The refugees...and the vigilance.

[Lady Edfeil]

Three ships. Three ships had returned. Children... wounded... elderly.... women. People of Caernavon and Caerfarnon who had survived. Of the rest, naught was known. Did they live still? Did they die at the hands of those who had wrought such destruction already? The last seemed most likely. Some of the children had seen their fathers die. Some of the wounded might nae make it. And all had seen too much of death and destruction in the last month.

Windstorm castle had taken on the frantic buzzing of a beehive. Two voices, two needs fought for dominance. The need for vigilance. If the ships had followed, war could be upon Windstorm within days. And the need to tend to more people than the castle had expected to house for.. how long? She nae knew. Mayhap forever. Mayhap these people would nae ever have a place to go home to.
Windstorm had offered whatever excess they had in stocks to both Caerfarnon and Camelot during their struggles earlier this year. Now, they needed to make sure there nae was a shortage till harvest. The weather had nae be so warm as to induce an early growth, yet some crops always were peeking out. And there were cabbages who came through winter well. And turnips and radishes that had grown swiftly. Roasts had been removed from thekitchens for now in favor of soups and stews. They just needed to hold on till harvest. Or until there was news.

The stables were overcrowded. A shelter had been set up, build by the men of Windstorm under lead of Kyle Draven and his partner in the smithy. It would house fifty until more housing was found for those that had arrived with naught but their lives. And many were still fighting and clinging to even that.
Trossach had pledged aide. They would seek help from Dragonshire mist. They would ask mighty Kent. Their friends and allies would let compassion lead them, she was certain.

Amidst it all, the small Queen and goodman Kyle seemed to have taken the lead in this unexpected challenge. So far, there nae was a siege. Nae a battle. Yet Windstorm waged it's own fight to keep as many alive as God would spare.

[Lady Edfeil]

That day had lifted a huge burden of the queen's shoulders. They had managed. They had held on. But the worry about feeding all for the forseeable time had been great. It would nae have been so bad any other year. But she had send their reserves in the last of winter to Camelot, then what was left in early spring had been offered to Caerfarnon during their earlier struggles. They had enough to make it to the new harvest as it was. But nae to feed and tend to all the refugees in comfort. Those of Windstorm did what they could. Prince Sighehelm mingled uncomfortably between women and children, nae able to answer the questions within their eyes, but he had pledged his arm to defend, and promised his brother would stand by them iffen Windstorm came under attack.

The queen still worried. They would need extra food soon. They would need aide in housing the horses. Seeking new homes for the children that had arrived without parents. She wondered iffen it had been foolish to send out the reserves earlier when others had need. Yet.. she had barely needed to spread the word. Windstorm's allies, and Caerfarnon's had come through. Goodwoman Cellesse from Trossach had been the first to see what was going on during her visit. She had pledged Trossach's aide. Families that would be willing to take in a few of the orphans, stables for the horses. Anything. And more important she had brought word to Dragonsshire Highlands as well as she traveled on.
The next day ships arrived in Windstorm anew. King Stephen Horatio Alexander himself had traveled to see the situation for himself, and to hear what had happened at Caerfarnon. She feared she nae had good tidings for him. He brought aide though. Grains, meats, men at arms to fortify Windstorms defences till they knew more. And healers. It eased the first worry.
Leaigh arrived then, and saw the halls crowded with wounded, the healers tending to them. She made the only conclusion possible even before Edfeil had spoken to her. Caerfarnon had fallen.
Then a caravan arrived, from ShadowStrike. The Queen nae knew how WhiteKnight had heard of their plight. But the Overlord oft knew things others did nae. And the caravan had contained food and medicin. And nae even a bill. Only a wish for her by mouth of the Caravan leader "Be loved and blessed" . It had made her smile. Years had gone by but he had nae forgotten.
They had food, they had healers, they had medicin. All they needed now were answers. And Leaigh was certain she could find those out. Were there any survivors left?

[Lady Edfeil]

Another day with nae a tiding. Yet the aide from ShadowStrike, Trossach and DragonShire Highland had stemmed the tide of need swiftly. Lady Sofia too had promised her families aide. Honey, clothing, aide with the horses...
The worry over how to last till the next harvest waned. Instead there would be enough to offer those stranded far from their home, and mayhap without their loved ones at least enough for a new beginning, poor though it might be.
Prince Sighehelm stayed by her side, offering his aide, his strength, and whatever help he could give to the women and children were offered as well as whatever odd tasks he could take on. Sofia spend most of the nigth tended to the wounded. Her knowledge of healing arts strengthening those of the healers present from DragonShire Highlands. And they had gone through the first night without any dying. The first night in which all had survived. Woundfever was being treated. Those that lived this far were getting stronger by the day nae the hour, amidst warmth, nourishment and care.

The walls were manned now day and night instead of by patrol, thanks to the DragonShire Highlands troops. And the food send by ShadowStrike had filled up the sheds and cellars. They would make it till the next harvest. Caerfarnon's heritage would be preserved. Even if nae else had survived.

Another day without news. Arson Shadowblaide, who had sailed with the wounded, forming a last defence under King Azarael's wings, felt like a caged animal almost it seemed in Windstorm's hall, surrounded by those that were helpless, or tending to the mundane.
Once more the Queen had given permission for the Pretty Boat to be used without her presence, as soon as the vessel was sea worthy again. Captain Tydar she was certain would volunteer. He after all had seen the scene of distruction, and though he was a man of little words, the few he had used had been enough for Edfeil to realize that what had witnessed would be etched in his mind forever.

[Lady Edfeil]

There were survivors. She had nearly fallen in simple relief when she heard the news. Sofia, Kyle and the Queen had sat together near the hearth. Fatigue was etched into their features by now. Sleep had been scant ever since the tiding had come of Caerfarnon falling. Wounded had been tended to and for the second night none had lost. A second shelter had been set up so the infirmary and still room would be less crowded. The first frenzy was receding and some kind of rhythm was developing back in their days. But there still had been.. the wait.

Then late in the evening, Leaigh had entered: tired, dirty... but with news. There were... survivors. She had nae been able to get numbers or names, but she knew where they had sailed to. Beaumaris. The castle and town had previously been held by the English. The fact that they were there, the fact that they nae had been driven out must mean they would still have had numbers of strenght, as well as leaders to make such a decision. Unfortunately Leaigh's profession nae allowed her a warm welcome by the townspeople and she was unable to find out who lived and who had perished.

They would need send someone to Beaumaris. A boat. People. For one brief moment she had considered going herself, but even before she had uttered the idea she knew it would nae do. Mayhap goodwoman Arson could sail, together with Captain Tydar. They would make a decision the next day on how to arrange everything. For this night only, they would allow relief and joy to hold sway as a mass of gratitude was ordered.