Another row of Priestesses fell behind the shield, some of them injured in a way that Aeotha didn't think possible. They were still moving either way. With jaws broken from thrown rocks, blood thickly foaming out of their mouths even as others kept them propped up. There was so much blood around, so much disarray. People were beginning to think that the wall had fallen, and not that one mage had done this sort of madness. Aeotha didn't know what to tell anyone. She was trying to keep those that fell behind the shield alive, while slowly retreating backwards. Each step had to be careful, one moment of concentration gone and a rock would fly through the shield to strike one of them. Most importantly Fiaethe was behind the shield.
Aeotha wasn't sure if this was the right way to go about things. It was important to save Fiaethe, but was it important enough to abandon those dying, or dead Elves that littered the square? Soldiers were still moving in places, along the wall things were being yelled and soon enough people would pour into the square if they were able to. All at once the wind died. She felt it die even behind her protection. The magic stopped, it was like the weight of the shield gave way, she did not have to focus as much on it as her assistants continued to hold it strong. Aeotha stopped there, looking carefully as she could between rubble and bodies to try and see what was happening. She saw Skandra moving, running, and Aeotha followed him with her eyes. She gripped her staff again.
"I don't understand why." Aeotha said to no one. There were no answers here.
"We have wounded to attend to, until the square is secure stay out of it. Take those that fell away from it to the temple. Regroup there. We need another place to house wounded from the wall. Look for one and report to the temple. The Priestesses who have been inside resting will need to move to the new post and begin with the new wounded. Make sure all of your reports make it to the wall so they know where to carry people." Aeotha's voice rang in importance, but she sagged there against her staff.
Worn in a way she didn't want to say. She didn't know why Elemmire was doing this. Why, if she wanted Fiaethe dead, had she protected her in Maeglin's house? Because Aeotha was there? Because she didn't want to deal with it yet? She wanted to hope for another reason. Madness. Mind control. Something that would say that Elemmire didn't do this because she chose to do it. Anything was better than thinking a friend would attack and not care. Aeotha's limbs ached, and her head felt as though she'd fallen hundreds of feet, not just a few. Impossible as that was, it ached.
She did not want to return to the square just yet. There was Fiaethe to worry about. The shield fell away as they broke from each other and began their duties. Aeotha was left there with Fiaethe and one Paladin. Torn between wanting to run into the square to question Skandra, and Elemmire, or anyone who was alive, and between protecting this woman from whatever may come for her.