In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 9, Chapters 14, 15, and 16

Chapter 14

At 3am - before most people have managed to get any sleep - the soldiers receive their marching orders, and then more war stuff happens.  Nikolai quite enjoys it, because he's used to it now.  He ends the chapter by watching different coloured horses (Russian and French) crashing into one another.

Chapter 15

The mounted soldiers are referred to as 'dragoons'.  This is the first time I've heard that term outside of a Square Enix game, and I'm disappointed that there are no dragons or people jumping with lances.

Being so far away, Nikolai is able to follow the flow of battle.  It's mentioned, a few times, that his experience as a hunter is helping, so all the chapters I don't enjoy do have a common theme.  Nikolai uses his instincts to choose the best point to launch an attack.  He has some success, including knocking a French officer from his horse.  Weirdly (sarcasm), he doesn't look like an enemy on the ground - he looks like a frightened young man.  He surrenders before Nikolai has to decide to kill him.  Nikolai now feels uneasy and guilty about the whole thing.  He's also pretty sure he's going to be disciplined for having his men charge without orders.  He's praised instead, and gains a St George's Cross, but still doesn't feel good.  He goes to see the prisoners, looking for the Frenchman with the dimple who he knocked off his horse.  He seems fine, with only a flesh wound across his arm, and waves at Nikolai in greeting.  Nikolai feels even worse.  He spends days mulling over the issue.  He hasn't been particularly brave, just braver than those around him, and he doesn't feel like he's done anything noble - he feels ashamed.   The world carries on turning around him, and he's given command of a hussar battalion for his bravery.

Chapter 16

Natasha is very ill - neither eating nor sleeping, coughing, etc - and her mother and Petya and their entire household have come to Moscow to be with her.  Numerous doctors come to see her.  It doesn't help with her condition, but it helps her family to see something happening.  Tolstoy explains that this is why homeopaths and so on will always exist - because they fulfil a basic mental need to feel that something is being done, the same way that a child asks mother to "kiss it better".  Basically, it's a placebo that helps the whole family feel hopeful and in control.  Count Rostov feels better about spending a thousand rubles a month on Natasha's care than he would if he knew nothing was being done.  Every member of the family gains something from it.  Because of Natasha's illness - the symptoms of which are eating little, sleeping little, coughing, and being mopey - the family don't go to the countryside in the summer of 1812.  I feel like the implication is that Natasha is just being a sulky teenager and that going and getting some fresh air would be a good thing all round.  She starts to get better anyway. because time heals all wounds.