I gazed at the wall, upset.

"Elspeth?" said a voice, tentatively.

I turned, startled.

"Dameon" I said, surprise in my voice

"Elspeth, is something bothering you?" He asked, with his gentle voice.

I stared at him. "Why would you think that?"

"I'm an empath remember… also, you just ran out of the guildmerge."

I stared at the floor. I don't know how to phrase how I'm feeling.

Dameon walked across my chamber towards me. I am always amazed how graceful he walks, even though he is blind.

"Elspeth" he says softly.

I sit down on my bed. I bury my head in my hands. I put up a shield between us so he can't tell how I'm feeling.

He just stands there, waiting for me to talk.

I can't do it. How can I possibly tell anyone how I feel, what I just found out? I look up and shake my head. I speak, voice shaking from emotion. "Dameon, I need to be alone right now. I need…" I paused, trying to find the words. "I need to figure it out, figure everything out."

"Ok" He says, slowly, no hint of what he's thinking. "You need privacy, I understand."

He turned suddenly. Standing in the doorway is Rushton. Anger surges through me. Dameon turned back to me. I know he felt my anger. I bury my head in my hands again. I heard Dameon leave, and the door close.

Rushton stands there, watching me in silence. Then finally he speaks.

"Elspeth, we need to talk."

My stomach churns. I looked up. "I don't see what we could possibly have to talk about." I say, anger in my voice.

He took a step towards me, then stopped. "Why are you angry with me elf?" He asks, miserably. "What did I do? Please just speak to me!"

"You know what you did!" I replied, raising my voice.

He took another step towards me. I got up. "And don't come near me!" I turn around and walk towards the window.

He watches me. I turn my back on him, so he doesn't see the tears trickle out.

"Love?" he whispers, woefully.

"I AM NOT YOUR LOVE!" I shout. I turned around, and point to the door. "GET OUT!"

He takes one last look, and then turns and leaves.

I sit back down on my bed and burst into tears. His green eyes are haunting me. Tears are pouring down my face. My face burns with anger. My whole body shakes from anger and tears.

I am crying so much that I don't even notice that Maruman is awake until I hear his voice in my head.

"Innle, you walk the dark road. All else is unimportant."

I nodded. "That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt though." I sent back.

I wake up. It's the middle of the night and my room is freezing. I get out of bed and walk to the window to shut it.

I light a fire to warm up the room, and sit beside it. Soon enough I get restless. I leave my chamber and walk down the corridors. I hear a noise behind me. I spin around. There's nothing there. I turn back around and keep walking.

Now I'm in the courtyard. I see a flash of something in the corner of my eye. I keep walking, "there is nothing there" I tell myself. Suddenly I feel arms grabbing my shoulders. I spin around frightened. All I see is two eyes peering at me through the darkness. "Who is it?" I shout. There's no answer, just those eyes peering at me. Haunting me. I shout for help. Then someone puts their hand over my mouth. Their voice whispers to me. "You will tell me, I will know what it is I seek." I struggle, trying to get free. Suddenly, they let go. I spin around to confront them, and see Rushton. He stares at me sadly. "Why do you do this to me?" he whispers. "You're killing me." I struggle not to cry.

Now, I'm in a council farm. Rushton is beside me. An arrow is fired from some trees. I shout to warn Rushton to duck but it's too late .I grab him into my arms, but he's already dead. I scream in sorrow. Another arrow is fired. I don't even notice it until I see it sticking into me.

I wake up, shaking. Its morning. The sun is shining in through the windows. I get dressed and leave my chamber. I walked trancelike through the halls, remembering my dream. It scared me. "What did it mean?" I wondered. Preoccupied with my thoughts I walked into someone. I looked up to see it was Rushton. "Sorry" I muttered, before stepping around him and walking away. "Wait!" he said, before I'd gone more than 3 steps. I turned around. "What is it?" I asked, abruptly.

He winced. "Elspeth, I love you, why are you doing this to me? What did I do?"

I stared at the floor. "Rushton… please."

He took a step towards me.

I looked up at him. "I'm sorry…" I turned around and walk away.

He stood staring after me.

I found a private seat in the courtyard and let the tears run down my face.

"Elspeth?" said a voice uncertainly.

I looked up. "Kella!" I said, trying to dry my tears.

Kella replied cautiously. "Are you all right? It's just…"

I respond quickly. "I'm fine, what is it?"

"Maryon has just had another prediction. You better come quickly."

I got up in haste, and followed Kella. When we arrived everyone was already there. Rushton was closest to the door, looking irritable. He didn't even look up. Dameon looked up and smiled as I came in, but it was a weak smile. The rest were slightly nervous. I wondered what Maryon could have seen to affect everyone in this way. I looked around but she didn't seem to be there. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, becoming tense because of the feelings in the room.

Rushton finally looked up.

"I'm glad you finally arrived." He said in an emotionless voice.

I felt a flash of irritation. "Anyone feel like telling me what's going on?" I said sharply.

Rushton looked at me, as if he was trying to read my mind. I felt edgy again.

"Maryon had another prediction." Dameon said, answering my question.

"I know that!" I said snappishly. "Why do you think I came?" Dameon flinched. "I don't have to be an empath to know that the prediction was bad news, so why don't we get this over with."

He looked at Rushton. Rushton was watching me. I pulled my jacket tighter around me and met his eyes.

Rushton hesitated. "You're right. We do have bad news. Maryon saw…" he paused, took a deep breath then continued. "She saw you leaving Obernewtyn, and never coming back."

I looked around the room, but no one would meet my eyes.

I turned back to Rushton. "But, that's not all, is it?" I asked, still annoyed by their concealment.

He sighed. "No. Its not."

I waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

"What else is there Rushton?" I asked him.

"It was… unclear." He replied. "All she saw was you leaving and that somehow, you couldn't come back."

"So what…" I said thinking. "You think… what do you think?"

There was a pause but I saw the answer on their faces.

"You think I'm going to die." I said, voice shaking.

I stared at them. They all looked miserable. I couldn't stand this! I turned around and stormed out of the room.

"Elspeth!" Rushton called out after me.

I ignored him and kept walking.

I flung myself on to my bed. "I can't believe this" I muttered to myself. I took my anger out on my pillow. Once I had finished I felt weak from shock. I farsought Maruman. "Maruman". I sent, suddenly remembering something Atthis had once sent to me via Maruman. "You said you saw me on blackdeathroad. I thought that meant when I cut my leg open and almost bled to death. Did it mean that my quest is going to kill me?"

"The oldOne has not shown me." Maruman sent back evasively.

As always, Maruman only told as much as he wanted to. I felt downcast.

What if my quest kills me? I asked myself. It would explain why the oldOne said Obernewtyn would be all gone for me. I always thought that meant I'd have nothing to go back to. I hugged myself tightly. Despite all I've been through I'm scared of dying. I sent my mind flying to calm down.

Coming back, I encountered another mind. It was Dragon. I pulled my mind back hurriedly. We all were careful around Dragon. She doesn't remember any of us since she woke up from her coma and we didn't want to disturb her mind.

Calm now, I left my chamber. I wondered vaguely what I would do about the prediction, before running straight into someone. I looked up briefly. It was just a new recruit.

Then I looked up again. It was like staring into a mirror.

"Who are you?" I asked the girl who looked exactly like me.

She grinned. "My name is Eowen. It's nice to meet you Elspeth."

I jumped. "How did you know my name?" I asked.

She smiled. "People have been mentioning you to me every since I arrived. It would be more unlikely if I didn't recognise you."

I frowned. "Yes well…" I stopped. Something felt wrong.

Eowen said. "Anyway I have to go; I'll see ya 'round." And walked off.

I stared after her. The last time I felt like this was when the keeper of Obernewtyn came and I was taken to Obernewtyn when it was used as a confinement for misfits. I shivered.

"Elspeth!" I heard my name called out. I turned around. It was Dameon, but he wasn't talking to me. He mistook Eowen for me! I walked away.

"Basically, what we are saying Elspeth, is that if you don't go, you will die, and if you do go there is a chance that you wont. Wouldn't you prefer the chance?"

I glared angrily at Rushton.

"I don't like this anymore than you do." He continued. "But if you going means you might not die, then I'll make you do it!"

"You couldn't make me do anything!" I screamed at him.

Everyone in the guildmerge froze.

Rushton went bright red from anger and embarrassment. He walked over to the door and said through his teeth. "Elspeth outside now!"

I suddenly felt afraid. I'd never seen Rushton like this. I followed him out the door.

"What do you think you're doing Elspeth?" Rushton asked angrily.

"I don't know. I'm sorry." I stammered.

His expression softened.

"Elspeth, what's the matter?" he asked gently.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"You've been a completely different person the last couple of days. What happened?"

I stare at him, deciding whether or not to tell him.

"Elspeth?" he asked when I didn't answer.

"Rushton..." I said slowly. "I'm pregnant."