succor of their pretty female relation? "Robertson aye? Master Jonas is nay to far off, fared lots better than it all sounds. Good knight, he be. Deserves his retirement. Mm..Sir Caden was nay upon the battle field,"He reported thinking she might wish to know of her clansmen, "He's guarding...och ye may well know this already so forgive me if do. He is settlin' with the Lady Eirian n' her new home n' country." Imagine the murmurs at the clan seat when it was learned Caden, a decorated young knight was cousin to a close friend and upstanding court member, Lady Eirian. Also called the Lady Artisan, she attended all matters of great civic and patroned arts before her marriage to the Avarian King. Back in South Scotland he might have seen the likes of her, women of the old family come to wish them well, to care. "No, only brethren-at-arms n' m'self. No family." (d)

imeless Trances: ~ He'd find himself liberated from the sting and pressure of her stitching as her full attention turned with bright hues up to him at the mention of her Clansmen. At long last she'd receive her report! And much more to feed her hungry mind. "Aye, indeed! Well, you are most rich in your friends I'm sure of it now. And, nae, actually, It has been over a decade since I set foot on home soil. I fear I've not yet been reacquainted with much of anyone just yet." she would confess with her tone and stares heavy with gratitude to him for the intel. And thus she set back to stitching, working her way to the round about sew now. "I've been meaning most to meet all my clansmen, especially Sir Caden. I was there during the assassination attempt. Since then it has been rather hard. What with all the men set to march against present threats. For now, I do what I can in their honor while I wait. I wish not to present myself to them empty of all account." she'd add before smiling up at him finally, once more. "I am glad for it we met, clansmen or not. I have been waiting for report all day. And i shall surely wish to pay Master Jonas a visit as well. My father spoke most highly of him, rest his soul." she would confess then as she struggle to keep the last stitch intact. His thigh was most chiseled. Tight in it's own accord, and thus pulling at the loose end of her well woven work. Holding it in place with both hands, she struggled to figure a way to snip it from the needle, unable to grasp the scissors. And so with an embarrassed sigh, she would lower her face to his knee, using her well kept teeth to sever the thick thread and then commence to knot it. All the while swearing she seen nothing out of the corner of her eye. ~

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

A Noble Puzzle: He muttered in his sleep - a habit that seemed to be prominent among men who'd seen too much. Too much blood, too many battles, swallowing up what ought to have been given to other shoulders to share the burden. His own tensed so much so when he was offered wine on waking, he remembered nothing after. Many hours had gone by since the dreams of the valley darkness giving way to the place called Trotternish before it was renamed as Eohmark. He saw the cliffsides crumble with men to lay on this valley's floor. Roric was driven to the side of the mountain by a crossbolt..and he reached for nothing as it faded. "Mm.." he said, considering these things as he put his feet over the side of a risen cot. It was late afternoon now, near evening. There was the scent of game that'd been caught, fish, rabbit. Stews and even chickens from the neighboring farms to feed the weary. Kendrew would tell no one of the dreams in his mind as it seemed a code of most militant men to suffer in silence so that others wouldn't have to. Still, to breathe another day? Reason to smile as he slid on a clean shirt. Washing his hair through with water, he'd pull it back in a strip of white bandage. Rough, homespun breeches were a comfort after armor. Hard soled boots he put on, and taking up his spear, that would be his cane as he ventured outside to see who endured (d)

Balian Windsor: Late afternoon came on them, and the fatigue of the two day battle had certainly lingured heavy over the mighty. It had been hours since they claimed victory, the sun had risen again and now threatened to fall over the horizon and he could still smell the stench of dry blood, decaying flesh and burnt corpses thick in the air. His chest plate had been cut from his chest and left to lay a few feet from where he now stood. His torso confined only by a once white under shirt now stained forever in crimson. His bicepts were left exposed, bruised and redened from the long fight even the ink work of tatoo's he had there were nearly unseen through the battered muscle and tissue. His brow had stiched closed for the second time and his shoulder once more bared a bandage that had been bleed through. Scattered pieces of bent and dented platemail still clung to his thighs, greeves and boots but his blues simply stared out over the still smoldering battlefield where the firewall had claimed its prize. In his silence one of the calvary men had come to stand to his left. a younger male nearly half Balians size. He had his arm and leg wrapped and he leaned against a makeshift crutch though the boy had a grin, tired and war bitten but a grin none the less. "Sir Balian." Icy blues moved before his head would turn to look to the man, offering a polite bow of his head before
setting his attention back to the field. "..Mathew.. " No more need be spoken. [d]

VeiledProphecy: Sleep had overtaken those who had worked long into the night with welcoming arms. Yet, when morning came it found Liliana up with the sun and moving about to check on the injured. Food was brought to those who were awake, bandages changed, and so on. Words of cheer brought smiles and laughter. It seemed all were in high spirits. Of course, it did not mean that sorrow was not felt for those who had lost their lives. None would forget though. Moving from one ofthe tents, soiled linens tossed in a pile to be handled at a later moment, Liliana's chocolate eyes searched the camp for signs of a familiar face. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: Kendrew found it odd that nature moved here as it did no where else. The smell of burning flesh was tempered by last night's late rain. A tang of freshness came through the East. "Commander, Sir. How are ye," Yodric stumbled at once to his fee tfrom around the campire. The boy was in worry for his knight, nay, his idol after seeing how the rest seemed not to agree with him at first. Some worried of contagion, infection, while others wondered if the strain was too much. None of these proved true. "Sit..sit boy."He grinned, putting a hand to his shoulder after some difficulty. "I'm taegether. Have ye seen Sir Windsor here abouts, n' the others." Warm hazel eyes shifted until he found a touch of ice across the way. "There sir." The exact direction of the boy's answer with pointed hand made him chuckle a bit, holding his ribs as it seemed he still had to recover before doing that. "So, Windsor! I see ye did nay fall off yer horse afterall." (d)

Balian Windsor: His head turned hearing his name from a familiar tone and he bowed his head. Locks of wheat fell loose from their tie defiantly over his right eye. "Mmm.. I see them ankle biters didn't getcha Sir Kendrew." He shift his weight and started the direction of Sir Kendrew, for once not decorated by the white cloak he had become so widely known for. "How is your wound my friend?" His hand extend out to grip the mans broad shoulder. "I seen the stroke fall before we rode through.." [d]

VeiledProphecy: A hand tugging on the sleeve of her brown dress had Liliana's head turning to the side. Chocolate eyes would light upon a young woman, one of those who'd volunteered to come from the castle. The yoing woman would ask if she was needed to do anymore. "Not at present, miss. Do rest a bit." With a curtsy the young lady headed off and Liliana went in search of food, and to see if any news had come of the number that had been lost. She had been pleased to see that not many had passed in the night. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: Brown or dirt-ridden blonde, it was hard to tell once surveying his hair just what color it was. Whatever the lot, it for once obeyed him seeming too tired to transistion elswhere but beside his ear. He placed his hand on Balian's forearm. Thick, strong grip went over the man's bicep as they stood face to face to see another day fade away. "Which one," he jested on talk of wounds, mumbling, "became a thing on which the women could practice their stichery, but I be in one piece." There were bandages over his left knee up to the thigh, beneath his ribs, and stich marks over a shoulder and between the blades. "What o' yerself? Tis not much is it?" He asked with concern for the man was to be wed on the morrow, wishing nothing to marr the occasion. (d)

Balian Windsor: He laughed a bit and then nodded once. "I should have known you would have come out looking more like a rag doll.. you are not supposed to be a meat shield my friend." Like he had room to talk. He shift his weight once more to give his wounded thigh the rest it needed. "I am well enough.. . nothing that will keep me from dancing tomorrow, eh?" He released his grip on Sir Kendrew and gave a look past Kendrew a moment toward his camp before returning his blues to the man. "What of your men?" He knew of course there were losses just as the calvary had taken losses but it was a question he couldn't avoid asking, his heart was with them and with the families the fallen would never come home to again. [d]

Timeless Trances: ~ Such fears of the wounded reacting poorly to injuries and healing kept Aracellis working clear through the night. Having dozed off only once or twice during meal and privy breaks, she was a great deal less vibrant if she'd been so in even the slightest since her arrival. All day and night she pushed herself to take her mind off her weariness and nausea. Her procedures systematic. Clean wounds, stitch wounds, dress wounds, serve wine and food, replenish supplies, and all in between sterilizations if ever there was so much as a spot on her hands. She'd already come from her last round after giving her offerings of meat and dairy to the camp cooks, now arriving just in time to work the dining tent. Also waiting to serve those surrounding the campfires upon which fresh game was in fact just about done roasting. Now simply waiting to be brought in and served. Aracellis would busy herself with that and any gossip as well. The call for stitching and such had not be as frequent as of late. ~

A Noble Puzzle: "See, m'lot was to get rag doll so ye'd stay handsome n' pretty for your woman." He couldn't help but to smile at that one. Wouldn't Jelenah be radiant tomorrow, he thought, and Balian taking part in a ritual he had fought to have. Deserved to have. "N' dance in such. I...." the liquid warmth of hazel color slid quick over his body at a glance, "May be dancin' tomorrow, hobblin' from side to side but nay less than liftn a glass n' enjoy the music at tha' wedding will do.Though the way they are givin' out spirits here we'll need to make it back to it all sober.." The cry of the dying and the dead had dimininshed to almost a sort of ritual normalcy around the camp. The smell of food,and even with the crisping of the distant forests, the rain had washed much away. Men passed them lifting well deserved tankards. Calvary and infanty together as if no class divided them. Over the men he called friends he turned a look, Maybe at least...45 men...out o' the 75 or so I brought with meh." The infantry, men-at-arms; the election of name did little to change the purpose. They were a living shield and sword, to cut and be cut down. "Next time .." he clenched hands together. Thick, strong. Bruised and callused. "Next time.." 45 men to die. Not that lived. 45 good, strong, capable men died in a fight that was by no means honorable. Underhanded, harsh. He remembered all 45 names, and 45 lives. But for now he nodded, "Och, come. Shall we take up some food, n' drink? Can nay have ye looking skinny for the wedding either." He didn't know of familiar faces to be seeking other than the Robertson woman who had been kind enough to stich him together again, or those men like Balian, Jonas, Maahes, and others (d)

Balian Windsor: He chuckled softly and had nodded. "You are a good friend Sir Kendrew.. and I would be honored to have you there tomorrow if you can make it." He clasped his fingers together, bruised as they were it was still more comfortable for him to stand in such a way. Years of service in a highly disciplined order made it hard for old habbits to die even now. His thoughts did roam however back to Jelenah, he missed her dearly and thought often about how she must be feeling. It was a difficult battle there was no mistaking, they were outnumbered on the enemies own terrain, out manuevered and tricked in the first fight and if it werent for there plan coming together as it had, none of them would be attending tomorrow's handfasting he was sure. The very thought had his heart pounding in his chest and a calming breath escaping his lips while his gaze lift back to Kendrews with a second nod toward his words."Twenty seven calvary." So far at least but there were still many things that could go wrong with the wounded and cleaved. "Aye... I could eat." He unfolded his hands and started down toward the scent of the food lines, muddy and bloodied boots thudding along the beaten grounds. [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah would continue to move about, helping those that she could in whatever ways she could. True, this Lady In Waiting was no healer but it was she that had gathered up the supplies and the man power along with Liliana to follow the men into battle. However, she did not do so without the permission from the Duchy. She and those with her had purposely stayed behind those that marched to battle as so not to get a scolding from Kendrew and Balian. If either of them had known she was in charge of seeing to this, that she would be there in such a time and surrounded by all the bloody chaos, well, needless to say first that would be upset of course. Only to realzie how much they had needed such a place to bring the wounded and the dying. Jelenah was only grateful that Liliana had agreed to accompany her and now, even now she had received word that still more came with Lady Aracellis. Bringing not only more people to help but also more supplies. Jelenah could and should be right proud of herself for forming up such a thing and having others follow, and she might have been able to if it had not been for the fact they were seeing to men that lost much. Be it blood, limbs or even life. One thing worried her still though, during all this time, she had not yet seen Kendrew nor her betrothed. Jelenah had not even heard word if either lived or died and this suddenly began to create a sickness in her stomach. The Slavic woman would exit a tent, her hand finding a sturdy pole to brace herself against as the other came to her stomach in an attempt to soothe it. It was agood thing that the Lady In Waiting had decided to wear the brown and white dress, for blood of many stained it easily. The brown skirt and corset be nothing more than dark shades of a darker brown where the wetness of that blood was soaked in through the materials. <d


Timeless Trances: ~ It was a patriotic relief that forced her onward in the Baroness slaving away. Though what few she had around her now in her return to Clan and Country, she would make due with the time she had while there were so few people to argue with her not to go. Yet here she was, still that rebel she was in yesteryear. It was the least she could do, knowing nothing of blade nor warfare. Like any Lady she made good with what she could do. It was not much, nor was it for any one man ... but for all. For her clansmen especially. Normally silky hair was frazzled from sweat and steam of things burning left and right. Through all the sights and sounds of torment, nerves were shot like the first timer she was. In desperate need of a break, but more keeping an eye out for familiar faces and any news she could acquire. She was not yet aware that both bride and groom to be for the ceremony she was to bless with wine and favors. For she'd neither found them in medical tents nor the dining one now in which she served plate and tankard galore to those now able to move about after being tended to through the night. Mostly by she and what few other women did not pass out from exhaustion. Her attire still a black garb more fit for mourning than anything. Though at least the color and apron did much to disguise stains of her laboring. Though hands remained sterile and clean as ever. Simply trying to keep steady as she served the prepared meals. She paused only to wipe the sweat from her weary brow and drink water as though she had come from battle herself. It had been her only refuge in a great many hours. ~

VeiledProphecy: Food and drink replenished not only strength, but spirit as well. It brought a bit of merriment to those who sat about the camp. Yet, still Liliana sought that familiar face with a sense of urgency. In this search worried chocolate: eyes lit upon the form of Jelenah. Moving to the Lady-in-waiting's side, gaze moving over her face quietly, she'd reach out a hand in comfort. "Is all well?" Liliana did not know if her friend was still exhausted from the work that had kept most busy, even through the night, or if it was other emotions that bothered her. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "We will toast the victorious n' remember the dead at your wedding feast but celebrate them by living, aye. We'll do them no justice moping about.." He walked in contemplative silence in the direction of food while realizing along the way he did not yearn for sustinance of body so much as peace of mind. A plate of what not or a bowl of stew would suffice for now so that one might beget the other. Village children came with parents to help among the campsite, and played with rocks or sticks, inventing games. Waging mock campaigns he saw boys rescue sisters. They built castles of the imagination that only innocence can enjoy and no adult ruin unless they steal that world from the young all too soon. The silence of the veteran knight sunk into a sullen sense of loss that he shared with none, it being broken in another presence. "Well now," he said as Ariacellis sought reprieve nearby, "Tis the kind lass who stiched me back together while I was bleedin and in m'skin like I was goin' to God's calvary. I owe ye thanks, M'Lady Ariacellis. Might I say greetings? This beh Sir Windsor..m'thinks ye would have enjoyed sewin' him up more." He bent at the waist to bow, forgetting for a moment his stiches but reminded of them before he got to far, erecting himself with signs of strain on his face (d)

Balian Windsor: Balian didn't share Kendrews lack of hunger. The veteran knight was starved and could eat a horse he was sure. But that only happened in the far east he was sure. He tracked along beside Sir Kendrew, nodding or lifting his hand now and then when another soldier greeted them in passing. Until Kendrew spoke to another. His eyes lift toward the women and he smiled his best to be polite before offering a bow of his head. "My Lady... My thanks for keeping my meat shield of a comrade from leaking further....He is a bleeder I wager.. I hope it didn't take to much of your thread." [d]

Defective Beauty: Another woman passing by would see Jelenah and come to place a hand on her shoulder. "M'lady, ye should go and rest yerself aye... ye 'ave dun much and now be tha time fer ye tae gather yer own strength wit food and water. Will ye nae go and eat... drink... take a time tae gather ye thoughts and all?" Jelenah would simply nod, unable to find her voice for now and where one left her, another came. Liliana's hand and voice now had the golden blonde's attention and she turn to face her. "Yes... I am fine, I just need something to eat and drink perhaps...give my feet a time to rest." She took a few deep breathes and looked to Liliana. "Let us go and wash up.. then perhaps find food and drink...yes?"

imeless Trances: ~ At the sound of a familiar voice Ari would find the sudden strength to perk up and place her water tankard down. Swiftly turning to greet Kendrew with a slow dip of her knees, mindful of their aches, and then to Sir Windsor. About to respond and react to the familiarity of the name, when she noted Kendrew's struggle. She moved swift hands to support him with a giggle and gently press his posture back to where she bade him before. "Aye, indeed...save it for court when you are on the mend, Sir Kendrew. Lest I'll have another go with my threading." she warned, blushing at the rather awkward circumstances of there previous encounter. "But, yes, I would rather appreciate the company after slaving through the night." before setting him loose and turning her sights to his comrade. "Sir Windsor, I believe I received a bit of mail with your name referenced recently. A wedding invitation, would it be?" she would ask before jumping to rather exciting conclusions. ~

VeiledProphecy: Smiling warmly, Liliana's head would nod off toward their left,"There is a small area arranged over there for washing." It was not much beyond a basin of water, a bit of soap, and cloth yet it served nicely. Liliana had the need toclean up a bit as well. Ebony hair hung limp down her back, its ribbon having disappeared, and face could use a rinse. Motioning for Jelenah to follow, gloves would be removed as they approached the area spoken of. "Have you seen the men yet?" Whispered words, concern in the depths of her voice, as Liliana's gaze sought Jelenah's own. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "A weddin' invitation in the midst of all this insanity? My, my, old man. Ye wedding is the event of the season." He teased, letting the two to speak. Recalling last night's rather fascinating meeting with the Lady, her hands, and her needle he coughed, clearing his throat as he all about went red. He had been as the day he was born before those hands, before several hands! Aye, food, and definetly a drink were in order. "Man ought still mind his manners, lass. I'm mendin', not a barbarian." He still could bow perhaps a 1/3 of the way? Doing such again, he'd move on ahead if only to claim an offered laddle of water with relish. Little did he know that he was not far from thetwo women (d)

efective Beauty: Jelenah would nod, follow and once they reached the wash basin, Jelenah watched Liliana clean up first before she followed and did the same. Once both women seem to be satisfied with their cleanliness, they would move in the direction to which food and drink were being served for those that sought it. Those sapphire eyes met Liliana's chocolate orbs with her question. She sighed and gave a light shake of head. "No.. I am afraid I have not..." Jelenah swallowed hard, feeling her chest grow a lil tight at the thought of Balian not living through this battle.<d

imeless Trances: ~ A bright smile and a wave off of his antics, she would then turn her sights from Kendrew back to Sir Windsor. "Aye? Indeed, it is! How marvelous. It is a fine pleasure amidst such unfortunate circumstances to meet you, Sir Windsor. I am the Lady of Dun Mhor. Your wife to be wrote me a letter with your invitation. I have consented to be charged with providing the wine and ceremonial favors for you blessed union." she would inform him, offering him then a hand in more formal greeting at long last. With a bow of her head in respect. Thereafter, suddenly remembering her manners, she would look to both of them. "But here I am going on, when you both ought to be resting. Please, let me offer you a ready table." she would insist, and thus, as both hands hand then been offered, if seized she would lead them to comfort. "Can I offer you fine gentleman food and drink?" went she right back to business. Though with any hope, to find a reason to finally take a break. ~

VeiledProphecy: A quick rinse of face and hands, the latter used to get hair under some control, and she was done. A nice bath was what her body yearned for, but there would be time for that later. As they moved on to get food it was Jelenah's words that brought pause to her step. Taking a deep breath, mind worrying now, she'd give a reassuring smile,"Your Balian is a strong man. Do not worry so." Glancing in the direction of where the food was and looking back, she'd murmur teasingly,"I bet that they are at this moment eating the camp out of food. You know how hungry warriors be after battle." (d)

A Noble Puzzle: The laddle of water took over presidence for conversation. His baritone voice cracked without moisture, so he wished to speak more, he would take in the crisp, cool fluids. "More sir?" The little lass asked as he grinned at the girl child. Patting her head, despite his injuries he'd come down from the height of his stature to kneel on his good knee. "Aye, shall take some. Thank you, m'lady." Beneath a mop of red curls she hid her eyes, giggling as she offered the laddle up again. "Och. Be seemin' to have that effect on the fair sorts. Or are ye laughing at my funny walk?" She nodded to the walk, as he whispered, "It is funny isn't it? Now, see yon man n' woman there? They need a little water too. She burst out." "AYE!" Bobbing her head, waddling off. Tugging on Ariacellis' gown, she'd say, " Tha' nicebig sir says ye n' ye friend need water!" How pleased she was to help. The bucket perhaps weighed near as much as she did ,or so it seemed. The father, a man-at-arms from the village, conversed with Kendrew on how stout hearted his little girl was. A table shared with him and Balian, his brother would come? "Aye, of course. Of course!" He had intention of rousing a few of his men to join, too, at the table with Balian's comerades that they might give thanks together. The women, then, would be hard pressed to miss the knight even if he missed them, for his countenance was akin to a rock of ages. Sturdy, strong. The thump of his spear before his boots. (d)

Balian Windsor: The Lady had a knack for knowing men there was no mistaking. Battle always worked up Balians appetite oddly enough. It was either this or stand shirtless on the highest peak and beat his chest with bruised knuckles screaming a war cry at the top of his lungs. Eating just seemed more Balians conservative collective ways once the leash was put back on the inner lion that is. There were no limits in war time to what he would do, fearless and bold in each action but Balian in peace, well that was something else. He reached out taking another laddle of water for himself and then handing the laddle to the boy carying the pale and instead he took the pale of water and winked. "Thank you lad... .. run and find me a plate and there will be a reward waiting for you when you come back." The boys eyes lit up and he grinned jogging off to find some food for the battered Knight leaving the knight less time standing on the wounded leg. He simply dropped down to sit on an overturned log before the table with a grunt only to bring the brim of the water pale to his lips for a good long guzzle to try and get some fluids in him and his witts back about him. [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah could only nod as she too would pause when Liliana did. She forced a smile, hoping that the dark haird and dark eyes woman with copper skin was right. That both Kendrew and her betrothed would be found within the area of those dinning. Enjoying drink and food and the company of other brave souls that fought and sacrificed much in this battle. Jelenah's steps would begin to carry her forward again, heading to and then entering that tent. Her sapphire eyes glanced about and not seeing either man right away she frowned.A hand clutching the fabric of material over her chest as she looked back to Liliana with the threat of tears.<d

ophecy: Feet would follow hurriedly after her friend as they stepped inside the tent that was being used as a eatery of sorts. Men sat about tables, injured and uninjured, being served food and drink to their hearts content. A well-deserved treat for all of those who had fought. Noticing that her friend was very near crying, Liliana would reach out a hand to clasp one of hers and chocolate eyes would look over the men. Finally a course of action was decided upon, one very unorthodox, as she'd call out loud enough to be heard,"If you are the betrothed of Lady Jelenah speak up now!" That would definitely get a reaction! (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Come on! All tha' food and we have to thank the women best by eating it!" That earned a rousing chorus. Slapping hands to backs, foremarms, shaking them. He swam in a sea of the survived with a relish that told him this was a good day. A red-letter day. Many had died but they lived. All that had done or seen came to the tables to give thanks, to laugh, to rememer that the breath inside was precious. To revel in the body's miracles. In whatever God orGods they called their own. He, too, turned on his heel and being joked of as an old man he'd growl with a wink, "N' twice as handsome as your ugly asses lad." Thus the rousing chorus came to the table to slide into place as the issued call of the women came up. Faces looked about, a few recognizing Jelenah and instantly muttering. Had Sir Windsor fallen? Where was he? What was the woman doing here...and was that not the other of the Duchess' handwomen? The apex of this conversation would be centered on Sir Windsor and Sir Kendrew, who on mention of Jelenah dropped the spear that held him up. The sound clattered hard on the ground as he was at the mouth of the entrance..He didn't believe it...but his eyes drank the sight of it in over their heads. "Move, MOVE" he bellowed as he combed through people (d)

Balian Windsor: The pale of water was lowered while that faint familiar sweet scent carried in and caught his senses. The smile formed even before his head turned to look back over the bandaged shoulder and settle those icy blues on his betrothed. Even now amongst the chaos she looked like an angel. More beautiful then all the stars of Skye. She could stop his heart each time he lay his eye on her. He set the large water pale on the table and patted Kendrew on the shoulder before he would rise from his seat and start to make way through the crowded dinning hall. He heard the other women speak and ask who was betrothed to Jelenah and just as one would expect a stout tubby bearded man came staggering across Balians path with a half empty tankard in hand. "Her betrothed is DEAD!!....I'm the one now.. ..Yes.. Betrothed.. ..C'mere lovey and gimmie a kiss!" The man was surely drunk.That heavy left bruised fist of the white talon knight came rocketing down to slam into the mans jaw throwing him onto his back and still he didnt break his stride. "No.. ..I am that man." His arms slid right down around her to bring his hand to the small of her back, his blues met those loving sapphires of hers only to slip closed just as his lips met hers. [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah was blind it seemed, blinded by the many bodies of men as well as her fears. Unable to see her Balian at the table with the others. Jelenah's hand was taken up by Liliana's and going wide eyes, she looked to Liliana with the calling out of such. Not only was tears welling up but now her face was filling with heat. However,those sapphire eyes continued to do a glancing about, hoping that this would indeed give her her Balian. A man spoke, her eyes shifted and just as her heart would leap, it would sink again with the company of tears now streaming down her face. But wait... what was this? It was him... it was Balian and Kendrew! She smiled with tears still falling as Balian gathered her up and pressed his lips to her after closing that distance between them. Jelenah wasted no time in letting her own arms wrap about his. <d

VeiledProphecy: Outward calm had been shown to give her friend strength. She had not wanted to see Jelenah cry or be upset in any manner. Her friend deserved only to be happy with the day of her wedding approaching. Yet, the worry making her own stomach churn vanished upon sighting both of the men: Balian and Kendrew. Both were well. It sent relief flowing through her veins and had a smile curving lips wide. Looking to Jelenah,"I apologize for that. It worked though, did it not?" Giving a wink, mischief dancing about in her chocolate eyes, she'd look upon the approaching man that was not Sir Balian with a brow raised. Until he was taken down by the real man himself. That was when her attention went to none other than Kendrew, gaze moving worriedly over his body to make sure all was well. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "What in the hell are ye both doin' here..tis no place for ye, none at all......what..ye crazy....foolish......women!" He showed signs of worry for them! The blood, the horrors that must have unfolded before the gentle pair made muscles tighten with tension as he winced. Though at the same time, he laughed! What brave, beautiful women the island had..where clanswomen and handmaidens answered the call of mercy with no care for themselves. "Ye should've stayed with Beathag...ye should've stayed.." he tried to scold them but fell miserably at it..Jelenah moved to her betrothed, sending cheers and applause throughout the tent as the wedding much anticipated would still go on. As for him? Well, no wife or betrothed had he. No home was built waiting for a life to begin nor was there talk of such things as that...but he still had a reason to stand transfixed. He softened as those youthful eyes looked at him worriedly. He limped because he'd dropped his spear, and beneath the rough tunic and breeches were signs of bandages and stiches. Bruises on his muscles..he still lcame to her.. "What are ye doin' about her...Liliana..." He winced a bit..shook his head, "Now don't look that way. I'm not dead." He still grinned. At that sight..how couldn't he. (d)

alian Windsor: He smiled even under that kiss, his lips brushed gently over hers. His hands lift from her hips to take her face gently into his hands while his thumbs softly glided down her cheeks to collect her tears. That kiss finally broke with a soft breath taken in with icy blue hues searching for hers as he whispered. ".. Hello my love..." He smiled warmly. He did see the blood stains on her dress. He knew she couldn't stay away he knew that much of his betrothed to know she wasn't one to sit back and do nothing when others were in need. He worried of her for two days because of this but Balian would never have asked her not to come and be something she was not just as she wouldn't do to him, its what made them who they were and defined people through the ages. He hated the idea of her being there, in danger and seeing the things no one ever should but still he wouldn't speak of it. He loved her for who she was not how he could change her to be. [d]

Defective Beauty: As much as she loved all of those around her, words went in one ear and out the other as she was lost in the moment shared tween her and her beloved. Jelenah did indeed feel that smile of his through their kiss. As his As much as she loved all of those around her, words went in one ear and out the other as she was lost in the moment shared tween her and her beloved. Jelenah did indeed feel that smile of his through their kiss. As his hands claimed her face, her did the same to his. Her fingers running over his as if to make sure it was really him. The kiss broke and still those hands sought to confirm her thoughts. Yes, it was he, it was Balian Windsor, the man she was set to join come the morrow. Her spphire eyes found those icy blue hues of his and when he spoke, she smiled. "Hello my beloved..." Jelenah cared little for what she looked like and was sure Balian did not either as she was simply happy that he had lived, that he was here and tomorrow she was still to be a bride. That despite what she pushed herself to do today and tonight, she was who she was and not knowing she was a better woman for it in doing such. Jelenah's actions had been selfless as always and would continue to be such for as long as she lived. <d

Timeless Trances: ~ Aracellis had bowed out gracefully to both children and women alike, taking to keep the children company in arranging meals. Now seeing to an early supper presumably for 4, and then of course, herself, if she might be so bold as to join them. And after the apparent reunion of lovers and friends, Aracellis would return with the children bearing plates and tankards for five. Wine, breads, cheese, grapes, and meat of either fresh game or preserved pork and beef. Not sure whom would want what, they simply arranged it and two tables together leaving the lot of them to sit before a plate of their choice. With her to tuck herself at the far end before her own plate. Being graceful not to intrude, but wait to give her blessings with wine and preluding celebrations. Tropical blues could not help but to stare someone in longing. Widow or not, she never known such devotion. Love. Romance. Friendship. All chance and hope of it had been snatched by arranged marriage long before her coming of age. It was lovely to meet people again. She needed them a great deal more than she let on. Feeling onesself a ghost took its toll on ones spirits more than lack of nourishment. So she watched idly from afar, once again tucking away that dream. As a branded widow, she was more the matchmaker than worthy enough to be matched again. Though she was sure Lord Caden had that right, if not the Duchess, herself, who would want a dead man's trophy? But money grubbing Lords, and power hungry politics. ~

VeiledProphecy: Brow raising, both hands on hips, Liliana would shake her head,"We were of much more use here than sitting about the castle waiting and worrying. We would have driven poor Bess insane." It was the truth of it. With both her and Jelenah worrying over men off in battle the poor Duchess would have been driven to a state of frustration. Her own feet moved her to Kendrew and came to a stop in front of him,"Are you hurt?" Her words came out in a quiet whisper asone hand would lift to touch his cheek. Though she understood his reasoning for wanting her to stay away...Liliana was proud to have come. She'd likely never forget the horrors of what her eyes had seen and yet she felt as though she'd grown a bit from it all. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Och, ye are going to drive the likes o' m'self and poor Balian, men like us mad by showin' yourslef in so horrible a place. Woman.." He said under his voice as she gave her reasons for why it was better for them to be here. He was thankful for angels of mercy - were it not for Ariacellis who would have stiched him, then how many lives did Liliana and Jelenah touch? He lifted his hand only to freeze it at his side as she touched his face. His one weakness, his one true source of weakness was revealed as his heart seemed to become a visual on the cusp of his ragged sleeves. The beast in the men quelled. He lacked such softness in his life, mother, sister, kin. He lacked a touch as steady as the one she gave. "I remembered ye," he whispered,"n' the light all round you at the Cathedral. It helped here." He began to stammer on a few of his words as eloquence did not become him. His footing was not the finest but he managed to stay firm on his feet..an arm moving around her as he did not care of the pain he felt. Somehow, precious little mattered other than that. "I'll be alright." (d)

Balian Windsor: He smiled softly once more and released her face only to take her hand gently into his leading her back toward that table him and Kendrew were settled in at with a few of the other men. "Lets.. get you something to eat.. .. Are you hungry?" He lift his hand toward Ariacellis. "Can we have another meal here please?" He scoot the chair back for his love and brought his free hand right back down for that tankard that had been laid out for him hauling it back to his lips for a taste before settling into the chair beside her to whisper. "When was the last you slept sweet heart?" [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah continued to smile and as he released her face she did his. One free hand coming to wipe away the tears that had fell. He led her to where food and drink awaited them and sat to join him and the others. She looked to the table, the food the drink and back to him. "I am... though food was not what I longed for most..." She looked to Aracellis and smiled, her silent way of thank her for all of this before looking back to Balian. "Sleep... you know as I that it is never easily had... and was more so while worrying over you and Kendrew." Her eyes peered past Balian's form, looking to her 'brother', smiling as he and Liliana seem to be reunited as well like she had been with Balian. The fair haired woman returned her attention back to her beloved, leaned up and kissed his cheek. "All is well now.. I shall eat and drink with you and rest latter. For tomorrow is a big day...for both of us." <d

Timeless Trances: ~ Aracellis had time to consider who the woman was who nodded to her kindly. To whom, she would nod graciously back. And finally help herself to conversation as easily as she had to the food. "Indeed, Madame...so we've been discussing. I received your letter and invitation, and am so glad we have met prior to the big day. I was hoping I could discuss with you the brand of wine you fancy me to deliver for the event." came her attempt to offer a pleasant topic. Though not dismissing her manners, she would offer the woman her hand for a squeeze in greeting. "I am the Lady of Dun Mhor. The Vineyard and Distillery there belonged to my family prior to their departure. I am most flattered to have received your invitation. I fear, I am only just beginning to get acquainted with everyone hereabout." she'd offer still more before retreating to her food and drink once more. ~

VeiledProphecy: Feeling his arm around her as those words hit her ears, she'd smile tenderly,"I was worried for you. I..." Shaking her head, leaning against him a bit, she'd whisper,"feared seeing you when the injured were brought in." What would she would have done if he were, she did not know. Glancing in the direction of Balian, Jelenah, and the Baroness she had spoken to last night, Liliana would murmur,"Let us go sit and eat, Kendrew." Chocolate eyes moved to look into his own gaze. Now was the time to enjoy life...not worry over what could have happened...and she wanted to enjoy it with him. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Don't worry, tis a might wasted on me. Have a thick hide n' all." He wanted to see her smile, to hear the soft bell-chime in her laughter that sounded more beautiful than the bells even in the capital. He just wanted to see her, to be near her as he was now. She'd given him a gift that none had given him in telling him to live. He pointed across the table with his spear when a passing man was kind enough, laughing, to return it to him to lean on "Tha' is kind woman who put me together, n' let me say. The lady of Dun Mhor has a fine sewin' hand as much as she does spirits! I fear tha' people will drink themselves to the bottoms of the barrels at the weddin on the morrow!" He found he could laugh a little more, smile a little better as he leaned down and put a soft kiss to Liliana's forehead. "Ye brave..crazy...beautiful woman. Come, come sit. Ye must be tired. Lady Ariacellis, ye sit too. Come now we can all feed ourselves n' there's no one else to stich." One man did however say "Forget stiches! Can I have a kiss from the Lady of Dun Mhor?" Ah, the restored happiness of men (d)

Balian Windsor: "Worry over us?" He still couldn't keep from smiling and that kiss to his cheek was welcomed with a wink that followed. "You should know then.. .. ..Sir Kendrew is to stubborn to die.. and I am blessed.. I made you a promise and I dont make promises I cant keep." He leaned back into the chair, reaching out to rest his left arm across the back of her chair not wanting to be away from her now or ever he simply nodded with that smile faint but ever present. "Aye.. tomorrow." The ale was brought back to his lips for another small sip with the memories of the days before and the close brushes with death both men had. Fortune favored the bold and justice had overcome. He lift his blues silent toward Kendrew to study the man that had gained his respect and honor just as the General Maahes had, thrice now they had spilt blood aside one another and thrice now claimed victory. He broke that thought with his eyes moving back toward Jelenah. ".. Have you heard anyword from her Grace or the Duke?" [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah would look back to Aracellis and smile with her greeting and talk of the day to come. "Of course Lady Aracellis of Dun Mhor...as am I and yes, we might can discuss happier topics now that all seems to be as it should." "I am honored that you accepted my request and look forward to seeing you join us with your wines and drinks of many sorts." She glanced to Balian and smiled before looking back to the woman. "As far as drinks to be had at ourhandfasting... I myself like the wine...something sweet of course. My beloved here, well you would have to ask him." She chuckled softly. She looked back to Balian then when he began speaking. "Yes, worry... is it not the duty of a woman to worry over her beloved and her kin?Especially when in battle mind you..." She replied with a smirk. Jelenah glanced to Kendrew and Liliana once more and back to Balian. "No, no word as of yet my love... but perhaps soon." Jelenah then looked to Aracellis, taking a bite of the food and a sip of drink while awaiting to conversate more with the woman as well as the others.<d

imeless Trances: ~ With a snicker at the men, she would blow a kiss with dual sets of fingertips to the one requesting such, before shaking her head with a giggle and turning back to the conversation at hand. "Aye, indeed, Sir Kendrew, this be the strongest of my brew and by far the best when mendin' is needed. Alas, I do have more traditional recipes. One very old, very sweet, and nae as strong...used mainly to bless things. I believe the Distillery has healthy stores of it. Therefore, the pleasure shall be all mine." was all she would say graciously before turning back to her meal. Not having much to say on her grace or the duke or to interrupt the concerns and pawing of lovers. In fact, it did her heart well to avert her eyes often. But maintaining an expression of warmth and joy for others. What more could she do? ~

VeiledProphecy: "I think you are far more brave than I. Perhaps crazy and beautiful too." Winking playfully, she'd move to take a seat with those who already sat. Food, drink, and laughter were what was needed now. The feel of Kendrew's lips on her forehead lingered and brought warmth to her heart. Patting a spot next to her for Kendrew to take, she'd partake of food and wine while listening to the discussion going on. Looking to the Baroness curiously,"How do you fare this day?" She recalled that the woman had not been well last evening, as thoughts had plagued her, and hoped that today was better. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: " A rider approaches, with the banners of the Griffin!" The watch on the edge of camp reported to the nearby lad as he strained to see who else was with him. Other banners were harder to make out in all earnest..but they seemed to blending. Some Avarian...and another of blue with the vestiage of an eight pointed silver star. He'd seen it among the townspeople as if it were a coveted emblem. "Now who is that with them..do you see boy?" He pointed as soon the riders came hither..one of the guardsmen gave the woman upon a white horse his hands, those hands were tiny..perhaps some of the tinest he'd seen..

Alabaster breathed into being touched the rough hands of a solider with no sign of recoil. "My thanks to you. Tell me ..where are they, the commanders? Where do they gather.."

"Sir...Sir..tha's the Lady of the Valley sir! Heardshe was agone n' all n" "Shut up boy. Go on, go fetch the General and commander and whomever else is free.Get!"

The women of Arianna Hymerodraeth, on hearing of the encampment, had left the safety of the manor to sojourn among the injured. Of the sights to be seen, they did not expect, so soon and not before the morrow..to see the one that sent them into echoed sounds of joyous rapture. A few of the villagers would come to her, and in turn? As if old friends she would embrace them, "You are well? Pray, tell me! I hastened as quickly as could be....how stands the homes, the men? What e'er need should be met it shall be so! You have but to say a word..but one word." The child wrapped in a sling-like garment across her chest peered up in awe at the life to be had here. Reaching out from her swaddling she'd seek to catch a hand or strand of hair.

"Commanders, commanders sirs!" The messsanger boy came the food tent, after informing the General, the Irish, Arganians, and the Robertsons. His next were Balian and Kendrew. He apologized for disturbing their meal with muttered pardons "I've..I've been sent to tell ye..tha'..tha'..swallow, point swallow. "The Lady...The Lady of the Val-ley is here!" (d)

Balian Windsor: He lift his attention back to Ariacellis. "Hm?" Hearing mention of drinks, he was regrettable in and out of a daze. He brought his hand up to touch his temple exhaling a hard cool breath before he would chuckle. "Forgive me.. .. I to enjoy a sweet wine.. ..But I have such a broad taste. I havent had a real drink in months." Since he climbed his way out of the bottle with a little help from Anulia to find Skye and a new hope for the white knight. "Perhaps.. a sipping drink for the men that like a burn in the throat might be in order as well." The abrupt break of the calmed demeanor of the tent caught Balians attention and before even he knew it instincts had his hand against the hilt of the nameless sword drawing it a few inches up only to ease it back into its confines when the boys words reached his ears. He nodded and turned his head to look back toward Kendrew. "That be you Sir Kendrew." [d

Timeless Trances: ~ "Oh, I fair better now I've been keeping busy. I dare not sleep on such thoughts, so I fear I worked clear through the night. Finally, decided to keep busy here among food now that I've stitched up every man this side of camp. At least cuisine doesn't spark such horrible thoughts." she would return to the kind woman conversing with her. Then noting what Balian had to say before the men were seemingly being whisked away again. "I shall make good note of it, Sir Windsor. There will be wine enough for all, with my compliments and tokens of gratitude for the chance to bear witness to such beautiful events." and with a sigh and glance to her half eaten plate, she would begin to rise to see off the men as well as tend to the women and cleaning up. "Well, I shant keep you ladies. I fear if I sit idle too long, I may very well fall asleep in my plate. I should press on hereabouts. There are still more men to be coming hither, I'm sure."

Noble Puzzle: "Lady o' Dun Mhor, this being a military place I order you down to sit, to eat, and to take our thanks. Now..given they call for a Commander tha' is me." He smiled to the gathering as with spear in hand he pushed himself erect. "Now sit down, Lady Ariacellis, or I'll use your own wine against ye." It would be an honor to look on the lady come home, like Maahes, she too was of two nations now. What was that like, he wondered. How did one maintain loyalty to both with such forebearence...

"If they are injured I shall go to them, no no. After the ride I am well, marvelous much. I shall see to those of our villages, and of Avaria who came..." She spoke over the slender shoulder as she craddled the child in one arm, the other holding the hems of dove's gray so she might fly across the fields.It took not long to be flanked by a pair of the manor women as her head peered through to the dining tent. On seeing a risen man bow at his waist, gentle hands would right the man much larger than herself. "I forbid you bow to me. Not after all you and those like you have done." (d)

Balian Windsor: He leaned closer to Jelenah bringing his hand to comb through the back of her golden locks while he placed a soft kiss to her cheek. "I will be back in a moment sweet heart." He climbed back to the six and half foot height stretching that wounded thigh out to lay weight back against the torn muscles with an unseen cringe. Turning to look back toward the tent opening to see the Lady of the Valley make her entrance. He bowed his head and remained silent while his fingers came to clasp together before himself leaving the talking to the Commanders and Generals. [d]

Defective Beauty: Quietly Jelenah would sit, eat and drink as others talked on what came to mind. She to had a lot on her mind as tomorrow would be here before either she or Balian knew it. To get themselves a place to rest for the eve along with others and rise early to prepare for the coming event. With the Baroness needing to depart. Jelenah would nod her head to her and rise. Offer her hand to the woman in a kind gesture and in thanks. "I look forward to you and those that accompany you in helping us celebrate my joining with Balian.I wish you a good night and again, many thanks to you and yours." Jelenah smiled, head canting to the side as her eyes were filled with a genuine warmth. The golden haired woman had taken notice awhile ago of the Baroness wearing black, and as tradition in most places, it was a sign of mourning. That had Jelenah sigh inwardly, hoping that the woman would cope as well as one could under such circumstances. Jelenah would not keep the Baroness any longer than she needed and then turned her attention back to Balian as well as Kendrew when word arrived that Eirian had come. Just as Jelenah reclaimed her seat, a vision of a long time friend was had. Jelenah smiled, letting others greet and speak with her first as she knew word on the battle had was needed first. As she sat idly, she enjoyed the feel of Balian next to her and his hand toying with her golden locks of hair. He spoke, she nodded and watched as he moved off. <d

Timeless Trances: ~ With a gasp of shock as she was put in her place, she plopped down, hand to bosom, back into her seat. "My word..." she would say, then glance to his female companion she'd met yesterday. "Is he always like this?" she would ask, then taking to her wine for another fill, she would toast both men as they left. "Cheers to that threat, Sir Kendrew! My lips are stained with immunity to my own brews! Yet, I yield to your orders, Sir War Lords...and pray you return to the company of your beautiful ladies soon. Lest I bore them to a fit!" she'd say, managing a smile despite her obvious mourning. Not just because of fallen clan and country men, but because it had taken this trial to make Ari come to terms with the fact that even in her freedom through being widowed, her husband had still taken all hope of the freedom to love and be loved in return from her. She bore it a curse and did not wish to infect the eligible women around her. It was was she was shoving her ladies and female friends at men left and right. If she could not relish such things, at least they could. Thus she was in mourning for her husband as many would assume, however indirectly. True she had love for one, but with her loyalty upon inheritance and promotion to Sir Caden, that would prove to prohibit her once more. She gulped down these concerns with her wine, noting that she was so out of place. Trying to make merry with the rest of them, but even her clothes noted darker emotions. "Oh, boy...bring a fresh bottle to the table, won't ye'?" she would request lowly to a boy skipping about still serving in her stead. Refusing to trail off into these thoughts as such candy was waved before her eyes but always out of her reach. She would drink away her envy and learn to cope with it all somehow. So with a modest grin she would turn to the ladies who once or still sat at her table. "So, by any chance, would you know where I might start up a match maker service? I hear it is the most profitable profession for widows these days. And at least will keep me busy while you eligible young beauties blossom so." she'd quip, trying to make light of her own woes. However obvious or not it was. ~

VeiledProphecy: It was with fervor that Liliana ate food and drank of the wine. Though the latter was sipped slowly for the sake of keeping her head straight. The announcement of Eirian's arrival had Liliana looking over at Kendrew with a gentle smile. Yet, it was his words to the Baroness and her response that had Liliana laughing,"Oh, he can be a bit bossy at times. I think it's part of his charm though." Yet, Kendrew did not have to leave the tent it for the lady found her way to the table. With a nod and smile of greeting to Eirian, Liliana would then look over to the Baroness with humor in her chocolate gaze,"A matchmaking business would be quite profitable indeed. Especially here in Skye! I think it's something in the water or perhaps the handsome gentlemen to be found..." At those last words her gaze would wander back to Kendrew with a secretive smile. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: " Sir Kendrew....it is so good to see you. It does my heart well, ye can not devise!" She felt her hand lifted into his own, the knuckles chastely kissed as she smiled. "Again, one but many heroes to be celebrated and thanked."

A Noble Puzzle: "Tis good to see ye, too, M'lady. What be it now...is there some loftier thing we ought call you?" He smiled in knowing that what ever associated her name followed a trail of grace and greatness in her own right. "Join us, aye? And just who is this..be this the small one heard so much of..lovely."

A Noble Puzzle: " Jelenah, you are here too? Oh God, would I had known that you would have sent me into further fits of worry! Though a bride does have right to prepare for her wedding as she sees fit.." She smiled to her, only to be momentarily occupied in a large embrace from Jonas, who picked her up as if she weighed little to nothing! A few Robertson men came to see their tiny cousin, newly found, before going back to their well earned suppers. Whirling about, she giggled "I see the men remain a little undaunted! TIs good!" (d

Balian Windsor: He smiled once more and then lowered back into the seat, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from making a sound of the burn in his thigh. He leaned right back into his chair and reclaimed the side of his tankard while the Lady Greeted Sir Kendrew and Jelenah. [d]


eiledProphecy: "Do join us, m'lady." Rising from her seat to stand next to Kendrew, one hand would motion for Eirian to take her seat. It was mention and sight of the babe that brought a light to Liliana's eyes. Lovely did not describe the little bundle. Eirian's comment about the men had chocolate eyes moving around and then going back to the lady of the valley. "Indeed they are not. I think it be the fine food and drink." (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "The fare of Skye is hearty and can sustain the burliest of the lot, I would suspect Liliana..my cousins seem very content! " Little Hope reached up and grasped at Liliana's fingertips, burbling as she did so with a : seeming smile on her face. Huzzah! She'd wanted to reach out, to touch. To be apart of this wide world.

A Noble Puzzle: Kendrew laughed so hard he did have to hold his tender side as he, too enjoyed the lamb that was being served, the beef and chicken. Restored of appetite the man of Dumfrieshire would prove why men as large as him and Balian required their own troughs a great portion of the time. " Aye, n' I think we'll eat the countryside, so if it pleases ye, m'lady." (d)

alian Windsor: A solid swallow of the ale had that tankard brought back to rest against the table top. What he wouldn't do for a fine cigar just now to seal the celebration. But none such thoughts were spoken aloud. He tilt his head a little, the defiant lose lock of wheat fell right back over his left brow nearly covering the small stiches when he peered back at his beloved with a faint smile watching her just be her before his eyes drift to the small baby. His head lift a little more to get a closer look and his eyes did widen just a little. "She is lovely m'lady.... truly a gift of the gods." [d]

VeiledProphecy: Giving a cheerful nod of agreement to Eirian's words as one hand lifted to tuck ebony hair behind an ear. Her attention was grabbed by Hope though as finger was gripped and held captive. Laughter would come forth, warm and soft, as she caught Kendrew's words,"That is quite an appetite you have, Kendrew. Remember to leave some for the others." (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Hope Olwyn is the best of me, the best of all that can be had. But I am very biased. I still say I did not know what beauty was nor knowledge, nor real art until she was born." She lifted her up, supporting the head as it was kissed. Of Hope's happiness? The babe burbled and reached for Balian next while still looking to Liliana as if to say " Is he a friend, too?". To seen and be seen! So much had occurred, the rocking of the ship...the bouncing on the horse..the many voices. All to see with now clear brilliant eyes, to listen with improved ears.

A Noble Puzzle: "There's a'plenty. Have ye seen all the country women n' the others, ye'd think tha' we'd have robbed every barn on the mainland, such generosity. N' the milk I hear comes from ye as well Aracellis, n' this mutton and new lamb. M'Lady Eirian...this is the finest sheep..It must be the country here but everything tastes..Just amazing."

[Sir Kendrew Campbell]

He couldn't help it! He was happy so now he was famished. On looking over to Balian's fascination with the baby he turned to Jelenah with a wink. Aye, let the man have his practice now. Something in the water caused the people and country to be exceptionally fertile! When Liliana beheld the child he couldn't help but see her for
beautiful..for simply..beautiful. (d))

Flanman69: -=The flap of the tent opened, and the darkness fo the night stepped in, materializing into the profile of a broad-brimmed hat and oilskin poncho. The hulking figure did not look much different than it had before, save a calloused hand rested outside the folds of oilskin, gripping a half-empty bottle of what appeared to be scotch.=- (d)



Balian Windsor: He extend just his index toward the baby, lowering his blues to watch her tiny hand reaching for him and he smiled softly. "..I am honored to meet you Miss Hope.. .. I am Balian." He felt eyes at his back and turned looking back toward the men over his shoulder raising a brow without a word spoken only to lift his attention back to the baby. "....You see those?" Thumbing back over his shoulder to the men. "Those are bad.. .. As im sure your father will tell you of." [d]

Defective Beauty: Jelenah would greet Eirian in return, standing and embracing her carefully as the lil bundle was tucked between the two women with such an act. Then The small Slavic woman would step back, allowing Liliana and others to greet and see lil Hope. Once all that wish to see her did, Jelenah watched as Balian took a peek. To see him look at her in such a way was warming. One day, she would carry his child, should the Gods bless them with such a thing. Jelenah spoke up then as she reclaimed her seat next to her beloved. "Eirian.. you know as well as I do that most of the women here in Skye can not sit by and be allowed to do nothing but wait and worry." She glanced then to Kendrew and Balian, smiling and back to Eirian. "And I hope you have come back not only to check on things but also to attend the handfasting tomorrow. Though, there is still much to do before it is to take place." Jelenah saw that wink from her brother and chuckled. Practice did make perfect...<d


eiledProphecy: It was with amusement and tenderness that Liliana gazed upon Kendrew. That he was in such a joyous mood made her feel content. Reaching out a hand to gently brush a bit of his hair behind an ear, she'd murmur,"Aye, the food is quite delicious, m'lady." Chocolate eyes would move back to little Hope, the words of Balian bringing laughter, and she'd look at him with a wink. "Not all of them are, sir." She'd look from him to Jelenah with a mischevious grin,"If they are all bad then I might have to hide Jelenah." (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Sir Windsor is quite right, little one. If a lad is too much for ye, you tell him or m'self and we'll just take care of it. Such a fine lass you are, you're father must be proud! " Stone hard warriors. Bold, brave men. Melting alright. Undone at the sight of innocence. Women and children. "You're just the lovliest thing in a child!" He turned to Liliana, end of a chew of food, gulp of ale as he made her smile the smile of a man fifteen years less of his age. As she deemed some of them fine he would nod, "Aye, but let ye father or the others like us see to tha'. Won't we?"

A Noble Puzzle: Mother's arms bounced the child gently and held her up from the cloth around her. Taking her out of it, she would smile over to Jelenah and Lilian with a woman's mischievious air. "Sir Kendrew, would you like to school my daughter 'pon the arts of men more intimatly?" He posed the child within those large hands. Hope was so small in them! "What do you both think, Sir Balian, Sir Kendrew? Perhaps further close she shall heed thy good counsel."

A Noble Puzzle: He gulped. Do men hold porcelin without breaking it? Hope was the culmination of prayer and desire for a waiting woman. Woe be to any, even him, who marred but a touch of it. Though he was nervous he was not as akward : with childrne as he would have appeared. Finding the child even-tempered..he was able to lean back a little and hold her better. "Well now, as ye mother was sayin', tis good advice." (d)

Balian Windsor: He chuckled giving a look toward Lilianna and wiggled his brows like the devil in disguise before his chuckle turned into a soft laughter so not to alarm the bay. Then he turned his attention back to the Lady of the Valley. "Mmhm.. It would be my honor My Lady... ..To break the knee caps of the first man that comes to call on her in the future." Was he kidding? He looked serrious. Crap he was serrious! The men at his back quickly turned around and went back to there own drinks and Balian simply licked the fronts of his pearly whites. Children didn't frighten him so much, he had been assigned as the personal guard of the Prince at his brith and spend enough time with them to know how to handle one but still. Kendrew's thinking wasn't far from his own so many years before. [d]


Flanman69: -=The hulking frame stood stolidly within the tent, his etnrance apparently unnoticed. The keen of eye might have seen him sway on his feet ever so slightly. The bottom ot the bottle tipped skyward as the neck disappeared under the weather-beaten brim. Hob-nailed boots thumped closer to the table as the hearty voice rumbled out to the gathering.=- Well, well, tis a fine and happy gatherin'. Methinks I'll pay me reshpecks whilst 'ere. -=THe bottle sung out in a uncooth grandiose gesture.=- The intimate parts of men, ye said? Be there nae a law again'st such? -=The statuesque posture of Jack wavered a bit at the end of the question.=- (d)

edProphecy: Such a tender sight was that of Kendrew holding little Hope. To see the small babe in his arms brought a softening of the smile upon her lips and a gleam to chocolate eyes. In their depths lurked sorrow that's cause was only known toLiliana. Though she knew that Kendrew had an idea what she had been through, at least some of it, there had been no outright speaking of the matter. Making her smile purrposefully brighter, she'd reach out to stroke Hope's cheek gently. "Now don't go giving her any advice that will get her in trouble." (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Last time I held one of you so small, wee mistress, was when my brother had children. Two he had. A good set. One was a little girl with dark hair just like you." The roll of thunder on his tongue struck in baritone echo soft over the gathering as the feral verocity of the battle vanished. In place of it was the quiet, humble man they knew, only he opened the door to a personal fact none knew. Kendrew was an uncle. There was a life, or had been, that was not too different from what others called their own. A change of scenery shifted his eye from the baby to the entrance of the tent. Jack-of-all-Trades tipped the bottle back on a stout brew as he moved in rhythmic time to his own words. "Indeed, quite happy. Join us man. Sit awhile, ye, too share in the victory that ye helped to secure. Meet the people 'ere, lad.Or does e'eryone know Master Jack here? Tis Sir Balian here, his betrothed Lady Jelenah. Lady Ariacellis provides us her fine hands, spirits, n' food of her estate and this is Lady Liliana here beside me. I think ye already know Lady Eirian? Well, n'last is her daught here. Miss Hope." As Liliana touched the face of youth he grinned, "Och we've only the best of intentions lass. A garden flourishes when tis well tended and the blossoms in it aren't allowed to wither.." As he said this he found himself looking at Liliana over long (d)

n69: Vict'ry? -=The wrinkled brim shook a bit=- Victory? -=The bottle tipped again to the tune of sloshing liquid. As his bulk settled, or rather flopped onto a conveneint seat.=- Vict'ry fer what? Grand glory 'o the nation? Tae give bards an excuse tae live? 'Tis but a meat grinder, and we be on the less ground. -=The last word was punctuated by a thump of the bottle on the table before it was taken up again in a hard pull.=- (d)

ledProphecy: That glimpse into the man was that Kendrew, his words of being an Uncle, had Liliana's eyes moving to his face thoughtfully. What else did she not know of this man? There seemed to be a mystery to him and she hoped to learn what itwas with time. She would not force him though as she had secrets of her own. It was his last words and that look he gave her that had head tilting to the side. Leaning closer, curiousity pushing her, she'd whisper,"What is on your mind?" It was the words of Jack though that had Liliana moving back, the thumping of the bottle making her jump, and she'd now step closer to Kendrew out of nervousness. "Jack...I don't think it appropriate to speak such words around the men." It was a gentle admonishment though her chocolate eyes held a stern look. These men had fought, some died, and they deserved to celebrate their victory. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: "Victory in tha' we lived, Jack, that we showed the enemy we are not week nor a band of fools. If that is all the victory we can muster than that is all the victory we'll take." His voice seemed to strike profound on the concept of idealism. To him, it had been given ardent proof to dispell the nay-sayers with blood and bravery till the last. All the same Jack's words couldn' t be disqualified. "He is one of the men, Liliana," he said as he looked ot the man with his bottle. "he be one. N' it takes time to see the victory in the things we saw. We did. Tha' they did." One would argue talk at a table of women and children should not hold black tongues but they were neither green girls or fools. Some had lived the horrors themselves. For men such as Jack, Balian, the Generals..even the pages. Himself. The road was long. "And if you don't see this as a victory, should we cross them again that will be a true victory, so I pray for ye man. So I pray." He tried to dispell the far off gaze of glass coating his eyes, letting an arm go around her as he passed the child back to the mother.

Noble Puzzle: Eirian held her tongue, schooled in silence as most women of good rearing should be. It allowed them ears to listen and what she heard made her brow furrow. "So tis as bad as is said, then," she accepted the bundle who was content in Kendrew's arms with the discrepency done her by being returned all too soon. Huffing, the babe fidgeted. Gently she bounched her anew, patting her rear to soothe her. "I have seen the fire 'pon the land but at the bottom of that..."

A Noble Puzzle: " is now the valley of the dead." he finished, clearing his throat as Jack's pessimsm could become a contagion, he let it pass through him to the place where all things go.

A Noble Puzzle: "Then you will not stay in the valley of the dead. I will have the camp moves...to the manor grounds. Tis ample, and one can not recover from death at the foot of the reaper's takings. And we will find joy on the morrow, for the handfasting shall be grand, I would have my sister's be no less. For now I am to have a brother of heart now..Tis the least that could be done. Were I could do more, and shall strive to." (D)

man69: Aprpiate? -=The wrinkled brim would swivel towards the gentle words, a tinge of shock clear in the hearty timbre.=- These men 've seen their friends cleaved in twain and done the like tae others. What possibly could be inappropriate tae speak of in their company? Naked truth? Och, fools, fools, fools...-=a second hand slipped out form under the poncho to prop up a head crowned in wrinkled canvas dropped towards he table.=- But fools we be. Be it nae obvious tae the erst-rst-rest? Am I the only..? -=the question faded into another swig of the bottle.=- (d)

VeiledProphecy: Feeling admonished by Kendrew's words, she'd fall silently next to him and listen. Liliana had not meant to insult Jack by insinuating that he was not one of the men. Her concern was that the negativity would spread and possiblyruin the sense of happiness that had been found after such an experience. Watching as Kendrew handed the babe back to Eirian and feeling his arm around her, she'd offer him a slight smile. Yet, the words passing between Eirian and him had brows furrowing. Taking a breath, fearing the response, she'd state quietly,"Is it such a good idea to move the injured? I mean no offense, but some of them suffered troubling wounds." Chocolate eyes would drop as Jack's words hit her ears,"I apologize, Jack. I did not mean to insult you." (d)

oble Puzzle: "From m'times 'pon such matters, Liliana, if a man is to die let it not be with anguish before and aft of him. The mind will devise horrid visitations for them. Tis not much, but if they shall die it will be no sooner for the moving of them,but those that will heal will do better. The ground may grow taint to keep ill airs around ill air." Humors stired, moods, contagion if one did not circulate them, so she feared in a place even where winds blew as this to spread around the ash of the fires and the bodies, so close, so thick.

A Noble Puzzle: "No, they are not fools for believin' in better, Jack. Ye aren't the only one. Either." His hand moved in slow, methodical circles over Liliana's back as the table talked of the grim, reality's business once more. One could not deny what happened. To some to forget was everything. For others, to pretend was an insult to logic. The men around them were either grim at tables or boisterous to display the extremes. "After the men are Noble Puzzle: rested better, we'll have them moved slowly, the more abled first, n' then care with the others. I'll have it arranged for a soon as the healers think best. Your Pardon, m'ladies. Balian, Jack." He rose to carry out the promise as much as to see if the wind could stir the thoughts about his head int oblivion. The spear's blunt botton tapped the floor as he moved, hardset face serious, focused. Empty. (d)

an Windsor: He cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders back still stiff from battle but there were worse things to be taken from the battlefield. Jacks response and question had Balian turn his head just a little to peer back at the man offering him a nod. "He earned his opinion.... Leave him to it, whether we agree with it or not there should be no debate of such a thing to a man who stood on the bloodied mud just as the rest....He speaks a fine point.. no one truly wins a fight.. ..To claim victory as survived is enough for me... To know that justice prevailed over those that would bring harm to the innocent and free..I will stand again and fight again.. and again and again to make good sure men like that never claim there own victory and prize over the good people that cannot defend themselves... ..That is what defines us as men, people and soldiers." Jack was not their enemy, nor would he be. He was a skilled cannoner and lead a fine team to help them all win the day. That much Balian would respect and say. "You do have my thanks Jack. You and your men." And he fell silent once again.[d]

ective Beauty: Jelenah would simply sit back, watch and listen and when Eirian spoke to her, all she could so was smile. "Thank you very much Eirian... everything you have and will do is very much apprechiated." She glanced about and smiled before looking back to Eirian. "Might I hold lil Hope?" She asked, wondering if all who had wanted to were done doing so now so that she may have a turn. She looked to lil Hope with eagerness, arms and fingers ready to take hold of the baby and let fingers be played with. <d

nman69: What? -=The brim would tip up to the apology.=- What the devil are ye apologizin' fer? What is there tae insult? Me? -=a sputtering laugh would ungracefully punctuate the question.=- What am I? Some high fane deservin' of yer praises and honors? -=The laugh sounded again before quieting, and the hearty timbre softened a bit, though the articulation of the wrods was unabashaedly sloshed.=- Ach, ye donnae know. How could ye? -=The brim then swiveled towards Balian.=- Me men? -=The question hung as if trying to graps it himsef.=- They nae be mine. They be money's. I only helped them towards it. -=Another swig of the bottle would sound the sloshing of liquid. The burly figure would settle a little and peace would take the oilskin clad form. That is before a callouse dhand would grab the bottle again as if to destroy it merely by grip and flug it to the ground. I nthe same motion, his bulk would stand, or at least make it halfway before bracing on the table.=- Damn...not again... -=the hearty timbre rang hollow, almost a whisper. Without another word, the hulking frame would stumble towards the tent flap.=- (d)

eless Trances: ~ At the greeting and introduction, she would make room for the man, Jack, who seemed to be enjoying the drink as much as Kendrew was enjoying Ari's dairy. Though being the provider, she dare not boast about it. Or much of anything for that matter. There was much talk of people she didn't know. Of places she'd never seen. Of topics of war and tactical philosophies to which she could not relate. Thus, a modest silence kept her, as well as her own wine. She sat there, idly snacking on grapes and cheese in between sips. Keeping her stomach contents balanced, for there was still much work to be done obviously. Yet, needless to say, her thoughts were not much company still. They kept her from joining everyone in holding the wee babe, everything she could not have she dare not touch for fear of missing it. It was hard enough not to know or relate. Politely she would offer her snickers and chuckles and nods of agreement to the conversation, but just as politely she kept herself bowed out. Simply enjoying the rest of her aching feet. ~

iledProphecy: Those movements upon her back were soothing to say the least. Eirian's words earned a nod from Liliana,"Aye, m'lady." It made sense to her. It was hard to heal when near such a place. Kendrew's suggestion eased her mind concerning the wounded men, but his departure had brows furrowing with concern. Chocolate eyes followed every movement of his figure as he left the tent. She fought the urge to follow after him for fear that he would not wish her company at the moment. A soft sigh would pass her lips as she'd glance over to Jelenah who was holding little Hope now. (d)

oble Puzzle: The grim-set face of the seasoned, the hard were not for the soft and gentle vestige that surrounded them. It kept him sane and like many others he did not want to damage what gave comfort with too-long threads of
tightly woven harm to capture, to ensnare. A visit was paid to a tent of healers nearby who would be told of the wishes of the Lady of the Valley. In the end this was her land, and her kindness was combined with a gentle command. She had returned for the same reason the women had come to attend with open arms. Hope. It was the reason she must have named her daughter for such, he thought. He sent a page to the General's tent to tell him once more that the Lady of the Valley had come among them. As the message was delivered, he heard talk of another of the infantry passing in his sleep. No violence, no misery. Only prayer to call him home. He had been young. Too young. Here he would stand in a country now for old men where the young passed before him. It never became easier with any year he lived.


A Noble Puzzle: Hope. To hold one with the name was to hold a piece of heaven's promise for the serene to come to pass. She gave her instantly to Jelenah, for the babe liked to be held. It gave her a chance to open her eyes, to attempt to focus on so many new faces. "It is good to see you, to see all of you, no matter what brings us hence to this place.." Jack went on a tirade stemmed in bitterness, seeped in a seeming misery as the bottle provided a mixture of poison and solace. Stumbling away after Kendrew's hard steps beyond the tent flaps, she sighed. That these people had seen such despair would never cease to hurt a tender heart. The quiet woman of the group, Ariacellis, caught her attention as name drifted by with identity. "I have heard" she told her, "Among the women, that you sought after a Robertson. Are ye of Robertson..if so then I should make introduction to my cousin." Tender smile for the woman in black array, she too seemed to have a pain on her. " I am Eirian." (D)

lian Windsor: He chuckled hearing Jack and dipped his chin to the man no matter. Then his attentions were swept back to his betrothed with a warming smile. "...I'm not even sure exactly what just happened.." Meaning the odd conversations but who was to blame and who was keeping count at any rate? By this hour many of them were feeling no pain and Balian was quickly becoming one of them. The last sip was taken from the tankard before it was set back to the table top. [d]

ective Beauty: The lil Lady In waiting continued to sit in silence, watching and waiting, looked to Liliana when she looked to her, meeting eyes and giving a soft faint smile. The talk between the men seemed to have turned a bit serious, though where things like this were concerned, how could it not. Eirian passed Hope off to her and Jelenah held the baby with huge smiles. Her finger was gently placed within the lil ones grasp, tiny fingers curled to hold to it. Sapphire eyes glanced from Hope, to Eirian and then to Balian. <d

man69: -=The stumble faltered and turned a bit. The brawny frame wavered in place for a moment before pushing through the tent's doorway. Back in the embrace fo the dark night, the usually stolid figure relaxed visibly. The wrinkled brim would swivel back towards the tent and another curse would fall freely to the ground. Hob-nailed boots plodded an uneven line towards a tree. A calloused hand would reach out to brace against the tree, but only succeed in numbly flopping against the rough bark. The ground stood up and slapped Jack in the face, bending the weather-beaten brim against the path now dusty with traffic of the daytime. The hand would press against the new-found enemy to give im distance from it, but none was to be his, and so the great statue of a man lay in the dirt.=- (d)

iledProphecy: That smile from Jelenah received one in return from Liliana as she watched her friend holding the baby. On the morrow Jelenah would be married to Balian, and so would start their family. Someday they'd even have children of their own. Such happiness to follow the battle that had taken place. Liliana's own gaze went toward the tent flap where Kendrew had disappeared earlier. Oh, what could it hurt? With a curtsy to Eirian, she'd murmur,"Please excuse me." And off she went to find Kendrew. (d)

Timeless Trances: ~ At being addressed it took a moment for Aracellis to pry herself out of deep thought. "Hm? Oh, Aye, M'Lady ... Indeed, it is a sincere pleasure." came her return at the introduction. "And, I confess myself guilty to be here for clan as well as country. My father was the acting landlord of Dun Mhor, withholding a seat amidst the Clan. With his passing, I am charged with it now." she'd further introduce herself. In the hopes that might help her to confess whom her cousin was, and perhaps if her Father had known them. "However, being that I was present for the attempt on Sir Caden, I found it only just that I do all I could for him and the Clansmen here today. Though, it has been many years since I have been home, they are all I have. I pray to meet all someday soon. Thus, any introductions I would humbly be grateful for. I fear little to none remember me ... or I, them. It's most unfortunate. Especially when I vow to do nothing more than to make my family proud where they rest. Afterall, a Lady does what she can to honor pacts on which her loyalty rest." came her confession as she raised her goblet in cheers to the lovely Lady. Hoping she was at least bringing the conversation back from the depths to which it seemed to awkwardly sink. Then again the brew seemed to be making people talkative. And sensitive at the same time. Ah, tsk, tsk, shame on the after effects of her spells. ~

Noble Puzzle: "Long live the Lady of Dun Mhor in peace and prosperity for her charity and goodness to the people of this valley. My infinite thanks are yours." She canted her head and listened to the tale pass of introductions missed and footing to be found in a land only recently returned, "Well might I help thee? Caden shall be with me, he is with Jonas now seeing that he is well. Surely on the morrow at the festivity you might meet, we all might? It is only fitting for like yourself, relation to the Robertsons is of yet still new to me. Cousins by a marriage, long ago, some blood and not, yet still a name is family enough. I am sure you shall be a testament : to thy lineage, m'lady. Already such a show upon field of battle and in the mercy of the women." She smiled warmly, invitingly for connections to be made. (d)

lan Burning: The first one in, and the last to leave. Maahes had always held true to his word having spent the entire day in the ruins of what was once a perfect haven for peace and serenity. Muslim prayers whispered over the flesh of the falling as he honored them, and praised the dead for their loyalty. Even in spirit, he could feel the fight of the lifeless bodies that littered the ground. Like a machine, it had taken him hours to deprogram and even now he closed his fist around the hilt of his blade. <NPC Merick> "General, M'lord you need to rest." Spoke the kind voice of Merick, on of Avaria's finest. His pale eyes ran over the Arab's features taking in the few marks, Maahes would walk away with. The Beast had only one true wound; a small slash across his forehead. It had been a day now so the cut had been closed by the fabric of God's work, and the blood dried around his features. It had been of his own mistake, caught off guard by the explosions around him, and the flashes of the heat had blistered the flesh across his temple chasing the cut. Yet, Maahes had not once felt the pain. Everything had happened so fast, he had yet to even realize the day had begun and as well closed around him. "I will Merick," Amber orbs turned to face the man, and he took the Ranger's outward turned hand as he helped Maahes to his feet. <Merick> "The rest are at the camps General, many are waiting on your return. I fear if you do not show they make think you dead." Merick smirked, and watched as a smile of Maahes's own lifted his lips. "Cold day in Hell, Ranger." A firm hand clasped across the smaller man's back, and he turned to head towards the camps. Pain rocketed through his body as well worn knees cried out, and caused his steps to be slow but productive as he reached the rest in no time. The page who had been sent would only find himself captive as he curled a massive arm around the small boy's back and tucking him under his shoulder. "Come boy, find me the food." Standing almost three heads taller the boy was not much of a crutch but would do for now. The page would lead him back to the rest, and turn a bright smile to the few that gathered. Wasn't every day their General was so...kind? (d

ian Windsor: Balian did slowly turn his head to look at Jelenah and the baby in her arms, the corner of his mouth had moved just a little with that smile starting to form. It was almost a look into the future and she looked so perfect and natural with the child in her arms. His chin lift just a little when he leaned in close enough to kiss her gently against the side of her neck and lay his own cheek against her shoulder while his blues looked down on the child in her arms. "I should retire the evening.. " The world was beginning to spin with the mix of battle fatigue and the few ales under his belt it was time to make way for his tent. "Will you stay with me tonight my love?" He whispered. [d]

ective Beauty: Jelenah would look to Balain as he spoke and smiled, her eyes drifting back down to Hope before looking to Eirian. Reluctantly she would pass her back to her mother and nod to Balian. "I will... there is much to do come the morrow." With him she would stand and Bid everyone a good night. There were a few others things she needed to see to first before resting with Balian and waking to get things going for their union. When Balian was ready, she would follow, the two taking their leave hand in hand. For tomorrow came a new beginning. <d --sorry all, but I need to go...gots lots to do tomorrow!--

nman69: -=Some time passed. How much he did not know, but it was still night. With some effort, the burly figure hauled itself to a seated position agains the tree. A rough hand roamed over the rough bark, drinking in some solace from the familiar friend. Thick with the stench of alcohol, the hearty timbre soured to a gutteral growl as he cursed himself. None of it was intelligible save to his own mind. After a few moments, the heap of oilskin cloth was silent and still.=- (d)

eless Trances: ~ She blushed with the brightest and most humble and flattered smile any had seen yet, save for her blushing earlier at the demand for a kiss. But before she could respond, all were heading off to retire for the evening leaving. She would rise and do them the respect of nodding them off in farewell. Before settling back down with the Lady Eirian. "Well spoken as only the true Lady of the Valley, could. Indeed, it is an honor I hardly expected. And I should love more encounters and chances to mingle with my people. Especially my seniors. As well as to this wedding, I can hardly wait. It should be most lovely. I hope my more ceremonial wines do it justice. Such lovely people I am meeting and finding to also be in attendance. Perhaps I'll start a grape vine about my grand Masque in Turas Lan. I shouldn't like to meet anyone empty handed." came her grin with more pleasant thoughts now. "As for a chance to get to know M'Lady better, as well as my Clansmen, I should also very much like to open my doors of Dun Mhor to them once more, now that reparations have been settled. We should make a weeks end of it upon my Vineyard. You would be my first honored guests." came more idle fancies and ideas as she idly left her finger to glide along her goblet's edge. "Again, anything I can do, even to offer a getaway from daily trials, It would be my personal honor to offer." she'd continue still more, then realizing suddenly she was jabbering on while most others were already displaying weariness. "Alas! But here I am going on and on, I should see to it you have a very comfortable private tent, M'Lady. I shouldn't like to keep you. I know your days are much fuller than my own. If there is anything I can do, let me know...I fear if I go idle, I may very well faint from exhaustion, myself." she'd then offer with a snicker at her own weariness while smoothing back her already pinned locks. Sighing as she still saw more men coming in that would need tending to before she retired, herself. "If not, might I offer you some nourishment? I'm supposed to be on dining duty until night's end, as is." came still more information before she would note Maahes, the familiar man from the Tavern that evening she first met Kendrew. A nod of greeting and knowing he sought such nourishment, she would wave down one of the children and have them scurry over to take the man's order. ~

edProphecy: Moving quietly through the camp, arms wrapped around her middle, chocolate eyes took in details as she moved. Sounds carried from camps on the night air: men calling out from nightmares, lovers speaking words of love, and even the sounds of those mourning the loss of loved ones. It made a sorrowful music all its own as she walked in search of Kendrew. Not a word was asked of those outside on his whereabouts with the intent of avoiding attention. No, she would find him eventually and hopefully he would not be displeased. (d)

A Noble Puzzle: The life the warrior class lived was a creed: Abseloute sacrifice for absolution of the cause no matter what it would be. No matter what side they were on, blood spilling and the twisted, mangled ruin of the human body meant little in the heat of battle. In the aftermath, the trick to survival was to swallow the bitter pill of bile around the visions the eyes swallowed with little choice. He kept it to himself - three decades close - of rolling pictures - a history of violence. He stood on one of the hillocks in the camp to look at the irony of the smoking, ash ridden, body filled ruins against the backdrop of still green, distant trees. Amid the quiet still penetrated the voice of a night bird singing. Liliana would come upon him in all this leaning on his spear as a centurion does when considering the lay of the land. If one asked him, he could even say what would grow best in such good soil after it was tilled again. Her steps, gentle as they were, caught his ear as he muttered to her. "It is so beautiful here. Neither a barren nor a forlorn country. So beautiful that ye might have a chance to forget what was seen, or what we had to do to it. --"

A Noble Puzzle: Women found strength and solidarity in numbers to rejoice in all things feminine: Weddings, holidays, family and chances to connect were what led them to be as they were. Balancing the baby in one arm she reached out to grasp the hand lf Don Mhur's Lady in her own, "Aye, all of that shall rightly come to pass and with glee, for tis an honor to make such acquaintance, to find family in places unknown! When time permits it thus, I shall
visit you and my hope is to present my husband to you, but Talion of yet is busy 'pon matters in the country of Avaria, where we reside now. Beautiful is that land, as beautiful as this. So then two families on two shores. We shall simply have to make many a trip, m'lady, to bridge the distance." Talk of royalty or titles held no baring here among save but a few, this was not Avaria nor would she put Queen before her name here, favoring Talon's approach of using it with care and brevity, only as necessary. Here she was but the Lady of the Valley, and to tend to all in it was her first priority (d)

an Burning: Such a happy moment could be quickly removed as the Egyptian found himself pressing through the tent's entrance..or wherever everyone else was. "I want a count of the dead and their names. One by one we will see to their families." Was it such a shock to see that he kept such a heart? Tucked away behind mass and muscle beating like drums in the Savannah, rest the fire of one very heavy soul. "On both sides. The bodies will be returned to their families, I will not have Father's having no body to put to rest." Merick gave a firm nod, and turning to see that it was done; leaving Maahes then in the company of the rest. Instantly relief struck him as he watched Kendrew's form pass, along side of Liliana...there was Eirian..The girl from the Tavern? The one who sat with the girly man, and where was Jack? Both of them? Maahes's men knew well enough that the tent doors were to remain open, so the fabric was tied back and there he would see Good-Ole-Trades drinking of course. "Get me out of this armor." He muttered from behind closed eyes as he took a seat, and a page stepped forth to help undo the lacing. Hanging his head for only a moment, Maahes peered from behind the fallen tendrils of his hair to the two who chattered just like a pair of doves resting in the tree. "Where's your pretty boy?" Spoken to the woman from the tavern, words leaving a well hidden shadowed face. Toss back those dreads and there would a smirk like none other as this was his style..no hello, no how are you? Nope, just a flat out rude remark that would often gain quick judgement and a bad reputation. (d)

edProphecy: A warrior overseeing the debris of battle. That was the thought that popped into her head as she came upon Kendrew. With not a word her body would stop behind his and arms slip about his waist. Cheek would press against back, hip against hip, as she offered comfort. Hearing his words, she'd murmur softly,"Do you wish to forget Kendrew?" Such a question was not easy to ask, but needed to be. Or so Liliana felt. It needed to be asked to to allow him the chance to release the thoughts that ate at him. (d)

Noble Puzzle: A form riddled with tight stich work, bruises, and tattered thoughts bowed the portion his body would let him as the General walked by. Respect was of the utmost, even as it caused him to grip at the side of himself
A Noble Puzzle: where a dagger had bit him under the plush sinew beneath the ribs. The thin material he wore to cover his torso did nothing to prevent the warmth that surged as the small, young woman held him from behind. He did not mind
A Noble Puzzle: her touch over his wonds, he welcomed them, more than he'd tell her now. "There is ne'er a way to forget..only to remember that there is a reson for it, and there be better times beyond it. But..30 years...tis a great
A Noble Puzzle: much for any one man to remember. Mine seems a might long. I look over this field and see others before it..Liliana. Ye know I can still see the country land north o' here. I still see Trotternish, and Roric's death.
A Noble Puzzle: As if it were yesterday. I do not mourn him still, nor do I do injustice by nay living or finding joy. Yet. Times as this makes it hard to find a sense of peace. Forty-five of mah men are dead. Twenty-Seven of the
A Noble Puzzle: calvary are dead.Tha' we know of." He swallowed on the information as he looked to her over his shoulder "I know each name. Remember each face."
ral walked by. Respect was of the utmost, even as it caused him to grip at the side of himself
A Noble Puzzle: where a dagger had bit him under the plush sinew beneath the ribs. The thin material he wore to cover his torso did nothing to prevent the warmth that surged as the small, young woman held him from behind. He did not mind
A Noble Puzzle: her touch over his wonds, he welcomed them, more than he'd tell her now. "There is ne'er a way to forget..only to remember that there is a reson for it, and there be better times beyond it. But..30 years...tis a great
A Noble Puzzle: much for any one man to remember. Mine seems a might long. I look over this field and see others before it..Liliana. Ye know I can still see the country land north o' here. I still see Trotternish, and Roric's death.
A Noble Puzzle: As if it were yesterday. I do not mourn him still, nor do I do injustice by nay living or finding joy. Yet. Times as this makes it hard to find a sense of peace. Forty-five of mah men are dead. Twenty-Seven of the
A Noble Puzzle: calvary are dead.Tha' we know of." He swallowed on the information as he looked to her over his shoulder "I know each name. Remember each face."
A Noble Puzzle: Pretty doves, precious doves. They cooed and sang a song on the benches where they sat even in the General's sardonic whim that was strewn about behind his veil of dark dreaded hair. Eirian rose to meet him and where he
A Noble Puzzle: gave that she gave him a bow of her knees in curtsy, lifting to rise. "General Maahes," she said,holding the sleeping child in her arms, "It is good to see ye. I wish to thank you, for all that you have done for this
A Noble Puzzle: land, and those like you, in service to two." Did she come a great ocean to tell him this, to tell them this? She did, as well as to offer show of it. "Come, bring drink.." Gentle voice called, and when choices of
A Noble Puzzle: water, wine, and ale came she would wait patiently to pour his cup herself. A sign of honor perhaps, to her only kindness that need be paid. Always (d)
A Noble Puzzle: - sorry about that, Ims came in same time as room ads changed, made me freeze -
Flanman69: (np)
Timeless Trances: { okay shall I post or wait? }
Timeless Trances: { Have it all ready now that I've got coffee lol }
A Noble Puzzle: - go on and post -
DestinyOfValor: ( sorry, that would be my fault....)
A Noble Puzzle: - and then we'll get it back up top -
Timeless Trances: ~ She was warmed to the core by Lady Eirian, squeezing her hand back endearingly at the thought. "Then I shall always be ready to extend the efforts. I've always longed to travel. My late husband, bit of a brute, hardly
Timeless Trances: let me out of his sight since my coming of age. That now, as a widow, I known naught what to do with myself." she'd giggle lightly at her own plight. Before the tall, dark, brute came marching up. Announcing himself so
Timeless Trances: ... boldly. "My prett--Oh!" and with that, Aracellis burst into a fight of giggles. "Oh, dear. You must mean Ambassador Gan Burning: Tugging then at his boot the relief was instant from a foot purple and blue. "This land..our lands." Yeah he was starting to reach the point of no return, and as he straightened his body he ran a thick band of leather to keep back
Aslan Burning: the tendrils of black. He went silent then, lost in the world of his thoughts as the battle replayed over in his mind. The canons were something new to him, and Jack would have to be sat down to go over this weapon. The flesh rey. He really is as sweet as he looks, I suppose. If it were not for him, I'd be a lonelier widow
Timeless Trances: still. Very kind gentleman. My only friend at the moment I suppose, until I sort through all these new names and faces." was added with a snicker before she would extend her hand to the General. "Please, General, Sir...I
Timeless Trances: pray you honor us with your presence, whilst I honor you with my food and drink. You must be quite famished after such a victory." came the invitation finally while the boy who aimed to take his order would busy himself
Timeless Trances: clearing the table and bringing another bottle of wine. ~
an Burning: "You do not need to rise for me Eirian." He spoke as his face turned away to unlace his boot. His voice was a stern yet gentle rumble in his chest, and in a whisper he continued, "You know I would fight to keep you safe. Hope safe."
Aslan Burning: Tugging then at his boot the relief was instant from a foot purple and blue. "This land..our lands." Yeah he was starting to reach the point of no return, and as he straightened his body he ran a thick band of leather to keep back
Aslan Burning: the tendrils of black. He went silent then, lost in the world of his thoughts as the battle replayed over in his mind. The canons were something new to him, and Jack would have to be sat down to go over this weapon. The flesh
Aslan Burning: against his right temple was red, but not burnt enough to truly hurt--no worse then the sun. Skin that was conditioned to the blinding heat was scorching hot to the touch. Yet that was nothing out of normal. "I am sorry to hear he
Aslan Burning: is your only friend." Spoken very quiet and very strange coming from the lips of a savage. Here was this Lion in the night, speaking like a man and in complete thoughts. How much he has changed from the passing years. Callused
Aslan Burning: fingers untied the lacing of the wraps that captured his wrists and pulled them free. A tribal marked print across his skin started at the base of his hand and ran the length of his arm. Maahes would then roll his wrists to relieve
Aslan Burning: the pressure; rubbing carefully messaging the tight skin. Distant eyes returned to the pair of Doves, and he continued, "I know how that feels." Meeting her eyes for only a moment before they fell to Hope. The babe that was close to
Aslan Burning: capturing his heart, and would soon captivate an entire nation. (d)

Aslan Burning: "You do not need to rise for me Eirian." He spoke as his face turned away to unlace his boot. His voice was a stern yet gentle rumble in his chest, and in a whisper he continued, "You know I would fight to keep you safe. Hope safe."