First, during the rescue of Lunarae, a bandit pierces my left arm with a dagger, which I had to tend to myself as the only one with medical knowledge there on the spot. A few days later, I went on a small journey to the Lone Lands, to... I don't even know why. But, when I was making my way back and about to ride through Chetwood, a rather strong-looking bandit jumped out from behind a tree and ran towards my horse. The bandit knocked me off with the back of his spear while I was still in a state of surprise. I staggered up from the ground and turned towards him, coughing since he hit my neck with his spear and I was without air for a short moment.
The bandit didn't wait for me to recover. He had thrown away his spear while I was on the ground, dazed. The man in the ragged leather armor had drawn his neatly-polished sword. Well, peculiary neatly for a bandit. I didn't even have time to react. I was still slightly gasping for air, I couldn't get a grip on the situation. Within moments I tried to defend myself from his sword that stabbed at me in one, large movement. I failed miserably. With ease, the man's sword pierced my silk hauberk, and the scaled mail beneath it. My eyes widened in shock, and I couldn't believe it.. Was this it? Is this the end for me? Killed by a simple bandit who took me by surprise? No... Lady Aeswyn wouldn't be satisfied to hear that... Lady Kalwyn would ridicule me.. Damondir would think that I wasn't as good as he claimed me to be afterall.. Lady Merial... Wouldn't be proud of me.
With that last thought, I fell to the ground and the man undid me of my coin pouches. He ran away, into Chetwood, and left me to die. I rolled onto my back and slowly pulled out the sword, looking at it: ''Blood... My blood..'' I muttered before putting it down next to me, breathing heavily. I grinned at the idea of dying and whistled faintly. As soft as it was, Snowfall had heard it and ran towards me. He lowered himself so I could climb on. With the reign held loosely in my hands, Snowfall took me to the south gate of Bree. I sat up against the gate, hoping that someone would help me. And after a while, I heard a faint voice. The one of Lady Araena whom had tended to a wound of mine before. I muttered some words that I can't remember and she supported me with her shoulder, helping me stagger towards the backroom of the Pony.
I was put down on the bed and, even though I tried to stop her, she ripped up my hauberk and tended to the wound in my stomache. I drifted off from consciousness to being unconscious time after time, and every time I was awake, I could hear her say 'Don't you dare die on me..' I muttered that I still owed her one, on which she replied with a weak chuckle. And then, I passed out again.
She's tended to me for three days I believe, and she has become important to me over those days. Without realising it, I guess I started to develop feelings for her.. How could I not? She saved my life.. She was beautiful, and part of the same House. It was the same for how I fell in love with Merial... When she saved my life at Bronwe's Folly. And Merial is the reason that I can't proclaim my feelings for Araena, and that'll be for a while.. I never planned on dying, because I have something to do.
