The sun pierced the clouds overhead, the scent of soot still lingering over the hamlet perched on the cliffs above the rushing river. People milled around, doing business or just wandering, the look of stunned acceptance on some of the faces of the refugees that still trickled in from the farmlands. Corrben headed towards the merchants but spotted the fair hair and familiar figure. He turned on his heel and headed towards her, a tentative smile on his face.
Ellany walked toward the fountain without looking up, preoccupied with something on her skirt. She put a hand in the fountain and raised it, lifting some water, but then pauses and then lets the water slip through her fingers.
Corrben tilted his head, "I don't think I'd drink that if I were you."
Ellany looked up and turned to Corrben with an amused look. "Oh, I wasn't going to drink it. I thought maybe I would..." She trailed off and shakes her head deciding not to continue.
Corrben sits halfway on the edge of the fountain, glancing at the water. "Washing? That's probably fine..." He glanced at her, his half smile making the dimples appear faintly in his cheeks. "I remember that time when we first met, I had to wash off after a messy prisoner...I think it was." He shrugged and glanced up at her, "How are you? I didn't expect to see you still here."
Ellany glanced at the fountain for a moment and some recollection seems to dawn on her and she smiled in response. "I do remember." After a pause, she turns back to Corrben. "Did you think I would drop off the wagon of supplies and run back to Bree?"
Nettie wandered up towards the fountain. She hesitated as she looked to the woman wearily then to Corrben, offering him a faint smile. Her arm is bandaged at the moment and a soft kiss of a bruise touched her cheek. "Hello," she says, her tone almost soft.
Corrben looked at Ellany, his dark eyes twinkling, "No, I had not to be honest. I know you, I knew you'd want to help. You're the type that sees a need and does something about it." He glanced over at Nettie, furrowing his brow slightly at her injuries. "Good afternoon...looking like you got a bit of color in your cheek."
Ellany turned, looking surprised at the sound, and then takes in Jeannetta's appearance. An audible gasp escaped her lips. "What happened to you, Miss Nettie?"
Jeannetta paused as she looked to Ellany before shrugging a little, "Uh, just a little conflict." She says somewhat deflectively. She glanced to Corrben then back to the woman, forcing a somewhat strained smile. It's not the friendliest per say, but she tries to make it look as friendly as she can, "Ellany, right?"
Corrben crossed his arms, "What sort of conflict? Was that sellsword bothering you?"
Ellany seemed unresponsive for a minute as she looked over Nettie's appearance. Then she nodded and responded dismissively, "Yes, yes," before she continued. "But what conflict? Did someone do this to you?" She turned her head in the direction of Corrben looking for additional insight.
Jeannetta shook her head several times as she lifted her hands, "No, no. No sellswords. I went out on a patrol and we met conflict."
Ellany put a hand to her lips. "Do you mean orcs? Miss Nettie why would you endanger yourself in such a way?"
Corrben raised his eyebrows, "Patrol? Were you looking for wayward sheep and needed an escort? I surely hope it was not orcs."
Jeannetta chewed her lips faintly as she glanced to the woman beside her, "Aye, patrol with the guards. It wasn't too many orcs."
Ellany frowned. "You should really leave that to the guards. Your sheep need you here."
He rubbed the back of his neck and breathed out heavily, "I know you want to do your part, Nettie but that was extremely dangerous. Which guard took an inexperienced shepherd to hunt orcs?"
Jeannetta crossed her arms, "For one, I joined the guards. For two, we didn't go out to hunt orcs. We went out to scout the nearby area and ran into orcs. And no, I should not leave that to the guards." She said, glancing to the woman, "This is my home. I'm not sitting idly by while my family dies and my people are slaughtered."
Corrben held up his hands defensively, "Wait a moment, you left those details out. When did you join the guard, what sort of training have they given you?" He licked his lips slightly, turning to squint down the road towards the Captain's home. "Not that I don't have faith in your heart and your courage, Nettie. I fear the strength of your arm and the inexperience. But you seem to have done well enough, with just a bruise and a scratch. How many guards went along?"
Jeannetta chewed the inside of her cheek as she answered, "Most of my experience is from what my father taught me when I was young. What I've learned defending my flock. We haven't had... much resources or time to do that much training. There was five on the patrol." She glanced downwards for a moment before rolling her shoulders faintly, "I'm fine." Her eyes lift back up to Corrben, "My arm is strong. I don't know what folk are like where you're from, but up here we all have to be strong. And it's not like we have many options."
Ellany remained quiet though her brows knit closer together as she looked at Nettie and her injuries. She looked grimly between Corrben and Nettie. "Have you had a proper healer see to your injuries at least?"
Corrben nodded at her, stopping himself from arguing further. "Fair enough, but you did at least see the healer. Orc weapons are filthy, trust me I got a taste of it from their arrows." He looked at Ellany, "I should probably sign up formerly here, since I've turned left Bree's Watch." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking over at the younger woman again.
Jeannetta grunted softly, "Don wouldn't let me go anywhere without a healer looking over me first."
Brushing his hands together, he replied, "That's sensible then. So Don, I think I recall that guardsman. Another Wheeler."
Jeannetta nodded faintly, "Aye. Don's a Wheeler."
Satisfied, he looked at Ellany, "You've had much trouble handing out the donation goods?"
Ellany shook her head. "I'm not sure where it's all gone to be honest...People made quick work of it," she replied with a hopeful smile.
Corrben cleared his throat, "I hope it went to the right folk, not to someone wanting to make a profit."
Ellany smiled sheepishly. "I wouldn't know who's who. Some women said they'd pass it out because they knew where the need was the most..."
Jeannetta raised a brow faintly, "Who were the women?" She asked somewhat curiously.
Ellany glanced off to the left, thinking. "A Mrs. Shelton and some of her friends?"
Corrben muttered under his breath, "As long as they weren't the ones with swords and leather trousers so tight it's a wonder you can't count the h-..." He stopped himself, remembering his company and covered his mouth casually, rubbing his chin.
Jeannetta glanced towards Corrben before suddenly a mischievous grin crosses her face. Her freckled cheeks dot with dimples and her hazel eyes glimmer, "What was that, Corrben?" She asked in a mock innocent voice, looking directly up at him.
Ellany didn't seem to notice anything but looked more directly at Corrben for an answer when Nettie asks.
Corrben shook his head and shrugged, "What? Nothing. I don't...Hey, is that one of your sheep?"
Jeannetta tilted her head as she put her hands on her hips, leaning forward a bit, "Leather so tight?" She prompted as her eyes squint, her grin only widening more.
Corrben looked at Ellany for help and then rubbed the back of his neck, "Those sellsword minxes, half the time I wonder if it's just the swords they're selling." He raises his eyebrows, "I wouldn't trust them."
Ellany looked perplexed. "What else would they sell?"
Jeannetta snickered as she says, "Yes Corrben, whatever else could they possibly sell?"
Corrben cleared his throat once more and furrowed his brow, his dark eyes narrowing at Nettie. "I mean, selling those goods that you brought for the people that are in need. You know, mercenaries. Anything for coin."
Jeannetta covered her mouth to try and refrain from bursting out in loud laughter.
Ellany looks aghast. "They would do that, really? Try to sell things to people who they know are suffering and might not have coin?" She shook her head.
Corrben glanced away, murmuring, "Among other things."
Jeannetta cleared her throat a little as she looked at Ellany, "Oh sweetheart, you have so much to learn."
Corrben stepped a bit closer towards Ellany, glancing at Nettie. "Keep an eye out for that, would you? If you see anyone trying to sell of donations to the mercenaries or whatnot. Those came from hard working folk in Bree and the farms."
Jeannetta hesitated for a moment as she eyed Corrben before saying, "I don't know much about the donated goods. I tend not to get involved with that. But I'll mention it to my Aunt."
Ellany blinked at Jeannetta as if a bit affronted. Then she turns to Corrben and nods. "I hadn't thought of that possibility, but I will now that I know. I should find out where they've really gone."
She looked over her shoulder. "I think I might go find that Mrs. Shelton." Looking at the two, she says, "Excuse me for a bit." She smiles at Jeannetta affectionately. "And it was nice... "to meet you again."
Jeannetta noded faintly to the woman, "Of course. And be careful. This place isn't the safest all the time."
Corrben looked over at her, his smile fading slightly, "Alright, I'll see you again?"
Ellany nods. "Of course." A slight look of disbelief crossed her face as she waved to Nettie before turning down the road.
Jeannetta watched the woman walk of as she purses her lips before glancing back to Corrben.
Corrben waved to her, watching her leave, slowly turning his head as Ellany disappears around the corner and looks at Nettie, "What?" He glanced away, hooking his thumbs in his belt.
The young woman hesitated before she said, "The girl shouldn't be here. She should go home. Something as innocent and fragile as that doesn't belong in a place as wartorn and devastated as here."
He sighed, nodding once before sitting back down on the ledge of the fountain. "I thought so once. Innocent she may look, but she is stronger than she appears. I've known her...a while." He rubbed his hand against his knee as if it ached. "She believes in the good in people, she wants to do good here." He glances at Nettie, "Not all can wield a spear or sword to protect, but they are no less valuable. But she will need help, I suppose a dagger and some training to use it. One thing I've learned, is that I can't count on always being there."
Jeannetta hesitated before she pulled herself up onto the fountain next to him, being weary of her injured arm. "I have a hard time believing in 'good people' most days. From my experience, most folk are either not so bad or shitholes." She then shrugged a bit, resting her hands on her lap, "I know not all can wield a spear or a sword, but there's a place for those who can't and here is not that place." She then pursed her lips for a moment before shrugging, "It's hard being nice to people like that sometimes."
Corrben looked down at his hands and the small nicks and scars on his knuckles, one large white gash that never been stitched. "Kindness can go a long way in healing the hurts that can't be touched by herbs or bandages. You are angry, and rightly so. I am as well, I've been angry since I first stepped across the path of one of those filthy southern bandits. Now orcs..." He looks at her, his hooded dark eyes holding her gaze for a moment. "This land bleeds and we will stop it. But the hurts run deeper than flesh. I ache inside for my father. I watch my mother's light fade and my brother hold his motherless child. And you, your father's sword you now bear in his name..." He leaned closer to her, his voice dropping, "When all the orcs are dead, will it heal those wounds inside?"
Nettie tensed her jaw as she stared at him. She remained silent for a long time with nothing but the soft trickle of the fountain behind her. Finally, she opened her mouth, saying carefully, "That's what makes me so angry."
Corrben reached out, brushing a hand against her shoulder, "I know how you feel. I lost my father the same way. I had....many things unsaid." He dropped his hand against the stone ledge.
Jeannetta hesitated before she reached out to carefully rest her hand on his in a gesture of comfort, "No matter how hard you fight, they never come back."
He shook his head, "No they won't and I hold a lot of regrets in my heart. That is what hurts the most." He licked his lips slightly, squinting into the distance. "I didn't tell people how I felt about them and now...it's too late."
Jeannetta bowed her head down a bit before she pulled her feet up to rest on the ledge and wraps her arms around her knees. Resting her chin on her knees, she grunted out, "My father always promised me we'd get a pretty farmhouse in Bree once he made enough money and he'd make sure to buy me... just buy me something." She says in a soft voice, "And I was always so excited for that that I never... I don't know. I never told him I was happy just with [i]him[i] And then he died such a meaningless death.... I don't want to die a meaningless death."
Corrben moved over and put an arm around her shoulders, feeling her loss with his own. "It was not meaningless if he saved his family. I believe that, I have to. I know my father would have laid down his life for any of us and I'm sure your dad felt the same."
Jeannetta swallowed softly as she glanced to Corrben for a moment, leaning in towards him ever so slightly, "He probably would have." She then frowned and said somewhat bitterly, "But he can't."
He rubbed her upper back gently, "No, he cannot. The best you can do is train hard and think clear. We are all here to help...even the bloody sellswords. Not all of them are wastes of space. I know...maybe two that might be worth their salt in a battle." He smiled a little, his dimples appearing briefly and glances at her.
Jeannetta breathed out softly before she scrunched up her nose, "That one talking about having ceremonial armour and about fancy clothings... it made me so angry. I have never been able to have a new anything. And then these wealthy Breelanders come up with donations and can give more shit to my family than me or my dad ever could afford to." Her jaw tensed again before relaxing, "I...it's not any of their faults, it's just... sometimes it's all too much."
"That Easterling or whatever they call themselves...trust me I've had my fill of wealthy foreigners. I won't get into that or I'll bore you to sleep." He looked at her, giving her shoulder a companionable squeeze, "Look, perhaps some Breelanders do have more, my family as well as others know what it's like to struggle in times of poor harvest or when raiders burn our crops.
We needed help at one point and now it's our turn to help others. And if you speak of Ellany, she cannot help her father is successful in his business but I've never known a more generous woman. Because she can be and she wishes to be. There are many in Bree such as her, that want to help their neighbors."
Jeannetta winced faintly as she murmured, "I know..." She paused before she says, "She has a choice though. To be here or to go home. A choice to be innocent and sweet and happy... I wish I had a choice."
Corrben rubbed his jaw, feeling the faint stubble, "I wish you did too, Nettie. That is one of the reasons I became a Watcher, to keep my town a place for such things but...we live in dark times. And it's my...our job to make sure the younger ones will have a place to be free and happy. And for your future children and their children so one day you can tell them stories that will make them look upon the green fields and quiet streets and wonder if Gramma is making up tales."
Jeannetta snorted softly as she shook her head, "I doubt that day would ever come. For me at least." She glanced towards him for a moment before saying, "I hope you do though. For your future children to be safe and happy."
Corrben looked out at the town, his brown eyes distant and he finally nodded and smirked slightly, glancing at her, "You will, you're young and pretty and brave. You'll have the younger guards falling at your feet, perhaps a few of the older ones who should know better." He gave her a friendly hug against his side. "For me, I'd just as soon watch my nephew and...just try and make sure all the children in this land and Bree are safer. Even the ones that sleep at night without knowing the dangers.
Jeannetta snorted softly as she said, "I've never had someone 'fall at my feet'. I doubt anyone's goin' to start to anytime soon. Besides, even if they did I don't think I'd be good at that shit. I have my mother and sister to take care of, don't got time to take care of anyone else."
He smiled slightly, "You will, trust me. And you might not think it now but there will be a time when you're ready for someone to take some of that burden away, to help take care of you as well. Just...please, don't fall for any sweet talk from a sellsword. I've not seen my little sister in months because of some long haired pretty boy wearing a Bloody Dawn brooch."
Jeannetta rolled her eyes as she said, "I'd rather be stabbed by an orc than fall for one of [i]those[/i] pricks." She then shook her head and leaned her head against him, "I just can't wait until the day those fecking sellswords can finally leave."
Corrben chuckled, "Good, you're sensible. Piperel...I think she enjoyed the fact it pissed us all off." He smiled fondly, then looked down at her, "You remind me a little of her, both fiery and won't take no for answer. It's a good...if at times frustrating quality. When is your next training?"
Jeannetta raised her brow for a moment, "Perhaps we'd get along." She then shifted to glance up at him, "Tomorrow I believe. Don wants me in training as soon as possible after the fight."
Corrben slipped his arm off her shoulder and nodded, "I'll be there then, I've got enough training subduing drunks and fighting bandits but not orcs. I could use the help."
Jeannetta chuckles softly as she says, "I [i]did[/i] kill an orc." She said, a little grin returning to her features as her eyes began to glimmer with pride.
“Then you can help me, because I've wanted some of their black blood for a long time,” Corrben patted his left leg, "I broke this one after my horse went down, and took two arrows in the right from those bastards. Along with the people I've lost..." He stood and stretched, "I want to make them bleed."
Jeannetta hummed softly, "Maybe we'll have to go out and fight them together. After training of course." She then slid to her feet and nodded, "It feels good to kill them. It's the one place you can get angry and express it without hurting someone."
Corrben took a deep breath, "That it is...and I'm sure it's different than killing a person." His brow furrowed slightly and he rolled his shoulders. "Tomorrow then, I'll show you what a Bree spear can do. We hunt plenty of boars."
He patted the hilt of his sword, "As well as the blades of us townsfolk." He grinned at her, his dimples deepening as his dark eyes twinkled. "Show me what a shepherdess can do with her blade."
Jeannetta snickered and nodded a few times, "You better be prepared, Bree-boy." She said with a grin, "I'm not as disoriented and clumsy as a drunkard."
She then lifted her chin proudly before saying, "But anyways, I'll see you tomorrow. For now I should get out to my flock."
He smiled at her, "Stay safe, guardian of lambs." He glances towards the path to the Captain's office. "I might as well make it official."
Jeannetta brightened up more before quickly readjusting her face to a neutral expression as much as she can. "You should." She then turned a bit to make her way down the path, waving her hand in his direction, "Have a good night, Corrben."
Corrben waved at her, "Be careful...and have a goodnight!"
