Field Hospital in the Ballroom

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith thought of Breyn, Rhodri and Jon, and all of the men she'd known all of her life, the honorable retainers of the Royce family, the dishonorable cut purses with a sense of humor from Gulltown, even of the Mountain Clans who would be coming, and Piers. Especially Piers. And prayed to the Seven, Rh'llor and the Old Gods that she wouldn't see them in her ballroom and that if she did, she could help them.

She was as ready as she could be. Lines of palettes stretched out before her, each ready for some poor wretched man, for now bearing clean white linens. The stage where the musicians had played was now her operating theatre. She'd had it scrubbed clean with bleach twice. They had thought she was crazy but death lurked like a demon in places where the dirt hadn't been chased away. Large pots of water that could be brought to boiling if fuel was available were resting to clean the white sheets after the blood and shit of life and death had flowed out upon them.

A tall pile of bandages, neatly wound, lay in one corner, along with all the other supplies she could lay her hands on. Once Lord Baldwin had given his permission, the ladies' needlework had become practical, slicing yards of linen into thin strips and then rolling, rolling, rolling until the mound teetered. The mops were ready and again bleach was available to ward off the fevers and chills and gutrots that passed death more surely than bleeding.

The weak of heart cowered in the bowels of the Ladies' Chambers, protected by Sara, taking her new duties as Lady of the Castle very seriously. But here were the warriors who could save the warriors, even if these fair ladies did not think of themselve as such yet. She smiled. Elane was accomplishing miracles, she certainly understood the battle being faced.

[Deleted]

The women of the courts had become nurses now, under Elane's and Lilith's command. Elane had them help the servants gather herbs from Casterly Rock's extensive gardens, and even from the rocks where the sea pounded under the castle walls. Useful minerals could be found there.

She went into the kitchen, and asked to be shown the larders, and brought out what she needed. The citrus fruits would be useful in quelling nausea and vomiting, both of which could happen during an operation or after. She had other herbs brought out, choosing them sparingly. They were rare and expensive, and she didn't want to drain the larders unnecessarily.

[Lilith Royce]

The troops were approaching, but no actions as of yet. The combination of boredom and anxiety gnawed at Lilith's stomach. Generations of men were at stake.

[Deleted]

"Auntie, Aranya once told me that boredom is as deadly as a sword thrust," Elane said, seeing Lilith's expression. "If we nurses are so deadly dull, how much worse can it be for our wounded, when they arrive? We should get the singers and dancers from Sara's wedding to perform small but lively pieces. Laughter is the best medicine, they say. And so is prayer. We must call to Lord Baldwin's septon, and ask him if he will be willing to pray and sing hymns when we need him to."

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith smiled. "I think you get a little ahead of yourself. Our first wave will want nothing but sleep. But perhaps an opportunity for prayer or bit of quiet music in some corner for those who desire it would be good. By all means ask."

[Deleted]

Elane nodded. "It's true, they'll probably want sleep first."

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Lord Baldwin strides in still being followed by Ser Jayson Plumm, and walks about the room thanking the women for their aid. Approaching Lilith and Elane last Lord Baldwin bows to each of them. "Thank you both. You do important and essential work."

Waving his hand, Baldwin looked at his dagger Elena and waved her over, "Lilith this is my daughter Elena. She would like to help you." Pushing forward his shy, bookish daughter Lord Baldwin smiles at her back for a moment, before crushing the expression off his face.

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith bobbed a curtsey, "Thank you, m'lord, we appreciate your confidence. May we wish the blessings of all the gods on your fight."

"Welcome Elana" continued Lilith, approaching her gently, as she would a shy cat. "We are glad to have your assistance." She carefully started asking questions, and found some very sensible answers from the girl. Lord Baldwin was right to be proud of her.

[Bunny-Rabbit]

Lord Baldwin looks about the room and then raises his voice, "Ladies I want to thank you all again for your service. What you do in this room, will be the subject of many stories.

I am not talking about songs, or in the histories. You will be mentioned there, but I am speaking of somewhere much better.

In the years to come a father will turn to his son and say, 'Did I tell you of the time I fought at Casterly Rock. The most noble of women saved my life. I remember her so well, she was so beautiful. I had taken an arrow holding the Rock and would have died for sure if it was not for that women who pulled it from my shoulder, who cleaned the wound, who helped me into a bed. That women is why you are here today.'

That son will one day tell his son, and so on and so on. You don't just save individual lives today, you save the leagues of unborn; Poets and warriors, Lords and Farmers.

Forever your important work will shape the Fate of Westeros."

Nodding to them he listens to the polite applause and walks from the room. Two guards stay watching Elena Lannister like protective hawks.

[Lilith Royce]

Lilith applauded Lord Baldwin warmly and was greatful for his speech. The girls, and they were mostly the young rather than the old, would understand that their job was vital. That men would live or die because of what they would do today.

Lilith brought Elana around, introducing her to Princess Daena, and the ladies of the Targaryen court. When the guards briefly looked away she passed Elana a black dagger as a modest form of protection and then began asking her questions about her needlework. She showed Lilith the trim on her gown, decorated with wildflowers she had done herself. Lilith nodded and asked one of the Casterly washerwomen who was there to help to show Elana the basics of sewing skin, giving her some soft leather to work with. She didn't blanch at the prospect. She had the lion backbone of her kin despite her quiet manner.

[Lilith Royce]

The battle was coming. She could feel it in her bones. She took out her daggers and sharpened them. They would do battle against death today. She stared at the waving ripples of the steel in front of her and again thought what beautiful steel it was. It would need to be.

[Deleted]

Elane was impressed by Elena Lannister's dedication. The girl was quick to learn, and level-headed. As the wounded soldiers began pouring in, she sent Elena to direct the servants to arrange them on the pallets and spare mattresses.

Elane herself began mixing poultices and herbal juices to apply on their injuries. She ordered servants to begin boiling wine to clean the soldiers' open wounds with. The sight of the terrible injuries sickened her, and she thought of what the Royce army might have suffered. That was frightening. But when she heard Aunt Lilith commanding the new nurses in her clear voice, she began to feel calmer. As long as Auntie was there, everything would be all right.

[Axell Lannister]

The doors open, and Steffen Lannister is carried into the hall, being supported by A bloody Nealon Spear, who appears to have lost an ear, as well as two other soldiers. The worm looks halfdead, his eyes half open, his face covered in bruises, and his naked back bearing the marks of several days worth of scourging.

[Deleted]

Elane did not think she could take anymore. "Ser Steffen!" she hurried over and helped the staggering man - he seemed to have lost an ear - who was supporting the Worm. Together, they laid Steffen onto a pallet, face-down, and then Elane gently pushed the earless man onto the adjacent pallet. A servant brought a jug of hot wine.

"This will hurt," she warned, and she poured it onto the bleeding wounds. The man screamed, but she was relentless. One of the maids came to cover it with a poultice, and Elane turned to Ser Steffen. There were angry, red lash marks on his back. "How did you get these?" she asked. They did not look like they'd be inflicted in battle.

[Axell Lannister]

Spear spat.
"Dont bother talking to him. He hasnt spoken since we got him out of there."
He nodded at the wounds on Steffen's back. "That would be from spending the last month or so at the pleasure of the Stag."