Before the Elf Rada and Hiranneth would talk there would be a moment of rest. But rest didn't come easy. Hiranneth couldn't get the events of the last few days off her mind. Everything was so strange and unusual. She also felt incredible guilt, as if this was all her fault, as if she had caused the deaths of many and the injury of a good friend. She softly put her face into her hands and began to cry a flood of tears, like a river breaking through a barrier. Finally it was able to get through and she could confront her feelings. Hiranneth wasn't one to openly share her emotions, but now she was alone, and she could cry all she needed to.
Her tears drowned her into another world and she felt as if nothing mattered anymore while she cried. Hearing someone coming down the way, she cleared her eyes and got up to the window of her room. She looked out and saw a strange building, dark and scary in appearance. She got a chill and wrapped her cloak tightly about her. As she was looking out the window, she saw Kiraton walking down out of the dark building. What is he doing? She felt he probably shouldn't be there. She laughed quietly to herself, then heard the door open behind her.

Kiran had sat alone for a moment after Kiarton left him. Then he had decided to look around a bit for himself. As he walked along, he began to hear something. It was soft at first, but became louder, as though he was approaching the source. He heard it clearly now. It was someone crying. He followed it to a room before it stopped. He opened the door and saw the slender figure of Hiranneth.

Hiranneth did not turn around, her eyes where still to red, and tears kept coming. She sniffed softly and turned around, finally. It was Kiran He seemed to be at rest, the first time she had seen him like this. She smiled; she had never seen him look so content. But is he truly?
Her smile faded as Hiranneth lowered her head and sighed. "I'm sorry Kiran, you must be lonely." She turned back around to the window and stared at the building Kiraton was leaving. She then thought for a moment as if arranging her thoughts. "Kiran," she paused and turned back around as a tear fell from her face onto her hand.

Kiran went to Hiranneth's side. "You have no need to be sorry," he said. "You have done nothing wrong." He wiped another tear from her eye before it could fall.

Hiranneth felt his hand touch her face. Her tear rolled onto his finger and slowly fell down to the windowsill. Hiranneth didn't know what to do. She began to cry and without thinking embraced Kiran. He was indeed a good friend.

Rada, without knocking, barged into the room that Hiranneth and Kiran were occupying. Ignoring the look that Kiran gave her, Rada said, "Your presence is requested in the healer's room. Ahéawan seems to have awoken and she would like to speak with you," she said with a hint of unknown aggravation in her voice.
"And when you are finished, I'll have Lurkanio show all of you to the library where we can talk." With that Rada walked out of the room and closed the doors behind her.

Hiranneth looked to Kiran. "I suppose we should go see Ahéawan." She exited her room and followed Rada toard the healing rooms. She hoped Ahéawan was ok.

The first thing Ahéawan was conscious of was that she was lying in a bed of linen, soft as the clouds, and everything around her was of the purest white. She was in a small room with a high ceiling, with nothing but drapes and windows, and the entire room smelled sweetly of heather.
Ahéawan was still staring in wonder at her surroundings, when an older female Elf bustled in, carrying a silver platter with a shallow bowl. "Drink this," said the Elf softly. "You have been penetrated by the Dark Lord, and you have fought well. But you must keep up your strength."
Ahéawan obediently sipped the contents of the bowl and sighed as its warm contents slid down her throat. She swallowed quietly for a moment as the Elf watched her, then asked, "Where is Hiranneth? And the lads?"

Amdireth sat on a windowsill in a deserted room in the house of healing, many thoughts running through her head. She had not abandoned her disguise, the very one that concealed her identity and let ignorant ones think she was a Man. She always bound her pointed ears tightly in her pale hair, wore the loose tunic of the humans, and wrapped her lithe Elven fingers in white bandages to hide her femininity. She held her cloak tightly about her, shivering despite the rather warm weather. Slightly annoyed, she slipped off her perch, opened the door to the room, and stepped into the hallway. As she looked up, an Elf nurse walked out of the room and bowed her head subtly at her. Amdireth repeated the gesture. As she peered into the room, she was surprised to see a dark-haired woman lying in the bed, looking slightly dazed.
Amdireth could feel some sort of sadness, a deep, pained sorrow that surrounded this woman, though she knew not what it was. Then suddenly she realized that it was grief. A grief as deep my her own. Abruptly, she felt her feet take her into the room and her knees hit the floor beside this woman's bed. The strength of the dulled grief drew her. This woman too had felt some deep loss, long ago.
It was a dark night, the new moon allowing no light to enter the deep woods of Lorien. Four Elves traveled through the lush grass, their light-footed steeds barely trodding over the underbrush. Amdireth rode happily alongside her brother and parents, her midnight-blue cloak flowing gently behind her. They heard too late the harsh footfalls of the orcs, crushing the dried leaves of the forest guardians, the golden trees of Lorien. And by the time they'd drawn their swords, Amdireth was the only one left breathing.
Amdireth gave a strangled gasp as the horrible memory coursed through her mind, renewing the pain she'd taught herself to ignore. She buried her face in her hands, trying with all her power to keep the tears from coming out of her eyes, trying to regain her emotions and pull them together like loose threads in an embroidery.
It was then that she heard footsteps in the hallway and a confused sound from the bed above.

The Elf nurse didn't reply, but soon Ahéawan's attention was drawn to someone who entered the room. His countenance was so sorrowful, yet noble, and with grace the man fell to his knees at her bedside. She watched bemused as the man buried his head in his hands in sorrow.
Ahéawan was about to speak, when she heard footsteps and two familiar voices heading down the hall toward her. She sat up straighter and eagerly, trying not to disturb the strange man kneeling at her bedside.

Kiarton knelt on the cold floor, confused and sorrowful. Without a word or a second thought, he pulled a small vial attached to a silver chain and dipped it in the black water. He pulled it out and placed a cork over the top. I hope I was allowed to do that, he thought. But it was not to steal and it was for a good purpose. It was his last attempt at bringing his mother back. He placed it back under his shirt and headed for the door. He left silently, his head hanging low and his heart heavy. Why is there so much pain in such a peaceful place? he thought as he headed toward the house of healing.

He stumbled around and eventually found an Elf, sitting at a carved desk. "Do you know where Ahéawan is?" Kiarton asked her. She gave him a sad smile and pointed down the dim hall. He thanked the Elf and hurried down the hall. He pushed open the door and found two strange people around a bed in which Ahéawan was lying.

"You're all right!" He ran to the side of Ahéawan's bed and looked up. "Hello," he said to the man on the other side of the bed. "I am Kiarton. Are you a friend of Ahéawan?" He was truly confused by the man and did not no what to make of him.

Amdireth froze at the sound of the young man's voice. Taking a deep breath, she gathered herself as well as she could. Then, she lifted her head, looking up at the woman in the bed and the young man who stood next to her.. "I am Amdir, and no, I do not know Ahéawan, if this is who you speak of," she said in a slightly deeper voice than her own, standing and pointing at the woman on the bed. "But it's nice to meet you, Kiarton." She was an intruder, a trespasser. How would she explain what she felt without giving herself away? And how could she be sure she could trust these two?
She'd have to find out the hard way. Smiling, she held out her hand for Kiarton to shake in greeting.

On the way to the house, Hiranneth saw a stranger enter the room Ahéawan was in. She grew slightly worried and began to run. Then Kiraton entered moments before she did. She stopped and listened for a moment at the edge of the door. The stranger was a man of some sort, or at least sounded so. But the stranger meant no harm. Hiranneth entered to see a stronger looking Ahéawan, a saddened Kiraton, and a grievous-looking man.
"Hello, I hope I'm not intruding." she as she smiled at Ahéawan. "You seem to be in good company."
She came over to Kiarton to stand by Ahéawan, she held her hand. Hiranneth looked up at the door and saw Kiran standing in the door way.

Kiarton shook the hand of the man called Amdir. He smiled and then looked at the doorway as Hirraneth came in. A slight twinge in his soul made him remember the spirit of his mother's words. "So you are still alive Hirraneth. I thought that you had disappeared from the face of Middle Earth," he said, trying to lighten the room.

Kiran stood in the doorway, not wanting Ahéawan to feel too crowded by all the people that seemed to have suddenly gathered in her room. Besides, he had a lot on his mind: How had he been able to hear Hiranneth crying from all the way in his room? Was it some kind of power, and if so, did she possess the same thing? He made a mental note to talk to her about it later.

Amdireth could tell that something hung over Kiarton, but once again could not tell what it was. She stood and gazed at all the occupants of the room for a moment, then shook her head. "I should not be here. I'm intruding. Forgive me for entering your room without permission." With that, she slowly walked towards the door, wondering if anyone would call her back.

Kiarton reached out. 'Wait, you don't have to go." He felt rather embarrassed but he supposed he liked Amdir's company. Somehow he didn't feel quite so small and strange. Kiran stood in the doorway and Amdire turned around. "Would you stay with us?" He stood silent, looking at the blank face that was under a hood. "I don't mean to pry, but you seem so far away." He paused. "I must sound like an idiot," he mumbled to himself.

Amdireth stopped in her tracks as Kiarton called, her eyes widening. She hadn't really expected...She turned and looked at Kiarton, his hand stretched out as if to beckon her back. She heard him ask her if she wanted to stay, however she didn't say anything, suddenly uncomfortable under his gaze. As he spoke, Amireth listened curiously, and heard the remark Kiarton whispered to himself.
Slowly, Amdireth looked at the others in the room and saw that they were all expectant. "You are not an idiot at all," she whispered. "But...you want me to stay?" she asked quietly, feeling bewildered. No one had ever asked her to remain with them. Something broke inside her as she met his eyes and gazed evenly at the smiling Ahéawan. She'd stay, if they'd have her.

Hiranneth smiled; Kiraton seemed to have made a quick friend. Amdir seemed to want to stay, and by all means he would.
"Come in, Kiran," she said to him still standing at the doorway. "Everyone can fit."
She looked down at Ahéawan and smiled, "How are you feeling Ahéawan?" she asked as she kneeled beside her. "I see the Elves have taken good care of you."

"Oh, yes," Ahéawan said with a yawn. "I'm feeling much better. But the sooner I can leave this bed, the better. I feel like a cripple!" she offered with a laugh. However, her companions were in more of a serious mood. Ahéawan wondered what was wrong; she felt tension between her young friends. And that strange man...he seemed to be hiding something. His past perhaps? she wondered.

Amdireth let her hand fall to her side, a gesture of defeat. She was wanted. She nodded slowly, still in shock from the proposition. "Yes. Yes, I'll stay." She smiled ruefully at Kiarton. "Though I don't know why you want me to." She turned her gaze to Ahéawan and the young woman who knelt at her side, and was surprised to see them gazing at her contemplatively. She prayed they didn't see through her disguise, or she'd have to tell them everything, and Valar, she couldn't bear that. There was something about these strange companions, something special. They were together for a reason. Why? She didn't know. Only time would tell.

Kiarton smiled. "It is nice of you to join us, Amdir. Do you live here?" He saw the fearful look in the hidden eyes of the man. It is strange. There is something different about this man, he thought to himself. "Why don't we get out of this room? That is, if you can stand, Ahéawan." He looked back at her. "I for one am very hungry."

Ahéawan pursed her lips. "I can try." Resting a hand on the bed and another on Hiranneth's shoulder, Ahéawan tried to lift herself up. It was a slow going at first, her mind struggling with her tired body, but eventually, she found the strength to stand.
"I might need some sort of crutch," muttered Ahéawan. "But only for a while. I'm sure once I walk around a bit I'll be fine," she reassured herself. She was never fond of feeling helpless.

At Hiranneth's invitation, Kiran moved into the room. When Kiarton suggested finding something to eat, he spoke up. "Didn't you say something about going to the library to talk, Rada?" he asked. "I could use something to eat, but the hunger of my curiosity needs to be sated as well."