Chapter 4

East of Ered Wethrin -- Eithel Sirion

The spires of mighty peaks rise up, piercing the sky with their grandeur, their heights crowned with snow for much of the year. Forests of Pines, Elms, and Alders cover the lower flanks and foothills, their deep greens and browns providing contrast to the rocky greys and frozen, glittering whites above.

Directly to the north, sheltered hard against the rising spires of stone and ice, the glimmering blue of a mountain lake can be seen. It is small, but its waters dazzle the eyes like the sparkling of a sapphire whenever the sun shines down on it, and so deep as to seem to have sprung up from the very heart of the lofty peaks which all but surround it.

Just to the east of Eithel Sirion lies a mighty fortress of stone and iron; strong and proud it seems, with blue and silver banners flying from the topmost spire. Further to the east, the foothills of the Ered Wethrin drop down towards grassy plains that stretch out endlessly like a vast green sea.

Anna sitting by the fire, watches in the direction of the men's trek. Sewing and sipping her tea and awaiting their return. she stands suddenly and in the distance she sees them. Acalewin 's arm swinging in an abnormal manner and Aragant gripping his arm a crossed his chest. She calls out for the Bainbridge child and instructs him to find Fingil, "And make sure he comes right away" then turns to watch the men coming closer.

Fingil enters the camp quickly and says bowing before Anna "You called m'Lady." he has not seen the men yet.

Anna sighs and points to the coming men, "You shall have a lesson in wounds if I don't miss my guess, I wonder have you seen many?"

Acalewin walks into the camp slightly behind Aragant and still carries Courage. He now uses the sword as something to lean on and assist his walking, but he has most of his attention on Aragant to make sure that he is still walking.

Fingil nods and says looking at the men "I have some experience, but mostly minor wounds." he begins walking towards the men

Rhialdor keeps his seat at the sight of the injured men. At least there he is not in the way. "I heard the sounds of distant fighting, but did not think it was this bad." He calls out to the healers, "Will they be all right?"

Aragant walks very slow now..he's lost a lot of blood, but not enough to keep him from walking...the pain on his face is enough and plain to see....Holding still his right arm with the left as he nears Anna he says in a painful voice, "We came across a yrch...I think my right collar bones broken...or it feels as such. He manages to sit on a log near the fire. It has taken twice as long to get back as it did going out...only for the number of rest periods they took. He glances back to Acalewin, then says, "take care of him first."

Anna helps Aragant to sit upon the cask she had been using and after a quick look smiles a bit shakily, "You'll live but will cuss me for a few. Let me look at Acalewin. "She pushes him down on a turned up stump and tears the sleeve to his right arm. So will you" then turning to Fingil. You are in luck..I shall instruct and you shall take care of them. All right?"

Fingil nods and moves closer to Acalewin, a worried look on his face "I shall try my best, m'Lady." He says "What should I do first."

Acalewin shakes his head. "You have the more serious wounds. You should be taken care of first." He sits down on the stump that he is directed to and lets Anna look at his wounds. He hisses slightly in pain as the shirt is ripped away from the wound. He sets down Courage nearby him and says, "Aragant, your sword is here when you want it."

Aragant looks to Anna now," I don't care what you have to do...just get it to stop hurting...he starts to rock back and forth as though trying to ward off the pain...he can be seen biting his lower lip some with squeezed shut eyes. He doesn't here Acalewin's words about Courage...all his thought is on his shoulder now....but at least they are back in the safety of the camp.

Anna smiles down at Acalewin, "You are right his is worse and she turns back to Aragant, "You know me my love I shall make it feel all better, "she teases. "Rhialdor? Could you stand behind Aragant and grip both shoulders. When I tell you pull back on them..I want the bones to move back together.

Fingil stands there and looks at Acalewin saying to Anna "Shall I wash his wounds?" he looks grim, and pulls out some bandages.

Rhialdor nods as he rises from his seat. He gets behind Aragant and holds his shoulders, being careful to stay away from the wounds as best he can. "I am ready, Anna."

Acalewin gives Fingil a worried and then looks at Anna. "Does he know what he is doing, ma'am?" he then turns to Fingil, "Do you?" Anna shaking her head she replies to Fingil, "In time. The bleeding will cleanse it for now. Let's get Aragant's Armor off so we can see what we are actually dealing with." she turns to Acalewin, "If you can take yours off fine if not we shall when we get to you" She goes back to the wagon and retrieves A bottle of distilled spirits and an ungent.

Aragant looks to Anna, "You don't have to be so ...." he winces again..."Don't you think you should remove the armor before you do this?...so you can get at whatever is there....he seems not to have heard what Anna already has said.

Fingil waits for Anna, he then says "I have cleaned wounds before Acalewin." he calls to Anna Shall I begin, taking the armor off?"

Rhialdor looks worried. He glances over at Anna, hoping Aragant does not hear. "I don't know what I should be doing.."

Acalewin starts to take off his armor one-handed. He manages to take off some of the armor and then winces as he tries to remove the rest of it with both hands. "Ouch. Blasted orc." he says loudly and lets his arm rest back on his thigh. He looks at Fingil, "I can get this off. Go help her with Aragant." He starts to fiddle with the remainder of the straps and the pieces of armor slowly fall to the ground one by one.

Aragant says over his shoulder, "Don't worry about it Rhialdor my friend..I know Anna and this is gonna hurt like hell...but please do as she asks". Anna smiles at Fingil and the elf, "Just as quickly as you can remove the armor, when that is done cut his shirt away so that we can see what is happening"

Fingil nods and begins taking off Aragant's armor, when he finishes he takes a small knife and cuts Aragant's shirt and pulls it off his body softly. He gives a soft gasp as he sees Aragant, and looks to Anna saying "M'lady."

Rhialdor sees Aragant's bloodied form, stands, and backs away. "I am sorry, but I do not think I will be of much help here. I do not do well with this sort of thing." He backs away and meets Rilania. "Greetings Mellon, perhaps we could get away from this for a bit?"

Anna watches the little color that is left in Aragant's cheeks fade as the movement of his arm brings about fresh bleeding and fresh pain. "Very good Fingil, Now, we need to find where the bleeding is coming from and tie it off. that means sewing." she takes her needle and embroidery thread from her basket. but before we can do anything" she unstoppers the bottle of distilled spirits. "Pour this over your hands, the needle and then into Aragant's wound" She smiles a bit weakly. " then taking a clean cloth dab off the blood and watch where it comes from then tie a knot about it" she looks and Rhialdor and nods then returns her attention to Fingil.

Rilania comes out of the camp and runs into Rhialdor before she nears the humans. She says, "Oh yes, of course. I think you are the only Quende left here besides me now." She smiles and says, "Lead the way..."

Acalewin sits patiently where he sits and sometimes tests the movement in his arm, only to be rewarded with a fresh waves of pain. The fabric of his pants is now quite sodden with the blood that flows down his arm as the clotting gets torn open each time he moves it or flexes the sliced muscle. The man sits and watches what is happening to Aragant and he just shakes his head, "I am sorry that I could not have been of more use. If I was you would not be in such pain now."

Aragant eyes open wide as Anna speaks of pouring the distilled spirits on the wound, but still the bone will need to be set. He hears Acalewin, I think if I hadn't grabbed you at first, when I did you would not be here to even speak my friend.....and you did just fine...and you will get better...in time. What happened to the yrch?..did we kill it?"

Fingil pours the distilled spirits on his hands, the needle, and then he pours the spirit into Aragant's gently hoping it doesn't burn him. He takes a cloth and dabs the blood as Anna said. He sees where it is coming from and begins to tie a knot around it. He says "Like this?" he whispers to her "I never really, have done this before."

Aragant screams now and his left hand starts to reach for the area...but stops , and now he pants quickly looking to Anna...then his eyes almost roll into his head, but Aragant fights the unconsciousness and remain barely awake now.

Anna nods, "Just like that" she grins, "Couldn't prove it by me..Looks like you know just how to do it" she moves behind Aragant and brushes his hair from his forehead kissing him lightly, "Fingil is going to fold a bit of cloth and press it on the wound. When he does I am going to pull your shoulders backwards and set the bone. Then we'll bandage the bone in place and then I promise it will hurt less and I'll let you have a cup of ale. Ok?"

"Unfortunately...No." Acalewin admits. "He ran off into the woods and has probably reached the rest of his host by now." He winces at the thought of what Anna is about to do and shakes his head. "I do think we will get another chance at him too soon as it is." He watches the man scream in pain and sighs, "'tis better then an infection. That is for sure."

Fingil takes a new cloth and folds it, and presses it against his wounds saying "I'm sorry Aragant, I promise it will be better." he holds back his tears and waits for Anna to pull his shoulders back.

Fingil takes a cloth and folds it, pressing it on Aragant's wounds. He says, "I promise it will be better soon." Fingil holds back his tears, and waits for Anna.

Anna presses her hip into Aragant's back and pulls. The snapping of the edges of the bone coming together is loud enough for all to hear and then as the bone is pulled back into the skim a sucking sound ensues. "Now take the long strip and wind it around his shoulders. To hold his shoulders back" she smiles as Fingil does and as he finishes she notices his pallor. "Are you all right, Fingil? Do you think you can do Acalewin's?" her voice showing her concern.

Aragant lets out a loud groan now, but as the bones set the pain eases quite a bit...he sits with shoulders pulled back and is panting like a puppy, though he realizes it not.

Fingil winds the strip around his shoulders. He says "I can handle it, yes I can." he gives a weak grin. He looks at Acalewin and sighs "Yes I can handle it."

Acalewin winces as he watches Aragant's shoulder changes shape before his eyes. "That can't feel good." he says and shakes his head. He looks at Fingil, "Well, lets get this done. I wish to go to sleep, I am quite tired at the moment."

Anna turns to Acalewin, "now for you my sweet," somehow it does not sound like an endearment. "Fingil, pour some of the spirits into his wound then pulling it apart to see look for anything that could cause it to fester. If something is in it remove it and then sew it up" she smiles at Acalewin, "this won't take long" but she moves to stand against his left side"

Fingil pours some spirits on the wound, and then he pulls it apart, and remembering what happened to Malis, he isn't as gently as he was with Aragant. He pulls out a small piece of metal, and then starts to sew up Acalewin's wounds.

Acalewin hisses in pain as the spirits are poured into the wounds. As the wound is pulled apart he grunts and frowns at Fingil before looking at Anna. He doesn't say anything as he sits back and clenches his left fist as a means to help deal with the pain. Tears start to form in the corners of his eye, but he does not let them fall.

Aragant breathing becomes a little more normal now. The area around the bone still hurts, But not as badly. He takes in a great breath of air and lets it out slowly...soon his eye can focus again, but he's a little weak from the loss of blood. He manages to turn to watch what they do to Acalewin. He rolls his eyes when he hears what needs to be done.

Anna smiles, "very good Fingil. Your stitches are nice and even. When you finish, pour the spirits over the stitching again and then wrap it up. In a day or so check it and add an ointment to ward off the festering" she sighs and moves to sit beside Aragant, "feeling better?" she asks.

Fingil nods and pours some more spirits on his stitches. He then wraps a cloth around the stitches.

Aragant leans on Anna," I could use a mug of wine...I know we have some." He looks to Acalewin," You ok?"

Acalewin growls softly as Fingil pours the spirits on the still fresh stitches. After it is done, he stands up and pats the man on the back rather hard with his good left arm. "Thank you, Fingil." he says and then looks at Aragant, "How are you feeling, Aragant? I am doing better, but I am a little tired."

Anna smiles at Fingil, "You do not look so good, my friend," she stands and moves to the water barrel and pours a basin full, "here, wash up and you'll feel better" She takes a deep breath, "it is not always delivering babies and kissing scraped knees." she smiles, "And it does get easier but never easy."

Fingil nods and moves toward the basin, he washes his face and returns saying "That was very informational."

Aragant looks to Acalewin...I'm kind of tired, but I could use something to drink now. "He looks about hoping someone will get some.

Acalewin nods, "Yes. I think I will make myself a cup of tea. And is there anything to be eaten here? I am hungry." He picks up a pot of water and places it on the fire with his left hand and then takes a seat next to the fire.

By the fire, Acalewin pours himself a cup of tea and stands. He bows to those present and says, "I thank you again, ma'am. G'night. I think I am going to need plenty of rest tonight." He starts to slowly walk over towards his tent and leaves the bloody armor where is lays near the fire.