Preparing...in the infirmary with Lady Loxley

[Rayven]

It was near to sunset, and it had been a long day, when I caught sight of the watchtower and the great banner of Windstorm floating from the heights. I stood for a moment and whispered “God ride with you” as I watched the men’s hoofbeats thundered away into the coming night.

My task was at hand. With Laurestina still recovering from her illness the job of preparing the supplies on hand to treat the wounded fell to those of us ladies here at the castle.

I reached for the dried vervain, mortars and pestles and laid them on the wooden countertop. Tomorrow Lady Loxley would join me in the little storeroom off the infirmary and together we would begin the task of grinding up the vervain into powder.

****************************************************************************
I awoke to the sunlight slanting into the window in my chamber and an hour later, when the church bells were ringing signaling the call to vespers, Lady Loxley and I sat side-by- side dividing the dried vervain into sections.

Our fingers carefully picked the small blue flowers from their stem, placing them into the small pottery bowl in front of us ready to be grinded into a fine powder then later stored into labeled jars should it be needed later.

We kept our conversation light, peppered with small smiles and bits of laughter, anything to take our minds off the situation at hand.

I asked her what her thoughts were concerning the gentlemen from Spain who had arrived at the castle last evening with his entourage of men that had accompanied him and the mysterious lady Hermosia who was to arrive later today at the castle.

My fingers carefully plucked the flowers from their stem as I listened to her reply

[Dream Loxley]

*She worked methodically and at a steady pace.....her thumb and index finger pinching out the flower heads from the safety of the stems. Always she was amazed at nature and how such delightful blooms would come up from the cold empty ground each year. Only the sunshine and a little rain did they need..... such a simply life, yet cut so short now as she continued with the task in hand.

She nodded and smiled as the lady beside her spoke...there was much she did not know of her, and yet as she had shown such dedication it felt proper to aid her...and they were all working to one end...one goal of survival and hopefuly peace.

The question was a suprise.....she had noticed how the lady had indeed looked upon the new guest, but in truth, she had not had the time to form an opinion.*

"Indeed.... he did look as a man of honour M'Lady......and he escorts a Lady of some virtue mayhaps.....with so many men. I did but greet him fer the moment and I nae have an opinion as yet. Be there a reason ye do ask such of me M'Lady?"

*She stopped for a moment to lift the goblet of water to her lips...pondering her own words....quite eager to meet them all as time allowed.*

"Pray tell me.... what would one use this flower to treat M'Lady.... of course...when 'tas become an ointment or such?"

[Rayven]

My apologies for posting this so late, real time often bites into my v/t time.

The late afternoon sun had dipped down towards the horizon, gilding the inside of the infirmary. We had been at it for hours it seemed, stripping the delicate flowers from their stems and then methodically pressing pestle to mortar and crushing them into a fine powder.

I smiled at the lady to my left, whose melodious voice was warm and kind and went on to explain that vervain was often thought to be the most important remedy for wounds. Its medicinal powers often kept infection at bay and thus a necessity to have on hand should such needs arise.

We didn’t speak again of the stranger or his lady, but my thoughts were of the same vein as Lady Loxley’s and I looked forward to meeting both of them again.

There was a little stirring of voices at the door of the room and I looked up from my task to see two of the servants standing there with a plate of meat and bread and a worried look that seemed to say it was time for both of us to retire from our task and take some nourishment.

[Dream Loxley]

((Late posting is 1 or even 2 weeks.... hardly late being in the same day. Post as and when you can.. no worries )

*There was so much she had not known of remedies and plants.....she found it interesting that a thing of such delicate petals could become something so powerful and strong when simply changed in someway. Perhaps like people....they grow and change....sometime for the better....some times not. She studied the plant within her hand as the Lady told her of its qualities....already the flower heads were softer...bereft of life....limp now and yet destined for greater things in its next life.

For a moment she thought of her Father and his faith in the heavens above.....the arrival of the servants breaking her from her melancholy thoughts.

She smiled to them and bid them enter....indeed it was time to enjoy some food...her tummy told her in no uncertain terms and grumbled quietly at the sight of the meal.*

[Rayven]

The Great Hall of Windstorm struck cool in the late midday heat. The sun poured through the windows, and fell in molten gold to the gray-flagged floor. The brilliant light gilded the high white walls and lost itself in the soaring vault of the roof above.

Such a sight greeted Lady Loxley and myself as we emerged from the small confined space of the infirmary’s storeroom.

We had lost count of time as we worked diligently to prepare the vervain and only upon the insistence of the servants and our stomachs had we stopped.

In the center of the hall hung names picked out in gold on wooden canopies overhead, a reminder of each knight that had received his sword from the king. Outlined against the whiteness of the far wall, sat the king surrounded by his men who were drawing with the tips of their daggers on the wooden boards before them, while they ate absentmindedly out of the same dish.

Biting my bottom lip and not wanting to intrude, I gently steered Lady Loxely and myself to a bench with the other ladies.

We spoke polite platitudes to those around us, letting them know of our work this morning in the infirmary, but my ears were tuned to the conversation of the men as it echoed in the hall.

In Ambrosius’ time we led an army up country this way said one

Another bending over the rough map that had been drawn I cannot see where so many others have scribbled another said impatiently

On those hills, horses slip on stone and break their legs argued a third.

We continued to make polite conversation, taking bits of meat and dipping the bread into the bowl and I found myself turning to Lady Loxely with an odd strained voice.

So Milady, shall we continue canvassing the inventory of the infirmary tomorrow?

[Dream Loxley]

*She had left the bunch of flowers upon the table, and followed the Lady Rayven.....guided by her, she returned to the Hall..... she felt more comfortable here than in the small room. The food prepared for them was as always very enjoyable and she ate well.

The conversation continued to be pleasant and interesting but she had shaken her head when asked of the morrow.*

"I fear I have neglected my own duties M'Lady.... I be sure one of the servants could be spared iffn ye are in need of assistance. I have much to prepare in the kitchens......meals to be taken out to the men and such."

*She had sighed then...remembering last time.*

"I have enjoyed ye company M'Lady...and I hope learned much of ye and ye plants. Do keep me informed of ye work iffn ye have time."

*Wiping her mouth with a serviette....she then rose from the table and brushed down her skirts. A polite curtsy and warm smile.....then she turned on her heel and slipped back out of the Hall.*

[Halethala]

She'd wandered in, her protesting tummy leading her, to find a gathering partaking of a meal together, and settled in with the women to catch up on the latest news as she filled a plate and set upon it with restrained relish. Smiling quietly at each feminine face that graced the bench, she listened in silence for a time.

Unable to avoid overhearing the Lady Dream decline further assistence with the stocking of the infirmary, she watched her slip out before turning back to the Lady Rayven. Gathering her courage, memories of the room not fondly cherished, she spoke up softly,

"M'Lady Rayven . . iffen ye could use a bit o'help . . I nae know much of your craft, but surely there are tasks ma untrained mind could handle? At least for a few hours or so . . " Smiling a bit shyly, she admitted, "I should really like to spend a bit of time with ye, iffen that is to your liking? Perhaps we could find a mutual strength in each other's company for the days before us . . "

[Rayven]

I turned to the soft voice belonging to ‘Letha, our castle scribe, and smiled.


My lady, I would welcome your presence and help in the infirmary.

Lady Loxley has proved invaluable to me in helping with preparing the Vervain, but there is still much to be done, and the Lady Laurestina still lies ill, although improved.


I looked out into the vast hall, watching the men coming and going and willed myself to hold my panic at bay, but the food barely slipped down my constricted throat.

Lets meet tomorrow after vespers and I’ll show you what I need you to do.

[Halethala]

She hurried her steps a little, knowing she was a bit late. But when she'd offered her help, she'd not known of the tasks that should have been her duties, that Lady Edfeil had reminded her of . . Still, it would be good to do something different to break the monotony of the painstakingly precise writing, and both were needful . .

She knocked softly at the door of the infirmary, and waited only a moment before pushing it open. Closing her eyes briefly, forcing the memories of her last encounter her back to darkness, she stepped in and greeted the lovely Lady in a somber voice . .

"Time grows short for all what's left to be done, I fear. The news does not bode well . . what is there for Letha to set her hands to in Lady Laurestina's abscence? I've strong hands and a strong back, but nae much of a strong stomach for much that smells too mightily, I be afearin'. "

She did her best to force a smile to her features, but it was not very convincing . .

[Rayven]

Inside the storeroom the air was misty and cool and smelled sweetly of herbs. My eyes ran along the shelves. Bottles and jars, all neatly labeled, stood on shelves two deep. There must be hundreds here. I rolled up my sleeves past my elbow and began taking down the ones I felt would be of most use should the need arrive: Vervain for treating serious wounds, Arnica, Barley seeds that when heated was used externally to kill pain, comfrey for burns. Slowly I took each of them down and laid them to the side.

The task at hand commanded so much of my attention that I didn’t hear the soft footsteps of Letha as she stood on the threshold to the room. Her soft voice garnered my attention and I looked up trying to replace that frisson of unease that I saw on her face with a warm smile.

I set her the task of tearing long strips of linen and placing them into a basket. They would later be taken up to Lady Edfeil’s chamber for her to roll into bandages.

Letha did not bring good news and made our task at hand all the more important to finish in a timely manner.

[Halethala]

She nodded quietly at the instructions to prepare the winding strips, settling in close, stealing glances often at what the Lady was doing. In quieter times, she longed to ask what some of them were for, but now, the weight ot time crushed upon them, and she let the Lady keep her thoughts focused so she could finish quickly.

The satisfying ripping of the long strips became soon began to take on new meaning, a lovely way to vent her frustrations and feelings of helplessness . . She took to the task with new zeal, imagining the parting fabric to be the tearing asunder of those things that were beyond her control, that which she could not mend or keep together in her own powerlessnes . . She knew her place, and yet, also knew that even those who held positions of power could not always predict an outcome . .

And so she ripped . . and soon a grim smile graced her face. She'd barely spoken the words, "There, it be done, M'Lady Rayven . . what can I be . . " when a servant flew to the door, breathlessly shouting for them to come, the first of the wounded had arrived . .

[Rayven]

A dull late afternoon crept into the infirmary storeroom, bathing the walls in a state of mournful gray. The day had a sour feel to it, as if rank clouds had strangled the sun.

I closed my eyes for a moment, opening them when the clack of the door latch caught my attention. Word had come that the wounded had arrived in Windstorm, twelve in all.

For a moment afterwards there was total silence in the little storeroom off the infirmary. I turned and stared at the greenish glass of the window till its flaws and bubbles danced before my eyes.

I caught Halelatha’s eyes, they were filled with sorrow and dread.

I stood with my mouth taut, a shudder running through my limbs as I absorbed the news
I began to move as if in slow motion, my eyes glancing up at the various potions and herbs that had been mixed and stored, the strips of linen, the baskets of moss.

I took a deep breath. “Tell the king we are ready to receive the wounded”

[Rayven]

The first of the wounded was brought into the infirmary that afternoon.

The man turned towards me as I entered. I saw the pain registered on his face, and the greeting died on my lips. I stepped forward to face what was there. His flesh was black and already starting to rot. In his hand he still held the broken half of the arrow that had pierced his leg. Dully I recognized the heavy gauntlets, the red tunic and leather attire of a knight in service to the House of Stormblade.

White bone gleamed through the ruins of his leg.

I felt vomit rise in the back of my throat and quickly clapped my hand over my mouth to keep the revulsion down. From behind me came the keening wail of another soul half mad with pain. Another remained in a crouched position plucking compulsively at his skin and hair. Blood flowed from his forehead and stained the rough whitewashed doublet he wore. I crossed over to him and tried to take his hand but he stared at me unknowing, gibbering in terror.


The night wore on. High overhead a storm howled in from the Welsh lands and the owls in the bell tower hid their heads in fear. Great blasts of wind beat against the windows and rain as sharp as elf arrows pelted the windows.

Still we worked, our hands raw from the efforts of our labors.

Dawn broke and I stood with my back to the window, framed against the light and surveyed the wounded resting peacefully on their wooden pallets.

[Millie and Mollie]

*The twins worked hard.....harder than they would have done, they seemed to sense the urgency as the Lady Rayven and Halethala tended patient after patient.

Aiding where they could...they washed the floor, keeping spilt blood from it and changed soiled sheets. The Infirmary took on an frightening aura but they continued as long as both the Ladies did.

As each man was helped, they were left to rest and come to terms with their injuries, some worse than others....some would not be going back to the battle, the girls were sure of that. Others who were only slightly wounded tended their comrades in the way of Windstorm...each man keeping up the spirits of one another but even with that dedication..the night was long and harsh.

Millie left the room for a while and helped other servants to bring in bowls of broth and more fresh water for the injured. All the while they prayed no more would come... but they sensed their hopes would be in vain.*

[Dream Loxley]

*She did not enter at first......staying in the doorway and simply looking upon those injured and the dedicated healers doing so much good....aiding....helping....it warmed her heart.

As she moved into the Infirmary...she nodded gently to those men she recognised....speaking a kindly word to each man and offering her thanks for thier commitment and loyalty. When she finally reached Lady Rayven...she smiled softly and touched her arm gently to get her attention.*

"M'Lady..... might I first offer thanks to all ye have done fer Windstorm.....and then to simply tell ye that Keilder has offered aid in any way we might need such. Be there any items ye might run short of that I can ask them for?"

*She glanced back to those seemingly resting now after the trials and tribulations of battle.*