A Litany of Angels

During the course of the battle, I lost consciousness several times, lingering between sentience and insensibility. Throughout the day I was aware only of the rain that continued to torture me as it pattered upon my face. Water ran through my neck opening and into my armor, cold and numbing, the terrible sounds of fighting and dying all around. But as the afternoon waned, the rain began to lessen and the sounds to cease. Finally, all was quiet save for a few low moans of those who, like me, lay wounded in the muddy field.

I really don't remember much of what happened then, though I have filled in the blank spaces from what I have been told by those who saved me. A small band of monks and local villagers came into the field looking to do what they could to help. The main vanguard of our army had been destroyed and the medical unit, ineffective to begin with, was totally overwhelmed at the mass of carnage they were expected to clean up.

A vassal and his son found me, and loading me into an improvised litter, hauled me rather roughly from the field, through the woods to the village church near Agincourt. There I spent several days recovering from my wounds. The arrow wounds festered, and I ran a terrible fever for many days. During my deliriums, I remember them pulling the arrows from my body. The pain was so incredible that I passed out and when next I awoke, the fever had broken, and I had three clean wounds that had been laced with woolen thread.

It is strange, or rather it is the most wondrous, amazing thing of my life, that I awoke with the remarkable feeling of a presence in my life. I am sure it is because she had spent so many hours by my side speaking and singing to me, as she tended to my injuries. But when I awoke, I felt her very spirit deep within my soul, and when I regained the use of my senses, I heard her voice somewhere in the room. I didn't know where I was as I lay on a cot lined with straw and covered with a blanket of wool's hair, for all I was aware of was her voice speaking and singing as she tended to others in the large hall. I wanted to call out to her and let her know that I was back, back amongst the living, but all I could do was listen.

Eventually, she found her way to my bed, an angel of mercy come to minister to her wounded patient. When she saw me looking up at her, she smiled, and I knew that I would never love another the way I would love this woman. I didn't even know her name yet, and I was smitten, and there was still so much more for me to learn about her.

"You're awake," she breathed, and my heart jumpstarted as if she had just breathed the breath of life into my soul.

"Yes," I replied, my lips dry and my throat parched.

"Here, let me get you a cup of water." She retrieved some water in a small wooden vessel and sat down on the litter beside me. Gently wrapping an arm around my neck, she lifted me and brought the cup to my lips. I must confess that the effort of rising brought a terrible spasm of pain, especially from my shoulder where the arrow had hit me from above. "Easy, now, just a little to moisten your lips. We shall get you some food, and you can begin regaining your strength."

"How long?" I stammered between the sips.

"How long have you been here? Two weeks," she replied. "You've been quite ill, but I think that your fever has broken."

"You cared for me?"

"Yes, and the others. There now, lie back."

As she nestled my head back onto the burlap pillow, I placed my hand upon her forearm. "Don't go," I whispered.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just setting the cup down. Would you like some more?"

"Not now. In a minute. Thank you."

"You are welcome, Monsieur."

"Please, you needn't be so formal. My name is Leodegrance."

She blushed at my familiarity, but nothing ever dissuaded her from her purpose in all the time I knew her. "The lion. What a brave name. I am called Ann-Elise."

"And where do you come from?"

"Oh, my, so many questions for one so soon returned to this world. I am from here and have lived here all my life."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, what more is there? You need to get some rest, and if you promise not to fall asleep, I'll bring you some food."

I agreed, but I don't remember her returning for I did fall back to sleep and did not awaken until much later when the hall was dark save for some small shafts of light that filtered in from torches mounted outside. I tried to rise, but was immediately shaken by a wave of pain in my left shoulder. A short gasp escaped my lips, and I lay back and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, her hand was on my forehead.

"Shhh," she hissed. "Are you awake again?" she whispered.

"Yes. Have you been here all night?"

"Yes, sleeping on the floor here by your litter."

"On the floor?"

"Yes, of course. What can I do for you?"

Blushing, I stammered, "Well, I... I need to relieve myself."

"I see. Here, let me help you. Do you think you can walk or should I bring a pot?"

"I don't think I'd like the pot. So, I'd prefer to walk."

"Do you think you can?"

"Yes, if you'll just help me. I can't apply any weight to my left arm or shoulder."

"I'm not surprised. Those wounds are not yet healed and will be quite a while mending. If you start them bleeding, the doctor will be angry with me."

"You have nothing to fear. How shall we do this?"

She amazed me with her agility and strength, and before I knew it we were awkwardly making our way across a small courtyard behind the chapel. The ground was wet and cold as late fall should be, and as I had no shoes on it was quite uncomfortable. She directed me to a makeshift wooden gate, and I could tell through the thin illumination that this was an outhouse of sorts.

"Can you manage?"

"Yes, I'm sure that I can," I replied indignantly at the thought of a girl helping me with my most private of personal duties. And I did manage. They had dressed me in a long nightshirt, so I had only to pull it up, which was more of a strain than I would have ever thought imaginable. Even the slightest movements of my arms were painful.

"So, how did I manage that this past week?" I asked as I placed my arm around her for support as she guided me back toward the hall.

"Well, we didn't take you out there, I'm afraid. We usually didn't know there was a problem until it was too late."

"Oh, I'm sorry and... rather embarrassed."

"Don't be. All the others have had the same problem. It is part of our humanity."

"And who cleaned me?"

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