Sir Darius responded by opening his eyes.
– Sir William, can you press on the wound? Put your weight into it.
Freed from that task, Nick put a hand on Darius' neck, pressing gently.
– Listen. I cannot stop the bleeding. You will die if we don't act now. The only way to stop it is with a hot iron.
Sir Darius clenched his eyes shut for a moment, his breathing still quavering.
– When was the last time you saw your family, Sir Darius? Can you think back to that moment? Did you make any promises? Did they?
Darius nodded faintly to each question.
– Can you fight for your life for their sake?
Sir Darius' knuckles turned white in the Princess' hands as he steeled his resolve, his nod stronger than the last ones.
– Good. Draw your courage from them.
Nick straightened himself.
– You will have to use your weight to keep him still, especially the legs - he said quietly to the knights.
They nodded in understanding.
Nick looked towards the bonfire and lifted a hand. Sir Lionel approached, the glowing blade in his hand.
– On my signal, – Nick said meeting Sir William's eyes. He was pale.
Nick's expression softened.
– Breath, Sir William. It will be over soon.
– Here, bite down on this, brother - Sir Lionel said, placing a strap of leather in Darius' mouth. He then extended the blade's handle to Nick.
– Her Highness might need your help with his hands - Nick murmured to Sir Lionel.
– No I won't! – She countered.
Nick did not argue. Taking the blade, he locked eyes with Sir William and placed a hand on Sir Darius' back.
– Take a deep breath.
Everyone did.
On the exhale, Nick gave one sharp nod.
Sir William moved to the side and closed his eyes.
Sir Darius' muffled screams reached them all.
----
On another side of the battlefield, the surviving commoners who were not able to flee had their hands strapped to trees. Most carried some form of wound, some deeper than others, and quite a few had arrow shafts sticking out of their arms or legs. They knew better than to remove them without a healer. Groans, cries, whimpers, curses and broken breaths filled the air.
Four women were left untied and were trying their best to tend to them all. Their ragged clothing was bloodied, their eyes were red from crying, and their strength was running low.
Three knights were keeping an eye on the prisoners.
Two more were leaning against a tree, eyes closed, grimaces on their faces, and each had an arrow embedded in his thigh. The Duchess and a knight were tending to them.
The remaining knights were piling up commoners' corpses and picking up after the battle.
They all had a task assigned to them, even if it was simply to stay alive. Yet, their attention remained on the carriage, where a brother in arms lay at the crossroads between life and death.
Finally, a knight came bearing news.
They all held their breath:
– They stopped the bleeding!
Some long exhales were heard. Someone cheered; another thanked the heavens quietly. All continued their work, relieved —all but the commoners, who also had brothers, fathers, sons or friends hanging by a thread to life, and no one was coming to their aid. Only the four women were there, but how could that be enough?
---
Eventually Sir Darius' muffled screams turned into groans and finally to broken moans. Nothing else was heard.
All eyes were on the wound, which was no longer bleeding, and on the uneven rising of his back. His breathing had become less laboured but remained ragged and shallow.
The Princess exhaled in relief and whispered.
– Thank the heavens. You stopped the bleeding!
– Yes, but that is only on the outside - Nick cautioned. His mother had warned him too many times about false hope. – We can only hope the wound is not too bad on the inside.
Then Sir Darius' whole body began to tremble.
– Why is he shivering? Is he cold? His hands are cold. We should cover him – the Princess said.
– I don't know why, but it happens... It should pass. We need to keep him warm and raise his legs. Let's turn him on his side.
– Shall we remove the chain mail first? It is quite heavy. I cannot imagine it being easy to breathe like that.
– That is true. - Nick said, wondering why he had not thought about that himself.
While Sir William went to get cloaks, the others coordinated to gently remove the armour, eyes glued on the wound, ready to stop if it started bleeding again.
– There, much better, right? – The Princess asked Sir Darius without expecting an answer.
After a few moments to confirm the bleeding was still under control, they slowly turned him onto his right side. As soon as his weight pressed on the injury, Sir Darius groaned and tried to lie back on his stomach.
– No, no, no, you need to stay like this.
Nick used his own body to keep him from returning to his previous position. Sir Darius whimpered resisting Nick's push with his own strength.
– No, no. Don't fight me. Come on. I know it hurts. I know. But you have to stay like this. Trust me. This is what's best for you.
Darius' whole body shudderred, and the whimpers continued but he stopped resisting. Then they covered him and raised his legs using rolled up cloaks.
– There you go, well done... Breathe, you are alive, you've done so well. Keep that up. Alright?... just breathe... - Nick encouraged him gently, softly rubbing the back of his neck, his voice soothing more than just Sir Darius.
– Why does he need to stay like that?
– Honestly, – Nick sighed with slight lowering his eyes apologetic – I don't know. I'm not a healer. I just know my mother does it.
– That is alright. You have been incredibly helpful. I shall ask the healers at the castle later.
– Thanks.
– No, thank you, Sir Nicholas.
– Don't thank me yet. He is not safe yet, –Nick said, looking at Sir Darius.
Slowly, his whimpers quieted down and everyone relaxed — everyone but Nick, whose concern actually grew.
– Sir Darius, are you with us? Can you open your eyes for me?
No response.
Nick cupped his face, his voice urgent.
– Come on. Look at me! Open your eyes.
Sir Darius half-opened his eyes as if in a haze.
–Good, – Nick sighed – that's it. You need to stay awake, alright? Keep your eyes open, look at me... Can you tell me your name?
Sir Darius did not answer, he only shivered, his eyes still unfocused. Nick took his hand and placed two fingers on his wrist.
He frowned.
– What is wrong? – The Princess asked.
– He has a pulse, but it's weak, – then holding his hand he said – Sir Darius, can you press on my hand... as hard as you can?
He waited.
– Yes, well done.
The Princess sighed in relief, then took Sir Darius' hand from Nick and said:
– Come on Sir Darius. Do not give up, alright? Think of little Cecily, and Jason, and Henry — he is becoming so handsome, and...
Nick took a deep breath while the Princess took over. Sir Lionel took advantage to ask:
– Sir Nicholas, how soon do you expect we will be able to continue our journey with him?
Nick exhaled forcefully.
– I'm not sure. I still need to clean and dress the wound, but I can't do that while he in this state...
– Hmm – Sir Lionel grunted dissatisfied. – Let me rephrase my question: Will it be safe to move him before the shadows start stretching?
Nick raised his shoulders in response.
– I don't know.
– How can you not know?
– Simple: I'm not a healer. I am just an archer.
– Yeah, right —
– Sir Lionel! - the Princess interrupted him sternly. – Sir Nicholas has done nothing but serve us well thus far. He has saved my life with his bow, and he is trying to save Sir Darius' with what he knows. We will be thankful and heed his advice. Understood?
– Yes, Your Highness. My apologies.
– I am not the one you owe an apology. – She corrected while nodding towards Nick.
Nick's eyes widened in surprise, and he did not miss the sligh tightening of Sir Lionel's lips nor thiny jump in his brow. It took him a moment to say:
– I apologise, Sir Nicholas. I am grateful for your assistance. – Sir Lionel said slightly bowing his head.
– No need to worry, we are all tense. I accept your apology.
Since Sir Lionel did not respond, the Princess answered in his stead.
– Thank you, Sir Nicholas. May I ask you though, if it were up to you, when would you feel at ease to move Sir Darius?
– Not before tomorrow, Your Highness.
– Alright, we shall stay here till tomorrow.
– Your Highness! – Sir Lionel protested. – We cannot stay here overnight.
The other knights also seemed horrified.
– Why not? – The Princess questioned.
– Because... Your Highness, you cannot sleep in the forest...
– And why would that be?
– There is nowhere for you to sleep here!
– Sir Nicholas, you were on foot, when you found us, correct.
– That is correct, Your Highness.
– And where were you going to sleep, since you certainly would not have made it to Cabernow on foot before nightfall?
– We were going to camp here, Your Highness.
– But there are no beds here, Sir Nicholas.
– Uhm... No, Your Highness. – Nick managed to say in his amazement.
– So, where were you going to lay down, Sir Nicholas?
-On the ground, Your Highness.
-Did you hear that, Sir Lionel? It is perfectly possible to sleep on the forest ground.
Nick swallowed a snicker, afraid the knights would lynch him if he started laughing.
– Yes it is possible, Your Highness, but your circumstances are very different than his!
–;How so, Sir Lionel?
– You are a Princess, Your Highness.
– Did you just figure that out, Sir Lionel?
Nick lowered his face, pretending to tend to Sir Darius to hide his amusement.
–Uhm.. No Your Highness... What I means is—
– Is it because I am of Royal blood? – She offered.
-Well, yes, Your Highness.
–So, will you tell me me that everytime my brothers did their wilderness training, their guards carried beds into the woods for them?
– Uhm... Well... No, but—
– Are they not also of Royal blood, Sir Lionel? Or will you question my mother's honour?
–No, your Highness, of course not! - he said panicking.
Nick pressed his lips hard to stop himself from laughing. He even thought Sir Darius was amused, since he was starting to relax.
– Then if they could sleep on the forest ground so can I.
– But Your Highness... They—
– Or is it because I am woman?
– Well —
– Shall I ask the ladies among the commoners if they have ever brought beds to the forest?
-Errr...
– Sir Lionel, – the Princess concluded – I would appreciate if you stopped thinking of my lineage or gender as disabilities.
– Ehhh...
– Would you not rest better in a proper bed,Your Highness? – Sir Thomas offered.
– Even if I had my own bed, Sir Thomas, I would not be able to sleep knowing Sir Darius' state. I would much rather stand vigil with him here, than lay sleepless on a bed.
– But your Father would never allow it, Your Highness! – Sir Lionel recovered.
– Well, he is not here. I would be more than happy to wait here while you travel to confirm with him. I trust Sir Darius will have recovered by the time you return.
– Your Highness, please!
– Sir Lionel, would you ever consider using force against me?
– No, of course not, Your Highness, I would never lift a finger against you.
–Good, then we shall stay here tonight, because you will have to use force to take me to an inn. I am not moving from here until it is safe for Sir Darius to travel. Now, if you excuse me, I must inform the Duchess of our new plans.