Merry was startled awake by a soft hand brushing the hair out of his face,
"What? Wha? Wha-"
Shhhhh . . . Its okay Merry, Its me."
As Merry's vision became clearer, he saw Zoarria sitting on the edge of the bed. "Oh, Zoarria, you scared me half to death."
"Sorry, Merry, but you gotta take these meds."
She handed him an herbal tea in an Elven mug. As Merry was examining the intricate design around the lip, Nólaquen walked in and placed his hand upon Zoarria's shoulder. Zoarria glanced up at him and smiled softly, Nólaquen smiled back and looked at Merry, "Come now, Merry, drink up! You must recover your strength to get back on your way." At this Zoarria's eyes got a little sad but Merry thought he may have imagined it for it came and went quickly.
Nólaquen reached down and squeezed Zoarria's hand, "Come Zoar, lets go home. I'm sure Merry needs his rest." With that Nólaquen led Zoarria out of the room.
Merry lay back down, the scene he had just witnessed playing over and over in his head --- Zoarria smiling at Nólaquen, Nólaquen squeezing Zoarria's hand, "Lets go home"? What had he meant by that? Did they live in the same house? Is she visiting? Or is he? Zoarria smiling at Nólaquen, Nólaquen squeezing Zoarria's hand, "Lets go home"? What had he meant by that? Did they live in the same house? Is she visiting? Or is he? Zoarria smiling at Nólaquen, Nólaquen squeezing Zoarria's hand, "Lets go home"? What had he meant by that? Did they live in the same house? Is she visiting? Or is he?
Merry fell asleep all these questions in his head, "Is she taken?" That was the last thought he had before drifting off to sleep. That night his dreams were troubled and he woke thinking of Zoarria with tears in his eyes.
Shhhhh . . . Its okay Merry, Its me."
As Merry's vision became clearer, he saw Zoarria sitting on the edge of the bed. "Oh, Zoarria, you scared me half to death."
"Sorry, Merry, but you gotta take these meds."
She handed him an herbal tea in an Elven mug. As Merry was examining the intricate design around the lip, Nólaquen walked in and placed his hand upon Zoarria's shoulder. Zoarria glanced up at him and smiled softly, Nólaquen smiled back and looked at Merry, "Come now, Merry, drink up! You must recover your strength to get back on your way." At this Zoarria's eyes got a little sad but Merry thought he may have imagined it for it came and went quickly.
Nólaquen reached down and squeezed Zoarria's hand, "Come Zoar, lets go home. I'm sure Merry needs his rest." With that Nólaquen led Zoarria out of the room.
Merry lay back down, the scene he had just witnessed playing over and over in his head --- Zoarria smiling at Nólaquen, Nólaquen squeezing Zoarria's hand, "Lets go home"? What had he meant by that? Did they live in the same house? Is she visiting? Or is he? Zoarria smiling at Nólaquen, Nólaquen squeezing Zoarria's hand, "Lets go home"? What had he meant by that? Did they live in the same house? Is she visiting? Or is he? Zoarria smiling at Nólaquen, Nólaquen squeezing Zoarria's hand, "Lets go home"? What had he meant by that? Did they live in the same house? Is she visiting? Or is he?
Merry fell asleep all these questions in his head, "Is she taken?" That was the last thought he had before drifting off to sleep. That night his dreams were troubled and he woke thinking of Zoarria with tears in his eyes.