Chapter XIII: The Houses of Healing

Elaina began to gasp for breath. She had turned a ghostly shade of white and her eyes continued to look further and further away. I looked down at her wound. The fabric from Ali's cloak was now soaked with blood.

I felt myself begin to get dizzy and tasted the blood that had now dripped from my forehead to my mouth. I again wiped it away and let my hair fall to cover the wound. I did not want Ali or Elaina to worry about me.

Elaina's breathing grew heavier and heavier and from time to time, she would let out high pitched moans. I sat by her and stroaked her hair. I held back my tears as not to worry her.

Just then, I heard great rejoicing and turned to see what it was. I squinted and far off, I saw a great commotion and the coming of a new force. But I didn't care.

I let out a sigh of relief as I saw Ali approaching us.

"Oh Ali, I'm sure glad to see you."

Ali looked down at Elaina and looked beneat the cloth at her wound. She looked worried. "We must ger her to the city." We mounted Arauka and made our way, unnoticed to the city gates. Ali led Arauka through the piles of ash and debris that now stood in the place of the gates to a once mighty city. We rested under some fallen stones.

Ali took me aside and spoke to me, "she needs medicine, but it would be impossible to bring her into the houses of healing."

I knew not what she was telling me. "Well, what will do then? We cannot just leave her heare to die. I won't allow it Ali, I simply will NOT!"

"No, no of course not Laurelin," Ali said, "I will go and get the medicine that she needs. Once I have it, I should be able to heal the wound. Boil some water for now." She handed me some leaves, "place these in the water, then put them in the wound. Take care!" She then rode off into the street.

I did as she commanded, but could not simply wait for her to return. I went to rest my head in my hands, but the pain on my forehead made me again flinch. It was worse this time. I took some of the extra boiled leaves and pressed them onto my wound. It stung for a moment, but soon the pain was gone.

I looked around. What's taking her so long, I wondered. I decided to go for a quick walk to see if I could find her. The streets were empty and the silence was unbearable.

Just then, I heard the clanking of swords and turned to see Ali battling with someone. He had trapped her against a wall and had his dagger pointed at her, ready to attack.

I ran up to help on jumped quickly on the foe's back. He seemed shocked and I began to punch at his arms, but he quickly threw me off and against a wall. I inhaled to regain my breath as I watched Ali knock him onto his back. She spoke something to him and knocked off his hood.

I watch Ali's expression turn to one of surprise and ran over to see who the figure was.

"Darion?" I asked taking off my hood.

"Laurelin?!? But what are you…? And… Tinalion.. you? What??" I half-smiled at his confusion.

"There's no time," Ali said, remembering Elaina. "Come with me."

The three of us returned to Elaina.

Darion, again, seemed confused

"She's hurt, Darion, she needs to be taken to the Houses of Healing," Ali explained.

"Of course." He lifted Elaina onto Arauka and spoke to us, "I'll take care of her. But I want you-both of you-to meet me there as well. There is much to explain." He seemed angry, but I could tell that, deep down, he was glad to see us.

I turned to Ali as he rode off, and we ran after him.

* * *

Darion immediately tended to Elaina's wound with the kingsfoil weed. She now rested in her bed, asleep.

He came to me and gave me an herb to place on my head.

"How did you get this wound?" He asked, "Falling off a stool or something?" I blushed, and he let himself smile through his anger. He had one of those smiles that always made me feel better. It reminded me of Sam's.

I rushed to Elaina's bedside as Darion went to tend to Ali. The two spoke, but I didn't care about their conversation. I anxiously awaited Elaina to wake up.

After some time, I heard a voice from the doorway.

"Darion, what's all this talk about another-" I turned to see Stryker standing in the doorway, her helmet and hood were removed. She, too, seemed confused at the sight of Ali, Elaina, and me with Darion. "-Hobbit." She finished. "Well, this was slightly unexpected. Tinalion, what happened? Is Elaina alright? I was looking for you after the battle, but then I heard another hobbit ws brought in and-"

Darion cut her off, "You knew about thi, Maurelwen?"

She looked around, realizing that she had just gotten herself in trouble.

"It's quite a long story, Darion." Ali explained and she and Maurelwen began to tell the story from the very beginning.

Just then, I realized what Maruelwen had said when she first entered and I interupted the others, "Did I hear something about another hobbit?"

Maurelwen let out a sigh and began to speak of Lady Eowyn, the fall of
Theoden, and the bravery of my dear Merry. Her words brought tears to my eyes as I thought of my dear cousin.

"What a strange day it has been," Darion soon said. Maurelwen, sitting next to him took his hand. "I suppose I should be angry with you for breaking our trust." He said to her, smiling, "But I now understand why you did. And I am quite glad that you did. We need all the help we can get, I suppose." He turned his glance to Elaina and I and I smiled.

He stood and kissed Maurelwen on the cheek. "Come, get dressed, we have work to do." The two left and I returned to Elaina's side.

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

I slept well, most likely because of the sleep I had missed the previous night.

I was awoken by the sound of Ali and Elaina coming into the room. I ran to Elaina, filled with joy to see her up and about.

"Miss Elaina! Bless you, you're awake!" I wrapped my arms around her.

"Yes Laurie, I'm fine."

"Oh it is good to see that you're better! Ali and I were worried sick about you, weren't we Ali?"

"Indeed we were," she replied, grinning.

After explaining everything that had happened the previous day, Elaina replied, "so our purpose has been revealed. What now, Ali? There must be more that we can do!"

"Indeed there is, Elaina," Ali replied with a sigh, "but I know now what. My heart tells me that we have a purpose yet to serve." She turned to me and smiled, "What do you think Laurelin? Is there any more wisdom that you have to offer?"

"No, miss Ali," I said, turning red. "I'm afraid not. I guess my advice the other night was just a fool's dumb luck."

"Oh, do not say such things," Elaina interupted, "You are a great many things as a hobbit, but a fool is certainly not one of them. Just look at how far you've come! A truly special hobbit you are indeed."

"Elaina is right, Laurelin," Ali went on, "But I still think there is more for you. Al you need, actually, all we need, is a direction. I fear that we will most likely be led again to battle."

Our thoughts turned to the day before and I remembered the scent of the terrible orc and the look of hate in his eyes.

Elaina interupted my thoughts. "When we arrived here, Ali, I was too overwhelmed to react. But, then I saw you, fighting valiantly before us. I felt as if I had never seen you before. You had tranformed into a mighty warrior, like those often mentioned in the elvish songs of old."

Ali blushed.

"I was not surprised," I said, "I have long known that her fair face was only a façade to her wisdom and strength. She has done so much already." I turned to Ali, "and I knw that you have much more to do yet, Linmen-" I put my hand over my mouth, realizing what I had just said. "Ali."

Ali paused and seemed as if she was in deep thought. I hoped that my words had not upset her. "I'm sorry, Ali"

"It's alright, Laurelin," she replied. "In fact, I have thought of a plan. I will seek out Darion and Maurelwen, they will surely know what is in store. I will also be able to avoid the attention of the leaders. For though our presence is no longer secret, I believe that it is best that few know of us. Our presnece might cause unneeded thought and worry."

"Very well," Elaina said, "Please, give Darion my thanks, for all that he has done."

"I will, my dear Elaina, I shall be back in a few hours, namarie." She waved to us as she made her way out.