(chapter 9)

The hunters were on foot most of the way, and it was only a rare few times that they stopped for a rest. They were close to reaching the junction of the Esgalduin to the Sirion. There, they would stop. The spell placed on Raven's letter to help them track him was faint, but it still pulled to the south. The lead hunter shook his head. 'He would do well to deviate from his current course. It seems he is not as smart as the master thought.'

Their orders were simple. They were to find Raven and kill him first. If they could not recapture the woman, they were to kill her as well. She still had information that the Dark Lord wanted. She was to be brought back alive. He would see to her interrogation personally. After he was done with her, there wouldn't be much left. She would be disposed of.

It was after daybreak when they reached the junction. It was decided that they'd stay two days in order to rest and recover their strength. On the third day, they'd continue their mission.

Against his better judgment, they stayed camped for a couple days. Morniel had become ill, and it wouldn't do to travel while she was sick. The worst of it seemed to come in the mornings, and she'd be worn out the rest of the day. He took care of her, the best way he knew how, and made sure she was comfortable.

It was evening of the second day when Raven grew anxious to be gone. He wasn't sure what brought on his anxiety. He was still certain that there was no way anyone could follow him. He began to pace. He had double checked to make sure that nothing of his was left behind. He even took the linens off the bed, as well as the pillow. He made sure there was no dust so there'd be no footprints. Everything seemed to be in order.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't see Morniel standing by until he nearly ran in to her. She looked uneasy, as if his anxiety were transferring to her. There was something else in her manner that concerned him.

"We should leave here. Tonight." she said. "I do not feel safe here."

"Are you well enough?"

"Yes. Enough to get to our next stop. Please, we need to leave."

Without another word, he took her hand and they went back to their camp. They had everything packed and loaded into the boat in no time. Raven got the boat back into the river, and then helped Morniel into it. He pushed off and steered the boat closer to the center or the river. They went quickly and silently. Soon they came to the Esgalduin outlet.

Turning to face him, Morniel broke the silence. "I need to tell you something."

For a moment, he was scared. 'Is she going to leave me once we're back on land?' was the question running through his mind. He almost stopped her from speaking, but nodded instead, encouraging her to talk.

"You have saved my life, and for that I am grateful. There is something you need to know, before anything else happens. Somewhere along this journey, I fell in love with you also. I thought it would never happen. I hated you so much." She laughed a little and then continued. "You should also know that, I am pregnant."

Shock ran over him so quickly that he almost lost the oar. She not only loved him, but was carrying his child! Determination to survive overcame him. Leaning forward, he kissed her quickly, then leaned back and set to rowing faster. There was a lot of river to cover before their next stop. He remembered the contents of the small, dark red pouch he carried in his pack. Once they were camped, he'd give the necklace and ring back to her.

She was watching him closely. She saw each emotion as it crossed his face. Happiness, determination, love, and something else that she couldn't quite guess at. But then there seemed to be a small hint of doubt in his eyes.

'He's not sure if the child is his,' she thought. Smiling, she placed one hand on his chest and the other on her belly.

"This child is yours. I realized I was pregnant about a month after you first came to me."

Relief, tinged with just a little sadness, swept over his face. He smiled back at her. He kept the boat at its current speed and had little trouble guiding it. They'd reach the Aros by mid-afternoon at the latest. She turned to face the river again. He heard her voice raise in song. Instead of the mournful sound he'd heard in Angband, it was joyful and full of promise.