Seasa staggered through the forest, her brow contorted tightly in pain. Beads of sweat dotted her brow, and her face was suddenly ghost white, standing out in stark contrast to her dark hair. What is happening to me? she thought frantically as she collapsed against at tree, leaning her back against the large trunk. She tried to draw her strength from nature, calling to the trees around her, but there was no answer. She grit her teeth in frustration, her mind slowed dangerously, her thoughts sluggish. It had started about an hour ago -- She began to feel burning, numbing pains in her neck. It had steadily worked its way downwards, and she had stubbornly forged on, determined to put more of a distance between her and her search party. But with every jarring step she took, the pain grew steadily more intolerable. The searing burns were now inching past her stomach and into her thighs, and Seasa knew if she didn't do something, it would seize her legs and she would be unable to move. As it was, her thighs had stopped obeying her and she had to walk stiff-legged through the dark forest. The sun was high in the sky, but black dots blurred her vision and she blinked twice, trying to clear her eyes. It was no good. She sank lower against the tree, closing her eyes lightly. What is going on? she thought slowly. "I am of elven kind; I do not get ill," she murmured aloud, her words stubbornly pushed past lips frozen with pain. Suddenly, she began to shiver, her entire body racked with dreadfully cold chills. One moment I am burning, the next I am freezing! she thought frustrated as she forced her stiff arms to stiffly rub her shoulders, trying to regain warmth. By all accounts she had ever heard of a human flu, this surely was what it seemed to be like. But I am not mortal! she screamed inwardly. Her eyes, the only part of her body that still moved properly, though her vision was blurred, darted upward as she heard the dull flutter of wings. A raven was perched in the branches above her heads, it's inky eyes starring down at her. It let out a screech, and she winced. "Quiet," she called to it, her words slurred. "They'll find me!" But it didn't pay heed, and only let out another piercing shriek. Seasa scrambled to her feet, determined to keep moving, but her legs buckled beneath her. Unconsciously, her hand moved to her throat, reaching for the emerald pendant she always wore -- but it wasn't there. As if she thought her hands were playing tricks on her, she glanced down. But it was gone. "By the sea and stars!" she exclaimed furiously, her words slurring together, though her anger was pronounced. She tried again to get back to her feet, but her legs wouldn't support her. Desperately, she glanced around for a safe place to rest..to sleep. Sleep, Seasa thought longingly. That's what will clear this up. A nice, relaxing rest..

She glanced around, and spotted an innocent clump of leaves nestled between two pines. She tried one last time to stand, but it was no use, and she had to reach up and grab a branch to stay on her feet. Her body shook with exhaustion and stress, and she gritted her teeth as she swung herself towards the leaves. She fell like dead weight, her hands to slow to catch her fall. Her body slammed to the ground, and though her nerves were dulled, she could still feel pain and she unwillingly let out a moan of torment. "Oh, Valar," she muttered thickly. "Help me."

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"Is there any sign of her, Sindatil?" Legolas called tiredly, his voice plagued with worry. The blonde elf several hundred feet ahead of him shook his head. "There are signs she was here, my lord. But she is no longer here now."

Legolas cursed softly under his breath. "Damnit." His mount pricked his ears curiously, and Legolas sighed, reaching out absentmindedly to stroke his horse's long satiny neck. The horse snorted gratefully in reply, a lift in his step now that he was assured Legolas was alright. And it gave Legolas an idea. Elves can talk to all good beasts; they can not have in depth discussions, but they can generally communicate with him. His eyes darted to the patches of sky seen between the thick, large patches of forest leaves blotting the sky. Several birds were nestled in the trees, and Legolas immediately signaled to a proud looking raven who was watching him curiously, and had been watching him ever since the whole serpent ordeal. The raven paused for a moment, before fluttering down to rest on Legolas's arm. "Find her," Legolas whispered pleadingly. "I cannot have her death on my shoulders." The raven blinked at him, and let out a low note, before taking to the skies. He heard several footsteps behind him, and swung his head around to see Astalder astride his mount, several paces behind him. "Astalder!" Legolas exclaimed worriedly. "Should you not be resting?"

Astalder smiled gently, inclining his head politely. "Thank you for your concern, my Prince. But I assure you Elear has given me the antidote. I am still a bit sluggish, but the poison had not gotten far into my system. The further the poison gets, the longer the recovery usually takes. I am fine."

Legolas's eyes anxiously searched his long time friend's to see if he told the truth, but when he saw no sign of clouded pain or deceit, his face broke into a smile. "It is good to have you with us, mellon nin. You are a far better tracker then I. Perhaps you can help us find our wayward captive before it is too late."

Astalder nodded confidently, nudging his horse so that the beast pulled alongside Legolas's. Elves branched out on either side of them, combing the forest, their senses alert and ready. But Astalder's brow was furrowed. "With your pardon, my lord," he began respectfully albeit reluctantly, "I'd like to ask you a question."

Legolas glanced over, his brow furrowed. "Of course, my friend. Please do not hesitate; we are among friends here."

Astalder nodded his thanks at the Prince. Legolas hated his title and when his friends acted strange about it; but when duty called, he was the Prince he needed to be.

"Your question, Astalder?" Legolas prompted when nothing was said. "I was wondering, Legolas -- why such concern for the captive? It would serve her right if she died in pain for betraying the crown."

Legolas's eyes widened at the hostility in his friends voice, and he locked eyes with him. He saw only bitter pain and hatred, and then he remembered that Astalder's father had died in the last of the several battles during the Alliance of Elves and Men which brought down Sauron, the Great Deceiver. No wonder Astalder would be bitter towards any hint of betrayal

"If she were to die of her own fault, I would feel no guilt." Legolas said carefully. "But she has been poisoned because she was fleeing from us, and, truth be told, I am no longer positive of her guilt. If she isinnocent, and is fleeing from us out of fear, rather then cowardice, then I would not have her passing lie on my heart."

Astadler nodded thoughtfully, considering this, but when he opened his mouth to talk, Sindatil's shout cut him off.

"Prince Legolas! Prince Legolas! Come look!"

Glancing at Astalder, both elves urged their mounts forward towards where Sindatil was standing on foot. His eyes were locked on the ground and as Legolas approached, he glanced up.

"Look at these tracks," he said, pointing out dragged lines and overly large footprint. He took a couple steps forward, his hands still pointing to the ground. "Look -- here, and here are her footprints. But they are uneven; she is limping, and slowing down. Were she moving at normal pace she would be far ahead of us by now but--" he reached down to the ground to the side of a footprint, swiping his finger. Fresh mud came away. "These tracks are fresh."

Legolas's eyes lingered on the footprint, before he glanced around, carefully surveying the area. In the distance, he heard a bird caw. No -- not a bird. A raven..

"Ai, ai!" he exclaimed, leaving his friends and hurrying forward, his eyes back on the ground. He followed her footsteps in the fresh mud, his pace increasing as he heard the bird caw again. It was still some distance away, but he was closer now, he could feel it. Behind him, he heard Astadler and Sindatil gathering the other elves together and the horses, and following him. His eyes now left the ground and searched the trees, looking for the raven.

About ten minutes later, he quickly spotted the raven nestled in a large oak tree..but there was no sign of Seasa. "Where is she?" Legolas shouted to the bird, his adrenaline running. "Where?!"

The bird screeched and took flight, circling over his head, his inky eyes never leaving one particularly spot on the ground. Legolas's eyes followed his gaze, and his sharp vision quickly spotted a black strand of hair amongst the red and browns of the forest ground.

With a last screech, the bird flew away, and Legolas whispered his thanks. He immediately dropped to his knees besides the thick pile of leaves, his eyes frantically searching. Moving several leaves aside, he quickly uncovered Seasa's pale face. She wasn't breathing, but at his touch, her eye lids fluttered open. He quickly took scooped her out of the leaves, into his arms, and could hear her breath rattling around in her chest as she struggled to make her lungs work. Her eyes searched his, seeing but unseeing, with a glazed look about them. She didn't seem to recognize him. "Ada?" she breathed.

Against his will, Legolas's soft heart began to ache. "No," he said softly, standing up with her in his arms, walking slowly back towards the direction they had come. "No."

She blinked slowly, and winced as she drew a breath, as if even that caused her pain. She muttered something past cracked lips, but her words were so quiet even his sharp hearing could not catch it, and she struggled to repeat herself. "Valneuma?"

Legolas's eyes widened and he almost dropped her with shock. Valneuma was the name of an elf -- an evil, dark elf who was so twisted by his want for power that he had handed over control of his entire village to one of Sauron's minions -- the Nazgul. Sauron had promised Valneuma power, but had instead turned him into a mindless slave -- the elf was still alive as far as Legolas knew, but was now helping Sauron organize the defeat of Mirkwood. What in Valar's name would posses Seasa to even think his name in a time like this? "Seasa!" Legolas whispered anxiously, shaking her slightly as her eyes fluttered shut. Her pink lips were dry and cracked, and her black hair soaked with perspiration. Beads of sweat dotted her entire face, but she shivered as if freezing. He could hear her wheezing, and knew her lungs were slowly being filled with poison.

Deciding immediately to worry about Valneuma later -- though he swore to himself that he would not forget this, he could not forget this-- it was not the time. He needed to interrogate Seasa, and he could not do that if she was dead. He shook her slightly again. "Seasa, look at me." He commanded firmly. "SEASA!"

The girl's jade eyes fluttered open one last time. Blurred images swam across her vision, and a unfamiliar figure was crouched over her. "N-nana?" she croaked, but the being shook his head, even as darkness crept into her vision. "Seasa, hold on.." it was saying. "You'll be fine."

But as she drifted off back into sleep, her body burning and freezing with pain, Seasa couldn't help but think he was wrong.