Thread: The Crown Prince (DudeMeister and LaBellaMia)

Rhiannon glanced at her array of dried herbs, plants and minerals that she used for healing and frowned. She was in desperate need of a trip to the local market but certainly hated the risk of being followed. She had built this home with her brother when they had been naught but children. Running away from the life of being the children of a convicted witch. It had been there haven for so many years, at least until his death five years before. Now it was her only refuge and she rarely made a trip to the local market town unless it was absolutely neccessary for her rarer herbs. Unfortunately a trip to market meant at least four days from home and risking being assaulted by fiends who would see fit to steal her money or what they considered fine possessions. She also needed cloth for a couple of new kirtles. The gown she had on had been one of two she had bought nearly a year ago on her last trip to the market. A whining at the door made her turn and see her pet scratching and waiting to go outside. Alright...I see you, she sighed then smoothed out her thin kirtle before going to the door. The pet in question was a now three year old pure white wolf named Winter who had been Rhiannon's constant since she had found her alone in the woods, the mother dead from being caught in a trap. The poor thing had barely been off weaning and had been crying beside it's dead mother with soft pitiful whimpers that had torn at Rhiannon's soul. The two of them were kindred spirits in their loneliness and she was glad for her company, especially during the cold months when the snow was so thick and the fire unable to produce enough heat. As she opened the door, Winter was quick to lope off into the woods and Rhiannon smirked before looking back at her small cabin. It was a small one roomed place with a hearth and chimney that her brother had built with his own two hands. It was a large enough space she supposed with a table and two stools by it and a long counter against the wall. Shelves were neatly arranged on one wall holding all of her effects that she used to heal the poor animals she found injured or ill and to one corner was a large bed that she had fashioned of the bed her brother had onced used and her own. It gave plenty of room for herself and Winter to use during the night. Winter, after all, was a large creature. Deciding she could go for a bath, she grabbed her wildflower scented soap and clean kirtle before making her way down to the river. It was less than a half mile's walk and was situated around an alcove of trees and stones that pretty much shielded her from the view of anyone if she was careful enough. Though these parts of the woods were rarely used by anyone. It was a good five miles to the main road in any direction and so she was hidden away in the forest, away from the people who would see her burned for her abilities to heal. She saw Winter not far ahead and grinned. What is it girl? Do you want a bath as well, she smiled and the wolf glanced at her before rushing off to the bank. Laughing, Rhiannon followed after her, stepping over stones and limbs as she went. She was certainly a lovely young woman. Her hair was red-gold, her waist slender, and her eyes were blue as the sky on a clear day. Despite her bonny looks, her dress was simple and her hair, for the moment was neatly pinned off of her neck. As she approached the river bank, she froze at the sight of a man laying on the bank. A pool of scarlet was around him. she knew the sight well. Blood...Rushing toward him, she saw that Winter was trying to nudge him awake. The man was deathly pale and as she dropped to his side, she could feel the pulse of life in his neck but it was fading rapidly. He was in need of care and despite the risk she knew she had to aide him as best she could. Whoever he was, he would die without her. ------ Getting him back to the cabin had been simple enough. she had used her clean kirtle to create a tourniquet on his limbs to staunch the bleeding and then had used her strength and Winter's help to carry him back to the cabin. The wolf had taken him by the collar of his tunic while Rhiannon had taken his legs. It had been akward and taken much effort but he was soon laying upon her large bed. Quickly she covered the still bleeding wounds with the powder of a certain mushroom that would staunch the bleeding and then made a quick poultice. After nearly an hour of sewing and even cauterizing his wounds, stripping him down and tearing at his hose, he was soon mended. The herbs would do most of the work and she would certainly not let him die if she could help it. But she definitely could not use her true abilities to heal him else he be a witch hunter. Rest easy now stranger... she whispered. You're safe here... she promised to him gently then took a stool, setting it by the bed, meaning to nurse him through the night. Hopefully by morning, he would wake up.