Seven

Healing

When I awake, darkness has quietly descended on the wood. The encampment lies almost in a trance; the only things to break the silence is the soft crackle of the campfire and the lively chirp of crickets. Holes in the forest canopy reveal the stars that fleck the heavens, the paths of their light lining the sky like white ribbons in a sea of dark hair.

Stiffness has replaced my pain, and no matter how hard I try I cannot force my muscles into movement. I finally roll over, letting out a grunt with the effort. My eyes scream when the light of the fire pounces on them, but eventually they adjust, focusing in on the scene around it.

Both Elhadron and Sereg sit around the fire, the only two besides myself that are actually awake and alert. Elhadron shifts the logs and embers of the fire, causing a flame to shoot up into the darkness and cast an orange glow around his face. Sereg's hood is up, cloaking his countenance in shadows that automatically refine the sharpness of his features. Neither of them have seemed to notice me.

"Has the ellon spoken to you?" Sereg abruptly inquires, snapping Elhadron from some sad reverie.

"A little. He was too weak to speak, for the most part. He was, however, able to tell me his name. Esgalion." He suddenly stops.

Sereg returns the silence with a questioning look.

"He knows Aradan. And apparently knows of what exactly happened to him. That came from a few nods."

Sereg nods. "Perhaps we will get more out of him when he recovers. And maybe some word on Caladhiel. I hope to the Valar that he has it." He sighs. "There was no evidence of her being with the goblins; however, that does not rule out the possibility that…"

A reassuring smile slowly paints itself on Elhadron's face. "We will find her, Sereg. We will."

"She has proven herself to be very elusive," Sereg continues with a half-hearted and breathy laugh.

"Which may yet be a blessing in disguise."

"What mean you?"

"If we cannot find a trace of her, though we travel with some of Thranduil's best trackers, then our enemies will not easily find her, either."

"If they do not already have her! If I find that to be the case, every single one of those monsters will wish that they had never been born!" He heaves a pained sigh. "And for her to just vanish into thin air the night before the wedding…"

The tone of his voice sends a spear right through my heart.

"Suppose Legolas was right? What if she actually is running?" Elhadron says. "Not that she would, but that very well could be a possibility. She may not want to be found."

At his words, my pounding heart leaps into my throat.

For I know for a fact that she, indeed, does not want to be found.

"She was acting rather strangely in the days leading up to her disappearance. But many brides are uneasy during that time."

"And if not? If fate proves Legolas to be in the right? What then?"

The answer sends a bolt of surprise through me.

"Then I cannot force her to comply. That would break her. We will melt the rings, and I shall find another. If the marriage does not have her blessing, then it cannot go on, no matter how much that may sting."

As soon as the words escape him, I know that I have sorely misjudged him. And so has Caladhiel.

"I want her happy. I want her safe. I want her here, so I could comfort her. She is most likely terrified, if she is even alive…"

"Peace, mellon nin. We will find her. I am sure of it. The Valar have already brought her through much. I know that they are watching over her now."

Silence rests over the camp once again. An owl hoots forlornly.

At last Sereg stirs.

"But this…Esgalion…I had never seen him or heard of him before the princess's disappearance. He must be a commoner of some sort. But he appeared to be clothed in the garb of a palace guard…"

"He is, but his armor is not as heavy as the norm."

"Strange…what would a palace guard be doing alone in the wild?"

Elhadron shakes his head. "I know not. He is a long way from home."

"Aren't we all?"

Elhadron laughs, then stiff silence comes over them again. This time, it is Elhadron that breaks it.

"He is rather small for an ellon. And there is something eerily familiar about him. I picked up on it as soon as he spoke. And the look in his eyes…I have seen it somewhere before. When I told him he seemed familiar, he immediately tensed up."

"Strange…" Sereg sighs.

"Reason for suspicion?"

"Perhaps. But I deem not." He pauses. "But what in all of Arda could he be hiding from us?"

"The answer will come in time, if there is indeed a need for one. I deem that being out in this chaos for so long has heightened all of our suspicions immensely."

"You are indeed wise to be able to see that, Elhadron. How badly was he beaten?"

"He bears many bruises, but no broken bones. There are open wounds all over one side of his face and on the side of his head, but they will heal. I have no doubt that he will live."

"That is good," Sereg says.

"The medicine I gave him should have the bruises and lacerations on his face all but healed by tomorrow night. And his strength will definitely have fully returned by the morning."

A chill shoots up my spine. For as they speak, a soft warmth begins to spread all the way out to my extremities. The numb coldness is chased away, and the strength in my muscles begins to return. And fast. Slowly, gingerly, I raise a hand to my face, running my fingers over the scratches, which have now turned to ridges that run along my face, No pain comes from the extra pressure, and I quickly realize that they are more like Men's scars than open wounds. The same is true for the bruises: the pain is remarkably alleviated. If it weren't for my severe hunger, I would feel like myself again. And I loathe it. Suddenly I begin to regret throwing that mask away, for I may need it again ere this is over.

Or should I just let go?

Should I give in and allow them to know?

Get out of this mess? Go home? And face the consequences so soon?

My brow furrows as the answer storms into my mind.

No.

After my stomach and water skin are full and my weapons and belongings are recovered, I will do what I have been doing for what has seemed like the past eternity.

Flee.