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The mules are unloaded and tethered, the meal finished and cleaned up, while more of the meat is cooked for the following day. The Pyre is completed and Aenises bought into the round house. Laddy the wolf is thrown some scraps, and Peter takes the remnants of the meal over to the captive doghead. The doghead's bonds are checked and it is set to lie close to the party, but not so close that it could attack during the night. The watches are set and the party retires for the night. The night is calm and quiet, although outside the area lit by the fire it is pitch dark, as there is no moon. The next morning dawns bright and fair . . . -------------------------------------------- TyrsDay 19 Mai 593 No Moon |
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During the third watch, while Rolf and Elsbeth had the duty, Rolf proves attentive to duty but distant. He does not like keeping Aenis from his final journey and still carries the weight of guilt that comes when a leader allows one of his followers to die. Worse yet, to deny the follower a prompt and respectful burial is down right criminal and Rolf voices a hope that Aenis would forgive him for the offense. It seems clear that Rolf almost yearns for the pyre to be lit. After a time, they rouse Madelyn and Mandrake and he seeks out sleep yet again. When dawn heralds a new day, Rolf rises and moves about the pyre. He re-arranges things a number of times for no apparent reasons aside to keep active. When the time comes, he eats a fair share of the food. After she's had time to break her fast, Rolf approaches Madelyn. "Are there any preparations you would make before we send Aenis on his way?" He seems a bit impatient. |
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When Peter awakes we sets some strips of pork to cook over the embers of the fire, and then places a pan of water to heat as well. He then goes to his pack and gets out a leather cased object, which when removed from the case turns out the be a leather bound book, which he opens and proceeds to study for a while. When the water is boiling Peter adds some herbs and moves it away from the heat. A couple of minutes later he calls, "Breakfast is ready. Pork strips and elder flower tea, anyone?" |
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[On watch] "I've no taste for wine, me little friend - and don't be asking me to lift anything now, I've to be resting my leg."
Callum carefully stretches and goes to collect some food, guzzling down both the pork and the sweet tea. |
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Elsbeth awakes in the morning, rested and a little more her usual self. She's pretty much decided that there is little to be gained by giving sympathy to Rolf, who will likely not feel better until Aenis is taken care of. As for Callum... the invitation for the morn was there. *Show a little backbone, lass,* she tells herself, moving to where the warrior is stretching. Try as she might, she can't control her fear of him, nor her fascination. She smiles at the irony that she is friends with a wild wolf and afraid of a mere man. "A good mornin' to you, Callum," she ventures carefully. "You did say I could look at that leg, did you not?" Carefully unwrapping the bandage, she sees the scabbing trying to work. Its a deep gash still, though it seems to bother the man little. She's not hesitant at all in touching it, nor bothered by the blood and ooze. "If you'll allow me," she asks without meeting his eyes. She lays her hands carefully on the wound, a prayer coming softly from her lips. As he watches, the scab falls away, the skin folding together until only a slight pink line remains to mark the place (CLW, 8 points). "I'm not a meat eater," she states softly, still not meeting his gaze, "so I'm hoping you'll be understanding why I was the way I was. A gentle heart, I suppose, but its no excuse for not helping you yesterday. Will you be forgiving me?" |
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During her watch, Madelyn spends a period of time in meditation. She then polishes her armour, and cleans up her weapons whilst watching the sunrise. She ponders a little on the distress that Rolf has shown regarding the delay of Aenis’ burial. Just before everyone rises, she starts to prepare the pyre, by placing Aenis’ equipment and weapons in a suitable place for the cremation. As everyone starts to rise Madelyn walks over to the well, and removes the rock and wood covering. She washes her hands and face and then replaces the well covering. She heads back round the Roundhouse to see Rolf re-arranging things around the pyre, he does this for a while and she is a little confused as to his reasoning. Madelyn heads over to Peter whilst he is cooking and kneels down to say, "can you please cook for an extra person this morning, we need to send Aenis off with some food for his journey?". She steps back outside and savours the morning sunlight before breakfast. "Are there any preparations you would make before we send Aenis on his way?" "There are no further preparations required, I have arranged food so unless our friends wish to make a personal sacrifice then we are ready to proceed". At this Madelyn walks over to her pack and removes a silver ring from a small trinket box, she walks over to the pyre and places it with Aenis’ belongings. She walks back to her pack and removes a taper, and a small pouch containing her flint & steel. She walks back to the head of the pyre and sits on the ground. "Rolf I am ready!" |
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Rolf continues his efforts, taking a number of weapons from the dogheads and adding them to the pyre. After a time, Madelyn says, "There are no further preparations required, I have arranged food so unless our friends wish to make a personal sacrifice then we are ready to proceed" As Madelyn shares her own personal sacrifice with the pyre, Rolf turns to the others. "It is common among our people to offer something to the departed on their final journey. I did not know Aenis well, no more so than the rest of you, though I am grieved at his passing and my own failure to prevent it." He pulls out a silver coin and lays it near the corpse. "Aenis, I wish you well on your journey. May it prove a happier one than this one." Facing the others again, "If any of you feel the desire to honor Aenis with a parting gift, are have any words to say, please feel free to do so" He pauses, giving the others the opportunity to speak or participate as they wish. Finally, he turns to Madelyn. "If you would...." He moves aside, giving Madelyn the center stage. |
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As the day gets underway, Mandrake riffles through his pack and pulls out a scroll case. He then carefully removes the scrolls from the case and begins selects two from those that he has. He spends some time studying the first and then closes his eyes, his head slightly raised as though concentrating on something. Then replacing that scroll, Mandrake picks up the second and goes through the same process. "Breakfast is ready. Pork strips and elder flower tea, anyone?" Mandrake finishes his studying and gratefully accepts Peter’s invitation to break his fast. As he finishes he says to Peter "Have you any scraps left for our guest?" nodding towards the doghead. Mandrake stands silently by the pyre, paying his respect to their departed friend. |
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Peter, too, pulls a silver coin from his purse and places it by the corpse. "May your journey be quick," he mutters quietly. |
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At Rolf's words, Elsbeth nods. This morning, she seems more happy with the arrangements for the passing of the departed. Taking a coin of silver from her pouch, she moves carefully to lay it with the dead. Turning to the others, she pauses. "Aenis was not well known to me, as being new as many of you," she states softly. "Still, he stepped forward when his people needed him and showed no fear. What he did, he did for home and hearth, land and love. No man can wish more of himself, nor give more than he." She wipes a tear as her emotion overtakes her. "Into battle he strode with the heart of a gallant warrior, and a warrior's death he earns. No man sent him, no man's lack caused his death." She looks at Aenis' corpse for a moment. "I wish you well, calling you hero and friend. Prepare a path for those who follow, and know that we will carry your memory with us from this day forth." Wiping her face, Elsbeth returns to her place to allow the ceremony to continue. |
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Smilo |
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Gray dawn breaks. Birds twitter. The hobbit wakes up, straw in his hair, bleary eyed. "Someon build a fire." Saying that, he draws his blanket back over his head. |
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In response to Mandrake's prompting, Peter takes some cooked and some uncooked meat across to the doghead. |
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Callum looks up from his healed leg to Elspeth's face. "My thanks to you lass, and to Diancecht o'course." The big warrior looks slightly sheepish. "You would seem to be having some of the Druid's craft after all." Callum walks up to Aenis pyre. "I never knew this man and I have nothing of worth to give him. I said only a few words to him and I cannot honour him by talking of his deeds done and enemies killed, but I take heart that he died in battle. I salute him as a warrior." Callum steps away. |
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Madelyn watches in silence as her comrades step forward and offer sacrifices to their departed friend. When everyone is gathered she stands. "If you would...." A look of nervousness crosses her face; she has never had to do anything like this before, and wants it to be suitable to the situation. She turns to Rolf, "Rolf, please could you prepare a torch?" She looks over the pyre again, "is there anything I have missed", she thinks to herself. Everything seemed to be in place, and she cannot bring anything else to mind. When the torch is burning strongly, she takes it from Rolf and steps forward, thrusting it deep into the pyre. As the flames take hold, she takes a step back and raises her arms, lifting her head to the sky … "To every man will come the day when death walks through the door, friends, we are here to give honour to a fallen Norseman, Aenis, by no other name do we know him. Oh Gods, let it be known to you that Aenis fell in battle and deserves a warriors reward. May the flames purify him of mortal taint and may the smoke usher his soul to the Halls of Valhalla where he may forever live in eternity. Gods upon his final journey do we place Aenis into your hands, and when death finds us also, let it be in glorious battle." Madelyn pauses, gathering breath, then holding one clenched fist aloft, she yells at the sky, "AENIS, HAIL" |
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Rolf thrusts the torch deep into the pyre. Then, in Norse tradition, echoes Medelyn with a raised fist and an eager "AENIS, HAIL!" Rolf watches the flames climb higher in silence. A brief concern crosses his mind, "Which of my charges will fall next?" But he pushes it aside for the moment, giving his full attention to Aenis as is respectful. |
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"Aenis, Hail." Calls Peter. His call is strong, but it is not the shout of the others, nor does he raise his fist towards the sky. |
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