Newwwwwwwwwww entry!!!!!!!! Maerad and Cadvan are busy writers…..  :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize as Alison Croggon's.

MAERAD

Dear Diary,

I can barely write. My arms ache from mopping Hem's sweaty forehead, and my fingers are blistered from giving him the acidic medicine that was prescribed by the healers (yes, there was more than one) that came to town. So far, none can reach him. He is wrapped in his own unconsciousness, and he stirs in his sleep and cries out, but he does not rise. I wish I could reach him!

Cadvan tried another treatment today, and it was disastrous. Cadvan, believing that Hem is being attacked by a spirit of the Dark, went deep into his mind, and tried to banish it, as he did so long ago with the Revenant. The good thing was that we found out that it was some sort of creature from the Dark. The bad thing was that it…..it attacked Cadvan. It was horrible just watching. His face was deep in concentration, and he shut those beautiful blue eyes… what? Why did I write that?

Anyway, he shut his eyes and suddenly cried out in pain. Then he was thrown upon the floor, convulsing and shouting terrible, horrible cries of anguish and pain. I ran to help him, but Silvia grabbed me and held me back, and I could do naught but watch Cadvan battle with this creature so unknown to us all. It was over ten minutes before Cadvan opened his eyes again, and I tell you, my diary, that I have never been happier to see him alive than right there. It was then that Silvia released me, and I ran to him, and he looked at me sorrowfully, his face alight with sweat and his mouth hard and grim. He shook his head, and told me that it had attacked him, and that he had barely won, and that Hem was still as unaware of the world as ever. I began to cry (to my humiliation, but how can it be helped? He is my only kin.) and Cadvan just comforted me while I let all of the anguish out, despite his ordeal only moments before. I still wonder at his strength of mind.

For the rest of the day, we all sat around a table in the kitchen, trying to decide what our next plan would be. In a long course of time, much of nothing was accomplished. It was late before we decided that I would have to try to battle this monster. Alone. Tomorrow. I am afraid once more. Will I survive? But I must; Hem needs me. Without me, he'll die, I am sure. The monster saps his strength daily, and his complexion wanes and his face grows colder with every passing minute. I must be strong, and help him for his own sake. I just wonder…..if I will return.

Once more, I fear the future. Once more, I am terrified.

CADVAN

Dear Diary,

I shudder at the thought of today. I had thought nothing could be worse than what we all endured yesterday, but there was. And I fear there is worse to come.

We sent for many healers, but none could do a thing, except hope for the best and give us various medicines to try. In desperation, I decided to try another treatment. It would have given me such joy, had I succeeded, in seeing him alive and seeing the gleeful look on Maerad's gorgeous face…what? Why did I write that?

Anyway, I decided to try and vanquish the spirit within him, as I had done with that Revanant so many years ago. It was hard then, but in my arrogance, I thought that today would be much easier. I was stupid to think that. Yet again arrogance gets the better of me!

I went inside his mind, and I felt the creature. It is horrible, and full of menace that none have yet encountered. I could feel its size; it must have been monstrous. It takes no shape, but it is made of smoke, sometimes there, sometimes not, but always you can feel its presence. I almost felt Hem's presence, a tormented, scared soul lying not a few feet away. I managed to gather only this information before the creature sensed me and struck out. I cried out, at least I think I did. The grip was suffocating, and I had nowhere to go, and nowhere to hide. It held fast, and I struggled with everything I had. I screamed and shouted and lashed out, and it seemed nothing could sway the monster. Until, that is, I thought of the only thing that is able to destroy the Dark: love. I fiercely held onto the thought of Ceredin, but the monster only laughed cruelly and held on tighter. I shook myself from that thought (although I still puzzle; why did thinking of Ceredin, my one true love, not work?) and began to concentrate on Hem: I was enduring this for him, out of love for the boy, so lost, and then again found. At the far reaches of my consciousness, I heard the monster scream in pain and fury, and I began to concentrate more hopefully on that. I thought of Dernhil, who was a great friend to me. I thought of Nelac, who believed in me when so many others did not. I thought of Malgorn, and the kindness he has shown me forever. I thought of Saliman, and his unfailing loyalty and profound friendship in times of trouble. But most of all, I thought of…………………………………….Maerad. She is always there for me, she has been my friend through so long, and she trusted me, even when I did not tell her the truth about my past. Her laugh her smile, the way she cared so much for Hem, it just makes, I mean, made, me feel so full of love. The monster could not withstand this, and his hold was torn away, and I escaped back into my own mind. I remember lying on the floor, and then I opened my eyes. Maerad came to sit next to me, a scared and hopeful look in her eyes. I could only shake my head, and tell her that I had not won.

She began to cry, and I simply comforted her. She needs that comfort. But I was uneasy, thinking of what I had been feeling before, in the clutches of the monster. Surely I didn't…..love……love….oh, it is all preposterous!

For the rest of the day, we talked over what should come next. It took a long while, but we eventually decided that Maerad needed to go and seek out the monster, and then attack him. She is stronger than us all. Yet still, I fear for her. What if she does not return? The monster is dangerous. I must tell her all about it, otherwise she will surely die in its hands. Quick, I must go, while there is still time. Goodbye, my diary! Grant me luck!!!!!!

...and grant me luck in writing the next chapter! So, what did you think? REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!