It was a heavy summer day, with clouds over the Eorlsmead brewing without any drop of rain. There was little people on streets of the village, only guards on towers and few patrols. Only rush happening was around the Foldewyn's halls, a Healers halls. Few healers were entering exiting the hall with buckets of water or armfuls of clothes, woods for fires or bags of herbs. Occasionally a worried mother, father, sister or brother, lovers and friends would try to enter but vigilant Haelendemaegiester, would stop them from entering. Only ill and healers were permitted to enter, and one that sees the halls full of ill ceorlfolc, people of Stangard, would shiver in dread.
Heva was holding the upper floor, with most serious patients, continually tending their pains and needs while sick herself for last three days. But here and there she was tested in patience with stubbornness of an Eorling.
Ceolswith sits up in bed. Her head rests in her hands. She looked pale and sweating, with dark circles around her eyes, a quartermaster of Stangard was thinner then ever, unable to eat properly or even sit for longer time. A fit of cough takes over her as she raised up, torturing he weakened body additionally.
Heva turns and runs toward woman swiftly after hearing cough. She would put hand on her back and gently pat, holding her as cough passes "You should eat, do you want me bring you som soup?"
Fair woman shakes her head, "I am just tired of lying around all day."
Healer smiled a little with understanding "I know, I know. How are you feeling today?"
Ceolswith bursts out in another coughing fit, though it is not as bad as the one before, "I need this cough to go away so I can sleep, but I cannot stand to be inside much longer."
Heva glanced around as hall was filled with people with same or worst afflictions. "I can help you with walk, but we are out of medicine for cough, herbalists are out and they are collecting herbs for it. Should come at eve of the day, i hope."
Ceolswith nods and takes a deep breath, "I see. I want to stand, at least." and looks around fearful of the deathly air in the hall.
Suddenly Maeweyn appears upstairs after somehow, avoiding the guard on the doors or other healers. Young woman was still looking groggy somehow and she wore a shield on her left arm. She took a surprised look over the filled beds, the stench must be unbearable for someone just came from outside. As her gaze found Ceolswith sitting up in her bed at the back, she approached slowly, making her presence clear to them and with stout greeting. "Westhu hal." Young folawigend and quartermaster apprentice gives a curious look to Heva then smiles to Ceolswith.
Ceolswith looks up from her hands before giving Maeweyn a quick smile.
Healer greeted her kindly,she crossed with hands over her white apron that she placed over her common robe, and head piece to keep her hair out of her way. Her fingers crossed over pendant of Foldewyn hanging off her neck and over the apron on simple leather string.
"Westhu, you should not be here if you are not sick, please wait outside and I will inform you about your relatives and friends" says Heva formally and with worried look in her eyes.
Maeweyn nods to the healer, "Westhu. I'm here on business. I haven't gotten sick yet, and I don't plan on it. I'm all right." says quickly.
Ceolswith clears her throat, "What do you need, Maeweyn? Something about supplies?"
Maeweyn looks between healer and Ceolswith but then her gaze sets on her " Ja, I've come to see how are you, and also... to inform you that delivery from Harwick didnt made it yet to Stangard, it passed more then five days now. What should I do?"
Ceolswith glances between the two before sighing, "Heva, help me up. We need to find the caravan."
Healer looks at patient with surprise "Are you planning to go for the supply caravan yourself? You are very ill, hlaefdige, very ill.. if you go and strain yourself, you -will- get worse and who knows how will it end!"
Ceolswith eyes get solemnly filled with renown stubborness as she says, 'If we do not find this caravan, then we will be lacking supplies that everyone needs."'
Maeweyn looks between the two and then says firmly "Very well, I will see about getting some steeds saddled up. My own is not doing well, but maybe the outing could help him."
Ceolswith shakes her head, "I have two horses. Get them saddled."
Maeweyn nods to Ceoswith, "Ja, quartermaster, I'll have them waiting at the East gate for you."
Heva looks almost heartbroken between leaving apprentice and Ceolswith "Hlaefdige, it will get worse if you strain yourself.'
Ceolswith coughs and spares words between coughing fits, "Then I will not strain myself so much. Just riding from here to Harwick, aye?" she says as her face again started to grow red from fever.
Heva blinks and shouts out "Harwick?! Dryhten Regnwald will hear about this, you are not well and I must do what is good for you, and if that means I need to call guard to restrain you, I will! There is a town full of able men, and you wish to go to Harwick alone with mere folawigend?!"
Ceolswith moves slowly to put her feet on the floor as if not hearing her "If you are so worried, then stop me, come along or move out of my way. Please, we need those supplies as this is the second missing caravan."
Heva sighs and rubs her forehead in pain, as she also had first symptoms of the sickness that bed ridden third of Stangard for last two weeks. "It is your grave, just so you know we already lost three today. And i think at least as that will die till the night." she whispers brokenly.
"If you leave this bed I will have to send for dryhten Regnwald." Heva lastly warns as she felt powerless to stop the woman.
"I must go, thank you for all help, i feel better then last few days." Ceolswith claims and stands up, firstly she holds to the footing of the bed then walks out of the halls slowly.
Heva follows her but then she beckons one of the women that were downstairs cooking "Torwyne, you must swiftly go to Dryhten, tell him Ceolswith is riding out sick in search of some caravan. Hurry now, hurry!"
She urges woman and woman leaves running out. Heva drops herself on chair, tired from work, sickness and stubbornness of her kin.
"Foldewyn, help me." young healer whispers as putting her head into her hands feeling weaker then ever.
