A Link Between Worlds
A Hobbit Fanfiction (based off the movie)
A Journey Begins...
"Father, is it time?"
Thranduil, great elven king of the Woodland Folk, looked down at his daughter. "Yes, it is time."
She spun around in joy and laughed, happy to finally be able to set foot outside of her woodland home of Greenwood again. Thranduil's daughter, Halien, had been designated as the ambassador of the elven folk and had gone on many a trip to Laketown, Dale, and Erebor, where much of their trade came from. Seeing his daughter so excited made the elven king smile, something that was very rare since his wife had died. Thranduil looked up as his son came into the room.
"All the preparations are ready, Father. You and Halien are ready to set out for Erebor."
"Thank you, Legolas." Halien said as her father simply bowed his head silently. She hugged her older brother and ran off to fetch her mare, Torwen.
Legolas and Thranduil followed closely behind her, happy to finally see her in such a good mood. Lately, she had been a bit gloomy as the realization that she may never be able to leave Greenwood again finally began to sit in her mind. News of her journey to Erebor with her father was like music to her ears. The thought of seeing Erebor once more sang in her mind and heart as they ached to be within the great halls of the Mountain King.
It was the year 2770 of the Third Age and Halien traveled with her father to Erebor, having begged him to let her go with him see the wonders of the city once again. The trades with the Men and dwarves had been slow lately, so Halien rarely got to go out the towns anymore.
Through the vast woods of Greenwood and through the Rhovanian plains, the young elf maiden and her father traveled to the greatest dwarven stronghold. They made their way around Dale and to the gates of Erebor where they were greeted by a group of dwarves. The dwarves led them into the throne room and introduced them to the king.
When her father, the Elven King Thranduil, met with King Thror, the young elf maiden saw his authority, but she also saw his greed. Thror was beginning to grow weary and mad from the greed festering in his heart. She stood next to her father when they bowed before the king, as well as his son and grandson.
"Thank you for seeing us, Thror, King under the Mountain." Thranduil told him. "You remember, my daughter, Halien?"
Halien bowed again to the king and smiled when his weathered face beamed with joy as she said, "It is wonderful to be back in your magnificent and wondrous halls. Dale is just as exciting; the markets are well known throughout Middle Earth and your people are so happy. You continue to prove that you truly are a great king."
Thror was pleased to hear her say this and beckoned her forward. Halien smiled and ran to embrace the king, having grown very close to the king and his family.
"It is so wonderful to see you again, Halien, my dear. We have missed you so." Thror said in a gruff voice as he hugged the elven princess.
"It is great to see you too, old friend." Halien said, beaming at him.
Thrain nodded when she looked up and smiled at him, then turned to bow her head respectfully to Thorin, Thrain's son and Thror's grandson.
"Halien, will you excuse us? There are things the king and I must discuss." Thranduil said.
"Of course, Father." Halien replied, and then bowed to Thror, Thrain, and Thorin, before she turned and left.
Halien went to the outer wall of the fortress that protected Erebor and stared out over the lands towards Dale and smiled.
"It's so beautiful…" Halien said to herself. Being out like this, in the open lands, was just as thrilling as the first time she had set foot out into Greenwood alone. She was still so used to the lush green woods of Greenwood, being able to run through the ever changing paths and ancient trees, free as a bird. A small breeze blew through the halls and a sweet, yet musky scent reached her nose. Her hair billowed around her face, her clothes moving slowly in the breeze.
Thorin came out behind her, saw her gaping at the view- dressed in a light blue tunic dress and soft leather pants with a pair of black boots that reached up to her knees- and chuckled. "You act as though you have never set foot in Erebor before."
Halien turned and looked at him. "I have missed this land very much. It has become like a second home to me, but with the trades slowed and my duty as ambassador not needed as much, it has been hard to come back. It is nice to see the beauty of your kingdom once more."
Thorin smiled. "It's not as beautiful as you. You are not like the other elves we have seen here." He pointed to her hair. "Your hair is like mithril and obsidian, your eyes like emeralds. I am still in awe of your elven beauty each time I see you."
Halien blushed and bowed to the young heir. "You flatter me, sire."
"I simply do my best. Such flattery is necessary with someone of your grace and beauty. Now, would you care to see the rest of Erebor?" Thorin asked her.
Halien smiled and nodded. "Lead on, my prince."
Thorin laughed. "Then, come. Look upon the grandeur of Erebor once more."
Halien nodded and followed him back into the halls of Erebor. She was pleased to get to see the hospitality of dwarves first hand as Thorin took her through endless halls and rooms, showing her the mines, the forges, where they sorted through metals and gems, the armory, everything that he thought would be interesting to her. It seemed as though they spent hours together, Thorin showing her nearly every inch of Erebor. He smiled as she spun in circles, gazing up at the vast columns and stonewalls. Halien climbed up onto a stone pillar and held onto a nitch as she gazed out of the vastness of the halls.
"This is incredible! Your home is much bigger and grander than I remember!" she exclaimed.
Thorin's smile grew bigger as she stayed there for a moment to take it all in. "You are quite the climber. Do you have an excellent view of things from up there?"
"Aye, the view is amazing from here." she replied. "I like to spend more time than my father would allow climbing the trees of my homeland and scouting our borders. I know every inch of Greenwood and could lead you safely through it with my eyes closed."
"Perhaps one day you can show me your home."
Halien looked down at him and smiled. "It would my pleasure, sire." She watched as another dwarf, Balin, called to Thorin and beckoned for Halien to follow them. Halien nodded and slid down the stone pillar, limber as a cat, hugged Balin- telling him how much she had missed him- and they made their way back to the throne. Thorin took his place by his grandfather's side and a dwarf brought out a chest that gleamed like starlight when it was opened. Halien, standing by her father, watched as her father's eyes widened and he cautiously approached the chest, reaching out to it slowly before it was slammed shut. Thranduil looked up at Thror and Halien knew, instantly, that something was wrong. Thorin looked at his grandfather, not understanding what was happening either, and then back at Thranduil.
"Father?" Halien asked as Thranduil turned away to leave.
"We are leaving, Halien." he said.
"But, Father..." she tried to protest, begging him silently to explain.
"Halien, we are leaving." Thranduil repeated, his voice cold.
Halien felt tears in her eyes as she tried to reach out to her father with her mind, only to be met with an icy barricade that startled her so much she stumbled backwards. She turned back to the line of Durin and bowed. "I am sorry, your majesties, if we have offended you or upset you in any way. Thank you for your most generous hospitality." She saw the confusion in Thorin's eyes, as clear as her own. He started to move towards her and Halien heard him silently begging her not to leave, to help him figure out what was going on, but she could not. Her father called to her one final time- his tone even colder than the barricade in his mind- and with one last look at Thorin, the tears in Halien's eyes slipped silently down her cheek, for she knew that the alliance was finished and that she would never again be able to leave Greenwood and come back to Dale and Erebor, to gaze upon its grandness again and even worse, that she may never see Thorin again.
"I am sorry..." she whispered and turned on her heel and hurried to catch up to her father. Behind her, she heard him calling her name, sensing his father, Thrain, stopping him as he made to run after them.
"Let her go, Thorin." she heard him say to his son. "What is done is done."
Halien tried to wipe away the tears as she reached her father, still sensing Thorin's confusion- mirroring her own- and the rage that seemed to brew like a tempest inside her father.
They left the land behind and journeyed back to Greenwood. Halien tried to ask her father why things had happened the way they had, but all Thranduil would say was that the dwarves had stolen from them the treasures of the mountain, refusing to return it. Sighing, her heart aching to go back to the great kingdom, Halien watched as the Lonely Mountain grew ever smaller in the distance.
Some months later, word came from Erebor that Dale was under attack and they needed reinforcements. Thranduil and the elven army he commanded hurried to assist the dwarves, Halien riding at his side. When they reached the city limits, Halien saw the fires burning the lands, the now ruins of Dale alight with a fierce blaze. It was dragon's fire. She watched as the dwarves fled Erebor, smoke billowing from the great doors. Halien was in shock, for they had just been there not too long ago, then she watched as her father looked away from Erebor and chose to forsake the alliance that they forged with the dwarves. In the distance, she could hear Thorin calling out to them for help and she could hear his fear in his thoughts. They were overwhelming and made her feel helpless.
"Thorin…" Halien whispered. She looked to her father, but he turned his head away from the blazing scene below. "Father, we cannot leave them! They need our help!" she called as her father steered the large elk back towards Greenwood.
"I will not risk the lives of our kin to save them. I will not endure the wrath of the dragon." Thranduil said.
"You cannot do this!" she cried.
Thranduil stopped, smacking her across the face. Her brother, Legolas, stopped and stared in fear for his sister. "I am your father, and more importantly, your king. You will not disobey me again."
Halien felt anger rising as tears fell from her eyes, a trickle of blood sneaking out of the corner of her lips. "You are not my king…" she said, a sudden venom to her words as she fought the urge to strike him back. "My king would honor his alliances, no matter what the cost. If you will not honor the alliance, then I will, as is my duty as the ambassador of our people."
She turned away, but her father said, "If you go to help them, you will not be welcome back into Greenwood."
"It is our duty, Father, to honor our alliances. If we cannot do this one thing, the dwarves will hate us forever. Whatever the case is on the treasure you say they stole from us, I know that the Durin line is strong and must endure. I will see to it that the people of Erebor and Dale are safe and can find new homes. If that means that you cast me out, so be it. I will not abandon them to the dragon." she said. With one last look at her father and brother she said, "After what happened to Giliath and Gweran, you should be ashamed of yourself for denying these innocent people aid. That dragon took them from us and I intend to see that these people do not suffer the same fate that they did." Halien turned away and with that she urged her mare onward to the burning lands.
Without another look, she made her way through the winding hills and boulders to help anyone she could. She rode as fast as Torwen could carry her and she searched and searched, looking for any signs of Thorin or his family. There was nothing and she helped as many people escape to safety as she could before she continued to search. No matter how hard she tried, she could not find anything. But that did not stop her.
Forty years went by and Halien Greenleaf found herself in the Blue Mountains. She had been traveling the lands, going from village to village and helping the dwarves of Erebor and their kin, and any others that need it along the way. She had stopped this time in the village she later found out that Thorin and those that were closest to him had built and resided within.
As Halien went about the streets, asking directions to the inn, she heard someone crying out in pain. She rushed in the direction it had come from, dismounted from Torwen's saddle and hurried inside what looked like a healer's hut. She saw an elderly dwarf laid out on the table that stood in the center of the main room, a few others gathered around him as they tried to help him.
Turning at the sound of her entering, one of the dwarves asked her what she was doing there.
"Please, I can help." She said, approaching the table.
Two of the dwarves, guards by the looks of it, stood in her way with their weapons drawn and at the ready.
"There is no time for this! Please, I have healing abilities that could save his life!"
The healers looked at each other, then nodded and instructed the guards to let her through, unsure if they could trust her or not. Halien went through the guards and to the table, running her hands above the length of the elder dwarf's body.
"Tell me what has happened." She asked the dwarf across from her.
"An Orc party came too close to our borders and he was injured in the battle that ensued. His patrol party managed to drive them back and there is no sign of them retuning, but the Elder may die of his wounds."
Halien nodded and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She breathed out slowly and opened her eyes. She focused her magik into the tips of her fingers and willed it to flow from her and into the elder's body. The dwarves stepped back and watched in awe as the Elder's cries of pain ceased and he went still, a soft blue glow from the magik emanating from Halien's fingertips. After a while, Halien stumbled back and steadied herself on a column that supported the ceiling. The dwarves looked from her to the Elder and gasped in surprise as the Elder opened his eyes and sat up.
"How did you do that?" one of them asked.
"I possess a healing magik that uses my own energy in order to heal any ailment, wound, and nearly every sickness known to our world. I have mastered it thus far, but there is much still I have to learn. I have been traveling the lands trying to do just what I did for your Elder in other villages." She explained.
The dwarves thanked her and the Elder looked at her. He thanked her and introduced himself as Fisil Zirak, an Elder of the Council that Thorin discusses all matters with, the Council that Balin was a part of, as Halien found out. The other dwarves introduced themselves as Malonna and Neana Zirak, sister cousins of Fisil the Elder, and Tanar, Tusur, and Gusur, sons of Migan Stonehelm. Tanar was the other healer and Tusur and Gusur were the guards that had tried to stop Halien from approaching the table. Halien bowed her head as Tusur and Gusur apologized for stopping her before.
"I am Halien Greenleaf. And do not worry; it is understandable. Tensions will always run high between elves and dwarves, but I am glad that you allowed me to heal Elder Fisil. I should go, though, I fear I have over stayed my welcome here."
"No, dear, you are welcome to stay," Neana said. "We are grateful for you saving our cousin's life and we are indebted to you. Halien, we would love it very much if you could stay and perhaps teach us what you know of healing."
Halien smiled. "If you will have me, then I shall teach you what I can."
The dwarves thanked her and welcomed her to stay with them in their hut. Halien accepted and soon settled in, wondering what the time she spent in the village would bring her way.
Some weeks had gone by and Halien had definitely began to build her name in the village. Everyone knew of the elf maiden who saved the life of Elder Fisil and they had seen for themselves the abilities of healing that she possessed. Nearing the end of first month that she had spent in the village, Halien decided to go to the market to fetch some more herbs for the healers. She had already taught them everything she knew about healing that did not relate to her magik, as it was something that only she could do, and it was nearly time for her to move on to another village.
As she browsed the wares of the market, searching for the necessary herbs. She had already gathered those that could only be found in the forests and moors that surrounded the village and showed the healers where to find them, but they needed a few more that could be found at the market. As she finished her errands, she began to head back to the hut when she was stopped by someone calling her name.
"Lady Halien, could you come with me? One of our students broke their wrist and it needs to be looked at quickly." The dwarf said and Halien nodded, following him to the training school that had been built.
There was a loud wail as one of the teacher's tried to set the wrist and Halien saw a young boy sitting on the ground. It was the one who had broken his wrist.
"Ease up there, lass. Don't press so hard on the fracture." Halien said, setting aside her basket and kneeling in front of the boy. "Let me help."
She gently took the boy's wrist and focused her magik into setting the bone like she had done to close Elder Fisil's wounds. "Tell me your name, lad."
"Dorin, miss." He replied.
"I am Halien. Now, how did you break your wrist?"
"Huldor and I were sparring and he smacked my wrist really hard." The boy tried to explain through the pain.
Halien nodded and understood, but continued to ask the boy questions to keep him busy and his attention focused on the answers instead of the pain. After a few minutes, the wrist was set, the fractured bones were mended, and Halien smiled at the young boy.
"Your wrist will be fine. Just give it a few days before you spar again, understand?" she told him. She smiled when he nodded and hugged her in thanks.
Halien said her goodbyes to the children and went back home to the healers' hut with her herbs. She presented the remaining herbs to the healers and was very surprised to find a guest waiting for her.
"Hello, lass. I'm Bofur."
It had been a few years since Halien had come to the village. She had built a name for herself as a healer and helped the other healers to learn new things and ways of healing that she had used to help the Elder Fisil. She had been asked to train the children by a dwarf named Bofur, who had seen her skills once before, and agreed to help him and the other dwarves to train the children.
A day or two after she had been asked to train the children of the village, Halien had moved into the spare room that Bofur had in his home and had really become part of the family. She began to grow close to him and his brother, Bombur, and their cousin, Bifur, over the next year or two had passed. At one point, Bofur had asked if she could take a look at the axe embedded in his skull. Halien looked at his injury, using her magik to analyze the damage. Halien spoke to Bifur in ancient dwarvish. Bifur seemed to really enjoy hearing the dwarvish language spoken to him and he responded with great enthusiasm. She talked with him about how he got the injury, how it felt and if it was bothering him, and she told him that since it had been embedded in his skull for so long, there was no way that she could remove it without hurting him further, even killing him. Bifur understood and Halien turned to his cousins.
"The axe has been in his head for far too long for me to safely remove it and not risk damaging his mind further or killing him. He is perfectly healthy otherwise, and as long as he can remain able to speak the ancient dwarvish language, he should be fine." She explained.
Bofur and Bombur nodded, thanking her for at least taking a look. Halien smiled and gasped as she was tackled by all of Bombur's children. They screamed and laughed as they grabbed her and pinned her to the floor, tickling her. The dwarves laughed as Halien tickled the children right back. Halien sat up when the children went to go wash up for dinner and she began to wonder if she had finally found a home that she could call her own. She had been in this village of the Blue Mountain for nearly six years and she was beginning to feel as much at home as she had once felt in Mirkwood with her people. Sighing, Halien knew that only time would tell her if she should stay or if she should move on to the next village.
"Halien, I can't do it!" the child said.
Halien smiled, gave a final instruction to some of the older children as they sparred with each other, and came over to help. "You have to raise your arm like this," she explained, gently lifted the boy's arms into the correct position. "Now, relax your shoulders."
The boy nodded and relaxed.
"Very good, Dorin. Now, aim for the red dot. Outstretch your finger," she said, lightly tapping his pointer finger, "then line it up with the center of the dot."
Dorin did as he was instructed.
Off to the side, Dwalin, Balin, and Thorin were coming around the corner, discussing the topics of their council meeting and Thorin stopped when he saw the training session going on. Thorin walked over to the fence and crossed his arms, trying to see what would happen. He had yet to recognize the instructor.
"Good, Dorin, now take a deep breath, keep your shoulders relaxed and gently pull back on the bowstring." Halien instructed. "Very good, now I want you to anchor your thumb to the base of your ear and when you are ready, release the arrow."
Dorin did as was instructed as Halien stood and stepped back. Thorin watched as the boy took a deep breath and let the arrow fly and laugh when the arrow struck the very center of the target.
"I did it, Halien! I did it!" the boy said, running to the elf.
"Excellent work, Dorin. You may yet become a far better archer than I." she said with a smile, ruffling the boy's hair.
Thorin felt a smile creep at his lips, but he realized the name the boy had spoken and looked at the instructor. He could see she was tall, like an elf, and the name sounded so familiar. Then, when she lowered her shawl to wipe her brow, Thorin's eyes widened. Beside him, Balin spoke her name in surprise.
"Halien!"
Halien looked up, her eyes wide at the sight of the older dwarves. Dorin turned and bowed to Thorin, before he walked up to him.
"Look, sire." He said to Thorin, pointing to the arrow he shot. "Halien taught me how to shoot an arrow. I hit the middle and it was my first try!"
Thorin smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "I saw, young one. You are an excellent shot. Be sure to practice, we may have use for your natural skills in the future."
"I will. But I have a good teacher, too!" Dorin said with a smile. He turned and hurried over to Halien, grabbing her by the hand.
Halien was still in a bit of shock seeing Thorin and the other two there, but she let Dorin lead her over to them. As she bowed to Thorin, she fought the urge to run and embrace him. She had not seen him since the day Smaug came and she saw his figure in the distance, fleeing the main gate of Erebor.
"It has been a long time, my lord. I am glad to see you in one piece after what happened at Erebor." She said.
"I am surprised to see you here, Halien, daughter of Thranduil." Thorin said, noticing Halien wince as he spoke her father's name like it was poison. "I would ask what business you have here, but I see that you are working with the children."
Thorin saw the other children stop their practice and turn to look at what was going on. Everyone knew that Thorin hated elves, but this was the first time since Halien had come to their village that she had actually interacted with the dwarf prince. They all seemed to be worried and had gathered around her.
"Lady Halien, is everything alright?" one of the younger children asked. She knew who Halien was and had often asked her to tell her tales of Greenwood.
"Yes, Moira. I am fine. Our dear king here was just saying hello."
The children bowed to Thorin and clustered around the elf maiden.
Thorin had never before seen such a sight and was surprised at how protective of Halien they seemed to be. Behind them, Bofur came out to meet them and stood next to her as he bowed to Thorin and said hello to Balin and Dwalin.
"How have you fared of late, Halien?" Balin asked.
Halien smiled, a sort of sadness hidden behind it. "I have fared as well as one might expect under the circumstances."
Balin smiled and nodded while his brother stood there with his arms crossed, in a guarded stance. "It is good to see you, lass, even with what happened. I am glad that you have been well. Thorin," he said, looking to his prince. "We should hurry or we will be late."
Thorin nodded and Halien bowed one last time to him. "It was a pleasure to see you once more, sire. I wish you well." Though she tried, Halien couldn't resist anymore and pulled the dwarf king into her arms. "I have missed you so, Thorin Oakenshield. I am so glad to see that you are alright." She said, then she hugged Balin and bowed her head in respect for Dwalin, knowing he did not like hugs. She bid them a farewell and turned to walk back towards the school house, Bofur close behind with the children still clustered about her.
Thorin watched as Halien laughed with the children and glanced back to see him still standing there.
'What is she thinking? How can she embrace me like that after what her father did? How could she think that everything would be the same?' he thought to himself.
Halien left Bofur and the children and went across the street to the open stable stalls and pressed her forehead against her mare's.
"I finally found him, Torwen…" she said to the mare. "Things may not be the same as before, but Thorin is safe and well. I can sleep easy now."
The mare whinnied and Halien turned to glance back at Thorin and saw in his eyes something peeking through, trying to resurface. Halien felt her chest tighten as she realized that it was hope.
Later that night, Halien went to put the equipment away. As she gathered up the training gear and went about organizing it, she sang softly to herself. Outside, Thorin had decided to go for a walk around the village and was passing by the school house as Halien was singing to herself. He stopped to listen, having never heard something as beautiful as her voice, and decided to go and talk to her.
Halien busied herself with polishing the swords and armor, then made sure that each of the weapons and armor pieces were in their correct spots. She had been so busy with putting everything away and singing to herself that she didn't notice when Thorin had come into the room and stood with his shoulder against the doorframe. She walked around the room, picking up anything that had been left out after the children had left, and when she stood back up after bending over to pick up a book, she noticed Thorin.
"Sire, how long have you been there?" she asked, a little shocked to see him.
"Only a little while. I heard you singing and thought I'd come speak with you. That is if you are not busy?" Thorin replied.
Halien smiled and shook her head. "It's alright, sire. What is that you need?" she asked, grabbing a few more of the texts to put back on the shelf.
"I wanted to see how you have been these past years. We missed you in Erebor and when you left without another word last I saw you, I feared I would not see you again."
Halien smiled at him and replied, "I have been well, sire. I have been traveling the lands, helping those I could, and while I was exiled from Greenwood for defying my father and returning to help the Men and dwarves escaping the dragon's fire, I have found a purpose still as I aid those that cross my path."
"You came back?" Thorin asked.
Halien stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "Of course, I did. I take my duties very seriously. As the ambassador and the princess of my people, it was my duty to honor the alliance our peoples built. My father would not risk our soldiers to the dragon's wrath, not after what happened with a very close friend of the family's." She said, a sadness hanging in her voice.
"Why didn't you stop your father, then, if it was your duty?" Thorin asked, a sudden harsh tone in his voice. "When we came to your lands, seeking refuge and aid, where were you? Why weren't you there to stop your father from turning us away?"
Halien stared at him. He had gone from friendly and concerned to suddenly angry. "Thorin, my father had exiled me when I tried to return. I have not seen my family or my people in nearly forty five years."
"You should have been there, Halien!" Thorin retorted, his anger growing and his hatred for her father and her kind showing. "You could have stopped all of it, yet instead you are off gallivanting about doing your so called duties."
Halien had come to stand in front of Thorin and glared down at him. "Thorin, I was out there, helping your people! I came back to help the people of Dale and Erebor! I led those I could to safety!"
Thorin glared at her. "I did not see you anywhere that my people had gone. I had not heard word of an elf wandering the lands, healing and aiding those in need." He said, spitting the word "elf" as it said it with such hate. "I had not heard anything of the sort until you spoke of it today. How can I trust that you were helping my people when your father did nothing to aid us and turned us aside, ignoring our suffering?"
Halien had had enough. She raised her hand, balled it into a fist, and punched him. "I am not my father, Thorin Oakenshield. I have never done anything, not even once, to make anyone think that I am. How can you even think that of me? After all that we have been through? Did my time in Erebor with you and your family mean nothing to you?" she retorted.
Thorin looked up and gaped at her, shocked that she had punched him- even more shocked at the force behind it- and saw tears slipping from her eyes. He didn't know what to do or say and didn't bother stopping her as she ran passed him and disappeared into the darkness.
'What have I done…?' Thorin asked himself, a sudden rush of guilt washing over him. Halien had done so much for his family and for his people and she did not deserve the hatred and anger he had thrown at her. He had only lashed out and tried to blame her because it was her father that had betrayed the dwarves of Erebor and abandoned the people of the Rhovanian Plains. He turned and ran after, but when he got outside, Halien was nowhere to be found.
Halien ran as hard as she could to reach Bofur's house. She gathered her things and went to the door, opening it silently. She looked behind her, feeling guilty, but she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Bofur." She whispered.
Halien closed the door silently and walked away from the house and to the stables. Torwen, her mare, was excited to see her again, but could sense that it was their time to move on again and stepped out of her stall.
Mounting into her saddle, Halien faced Torwen away from the village and urged her forward. Torwen cantered away from the village and as they got further and further away, Halien turned and looked back, her heart heavy in her chest.
"I'm so sorry…"