This story takes place right after Cutter and the others have left Leetah alone in Two-Edge's treasure room in the Frozen Mountains to make war on Guttlekraw and his trolls and win back the lost dwelling of the High Ones in ElfQuest Book Four. All characters belong to Wendy and Richard Pini, neither of whom is me. I did not make these elves up; I only borrowed them for my own use, without permission. Thanks for reading. Constructive comments are welcomed :)
A Conversation Between One-Eye and Leetah in Two-Edge's Treasure Room
Almost at once, Leetah entered the first stages of the deepest healing trance she had ever attempted. Her hand drifted to her knife and she began to carefully slash away the strands of Petalwing's silvery wrapstuff encasing One-Eye's body, something that, only moments ago, she had begged Scouter not to do. She had sensed, as the others were busy donning and testing their new armor, a faint flicker of life within the preserver's cocoon! One-Eye was not dead as they had believed! Leetah knew she had to try against all odds to bring him back. It would be her greatest challenge.
As the last strands of wrapstuff fell away from One-Eye's still form, Leetah immediately felt his spirit straining against her in its attempts to be free of the earthly shell that confined it. She held fast, using all her strength and skill as a healer to try to reunite body and rebellious spirit. The struggle was intense, on both sides. As Leetah kneeled there on the cold stone floor, sweat pouring from her brow with the intense effort of the healing, One-Eye sent to her, startling her almost to the point of breaking her healing trance.
Leetah, let me go.
One-Eye?!
Yes! Leetah, I know you're only trying to help, but you have to let me go now.
No! One-Eye, come back to your body! I can heal you. Please let me.
The call of the Palace is so strong here, Leetah. Let me go.
But what of your lifemate Clearbrook? What of Scouter and Dewshine? If not for me, return to life for them. They need you, and the Wolfriders need you.
Clearbrook will understand, in time. And Dewshine carries a cub to help renew the Wolfriders. They will go on just as well without me. This is The Way, Leetah. It's time for me to go the Palace. The others will be there soon, and I'll be waiting.
No, death is my enemy! It will always be my enemy!
Death is as natural as life, Leetah. A Wolfrider's life is often short, as Bearclaw once said, but it is no less sweet because of it. Some day you will understand. Farewell! I go now to the Palace of the High Ones! Ayoooooooah!
With that joyful mental howl, Leetah felt One-Eye's soul break free of her tenuous hold. Tears mingled with sweat on her cheeks as she came out of the trance, exhausted. The small body on the stone slab before her was warm to the touch. The heart beat, and the chest rose and fell slowly and rhythmically. But One-Eye was not there. He had flown, like so many of the Go-Backs that day, beyond her reach. She did not yet know the outcome of Cutter's battle, but she had lost hers. She had lost.
Ashamed, and afraid of what would happen when Clearbrook and Scouter returned (Leetah did not allow herself to think that they might not return), Leetah huddled in a corner of the room where she would not have to look at One-Eye's empty shell and waited for the others to come and release her from Two-Edge's treasure room.