Healing Hands {May 2994} [Runa]
Jan 29, 2018 12:36:24 GMT -5
Post by Ceolmund on Jan 29, 2018 12:36:24 GMT -5
“C-c-can't m-m-move it,” Ceolmund winced, a worried look in his eye.
The Training Captain was hunched down leaning over him, having felt along his neck and spine already, and taken a good look at his head. “Well, I guess your lesson for the day is finished,” Captain Heruthain stated. “You go up to the Healing Hall and have the ladies take a look at that elbow. They'll set it back in place for you quick.”
“Probably should have someone walk with him, just in case,” Captain Eadmod stated.
“Yrik!” Captain Heruthain called, waving one of the young lads who had been waiting his turn along the corral over. The boy came running at the command, though eyed Ceolmund with some disdain as he approached.
“I won't be able to catch him if he falls,” Yrik shrugged.
“You'll do your best to try,” Heruthain answered. Though, as Ceolmund shoved his way up off the ground, the Captain gave him a look-over and changed his mind. The youth was only fifteen, yet he stood already six feet of height, the same as the Captain himself, and it seemed he was not done growing yet. “On second thought, Gudmarr, go along with them. You both come back once you've got him there. We still have drills to work today.”
Gudmarr, a boy with sandy blonde hair and wide shoulders beat his fist through the air in annoyance, a few other boys smacking him on the shoulder and laughing as he started toward them.
“S-s-s-so Ceolmund, where are we walking you? Down to the Hall or to your Mama's breast today?” Gudmarr started in the moment Heruthain had stepped back to the other youth.
“Saw Elin at the market this morning on my way in, fetching a cask of mead,” Yrik put in. “So early she was waiting for the shop to open. How much does she drink a week, I wonder?”
“Ceolmund's gotten awfully tall, no wonder. All the honey-mead she puts in his milk for him,” Gudmarr chuckled.
“Straight from the tap,” Yrik laughed making sucking sounds in his cheek, as Gudmarr made mock moans in his throat.
“I c-c-c-an w-w-walk m-m-m-myself,” Ceolmund tried, almost a whisper.
“Captain's orders we go with you, Ceol,” Gudmarr answered, giving the tall boy a hefty punch on the shoulder which caused his arm to jolt.
Ceolmund gasped, his hand flying to his arm to hold it still and his eyes watering, but he did not say another word. Talking never made it easier. Neither did being tall. If he were shorter, Heruthain would have sent just one boy along with him, and there would not have been any of the back and forth bickering.
“He just wants to go alone so he can see his girlfriend without us,” Yrik teased. “Don't worry, Ceol, we'll have her on the cot with you soon enough.”
“Oh, H-h-h-h-hiiiiiill-d-d-dreeeeeeeed!” Gudmarr groaned, making bawdy motions with his hips. “Saw her run to hug you last month down by the markets. Looked just like the Eored wives greeting their husbands after a long ride. You know, the cobbler wouldn't like it, Ceol. He's bigger'n you too.”
Ceolmund's cheeks turned bright red. “Sh-she's n-n-not...” he trailed off. It seemed no use. Gudmarr and Yrik lived near his home, and ever since they had caught him some years back taking a handful of flowers down to the Healing Hall for Hildred, they had been teasing him about her. She was always so kind and good to him though, and he had nothing else to offer her but the flowers, and on occasion something carven; usually something useful for the Hall, the shelves in the back of the hall were scattered with his decorative wooden bowls and utensils among other things; though as the years went by he had less time for his woodworking as more went into his training. He would soon be a member of the Eored.
Still, he always made time for flowers. It had become a near weekly habit of his for at least the past six springs and summers… and as far into autumn as he could find them. Of course, he did not need to go in for mending just so often. He went out of his way for the flowers, but they always made Hildred smile so.
Yrik doubled over in laughter. “Likes his women older and experienced. Baldor said he went into the cobbler's shop a bit early one day to pick up his mum's order, and Hildred was in the back with the cobbler… looked pretty disheveled when she came out. Bet the old cobbler had a big grin on his face that morning!”
“Aw, he's always grinning anyway, but it's no wonder,” Gudmarr chortled. “Have to admit she has a nice rack. Give it a squeeze for us, Ceol.” He nudged Ceolmund's arm again but this time Ceolmund didn't flinch, though the pain coursed through him. He tried to avert his eyes from the both of them. The sound of a sparrow's chipping caught his ears, and he looked up as he walked, watching it flutter through the spring air and trying to drown out the sound of the other boys by focusing on the birdsong and the wind.
“Hers is nice, but not as fine as Auda's. I'd grab that,” Yrik laughed. “Did you hear she got caught behind the stables with Torwald up her skirts a few weeks ago? He'd been saying he was gonna marry her when she turned seventeen next month, but I bet he doesn't now.”
“Of course I heard. Ulfrekr's the one that caught them. Told everyone on the training grounds the next day, and Auda's mum. Heard her Father kicked her out and the tavern keep was letting her take a room. Save up a few coppers and you can grab those. Erland said he paid for a night to try her already.”
“Maybe I'll find someone who needs their wood chopped this week and save up a bit. Ceol won't be able to do the chopping for a couple weeks now I suspect.” Yrik rolled his eyes. “Can't believe you do all that work for free.”
“That's because Hildred gives it to him at no cost. Doesn't need to worry about paying. Why pay for the goat if you get the milk for free?” Gudmarr laughed.
No response came from Ceolmund, his eyes still trained on the birds as they fluttered and swooped through the air, landing in the street to pick up any scrap of dropped food or windblown seed they could find, and then back up. The Healing Hall was just ahead, and Ceolmund already began to feel the relief settle over him, though he was not certain he was going to be able to even look at Hildred, he would be glad for the boys to leave. He watched a sparrow settle into her nest above the doorway of the Hall, and saw a little open beak shoot up begging for it's noon meal. A well feathered fledgling bird, nearly ready to leave the nest on it's own wings.
“Hey aren't you even listening?” Gudmarr asked, following Ceolmund's gaze to the birds. Gudmarr stooped, taking some rocks from the street in hand. “Watch this,” he muttered to Yrik with a grin. He took aim and tossed the rock high, hitting right on target. Ceolmund gasped, and the Mother bird shot to the sky, a flutter of brown feathers. The mud nest crumbled while the fledgling bird tumbled, stretching it's wings and flapping, but barely slowing it's own fall. It landed on it's side on the ground, but soon popped up onto it's feet and made a few hops while it's chirped for it's mother. The mother bird circled and chirped and scolded from overhead.
“Missed the bird. I'll kill it this time, watch,” Gudmarr sighed, bringing his arm back to take another shot.
“No!” Ceolmund shouted, lurching forward and dropping to his knees to scoop the little fledgling up in his good hand. The rock had flown, but skidded and scraped against the side of his forehead, then fell to the ground. He groaned.
Yrik and Gudmarr laughed. “Maybe that's the trick to fixing those stutters. Should have hit your head when you fell off the horse, but maybe that worked for you. Let's hear it then,” Gudmarr demanded.
Holding the little fledgling against his chest, Ceolmund sucked in a deep breath but did not respond. His forehead was stinging and throbbing, and he could feel the rampant heartbeat of the little bird in his hand. His own heart may have been beating just as quickly.
“Let's hear it. Can you moan her name without stuttering now? Hiiiiiilldred. Say it, Ceolmund!” Yrik pressed.
“Come on, the old goat's waiting for her mount, get up. Bet you can't wait for those healing hands on you,” Gudmarr kicked him in the side. Ceolmund dropped his eyes to the ground, focusing on the trembling feathers in his hand.
“Oh, Hiiiiilly. You gonna give it to her on your knees today I guess?” Yrik's laughter rang out. “Come on, get up.” He walked over and nudged Ceolmund's shoulder with his knee. Ceolmund trained his eyes down to his hand, looking at the shining black bead of the bird's eye.
The Training Captain was hunched down leaning over him, having felt along his neck and spine already, and taken a good look at his head. “Well, I guess your lesson for the day is finished,” Captain Heruthain stated. “You go up to the Healing Hall and have the ladies take a look at that elbow. They'll set it back in place for you quick.”
“Probably should have someone walk with him, just in case,” Captain Eadmod stated.
“Yrik!” Captain Heruthain called, waving one of the young lads who had been waiting his turn along the corral over. The boy came running at the command, though eyed Ceolmund with some disdain as he approached.
“I won't be able to catch him if he falls,” Yrik shrugged.
“You'll do your best to try,” Heruthain answered. Though, as Ceolmund shoved his way up off the ground, the Captain gave him a look-over and changed his mind. The youth was only fifteen, yet he stood already six feet of height, the same as the Captain himself, and it seemed he was not done growing yet. “On second thought, Gudmarr, go along with them. You both come back once you've got him there. We still have drills to work today.”
Gudmarr, a boy with sandy blonde hair and wide shoulders beat his fist through the air in annoyance, a few other boys smacking him on the shoulder and laughing as he started toward them.
“S-s-s-so Ceolmund, where are we walking you? Down to the Hall or to your Mama's breast today?” Gudmarr started in the moment Heruthain had stepped back to the other youth.
“Saw Elin at the market this morning on my way in, fetching a cask of mead,” Yrik put in. “So early she was waiting for the shop to open. How much does she drink a week, I wonder?”
“Ceolmund's gotten awfully tall, no wonder. All the honey-mead she puts in his milk for him,” Gudmarr chuckled.
“Straight from the tap,” Yrik laughed making sucking sounds in his cheek, as Gudmarr made mock moans in his throat.
“I c-c-c-an w-w-walk m-m-m-myself,” Ceolmund tried, almost a whisper.
“Captain's orders we go with you, Ceol,” Gudmarr answered, giving the tall boy a hefty punch on the shoulder which caused his arm to jolt.
Ceolmund gasped, his hand flying to his arm to hold it still and his eyes watering, but he did not say another word. Talking never made it easier. Neither did being tall. If he were shorter, Heruthain would have sent just one boy along with him, and there would not have been any of the back and forth bickering.
“He just wants to go alone so he can see his girlfriend without us,” Yrik teased. “Don't worry, Ceol, we'll have her on the cot with you soon enough.”
“Oh, H-h-h-h-hiiiiiill-d-d-dreeeeeeeed!” Gudmarr groaned, making bawdy motions with his hips. “Saw her run to hug you last month down by the markets. Looked just like the Eored wives greeting their husbands after a long ride. You know, the cobbler wouldn't like it, Ceol. He's bigger'n you too.”
Ceolmund's cheeks turned bright red. “Sh-she's n-n-not...” he trailed off. It seemed no use. Gudmarr and Yrik lived near his home, and ever since they had caught him some years back taking a handful of flowers down to the Healing Hall for Hildred, they had been teasing him about her. She was always so kind and good to him though, and he had nothing else to offer her but the flowers, and on occasion something carven; usually something useful for the Hall, the shelves in the back of the hall were scattered with his decorative wooden bowls and utensils among other things; though as the years went by he had less time for his woodworking as more went into his training. He would soon be a member of the Eored.
Still, he always made time for flowers. It had become a near weekly habit of his for at least the past six springs and summers… and as far into autumn as he could find them. Of course, he did not need to go in for mending just so often. He went out of his way for the flowers, but they always made Hildred smile so.
Yrik doubled over in laughter. “Likes his women older and experienced. Baldor said he went into the cobbler's shop a bit early one day to pick up his mum's order, and Hildred was in the back with the cobbler… looked pretty disheveled when she came out. Bet the old cobbler had a big grin on his face that morning!”
“Aw, he's always grinning anyway, but it's no wonder,” Gudmarr chortled. “Have to admit she has a nice rack. Give it a squeeze for us, Ceol.” He nudged Ceolmund's arm again but this time Ceolmund didn't flinch, though the pain coursed through him. He tried to avert his eyes from the both of them. The sound of a sparrow's chipping caught his ears, and he looked up as he walked, watching it flutter through the spring air and trying to drown out the sound of the other boys by focusing on the birdsong and the wind.
“Hers is nice, but not as fine as Auda's. I'd grab that,” Yrik laughed. “Did you hear she got caught behind the stables with Torwald up her skirts a few weeks ago? He'd been saying he was gonna marry her when she turned seventeen next month, but I bet he doesn't now.”
“Of course I heard. Ulfrekr's the one that caught them. Told everyone on the training grounds the next day, and Auda's mum. Heard her Father kicked her out and the tavern keep was letting her take a room. Save up a few coppers and you can grab those. Erland said he paid for a night to try her already.”
“Maybe I'll find someone who needs their wood chopped this week and save up a bit. Ceol won't be able to do the chopping for a couple weeks now I suspect.” Yrik rolled his eyes. “Can't believe you do all that work for free.”
“That's because Hildred gives it to him at no cost. Doesn't need to worry about paying. Why pay for the goat if you get the milk for free?” Gudmarr laughed.
No response came from Ceolmund, his eyes still trained on the birds as they fluttered and swooped through the air, landing in the street to pick up any scrap of dropped food or windblown seed they could find, and then back up. The Healing Hall was just ahead, and Ceolmund already began to feel the relief settle over him, though he was not certain he was going to be able to even look at Hildred, he would be glad for the boys to leave. He watched a sparrow settle into her nest above the doorway of the Hall, and saw a little open beak shoot up begging for it's noon meal. A well feathered fledgling bird, nearly ready to leave the nest on it's own wings.
“Hey aren't you even listening?” Gudmarr asked, following Ceolmund's gaze to the birds. Gudmarr stooped, taking some rocks from the street in hand. “Watch this,” he muttered to Yrik with a grin. He took aim and tossed the rock high, hitting right on target. Ceolmund gasped, and the Mother bird shot to the sky, a flutter of brown feathers. The mud nest crumbled while the fledgling bird tumbled, stretching it's wings and flapping, but barely slowing it's own fall. It landed on it's side on the ground, but soon popped up onto it's feet and made a few hops while it's chirped for it's mother. The mother bird circled and chirped and scolded from overhead.
“Missed the bird. I'll kill it this time, watch,” Gudmarr sighed, bringing his arm back to take another shot.
“No!” Ceolmund shouted, lurching forward and dropping to his knees to scoop the little fledgling up in his good hand. The rock had flown, but skidded and scraped against the side of his forehead, then fell to the ground. He groaned.
Yrik and Gudmarr laughed. “Maybe that's the trick to fixing those stutters. Should have hit your head when you fell off the horse, but maybe that worked for you. Let's hear it then,” Gudmarr demanded.
Holding the little fledgling against his chest, Ceolmund sucked in a deep breath but did not respond. His forehead was stinging and throbbing, and he could feel the rampant heartbeat of the little bird in his hand. His own heart may have been beating just as quickly.
“Let's hear it. Can you moan her name without stuttering now? Hiiiiiilldred. Say it, Ceolmund!” Yrik pressed.
“Come on, the old goat's waiting for her mount, get up. Bet you can't wait for those healing hands on you,” Gudmarr kicked him in the side. Ceolmund dropped his eyes to the ground, focusing on the trembling feathers in his hand.
“Oh, Hiiiiilly. You gonna give it to her on your knees today I guess?” Yrik's laughter rang out. “Come on, get up.” He walked over and nudged Ceolmund's shoulder with his knee. Ceolmund trained his eyes down to his hand, looking at the shining black bead of the bird's eye.