Distress: Day 2

Word Count: 12,013

Summary of Events:

Olwyn did some pondering and came to the conclusion that Nychtan was a coward because he wasn't involved in the war and tried to convince her father of as much, only for her father to inform her that Nychtan was from a kingdom that wasn't involved in the war. Olwyn decided to write a letter to her brother Nuaða to apprise him of the situation and see if he could help by identifying some suitable men from among the soldiers of Cynehærdwyn. Nychtan himself proved to be such an annoyance to Olwyn in his courting efforts that she took to going on long daily rides out in the woods so as to avoid him, and on one such ride she went to the nearby river, particularly the ford where returning and departing units crossed . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Really, if she wanted, she could go all the way to Wygþmynd and talk to Nuaða personally; although that journey would necessitate the packing of more food than she presently had with her, as that journey was two or three days if Olwyn wasn’t mistaken.

Besides, if she arrived at the front looking like herself she would be sent back immediately; Uncle Elaþa would see to that, and not likely while allowing her to speak to Nuaða or himself about the matter of Nychtan before she departed.

If she were disguised as a soldier, however, Olwyn might be able to succeed in getting to the front and maybe even staying in hiding there; that would be easier than just going on daily rides and having to think up reasons to explain to anyone just why she was engaging in them all of the sudden.

Father wouldn’t be able to leave Friðærd to go look for her, and she was sure that Nychtan was too much of a coward to come to the front — or at least he was lazy enough that he wasn’t going to go about fighting any sooner than he had to.

Looking up beyond the ford to the trail that the troops followed all the way to the frontlines, Olwyn began to wonder how hard it would be to disguise herself as a young man and join the unit that would be departing shortly.

As she would surely pass as a lad of her own age she would be seen as young, inexperienced, and would likely be kept back from the actual fighting while she spent her time surveying all the young, unmarried men in the ranks and deciding which one she liked.

Once she’d made her decision she could return home on leave, take up her appearance as Olwyn again and could then proceed to inform Father as to whom she would rather be wed to than Nychtan and her courtship with this other man could begin and she would no longer have to suffer the bother and annoyance of Nychtan and his constant efforts to court her.

Pleased with her idea, Olwyn decided it was time to turn back and sneak into the armoury to see if she could get for herself all the materials she needed in order to disguise herself as a soldier of Cynehærdwyn — after all, Nuaða had taught her how to handle a sword and fight in hand-to-hand combat.

Fighting on horseback might be a little more challenging, but Olwyn was pretty sure that as a young and inexperienced warrior she wouldn’t exactly be asked to engage in any combat immediately upon arriving and thus would have time to learn how to do such things before she ended up engaging in any sort of battle.