Fanfic:Patrol at the Citadel

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Patrol at the Citadel
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Riahana Ferria, Gaidar Captain, Warder to Gareth Tomosan Asha'man, and mother to Tia and Einion Tomosan. Accomplished archer and swordswoman with a reputation in the Yards for being tough, but fair. She would push those who she trained to be their very best, and would accept nothing less. It had been some time since she and her family returned to the Tower. Their time in Duron seemed like a lifetime ago.

Standing atop the Citadel walls, Ria could not help but be somewhat reflective of her life. While she could still best most in the Yards with sword and bow, there were days she could feel her years bearing down. One small part of her wondered how long she could continue living the life of a Gaidar, but then what was the alternative? She was not cut out to be a submissive housewife, and doubted it was what her husband wanted of her.

The Gaidar Captain couldn't help the smirk as she wondered what Gareth would think of such an image. Her smirk turned more to a smile as she felt her bond with him, though she could feel the distance given that he was back at the Tower, and she was on rotation at the Citadel in the Borderlands. She'd taken a small group of unbonded Gaidin and Gaidar, plus a couple of select Ji' to give all of them a chance to put to use the skills they practice each and every day. Ria had been away from the Tower for nigh on three weeks, and was just two days from returning to the Tower and her family. She would never let it show to those who were serving under her for this mission, but she was very much ready to be home. Not that she didn't enjoy her time away from the Tower, quite the contrary, but she preferred it when shared with Gareth. Some might thing she was pining for the man, but she just missed him. She came from the Sha'hal family and the Sha'hal women were too stubborn to pine.

"Gaidar Captain, the Citadel Commander asked if you would be willing to lead one of the patrols to check the perimeter?" asked Ardwon Gaidin, one of those under her command for the duration of the mission to the Citadel.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Ria let go of her moment of reflection. When she turned to face the young Gaidin, she simply inclined her head, "Let the Commander know it would be our honor. Once you have informed him, make sure to inform the others to get ready to mount up."

Ardwon paused, "You mean to bring the two Ji, as well?"

Ria arched a brow at his question, "Yes, I do. I have sparred with both, and they can hold their own with their preferred weapons. Part of the reason they are here is to get a taste of what the Blight is like."

"But they are unproven in battle," the Gaidin countered.

The Gaidar Captain took a slow breath, her brow still arched, "I seem to recall a certain Ji'alantin who was so desperate to join a patrol group sent to the Citadel that he tried to sneak his way in by hiding amongst the supplies meant for the Citadel. I also recall this same Ji' begging me to let him join us when he was discovered. I believe I may have used a similar argument as you when I tried to suggest it not a good idea, but the Ji was more stubborn than any Sha'hal woman in my family…it didn't matter what punishment he'd have to endure from the Mistress of Training when we returned."

Ria watched Ardwon's expression as she relayed the story of him as a Ji, and saw his cheeks flush red. She softened her expression, "And if I recall, you were terrified when we ran into the two trollocs, but held your own." She paused for a moment, "Now. . .as I said, I've sparred with our two Ji', and I personally selected them to join us. I was hoping you would act as a sort of mentor to them during our stay here. Having said that, it has been a quiet three weeks, and we've seen nothing in the way of action. I'm pretty sure all of us could use the chance to stretch our legs."

Ardwon couldn't help but look a bit sheepish, "I spoke out of turn, Gaidar Captain, and should have trusted your judgement. I will make sure the commander is aware we will take one of the patrols this afternoon, and see to it everyone is ready to leave when you give the command."

Ria smiled, "Thank you, Ardwon Gaidin. I will meet you at the stables shortly." Once the Gaidin had disappeared, Ria looked out towards where their patrol would take them. She felt unsettled, and with reason. . .while the Citadel did not come under constant attack, things seemed unusually quiet. Just as long as everyone made it back. Her teasing motto when she took parties to the Citadel was, "No dying today!"

Footsteps echoed off the Citadel walls as she made her way down the staircase and through the maze to the stables. Ji'dar Pria had made sure Lex was saddled and ready to go. Ria nodded to the Ji' as she stepped over to her mount, "Thank you. Finish getting yourself ready." She then checked the quiver of arrows strapped to her right calf before putting the bowstring on her bow. With one last check of her armor, sword and her horse's gear, Ria pulled herself into the saddle.

Five of her group, including her, wore the Fancloak, and two wore the Ji's dark grey uniform. As the party formed up in front of the gate, she turned to face them all, "We've been asked to run one of the patrols to check the Citadel perimeter. We all talked about how quiet things have been since we arrived. We are all very much aware we leave in two days' time. . .but we are not home yet. Stay sharp, stay focused, and no stupid heroics if something does go sideways while we are out there.

"Those of you in the Fancloak, keep an eye out for our Ji'. As for you two?" she turned her gaze to the two Ji'. "Remember your training…remember the Void. For all of us. . .No dying today!" Everyone laughed softly, though there was a nervous edge to it from each of them. If pressed, Ria would admit to feeling a bit of uncertainty for the patrol, but they had a job to do. She looked to the gate-keeper and nodded.

Patrols were often monotonous, but a necessary duty to ensure the Citadel was not taken unaware. The path taken by patrols varied somewhat, though their time away from the Citadel was typically around four hours. As they covered ground, and time ticked away, the uncertainty Ria felt seemed to grow. Not wanting to let it dominate her, she let the Void envelop her, pushing aside distracting thoughts that could have the imagination running rampant if she weren't careful.

The party were spread out such that they would not be an easy target for an ambush, but close enough to come to each other's aid if the need arose. Everyone took turns at the front, and it happened to be Ria's turn as they approached a series of outcrops. Something stirred within the Gaidar Captain, and she held up a fist to scan their surroundings.

Ardwon Gaidin approached and spoke softly, "What is it, Gaidar Captain?" "Shadowspawn are somewhere nearby. Within a half mile, and if I were a gambling woman," she replied. There were enough hummocks and hills around that the party couldn't see beyond one of the nearby rises. Nothing in her surroundings screamed ambush, but something was nearby. Looking over her shoulder, Ria addressed the entire patrol, "Be alert. I want my strong archers ready to fire at the first sign of trouble."

Ji'dar Pria asked, "Are we expecting trouble?"

Looking to the young woman who sat to her left, Ria replied, "We are on patrol beyond the walls of the Citadel. We are always expecting trouble." As she answered the question, Ria had unslung her bow, prepared to fire if they were attacked. "Let's move out. I want to finish our circuit before the sun gets too low on the horizon." She hated being beyond the walls after dark, though she'd done it many times before.

Still leading the group, Ria crested the next hill along their patrol route, and what was the chance of shadowspawn became reality, as before them a group of perhaps twenty Trollocs were crossing their path. Their scouts saw Ria just as she saw them, and a war cry came up from the group.

Without hesitation, Ria pulled arrows from her quiver, and called, "Archers fire!" They were outnumbered, and it wouldn't take long for the trollocs to close the distance. There was not a chance the beasts would run away, as they were a bloodthirsty lot. Pulling the Void to her like an old friend, Riahana let lose an arrow, and it sunk into the eye socket of the Trolloc that raised the alarm. Two more fell on either side of him, but now the group was quickly closing distance between Ria and her patrol.

The bow was a good weapon for ranged combat, but Ria preferred her sword when things got up close and ugly. Trading bow for sword, Riahana engaged the first of the beasts to reach the patrol. Lex reared up and kicked out with her front hooves, knocking the boar-headed creature square in the chest. Using her legs, Ria spun Lex around and sliced at the beast's neck, decapitating it.

Another closed in from her left side, and it stood taller than Ria in the saddle. The thing was huge, and had a reach on it that would intimidate some of the most hardened warriors. These thoughts slid away as Ria held the Void about her, and engaged the tallest trolloc she'd ever seen. Another trolloc attempted to come up behind Lex, but got a hoof squarely to the skull. Ria kept her seat as she parried a blow from the tall, goat-headed beast that was doing his best to eliminate Lex.

Not willing to lose her horse to the Trolloc, Ria launched herself from her saddle, tackling her opponent to the ground. She attempted to drive her sword through his neck, but he was too quick, and parried her stroke before launching her off of him. Rolling up to her feet, Ria went into Lion on the Hill, but as two more Trollocs seemed to take interest and circle her, she adjusted her stance to The Leopard in High Gras.

It was never easy to tell if certain Trollocs were smiling, snarling, or frowning, and the tall beast was no different. Somewhere within the depths of her mind, she suspected he wasn't just smiling, but smirking. Three to one odds, after all, should work in the favor of the shadowspawn. Unfortunately for them, they were underestimating the ability of the woman before them.

The trio tried to close in on the Gaidar Captain, but executed Cyclone on the Plain, her blade whipping around as if she were the vortex of her very own cyclone, forcing the Trollocs back. Before they could react, she struck at the chest of the third Trolloc, before dropping to her knee and pivoting to thrust her blade into the abdomen of the tall beast, finishing Lizard in the Thornbush. Her thrust to the tall trolloc's abdomen hit its mark, and she quickly stood, bringing the blade up in a vertical slice before kicking the now disembowelled body away from her. One of the two remaining Trollocs charged her, and she did her best to weave her blade around his, attempting to slice at his neck, but her attempt at The Dandelion in the Wind did nothing more than parry the beast's blade aside.

The second Trolloc took the chance to close distance and attempted to attack Ria from the side. With a quick side step, Ria twisted her wrists and sliced at the beast's now exposed mid-section, successfully executing Cutting the Wind. She followed up by arcing her blade around and decapitating the Trolloc before turning her attention to the last of the trio that thought they could best her.

Around her, the other Gaidin, Gaidar and Ji' were engaged in their own battles. Ria knew at least one of her people was down, but she hadn't seen who, or what happened. There were more Trollocs on the ground than there were of her party, and the tide was definitely turning. Her focus was still on the fight before her. She would be no good to her people if she was injured or worse. The last Trolloc was as brazen as the first two and charged with a thrust aimed at Ria's head. She used The Falling Leaf to parry the attack. Without hesitation, she slashed horizontally at the beast as she executed The River Undercuts the Bank, and beheaded the beast before it could even react to her attack.

Now with breathing room, and a chance to scan the battlefield before her, Ria saw it was a Gaidin who was down, and a quick scan suggested it was Ardwon. Ji'dar Pria fought with her war axe not far from his body, and was doing her best to hold her own against a Trolloc. What Pria couldn't see was another Trolloc approaching from behind, and Ria didn't hesitate as she closed distance, her blade held diagonally across her body as she used the stance The Swallow Glides to the Branch. Closing distance, she then transitioned into The Swallow Takes Flight with a diagonal slash to engage the Trolloc before making a quick thrust.

The Trolloc parried both and brought his blade around in a big arc. He left himself open, though, as Ria kneeled and once again executed a hard, fast horizontal strike, The River Undercuts the Bank, and disembowelled the beast. She was now back to back with Ji'dar Pria, and heard an inhuman scream to her right. Charing at them was one of the last Trollocs.

"Let's end this!" Ria called, and placed one hand at the cross-guard of her sword, and the other at its point before she launched the blade at the Trolloc, who was now five feet away. The blade sunk into the beast's neck, and it slumped to its knees before toppling backwards. Riahana closed the distance to the Trolloc and scanned the battlefield as she pulled her blade out of its body.

Everyone was covered in blood, but it was hard to tell what was Trolloc blood or the result of injury. Ji'dar Pria was kneeling at Ardwon's side, holding his hand. Ria looked to the Ji'alantin that was with their group, "Help Gaidar Anasha gather the horses. Get the first aid pouch and bring it to me." The young man nodded and ran off.

Ria knelt opposite Pria, and looked down to Ardwon. He'd been stabbed in the abdomen, but he was alive. Could they get him back to the Citadel in time to have one of the Yellows heal him?

Before Ria could say anything, Pria said, "He saved my life. . .bloody fool, and look where it's gotten you."

Ardwon gave a weak smile, "It will get me into a comfortable bed with my fill of food. I know what I'm doing." Ria noticed his voice was weak, but she was determined not to lose him. The other Ji arrived and handed her the first aid kit. Ria was no healer, but she knew enough to put pressure on a wound. She used some of the dressings to do just that, then looked to Pria, "Ji'dar, apply pressure. We've got to keep pressure on the wound until we get him back to the Citadel."

One of the other Gaidin, Dorien, stepped up, "We can put him in front of me on my draft horse. I'll make sure he doesn't fall, and I can keep pressure to the wound."

It wasn't ideal, but it was the best option they had. Riahana nodded, "Let's make it happen. Ardwon, you won't like me much."

The man grimaced, "Not if you make this blasted thing hurt any more than it does."

"I need you to sit up," Ria replied, and looked to Pria, "And you can help me get him up." The Gaidin grunted through the pain as they sat him up. The Gaidar Captain made quick work of bandaging him up. "Ok. . .now to your feet, Gaidin," she ordered as she and Pria got his arms over their shoulders and lifted.

Dorien was a beast of a man, standing over six feet tall, and he stepped up to help get Ardwon on to the back of his draft horse before mounting up himself. Before long, everyone was mounted, and Pria had the reins of Ardwon's chestnut gelding. The order was given, and the party backtracked back to the Citadel. They did indeed get in before dark, and were greeted with one of the healers. He looked grim, but replied, "We will do what we can."

Once Ardwon was carted off, Riahana looked to the others, "Go get cleaned up. Let's meet in the mess hall for dinner, and perhaps a drink or two, eh?"


The day of their scheduled departure came, and Ria entered the stables to find Lex saddled and ready to go. Ardwon's mount had a halter and lead on, as Pria walked him out with her own horse. Most of the rest of the group were in the main courtyard of the citadel, along with the citadel commander, and an Aes Sedai Riahana did not know.

The commander spoke first, "We always appreciate the support we get from the Tower, Gaidar Captain. We appreciate, as well, that you dispatched the group of Trollocs. You saved us some grief, to be sure. I just wish you'd done so without injury to your men."

At that moment, Ardwon was escorted to the yard with Dorien's help. His was the worst injury, though there were a couple of broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and a sprained knee from the others. Ria looked to Ardwon, and then back to the commander, "The injuries will heal, Commander. I am sure our Ji' have learned a thing or two, and our Gaidin and Gaidar like to keep their skills sharp. Thank you for your hospitality, as always."

With that, the commander nodded to the Aes Sedai, who opened a gate to the Tower's traveling yards. Ria waited until the rest of her party were through, gave the Citadel one last look, and followed her group, more than ready to be home.