Chapter 96

We wearily climbed the steep way back up to the gates, passing the spot where the dreadful murder of my friend and mentor Lord Turchon had so recently been perpetrated, but there was nothing now to show that it had ever happened. As we ascended towards the gatehouse we met other companies going in the opposite direction, on their way to man the defence of the city, their faces grim and also in many cases very young too. It was clear to me that we had reached the end of our strength.

At the gatehouse there was a wait as those returning from the north were counted in and told where their companies, or what remained of them were being mustered. As I waited my turn I mulled over a desperate and potentially very dangerous plan, for I still had no idea for certain whether Belegon had fallen in the battle or whether he still lived, and none who I had spoken to on the subject had been able to enlighten me as to which it might be. He had not however been among the group of riders who had overtaken us on the first day of the retreat, for I would not have failed to recognise him, and no other horsemen had followed them thereafter unless they had done so while I slept. However when my turn came I decided I had nothing to lose by taking one final desperate throw of the dice, and I gave my name as Nineth of Lastbridge, of the second Lastbridge Company, and told the sergeant that I had a message of grave import for the Lady Idthrethil from her husband the Lord Belegon, and that I must deliver it at once to her in person. He was taken surprised at this, but acceded wearily to my request and told me to report directly to the Citadel gatehouse before dismissing me and turning his attention to the next tired and hungry man behind me.

I tried to suppress a feeling of elation and relief as I crossed the cobbles of the now very busy courtyard, for the first step of my gamble had paid off. However I reminded myself there might be several more to overcome, not least that I ran the risk that someone might recognise me for who I actually was, but I hoped my beard and generally pitiful state would aid me in that regard. I also stooped and began to limp slightly as I approached the second gatehouse. The immaculately turned out guards ordered me to halt, saluted and demanded to know my business. "I am lately come from the battle, carrying an urgent message from Lord Belegon to his wife, the Lady Idhrethil" I began with as much authority as I could muster "pray admit me at once and take me to her that I may relate his words to her, so that they might bring at least a small amount of comfort to her in this dark hour". One of them told me to wait and disappeared back through the gate, and after what seemed like an interminable and agonising delay he returned, bid me enter, and handed me into the custody of one of the palace servants. My heart was pounding in my chest by this time and I was sweating in the stuffy night air as we made our way down the familiar route to the royal apartments, for I was barely able to believe that my plan might have paid off after all. We reached an antechamber where I was asked to wait, and the servant disappeared through a further door after which I fancied I could hear the voices in the room beyond. When he returned however he shook his head somewhat disdainfully and signalled for me to depart, saying "the Lady does not wish to speak with you or hear your message". I was momentarily at a loss, and seeing my inaction the servant repeated his instruction to leave more insistently. The guards posted outside the antechamber heard him raise his voice and opened the door, eager to have something to break the tedium of their watch, and I knew I would have to act quickly. "Please, I perforce did not repeat the secret word that will satisfy her of the authenticity and importance of my message, but I ask you now to return to her and do so". The servant looked dubious, but grudgingly agreed to my request. "What is this secret word?" he asked, to which my reply was simply "Rushwater".

He returned a few moments later with an altogether less hostile demeanor and told me to follow him, and he warned me that I would shortly also be in the presence of Queen Elien of Rhudaur and to make sure that I performed the necessary obeisances. I was led into a brightly lit and comfortably furnished room, with a row of windows open to the night air which looked out over the battlements and town beyond. A group of finely dressed women were seated within, and they all ceased what they were doing and looked up as I entered. Elien rose to her feet, and the servant bowed low. I followed his cue and he announced me as Nindir of Lastbridge, lately come from the battle at Bearcliffe. Idrethil, who had been seated at her side was sat bolt upright and pale faced, the embroidery that had been occupying her lying forgotten on her lap. "Leave, all of you" ordered the Queen abruptly, and there was a sudden flurry of activity as the other women and the servant departed, before the door closed heavily behind me and the three of us were suddenly alone.

"Well met again Esteldir of Northford" said Elien, before abandoning all semblance of propriety and embracing me warmly. We parted and I fell at once into Idhrethil's arms and we held each other tightly for a very long time in silence, and tears came. "This is a joy beyond all joys" she said eventually, "for I did not think we should be together again in this world. I watched upon the bridge under the full moon, hoping against hope that you might find some way to return to me, and did so again this evening. You did not come, even though the army had returned, and so I thought you must have fallen alongside Belegon in the battle. It was a bitter thought to know that I was free of him at last but had also lost you into the bargain". I smiled through my own tears of happiness. "You went there? I did also, but my arrival was delayed somewhat by small act of mercy on my part and so we missed each other". I suddenly realised the import of our words and cast a concerned glance towards Elien, but Idhrethil saw it and laid my concerns to rest. "Do not worry my love, for I have told Elien of our plot and we have her full approval in the matter". The Queen smiled sadly in acknowledgement of this. "More than that, for I desire greatly you should take me along with you. The weight of the crown presses too greatly upon Berthedir, especially since the news reached us of the defeat at Bearcliffe and the death of Belegon and many of his other captains. He is grown fey and capricious and knows that unless aid comes from some unexpected quarter he is powerless to prevent the kingdom slipping from his grasp. I am greatly afraid of what fate awaits me if I remain here". Idhrethil gave me an imploring glance. "Forgive me my love, for I would rightly have taken your counsel in this matter first if I could have, but Elien is my oldest and dearest friend and I will not leave her behind". I shook my head and smiled and laid my hand gently on the Queen's shoulder. "Nay, be not afeard, I am of the same mind and you shall accompany us". But then I remembered and became downcast. "It is all very well to speak of flight, but I have been unable to make any preparations for the journey, and have no coin ". But Idhrethil laughed her sweet musical laugh. "Now it is my turn to gainsay you" she said smiling "for knowing of your plight and hoping against hope that you would return I set about making those preparations myself, and there are two horses stabled and provisions sufficient for the journey waiting for us at the Inn Of The Black Bear near the bridge when we are ready. We must not delay". I laughed and wept for joy and sheer love of her and held her close to me once more, for now at last I dared to hope again, when it had seemed all hope was gone.

However there could be no escape that night, for I was at the end of my strength and half starved, and the sudden relief and release from any immediate danger left me feeling weak and light headed. Elien saw this and ordained that Idhrethil should take me back at once to her apartments and conceal me there until the following evening and that we should attempt the departure then. Not only that but the weather would hopefully be more favourable, for thunder could now be heard rumbling in the distance and a heavy downpour was sure to follow. We all embraced again and parted, and went to the apartments by a circuitous route so as to reduce the risk of being seen and challenged and again fortune was with us. I scarcely dared believe what was happening, and that it was not merely a wishful dream on my part that I was finally reunited with the woman I loved. In a happy daze I ate my fill at her table, and then she stripped and washed me and tended to my wound before leading me to her bedchamber, where I quickly fell into a deep and contented slumber cradled in her arms like a helpless child. My heart still aches with longing at the memory of those blessed hours.

I slept for a very long time, and when I awoke Idhrethil was gone and I was alone. However she had left me a breakfast and some clean garments, although a glance through the shutters showed it to be well past noon. It took a while for me to clear the sleep from my head, but once I had done so I felt well and content for the first time in a very long time, and full of anticipation at the thought that we would begin our flight westward later that day. Of what had passed in the wider world I knew nothing, for the area of the citadel where I found myself was very quiet, and I could hear neither voice nor footsteps without. I wondered if the Hillmen had reached the city yet, and felt a momentary sense of disquiet at the thought that men stood on the walls whilst I lay abed, but quickly dismissed it. The thunderstorm had also passed unremarked whilst I slept, and the air was now clearer though we would have little moonlight to travel by later unless the sky also cleared.

It was evening before Idhrethil finally returned, and she did so in a state of agitation and distress. "There is no time to be lost" she told me as we shared a quick embrace. "We must make haste to depart, for things go very ill. The Hillmen now stand outside the city, and more will soon join them from the east, for Elford and Greenwood are now in their hands and all roads save the one westward are now closed to us. The defence of the city is in disarray, for it seems many soldiers have cast aside their gear and disappeared rather than face a fight that now seems hopeless to them. Worse still the garrison here has risen in revolt, and the guards were only just able to close the gates of the Citadel against them in the nick of time, or we would have been overwhelmed too. It seems those who returned from the battle were ordered back to the defence of the city without having been offered adequate food or rest and when some men refused and their captain tried to have them punished he found himself facing an outright mutiny, which then spread like a midsummer forest fire through the citadel. So we are now besieged both without and within, and are now tasked to make our way as quickly as possible to the library where Elien will meet us. I fear for her, for Berthedir has lost his wits and raves, speaking another army coming from the south to save us. But Watersmeet is already emptied of men and their lord is slain, so there is no hope". I did not understand how it would be possible to escape when we were besieged, but did not question this. Instead I set about dressing in some of Belegon's stuff, which fortunately for me was a reasonably good fit, including a mail shirt, a helm and some good boots. There was also a sword, which I drew from its scabbard to test and found much to my liking.

It was not long before we were ready, Idhrethil had changed into travelling clothes including breeches and bound her hair in a plait, and I thought to myself how beautiful she looked dressed in that manner. She then donned a light cloak and we prepared to leave, but before we did she paused for a moment to open a box on a shelf and withdrew a small package. "Here, I found these amongst my husband's things, and would have kept them always in memory of you. But you are returned to me against all chance so I will give them back to you". It took me a moment to realise what it was she had found, but with another sudden pang of happiness and gratitude saw that they were my family's papers.