The town of Donrmey had been spared from the whims of violent mercenaries and the English assault stalled around Vaucouleurs. Despite the minor setback in Champagne, the bulk of England's forces gained ground in Ile de France continuing their inexorable advance southward. For now, the people of Champagne would be able to enjoy a brief respite from the fighting as the attention of the war shifted toward the city of Orleans.

Several days had passed and with the withdrawal of English troops from the area, Donremy was able to breathe easier and begin focusing on recovering from the damages. There had still been many people who were hurt and killed, but nowhere near as bad as it could have been had the marauders had their way. After some efforts to clean the streets and salvage any undamaged goods, townspeople got back to work caring for their injured and rebuilding the property that had been destroyed in the attack. While the people of Donremy got back to work and tried to resume some sense of normalcy through their daily routines, there were hints of a different spirit in the air. It was one of greater confidence and purpose that had seemed to be missing before.

For now, that purpose lay in recovering and that was what Jacques d'Arc set out to do. Despite the wound he received in battle, the town's doctor had told him that he would recover in time as long as he rested. After a brief rest for themselves, Joan and the three mercenaries busied themselves with aiding some of the other villagers who had lost their homes or businesses. With the help of some of the royal soldiers, they got a head start in salvaging some building materials and helping to get started on new structures until word came that the English were on the move again.

It had been two days since the small contingent of royal soldiers had left to rejoin their army and meet the English on another battlefield. On that cool bright afternoon, Joan had gone by herself to a spot just outside the town limits where a row of freshly dug mounds lay near the shade of some trees. She had brought a large basket with her filled with lily flowers and as she walked over the rows, she placed some of the flowers upon each mound. These were the graves of the enemy mercenaries who had perished in the attack and while the people of the village didn't want to go to too much trouble for the bodies of their foes, they didn't want to be completely inhuman either. Joan placed a few more of the flowers over the last of the mounds and took a moment to enjoy the cool autumn breeze before she turned around and was met by a surprising sight.

Under the shade of the nearby trees were Henri, Roger, and Angie who were all wearing their gear and waiting patiently on their mounts. She headed over and gave them a curious expression, "I'm sorry... I wasn't expecting to see you three here today."

"We didn't think you'd be here either making an offering for the enemy dead," Henri observed as he looked at the carpet of lily petals strewn across the ground.

Joan nodded and gestured over the field, "I had wanted to stand up and fight here to ease the suffering of our people but I realized something else in that battle we fought... that people and soldiers suffer on the side of the English too. Even if these might have been bad men, they don't deserve to suffer either and I thought I'd do something kind for them anyway. It seemed like the right thing to do."

The mercenaries exchanged a curious look between them before Henri offered his hand to Joan, "While we're here, can we give you a ride home? Your parents will probably be expecting you."

She nodded and let Henri pull her up to ride behind him before the three began trotting from the green towards Joan's farm. As they road down the quiet country path, they looked out over the farm fields which were in various states of being harvested. Joan noted that the three had packed their belongings and looked to be leaving to be headed out soon. "You will be leaving Donremy?"

Angelique nodded, "We go where the fighting is and coin be greatest, Joan. The French army is already on the move again and so will their contracts."

Roger gave a sigh in agreement, "She's right. As nice a place as this is, I'm afraid there's not much for the three of us to do here now that the danger has passed."

Joan gave the Benoit siblings a slightly disappointed look, "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope this doesn't sound too silly, but I think I'm still going to miss you three."

"Oh, you never know. We may find our way back here one of these days when we're passing through," Angie reassured her, "Right Henri?"

"Right," he answered as they continued on down the road. After a short time, he spoke again addressing Joan behind him, "So this is it? You're going to get back to work here in helping to rebuild Donremy?"

"For now," she said with a nod, "But I'm still serious about what I said before. I want to join the royal army and speak to King Charles himself so that he believes and knows that heaven is on our side."

"After what you did a few days ago in rallying the people to defend themselves, I have no doubt now he might listen too. That was something very remarkable Joan."

"Then promise me you three will remember that when you go off to fight again on the frontlines," Joan said, "Promise me you'll keep the faith?"

As they came up to the front gates of Joan's farm, Henri dismounted first and helped her down before giving a nod, "I promise, but only if you do me a favor in return."

Joan tilted her head with a curious look as he reached to his side and produced a bulky pouch. He handed to her and said, "Take care of your family and your town first before you decide to go crusading. This will help you along."

Joan took the pouch and opened it only to see that it was filled with coins. She blinked in confusion and looked up in surprise, "What is all this?"

"A donation... from my share of the loot and the contract to protect this village. I took enough to get by and figured I'd give the rest to you and your town to do with as you will."

Joan stared at the large pouch of money in astonishment, "I... thank you... but I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"

"Like I said before, sometimes we selfish cynical mercenaries do good in our own strange ways."

The Benoits exchanged another warm smile with each other while Henri gave a little laugh and reached in his other belt pouch. He produced the trampled white lily flower that he had recovered from the battlefield. He offered it to her and said, "Oh... and I thought you might want this back too. It's a little worse for wear, but it might keep a while yet."

Joan smiled at the offering before shaking her head and gently closing his hand back over it, "No. Please keep it as a reminder of our friendship and our promise to France."

Henri nodded and took her hand that had been enclosing his, bringing it to his lips. He gave her hand a chaste little kiss before letting go and mounting his horse again. "Until then."

Joan stood by her front gate giving a wave and a smile as the three mercenaries replied with a little salute and turned to ride away down the quiet country road. After a brief companionable silence, Roger scratched his chin while they trotted along, "So... if we're going to go save France and get rich while doing it, where to next?"

Angie looked to the sun in the skies, "Well... the French army will be regrouping at Vaucouleurs before moving on again. Maybe we can find more work there with the garrison?"

Henri smiled and gave a quiet nod of resolution, "All right then. What are we waiting for? We have work to do."

Back in the present, the three mercenaries came in out of the cold and entered the inn. They shook off the last of the snow and took a moment to enjoy the light and the warmth of the nearby hearth. There were several occupied tables where patrons were having plates of hot cooked food and laughing over some mugs of ale. After weeks of raiding the enemy out in the snowy wilderness, the return to civilization was a welcome change. In one corner of the merry room, a minstrel began to strum a lute and sing a quiet tune in the background while other patrons milled about enjoying their refuge from the ice and snow outside.

Roger clapped Henri on the back and began heading into the common room to grab a table, "Hey Angie, I seem to recall Henri said he was going to buy the first round of our drinks when we got here, didn't he?"

His sister laughed and left to join him as she picked up on the ploy, "Why yes. I remember now. Thanks Henri! You're the best."

Henri watched them walk off into the crowded common room and shook his head with a smile. At the moment, he was too tired and hungry to protest so he really didn't mind getting dragooned into paying for a meal. He headed over toward the main bar counter to place an order when he saw a small group of women go by wearing the blue and white clothing of horsemen in the French royal army. By his estimation, they may been messengers or heralds. Considering Vaucouleurs had become a garrison town for the royal army, it wasn't surprising to see such people in the local shops or taverns either.

When he turned back toward the counter, he froze as he caught sight of a familiar young woman with long blonde hair, sky blue eyes, and a distinct white lily over her ear. Unlike the last time he had seen her many months ago, she was now wearing a royal blue tunic of the royal army underneath a feminine suit of half plate armor. As she got up to follow her female companions out, she also stopped when her eyes met his.

Henri remained transfixed in place with a stunned expression as she hesitantly approached with a smile, "Henri? Henri Sorel? Is that you?"

He blinked and nodded dumbly prompting her to give an amused look, "So… you don't remember me? You and your friends had come to save me and my village when we were ensnared by a band of mercenaries."

Henri shook his head and returned the quiet smile, "No... how could I ever forget you, Joan d'Arc? I… what are you doing here?"

Joan gestured to her uniform and armor and gave a slightly sheepish look, "I left Donremy to volunteer in the war. I'm presently with the French forces here guarding the city of Vaucouleurs and I hope to speak with Captain Robert de Baudricourt so he can grant me a chance to petition King Charles himself."

Henri shook his head in amazement, "That sounds crazy… do you think he'll actually listen?"

"He will have to if the talk of an English offensive in Orleans is true," Joan answered, "Once the enemy attacks, there is sure to be a formal recruitment."

Henri nodded, "And the royal army will no doubt call on us mercenaries to join their ranks."

Joan gave a ghost of a smile as she reached out to gently touch his arm, "If that's what fate lies in store for us, then it would please me if we could fight alongside each other once again."

She gave a quiet nod and lingered for a moment before stepping aside to join her female riding companions as they waited by the door. Before she left, Henri turned and called out to her, "I hope so too. And Joan... it was good to see you again."

Joan graced him with another quiet smile before leaving the tavern with her cohort. Henri watched her depart in silence before turning back to the bar counter. Fate was certainly strange. He had already witnessed what could only have been described as a little miracle in Donremy and a personal epiphany as well. Perhaps there was something remarkable about this girl named Joan and perhaps there were more miracles yet to come. Maybe there was still some hope for France and a reason to believe that they could win this war. What that future would look like, he couldn't be certain. But he did know that if Joan believed in them, then it was up to the people to believe in themselves and her mission. He resolved that once she gave her next call for aid, he would follow that noble vision and to help Joan spread those white flowers of hope across the battlefield until the kingdom was safe and France was once again at peace.

A/N:
To anyone who made it this far, thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed my little tribute to this unique historical setting and to an underrated strategy game. Maybe one day I'll get around to doing a full length series about the exploits of Joan, Henri, and the rest of their mercenary friends to save the kingdom. Until then, thanks again for the interest and support!