Chapter 10 – The Journey Continues

It had been four days since the party left Gimli and his dwelling and they had just crossed the Running. The river was wide and the current was so strong that Oriah had many a time slipped on the wet rocks. It seemed like Oriah had come under the care of Narla. Narla soon forgotten about her troubles for she had her mind on her responsibility, and she didn't dislike it. Being a single child, she never knew what it was like to have siblings to take care of. Oriah too, had been separated from her parents since she was young and had not really been able to fit in perfectly with the dwarves. Thus the two of them had gotten closer than any other members of the party in a short period of time.

That night while the others made camp, Oriah went to the riverbank alone. It was her first time away from her fellow dwarves and home, and though she had found a great friend in this company, she started to miss home. Sitting on the soft grass not too far from the rest, Oriah looked up at the radiant moon, which illuminated the night sky.

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Narla was exhausted that night. She had no trouble crossing the river, but pulling Oriah away from danger and guiding her was quite tiresome. Also, ever since she started on her journey she could sometimes feel slight burns on her chest whenever her pendant touched her skin, but the pain faded away the moment it came. She placed her things down along with her cloak and sat blissfully on the cool grass. Happily massaging her feet she thought of getting a good night's rest after chatting with Oriah for a while longer. Oriah was great company, not that the rest was bad, but both of them seemed to click really well. Just then, Narla noticed that her new friend was missing.

"Where's Oriah?" asked Narla to anyone who bothered to answer.

Calegris, Legolas and Vortayn were doing their usual scouting and planning for the next day, while Irthal had fallen asleep. The horses grazed nearby and were glad of the warmth from the fire. Mirgom looked up from his spot by the fire and said,

"Why, I saw her walk towards the riverbank not long ago. Perhaps Lady Oriah would like to be on her own for a while?"

"Perhaps, but not by the river!" replied Narla as she stood up and strode towards the bank.

Somehow she had a hunch that Oriah may not know how to swim and the bank could be as slippery as the rocks. Oriah obviously was oblivious of Narla's hunch, for she was sitting right by the wet grass beside the steady current. She turned around when she heard someone coming. Seeing it was Narla she smiled and bade her to sit with her. Narla however, looked shocked and hurried over to her.

"Oriah, what are you doing sitting so near the river?" exclaimed Narla as she stepped onto the softer grass. "We know not how deep or fast the river is since it is dark, so we should stay away from it as far as possible!"

The halfling grinned sheepishly at Narla. It had been only a few days and Narla was acting like her mother. Standing up, she was about to tell Narla to calm down and that she knew what she was doing when the soil beneath her gave way. Losing her foot on the ground, Oriah stumbled backwards...straight into the dark currents! Shouting a shocked cry, her body became engulfed by the chilling water and when her head appeared out of the water, she felt the wind freezing her face. Thrashing her arms about the flowing current, Oriah struggled to keep afloat while shouting through her mouthfuls of water.

The moment Oriah stumbled, Narla shouted and had extended her arm to catch her, but she was too late. Horrified at what had just happened, Narla saw her friend getting swept away by the torrent and without thinking, she plunged into the river. Panic overruled the chill as Narla swam her way towards the now sinking Oriah, and when she caught her she was attacked by a flailing of hands desperately trying to push her down.

"Oriah! Don't push –gurgle- me down!! Relax and I'll –gasp- hold you to safety! TRUST ME!!"

Shouting the last words Narla caught Oriah's chin and swam away from the clasping arms. Oriah lessened her struggle as her head was staying out of water and let Narla lead her. However, Narla had no idea how to lead her to safety. The current of the river was, true to its name, overwhelmingly fast and the bed was not within her reach. Even as she swam vigorously towards the shore she could feel they must have been miles away from their camp. The weight of the two of them made it harder to get to shore. Finally, Narla clutched a protruding branch and held on to it, pulling Oriah so she could grip the branch as well. Now that the wave of panic dissipated, Narla's exhaustion came back to her. She could feel the stinging water numbing her lower body, but she still held fast to Oriah. Too tired to shout, Narla used her remaining energy to hang onto the branch and pray that her companions would find out that they were gone, and half drowned. She wished in a corner of her heart that Legolas could hear her silent cries.

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The Elves definitely heard the shouts. Mirgom was shocked to hear Narla's shout and when Oriah's screaming could be heard Legolas had already reached the camp. Irthal was awoken, but Legolas told the others to stay put while Mirgom and he went to see what happened. He was scouting the area when his heart stopped at Narla's cry. Knowing not why he panicked internally, Legolas ran towards the direction of the shout.

Reaching the bank they could no longer see any signs of their companions. Hearing no shouts Legolas' heart dropped as he searched frantically for any sign of them. Then Mirgom spotted them far down the river and shouted,

"There they are!"

Spotting two specks wavering in the water current from a branch far south towards Esgaroth, the Long Lake, Legolas sped towards them, hoping to reach in time.

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Narla was numb all over. She felt that she could no longer hold on to the branch nor to Oriah. Her fingers were slipping as her body grew heavier under the current. Oriah too, couldn't hold much longer. Chattering her teeth, she trembled by the second. Suddenly her muscles gave in and her entire body dived down. Narla grabbed her almost automatically. The branch creaked, Narla was hanging onto the branch with a few fingers! She could barely hold any longer especially with an extra weight beside her. Oriah's head was up in the air once more, but this time, she panicked.

"We're g-going to die!!" cried Oriah.

Replying would simply be wasting her remaining strength, so Narla kept quiet and held Oriah closer. Her fingers slid slowly away from the branch, and she lost her grasp altogether.

Just as she felt the icy water about her face, Narla felt a warmth around her wrist. Then both of them were out of the water in a second. Narla gasped for air and saw that it was Legolas who caught her. Now he was holding her shoulders to support her. For a moment there she could see concern and anxiety in his face, even though it was dark. When she found her voice again, Narla sputtered,

"I'm ok, Legolas!"

Knowing not what the word 'ok' meant, Legolas continue to frown with concern at Narla. Looking into his worried eyes, Narla felt that he really cared for her and said in a clearer voice,

"I am fine, thank you."

The concern disappeared, dissolving into a second of relief soon replaced by anger. Lifting Narla up, Legolas reproached her,

"What were you thinking? You could have gotten both of you killed!"

Turning away from Narla, Legolas went to see if Oriah was alright. Mirgom had taken off his cloak and wrapped Oriah in it, but it seemed like she had gone through a terrible shock. Still chattering her teeth, Oriah bundled herself in a ball and wept. Legolas comforted her and spoke in Elvish in a soothing manner that made Oriah settle down. He lifted her up and started to walk towards camp. Turning around, he asked Mirgom to help Narla back while he would bring Oriah back before she got ill.

There was only one cloak and Oriah had it. Narla stood half frozen by the bank only to feel hot with rage. Legolas didn't even know half the story and he rebuked her for saving Oriah's life! Mirgom looked at her sympathetically and took her arm for support. Narla glared at Legolas' back until he was out of sight in front of them.

"Please forgive Young Master, Lady Narla," said Mirgom as they walked back upstream. "He did not know what happened, that's all."

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But Legolas knew it wasn't Narla's fault. He guessed that Narla was trying to save Oriah and knew the truth when Oriah explained to him the full event after she dried up in camp. She had calmed down and took a hot herbal drink given by Irthal, who had woken up by the shouts. She was not quick enough to catch up with the Elves to save the girls, but she was more frustrated that the gem almost drowned. Oriah told Legolas what really happened and asked him not to be mad at Narla. Legolas felt like a rotten twig, but he could do no more. Oriah was an important companion sent by Gimli and no harm must come to her. And something about what Gimli said was clinging in his mind. Why did he panic when he heard Narla's cry? And why was he more concerned about her than Oriah? Arguing mentally with himself, Legolas did not apologize for doing Narla wrong when she arrived at camp and dried up.

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Pissed, Narla walked back in a cauldron of curses. What on earth was she thinking when she prayed for Legolas to rescue her? He only cared for Oriah! She must've imagined his anguish and concern as well! The fact that she was actually glad that he cared for her aggravated her the most! Mad with her own thoughts, Narla didn't notice Mirgom shaking his head as they closed in on the campsite. Mirgom knew that his master was worried for this young lady, but he was too willful to show it. Hoping things would turn out better once everyone's warmed up, he gave an extra blanket to Narla as compensation for his master's accusation. However, Narla and Legolas were to be as icy to each other as the water in the river for days to come. Not knowing that, Mirgom went into a hopeful dream.