Healing by the Dark Forest

[Henleg(#20696)] Rain is falling, the dark clouds masking the passage of

Arien\'s charriot as it begins its downward course through the sky,

aiming at the western horizon. The camp of elves and Beornings is

subdued, not many moving among the tents, many of which have been

made into large pavilions to hold those that have been wounded in the

fight against the orcs. One of those going about is Grey, the tall

man with the grey cloak and a satchel at his side. Wait a minute!

grey has a /grey/ cloak? Hmmm... perhaps his name comes from that?

Well, it\'s definitely a possibility, yet not one of the beornings

seems to know why this Man is named thus.

And Grey now approaches Mobeorn, a smile on his face. \"A good eve to you,

master Mobeorn\", he says amiably. \"I hope your wounds are all but

gone?\"

\"Grey,\" Mobeorn grins. Whatever was ailing him in the last day or so

seems to have finally been shaken by the beijabar. He is sitting up,

walking about, eating the camp out of house and home, even. At the

moment he holds a large bowl of stew in his hands and is sitting with

his back against a tree, cloth spread out underneath him for the cold

and snow. \"I am...and the rest?\" He\'s cheerful again, even. And

coherent.

[Henleg(#20696)] \"The others are well also, most of them can walk now\",

the tall, grey-eyed man replies. \"So... lets see those wounds\", he

adds, coming to Mobeorn and starting to examine the Beijabar expertly.

[Galharth(#28711)]

\"The Galadhrim Healers have arrived,\" Galharth says as he steps forward,

nodding towards Henleg and then towards Mobeorn. His gaze holds upon

the shapeshifter and his lower lip twitches slightly, \"Though they

arrive not to heal the bodies as we\'ve managed that ourselves....\" he

says softly, turning to glance at Henleg, \"thanks to those with us

and those who have arrived.\"

\"Hmmm....I was wondering about that, in fact,\" Mobeorn says, eyes

flicking between Henleg and Galharth for a moment. \"I suppose it\'s

time thatthe Beornings fulfilled our end of the bargain...some are

quite nervous, and about many things, this being the least of it.\" He

pulls up his tunic, wincing at the cold air hitting bare and bandaged

skin. \"Should be able to walk long distances soon.....\" Another look

to Galharth then. \"Who do you need to ...uh...heal?\" He looks toward

Henleg.

Cecilia approaches the others, a sleepy expression on her face as she

carries a steaming cup in her hands. She takes a slow drink as she

grins at Mobeorn. \"Feeling better?\" Galharth is given a fond smile as

well.

[Henleg(#20696)] \"Aye, travelling should be fine in a bit\", Grey replies,

as he takes the susual small jar from his satchel, and begins to

apply the salve to Mobeorn. His grey eyes turn for a moment to the

Elf, as he says, \"Good eve, sir. grey\'s the name, healing the trade\".

The tall man also winks to the Elf, as he continues to apply the

salve to Mobeorn\'s wounds. Soon, a sweet smell can be felt, and the

air seems to come fresh and new, and even Grey himself seems to be

greatly relieved of whichever pains he had.

[Galharth(#28711)]

A soft chuckle escapes the Tailor\'s lips \"It will be a pleasant thing, of

that Erynwen has assured me. She has a great deal of experience with

such matters.\" Galharth says, pausing a moment to nod a greeting to

Cecilia. \"In fact, I plan to join and listen.\" Smiling and offering

the briefest of glances towards Henleg, perhaps to acknowledge the

man\'s efforts in healing or perhaps another reason. Clearing his

throat slightly, the Craftmaster reaffirms his gaze upon the

shapeshifter. \"It does not affect all equally, though the enjoyment

is universal.\"

\"Morning lass!\" Mobeorn greets the Beorning woman, all chipper. \"I am,

thanks to the efforts of you and Grey here.\" He takes a deep breath

of the salve that the Ranger uses, letting out a slow sigh, relaxing.

\"Always smells like home to me, whatever herb you use there, Grey.

And once I\'m healed enough to walk, then we\'ll have to decide what we

do next. Stay and attack the enemy further?\"

Mobeorn again glances to Galharth, nodding, and then to Cecilia. \"Well,

perhaps this Erynwen can put us all at ease, at least for the moment,

no?\" He doesn\'t miss the elf\'s look to Henleg, but Mobeorn shrugs.

Cecilia frowns at Mobeorn\'s words, but says nothing to disagree with him

in front of the elves. She takes another careful sip of the hot

beverage and moves to sit down on blankets next to the shapeshifter,

tucking her soft cloth boots underneath her. \"Erynwen?\" She asks

curiously.

[Henleg(#20696)] Grey smiles at Mobeorn\'s words, and then, after

liberally applying the salve, he puts the lid back on the jar and

carefully gets it back inot his satchel. \"I don\'t know if fighting

would be a good idea... winter comes, and all will need a good fire

to stand by. besides, this wood here... I do not like it. It seems

like the black hearts of those who live in it has infected the very

trees!\"

[Galharth(#28711)]

\"Erynwen, a healer by trade, and sister to my brother-in-law.\" Galharth

says with a warm smile as he looks towards Cecilia. \"Fair to look

upon and a voice sweeter and than any honey could be. Alas my poor

brother in law, caught between the bardic songs of my own sister and

the healing ones of his. Surely it is what drives him to the borders

to shoot passing uruk.\" A soft laugh escapes his lips and gentle

humor flickers in his eyes. \"I jest of course....\"

The Tailor\'s humor faulters shortly after it is displayed, and he nods to

Grey\'s words. \"The cold saps the fight of many, and even the shadows

seem to seek warmer climates. It might be best to return home and

pursue that which emerges in the Spring.\"

\"Ah...didn\'t know she was your relative,\" Mobeorn says. This statement by

Galharth somehow seems to put him more at ease. \"And...\" he glances

to Cecilia here, \"I know that our folk agree with you and Grey--

return home now. Though the way will be difficultin the snow.\"

Cecilia listens attentively, shooting Mobeorn a significant look when the

others speak in agreement with her ideas. She\'s mollified a bit when

the skinchanger speaks on her opinions and drinks more of her tea.

\"She sounds wonderful, Galharth.\" The girl says with a smile.

[Henleg(#20696)] \"Well, there will be snow... yet you will travel by the

plains next t the Mountains. Plenty of cold, to be sure\", grey says,

nodding to the Beijabar, \"yet \'tis a blessing you don\'t have to go

over the Mountains to reach the safety of your lands\", he adds.

[Galharth(#28711)]

\"By my sisters marriage, though I know not what I might call her, save

Erynwen.\" Galharth says after a moments consideration. \"In a way,

we\'re all kindred in some form or another, united not always by blood

but always by our love for the land.\"

Turning to Henleg, the Craftmaster\'s brow furrows. \"I\'m sure there is a

place you could winter over,\" the Tailor says, \"Or perhaps friends

that might offer shelter or escort.?

Lorbag has connected.

\"I could make it across the mountains,\" Mobeorn answers to Henleg, \"but

others of my group could not.\" He doesn\'t explain why, but those who

have seen him fight already know that answer. \"Winter over? Grey

could stay with us if he chooses....I\'ve seen enough of him here and

in Rivendell to trust the man,\" he continues--his memory now clear,

unlike the previous few days when he was gravely wounded. \"Unless you

mean the Beornigns, Tailor? I would think ...no, I know that my

people would not....\" He smiles briefly to Cecilia.

[Cecilia(#23897)] \"I\'m not afraid to walk back through the snow.\" Cecilia

says, \"You\'ll see us safely there, Mobeorn.\" She reaches to pat him

on the shoulder. \"It can\'t be any worse than the high pass.\"

[Galharth(#28711)]

Shaking his head, the Tailor glances at all present. \"A suggestiong to

Grey, for my people are as close to our lands as the Beornings are to

theirs.\" When his gaze falls upon Cecilia, he adds, \"For the time it

is best if we part ways....\"

[Lorbag(#28583)]

Or is it...?

Just then there is the light bray of a horn in the distance, though no

healthy, friendly sound is this. The dull, crude cries of an orc

follow shortly after, and for a moment the shadows seem that little

bit darker.

\"Grey?\" Mobeorn blinks. \"And that won\'t cause consternation, the way that

our presence did?\" he frowns between Ranger and elf.

The horn sounds and Mobeorn jumps to his feet--frowning...\"not sure about

my ability to walk, much less fight...\"

[Henleg(#20696)] \"We shall see about...\" Grey is interrupted by the

horn-call, and his grey eyes glitter in anger as his hand goes to his

side, to the pommel of a sword that rests sheathed at his hip. \"What

was that? The dark creatures of the wood.. they come! To arms! To

arms!\", he calls in a clear voice, while he unsheathes his sword.

[Cecilia(#23897)] The significant looks her way are not missed. The

healer flushes, looking away from the others. \"Just.. do whatever you

want. You\'re in charge.\" She murmurs, moving to stand and move away,

but the horn splits the air. Cecilia tenses, looking towards the

woods with a worried expression, then hurries off to collect her bow

and prepare.

[Galharth(#28711)]

Galharth peers at Mobeorn curiously. \"I do not follow your meaning? Why

would his seeking his friends.....\" Tilting his head he pauses with

the sounding of the horn and what more might be said is lost. \"Save

your strength, Mobeorn, There are others who might respond should a

fight be needed.\" Reaching for his longsword, he draws the richly

decorated blade. \"Perhaps it is a false alarm to what might only be

movement of forest creatures.\"

As he speaks so too does Grey, and the Craftmaster frowns. \"Do you see

something?\" he asks as he steps to the rim of the camp, searching the

shadows for movement.

[Lorbag(#28583)]

The woods are full of life, but no creature of the forest ever had so

vile a call as the one seeping through the trees. From the north the

chatter of yrch can be heard, careless and brash a glimpse of

firelight flickering behind the leafy walls.

Mobeorn puts a hand against the tree trunk for support, catching his

breath from standing up too quickly. \"You\'re right, tailor. I will be

here in the camp to fight, if things progress that far, but I will

save my strength for that dire need, if it does come. We will talk

later about your lands--I am curious. But for now, the Great Bear may

guide your way and your blade.\"