A scream fought it's way to escape Thara at the shock when she first entered the beautiful forest, arrows were pointed at every inch of her. She managed to smother it. She dared not move, these elves did seem to recognise her new friends but they still looked as if they would kill her. Most were trained on Silver and the boy who were further from their Silvan comrades.
"Calm down men you're scaring the girl can you not see that?" It was Ôrophin who spoke, they lowered their weapons.
"And who would the girl and her companions be?" The elf who seemed to be their leader asked, he looked at her indicating for her to answer. Somehow she found her voice, along with her pride.
"I am the Crown Princess Almithara, daughter of Dakath King of Kaldarion." All of the elves bowed their heads in respect, she released the breath that she didn't realise she had been holding, not feeling threatened any more, "These would be The high commander of the Kaldarion Hunting Guard and her prodigy. Fully deserving of your respect and fair treatment." She tried to sound as haughty as she could but in her state it was difficult.
"Aye, call the healer." He ordered the elf to his left before turning back to Thara. "Your grace our Lady has been expecting you." Then they mostly dissolved into the trees, some remained giving sceptical looks at the commander who was scoping out the area, the young boy had gathered himself as close to her as possible attempting to hide from the gazes of the elves. Ôrophin and Rümil were the only others with her, Luirlan had disappeared to explain the situation. She couldn't understand how they new their way around, the amounts of twists and turns that they had taken in seemingly random places to reach the talan that she could not even see form the ground even with her elven eyesight.
"Here we are, home sweet home for the night." Rümil looked up, "Isn't it beautiful." Ôrophin laughed.
"And we'll be making camp out here if you don't mind." Silver laid a hand on the boys shoulder and gestured for him to turn around and go to a directed spot that she'd already picked out, a little further out than the treelike in a slight valley.
"You're not coming?" It was Thara who asked in disappointment.
"I'll wait for my men here, I doubt we can all be accommodated in such short notice and not all are so trusting. Myself being one of them." She saw the nervous twitch in Thara's face, "I shall try and separate myself from duty later, Ambrose should be fully capable of watching over the camp for the night. I'd like to bring your brother to you anyhow and we have more to talk about." Them she turned to Ôrophin, "Your Marchwarden, he led the other party yes?" Ôrophin nodded.
"You shall be welcome to words when he returns, no doubt he is in your debt."
Silver and the boy went about their own path lighting a fire and setting up as much of a camp as they could muster while the brothers took Thara further into the forest.
"Don't worry it's not bad at all, however nobody ever claimed that the resident healer in these parts was ever or has ever been exceptionally... welcoming." Before she could ask any more questions she could hear a new voice from above word had obviously reached of her arrival.
"She's from where? A Princess! Well she better not expect royal treatment! You dragged me out of my first decent sleep in months to tend to a bloody savage that claims to be the daughter of Dakath, I knew that great old bastard and he never had a daughter I doubt he even had a dick it was probably shoved up his own arse like his god-damned head!" Thara could hear no reply but an elf dropped down beside them, Luirlan.
"They await Haldir's return for their report and um... Edraele doesn't seem to be very pleased." A few moments after Luirlan finished speaking a thick rope was dropped unceremoniously upon his head with a thunk and another shout was heard from above.
"Watch out ... did it hit him?"
"Yes..." Rümil smirked at his friend who was rubbing the top of his head with a sorrowful expression. She should be heard laughing from the treetops. Thara allowed herself a smile as did Ôrophin who looked down at her with mirthful eyes.
"I still have a good aim! Well, are going to hoist the wench up or not I want to get some more beauty sleep!" Luirlan could then be heard mumbling something less than sweet in elvish when another object was thrown at his head which bounced off somewhere into the brush. "I heard that you rude little whelp! Don't speak in that riddle tongue in my presence! Go on and bring me back my broach, my mother gave that to me I won't have you losing it now!"
"Why did you throw it then?"
"Your fat head was too tempting not to!" She could be heard cackling again. "Hurry up, I'm not gonna be here forever you hear!"
The three ellon looked at the rope that was thrown down and in the end Ôrophin wrapped an arm around Thara's shoulders using a hand to support her head, and lifted her legs with the other arm, much to her dismay but she didn't have the energy to argue nevertheless get off herself. Rümil and Luirlan both jumped forwards, their bet at the forefront of their minds in the end Ôrophin passed her to Rümil as if she were a small child and he carried Thara to the talan where Ôrophin lifted her in to save her any more pain, she couldn't believe how well they moved through the trees, she'd never even been in a forest before. They worked in unison even doing this task they worked together it was commendable. She was confused about the difficulty it took to lift her up, surely the women and children were not expected to climb about that way, perhaps the main city was different.
What she saw in the talan bewildered her more, an old haggard woman but with elven features.
"It's not polite to stare!" The peculiar feature snapped scolding her. "Well, don't just sit there where is your injury?" Thara was laid onto a bed as one of the brothers spoke to the old woman and soon they were both sent outside to help Luirlan look for the broach. Thara was for some reason petrified by the woman so surprised by how she spoke.
"So how is your dear father these days? I've not seen him in near enough 5 millennia myself." The woman Edraele asked her kindly while she cut her rags from her slashed back. Thara winced for the first time really beginning to feel the pain.
"The last time I saw my father he was well but Kaldarion was under threat, its been... well I'm not sure how long I've been gone but its been a long time since I had any word but my captor claimed that he was dead all along with my brothers have you had any word?"
"No princess, I am sorry for that." The woman put a hand on Thara's reassuringly. "Im sure he'll be well along with his young 'uns."
The woman was an exceptional healer she reduced Thara's pain to a tinge using herbs in a poultice, which she added would not need changing she could just take it off when she reached the city and it would be well she'd infused it with magic, and then given her some potion like thing to add to her water to reduce the pain further and speed the healing after she helped her to bathe, it was heaven to wash away all the dirt and grime that she had accumulated, she felt safer when she smelled of the perfumes and not the camp where she had faced her torture, a small smile graced her lips which was soon replaced with a more serious expression she had a job to do.
"If I may?" Thara asked sitting up for the first time in days unaided. The old woman nodded. "You claimed to have known my father?"
"Aye, your mother was a good friend to me she came from Imladris the same as I, I never liked your father much he stole away the best friend I had she was my sister in a way which makes you my niece and I tell you now I wouldn't have you go back to those shitty deserts, let them dry and crumble to sand without bothering to add your blood to the mix, it's a worthless pursuit living like that has always been a foolish notion." She went on mumbling about life force in the earth before she spoke up again, "Its rubbish all of it, a false religion and you, all of you preaching to it!"
"I dont understand?"
"Your foolish father doesn't believe that he can survive out on these plains, it's that simple thats why he hasn't left since my poor sister moved on to Mandos' halls, the only reason but he won't admit that the only thing holding him there is because he's too proud to give up his kingdom! I mean look at you! No elf should ever be forced to marry, that whole fëa bonding nonsense and all thats what makes you who you are!"
"Oh..."
"Don't worry about it child you're here now the Lady will have some wisdom for you did you want to ask anything else?"
Thara let her curiosity take hold, "Well, yes but I wouldn't want to offend ." She was cut off.
"I'm a half-elf, half human and half elf on my mothers side, I may live to see the grand old age of 10,000 but I doubt that I'll live too long after that. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you for everything." Thara smiled and the woman's nature changed again.
"Right you nosey elves get in her and take the wench somewhere dry she can sleep out of my hair and make sure you feed her well!" She snapped, the three elves fell through the door together they had obviously been listening. "Well? Did you get my broach!"
"I'm sorry Edraele…"
"Out ! Out all of you !" She ordered but winked at Thara who was thankful to walk again she whispered, "Tell them later that there was no broach... make sure to let them suffer a little more." Then she shoved out of the talan and slammed the door.
"A strange personality." Thara commented while she was carried to another treetop to find food and a bed for the night, the three wardens just nodded but they each had good humour in their eyes.
That night, after Thara had her first decent meal for months she was content, the slight tinge of sickness caused by the amount of food she ate after so long didn't effect her as she sat in her talan and watched, noticing the fantastic place around her properly for the first time, she watched the darkness take the beautiful forest and the place come alive with movement, foxes scurrying about and rabbits running to hide from them. The very air glittered with fireflies. She had never seen so much green and she noted the golden tinge to the leaves surely that was magical ? The entire place glowed with perfect, pure magic she was sure of it. She was safe and she was at long last almost happy, she could set her eye back on the task at hand.
It was hours into the night that she was first awakened by a feeling of dread that made her shiver uncontrollably. Confused and shaken it took her a short time to realise that she would not soon find sleep again, even though she was exhausted. Reality had finally set in, she had survived her own personal hell. She hadn't cried for her brothers, she hadn't mourned herself. She had laughed and felt joyous that day and the pain was tearing at her leaving her mind torn by the claws of guilt. She still didn't weep. It was dawn before she stood up and readied herself, she hid behind a smile so well the farce was ongoing. That was until Haldir arrived.
