Legend of Cotte

The Bite

Cotte sighed as the rabbit turned slowly over the rotisserie. The delicious smell wafting from the fire was making her stomach growl in anticipation of a feast. The rabbit continued to spin slowly, held steady by the hand of Maria, her manservant. Cotte chuckled at the word, manservant. To be proper, it should be womanservant. Although, from what she had heard, it was appropriate to refer to them as maidservant.

Ah, why should I care what she is? She’s still here, no matter what I call her. Cotte thought irritably. She knew she was avoiding the real issue, but daren’t confront it just yet. In the meantime; “To much paprika. The meat only needs a little bit. And add just a pinch more salt. There. Six more turns, and then finish it was the sesame seeds.” Cotte instructed.

“Yes , mistress.” Maria murmured meekly. She was a far cry from the dirty, greasy-haired bandit Cotte had spared two weeks ago. Now her raven-hair was neatly brushed, shiny, and done up with a red bow at the nape of her neck. Her woolen dress was neat and well washed, a little worn and mended in places, but still serviceable. I really should get her a new dress at the next town. It would be a little much for a maid, perhaps, however a girl needed more than one dress to call her own! Cotte had made her burn her Blackwold clothes the first day, after catching them crawling with vermin.

A wolf’s howl brought her back to reality. “Alright, Maria. That should be enough. Let’s eat!” Cotte said eagerly. Maria carefully took down the rabbit and set it onto one of the tin plates. Removing her knife, she carefully sliced the meat. Once she had carved a portion off, she passed the other plate to Cotte.

Cotte grabbed the plate eagerly and prepared to chow down. As she reached for the haunch, she noticed the size of the portion that Maria had given herself. That amount is barely big enough to feed a mouse! Let alone a grown human! Cotte was scandalized, and a touch hurt that Maria would starve herself. Without hesitation, she sliced about half of the rabbit that was left and put it on Maria’s plate.

“Oh, no mistress. I couldn’t take that.” Maria protested. “I’ll be fine, I promise. You need to keep up your strength.”

“Nonsense.” Cotte said firmly. “You need to eat as much as I do. I won’t have you starving. What a cruel beast you must think me to be if you are willing to go hungry. What poor thanks I would have for one who cooked the food. Now, eat up, and don’t do this again, understand?”

“Yes mistress.” Maria said quietly. She sounded upset. Still, she ate vigorously and soon had polished off the entire plate. After dinner she began gathered the plates and went to the stream to wash them clean and replaced them in the panniers. Cotte watched with a critical eye as she smoked her pipe. When the weed had burned low, she turned the bowl upside down and tapped it against the tree trunk to knock out the dottle.

“Get some sleep. We’ll need to be on the road before first light.” Cotte told her.

“Yes, mistress.” Maria said calmly. She carefully laid her bed down and stretched out on the ground. A few minutes later, the sound of soft snoring could be heard. Cotte smiled and rolled over. The gentle wind softly rustled the leaves above her, making a soothing lullaby that soon carried her off to slumber.

A scream awoke Cotte with a start. She rolled over and froze. A pair of wolves was tearing at Maria’s dress, shredding it. Blood already coated their jaws and the shadowed figure of the girl beneath was terrifyingly still.

“MARIA!” Cotte screamed. She snatched her javelin from her pile of armor next to her and hurled it at the wolf. The point passed cleanly through the wolf’s eye and came to a halt a full handspan in. The wolf gave a liquid gargle and collapsed onto the ground. Cotte reached for another, but the second wolf was already upon her. She barely dodged the savage jaws as the clacked shut where her head had been. She needed her weapons. It was no good, she realized. She had dodged the wrong way. Her armor and weapons were on the wrong side of the wolf. The beast seemed to recognize it too. Its glowing yellow eyes flashed hungrily as it licked its blood-soaked chops. No doubt it was thinking of the nice Hobbit dessert it was about to have.

I hate to disappoint, but you’re going to have to get your meal elsewhere, Cotte grunted. Backing away slowly, she kept her gaze locked on the wolf. Memorized every detail. The coarse brown fur of its face, the oddly-shaped muzzle, stained with red, and the massive hide of the creature. It easily stood a full two feet above her. Its jaws looked big enough to swallow her whole! It gimped slightly, favoring its right foreleg. Cotte could see the way the fur parted there was different than on the other leg. An old injury perhaps? It could slow it a bit, giving her a chance. Too late!

The wolf leaped before Cotte could finalize her plan. It landed above her, fetid breath on her face. Cotte looked up and saw the delight in its eyes as it had her where it wanted her. Cotte frantically tried to wiggle out, but was only able to squirm a short distance. The wolf set its paw on her chest and growled happily, opening its maw wide. She stared defiantly into the jaws of death, daring the wolf to do its worst.

CLANG! Cotte read the surprise and pain in the wolf’s eyes. Then a: “Oh, bugger.” A loud, THUNK!, followed. Cotte, the wolf and Maria stared at the stub of handle protruding from Maria’s fist, the rest of the skillet lying on the ground.

RUN! Cotte desperately wanted to shout, but couldn’t form the words. The wolf stepped off her chest and all Cotte could think was how sweet the feeling of being able to breath truly was. She sucked it into her bruised and aching lungs. A moment passed before she could make out details once again.

Maria was backing into a tree, holding the stub of the skillet as if to bludgeon the wolf again. Her eyes were wide with fright, and her hair was in disarray, Cotte noticed abstractly. Maria was shouting at her, it sounded as if she wanted her to run. Cotte couldn’t do that however, not while Maria was in danger. Slowly, painfully, she made her way over to her armor.

Every step burned in agony, her muscles were like water. The scratches on her chest from the wolf’s paw were lines of fire. Cotte gritted her teeth against the pain and hurried her pace, trying desperately to reach her spear that was sticking up out of the pile of armor. She raised up her hand. Almost…there…

Cotte felt her hand grasp the shaft of her spear and turned just in time to see the wolf lunge at Maria. The other girl shrieked and threw the handle at the beast; it bounced of its skull and seemed to only irritate it. The wolf’s jaws connected with Marias side, the teeth sinking into her dress. Her face contorted with pain as she hammered at its head with her fists. Cotte staggered to her feet and stumbled forward. The wolf was too intent on its prize to notice her until it was too late. Cotte used the last energy in her arms to thrust the spear between its ribs. The wolf screamed, a horrible sound that rose in pitch until Cotte wished she could shut her ears. The howl faded to a soft gurgle, and then the body slumped to the right and hit the ground with a solid thump.

The sound of pained breathing filled the clearing for a moment as Cotte and Maria struggled to catch their breath. Cotte, for her part, was feeling as if she had gone a dozen rounds with a dwarf at the Prancing Pony. A drunk dwarf. Everything hurt. But wait a minute; Maria had been hurt far worse than she. What if…? Cotte looked up at Maria’s face. It was so pale, it seemed to put snow to shame.

“Maria?” Cotte asked fearfully. It can’t happen like this. I was supposed to protect her. Cotte’s mind whipped around and around as she prayed to whatever gods might be listening.

She breathed a sigh of relief as Maria’s eyelids fluttered. They opened slightly. The irises were foggy, she gazed sightlessly at Cotte. “Mistress?” Her voice was a whisper at death’s door.

Revitalized, Cotte grasped Maria’s hand. “Hold on Maria.” She said urgently. “Stay with me.”

“It’s so cold.” Maria whispered. “So…cold.” Her breathing sounded labored.

“I know it’s cold. I’ll build a fire in a minute. I need you to stay awake.” Cotte said urgently. In her mind she was running over the possibilities. They were deep in the forest, at least four days from the nearest village, and that was no guarantee that they could help. It was five days to the nearest town, but it might as well have been on the other side of the ocean for all the good it did her. She didn’t have much in her back in the way of medicine. She had needed to resupply for a while, but hadn’t had the opportunity…wait! Cotte wanted to smack her head at her stupidity.

With another murmured instruction to stay with her, Cotte let go of Maria’s cold hand and raced to her pannier. Thrusting her hand deep, she ignored the sound of rations breaking and probed deeper. Her questing fingers finally found a large sealed jar. She quickly pulled it out. A dark green liquid swirled within. Athelas extract.

Cotte flew back to Maria’s side. Pulling the stopper with her teeth, she set the mouth of the jar between the other girl’s lips and began pouring slowly. Come on, drink! Cotte almost felt like cheering when she saw the Adam apple bob on Maria’s throat. That’s my girl! She praised. When almost half the contents were gone, she pulled the bottle back and placed the stopper back in. In case we need it later. Cotte was relieved to see a faint tinge of color come back to Maria’s cheeks. The athelas, she knew, would slow infection and bleeding, perhaps bying enough time.

Cotte grabbed their cloaks and carefully wrapped them around Maria to keep her warm. Cotte rushed to their pile of gear and began sorting. Hurriedly donning her armor, she made a second pile of things to keep and discarded the rest. Her javelins would stay in case of more wolves, her shield would be used to drag Maria, and the athelas. Then, all she would take would be enough food and water to see her to the nearest village. With luck, she could be there the morning after tomorrow if she didn’t stop.

Finished, Cotte strode to the nearest tree and used her belt knife to cut down a pair of sturdy branches. Removing the smaller twigs and foliage, she lashed them to her shield to fashion a makeshift toboggan. Dragging it over to Maria, she tugged her body onto the shield and secured her with the last of the rope, using her last pair of clothes as padding. Cotte put her precious pannier of food, water and medicine on the toboggan for safekeeping. Picking up the shafts, she began trudging in the direction of the human village.

The night air was chilly, and the canopy blocked out most of the light from the moon, reducing everything to shadowed blurs. Cotte kept a sharp watch, flinching at every snapping twig or odd shape in the darkness. She imagined she could feel the gaze of wolves or bears upon her, waiting.

A pained groan behind her gave her pause. She glanced over her shoulder to see if Maria was alright. The darkness reduced her to a vague shape. She could just see Maria’s face. Her eyes were dancing underneath their lids. Cotte breathed a sigh of relief at seeing the small color still remaining on her cheeks, darkening them only slightly. The athelas had done its job well, for now. Cotte resumed walking on.

Hours seemed to turn to days as she trudged on. Her legs turned to leaden weights, threatening to collapse on her at any moment. Her feet throbbed and bled as rocks and roots clutched or cut them. Her arms burned from the weight of her burden and dragging it over the ground, and her hands had gone blessedly numb, ending the deep pain that had been emanating from her palms. Cotte kept her gaze firmly ahead of her and told her body to shut up. I can’t give up. Just a little further. I can go just a little further, she chanted. The words filled her mind, almost blocking out the sound of Maria’s labored breathing. It was a drumbeat that she marched to. Cotte could only pray that it didn’t turn out to be a dirge.

Cotte barely noticed the campsite until she stumbled into it. She pulled up just short of the campfire, staring blearily around in surprise. It was then that she saw the human woman with a sword in her hand, standing across the fire. Beside her, a tall elf stared in surprise form her place on a log, a long staff in one hand as if she had been in the process of getting up.

They all stared in frozen tableau, unsure of what to do next. The sound of Maria’s soft moan broke the spell. “Please, help my friend.” She begged.

The elf sprang from her seat and hurried over. “Arlowyn, get hot water, quickly. I’ll perform the spell. Do not worry, young hobbit,” she addressed Cotte gently while the other woman bustled off with a waterskin in hand. “She will be fine. Warm yourself at the fire while I tend to her”

Cotte wearily dragged herself to the fire while the slim elf knelt over Maria. Her soft words turned to shock at the size of the wound as her probing fingers pulled back the rough bandage of cloaks.

“I gave her some Athelas extract.” Cotte said nervously. “It was all I could think to do.”

“You did fine. Her wound has already started to heal.” The elf said absently. She probed the wound slightly and then withdrew. Holding her staff over Maria, she began chanting something in high elvish. Cotte felt the hairs on her arm try to stand on end. The feel of…pressure, that was building up like champagne in a shook bottle, made her lean back wide-eyed. The elf was wielding some really powerful magic! Maria gasped and shook like dregs in a dropped bottle, clenching the cloaks tightly around her, as if to protect herself from attack. She was killing her! Cotte took a step forward but was stop by a hand on her shoulder. The human woman…what was her name, Arlowyn…shook her head and said softly: “She means only to heal, little hobbit. Your friend will be fine, I assure you. Can you tell me what attacked you?”

Cotte stared. “Wolves.” She mumbled. “Attacked us after we turned in. No watch, didn’t think it was needed.” She barked a bitter laugh. “I guess I can think of a need now.”

“Do not blame yourself, mistress hobbit.” Arlowyn chastised. “There was no way you could have known.”

“I should have.” Cotte contradicted, staring as the elf continued her efforts over Maria. “I knew the forests were dangerous. I should have anticipated an attack. It’s my fault.”

“Not even you can determine the hand of fate, little one.” Arlowyn probably meant to sound comforting, but Cotte rejected it out of hand. She should have done something, or Maria wouldn’t be lying there on the ground with a bloody great wound in her! Speaking of which…

Maria was surrounded by a green glow, seeming to emanate directly from her body. The elf’s chanting had deepened, coming not just from her mouth, but seemingly from the rocks, trees, even the very wind seemed to whisper the words. This was powerful magic indeed! Cotte was touched that the elf would risk so much power and danger for a complete stranger. She half-wondered what the price of this service was, but quickly pushed it from her mind. Whatever the price was, she would pay it. She would.

A moment later the elf rocked back on her heals, exhaustion painted on her fair features. Maria blinked and sat up slowly, confusion filling her features. “Where…where am I?” she asked dazedly.

“Maria!” Cotte flung herself on Maria, knocking her back against the tree. Maria gave a whoosh!, as the air was knocked from her lungs. A moment later Cotte felt her arms clasp her in a great hug. “Mistress?” came the confused voice above her. Recalled to what she was, Cotte debated whether or not to get up, but immediately ignored it. Hobbits were, after all, an affectionate people! Let the others think what they will.

After a few minutes, Cotte heard Arlowyn cough politely, and finally sat up. Maria clung stubbornly for a second before letting go. Cotte was deeply grateful for that, at least the affection wasn’t one sided! She had come to like the raven haired bandit, and felt incredibly guilty for letting her get hurt. She could do something about that, and soon. But later, she could think about it later. For now, she had her friend back, and that was all that needed to be known.

Dawn at the campsite turned out to be full of bustle. Arlowyn was quickly covering up all signs that a camp had even been made there, burying the burned wood deep and piling dirt until it was level with the rest of the ground. Then she replaced the plug of grass she had apparently cut the night previously. Cotte and Maria were already prepared to depart. Cotte wanted to get back to where they had last camped to see if there was anything still there, before coming back to the next village. The elf was giving last minute instructions to Maria and Cotte before she and her companion left.

“Make sure she gets plenty of rest and food.” She was saying. Cotte pulled her mind back and listened sharply. “Magic takes strength not only from nature, but from the body as well. She will need time to recover, but recover she will.”

“I thank you, milady.” Maria murmured and curtsied deeply. Cotte had to settle for a bow. Curtsying was out for someone in warden’s armor!

“I thank you as well. If ever I can be of service to you, please let me know lady…?”

“Caleviel. My name is Caleviel.” The elf told her.

She shook hands and then departed with her friend. Cotte watched as they walked back up the road in the direction of the village. She wondered if they would meet up in the village, or further down the road. Wherever they met, Cotte was sure that this meeting would not be their last. The unlikely pair turned a corner in the road and disappeared back into the forest.

Cotte turned back to Maria and smiled. She was glad to see Maria standing, if not confidently, then at least normally. That confidence would be something to work on! Cotte started down the road, Maria at her side.

“Maria, I have decided to add something to our nightly routine.” Cotte began.

“Oh?” Maria asked. There was a peculiar note of fear, as if of some new chore. If only she knew.

“Yes. I’ve decided to teach you what I know of the sword, and the spear, and the bow. If we’re ever attacked again, you will at least be able to defend yourself, and possibly me!” Cotte paused a moment, realizing something. “Uh…I never got a chance to thank you for saving my life.” She admitted sheepishly.

Maria’s face split into a beaming smile. Cotte was stunned at how the smile lit up her face. The world suddenly seemed to be a bright and friendly place because of that smile. “Thank you, mistress!” she said excitedly. “And you’ll really teach me how to fight?”

“Of course. As soon as you’re healed up enough.” She cautioned.

“Hoorah!” Maria practically skipped down the road. Cotte laughed at her antics. Together the two walked down the road.

Cotte and Maria had found out the truth of their friendship with each other and found two great friends that were already legends in their own right. Soon, her legend would shine just as brightly as the two they had just crossed paths with.