Chapter 13 - The Fisherwomen
The villagers had wholeheartedly accepted the responsibility of singing to the forest. Galadwen walked amoungst the procession of villagers as they returned to their boats. Tulla had joined the three old fisherwomen honour guard, keeping Galadwen in their midst while they walked along the forest path.
"Ya can sleep in my tree t'night if ya wish," invited Tilly.
"And mine t'morrow night," Sara said.
"Thank you," Galadwen replied. "But I can only stay one more night. I will leave tomorrow after I have ensured the village is safe."
"How'll ya know if the village is safe?" Sara asked.
Galadwen hesitated, remembering her promise to Bray. "I can't say," she replied.
"And why's that?" Tulla asked, her eye sparkling with curiosity.
"The Captain asked that I tell no one else," Galadwen replied.
"Is that so," Tulla mused. "I'm sure he said it's for ya own safety too?"
Galadwen nodded.
"Well ya in no danger from us old fisherwomen," Tulla replied. "So come on, spit it out or I'll go wring it outta my dear son."
Galadwen hesitated. All four of the old women closed in around her, while Tulla fixed Galadwen with her one eye. She could see a stubborn determination in that eye. Tulla would find out one way or another. Galadwen started to wonder if perhaps there was a leader, or leaders, of the villagers after all. Leaders that didn't lead from the front with strength and power, but leaders that worked away in the background, giving a small push here, a shove there, and when the situation required, a command disguised as motherly advice.
Galadwen relented and in a hushed voice masked by the singing around them, she told the fisherwomen of her gift and all she knew of the impending orc attack.
"I see why he told ya not to speak of it," Joan said as they approached the fishing boats tied to the bank. The front of the singing procession had already started to board their boats. Galadwen looked at each of the women closely for signs of fear or mistrust towards her. But there was none. All she could see was a slightly distant look on each of the old fisherwomen's' faces as they thought hard on what she had said.
"Aye," Tulla said in agreement with Joan. "Who're the attacked fisherwomen? Any of 'em us?"
"I saw Tilly and possibly the rest of you, but I would need to check to be sure," Galadwen replied. "There were more than four fisherwomen though."
"Aye, of course," Tulla agreed. "I think we need a Netters' Natter t'night."
The other women nodded solemnly in agreement.
"My tree'll give shelter," Tilly said.
"Alright," Tulla replied. "Ya'll keep Galadwen 'til then?"
"Aye," Tilly agreed.
"We'll circle the net," Joan said, indicating herself and Sara.
"And I'll have a chat with my son," Tulla said.
A final look was shared and the group split up as they too started to board.
Tilly took Galadwen's arm. "Ya'll come with me once we're back at the jetty," she said before squeezing her arm and following the other women onto the boats.
Galadwen stood there in amazement as the rest of the procession filed past her onto the boats. In less time than three breaths, the four women had organised what sounded like a gathering of old fisherwomen but what she suspected was actually a meeting of the village leaders.
In no time at all, Galadwen, Bray, and Misha were the only ones left standing on the bank, watching the singing island of vessels split up and start to drift back the way they had come.
"There's somethin' different 'bout 'em," Bray said of the retreating procession.
"Aye," Misha agreed. "It's hope." Bray gave her a questioning look, so Misha elaborated. "No one'd speak of it, but everyone knew we were barely survivin'. Galadwen's given us hope and already they're livin' instead of survivin'."
"Beggin' ya pardon m'lady," Bray said to Galadwen, "but we don't even know what ya did ta the forest'll help protect us."
"It doesn't matter," Misha said as she climbed into her canoe. "A hungry fish'll eat whatever fly it sees." Misha held out her hand to Galadwen and helped seat her in the canoe. "They've felt the forest come alive so they believe in Galadwen. They now have hope for the future, and that's no small thing."
Galadwen felt her heart soar at Misha's words. Even if tomorrow was not a success, she had still given the villagers something to hold on to. Grumbling under his breath, Bray climbed into the canoe. Misha untied them and followed in the lively wake of the procession.
Galadwen's feet had barely touched solid ground again before Tilly had Galadwen by the arm and was leading her off through the cheerful crowd of people still milling around the jetty. She heard Bray call after her. Galadwen turned to see Tulla taking him by the arm much as Tilly had done to her, and led the Captain off in another direction. The old fisherwomen were taking charge.
Tilly was a tall willowy woman with shrewd eyes in a face grooved with laughter lines. She had Galadwen's elbow in an iron grip as she led her out of the crowd while cheerfully chattering away to her.
"Those two little minnows can't talk of anythin' else but ya," Tilly said. "Not that Ella's any better. She'll be tellin' any who'll listen 'bout how ya saved her son 'til her dying breath. May that be long after I'm gone. Now we'll stop by and say hello before we head ta my tree. She'll be wantin' to hear all 'bout this mornin'. She works hard, Ella does, providin' for those little minnows. They couldn't ask for a better Ma. But just between us, I didn't always think so. She used ta be such a dreamer. Pretty, aye, but a dreamer. I didn't think she'd be a good match for my son, but he was hooked and determined ta catch her. And despite my attempts to sway him, catch her he did. Not that I'm complaining now. As I said, those two little minnows couldn't ask for a better Ma."
Galadwen politely listened to Tilly's constant talking all the way to the Captain's Tree. Tilly didn't release her arm until Galadwen was seated at Ella's table with a bowl of hot stew and steaming buns in front of her. She ate the offered food and listened to Tilly tell Ella about the morning's events, with many exclamations from the latter. Before Tilly could finish, Paige and Eel came running inside with their own versions to tell. More food was put on the table as the family shared in the wonders of recent events. With Tilly, Ella and Eel almost talking on top of each other, Paige soon gave up the battle to be heard and sat quietly next to Galadwen.
To Galadwen's delight, Paige reached out and fondly touched the rough bark of the tree. She did not know what the girl said to the tree, but she could feel the tree's joyful response.
"The tree heard you," Galadwen whispered to her. "It is happy that you talked to it."
Paige beamed with pleasure, then sighed. "I wish I could hear it," she said.
"You will," Galadwen said. "Just keep talking and listening. One day you will be a fine tree talker. Then you can show others how to talk to the trees."
"Ya are leavin' soon aren't ya?" she said, looking up with big solemn eyes.
"Yes," Galadwen replied, surprised at the sudden change in subject.
"People who start talkin' 'bout their hopes for other people soon leave downriver," Paige said with a mournful sigh.
"I am not going downriver. I am going upriver," Galadwen replied.
"But ya not comin' back are ya?" Paige asked.
"I would like to, but I do not think I will be able to."
Paige just nodded solemnly.
"I need to leave tomorrow," Galadwen continued. "Would you like to see me off?"
"Aye," Paige said with a sad smile.
Galadwen returned her smile, and to her own surprise, reached out and wrapped the girl in a warm embrace.
Leaving the Captain's Tree lean-to with Tilly, Galadwen stopped dead at the sight before her. The setting sun had turned the sky to the deep colour of blood. The red light reflected off Tilly's face and gave Galadwen a sense of foreboding. She had allowed herself to be distracted by the simple joys of living, but now she remembered. Tomorrow the orcs would attack the old fisherwomen.
"I see ya worry m'lady," Tilly said. "But whatever happens t'morrow, we do it of our own choice. Ya have helped us enough but we aren't ya responsibility. T'morrow ya will leave as ya planned ta no matter what happens."
Under Tilly's unyielding stare, Galadwen nodded.
Her tree neighboured the Captain's Tree, and Tilly was soon bustling Galadwen into the dark lean-to. In short order, Tilly brought the dying embers in her hearth to life and had a kettle heating in the heart of the fire.
There was a knock at the door and a frail-looking fisherwoman hobbled in, followed by Joan. Joan seated the older woman by the fire, and Tilly soon put a mug of tea in their hands. More women arrived, most in pairs. The older women were given the few stools, while the rest stood or sat on the dry earth floor. Everyone had a mug of tea to sip while they talked quietly in small groups. Galadwen found a quiet corner in the shadows to watch.
Tulla came bustling in the door. She was puffing as if she'd been running, or at least walking very quickly. Her remaining eye scanned the room, counting heads. Then with a nod to Tilly, the door was barred. With the soft thud of the door being barred, the room hushed to an expectant silence.
"Thank ya for comin'," Tulla said as she took a place in the centre of the room. "We're here 'cause our elf friend who's already saved us once before has foreseen that there'll be many more orc attacks in the future."
"Anyone with their eyes open can see that," one of the sitting older fisherwomen injected.
"True, even those with only one eye can" Tulla agreed. "But Galadwen has seen that there'll be an attack t'morrow." Mumblings and the sounds of people shifting uncomfortably filled the small lean-to. Galadwen stepped back into the darker shadow, shrugging her cloak around herself with unease.
Tulla raised her hands for silence. "I know ya'll have questions and concerns. We don't have time ta go through them all now. But let it be known that myself, Tilly, Joan, and Sara have talked with Galadwen and we believe her. I ask that that be enough for ya'll for now." There were only a few mumbles of unease after she had spoken for Galadwen. "We know that there'll be two scores of 'em and they'll attack t'morrow. Galadwen has done more than save us once. She's enlisted the forest ta protect us. These orcs'll be stopped by the forest, but we need bait to ensure they're all trapped. So in short, I need volunteers to join me as bait."
This time when she had finished speaking, the silence was so complete, Galadwen thought every woman in the small lean-to must have been holding her breath. Galadwen knew that she was.
"I'll join ya," Tilly said. It was the pebble that started the landslide. With almost a roar, every other fisherwoman in the lean-to loudly called out on top of one another that she too would volunteer.
After a moment, Tulla raised her hands again for silence. "Thank ya'll," she said, her scarred face twisting into a beaming smile that encompassed the whole room. "I expected no less. But we don't need everyone, and you must be able ta retreat quickly. So our wisest fishers will have to sit this one out."
"Fish guts I will," protested one of the sitting older fisherwomen. "I can't run, but I can still out paddle any of ya."
And so started a discussion on who would go and who would stay. When they had finally reached a consensus, the women rearranged themselves into two groups. The first group comprised of those that were involved in the trap. They started to discuss details like where and how the bait would wait, and how the retreat would go. Before Tulla asked Galadwen to join the first group, she overheard the second group of fisherwomen discuss how they would keep the rest of the village safe during the attack.
Referring to Galadwen's knowledge now and then, Tulla and her group of fisherwomen mapped out a plan to lure the orcs to them then lead them through the forest before retreating to safety.
It was late and many of the fisherwomen were yawning when the gathering was finally concluded. The women left in pairs, much like they had come. Soon only Tilly, Galadwen and Tulla were the only ones left in the lean-to.
"T'morrow when it's over, I'll get Misha ta take ya ta the northern border," Tulla said to Galadwen. "It'd be best that ya are gone before the rest of the island finds out 'bout your gift. My son was right in bein' cautious, especially if things don't go as we've planned."
"I promised Paige that she could see me off," Galadwen replied.
"Aye, she can fit in Misha's canoe," Tulla said. "Now if ya'll excuse me, I must talk to my son before mornin'." With that, she left the lean-to.
"Those two minnows will be sad ta see ya go," Tilly said.
Galadwen smiled at the thought of Paige and Eel. "I'll miss them," she replied.
"Aye," Tilly agreed. "Despite Tulla's warning, there'll be many on this island that'll miss ya too. Those two minnows the most, no doubt. But enough 'bout that, we both need ta get some rest. The bed's made in the second room. Up ya go," Tilly said as she shepherded Galadwen out of the lean-to.
"Thank you, but I'll sleep on a branch at the top of the tree," Galadwen said.
Tilly nodded. "Of course ya will," she said. "Now unless ya want ta be held up by an old woman makin' her way up the ladder, I suggest ya go first."
Galadwen smiled, adjusted her weapons, then started to climb the tree trunk.
"Oh ta be young," Tilly mumbled below as she started to slowly but steadily climb the rope ladder.
"I am nearly one hundred years old Tilly," Galadwen called down to her.
She heard Tilly give a laughing cough in reply.
Finding a nice branch at the top of the tree, Galadwen settled herself down for the night. Closing her eyes to start dreaming, Galadwen spent the whole night checking every possibility she could see of their trap for the following day. After learning of the fisherwomen's plan, she had a better understanding of what she was seeing than when she had looked to the future of the elven army's battle with the orcs. It also helped that there were fewer people involved, so significantly fewer possibilities. It seemed that the fisherwomen's plan would succeed, but there were still too many possibilities for Galadwen's liking where one or more of them would die.
Galadwen woke a little after dawn. The canopy around her was glowing bright gold in the light of the rising sun. The birds in the treetops were singing and the sounds of the village rousing below drifted up to her. Smiling, Galadwen stretched and jumped to her feet. Feeling almost fully recovered, she sent a thought of thanks to the tree. With a desire to welcome the coming day, Galadwen nimbly climbed the remaining branches to the furthest reaches of the tree. Looking out, she saw the sun rising in the east over the dark line of Mirkwood Forest on the horizon. A thick cloud, stretching from the Misty Mountains in the west, hung over Gladden Fields. Its billowing form was lit underneath by the rising sun, casting dark shadows between the soft golden mounds. As the sun rose higher, the mounds of golden cloud shrunk while the shadows grew larger. In no time at all, only a couple of golden mounds remained in the dark and foreboding cloud, and soon those too disappeared.
Trying not to let the foreboding cloud affect her, Galadwen descended the tree at a speed that brought a smile to her face. Landing on the soft earth with a thud, Galadwen barely had time to adjust her weapons before Paige and Eel accosted her.
"Galadwen, ya'll never guess," Eel said as he came running up to her, quickly followed by Paige. "There's gonna be a village meetin' t'day. Everyone's gotta attend. Captain Bray said so. But no one knows what it's 'bout. Captain Bray said the old fisherwomen told him it's a matter of sink or swim. Ma thinks it's 'cause of ya, Galadwen. But she doesn't know if it's good or bad. We've come ta see if Gran'ma Tilly will tell us."
"If I'll tell ya what?" came Tilly's voice from the around the corner of the trunk. Galadwen, Paige and Eel turned to watch as she came walking into view with a heavy basket on one arm. "How 'bout some breakfast first?" she asked them.
"Gran'ma Tilly," Paige exclaimed, running up to the old woman and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "We've already eaten."
"But I'm still hungry," Eel said.
"A growing minnow like ya, of course ya are," Tilly said with a fond smile. "Ya have an appetite to rival our elf friend here." Eel puffed up his chest with pride. "Come on, inside we go," Tilly said as she led them all through the doorway to her lean-to.
While Galadwen tucked into the huge spread of food that Tilly had put out for them, she listened to the conversation between Eel and Tilly. It amazed her at how so much could be said, but at the same time, nothing was actually conveyed.
"Gran'ma Tilly, what's the meetin' 'bout?" Eel asked as he stuffed a strawberry into his mouth.
"Somethin' important I'm sure," Tilly responded.
"Life or death important?" Eel asked.
"Aye, I'd say that it is."
"Well, what's life or death important?" Eel asked.
"What the meetin's 'bout," said Tilly.
"But what's it 'bout?" Eel wined.
"What's what 'bout?" Tilly asked.
"The meetin'?"
"Oh somethin' important," Tilly said with a conspiratorial smile.
"But what's so important?" demanded Eel.
"Many things are important," Tilly replied.
And so round and round it went. Eel was determined to get an answer and Tilly was just as determined to not tell him.
"Give it up Eel," Paige finally interrupted. "She's not gonna tell ya."
Eel poked his tongue out at his sister, but he stopped the endless questions. Instead, he sat there quietly stuffing his mouth with food. Then a mischievous smile spread over his face. Grabbing a handful of strawberries, he shot up from the table.
"I'm gonna find Sissy," he decleared. "T'gether we'll get it out of her Gran'ma." He gave Tilly a cheeky grin before running out the door.
Tilly chuckled to herself. "That boy reminds me so much of his Uncle Jon at that age. No wonder they get on so well."
Just as Galadwen was finishing her meal, there was a knock on the door and Sara entered.
"Ah m'lady," Sara said to Galadwen. "I thought ya might want ta spend some time at my tree. It's looking very green."
Although she was greatly recovered, Galadwen knew she was not yet at full strength, so gratefully accepted. After bidding farewell to Paige and Tilly, she followed Sara out. The sun had risen above the clouds now, casting the island in a gloomy grey. Sara led her to a tree near the centre of the island. Outside the lean-to was a wooden bench against the tree trunk and a fire pit with an empty A-frame for smoking fish over it.
"It's a good spot for watchin' the world go by," Sara said, indicating a wooden bench against the tree trunk outside her lean-to. "Help ya self."
Galadwen took off her weapons and sat on the offered bench. Leaning against the tree trunk, she sent it a thought of greeting. The tree was honoured she had come, and started giving Galadwen it's life force before she had finished her greeting.
"If ya happy enough," Sara said, "I've some work ta be getting' on with."
"Of course," Galadwen replied with a gracious nod. Sara disappeared inside her lean-to and soon emerged with a bundle of fine netting. Galadwen watched as she hooked it onto a rope hanging from her tree and hoisted it up so the top of the net was at head height. Then she started inspecting it. Her nose was nearly touching it as both eyes and fingers traced every inch of the fine netting. Stopping at a hole, Sara pulled a reel of fine thread from her pocket, and with deft hands, repaired the small hole before continuing her inspection.
After a few moments, Galadwen remembered that she too had work to do. Taking the cloth Toron had given her from her satchel, Galadwen unsheathed her sword. A rancid smell hit her first, then to her horror, Galadwen saw that her sword was covered in black orc blood. Remembering Gwennor and their desperate fight with the orcs, Galadwen felt tears coming to her eyes. Protecting the villagers of the Golden Isle had kept her mind preoccupied so she had not been able to think about Gwennor and the elven army. A heaviness settled in her chest as she remembered them now. With a sad sigh, Galadwen turned her attention to her blood coated sword. Starting at the hilt, she wiped the blood away with long firm strokes. The therapeutic action of cleaning her blade helped lift some of the weight from her chest.
Once the sword was clean of blood, Galadwen inspected the blade for any damage. She gave a relieved sigh when she realised that there was none that her eyes could see. Placing it carefully against the trunk of the tree, Galadwen picked up the sheath. The rancid smell of orc blood filled her nose. It was fit for nothing more than burning. Taking out her dagger, Galadwen cut the clean leather straps from the sheath. She would have to go without a sheath for the time being, and just tie the sword to her back. Putting the ruined sheath on the ground far from her clean sword, Galadwen turned to her bow. First, she cleaned the wood back to its glowing silver. Then she used a few drops of the golden liquid on the string. Finally, Galadwen inspected her arrows. Her quiver was empty and Gwennor's quiver contained only thirteen arrows that were as fresh as if they'd just come from the fletcher. But thirteen arrows would not be enough.
"Sara," Galadwen said. The old fisherwoman looked up from her work. The net was hanging high in the tree now, with only a small portion left of the ground.
"Yeah m'lady?" she asked.
"May I light your fire?" Galadwen asked. "I have something that must be burned."
"'Course m'lady," Sara replied. "Kindlin' and wood are behind the hut."
"Thank you," Galadwen said. "And do you know if anyone on the island has any arrows that I may trade for? I am very low."
"Ah," Sara said as she straightened out a crick in her neck. "Our blacksmith floated downriver 'bout three years ago. So the few archers we have make their own arrows. They're not exactly up ta a standard ya are used ta. But I heard that one of the archers, Tilly's boy Jon, retrieved ya arrows from the strawberry field. There may be some that might still fly true. I'll take ya ta see him once I'm done."
"Thank you," Galadwen said. As Sara turned back to her net, Galadwen set about making a fire. She collected some kindling and wood from the neatly stacked piles behind the lean-to and arranged them in the firepit as Toron had shown her. Striking a spark with her flint, Galadwen smiled as the tinder caught alight and the flames quickly grew into a crackling fire. She waited a few moments for it to really take hold, then dropped the ruined sheath in the firepit. Galadwen stepped back as red sparks flew up, followed by a column of putrid black smoke. It billowed up through the A-frame and into the gold-green leaves of the canopy above.
"What ya burning?" Sara asked, looking up at the black smoke rising through the canopy of her tree.
"My sheath, it was full of orc blood," Galadwen said.
"Ah," Sara said nodding with understanding. "Ya should've said. We've got a firepit on the leeward side of the island for burnin' anythin' nasty like that."
"I am sorry about your canopy. I did not know orc blood would do that."
"No matter, the seasons are changin' so the smell won't stay for long," Sara replied. "Come, help me bring the net in then we'll go see Jon."
Galadwen helped Sara lower and fold up the net before the old fisherwoman led her across the island to yet another tree. They bypassed the door to the lean-to and skirted around the small building. The roof of the lean-to had been extended out the back to cover a small work area. There, a man sat, hunched over a table. Sara and Galadwen stopped outside the lean-to and watched as the man worked with the greatest of care. His long fingers delicately held fletching as he slowly slid it into place in the groove on the end of an arrow shaft.
As soon as it was in place, Sara gave a loud knock on the timber post. The man jumped in surprise, then smiled when he saw who it was.
"Ah Sara, ya old catfish. Ya scared the shit outta me," he said, standing up and giving her a warm embrace. He was tall and willowy like Tilly, with a hint of the same smile lines.
Sara patted his back fondly and laughed. "Tilly never could stop ya from swearin'," she said.
The man snorted in amusement before looking to Galadwen. "Wow see here," he said with a smile. "Ya must be the elf, or I'm a spotted toad."
"Jon this is our elf friend Galadwen," Sara said. "M'lady, this here is Tilly's boy Jon."
"You worked for the wizard and tricked the orcs?" Galadwen asked.
"Been talkin' ta Eel I see," Jon said with a smile. "But working for the wizard is not all I'm known for. Come, ya'll appreciate this." Taking the arrow from his work table, he gestured for Galadwen to follow him to a strange wooden structure built up against the tree trunk. It had a tank at the top, that fed into a sloping trough, with a barrel of water at the bottom.
"Hold this please," Jon said, passing Galadwen the arrow. She frowned at it. The arrow was nothing like any she had seen before. There was no arrowhead, instead, there was what looked like an eyelet carved from bone fixed to the end. And the fletching was all wrong. Instead of four half feathers at the end of the arrow, this one only had two. But what was even more strange was that they curved around the shaft. While Galadwen was examining the arrow, Jon filled a bucket of water from the barrel and taking it to the other end of the structure, hoisted it up and poured the water into the holding tank.
Returning to Galadwen, Jon took the arrow back and tied a fine piece of fishing twine to the eyelet. The other end of the twine was tied to the top of the water trough. Pulling the twine tight, Jon put the arrow into the trough.
"Watch the arrow closely," Jon said as he opened the tank spigot.
Water poured out, filling the trough. In the steady current of water, the arrow was lifted off the bottom of the trough, and it began to spin. Held in place by the fishing twine, the arrow spun faster and faster in the flowing water. As the tank emptied and the current turned into a trickle, the arrow slowed and returned to its resting spot on the bottom of the trough.
Galadwen looked up at Jon in amazement. "I've been workin' on it for months," he said proudly. "I watched the way birds, fish and plants move, and realised that the way they move through the water is just a slower way ta how they move through the air. So I made this ta see how my arrows move, and I've been playin' around with ways ta make them fly straighter. The curved fletching makes it spin. The faster it spins, the straighter it goes, even with a slightly bent shaft, or an uneven head. We've not too much trouble with bent shafts, but decent arrowheads are hard ta come by. But this'll mean that doesn't matter. Our arrows 'ill still fly true."
"That is extraordinary," Galadwen said, picking up the arrow to study the fletching again.
Jon beamed with pleasure. But before he could tell Galadwen more about his discoveries, Sara spoke.
"As much as we all admire ya inventions Jon, the afternoon is comin' on and we've somewhere ta be," she said.
"Ahhh," Jon said nodding with understanding. "Bray asked me ta come along this afternoon for backup. I guess ya must be here ta get ya arrows back." He gestured for Galadwen and Sara to follow him back to the work area. He pulled out a couple of bundles of arrows from a wooden chest and placed them on the table. "I'll be sad ta see 'em go. They fly better than any I've made." He gestured to the first bundle. "There's three and two dozen in here that are good as new. This other bundle has four dozen arrows, a quiver full, that I've salvaged and repaired from your arrows. Not perfect, but they'll fly better than any others on the island."
"I have just one quiver now, so can only carry four dozen," Galadwen said, unslinging Gwennor's nearly empty quiver. "I will take half of each and you may keep the rest."
Jon gave her a warm smile then spilt the bundles of arrows. Galadwen filled her quiver and had barely enough time to thank Jon before Sara was tugging at her elbow.
"We've gotta get in ta position, m'lady," Sara said as she guided Galadwen away from Jon's tree. "We don't want ta miss out on all the fun."
As Sara almost dragged her off, Galadwen turned and gave Jon an apologetic smile. She saw him give a shrug of understanding before she lost sight of him around the tree.
Sara led her back to the water's edge near the stump where she had sat with Gandalf. Now, there was raft pulled up on the shore and Tilly was loading a large heavy looking net onto the middle of it.
"M'lady," Tilly said to Galadwen once she had the net positioned to her satisfaction. "There's a basket next ta the stump there. Fill ya satchel with its contents. Even with ya apatite, it'll keep ya goin' for a few days."
Galadwen had hardly touched the lambas bread that Toron had packed in her satchel a lifetime ago. She added as many dried fish and buns from the basket that would fit, then returned to the raft. Galadwen watched, as with practised hands, the two women stood either side of the raft and tossed a light rope over the net. Between each toss, the rope was hooked around the raft with such a fluid movement, Galadwen almost missed seeing it. There was an air of excitement about the women as they worked.
When they were done, Galadwen helped them push the raft into the water, then sat on the front, next to Sara. Taking the offered paddle, Galadwen helped the fisherwomen paddled out into the swampy forest.
No sooner had they entered the forest and Tilly started to sing. Galadwen recognised it as one of the fishing songs sung the day before. Sara picked up the song in the second verse, and the two fisherwomen sang as if they had no care in the world beyond fishing. Galadwen wanted to sing with them, but she could not shift the feeling of unease from her shoulders as she scanned the forest around them.
It wasn't long until, above the sound of Tilly and Sara's singing, Galadwen heard more singing. They came around a bend in the swampy channel to see a clearing in the forest and two other fishing rafts tied to the bank up ahead. Before they reached the clearing, Tilly steered their raft towards the forest bank.
"This is ya stop," Sara said to Galadwen. "We don't want ya scarin' the orcs away, so stay hidden in the forest 'til they come. Then ya can cover our retreat. Some of us'll leave by water, while a few will lead the orcs through the forest past ya. The Captain has got some scouts out, so when ya hear the blackbird warning call, be ready. The orcs'll be on their way."
As soon as Galadwen had unsteadily climbed off the raft, Tilly pushed it back out into the channel and the two women picked up their merry song. Galadwen found a position hidden on the forest's edge, with a clear view of the fisherwomen and the open field beyond. She readied her bow and waited.
While scanning the field, intently listening for any unnatural sounds from the forest behind her, and talking to the tree she leaned against, Galadwen also kept an eye on the fisherwomen. There were a dozen women, all singing loudly while they worked at nets on the edge of the field. Galadwen watched two fisherwomen help Tilly and Sara remove the net off their raft then steadily spread it out between them over the grassy field. Once it was spread to their satisfaction, the four fisherwomen slowly walked up and down it, lifting it up in places to inspect. The other eight fisherwomen were doing the same on other nets. They still sang as they worked, but it seemed more hesitant now. Not as loud and with long pauses between songs. The wait was affecting them all, but Galadwen even more so. She wanted to move about, to pace her anxiousness away. Her hands were slick with sweat and her eyes nervously flicked about, scared to settle on one thing for too long for fear she would miss something. Her ears strained to hear any unnatural noises or blackbird calls. Galadwen fought the growing urge to use her lifeforce to heighten her senses. She refused to be so weak as to waste the poplar trees' gifted lifeforce to merely ease her own fears. But the building tension of waiting was wearing on her. She yearned to do something.
When Galadwen could take the waiting no longer, she stepped out from behind the tree with the intention to go looking for the orcs. But after only two steps, she froze at the sound of a blackbird call. Not believing her ears, Galadwen stood as still as a statue while she strained her ears, listening. The fisherwomen's song faltered as they too listened for confirmation. After a long breath, there was another blackbird call, then another. With nervous excitement, Galadwen jumped back behind her tree. Between scanning the edge of the field, Galadwen watched the fisherwomen move with deliberately casual steps as they started up another song. Tulla and an old fisherwoman moved to the rafts. To Galadwen's eyes, the rest of the fisherwomen seemed to split into two groups. While still inspecting the nets, Tilly's group moved towards the water, and Sara's group moved towards the open field. The blackbird warning calls continued until one suddenly cut off mid-call. All pretence at steady work stopped as every eye turned towards the far side of the field.
Galadwen held her breath as she scanned the edge of the forest. Four orcs came crashing out through the trees on the far side of the field. For a long moment, the orcs and the old women just stared at each other. Then one of the orcs blew a horn. At the sound, the fisherwomen started moving again. With arms and legs going, they seemed to frantically retreat without actually moving anywhere fast. It wasn't until the two scores of orcs swarmed onto the far side of the field did the fisherwomen start the proper retreat. Tilly's group ran for the three rafts, while Sara's group hastily made for the forest a dozen yards to Galadwen's right. The orcs surged across the field towards the retreating fisherwomen. Galadwen raised her bow, ready to shoot. She hesitated, unsure which of the forty orcs she should shoot. Memories of the possible futures swarmed her mind and she could not decide what was the best course of action.
Then one of the fisherwomen climbing onto a raft cried out in pain. Galadwen spared a glance to see a black arrow protruding from her back as she fell into the swampy water. Horror and anger in equal measures filled Galadwen as she turned back to the oncoming orcs and searched for the orc archer. Finding one, she looked to the future and let loose her arrow. Without pause, she found the next orc archer and let loose another arrow. Her third arrow found another orc, but not before he too let loose an arrow. Another cry from a fisherwoman on the rafts told her it had found a mark. But Galadwen did not let herself think about it. She focused on finding the rest of the orc archers.
In mere moments, half a dozen orc archers were dead and Galadwen could see no more. She turned her attention back to the horde of orcs, with less than half the field now separating the women and the orcs. Some of the orcs were veering towards the rafts, but most were after the easier targets of the six fisherwomen running towards the forest. With Sara in the lead, they were only yards from the relative safety of the forest. Then the fisherwoman half a step behind Sara cried out in pain as she fell heavily to the ground. Galadwen looked on as fear settled in her stomach. She remembered seeing this in her dreams. Sara and another helped the fallen fisherwoman to her feet while the rest of the group reached the forest. Galadwen looked towards the orcs and the three fisherwomen frantically hobbled towards the forest. As she had seen in her dreams, some of the orcs were pulling javelins from their backs. Pushing down her fear, Galadwen loosed her arrows on the orcs with grim determination. The memory of seeing these women killed by javelins in so many possibilities of this day pushed Galadwen to loose her arrows faster than she had ever done before. She had already failed too many times, she could not fail again. The javelin carrying orcs fell in quick succession. Most, before they could let fly a javelin. The absence of cries from the three fisherwomen told Galadwen that the few javelins that had been thrown had missed their marks.
With all the javelin carrying orcs downed, Galadwen spared a glance towards the fisherwomen. Sara and the two other fisherwomen had disappeared into the relative safety of the forest, and the rafts were now paddling back down the channel, beyond the reach of the orcs. The horde charging towards the forest was now close enough to make the ground beneath Galadwen's feet shudder. With the fisherwomen out of immediate danger, Galadwen stopped loosing her arrows, least the whole horde come down on her instead of following the fisherwomen into the forest. Galadwen watched from her hiding place as most of the orcs stormed into the forest. Some passed within a few yards of Galadwen, but in their frenzied charge, they did not see or smell her.
With bated breath, Galadwen listened to the crashing charge of the orcs as they disappeared into the forest. Now it was the forest's turn. Galadwen's fingers tingled with nervous anticipation as she wondered if the forest would defeat the orcs. The future of the village depended on this one moment. But the moment seemed to stretch on as the sounds of the orcs grew fainter.
"Now," Galadwen whispered, urging the forest to act.
Suddenly the sound of the orc stampede was punctured with shouts of surprise and cries of pain. It lasted only a couple of breaths, and then there was silence.
Smiling, Galadwen breathed a sigh of relief. The villagers were safe.
A cry of surprise brought Galadwen's attention back to the handful of orcs who had gone after the women on the rafts. Galadwen actually laughed when she saw the orcs. They were caught in the nets that had been so carefully laid out by the fisherwomen. Thrashing about like fish out of water, the orcs fought to free themselves but were only succeeding in getting more tangled. As she watched, one of the orcs was hit through the eye with an arrow. Looking in the direction it had come from, Galadwen saw Captain Bray, Jon and two other men striding across the field. As they walked, Jon loosed arrows at the orcs. He was a good shot. Better than Galadwen if she did not use her gift.
Galadwen walked out to meet them.
"Where're the rest of the orcs?" the captain asked as Galadwen approached them.
"Gone," Galadwen said with a smile. "The forest has taken care of them."
"Ya saw it?" Captain Bray asked.
"I heard it," Galadwen replied.
The captain grunted in acknowledgement. "I think I'll check for myself," he said before sharing a look with the two other men and the three of them strode off towards the forest.
Meanwhile, Jon was retrieving his arrows from the now-dead orcs that were caught in the nets. Galadwen picked her way over the nets to help him. It was a grim messy business dislodging the arrows from the orc corpses. Galadwen gritted her teeth against the smells, sounds, and gore that accosted her senses. Just as the last of Jon's arrows had been retrieved, they noticed the three rafts returning. The fisherwomen paddled in mournful silence. It reminded Galadwen of the woman she had seen fall into the water. Hurrying over to the water's edge, Galadwen saw the fisherwoman floating face down with a black arrow protruding from her back. Removing her weapons and satchel, Galadwen waded into the water to retrieve her. As Galadwen pulled the cold pale body from the dark water, the rafts reached the bank. A grief-stricken cry filled the air. Galadwen turned to see Jon bent over someone on the raft.
Upon hearing Jon's cry, Galadwen instantly remembered it from her dreams. Sorrow blurred her vision. Her dream of Tilly's last dying breaths filled Galadwen's mind's eye and she knew that dream was now a reality. Not able to make herself watch the women die again, Galadwen gently laid the dead fisherwomen on the dry bank. She respectfully straightened the woman's clothes and wiped the hair from her face. She could have been asleep, if not for the arrow protruding from her back.
Galadwen jumped in surprise at the touch of a hand on her shoulder. She had been so focused on her work, she did not hear Tulla approach.
"Ya have done right by Dell here," Tulla said in a sad but gentle voice. "There's no more ya can do for her. Come, Tilly want's ta speak ta ya."
"I do not think I can," Galadwen replied, bowing her head.
"Ya won't ignore a dying woman's wish," Tulla said in a voice as firm as her grip now was on Galadwen's shoulder.
Closing her eyes, Galadwen took a deep breath, trying to push away the debilitating emotions that were swamping her. She would not let herself fail Tilly a second time.
Standing, Galadwen followed Tulla to the raft. The fisherwomen crowding around Tilly opened their ranks to let Galadwen through.
Lying on the raft, Tilly's head rested in her son's lap. Jon's unchecked tears gently fell into her grey streaked hair as his shoulders shook with silent sobs. A cloak had been laid over Tilly but it did little to hide the wound. A dark patch of blood from her lower torso was spreading over the centre of the cloak, but it was the smell that confirmed the fatal wound. Galadwen knew little of healing, but even she knew that was the smell of death. The wound could be mended, but even the greatest healers in Lothlorien could not prevent a terrible sickness taking victims as often as not. Out here, with no healers to speak of, it was sure to be fatal. It seemed the women around her knew that and thought it better to die from the wound than the sickness.
Tilly reached a shaking hand out to Galadwen. Taking it, Galadwen felt the strength still in the fisherwoman.
"Thank ya," Tilly said in a voice rough with pain.
"For what?" Galadwen asked, bemused by what the dying woman could be thankful for.
"Never've we been attacked by so many and the toll's been so light."
"It is still too high for me," Galadwen replied.
Tilly squeezed her hand. "Don't mourn me m'lady. It's my time ta pay the toll and I do so gladly. For, I die knowing that our people are safer than they've been for many years. Thanks ta ya, all my minnows have a chance ta grow ta adulthood." Tilly coughed and her eyes glazed over with pain. "I think it's time I got back ta say goodbye ta my minnows," she said when the worse of the pain had passed.
There was a sudden flurry of action as the fisherwomen prepared to leave. While they worked, Tulla took Galadwen by the arm and led her away from the action.
"Things went better than we expected," Tulla said. "It'll be safe for ya ta come back to the Golden Isle with us."
"Thank you, but I must collect my arrows and then leave. Time is getting short," Galadwen replied.
Tulla nodded. "Misha'll come get ya before dusk and drop ya at the northern edge of Gladden Fields," Tulla said. "I'm not sure Paige'll see ya off, all things considering," she said with a nod towards Tilly.
"I understand," Galadwen replied. "Could you give my condolences to her and Eel?"
"Aye," Tulla said. Then to Galadwen's surprise, Tulla gave her a tight warm embrace. "Ya have our thanks," Tulla said when she released Galadwen. "May ya river be calm, the fish obliging, and the sun shining." With that farewell, Tulla returned to the waiting rafts. Galadwen watched as the fisherwomen pushed off from the bank and paddled back towards the Golden Isle. She watched the departing rafts until they disappeared around a bend in the channel. With a heavy heart, Galadwen turned to the gruesome task of retrieving her arrows.
To prevent her mind dwelling on dark thoughts while she worked, Galadwen focused on her road ahead. Toron had said it was three day's walk from Gladden Fields to the old ford, then another two to the skin changer's lands. Remembering Toron, she thought about how she had changed since leaving Lothlorien. Although, she had changed much in those weeks that Toron had prepared her for this journey. In the days since she had left Lothlorien, Galadwen knew she had undertaken an even greater change. She had never been a fun, light-hearted elfling, even before discovering her gift. Despite all the death she had seen through her dreaming, Galadwen now knew she had still retained some innocence. But now, after facing the Dark Lord and experiencing so much loss and death for herself, that innocence was gone forever. A part of her soul had been marked by what she had experienced. Galadwen knew without a doubt that she would carry those scares with her for all eternity. But that thought pleased her, for she did not want to forget any of it. Especially those that had died for or because of her.
With her mind focused inward, Galadwen was able to complete the unpleasant task of retrieving her arrows with very little disgust. Most were still in excellent condition, with some only slightly damaged, and only one beyond repair. As dusk started approaching, Galadwen carefully cleaned the arrows in the channel before putting them back in the quiver. Then she found a place to sit, leaning against a tree on the edge of the forest. While Galadwen waited for Misha, she tended to her bow.
Dusk was turning to night by the time Galadwen heard the sound of paddles in the water. She stood and approached the river bank. Lit by a torch protruding from the prow, was Misha's canoe gliding along the channel. To Galadwen's surprise, she could see the forlorn forms of Paige and Eel in the canoe with Misha.
As Misha pulled the canoe up to the bank, Eel leapt out and clung to Galadwen with fervour.
"Don't leave," he begged Galadwen. "I don't want anyone else ta leave."
"I must," Galadwen replied as she stroked his ash coloured hair.
"It's alright Eel," Paige said, putting a comforting arm around her brother. "Galadwen's goin' upriver, not down. There's a difference."
Galadwen shared a look with Paige, then opened her arms for the girl to join her brother in their embrace.
"I am so sorry about your Gran'ma Tilly," Galadwen whispered to them both. "You were the brightest stars in her sky. She was immensely proud of you, and so am I. You are both so kind and brave."
All too soon, Misha was interrupting them. "We need ta get movin'," she said. "I promised ya Ma that I'd have ya back before the moon rises and Galadwen has a long walk ahead of her."
"Ya goin' ta walk t'night?" Eel asked Galadwen as they all climbed into the canoe.
"Yes," Galadwen replied. "I will keep walking for five nights and five days, stopping only to eat and drink."
"But won't ya get tired?" Eel asked.
"I expect that I will. But it might not be safe to stop for very long. I will only stop to rest if I can find a safe place to do so."
"Once, I stayed up all night," Eel said proudly.
"But then ya fell asleep at noon and slept right through ta breakfast the next day," Paige said.
Eel nodded solemnly. "I couldn't stay up for five nights and five days, but maybe when I'm older."
In the brief pause that followed, above the quiet sounds of Misha's paddle stroking through the water, Galadwen could hear the forest. Creaking and groaning of the moving trees filled the still night air. The dark forest around them flickering orange by the light of the torch was reflected in the calm waters of the channel.
"How will ya see where ya goin' at night?" Eel asked.
Despite the events of the day, Galadwen felt herself being filled with contentment as she gladly answered Eel's endless questions.
All too soon, their canoe emerged from the forest onto an open stretch of calm water. Misha paddled them across it and pulled up to a sandy shore. They all disembarked, and Misha pulled the canoe half out of the water. Galadwen awkwardly stood on the shore, knowing she should say goodbye, but struggling to find the words.
"I have somethin' for ya," Misha said, pulling a small bundle from her pocket. "It's from Ma. Pa gave it ta her many years ago, but she want's ya ta have it so ya know ya'll always have a home here."
Galadwen opened the bundle to see a small metal pendant the shape of a poplar leaf on a leather cord. The pendant had been smithed from iron, and by eleven standards it was very crude. But Galadwen loved it. She lifted the cord over her head and tucked the pendant under her cloak.
"Thank you, Misha," Galadwen said, feeling her eyes misting with gratitude. "And thank Tulla for me."
Misha took both of Galadwen's hands in hers and gave them a warm squeeze before releasing them. "Thank you, m'lady," she said.
"We didn't get ya anythin'" Eel said dejectedly.
Galadwen smiled down at the boy. He would never know or understand how much she owed him. He had saved her as much as she had saved him. "I do not need any gifts except your friendship," Galadwen replied as she kneeled down to look Eel in the eyes.
"Ya have that!" Eel exclaimed, and he threw his arms around Galadwen.
"Then it will be one of my greatest treasures," Galadwen replied as she returned the boy's embrace.
"And mine," Paige added.
"And your's," Galadwen replied with a warm smile before the three of them embraced one last time.
Galadwen rose reluctantly and watched as the children climbed back into the canoe. Misha pushed it out into the water before jumping in the back. Galadwen watched the canoe glide into the forest, then she turned and adjusted her weapons and satchel before starting her long walk north.