[VanimaEdhel]

Surprised at how much her plea for aid in finding Deorlin was listened to, Izrênna watched, in awe, as others did what she said. People had never awaited orders from her in any way, much less in how to go about finding a missing companion.

Izrênna rode around, looking for any sign of Deorlin she could see. She saw an odd indentation. She also thought she saw some sort of form in the water nearby.

She spurred her horse forward, giving a shout. She saw that it was Deorlin's body as she drew near. She dismounted the horse while he was still in motion and ran over to the body. He still seemed alive, though he was obviously badly hurt.

Izrênna struggled to lift the large, strong warrior out of the water before the others got there. She managed to pull him out fairly well, but his legs were still in the water. Béowulf and Corrin, who were sharing a horse, were the first to catch up, and they aided in pulling the wet body out of the water. Izrênna panted with the effort of moving this heavy man.

When Deorlin was safely out of the water, Izrênna stood, her outfit now fairly wet. She shivered in the cold winter air and prayed that she did not catch some horrible illness that would cause her company to lose yet another comrade before the horses were safely recaptured.

She kneeled down by Deorlin and touched his arm. She saw his eyes open a very little bit. She thought she could hear him make a small groaning sound before he lapsed back into an unconscious state.

"Thank the Vala he is alive," Izrênna whispered, touching the man's face. She suddenly remembered those around her, "Help me move him!" she shouted.
"Does he live?" Beowulf asked.

"Aye, but just barely," Corrin said in a serious tone from where he stood, "We should get him back to the others immediately. Let us help the girl lift him."

The group hefted the heavy man onto Izrênna's horse, and Izrênna boosted herself up behind him. The other two stood a ways off and spoke quietly for a moment, Izrênna knew not what about, then they came and mounted up.

"Let us go back to camp," Beowulf said, "We must give Deorlin aid."

"I do not think we can press forward at too swift a pace," Izrênna said, looking at the injured Deorlin, still mostly unconscious in front of her, "I leave it to you to decide whether I press on with you or not. If it is what you desire, I shall stay here in the glade with Deorlin and you can press ahead. We should not leave him unattended and I am probably the most expendable on this mission. If it is what you desire, I can ride back to that glade and stay with Deorlin until...if...you return."

She looked at the others, realizing for the first time that any or all of those on this quest really and truly could, in all honesty die on this mission. Many could die to save a few horses. Izrênna bit her lip and suddenly felt tears in her eyes. These were great, noble people, she realized, and she wondered how she could have not seen it before. What she considered to be a simple task of finding a few stolen horses had become so much more. It was not only a quest to find lost animals, but it was proof of the wonders that a small band of people could do when they worked together for a single goal, no matter how small the goal was.

Izrênna sighed, blinking back her tears, and holding onto Deorlin, as the others seemed to think about whether to leave her behind or not.

"Do not feel guilt for leaving me," Izrênna said, "For, if I would be of more use here with Deorlin, I would rather stay. We cannot move too quickly with this man, though, I warn you."

"I do not think that we should separate," Corrin said, "After what happened when Deorlin ran ahead. Although you may be fine with a bow at long distances, if there was to be more danger in these parts, both you and Deorlin would be open to attack. But I suppose we should ask the others, for it is up to the group as a whole to decide."

Izrênna bit her lip for a second in thought. She felt her horse shift his weight a little, though not from strain. Although this was not the largest of horses, Izrênna thought that he might be sturdy enough to bear two riders, as she had originally offered.

"If Deorlin awakes," Izrênna began slowly, "I think that I should be fine. My horse may be smaller than yours are, but I do not think that an alert man would be too much of a hinderance. If, however, Deorlin remains unconscious when it is time to leave, I suggest that you let us ride back."

Izrênna silently hoped that Deorlin would wake in time, for she did not want to ride back to the Inn. As she sat in a slightly confused stupor, she turned her horse, and began to trot slowly back to the glade, careful to keep a tight hold on the semi-conscious Deorlin.

She noticed that the two men remained a little ways behind her, speaking of she knew not what. She wished that this group would let her in on their secrets, but, then again, they were men, and no matter how skilled she was, they would still hold a fraternity with each other that no woman could ever penetrate into. She sighed and spurred her horse on a bit to give the men their space as they made their way back to camp and to relative safety...

[ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]