A/N- Sorry I haven't updated in so long! It's the end of the year and teachers are just packing on the homework, and I am all too happy to procrastinate and save them until the day before they're due. I've also been working on another story… but you'll just have to see that one later. Oh well. Here's the next EXCITING chapter. I want reviews! They motivate me to update! By the way, my favorite color is red.
Chapter Fifteen
I awoke the next morning to loud banging and shouting. A few boys were running amok in the room, chanting.
"Down with the king! Down with the king!"
I sat up, frustrated. "Wayne, Merrill, Donny, Alan, Jay, and Jimmy!" I yelled, breathless. They stopped, looked my way and bowed politely. "I know I'm not your mother, but stop! Don't you need to conserve your energy for something more important today?"
They moaned and groaned, walking out, leaving me alone in the room. I got dressed in my typical outfit: a simple skirt (red today), a thin petticoat, a dirty white peasant blouse, and a rag (orange) around my blonde hair twisted into an untidy bun.
I left the room and walked to the dining hall. It was empty. I went to the meeting hall. Empty. I finally traipsed out to the raised patio outside, overlooking the meadow. A collection of boys and a few men stood there, watching something intently.
I pushed through the crowd to find Jerrold. "What's going on?" I asked him.
He said nothing, just pointed into the meadow. The Ayorthaian army had formed into their respectable positions. On command, they marched forward, towards the awaiting Kyrrian army.
"Already?" I cried.
Jerrold nodded. "Daria, it's almost noon," he replied.
"But it seems like their arrival and dispatch was so… sudden," I replied.
"It was," said Jerrold.
It was over an hour before we began hearing the sounds of shouts and clanking swords. Between muffled orders and cries of winning and defeat, I found myself hold Jerrold's arm in nervousness. I suddenly grew conscious of it and let go, embarrassed.
He turned to me, sandy blond hair falling into his determined gray eyes. "Are you nervous, Lady Daria?" he asked me in a chivalrous voice.
I stuck my chin out. "No, of course not," I replied.
Jerrold wrapped his hand around my waist; my stomach jumped. "Everything will be just fine," he said, releasing me.
"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?" I asked.
Jerrold didn't reply, he just remained focused on the distance.
It was early afternoon when the sounds stopped. The land was oddly silent and calm; but it made me uneasy. We stood in agony, waiting for information, while minutes turned to hours. Jerrold hadn't allowed anyone from the revolution to accompany the Ayorthaian army. I thought this foolish. Who'd inform us of the results if we lose?
Suddenly, an image jarred me from my thoughts. A boy, using a flag pole as a staff, was staggering towards us. I looked closer. The flag was they Kyrrian revolution flag- a stripe of blue, orange, and then blue. The boy grew closer and closer, finally collapsing near the base of the fortress.
"Fetch him!" yelled Jerrold.
It's about time. Two boys scurried down and brought him up, placing him gently in front of Jerrold and I.
"It's Tom," Jerrold said. "He's…wounded."
The boys looked shocked, the men knew not what to do. Even Jerrold seemed at a loss as to how to treat him. I have to do everything.
"Someone get me some turtlewater, some muslin, and a soft cloth!" I yelled.
I heard footsteps run into the fortress as I sized up Tom. He had a gash above his left eye, his arm looked to be broken, and his ankle was bleeding profusely. I suddenly ripped off my skirt, so I was just standing in my petticoat.
"Daria!" Jerrold exclaimed.
"Jerrold," I replied seriously, "now is not the time for the 'act like a lady' lecture. There is no need for formalities when there is a life at stake."
Jerrold didn't reply. I bundled up my skirt and placed it behind Tom's head, propping him up, and kneeled next to him.
"Where is that turtlewater?" I cried.
Someone handed me a bowl and two pieces of cloth. I took the softer of the two and dipped it I the turtlewater, then patted on the wound above Tom's eye. I ripped off a large piece of muslin and wrapped it gently, but firmly, around his head. I rubbed turtlewater on all of his minor cuts around his body. I used up the last of the muslin to wrap his arm tightly and then around his neck to create a sling. When I looked at his ankle, I used one hand to hold the cloth doused in turtlewater to the wound and the other to pull at my petticoat.
"Daria, no," Jerrold said suddenly. "You cannot just strip naked."
A few laughs came from the group. Jerrold removed his linen tunic. "Use that," he said, tossing it to me.
I had to tear my eyes away from Jerrold to attend to Tom. I quickly tore the tunic apart, wrapping his ankle to stop the bleeding. As I finished wrapping, I placed a cool cloth on Tom's head. His eyelids fluttered and he sat up, and then laid back down, dizzy.
"Tom?" Jerrold said, kneeling across from me, on the other side of him.
Tom smiled a strained smile. "Hello, Jerrold," he said.
"Tom," Jerrold said, "did you follow the Ayorthaian troops?"
Tom's smile fell. "I'm sorry Jerrold. I'm so sorry," he began to say.
"I don't care Tom, just tell me what happened," said Jerrold forcefully.
"I'm so sorry. Jerrold-" Tom said again.
"Just tell me what happened Tom!" Jerrold yelled. "Tell me!"
Tom sighed. "Captured. Every single soldier," he said slowly.
"What?" said Jerrold. "You mean-"
Tom nodded. "Prisoners," he replied.
Jerrold stood up and walked slowly into the fortress. The rest of us stood there, dumbstruck.
"I'm so sorry, Lady Daria," said Tom.
I held his hand. "Tom, don't apologize. It's not your fault. You need some rest," I replied. "Someone take him to his bed."
Two men picked him up and carried him into the fortress. When they'd disappeared from sight, a young boy approached me.
"Lady Daria," he said, bowing, "you should go talk to Jerrold."
"Me?" I cried. "I'm the last one Jerrold would want to talk to."
An older boy joined in. "No you're not," he said.
"Jerrold likes you," another chimed in.
"He's always so elated when he's around you," the first said.
"Go," one of them said, pushing me forward. I gave him a wary look, but he just giggled.
I found Jerrold alone in the meeting hall, sitting cross-legged in the center of the room. "Jerrold," I said softly, approaching him.
"Leave me Daria," he replied, his head in his hands. "I'm a failure."
I sat down next to him and placed my hands on his knees. "Jerrold, you are not a failure. Don't talk like that. You just need to regroup and come up with an ingenious plan. You're smart, and creative, you're a wonderful leader. I've watched you flourish and grow among the chaos of this revolution. I know you can do it," I said, trying to encourage him. "Roan would be proud of you."
Jerrold looked up, his gray eyes set in a firm gaze. He smiled. "You're right," he said. He suddenly cupped my face in his hands and kissed me quickly on the mouth. "Thank you Daria! Thank you!" he cried, standing up.
He kissed me again and ran out of he room, leaving me completely confused but utterly blissful.
A/N- Major points to anyone who can identify who the boys at the beginning of the story are named after. Alrighty, what do you think? What? You thought it was good? No, I don't wanna hear it!! Put it in words when you REVIEW! Please just humor me and do it! I love getting them!! The more reviews, the faster the post!