South of Windstorm & Moving on

[Sinold Bragasson]

(Yeah, it's a good read! )

[Robin of Loxley]

He smiled at Ranger Little as the large man chuckled in amazement at His foreign words……as hesitant and unsure as they were….and replied softly “ Of course ye will look after tha lad as iffn he were yer own……..ye are a good man Little… “…..

Just then Gerrad arrived with four tankards of ale……and taking one and nodding towards Henri……..He motioned for the lad to partake of the ale with them….and turned back to Gerrad………………” Gerrad………gather all tha men that are injured or exhausted……..and bring them close to tha camps central fire….then place guards on the fringes and come back here ………Good man “

It was then that the Lad Henri spoke……..

”(“Oh my lord, I am so grateful, at last someone to speak my tongue! Oh God I did not think anyone would understand me. Thank you, Milord! … I wish to stay with you. My Captain would beat me and call me a traitor. I will stay here with you….and become one of you …yes!”)

He smiled at the lad …

“Vous pouvez rester avec que nous le..and d'jeune homme......
deviennent l'un de nous si c'est votre..and de souhait... soit assuré
que le capitaine thy ne vous battra pas encore.......not tandis que
nous avons n'importe quoi à la parole d'elle”

(Ye may stay with us lad........and become one of us if that is yer wish.....and be assured that thy captain will not beat ye again.......not while we have anything to say of it)

The lad looked at Little and then back at Him……..and uttered the word friend to both of them……and He replied ….pointing at Little , Himself and the rest of the Rangers……… “Amis”

Gerrad had returned ……..and there was a group of men with him….some moved slowly and some looked as though they were in pain……..He smiled at them and beckoned them to take a position by the fire and to lay back and take comfort of it’s warmth……..motioning for Henri to do so also…….

Once they had done so……..He looked at Gerrad and winked …….as He asked His second in command

“ Have ahh ever told ye tha story of tha Golden Castle Gerrad ??”………

“Nae Robin I don’t believe ye have “ …….he winked back……”mayhaps ye could tell it now”

“Surely ahh shall then…….but it can only be listened to by those that take a large breath on tha count of three”

He repeated it again for Henri

“Ce conte peut seulement être entendu par ceux qui prennent un souffle
profond sur le compte de trois...........one.... deux....... trois "
(This tale can only be heard by those that take a deep breath on the count of three...........one……….. two....... three ")

Then using His best story telling voice …………He started the story……His voice lifting and falling in time with the breathing of the people around Him……..The soothing lilt to His voice softening as the men around Him slowly fell asleep one by one……………..

Finishing the story …………..He spoke in the same tone as He did throughout the story…………….”And when the brave men and lad awoke , weather it was tha next day or tha day after, they all felt refreshed and their wounds were by some miracle………nae as painful”

(Et quand les hommes et l'jeune homme courageux se sont réveillés, survivez-lui était le jour suivant ou le jour après, ils tous ont
jugé que régénéré et leurs blessures étaient par un certain
miracle......... pas comme douloureuses).

He stood then and motioned Gerrad to follow Him………and they sat and spoke the night away……………. as the others slept soundly

[The Rangers]

(( Wonderful!!! absolutely lovely . I don't think we could add any more to that last post, lest we spoil it. ))

*Little held the lad tightly...his arms enfolded him and he grinned to Robin. He was a good man...he had always tried to be such.......he ruffled Henri's hair and looked around the camp. It was a good feeling.*

"Ay...mee........aye lad.....friend.......ay...mee 'tis what we is to yers."

*He chuckled and helped Henri over to the fire, settling him down and covering him with a blanket. Perhaps the ale would help him sleep. He laid his own head upon his bedding and watched as their Leader took his place amongst them......a story....that sounded like a good idea.....he listened intently until his eyes could no longer stay open. Loud snores could soon be heard as he drifted off to the land of dreams.......aye... it was a good feeling.*

[Midnight]

The men in the Great hall having moved apart and myself having grown bored I set out of the castle to the South following the scents of the rangers. My movements quiet for the time being my body and sence alert to anything that might come upon me in this place. I keep as close as I can to the shadows of this place.
Finally coming upon the camp of rangers I stop before entering the camp and let out a low cat's scream to alert the men to my precence here. Then slowly walking into the camp my black ears flickering lightly as I hunt out Robin. Sniffing at the air lightly till I locate his scent I follow it to him and then stop before him.

[Henri the ships boy]

The end of a chapter in his life. This was it…he would no longer be a ship’s boy but begin a new life as a man who hunted in the woods and fought for the poor and weak. What a difference this would be, however difficult it also would be to learn their language. Or maybe if he could teach Leetteell, then some day they would better understand each other. And then he could tell the man and his saviour of the sea, of the dark woodlands of the Bretagne where his family lived and where deer and boar roamed aplenty.

But for now Henri was grateful and happy to just listen to the story the leader told them…making the effort to translate the important bits into Henri’s tongue – a service the boy would never forget, and which helped to ease his mind about staying with these men who such a short time ago were his enemy.

The ale and Leetteell’s help soon made Henri sleepy and after only a short while his eyes fell shut and his breathing became a little less laboured and painful. Soon he drifted into the realm of dreams where all was well, and surprisingly for him he saw Leetteell and the leader of the woodmen there again.

[Midnight]

Quietly eyeing the ship boy wrapped up in the blanket I get up and walk over to him slowly large black ears flickering as I stop a few steps from him and mewl softly. Then slowly I lay down on the ground to await his reaction to me as most here know who I am.

[Dream Loxley]

*Pats Midnight and leads her gently back to the Castle for some fresh cream*

ooc. We sort of finished this thread......as it was so nice to end it whilst all were sleeping and dreaming of the future. I do hope more will be played with young 'Enery' and 'Leetel' as time allows. It was great fun, and as always superb writing by many. *Swoons at the French speaking Mister Loxley*