Homeward

[Repsol]

The small fire eventually died, and the embers glowed bright then dull as the slight whisps of breeze ran to shore from the sea, sat aside the fire two dark figures, their facial features glowed a dim red with the light from the embers, hands going from their makeshift platters to their mouths until all scraps had been consumed.
The two figures saying so much to each other without uttering a single word, one who believed he had lost everything and could not rest until he finally knew and the other who was sick and tired of reminding him he would never lose the trust of their Queen, though the second mans patience was so thin if his friend continued his doubts he would take a knife to his throat himself and end his friends doubts once and for all.
The small group of men had endured running battles minimal food and water, all had lost much weight from their bones with un kept hair and beards to their chests not one would be recognised for their true identity even by their kin.
The time would come they where sure when they would return to loved ones and once again seek forgiveness for what they had done for they had fled the battlefield and in their eyes this sumounted to treason and cowardice and they should be punished as such but for now it will be the woodlands and the shores which would keep and feed them until the one they looked upon made his decision as they where still committed to their commander and now friend.
He stood leaving the other figure by the fire he found a tree and sat with his back to it, thinking of his home he blindly tugged at the tuft of grass pulling small amounts out of the ground with his thumb and forefinger and raising his hand slightly and allowing the breeze to carry it off into the night.

[Sir Kyle Draven]

~grins and nods~....Good to see ye. Can nay wait)))

[Repsol]

The dawn found him as the night had left him, sitting by the tree his eyes ringed by darkness his body screaming at him to rest proper but in his mind he dreamed of one thing and now twas his time to make his mind and take forth his men once more to the lands of Windstorm.
It was unfair to keep the men away any longer and this was one of his more poorer Judgements and one he was not at ease with, the men should have returned home when they came ashore though the delay at first seemed a good idea, then his mind would not settle into begining their return home.
His man at arms strode towards him, this morning was no different to the last few months but his step was light and he seemed somewhat in a lighter mood, he took a knee near his friend sat against the tree and began to speak.
'Windstorm is but two weeks from us we should go, forget thy mind Sire and take us forth to our home once more the men need their families and we need news of our men and what became of the battles of men and dragons for there shall be news of such I am sure of it' He then sat in silence to await a reply.
The Lord stood and removing the rags which covered his bones he bared his flesh to the breeze, he walked slowly to the sea without a word the men seeing this followed his lead and all walked into the sea together....

[Repsol]

His pace quickened as he drew closer to the soft lapping waves as the ebbed and flowed over the pebbles, he was almost running at his fastest when his feet struck the water, he took another few paces and threw himself headfirst into the water diving to the soft sandy bottom in the shallow water.
The salt within the water stinging at the soft tissue of his wounds, he swam and swam til his lungs where bursting for air, the water now somewhat deeper he arched his back and began to the surface as he burst forth he breached the water to his waist as the other men breached almost together drawing sharp breaths to fill their lungs with air.
His body settled back into the water as he trod water, the small waves breaking just before his face, the feeling of the cool morning sea was bracing and awoke his senses, it was refreshing and his mind was clearing now hearing of what his friend was saying before he chose to swim, this day he thought they shall begin their journey home.
He rolled forward and began to dive down again he began to swim back towards the shore surfacing only when the water was too shallow to swim anymore, he rose and walked over the pebbles and onto the soft sand, he sat and allowed the breeze to dry him after several minutes he grabbed what clothes he had and dressed, one man had lit some firewood and placed upon it a small pot, he would make but a small warm drink with the last of the precious supplies they had managed to scrounge and beg on their journey, this will be the norm for the foreseeable future but they where not new to living from what the earth offered.
He pulled on his now withering boots, his pants had seen better days but somehow still held themselves together to save his embarrassment ..just, he placed the sword around his middle and tugged down the shirt over his wet shoulders walking towards the small fire, the man looked up and smiled as he lifted a makeshift mug and offered it up to the lord in front of him.
Repsol smiled and received the mug with a heartfelt smile and nodded to the man as he turned to see his friend now dressed walking towards him, he closed his eyes as he drank and waited for the next barrage which his friend will set upon his ears.....

[Lady Beren]

(('t is great to see ye return, M'lord! :-) )

[Repsol]

He opened his eyes to meet the glare from his friends face, it spoke volumes, he offered the slightest of smiles as his mind kicked into gear not getting the tongue lashing left him somewhat deflated but no doubt there will be more in the not to distant future and for those he shall wait patiently.
He placed the mug in his hand on a stone aside the fire and looked around their make shift camp thinking to himself there is nothing to hide as there was nothing there but a small fire which any beach comber could have lit, he called his men together and began to discuss their plans for the return to Windstorms lands.....
The sun was breaching the top of the trees as the last man turned a last glance to their camp nothing out of place he turned and followed the rest of the men towards the treeline ahead of them, like the rest his stomach tightened in anticipation of this trek homeward, they would need to beg their way back home something not many had experience of but they would need to learn and learn quickly.
The sun now behind cloud had passed mid day as they followed a woodmans path around a bend their first contact came in the form of a woman and three young lads walking the same way, the men soon came upon them, the woman turned startled and wrapped her arms around the lads and stood as the men came closer.
The Man at Arms approached her and spoke for some time, the woman gesturing directions with out stretched arms in the direction the men where traveling, he returned and gave his conversation to Repsol, he was told of a friendly farmer just four miles down the track, the woman mentioned he may offer food and a place to clean up, the men moved off each offering the woman a smile as they passed and went on their way.

[Repsol]

The path led them right to the side of the farmhouse, it was nothing too special a typical hard working farm who's occupants worked dawn til dusk to make a meal for themselves and here where an extra ten mouths to feed at the drop of a hat, they had spoken and decided to take half portions so as not to be a too greater burden on this family but first they would need to secure the Farmers hospitality and offer what help they could to pay for their hospitality.
Repsol stood by the makeshift fence 'Hoy, ye at the farm' he raised his voice and looked around the small out buildings, 'Hoy stranger' came the response from behind a building as a man came around the corner of the building wiping his hands in an old cloth, he stopped as he saw the men standing there, his eyes searched each and everyone of the group and took two more steps forward still wiping his hands he spoke 'I hath nowt ye may want so iffen ye seek ta rob me save thee sen trouble cos thi be nowt wuth tekkin from me'
Repsol moved a step towards the gate and offered the man his open hands and smiled softly and offered explanation...'We doth nae come here to take anything ye nae wish to share freely we are in need of some food and a place where we may freshen in return we offer to work for what ye see fit to give, tis all we ask friend'..
The man chuckled and looked up ' Tha shull get owt fer nowt, vagabonds scoundrels looks like to me from where I be standin tis nae fer me to decide wot thy is, aye a can offer thee such but wood needs choppin and some fencin t mend too' The man pointed out where the work needed doing and like busy ants the men began to work, the man beckoned Repsol to him and they moved to sit outside the house and discuss their payment.
Repsol began to explain their plight but not in too much detail as the man seemed to be easily bored, he was more interested in the repairs and wood which was being cut, the man shouted to the house 'Elsie get mi some platters fer these workers and some of mi ale lass and bloody hurry up I dunt wany em dyin on me land' the man stood and moved back to his own work, Repsol stood and joined his men at the fence, he got a dozen or so leather strips thrust into his chest as he too them a straining man holding a post was nodding his head in the direction of where a post needed a strap to hold it in place whilest he held it, Repsol tied it off and the man breathed again as he loosend the weight onto the straps.
The work done and a goodly pile of wood chopped the man returned cleaned up for his meal the men sat inside the now fixed fencing, the man looked at the handy work of his vagabonds and scoundrels and smiled to one and all of them, a woman came out from the farm house with bread and meat on a large platter and placed it near the men, two young lads then appeared with the ale in a wooden cask.
The farmer gestured to the men to eat and drink as he turned and went back into the house with the woman and lads following behind, the men didn't hesitate and the small portion idea had long since left them as there was enough to feed and army.
Finishing off the last of the meat the men lay back on the small grassed area and looked to the sky, the man appeared from the house and asked the men to follow him to behind a small shed, there stood a barrel with water a stone and some small knives, the men looking to him as he gestured a shaving motion, they all smiled and began to restore their boyish good looks....

[Repsol]

The men rinsed their faces and blew with the coldness of the water, all feeling refreshed and with full stomachs they moved on thanking the farmer and his family.
As they rounded a bend the farm had disappeared as quickly as it had come upon them, the peace of the lands where only broken with the sound of hawks and the odd grunt of a wild boar the latter they wished to steer well clear of, the men moved at pace now with bursts of running tho this was not at their normal pace as most where still carrying wounds which still needed attention upon their return to WS.
Their full stomachs seemed to comfort the men and one and all knew that could have been their last meal until reaching home, but the men leading them would see to it that they all fed one way or another.
By nightfall they had done well although the terrain was level and somewhat easy to move across they had walked through a small copse and decided to set up a make shift camp, men collected dead wood one of the men took out a stone and some flint and struck them together and after a few strikes the tinder lit a small plume of smoke rose straight up into the air, the men gathered around and settled against the small trees and fell into slumber.

[Repsol]

The last few days had been hectic they had secured food by working on land and homes lending the skills passed down by their fathers and uncles, they had ridden hay wagons and some not so aromatic wagons to speed up their travels homeward.
As they sat amongst the sheep and pigs going to market the driver of the wagon could take them as far as the woods near to the Great Castle and despite their surroundings the men had a tight feeling in their stomachs of finally being within the final two days of their journey, tho who smelt worse the men or their traveling companions was debatable the man was either polite or had no sense of smell.
The driver spoke of the men protecting the Castle, the riders and the rangers as he did so he made clear to beware as the men he was looking at didn't seem to fit anywhere but working the lands, let alone live near the Castle, as the Man at Arms explained of the men in his cargo the driver laughed loudly not believing a single word the goodman had spoken, as the cart drew to a halt the man with a redened face and a broad smile turned and told them this was as far as he could take them, as they got out and dusted themselves down he spoke..'Mark me words well on the tracks thy shall see riders and rangers, jus beware, ah bid thee well'

Repsol stood and looked at a single track which wound off into the deep green wood, he remembered the times he had ridden this track with his patrols and knew by horse it was a good days ride, by foot it would take two days, he turned and gestured with a nod of his head he began walking and the men followed silently.
As they entered the wood and out of sight of the sunlight the cold gnawed as if they had been thrown into ice water, he turned and began to speak of the riders the man had spoken of, if they came across any he hoped silently he knew their leader or it could be somewhat awkward, likewise with Lord Robins rangers, they spoke amongst themselves, it mattered not now to be quiet tho they still spoke by whispers....

[Lady Beren]

(('t will be wonderful to welcome ye home, M'Lord ...nae long now *winks*))

[Repsol]

They had managed to walk through the night and found a track used by wagons, the morning sun already heating their bones through the break in the trees each man walked to the side of the track in double file to where the sunlight was strongest and warmest.
The sound of heavy hooves on the ground made the men move to the narrow lush green grassed verge between the track and the trees to allow the user the room on the track to move ahead without hindrance as the two wagons before had almost killed them, they stood and waited as around the slight bend afore them came a patrol of Cavalry, 20 to 30 Horses at his first estimation a full patrol, he turned to his men and gestured to keep their composure as he prepared himself to speak with the commander.
They stood in anticipation and nothing, the patrol cantered by as the commander looked upon the group and turned his attention to the track ahead and carried on, some men in the group looked familiar as they rode passed, moving in their saddles and straining their necks as Repsol was sure they had recognized him, then as they shook their heads and continued on their way in moments they had gone, he turned to his men, shrugged his shoulders and took a place again on the track and began to walk again.
His man at arms came forward to walk beside him...'There be some men from the campaign amongst the riders M'Lord, if this be so then all was nae lost to the orcs, and prithee me sayin so, iffen those survived then mayhap many more did also'.. Repsol looked upon Samuel his oldest friend and tried to smile...'Soon me friend very soon all shall be revealed and we shall know the full truth of what has passed and we shall find what lays ahead of us, til this end I stand no future plans to thee or these men here, for only the Queen and Council of our home shall judge our efforts, I pray for these souls we did all we could'..
He placed his right hand on his friends shoulder and squeezed slightly then retracted his hand and began to walk this time at a more brisk pace...

[Repsol]

The track led them to the edge of the wood and beyond it lay open farmland, the track rose slightly as they walked all seemed very familiar now and in a dark way they felt threatened, no protection of the trees, they where laid bare, as they moved up the track the view widened to take in all the beauty of this great kingdom, beyond the ridge lay the village and to their right standing regal above all else stood the mighty castle of Windstorm its glory beaming for all to see.
The group paused to take in the view.
The decision was call at the village and clean up but with not a penny amongst them this was cleared from their heads, so onward to the castle it would be, the sun now hiding behind the white clouds which dotted the bluest sky at last he thought someone was looking kindly on them.
He gestured with his hand to move directly over the fields which thankfully had been recently harvested, they began to pick up the pace to a slight run, their swords clanking as the metal tips of the sheaths struck the pebbles laying on the soil.
As he made good headway the tip of his sword struck a good sized stone and flicked the sword between his ankles as he brought his right foot back his legs jarred and he fell his full length throwing his arms forward his hands struck first tho with his pace his arms buckled and was dragged under his torso as his face struck the soft earth he came to rest flat on his stomach, he looked up to see the men looking back laughing, he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees as one of the men arrived and offered him a hand, he looked at the man with a scowl which did not rid the man of his huge smile, the man began to run once more, as he clambered to his feet he dusted himself down, he had noticed he had gained yet another tare to his pants, this one being more embarrassing than the others, he grasped his sword and lifted it slightly and began to run with the others.
They soon came to the steep banks surrounding the castle and all looked for the rear entrance to attempt a sneak into the Castle, each one knew this would not be possible so why are they even going to attempt it.
Repsol stopped them and spoke softly explaining the only way in would be the main gate, he sent his Man at Arms first..

[Repsol]

Samuel advanced slowly to the gates and raised his right hand slightly cupped to his mouth and called...'Hoy at the gates, I request entry...Open gates of Windstorm, for I seek thy hospitality and shelter'..
The huge gate began to slowly open and two guards appeared, standing at the entrance they looked upon the man and their mouths opened as they looked to one another and back to the man standing before them, one guard spoke...
'I say t' thee Albert its a bloke I spect neyer t' see agin' he looked to Samuel and began to laugh loudly as he grabbed the other guards arm and began to dance a jig, going round and round in circles their laughter gaining in volume, the ruckus drew the attention of the duty guard and their officer as he turned the gate he saw the men dancing and coughed roughly, the men stopped and stood still..
'Tether thy sel men what be the commotion ere', he turned and looked upon the disheveled man afore him asking for entry a huge smile lit his face as he offered a tilt of his head as a shallow but dignified bow, Samuel moved to him and whispered they need to get clothed and cleaned but needed secrecy til Repsol had spoken with Council and the Queen, the commander nodded his understanding and looked for the others, Samuel gestured and they rose from behind baskets and a few small hay stacks, as Repsol stood the commander allowed himself a huge grin as he bowed at the waist, he gathered some of the guards and the final journey began the quest to get them to the barracks without the slightest knowledge of the senior ranks, the men moved through the grounds, eyes falling upon long missed sights, the guards moved them at speed through the Castle to the barracks, the first guard as they arrived and hastily opened the door the men inside the cordon of guards spilled through the open door and inside, the guard then closing the door behind them and organizing the guard...

[Repsol]

The door closed with a dull thud, the men stood and the hustle and bustle inside stopped and silence fell over the room, men going about their business of preparing for their patrols looked upon the men thrown into the room, a young lancer recognized the men and dropped his helm as if he had seen ghost riders, the clang of metal hitting stone was ear piercing, he stood frozen to the spot as if he moved he would be turned to stone.
An older guard moved to the men and took a knee he lay his right forearm upon his knee and lowered his head in a bow looking to the floor he spoke softly..' M'Lord t bi sed tha be lost to us, wi waited an age fo tha return ye neyer came an wi left wi mage an came back t ere, i can only beg tha furgive us who returned without thee'
Repsol took a knee with the man and placed his hand upon the man shoulder..' Ye need nae beg stand with us and we shall speak' they both stood as more men entered the room, Lancers bustling in as news spread that the lost riders had returned.
Repsol looked for a seat whilst the others in the group sat upon other mens beds, he needed to know what happened, he beckoned the man forth to explain.
The man began to blurt it out in one breath, the Lord lifted his hand and smiled..' I will allow thee breath between thy words....slowly now begin'
M'Lord twas lost when we readied for battle, them orcs where everwhere, the castle had fallen and we be overrun from all sides, t' Queen offered safe passage to our Army back t' ere with her mages, wi cudent wait thi wi no time...'
Repsol stood and asked the man to follow him further into the room as the others began their stories to the men sat on the beds and the noise lifted once again as men met their comrades once more and a merriment filled the air as old friends hugged and slapped each other on the backs, the two men spoke at length finishing eventually with a clasp of hands and Repsol turned to the room and brought his hands together in a loud clap the room silenced once more, he instructed the men who had returned with him to cleanse themselves and those with family around the walls where given three days pass from the castle to greet their kin, the men needed no second words and busied themselves as they dispersed to their old rooms to seek clean clothing, he needed to get to his room to cleanse himself and replace his tattered clothing, two men offered to go ahead to his chambers to prepare things for him, another man offered him a cloak, he accepted and prepared himself for the short walk to the main quarters, he knew enough of the castle to follow the shadows to his room.....he pulled the hood foreward and wrapped the cloak tightly arround his shoulders and was let out of the barracks....

[Repsol]

He entered the castle and quickly moved through the halls, keeping his head down so the hood remained over his face, he found the stairs and rose them quickly two at a time, he came upon the landing where he would find his room, a soldier stood half in and half out of the doorway to his room as he turned the corner the man saw him and beckoned him towards him frantically as he looked around to ensure the way was clear, he got to the door way and the man at the door checked the long hallway once more before closing the door behind him.
Once inside Repsol stood silently not lifting his head, he closed his eyes and for once he stood in silent prayer for a moment he was home safe and almost sound, a tub of water stood in its usual place steam rising from the water, this bath more than ever he would cherish, he opened his eyes and allowed the cloak to loosen around him, he lifted his right hand and lifted away the hood, the two men busied themselves like maids one took his cloak and wound it around his arm.
Repsol removed his sword and lay it upon the bed, his torn shirt was removed and his shoddy boots kicked off, as he loosened the ties around his pants one of the men coughed and they left, his pants fell and he kicked his feet out of the legs and climbed into the tub, at first the heat bit into his skin and he drew a few short breaths as he reclined into the water, it drew slowly up around his neck and covered his shoulders, after a few moments he closed his eyes and slid down into the tub so his head was immersed into the hot water.
He pushed his feet against the end of the tub and and straightened his legs he lifted his head out of the water, his eyes still closed he began to wash himself.
A light tap on his door he turned as it opened slightly as one of the guards head appeared once again, the door opened wider as they entered with two more buckets from the kitchen with hot water and a platter of food and a cask of mead, Repsol smiled, the men lay down the platter and poured the buckets into the bath, his breath taken once more they smiled and left closing the door behind them with a solid thud, he closed his eyes and relaxed into the water....