[Arestevana]

Kirima

The Inn’s Common Room, which normally was filled with tables, had become a temporary house of healing. Makeshift beds, in the form of cots, pallets, and blanket rolls, filled the space from wall to wall. Sick and wounded children filled nearly every bed. Led by Lilac, Kirima and several of the townswomen were busy with their duties of cooking and nursing. Kirima found that there were plenty of herbs, and Lilac could tell her which to use. Better still, there was clean water, and a few of the women were busy preparing nourishing foods, and broth for those still too weak to eat.

Settled in the midst of several cots, Kirima spooned a small amount of broth into the mouth of one child, at the same time keeping an eye on Gilly, who was sleeping nearby. She gave her charge another mouthful of broth and then told the boy to try to rest. She spent a moment checking the bandages of another lad close by, and was relieved to find that they had not yet bled through.

Moving to a corner where most of the supplies had been laid out, Kirima set to work preparing several herbal poultices in case they were needed. She saw Lilac asleep nearby, and could hear Andreth’s gentle voice as she told stories to the children. Often she paused at her work to glance around the room and see if any help was needed. As she turned to add a ladleful of hot water to the herbs she had crushed, Kirima heard someone pounding on the door of the Inn. She set the unfinished poultices aside and crossed to check the door, but Andreth arose and motioned her back to her work.

Kirima nodded thankfully and turned to go back, stopping at several pallets to make certain that their occupants were still asleep. Suddenly she recognized the voice coming from outside the Inn. She turned just in time to see Andreth open the door to admit Guthwine, carrying a child. He walked hurriedly over to her and situated the boy securely in her arms, saying, "Here, can you help him? An arrowhead this morning and now the wound is festering."

Kirima nodded. “It is good to see you, Guthwine. I will do the best I can for your son.” She moved to an empty pallet and placed the injured boy upon it. Then she hurried over to where Lilac was sleeping and gently woke her. Lilac awakened quickly, and Kirima said quietly, “Miss Lilac, I need your help. Guthwine’s son has been injured and the wound festered. Guthwine does not trust the people of Bree yet, but I’m not sure what I can do on my own.” Lilac nodded her understanding, and said that she would bring whatever was needed, and help where she could.

Kirima thanked her and hurried back to the boy’s pallet, where Guthwine still stood. She glanced worriedly at the child’s flushed face and glazed eyes, and told Lilac what she would need. Then she sat down next to the child’s bed to examine the wound. It had been bandaged poorly and the binding, though undoubtedly the cleanest that could be found, was filthy. She cut the cloth away and winced as she saw the wound. She could see where the arrow had been cut from the boy’s hip; the wound was deep, and the flesh around it was dark and had a poisonous look to it.

Lilac returned with hot water and clean bandages. Kirima thanked her and asked for several types of herbs. She took a knife and cut away the flesh where it had rotted, trying to work quickly to spare the child some of his pain. Then she gently washed the wound and wrapped it tightly in bandages. Lilac came back quickly and helped Kirima prepare a tonic to help the child sleep. Lilac helped the boy sit up slightly to drink the mixture, and then gently lowered him back onto the pallet. He still looked feverish, and Kirima placed a cool cloth on his forehead. She glanced over to where Guthwine was seated atop the serving counter, and noticed distractedly that he had drawn his sword and was polishing it. She saw Andreth talking to him, and turned to speak to Lilac. “I’m worried about the boy.” She said quietly. “The wound was deep and bleeding badly. I will not cauterize the wound if there is any other choice, but if it does not heal, we may be forced to it. Guthwine will take it very badly if Ian dies.”
Lilac smiled reassuringly and replied, “He is a child, and he will heal. When he wakes, give him food to keep his strength up, and change the bandages. The wound should heal without the help of fire.”

Kirima sighed in relief and turned to see where Guthwine had gone, so that she could tell him. To her astonishment, she saw several archers standing with arrows aimed at Guthwine, who was staring angrily at the Ranger, Berilac. Still, Guthwine looked ready to fight, when three more archers burst through the Inn’s doors and aimed their arrows at his son. “Stand fast, if you value your son’s life!” said Berilac. Kirima gasped and tried to move forward, but Lilac grabbed her wrist, quietly assuring her that the child would not be harmed. Guthwine dropped his sword with a strangled cry. The archers moved forward and bound him to a chair.

Kirima watched for a moment as the hobbit ranger sent one of the others away, no doubt to bring someone else. The archers were still holding drawn bows, watching Guthwine warily. The children who were not asleep watched the archers with wide eyes. Kirima walked around to several cots, promising the frightened children that the Breelanders meant no harm. She stopped for a moment in her circuit of the room to talk to Widow Marish, and then returned to sit next to the pallet where Ian lay, watching to see that he did not worsen. She felt almost too tired to be surprised when Rudgar burst through the door, sword drawn. He spoke angrily to the hobbits who had trained their arrows on him, but looking at the terrified children around him, said finally, “I’m putting it away children. No need to cry and worry. You are safe and none will hurt you.”