Chapter Two of The Long Road to Hope.
(Remember if you have the soundtrack to The Black Stallion, it is perfect music to play with this) And hang in there. We'll get to Riverdale, er, Rivendell soon enough!
Thera surveyed their tidy camp. Lily was hobbled and the fire was burning merrily. Thim was playing soldiers with a pile of pine cones and stones, wrapped in a thick woolen cloak. The tea kettle was on the edge of the fire and just now beginning to whistle and steam. Thera was soaking some of the dried meat in fruit juice so Thim might be tempted to eat it. Now, this wasn't so bad! It was a nice evening and according to Farmer Gamlin, there was moonlight for the next week or so.
A half an hour later, Thera grinned in delight at her brother. Thim was actually eating!!! He had eaten two pieces of juice-soaked meat and a few of the wild strawberries she had found. Well, maybe it just took being out in the fresh air to make an improvement!
Later, rolled in her blanket, Thim tucked at her side, Thera felt better about her brother's health than she had in weeks. Even though camping and riding were going to be hard to get used to, she smiled ruefully in the dark as she shifted her hip on the hard ground for the third time, contentment filled her. Instead of watching hopelessly, she was doing something and not waiting for a miracle. This was the right thing to do, she just knew it.
The next few days proceeded in a cheerful parade of changing spring landscape, a few chance meetings on the roads with farmers (though none knew of the elves direction for sure) and lovely weather.
Each day, Thim seemed more alert and more active and Thera more hopeful.
But, 10 days out from Bree, the weather got windy and cloudy and even Thera could see they were headed into a nasty spring storm.
Just as the first raindrops splattered on Lily's hide, Thera found a camp site that would protect them from the worst of the bad weather. The road had been cutting through a large stand of old oaks that crowded the road, making it dark, especially since it was clouding up. Finding a break in their gnarled trunks, Thera directed Lily off the road, between the trees to a jumble of boulders.
Jumping out of the cart, she dragged the cart cover out and over the stays to hold it just in time to keep off the spring deluge. She then grabbed Lily's waterproof blanket out of the cart, smiling at the sleeping Thim and quickly covered the horse. Giving her an oat bag, Thera wiped the rain off her face and crawled in the dark cart to curl up with Thim. The darkness and the steady sound of rain lulled Thera to sleep.
Hours later, hunger woke her and knowing they couldn't have a fire, Thera rummaged in their supplies and found a small candle which she put in the lantern hanging from the middle stay.
The feeble light was enough to hunt up some food for the two of them. Waking Thim when she had their meal assembled, she smiled at his sleepy look. "There's my lad! We have a bit of rain to sit out here Thim. But I've prepared us a snack." Thim, rubbing his eyes, took the dried fruit and small glass of water and just stared at them for a moment.
"Come on sweetie. You must be hungry! Breakfast was hours ago."
Thim nodded. "I guess I am a little hungry." And he pulled at the dried apple strip.
Thera sighing deeply, ate her own food, watching to see Thim ate everything, including a bit of dried cheese.
When they finished, Thera hugged his thin body to hers and said, "What do you say to a story my lad?"
Thim looked up at her with a smile. "How about one about the elves? You've never told me a tale about the elves!"
"Well, you are right. I haven't." Thera looked off at the rain dripping from the cover just at the edge of the small lantern's pool of light. She couldn't admit to her brother she didn't know much about elves! And it seems few people did.
"Let's see. Once upon a time there was a lonely elf prince named Estorlin. He had no mummy and daddy because they had gone off to the great wars and never returned."
"Were they fierce warriors? Even the momma elf?"
"Oh yes, brave and strong and because they were king and queen, they led their people to great victory."
"Oh, who did they fight? Goblins? Trolls? Wargs?"
"Yes, all those things. It involved just about every monster you could think of and all the elves and people and dwarves fought long and hard against the evil dark king."
"What was his name?"
"Snarler!"
"Snarler! That's the name of Hester's dog!"
Thera laughed. "Well it was his name too, because all he did was snarl at everyone: his servants and counselors and his soldiers too."
"Well, I bet his soldiers didn't like him."
"They were afraid of him, because he could turn them into toads and nasty snakes and things."
Thim shivered at that. "Well I won't make him mad at me!"
"Okay, we won't mention you to him!"
Thim nodded and Thera continued. "Well Prince Estorlin was very sad when his mommy and daddy didn't come back from the wars. And he threw his toys around the room and chased his puppy until it hid under his bed."
"That wasn't very nice."
"No, but he was very sad remember?"
"All right, but I wouldn't chase my puppy."
"The Prince's nanny put a stop to that and wrapped her arms around him," here Thera did the same thing. "And rocked and sang to him until he fell asleep, with tears on his face. His puppy crawled out from under his bed and snuggled his lap."
Thera fell silent and kissed the top of Thim's head as she continued to rock him. In a few minutes, he had fallen asleep. Settling him comfortably, Thera, got out of the cart to check on Lily and the storm.
She could feel the wind rising and smiled as she wiped her face. Good, that must mean the storm was moving off. And Lily was as dry as she could be. Satisified, Thera climbed back in the cart and went to sleep.
But though the storm did move out, another moved in on its heels, and the next two days fluctuated between cloudy and windy and cold, and cloudy and windy and rainy.
The three travelers spirits drooped. Thera debated about camping and sitting out the rain, but she didn't want to lose anytime so they trudged along the muddy road.
Finally, on the third day, the sun came out feebly through the ragged skirts of the departing rain. And they had gotten out from under the dark trees.
Reaching a stream that was running high with runoff from the rain, Thera realized that until the ford got shallower, they would have to stay put.
Deciding this was a good thing because actually Lily needed to get out of the harness and have a day unencumbered by a cart with two people in it. And the two people in the cart needed to stretch their legs as well.
Thera was delighted that when she had gotten Lily unhitched and tied to a low-branched cottonwood, that Thim had insisted on helping brush out Lily's hide. So while she cleaned Lily's hooves, Thim slow and steadily brushed Lily's coat until it shone. In a good mood, Lily even tried to nibble Thim's hair and let out a loud neigh of enjoyment when all her grooming was done. Thera pulled out her cloak and laying it where the grass was less damp, sat in a weak pool of sun and brushed out her hair. As she did that she noticed Thim hunting along the stream bank, pulling up stones and then tossing them far into the rushing waters. Just like any normal boy would. Maybe he was actually getting better! Maybe this nice spring trip was all he needed!
Finishing her hair, Thera got up and joined her brother in throwing stones and hunting along the stream bank for frogs and newts. And even better, in their ramble, Thera found some mushrooms they could add to the dinner that night.
Once the meal was done and the dishes cleaned, Thera leaned over and hugged her brother. "How are you feeling Thim?"
Smiling up at her under his thatch of dark curls, he said, "Better Thera, really! This trip is fun! Even with the rain! I hope we never see the elves!"
She ran her hand through his tangled curls, as she laughed, "Why ever not?"
"Well, I've been thinking that maybe they'll be no better than
that last doctor...Doctor Redfern...and he bled me and there was that awful medicine..."
"No!" She hugged him again. "No, I am sure they are not like that. Not like that at all. They, ah, they are supposed to be very kindly people, even if they don't speak our language. And, and really good healers. That's what everyone says."
Nodding, Thim was not completely convinced. Thera kissed him on the head and said, "Well, time for bed laddie-o!"
Yawning, Thim nodded again and soon, rolled up in his blanket by the fire, he slept. Thera stared sightlessly at the lowering flames. She hoped her small fictions about the elves would not get challenged too much by the truth. Poor Thim hadn't had any good experiences with doctors and healers. And part of it Thera knew, was her fault. She was willing to try any supposed cure that came into town. Sighing, she realized that every last one of them seemed to involve nigh unpalatable tinctures, or hot steamy baths with strange smells, or bleeding and one, a rubdown with some herb that had given him a nasty rash on top of everything else.
Rubbing her forehead, she got her blanket and rolled up next to her brother. "I sure hope the farmer was telling us the truth."
The next day brought a welcome sight, the stream level had dropped enough for them to cross, and soon, singing a nursery song together the travelers were on their way, spirits high.
That evening however, they came across a group of travelers camped in a large meadow to the left of the road. Not sure she should stop, the decision was made for her when a gentleman dressed in motley came out into the road and grabbed Lily's reins. She snorted and tossed her head, but stopped.
"Good even', fine lady. Where you be headed?"
"I, I and my brother are out to visit ah, Halfhill Farm for a wedding."
Thera amazed herself with her lie. Biting her lip and unsure why they were stopped, the man let go of Lily and shrugged. "Well, we have seen no travelers for a week and would be glad of company, my brothers and I. Where are you traveling from?"
"Bree."
"Must be some wedding."
Nodding, Thera let the man pull the cart off the road. Thim sitting next to Thera watched wide-eyed and silent as they were led into the camp. They saw brightly dressed women and children, a few dogs and three wooden wagons in a semi-circle. A large fire burned there and the caracss of a sheep or deer was being turned on a spit by a small boy. Helping her and
Thim down, the man led her over to the fire, while another man led Lily off to join the other cart horses. Nervous, Thera bit her lip again as she smiled uncertainly at the other women sitting by the fire. They were cutting vegetables and throwing them into a big pot before them. One of the women silently handed her a handful of carrots and a knife and pointed silently to the pot. Dazed, Thera complied. Thim crowded next to her on the fallen log being used as bench by the three women.
Hoping to get some information, Thera introduced she and Thim and looked pointedly at her companions.
The oldest, with streaks of grey in her thick black hair pointed to herself. "I am Fern." She pointed to the redhead next to her, who looked younger, but not by much, though she had no grey in her red braided tresses. "This here is Delia and the sweetums at the end is Gala." Gala was not only young, but quite pregnant. She tossed her brown hair back and grinned at Thera.
"Well Fern," Thera started conversationally, "what brings you all out to the Wild here?"
"Oh, well, traveling. We just like traveling and seeing the sights. Selling things. Do some tinkering and all."
Delia, wiped a finger under her nose. "Yeah, it's right pretty here in spring time."
Gala pipped up as she ate the end of the carrot she was slicing. "We come from Laketown."
"Laketown!! Why, that's way over the mountains! You have come a long way!"
Thim finally spoke up, leaning around Thera, "Have you ever seen the elves?"
Fern put her hands on her thighs, grinning, "Why sure we have sweetums. They are hard to see if they don't want no company, but we've seen them crossing the mountains."
"Are they nice?"
"Don't know laddie," answered Delia. "They never stop long enough for tea!"
The three women laughed at that and Thim smiled uncertainly and settled back against Thera. Thera smiled at her companions and kept slicing. It seemed these folks took nothing too serious.
"What do they look like?"
"Well they look like Men, if that's what you're worried about," Fern replied. "No horns or fur!"
The women laughed as Fern continued. "They're real tall and serious-like."
The others nodded silently and nothing more was said, until Gala added a bit wistfully, "They're an eyeful, that's for sure."
"An eyeful?" Thim asked, sticking his head around Thera once more.
"Sweetums, Gala means they are prettier than your ma here with her green eyes, milk and cream complexion and dark auburn hair."
Thera laughed and blushed. "I'm his sister, not his mom. Our parents died last year."
The three women nodded and the vegetables were finished in silence.
Dinner was a cheerful affair and Thera was glad to see that Thim had not been put off by their unexpected company and had eaten a little of everything put before him.
During the meal, one of the men, Fisel, brought an old lady out to the fire. He got her settled and brought her food and then introduced her as Mother Cali to Thera and Thim. She nodded, her eyes sparkling like black pools in the firelight. She said little during the meal and Thera gave her no thought while she and the other women went and washed the dishes, after the men had heated up a big pot of water and divided it between two wooden tubs.
But once finished, Thera saw that Thim was sleepy-eyed by the fire and so bid her companions good night and gathered up her brother and took him to their cart.
As she was getting him settled, she heard a rap on the side of the cart. Looking behind her, she found Mother Cali staring at her. Finishing up with Thim, she kissed him, taking a moment to brush his hair off his face. He was already asleep.
"Yes Mother Cali, can I help you?"
She crooked her finger at Thera, who stepped out of the cart to follow her to one of the wildly painted wagons. Indicating she should wait on the step, Mother Cali went into its fragrant interior. In a few moments she came back out and sat on the step with Thera.
"Your brother, he's real sick ain't he?"
Thera's heart sank. She had been feeling so happy and now, "Yes, he is. He's been sick since before the Spring Festival. He's all I have."
"Hm. A wasting sickness I take it."
"Yes, exactly!" Thera's heart perked up. "Do you know anything I can do for him?"
Mother Cali silently shook her head. "No darlin', I do not. Lost two grandchildren to it during the winter. Now, would you like a cup of tea?"
"Yes, I would, thank you."
Mother Cali went back into the wagon and a few minutes later, she brought out a heavy mug steaming fragrantly with a whiff of honey, but Thera could smell a little chamomile under it. She smiled to herself.
Mother Cali lit a pipe and nodded at the mug in Thera's hand.
"Drink up dearie. It will soothe your heart."
Just as Thera sipped her tea, Fisel came up to them and said, "Sorry to disturb you ladies, but Mother, may I have a word with you?"
"Go on, I'll just go check on Thim."
The two nodded at her and strolled off to another cart.
Thera looked at her tea after taking a sip. There was something else in the tea, but she wasn't able to identify the herb. Stopping a moment, she stared at the mug. With a shrug, she dumped the tea in the grass and kept going to her cart. Thim was still sound asleep. She adjusted the blanket around his thin shoulders and went back out into the night. Deciding to take care of a call of nature, she went off to the edge of camp.
Coming back, she stopped to pet a contented Lily and quietly made her way back to Mother Cali's wagon. But a conversation by the cart closest to the horses, stopped her in her tracks.
"Did you give her the tea?" Fisel asked.
"Of course. Do you think I didn't notice what a fine horse and cart she had? We can get a pretty penny for it from ol' Farger in Bree."
"But the girls from Bree. Might be dangerous."
"It has never stopped us before son. Farger knows his job and he'll be discrete."
"All right. How long til the tea works?
"Give me an hour."
"All right, that will give me and the boys time for a pipe."
Mother Cali waved him away. Waiting until the two walked away, Thera took a moment to make a plan. What to do? Sighing deeply she went back to Mother Cali's cart with the beginnings of an idea.
"There you are dearie, thought I'd lost you!"
"No ma'am. Just went to take a look at Thim. He was a bit restless from having nightmares. You wouldn't have a tisane to help him sleep would you?"
"Why yes I do! Let me brew up a mug for you." Thera handed her the mug in her hand. "Here, use mine. I've finished the tea. Very nice thank you!"
Mother Cali smiled, the gaps in her teeth showing. She went into the cart and again, in a few minutes, she came out with a steaming cup.
Taking it carefully, Thera walked back to her cart calling out over her shoulder, "I won't be long!"
"Fine dearie. I shall just finish my pipe." Mother Cali leaned back against the step behind her and contemplated the stars. Ah, it was going to be a lovely night!
Once out of the circle of light from the lantern on Mother Cali's cart, Thera ran swiftly to her cart, not minding the sloshing tea. She entered the cart and woke Thim up. "Sweetie, its Thera. We have to go quickly, do you think you can do something for me?"
Rubbing his eyes, he nodded slowly. While Thera explained what she wanted him to do, she gathered up their belongings and tied them up in the blanket Thim had just been wrapped in.
"Go get Lily from the picket line. You are small and they won't see you. I will leave this by the cart and will join you as soon as I can. Can you do that?"
"Yes Thera. I can take Lily, but why do we have to wake her up now?"
"I will tell you in a little while, all right?"
Nodding again, Thim clambered out of the cart slowly. Just before he ran to the horses, Thera told him hurriedly. "If anyone asks, you just have to go to the privy, all right?"
Nodding, Thim took off.
Thera, taking a deep breath, went back to Mother Cali's. She didn't get five steps from her cart when she realized with a muffled gasp, she forgot the mug. Then it dawned on her with a smile. It would make a perfect excuse to come back here quickly.
Smiling cheerfully, Thera rejoined Mother Cali on her step. Wrapping her arms around her knees, Thera looked up the stars with a smile. "Looks like it will be a fine night, I mean day for traveling, tomorrow."
Mother Cali looked at her sharply for a moment but smiled when Thera could barely hide a big yawn.
"Oh, it must be all that food I had tonight Mother Cali, but I am really sleepy. But before I turn in, I will bring back your mug. I realize I left it next to Thim."
"Certainly dearie."
Yawning one more time for effect, Thera moved slowly off to her cart trembling with the need to run.
But once there, she saw Thim had done as she asked and Lily stood there idly swishing her tail and pulling at the grass near the back wheel. Thera put their belongings just inside the cart and then put Thim on the horse and used the wheel for a boost up herself. Leaning into the open cart, she grabbed their things and put them in Thim's lap. With a quiet cluck to Lily, they walked slowly to nearest edge of camp and disappeared under the trees.
Thim whispered loudly "What are we doing Thera?"
"We are sneaking away." Thera said with a hug. "I overheard Fisel and Mother Cali discuss taking Lily and our cart to Bree and selling them to someone named Farger. I am trying to get away without them noticing. I think we have sometime before they come looking for us. I am just sorry we can't take the cart."
"Oh well," Thim yawned. "Maybe the elves will give us one when we get to Riverdale."
"Yes, maybe they will."
Circling the camp by as wide a margin as she dared, Thera finally got them back on the East Road and once again, on their way to Riverdale. Grateful Thim had not asked what was to happen to them before the horse and cart got sold, Thera clucked to Lily to pick up the pace.
They rode all night.
|Top of Form |Bottom of Form |
(Remember if you have the soundtrack to The Black Stallion, it is perfect music to play with this) And hang in there. We'll get to Riverdale, er, Rivendell soon enough!
Thera surveyed their tidy camp. Lily was hobbled and the fire was burning merrily. Thim was playing soldiers with a pile of pine cones and stones, wrapped in a thick woolen cloak. The tea kettle was on the edge of the fire and just now beginning to whistle and steam. Thera was soaking some of the dried meat in fruit juice so Thim might be tempted to eat it. Now, this wasn't so bad! It was a nice evening and according to Farmer Gamlin, there was moonlight for the next week or so.
A half an hour later, Thera grinned in delight at her brother. Thim was actually eating!!! He had eaten two pieces of juice-soaked meat and a few of the wild strawberries she had found. Well, maybe it just took being out in the fresh air to make an improvement!
Later, rolled in her blanket, Thim tucked at her side, Thera felt better about her brother's health than she had in weeks. Even though camping and riding were going to be hard to get used to, she smiled ruefully in the dark as she shifted her hip on the hard ground for the third time, contentment filled her. Instead of watching hopelessly, she was doing something and not waiting for a miracle. This was the right thing to do, she just knew it.
The next few days proceeded in a cheerful parade of changing spring landscape, a few chance meetings on the roads with farmers (though none knew of the elves direction for sure) and lovely weather.
Each day, Thim seemed more alert and more active and Thera more hopeful.
But, 10 days out from Bree, the weather got windy and cloudy and even Thera could see they were headed into a nasty spring storm.
Just as the first raindrops splattered on Lily's hide, Thera found a camp site that would protect them from the worst of the bad weather. The road had been cutting through a large stand of old oaks that crowded the road, making it dark, especially since it was clouding up. Finding a break in their gnarled trunks, Thera directed Lily off the road, between the trees to a jumble of boulders.
Jumping out of the cart, she dragged the cart cover out and over the stays to hold it just in time to keep off the spring deluge. She then grabbed Lily's waterproof blanket out of the cart, smiling at the sleeping Thim and quickly covered the horse. Giving her an oat bag, Thera wiped the rain off her face and crawled in the dark cart to curl up with Thim. The darkness and the steady sound of rain lulled Thera to sleep.
Hours later, hunger woke her and knowing they couldn't have a fire, Thera rummaged in their supplies and found a small candle which she put in the lantern hanging from the middle stay.
The feeble light was enough to hunt up some food for the two of them. Waking Thim when she had their meal assembled, she smiled at his sleepy look. "There's my lad! We have a bit of rain to sit out here Thim. But I've prepared us a snack." Thim, rubbing his eyes, took the dried fruit and small glass of water and just stared at them for a moment.
"Come on sweetie. You must be hungry! Breakfast was hours ago."
Thim nodded. "I guess I am a little hungry." And he pulled at the dried apple strip.
Thera sighing deeply, ate her own food, watching to see Thim ate everything, including a bit of dried cheese.
When they finished, Thera hugged his thin body to hers and said, "What do you say to a story my lad?"
Thim looked up at her with a smile. "How about one about the elves? You've never told me a tale about the elves!"
"Well, you are right. I haven't." Thera looked off at the rain dripping from the cover just at the edge of the small lantern's pool of light. She couldn't admit to her brother she didn't know much about elves! And it seems few people did.
"Let's see. Once upon a time there was a lonely elf prince named Estorlin. He had no mummy and daddy because they had gone off to the great wars and never returned."
"Were they fierce warriors? Even the momma elf?"
"Oh yes, brave and strong and because they were king and queen, they led their people to great victory."
"Oh, who did they fight? Goblins? Trolls? Wargs?"
"Yes, all those things. It involved just about every monster you could think of and all the elves and people and dwarves fought long and hard against the evil dark king."
"What was his name?"
"Snarler!"
"Snarler! That's the name of Hester's dog!"
Thera laughed. "Well it was his name too, because all he did was snarl at everyone: his servants and counselors and his soldiers too."
"Well, I bet his soldiers didn't like him."
"They were afraid of him, because he could turn them into toads and nasty snakes and things."
Thim shivered at that. "Well I won't make him mad at me!"
"Okay, we won't mention you to him!"
Thim nodded and Thera continued. "Well Prince Estorlin was very sad when his mommy and daddy didn't come back from the wars. And he threw his toys around the room and chased his puppy until it hid under his bed."
"That wasn't very nice."
"No, but he was very sad remember?"
"All right, but I wouldn't chase my puppy."
"The Prince's nanny put a stop to that and wrapped her arms around him," here Thera did the same thing. "And rocked and sang to him until he fell asleep, with tears on his face. His puppy crawled out from under his bed and snuggled his lap."
Thera fell silent and kissed the top of Thim's head as she continued to rock him. In a few minutes, he had fallen asleep. Settling him comfortably, Thera, got out of the cart to check on Lily and the storm.
She could feel the wind rising and smiled as she wiped her face. Good, that must mean the storm was moving off. And Lily was as dry as she could be. Satisified, Thera climbed back in the cart and went to sleep.
But though the storm did move out, another moved in on its heels, and the next two days fluctuated between cloudy and windy and cold, and cloudy and windy and rainy.
The three travelers spirits drooped. Thera debated about camping and sitting out the rain, but she didn't want to lose anytime so they trudged along the muddy road.
Finally, on the third day, the sun came out feebly through the ragged skirts of the departing rain. And they had gotten out from under the dark trees.
Reaching a stream that was running high with runoff from the rain, Thera realized that until the ford got shallower, they would have to stay put.
Deciding this was a good thing because actually Lily needed to get out of the harness and have a day unencumbered by a cart with two people in it. And the two people in the cart needed to stretch their legs as well.
Thera was delighted that when she had gotten Lily unhitched and tied to a low-branched cottonwood, that Thim had insisted on helping brush out Lily's hide. So while she cleaned Lily's hooves, Thim slow and steadily brushed Lily's coat until it shone. In a good mood, Lily even tried to nibble Thim's hair and let out a loud neigh of enjoyment when all her grooming was done. Thera pulled out her cloak and laying it where the grass was less damp, sat in a weak pool of sun and brushed out her hair. As she did that she noticed Thim hunting along the stream bank, pulling up stones and then tossing them far into the rushing waters. Just like any normal boy would. Maybe he was actually getting better! Maybe this nice spring trip was all he needed!
Finishing her hair, Thera got up and joined her brother in throwing stones and hunting along the stream bank for frogs and newts. And even better, in their ramble, Thera found some mushrooms they could add to the dinner that night.
Once the meal was done and the dishes cleaned, Thera leaned over and hugged her brother. "How are you feeling Thim?"
Smiling up at her under his thatch of dark curls, he said, "Better Thera, really! This trip is fun! Even with the rain! I hope we never see the elves!"
She ran her hand through his tangled curls, as she laughed, "Why ever not?"
"Well, I've been thinking that maybe they'll be no better than
that last doctor...Doctor Redfern...and he bled me and there was that awful medicine..."
"No!" She hugged him again. "No, I am sure they are not like that. Not like that at all. They, ah, they are supposed to be very kindly people, even if they don't speak our language. And, and really good healers. That's what everyone says."
Nodding, Thim was not completely convinced. Thera kissed him on the head and said, "Well, time for bed laddie-o!"
Yawning, Thim nodded again and soon, rolled up in his blanket by the fire, he slept. Thera stared sightlessly at the lowering flames. She hoped her small fictions about the elves would not get challenged too much by the truth. Poor Thim hadn't had any good experiences with doctors and healers. And part of it Thera knew, was her fault. She was willing to try any supposed cure that came into town. Sighing, she realized that every last one of them seemed to involve nigh unpalatable tinctures, or hot steamy baths with strange smells, or bleeding and one, a rubdown with some herb that had given him a nasty rash on top of everything else.
Rubbing her forehead, she got her blanket and rolled up next to her brother. "I sure hope the farmer was telling us the truth."
The next day brought a welcome sight, the stream level had dropped enough for them to cross, and soon, singing a nursery song together the travelers were on their way, spirits high.
That evening however, they came across a group of travelers camped in a large meadow to the left of the road. Not sure she should stop, the decision was made for her when a gentleman dressed in motley came out into the road and grabbed Lily's reins. She snorted and tossed her head, but stopped.
"Good even', fine lady. Where you be headed?"
"I, I and my brother are out to visit ah, Halfhill Farm for a wedding."
Thera amazed herself with her lie. Biting her lip and unsure why they were stopped, the man let go of Lily and shrugged. "Well, we have seen no travelers for a week and would be glad of company, my brothers and I. Where are you traveling from?"
"Bree."
"Must be some wedding."
Nodding, Thera let the man pull the cart off the road. Thim sitting next to Thera watched wide-eyed and silent as they were led into the camp. They saw brightly dressed women and children, a few dogs and three wooden wagons in a semi-circle. A large fire burned there and the caracss of a sheep or deer was being turned on a spit by a small boy. Helping her and
Thim down, the man led her over to the fire, while another man led Lily off to join the other cart horses. Nervous, Thera bit her lip again as she smiled uncertainly at the other women sitting by the fire. They were cutting vegetables and throwing them into a big pot before them. One of the women silently handed her a handful of carrots and a knife and pointed silently to the pot. Dazed, Thera complied. Thim crowded next to her on the fallen log being used as bench by the three women.
Hoping to get some information, Thera introduced she and Thim and looked pointedly at her companions.
The oldest, with streaks of grey in her thick black hair pointed to herself. "I am Fern." She pointed to the redhead next to her, who looked younger, but not by much, though she had no grey in her red braided tresses. "This here is Delia and the sweetums at the end is Gala." Gala was not only young, but quite pregnant. She tossed her brown hair back and grinned at Thera.
"Well Fern," Thera started conversationally, "what brings you all out to the Wild here?"
"Oh, well, traveling. We just like traveling and seeing the sights. Selling things. Do some tinkering and all."
Delia, wiped a finger under her nose. "Yeah, it's right pretty here in spring time."
Gala pipped up as she ate the end of the carrot she was slicing. "We come from Laketown."
"Laketown!! Why, that's way over the mountains! You have come a long way!"
Thim finally spoke up, leaning around Thera, "Have you ever seen the elves?"
Fern put her hands on her thighs, grinning, "Why sure we have sweetums. They are hard to see if they don't want no company, but we've seen them crossing the mountains."
"Are they nice?"
"Don't know laddie," answered Delia. "They never stop long enough for tea!"
The three women laughed at that and Thim smiled uncertainly and settled back against Thera. Thera smiled at her companions and kept slicing. It seemed these folks took nothing too serious.
"What do they look like?"
"Well they look like Men, if that's what you're worried about," Fern replied. "No horns or fur!"
The women laughed as Fern continued. "They're real tall and serious-like."
The others nodded silently and nothing more was said, until Gala added a bit wistfully, "They're an eyeful, that's for sure."
"An eyeful?" Thim asked, sticking his head around Thera once more.
"Sweetums, Gala means they are prettier than your ma here with her green eyes, milk and cream complexion and dark auburn hair."
Thera laughed and blushed. "I'm his sister, not his mom. Our parents died last year."
The three women nodded and the vegetables were finished in silence.
Dinner was a cheerful affair and Thera was glad to see that Thim had not been put off by their unexpected company and had eaten a little of everything put before him.
During the meal, one of the men, Fisel, brought an old lady out to the fire. He got her settled and brought her food and then introduced her as Mother Cali to Thera and Thim. She nodded, her eyes sparkling like black pools in the firelight. She said little during the meal and Thera gave her no thought while she and the other women went and washed the dishes, after the men had heated up a big pot of water and divided it between two wooden tubs.
But once finished, Thera saw that Thim was sleepy-eyed by the fire and so bid her companions good night and gathered up her brother and took him to their cart.
As she was getting him settled, she heard a rap on the side of the cart. Looking behind her, she found Mother Cali staring at her. Finishing up with Thim, she kissed him, taking a moment to brush his hair off his face. He was already asleep.
"Yes Mother Cali, can I help you?"
She crooked her finger at Thera, who stepped out of the cart to follow her to one of the wildly painted wagons. Indicating she should wait on the step, Mother Cali went into its fragrant interior. In a few moments she came back out and sat on the step with Thera.
"Your brother, he's real sick ain't he?"
Thera's heart sank. She had been feeling so happy and now, "Yes, he is. He's been sick since before the Spring Festival. He's all I have."
"Hm. A wasting sickness I take it."
"Yes, exactly!" Thera's heart perked up. "Do you know anything I can do for him?"
Mother Cali silently shook her head. "No darlin', I do not. Lost two grandchildren to it during the winter. Now, would you like a cup of tea?"
"Yes, I would, thank you."
Mother Cali went back into the wagon and a few minutes later, she brought out a heavy mug steaming fragrantly with a whiff of honey, but Thera could smell a little chamomile under it. She smiled to herself.
Mother Cali lit a pipe and nodded at the mug in Thera's hand.
"Drink up dearie. It will soothe your heart."
Just as Thera sipped her tea, Fisel came up to them and said, "Sorry to disturb you ladies, but Mother, may I have a word with you?"
"Go on, I'll just go check on Thim."
The two nodded at her and strolled off to another cart.
Thera looked at her tea after taking a sip. There was something else in the tea, but she wasn't able to identify the herb. Stopping a moment, she stared at the mug. With a shrug, she dumped the tea in the grass and kept going to her cart. Thim was still sound asleep. She adjusted the blanket around his thin shoulders and went back out into the night. Deciding to take care of a call of nature, she went off to the edge of camp.
Coming back, she stopped to pet a contented Lily and quietly made her way back to Mother Cali's wagon. But a conversation by the cart closest to the horses, stopped her in her tracks.
"Did you give her the tea?" Fisel asked.
"Of course. Do you think I didn't notice what a fine horse and cart she had? We can get a pretty penny for it from ol' Farger in Bree."
"But the girls from Bree. Might be dangerous."
"It has never stopped us before son. Farger knows his job and he'll be discrete."
"All right. How long til the tea works?
"Give me an hour."
"All right, that will give me and the boys time for a pipe."
Mother Cali waved him away. Waiting until the two walked away, Thera took a moment to make a plan. What to do? Sighing deeply she went back to Mother Cali's cart with the beginnings of an idea.
"There you are dearie, thought I'd lost you!"
"No ma'am. Just went to take a look at Thim. He was a bit restless from having nightmares. You wouldn't have a tisane to help him sleep would you?"
"Why yes I do! Let me brew up a mug for you." Thera handed her the mug in her hand. "Here, use mine. I've finished the tea. Very nice thank you!"
Mother Cali smiled, the gaps in her teeth showing. She went into the cart and again, in a few minutes, she came out with a steaming cup.
Taking it carefully, Thera walked back to her cart calling out over her shoulder, "I won't be long!"
"Fine dearie. I shall just finish my pipe." Mother Cali leaned back against the step behind her and contemplated the stars. Ah, it was going to be a lovely night!
Once out of the circle of light from the lantern on Mother Cali's cart, Thera ran swiftly to her cart, not minding the sloshing tea. She entered the cart and woke Thim up. "Sweetie, its Thera. We have to go quickly, do you think you can do something for me?"
Rubbing his eyes, he nodded slowly. While Thera explained what she wanted him to do, she gathered up their belongings and tied them up in the blanket Thim had just been wrapped in.
"Go get Lily from the picket line. You are small and they won't see you. I will leave this by the cart and will join you as soon as I can. Can you do that?"
"Yes Thera. I can take Lily, but why do we have to wake her up now?"
"I will tell you in a little while, all right?"
Nodding again, Thim clambered out of the cart slowly. Just before he ran to the horses, Thera told him hurriedly. "If anyone asks, you just have to go to the privy, all right?"
Nodding, Thim took off.
Thera, taking a deep breath, went back to Mother Cali's. She didn't get five steps from her cart when she realized with a muffled gasp, she forgot the mug. Then it dawned on her with a smile. It would make a perfect excuse to come back here quickly.
Smiling cheerfully, Thera rejoined Mother Cali on her step. Wrapping her arms around her knees, Thera looked up the stars with a smile. "Looks like it will be a fine night, I mean day for traveling, tomorrow."
Mother Cali looked at her sharply for a moment but smiled when Thera could barely hide a big yawn.
"Oh, it must be all that food I had tonight Mother Cali, but I am really sleepy. But before I turn in, I will bring back your mug. I realize I left it next to Thim."
"Certainly dearie."
Yawning one more time for effect, Thera moved slowly off to her cart trembling with the need to run.
But once there, she saw Thim had done as she asked and Lily stood there idly swishing her tail and pulling at the grass near the back wheel. Thera put their belongings just inside the cart and then put Thim on the horse and used the wheel for a boost up herself. Leaning into the open cart, she grabbed their things and put them in Thim's lap. With a quiet cluck to Lily, they walked slowly to nearest edge of camp and disappeared under the trees.
Thim whispered loudly "What are we doing Thera?"
"We are sneaking away." Thera said with a hug. "I overheard Fisel and Mother Cali discuss taking Lily and our cart to Bree and selling them to someone named Farger. I am trying to get away without them noticing. I think we have sometime before they come looking for us. I am just sorry we can't take the cart."
"Oh well," Thim yawned. "Maybe the elves will give us one when we get to Riverdale."
"Yes, maybe they will."
Circling the camp by as wide a margin as she dared, Thera finally got them back on the East Road and once again, on their way to Riverdale. Grateful Thim had not asked what was to happen to them before the horse and cart got sold, Thera clucked to Lily to pick up the pace.
They rode all night.
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