In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

latest fight was over, and the beds were filled with wounded and dying men.
    â€œI’m useless upriver,” Alanna told the Chief Healer flatly. “There’s only Jon’s or Myles’s armor to clean, and I can’t clean it while they’re wearing it. If I don’t do something, I’ll scream.”
    The Duke looked at her. “You like to be busy, don’t you, Squire Alan?”
    â€œI don’t like to waste my time. Is that the same thing?”
    Duke Baird picked up a white robe and tossed it to her. “Come. I certainly won’t turn you away.” Alanna followed the Duke from bed to bed, doing what he told her to do. If she had ever had a good opinion of war, it vanished by afternoon. Men diedas she watched, and they didn’t care about what they had fought for. They only cared about pain and the Dark God’s arrival. Alanna could only help a little.
    She didn’t notice how much time had passed until the torches were lit. The daylight was nearly gone, and she was starting to tire. Each time she used her healing Gift, she exhausted herself a little more; but she couldn’t stop, not while men were suffering.
    Prince Jonathan found her bandaging a man’s arm. “A fellow called Big Thor told me you were here. What are you doing?”
    It took her a moment to realize someone was talking to her. “What? Oh, Jon.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, leaving a bloody streak. “I’m keeping busy.”
    â€œFaithful is going crazy. Myles says Faithful’s afraid you’ll kill yourself.” Jonathan spotted Duke Baird. “Your Grace? How long has Alan been here?”
    The healer glanced at Alanna. “Great Mithros, lad, I should have sent you away hours ago. You don’t have the training to work so long. Prince Jonathan, get him out of here.”
    â€œNonsense,” Alanna protested, her ears roaring now that her concentration was broken. “I’m as fit as—” She stumbled, and Jon caught her.
    â€œYou certainly are,” he said dryly. Ignoring her protests, he steered her out of the tent. “He’s been here all day?” he asked Baird, who followed them.
    The Duke nodded. “And he’s saved more men than I can count. Go to bed, lad,” he ordered Alanna. “You’ve done more than your share here. The worst is over.”
    Alanna was still arguing as Jon mounted Darkness and swung her up before him. “My, you’re a quarrelsome little fellow,” he murmured in her ear as they set off. “You’re dead on your feet. Why didn’t you stop?”
    Alanna leaned back against her prince, feeling very tired. Darkness, ignoring the double burden, picked his way along the river path. “They needed help,” she rasped.
    Jonathan nodded to Imrah’s sentries as they bypassed that camp. “Why did you have to go there in the first place?”
    â€œI wasn’t useful where I was.” She sighed gratefully, glad for his strong arm around her. “Hm?” she murmured.
    â€œI said , must you always be useful?”
    â€œYes.”
    They rode on silently for a few moments beforeJon remarked thoughtfully, “Perhaps I could make myself useful there, too, instead of attending a lot of meetings where Roger makes the decisions and never asks how I feel. Think it’s worth a try?”
    Alanna yawned, half-turning so her head was tucked under Jonathan’s chin. “Anything’s worth a try.”
    A yowl in the darkness greeted them as Faithful informed Alanna, Healing is all very well, but not if you kill yourself in the process. And do you enjoy snuggling up to Jonathan like a lovesick girl?
    Alanna sat bolt upright. “Now, you listen to me, you prissy animal—” she began.
    â€œYour Highness. You’re back late.” Jem Tanner, a spear in his hand, stepped out of the woods. “And Squire Alan. Gadding