[onewhitetree]

As Aspida drew her daily supply of water from the well, she heard the approach of horses and men, some speaking with strange accents. "Well, well, something new for once," she muttered as she slyly watched them out from under her frazzled head of graying hair. A young boy, barely out of childhood, approached her with a poorly-hidden smirk. She knew at once who he was, an undisciplined brat who had disappeared from the area some time ago, disillusioned into seeking some nonexistent "fortune," no doubt. Who knew what sort of company he had foolishy gotten into?
"Wise Madam," he began. "These men are-"
"Shush, fool!" she croaked, her voice broken with the strains of age and bitterness. "Do you think I'm so blind as I can't see what's going on in my own town? I can see these men are injured, some dying, whether they know it or not. While I'm probably saving the lives of some lousy scum who are just planning on pillaging the town as soon as they get what they want out of me, it's my job, so don't you assume that I would shirk my duties! And don't think I don't know you, either! Why, your mother almost died giving birth to you, and this is the thanks she gets? A curse upon men and their callousness!"
Ulfwine, somewhat abashed at this outburst and that all the men were snickering in the background at his being scolded so by such a specimen, retreated back into the group with as much dignity as he could muster. Elwood, seeing that this hag was deluding herself into thinking she was going to Heal these men, decided to step forward and take the matter into his own hands. He approached, and she amusedly motioned for him to speak, saying, "Go ahead and get it off your haughty mind, Elf, so I can do my job and you can keep quiet about it."
Deciding this was no one to waste kindness on, Elwood announced, for about the fifth time since the men had met him, "Woman, I am Elwood son of Arathrol of Lothlorien and I, too, am skilled in the arts of Healing. We do not seek your knowledge, only a warm bed for these men for the night! Whatever cures they need, I am more than able to supply, for my father was renowned among Elves-"
"Alright, that's enough, Elthol son of Lothlorien!! I will not have my hard-earned skills be disdained by anyone, especially an Elf! Your people are more foolish than the men that inhabit my village, and you are the worst example I've laid eyes on in my long life! You may think you know what you're about, but if you are so great, why do your companions lie dying? Can you answer me that? I thought not. You waste your time rambling on about your irrelevant heritage when you could be helping, but I suppose such simple matters are below your notice. I know your type! If you want those men to live, which I would not blame you if you did not, you will leave your lofty thoughts about yourself outside my village and you will follow me! I'm not doing this because I like you, or even because I want to heal those men, but because I have to. I am no more happy about it than you are, but seeing as it is my house, you will listen to me and do as I say, Master Elf. And wipe that mud off those dainty little shoes before you even think about setting foot inside any dwelling of mine!"
Elwood angrily wheeled around and marched to the back of the group, showing as much anger as Elves let themselves show, at such a dismissal by the mortal. He knew that the men needed a place to stay, and so was unwilling to burn a bridge to the only suitable place in the village. Aspida suspiciously glared at each of the men in turn, passing judgement with a few sarcastic words to each. She claimed she needed a helper to gather from her herb garden and someone to assist her in the kitchen, and chose Dwarin for the former.
"I don't approve of Dwarves and Elves associating with men, but while you're in my house, you will make yourself useful!"
The Dwarf, still chuckling on the inside over the way she had handled the Elf, graciously accepted the task, which seemed to annoy the woman even more.
"Don't patronise me, that won't get you anywhere!" she snapped.
Aspida stopped for a moment when she reached Baranthol, giving her a piercing gaze that made the soldier flinch from the hideous ugliness. Aspida grunted knowingly a few times as she looked up and down the object of her attention. Baranthol fidgeted nervously under the keen watch of the woman, afraid she was not being fooled by the disguise.
"I see. You will aid me in preparing for these injured worse than you. I trust you are not so selfish as to demand care before the others?"
Baranthol shook her her head astoundedly, and breathed a sigh of relief when the woman turned away with a grunt of acknowledgement. Aspida hobbled back toward her cottage, having forced her water vessels on one of the more able men. She cursed the thought of having to aid the strangers, but it was part of the vow to become a Wise Woman she had taken when she was young, and she would not be a Healer, had she not taken the vow. There was nothing else to life, so why not send them on their way? The people they would hurt during the lives she was lengthening probably deserved it, anyway. But that Baranthol, there was a story behind that one, and Aspida was determined to get to the bottom of it. Perhaps those idiot men were foolish enough not to see, but she knew that was a woman hiding under the rough, armored exterior of a soldier.

[ November 05, 2001: Message edited by: onewhitetree ]