It was almost dark before Saliman was able to convince Cadvan to leave Maerad's side and try to eat or at the very least clean up. Placing his hand on Cadvan's shoulder Saliman spoke softly, " My friend , Maerad's condition has not changed since you have brought her here nor do I think that it will before day break. Please come eat , she'll be here when you return."
Cadvan's heart broke knowing that Saliman was right. Maerad's condition had not changed nor did anyone think that it might. Slowly he raised off the side of the bed that he had been sitting on , and followed his friend out of the room closing the door behind him as he left.
As the door sled shut Ardina filled the room with light. Thinking that she had been wrong that Cadvan could save her daughter, she had to try for herself. She easily slipped into Maerad's mind finding it nearly split between urge to wake and the wanting to exist no more. Feeling the emptiness inside Maerad , Ardina called out to her, " My darling daughter you must make soon. There is more at stake than just your life." Unable to bring herself to say more, she vanished into the night.
It wasn't long after the light in the room had faded and the darkness began to return that Maerad moved ever so slightly. Her body ached from soreness and hunger, her lips dry from thirst. Feeling her first full rational thoughts she nearly jumped out of bed. Remembering that she had been Dagra and the treesong had been played her thoughts raced back to that moment. The tower began to fall down around her and she was trapped inside the small room with Sharma's dieing body. She remembered feeling for only a second a dark essence enter her mind then she went blank.
Sitting up now she was almost trembling what had that dark soul made her do and where was she now? Creating a dim mage light she was able to look around the room. On the floor laid Cadvan's dirt covered cloak, that she was only able to recognize by the leave pin that was attached. Looking more closely at her surrounding she could see a empty fruit tree outside her window , and the walls were the familiar rose color of Saliman's house.
Relaxing a bit Maerad laid back down and allowed thoughts of Cadvan to fill her mind. Thoughts of the last time they spoke remembering his words " Maerad I have wronged you and I know now that I shouldn't have. I allowed myself to be carried in emotions that should never have been. I'm sorry but I think it's best that after we come back from Dagra that we go our separate ways. Until then I only wish to accompany you as a warrior of the light ."
A tear ran down her face now that Sharma was gone would Cadvan truly leave her? She thought why wouldn't he, there's nothing left for him to do with her? Pulling the blanket around her she could only believe that this would be the first of many times that she would wake without her love by she side. Rolling over she allowed herself to fall asleep crying as she once did back in the cot when the loneliness was to much to bare.
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After eating a small meal and taking a short bath Cadvan returned to Maerad's room . As he slowly pushed the door open hew saw her body had been moved. A bit of rage built inside him as he thought that someone had moved her, someone had touched her. Quickly he took a few long strides and was there next to her. Carefully he checked her pulse … no change …
She was alive but just barely. Cadvan bowed his head and thought to himself who would dare to move Maerad in her current state? Then he thought with a bit of sarcasms what if by chance she moved herself. He almost had to laugh at himself. Realizing that he was being so completely absurd that he was starting to make sense, but how…. How did Maerad move herself while in a vegetated state and just barely alive.
Cadvan stared out the window looking into the dark. Searching his mind for all that he knew about the Elidhu he remembered what Maerad had once said , " If I have learned anything it is that the Elidhu can live and work out side of time and space because it is the same to them. Furthermore, because Hem and I both share their blood as well as the blood of powerful bards, we can do more than they are able to. "
Spinning around he looked at Maerad with a sudden feeling that he knew what was going on. With out hesitating he darted from the room , he had to find Hem. With it being several hours after dark Cadvan was able to find Hem trying to sleep in his room.
Rushing into the dark room Cadvan shouted, " Hem get up."
Alarmed that something had happen to Maerad Hem sat up, but before he could speak Cadvan was at his bed side nearly yelling like a mad man. " You need to have Ardina here now. I need for her to find Maerad."
Confused Hem tried to say, " what do you mean find… isn't she…"
" there's no time, just get Ardina here! Now!"
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Hearing both Cadvan and Hem shouting everyone in the Bard house came to see what all the commotion was about. Hem looked at Saliman he needed guidance. He didn't know if he should try again to call upon the fair Elidhu. Saliman spoke directly into Hem's mind, " What is it that Cadvan is asking you to do and why?"
"He needs me to call upon Ardina to find Maerad but he's not making sense. She's here , she don't need to be found."
"Hem do as he ask. We have all known Cadvan for many years and none of us here have seen him quite like this. Its ok just try." Saliman slipped back out of Hem's mind so he could do this task.
Closing his mind Hem focused on his mother the great Elidhu Ardina. Allowing his mind to freely search for his mother he called out, " Ardina I need you."
With his words spoken with love and urgency Ardina could not help but come. The room filled with graceful white light that could have been mistaken for the sun itself, then quickly it was gone leaving only the darkness of the room. Worried for her children Ardina's voice cracked as she asked ," Cai is everything alright? Why have you summoned me?"
Before Hem could answer Cadvan franticly began to speak, " I had Hem summon you. I need your help." then with out thinking of the consequence he grabbed Ardina's arm and forced her to come with him back to Maerad's room.
Ardina snarled at being grabbed in such a way, but remained silent she would have time to deal with Cadvan after he explained himself.
Entering the room Cadvan began to ramble again like a mad man, " Ardina I need for you to help me find Maerad."
Dumbfounded Ardina answered with her deep Annaren accent, " Are you blind? Do you not see My daughter before you?"
Looking deep into Ardina's cat like eyes he began to think that he was wrong but he had to know for sure. " I can see her body , but I think some how she had sent her mind through time maybe. I just remember her saying wile were in Pellinor 'Elidhu can live and work out side of time and space because it is the same to them. Furthermore, because Hem and I both share their blood as well as the blood of powerful bards, we can do more than they are able to. '
Ardina gasped the truth teller was right. It was possible for an Elidhu to go back and forth through both time and space though it would not change events. Thinking of her daughter's journey , radian pondered where would Maerad most likely send her mind. Knowing her daughter well , or at least well enough to know that she would not look into future events, Maerad would have to be searching something in the past .
Figuring this tiny step out Ardina had to now find a way to take the truth teller to her daughter. Looking deep into Cadvan's cobalt eyes Ardina could se how much he truly care for her daughter, how much he loved her. Closing her eyes she searched for Maerad looking first at all the times both she and Cadvan had been together, all the times that her daughter had been happy , but no her mind was not there.
Searching harder Ardina searched through her knowledge of Maerad's past with out the truth tell with her, searching trough the time in Gwalhain Pass and all the time spend with Arkan, but still nothing. Not a speck of Maerad's powers were found.
Becoming frantic Ardina realized the only other place Maerad could have clearly gone were Pellinor as it was in her youth and the Cot where Cadvan had first found her. Not wanting to think that Maerad would choose to revisit that dreadful place, Ardina forced herself to look. She found her almost immediately. No that she was found Cadvan would have to go to her but how?