The trip out the Lone Lands had been uneventful. The night before she had met Tatton, Tate, a man with a family well known in Bree whom seeked a group to go that way with. She had assessed him not to be a liar at least, and would leave the rest to Ryheric. Once there they got settled for the night but in the morning Tarsorel, Lavandara, Ry, and Winnie headed out for a little check around. Ry was to check a camp, while the other three checked the roads for sightings of trouble. Apparently some of the Orcs in the area bore a white hand, and they were gathering together. Several were spotted on the road and on returning back to the meeting point information was soon shared and a plan formed. The four were to take on a large camp with two chiefs, then round to a smaller camp. Simple enough in theory.
The battle had been hard, bloody, messy. When Tarsorel had been laid out and the chief was on him Winnie had found herself rushing forward, all thought gone, just reflexive action. It had been that way in the Burrows too, when she had acted quickly and managed to pull things off she hadnt expected to. Trained defensively in basic combat, yet in that moment she attacked with surprizing force and lashed out that fatal blow that weaked the orc even as he bellowed in her face spraying her with blood and spittle. That smell, that feel. It shook something at her core, then Ryheric flew in against it and it stumbled to the side, weaked by her blow. They had called her Orc Slayer, praised her, but she didnt make a fuss, felt uncomfortable by it a little, but didnt didnt say much about it there wasnt time. The next chief came and she managed to dodge past, get a strike in well enough to slow its movement and get out of the way. Her confidence was growing, it felt easier, but after she felt numb. The killing was harder on her than she expected, even though she had closed so many eyes because of orcs, hated them. Her hands shook but she kept them still but keeping them under her shins as she sat by the fire. Lavandara was pacing, talking, needing attention while Winnie was numb at the moment, calm, it was distant. Winnie praised Lavvie and remind her how well she had done and she had, she was amazing. Ry told Winnie it was twice now she had saved his life, there was a little pride in this.
When Atharann came to the fire later she told him that they had encounter the orcs. That Lavvie had flown like an eagle in combat. He sung Lavvies praises and how she keeps surprizing him, but never asked how Winnie had done, never inquired. Every so often asking after Lavvie and Ry, where they might be, till eventually they went looking for them. She was finally starting to feel again, to feel like she could breath. Just wanted to go back to camp and sleep. Her prowess was never again mentioned that night by her or anyone else. She had considered staying up a little longer to talk to Atharann, but he seemed distracted, plus, she was so tired, such a long day after all.
