Part 8

After leaving Avonlea the three companions made there way back to Tiriki. During the ride home Pharra became ill and the group was forced to stop. Strider was shocked at how the poison affected his friend. She turned white as a ghost, which contrasted sharply with her normally flushed cheeks and tan skin. She was constantly trembling and coughing terribly. Her whole body was wracked with the effects.

Strider had seen humans become ill and even individuals under the effects of poison, but never to such a violent degree. Tonight he had even feared she would die. Her breathing had become so labored that she was speaking in quick gasps. Now as the human looked over at her still form sleeping in the darkness he wondered how she stood it. "Halabrad, how long has she been like this?"

Halabrad looked over at the young man across the fire. The older man was seated near his niece tending to her. He was relived to find that the poison had receded back into a dormant state. Anymore fits like the one she had tonight would have killed her. The ranger had been forced to give her three times the dose this time to make the poison release its hold. "She's been this way since she came back. When the orcs killed her parents, they infected her with some unknown toxin." Strider watched a single tear slide down the ranger's face, "I wish someone knew how to help her."

Strider scooted across the ground to sit next to his mentor. He had found a second family with these people and for the first time he felt as if he belonged with his race. Always before he had felt like a fish out of water. But right now he really felt like he had a place to belong. How long had he wished to have people of his own race to call his kin, too long.

Strider slowly slipped his arms about Halabrad and felt the man pull him close. The young man didn't move from the spot. He watched as the older man reached out a trembling right hand as he placed it within one of Pharra's which was lying across her chest. The young man didn't remember falling asleep, but did remember the silent sobs coming from his mentor as he gripped both he and Pharra all through the night.

The next morning he awoke in the same place he had been before, lying against Halabrad's chest. And Pharra was not far away gazing at him through her bright green eyes unshed tears glistening within. She smiled and mouthed, "Don't wake him."

Strider just lay there not daring to move fearing he would wake Halabrad who had obviously not slept much the night before. He mouthed back, "How long have you been awake?"

Pharra took her free hand and wiped the tears away whispering, "Just about an hour. It's not even mid-day yet. Uncle Hal's been up all night. We can leave tomorrow."

However Halabrad woke about two in the afternoon and insisted that they continue if Pharra felt up to it. In all truthfulness the girl would have said she didn't if it weren't for the fact that if she did Halabrad would panic. Instead she consented but she and Strider both rode near him afraid he would fall off his horse.

But the three made it to Tiriki about ten that night and stabled the horses in the pen. When they walked in the house Aquila threw a fit at the fact that Halabrad had not rested up. He shrugged it off grumbling, "Now Aquila, there wasn't no need in stayin out there in the woods if we didn't need to." He shrugged out of his shirt and slid onto the bed, "Besides, I've been away from here long enough as it is."

Aquila gave her husband a stern look, "Halabrad you still shouldn't have done that. What if you'd fallen off your horse and broke your neck?"

Halabrad only scoffed, "Aquila, I'm tired now let me get some sleep for Valar's sake."

Aquila folded her arms, "Well I'm sure you are. And for the way you been behaving I ought to keep you up all night. But then you'd be grumpier than an orc come morning." The plump woman tossed a large comforter on top of her husband and then turned back to the young people who were standing in the doorway.

She huffed out, "Now Pharra you better get on home and get to bed. And don't be stayin up all night reading. After going through such a rough spell you need to rest."

Pharra knew better to leave well alone. "Don't worry Aunt Aquila, I will." She gave her aunt a quick embrace and as she left she whispered in Strider's ear, "Don't forget your promise."

Strider nodded and heard Aquila call in a high pitched voice. "I told you he needed somebody to watch after him didn't I?" Then she mumbled something under her breath Strider couldn't make out. She put her hands on her hips and added, "Would you look at that, the sorry thing's already out cold. It figures." She turned back around and faced the young man, "Well what are you standin around for. Get on off to bed; I will not live in a house with two grumpy men who don't know how to go to bed."

As the woman waddled away Strider pulled down the ladder and scrambled upstairs. He could still hear Aquila muttering about a stubborn husband being the death of her. As soon as he was sure he was safely up in the loft he let out a heart-felt laugh. Aquila and Halabrad made quite a pair. It almost reminded him of the twins fighting or possibly his mother and Elrond. Now those two had definitely gotten on each other's nerves at times. He wondered how Glorfindel kept his sanity.

The human shrugged his shirt off leaving only his pants. He pulled back the fresh sheets on the cot and climbed in. He lay his head back thinking about how good it would be to finally go home. Yes, he had made up his mind. In a few days he would finally take the road that led him back to the valley. He just hoped that Elrond could forgive him and that after the meeting he could still call Rivendell his home.