Samuel fumbled with the straps of his armor, unsure where it all went. Eder was trapped in an armor-y spiderweb of his own making. No one else knew what they were doing either.
It was early morning. Helaman had sent the order to move out the night before. They had less than an hour before they'd march off to war. No one was in a talkative mood.
Once clothed in their armor, each soldier picked their weapons. Samuel sheathed a sword, belting the scabbard to his waist, before he picked up a javelin that was longer than he was tall. He staggered under the weight of it before rebalancing himself.
Slowly, he and all his brothers-in-arms formed ranks and awaited their commander. Helaman arrived not long after they finished organizing themselves.
"Today is the day," he said, standing before them. "We march to defend our land, and our families. In the strength of our Lord, we will do this thing."
Samuel nodded in agreement, along with several of his brothers-in arms. With that brief speech, Helaman asked his army to kneel and pray with him. Releasing his weapon and shield, and letting them clatter on the ground, Samuel knelt with his commander, bowed his head, and clasped his hands together.
Oh Lord, my God, he prayed. Please be with us as we go to defend our Brethren the Nephites. Grant us strength that we may protect our lands and families from the Lamanites. I ask thee that thou wouldst bless mine parents, brother, and sister while I depart from them this day, that they might not suffer in my absence.
Samuel paused for a moment, thinking if there was anything else he felt he needed to ask. During this reflection, all his anxieties and worries fell silent, to be replaced by a sense of perfect calm and clarity.
All will be well.
It was a message communicated without words. Samuel knew it was from God the moment he was touched by the sense of surety. He began to thank God for his knowledge of truths that he had learned from his righteous parents. By the time Samuel was done praying, most of the army was forming ranks. He joined them, smiling, feeling the peace inside his heart.
As they left the city, their orderly lines of marching soldiers were disrupted by families saying farewell. Samuel found himself being strangled by Kamei's fierce grasp.
She was crying, shaking hard from trying to contain it. Samuel comforted her, whispering soothing words into her ear. Finally, she composed herself enough to step away.
"What if you don't come back?" she whispered, hugging herself. Samuel brushed her hair back, knowing her fear and concern. After a moment, he pulled her in for another embrace.
"Do you remember what Mother taught us when we were children?" he asked. Kamei nodded as she tried to get her sobs under control. "Do you remember what she taught us about obeying God?"
" 'If we have faith, and are obedient,' " his sister recited, " 'we need not fear death, for the Lord our God will be watching over us, and all will be well'."
Samuel pulled out of the tight embrace, and held Kamei by the shoulders, looking her straight in the eye.
"I have faith," he said clearly. "God will help us on the battlefield, and He will protect us. I promise, you will see me again."
The army was marching away without him. Samuel stroked his sister's hair one last time, then ran to catch up with his brothers-in-arms.
Kamei watched him go, knowing that she would see him again: she wasn't afraid of never seeing him again; rather, she was afraid that the next time she would see him would be only after she had passed through the veil that separated the living from the dead.