Maiden Voyage Pt.1

You’re exhausted, finding just enough strength to keep your legs from failing you as you grasp your shield and longsword
You’d been fighting for hours under the harsh judean sun
Your caravan had been ambushed as you were making your way back to Jerusalem
The saracens had come from all sides, killing your horses and with bows and arrows
Fierce fighting broke out as you charged their lines with your brothers in the holy order, hoping to allow some of the wagons to escape
Whatever sense of discipline or army tactics you had before was lost as the battle turned to a bloody brawl
Soldiers hacked each other into bits, broke bones and cracked armor, fought tooth and nail as they beat their enemies into the dirt
All that could be heard was the screams of dying men and the clash of steel against steel
You’re panting, the helmet and the sand on the wind making it hard to breathe
With a grunt you block your opponent’s attack, your broken arm sending waves of splitting pain up to your shoulder
His sword bounces off your shield as you catch him off guard, slashing your longsword across his chest
It catches deep in his side as he coughs up blood, splattering it onto your helmet
With a well placed heel kick to the diaphragm you send him hurtling back to collapse against the desert sand
Your shoulders sag as you finally let your guard down, clutching the bleeding wound in your side
A mistake, as you feel a searing pain on the back of your left leg
You collapse onto your knees only to receive a kick to the stomach which forces you to the ground
You can barely pick yourself up as you look up to your attacker
He prepares to finish you, his damascus knife gleaming in the evening light as he drives it straight for your neck
You frantically grab for your sword, thanking the lord as you find a firm grip, roaring out a battle cry as you plunge it deep into the saracen’s chest
The knife falls from his hand as you quickly regain your footing
He falls to his knees, clutching at the sword stuck through him
You pull it out of him, a fresh splatter of gore erupting from the wound before bringing high above your head
A single drop of blood falls from the tip before you bring it down with all your remaining strength, severing the man’s head clean from his body
His body collapses with a spray of blood
You watch his head roll onto the ground, his eyes still wide with surprise
Its over
You look around for anyone else, desperate to see a friendly face
You’re alone, surrounded by corpses
The ground is stained red with blood, the only signs of life are the vultures that pick away at your fallen comrades
The air feels heavy as you resist the urge to puke
It smells like death, the sound of flies and insects nearly drowning out the wind
You can’t die here, to be eaten alive by vermin and filth
You slowly limp away, trying desperately to make it back to the holy city
But you now you’ll never make
Your eyelids are heavy as you flee from the battlefield
Your mind is hazy, your body in agony
The sun is unrelenting with its light, cooking you alive in your armor
You can see the shadows of the carrion birds as they circle you overheard, a grim reminder of your fate
Eventually you lose the strength to stand
You collapse to the ground, unable to move a finger
Darkness begins to take you
Tears form at your eyes as you contemplate your life
You’ll die thousands of miles from home, bones picked clean
You’re snapped out of your trance when you hear an angelic voice
Your eyes register a beautiful maiden atop a white horse galloping over the dunes towards you
A mirage, you figure, or perhaps an angel come to collect your soul
Either way you’re too tired to care
Your eyes close shut as you black out, ready for death to take you

Is this death?
You’re not sure
It feels like your body is floating on top of the ocean
It’s peaceful for all of what feels like a couple of seconds
A stinging pain in your shoulder forces you awake
You slowly open your eyes
You’re no longer in the desert
Now you’re surrounded by walls of wood and stone
You can hear the crackling of a fire in a hearth
You shift your head around to get a better view of your surroundings
Your armor is set on a stand in the corner of the room, your clothes in a neatly folded pile beside it
Confused, you sit up but immediately lay back down as you a feel deep pain in your side
”Easy, sir knight, easy!” you hear a voice say
As your eyes adjust you notice you’re in a bed
Leaning over you is the beautiful maiden you saw before
Now that you’re up close to you can’t help but admire her beauty
Her hair is cut short, her dark locks perfectly framing her two sapphire blue eyes
She’s staring at you with a look of worry
The woman’s tone is gentle, “It's okay. You’re safe now.”
You have a million things you want to say to her, but the first to leave your lips is, “What is thine name?”
She laughs, “You haven’t even said thank you for being rescued and yet you already want my name?”
You’re taken aback, “I-I’m sorry, thank you for saving me.”
”It's quite alright,” she sighs before continuing, “My name is Kronii. Sister Kronii. I live here at this monastery.”
”Monastery?” you question
You’d never heard of a monastery anywhere in the area, save for Jerusalem
”Yes,” she states, “ It’s very secluded, but I try to rescue those who are injured or lost.”
Her expression shifts slightly, her lips forming a light frown
”This war has left few for me to care for. You’re the first I’ve managed to rescue alive.”
She sits there for a moment, remembering the countless battles and bloodshed
Another memory for another time
Her face softens as she stares at you, “And what is your name?”
It takes you a moment to register her question as she begins to tend to your wounds again
”My name is --agh!”
You grunt as she dabs a wet cloth against a wound on your shoulder
Her hand recoils back, “My apologies.”
She returns to cleaning the wound, taking care to lightly press the cloth against your injury
”My name is Anon, Sir Anon. Of the holy order.”
She raised one of her eyebrows, “A holy knight? You’re quite the rare sight.”
You bowed your head slightly, “Indeed. There are few of us left. Most of us were part of the ambushed caravan where you found me.”
It was a somber thought that entered your mind, “For all I know, I am the last of my order.”
She thinks for a moment, ”That may be true, but you can always rebuild it.”
Also true, but it would be a difficult process
”It was a long and difficult process,” she says, as she gestures towards your body
It's only then that you notice the bandages covering the many scrapes and bruises that adorned your body, including your arm and aching side
”But I treated your wounds as best I could. I have full faith you will survive.”
You want to thank her again but end up in a coughing fit
Kronii rushes over to a small table to your right
She returns with a chalice full of water and brings it to your parched lips
You drink deeply, letting the cool liquid smooth your dry throat
You never knew water could taste so good
All the water you normally drank either made you sick or tasted terrible, the main reason why you preferred ale
You let out a satisfied “Aaaah” after you down your last gulp
She takes the chalice from your lips as you settle into the covers
The soft sheets and fluffy pillow are a far cry from the rough desert floor you had been accustomed to sleeping on for the past month
Kronii leaves you again, walking over to the hearth
”You must be hungry as well.” Her voice is slightly muffled by the cracking of the fire
She grabs a ladle and serves as small bowl of soup from a simmering pot
She comes back to by your bedside
You try to grab it with both hands but stop when you’re once again greeted with pain shooting up your arm
It’s still broken like it was five minutes ago
She’s notices your predicament
”Here, allow me.”
She spoon feeds you the piping hot soup
You want to protest being pampered like a noble lady but you’re too famished
Each spoonful of the savory stew breathes new life into your aching body
You finish the bowl, it's the first warm meal you’ve had in days
Certainly beats moldy bread and whatever you scavenged in the desert
After double checking to make sure you’re comfortable and not in pain Kronii gets up to leave
”I must take my leave now. Rest now, brave knight. You need to recover your strength.”
Her hand pushes the door open, her first foot through the door frame before you stop her
”Wait! Sister Kronii, I can’t thank you enough.”
She smiles at you, “It’s the least I can do.”
The door closes with a thud and you’re alone once again
You pull the covers over you with your good arm, happy to be able to rest in a comfortable bed
You listen to the fire die down as you fall asleep

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Pub: 06 Oct 2021 06:32 UTC
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