Waterfalls.
It was the first thing Allinde heard. The distant, resonant roar that held musical undertones. Relief flowed through her mind. She knew the sound well—it meant peace, and safety. But where was she?
The answer drifted through her consciousness. Imladris.
Slowly she opened her eyes, wincing at bright sunbeams that invaded from a row of gracefully arched windows. Her eyes instantly adapted to the lighting. She was lying on a bed in a small, airy room. The only other furnishings were a polished wooden chifferobe and a small table with a single chair. On the table were white cloth bandages, bowls of fragrant water, and a variety of herbs. She took a deep breath. They were healing herbs. Who was injured? For the first time, Allinde noticed a throbbing in her side. Reaching down, she felt more of the cloth bandages through the white linen shift, gasping in pain as she touched the hurt area.
Memories flooded her mind. The raiding party, plotting an attack on Archet, a small village that was too small to afford any protection. Fool! She thought. Five against one, and you were already weakened. Still, she had killed three of the five marauders before they had discovered her tricks. Although in the end, I'm alive, and they're not. Allinde smiled sourly. But how? The last she recalled was searching the forest floor for healing herbs to staunch the bleeding in her side
"Aiya, you are awake! I'm glad." Sindarin-how odd to hear it spoken by a fair voice! Allinde looked up to see an elf woman standing in the doorway. Her ebony hair was braided away from her narrow face, and she was dressed in a dark blue cotehardie with a pale blue smock over it, bound with black ties at the throat and waist. A healer.
"Excuse my manners," she continued, stepping into the room and walking immediately to the table. "My name is Narondiel. I have been overseeing your recovery."
A brief silence passed. Though the healer didn't look up, Allinde knew she was expected to introduce herself. She closed her eyes for a moment. What name could she give? Returning to the Eldar had never been part of the plan. But neither was getting badly injured. Now, it was too late for secrecy.
"Palannur," Allinde said. Her after-name, little used when she last dwelt among her people. "How long have I been here?"
"Four days and three nights," Narondiel answered, gently stirring the bowl of water, now speckled with herbs. At the other's quizzical glance, she continued. "It was not only by sword wounds that you suffered; I judged that you had not eaten for three days."
An inn, Allinde remembered. I was going to the inn at Bree when I first saw the raiding party.
"You were brought here by a traveler, Leohiston, who found you in the forest."
Narondiel moved away from the table and toward the bed, pulling out a small, thin knife from a sheath at her waist. Allinde watched her warily.
"I need to remove the bandages so I may examine and bathe the wounds," the healer said with a reassuring smile.
She did so with the utmost care, though Allinde still had to grit her teeth to avoid crying out. After disposing of the soiled cloths, Narondiel gently wiped the wounds with the soothing water, and wrapped them again. She hummed while she worked, a lovely melody that sounded strange and soothing to Allinde's ears.
"They have healed well." Narondiel's eyes, already bright, glowed with satisfaction. She is Noldor. The High elves from Aman were known for the light of their spirits. Allinde should have seen it from the start. Another effect of her long exile. "If you wish, you may wash and change into some more comfortable clothes." The healer gestured to the chifferobe.
Allinde eyed the wooden cabinet with some aversion. "What of the clothes I was wearing before?"
"They were too badly damaged," Narondiel said. "By the time you arrived, we had to cut them off your body in order to heal you." She paused, glancing at Allinde thoughtfully. "Palannur. The name sounds familiar. Ah yes! I remember hearing of a maiden by that name. Of the House of Cirdan. But she was reported dead."
Allinde's heart sank. It had been a necessary lie at the time. But what good did it do, in the end? She still needed the help of her kindred to survive. She sighed softly, as she felt her last vestige of privacy vanish. She had no clothes to disguise herself, no way of fleeing.
"What you heard was an…unfortunate rumor." Allinde gave a faint, pained smile. "Thanks to your aid, I am alive and well."
Narondiel smiled. "You are welcome. And now, I have other matters that need my attention."
She turned to leave, sheathing the knife once more. The simple act seemed familiar. Something about the leather strap, holding something particular. Special. My satchel! Panic shot through her. Allinde sat up in bed, grimacing as pain arced from her wound.
"Narondiel, wait!" The healer stopped in the doorway and turned, her eyebrows raised. Allinde took a deep breath, trying to steady her heartbeat. It would not do in this place. Such alarm wasn't elvish. "I had a pouch—a pouch and some weapons." She added the last phrase casually, trying to disguise her desperation. "Where are they?"
The healer blinked, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. I haven't seen them. Nothing was carried in with you." Her brow wrinkled. "You might speak with Leohiston. As I mentioned, he was the one who brought you here."
With an obliging nod, she turned once more and left. Allinde was tempted to call after her, to ask more questions. Yet that would only draw more attention to the pouch, and that was the last thing she needed.
No, she would have to seek this Leohiston herself.
Helpful Context Notes: all elves have an inner light produced by their spirit, but the Noldor have a brighter light due to having spent time in Aman with the Valar (think angels or demigods).
Allinde is a personal name and is pronounced /ah-LEEN-day/. Palannur is Allinde's after-name and is pronounced /PA-lah-nur/.
Leohiston is pronounced /lay-oh-HI-ston/ and is Toron's after-name. An after-name is one of an elf's common names that would be used by anyone, as opposed to the personal first name.