Ch. 3 – Waking Dreams

Anourir sighed and gave the Rohirrim camp another look over. He felt the hair on the back of his neck rise and he turned to see Eoghad, watching him intently. He smiled and started to turn, but Anourir stopped him.

"Wait!" He said, trotting over to the aging soldier.

"So he told you to go home, did he? Hah…"

"Yes, he did. Old man, are you sure you don't know that man by any other name? This is important."

"Don't get upset now. No, he's refused to give any name other than Elfhelm. Why?"

"He just…reminds me of somebody I knew once. It's…uncanny…" Anourir shook his head. No…it couldn't be. It was impossible- improbable- inconceivable…

"When did Elfhelm first start fighting with the Rohirrim? Where does he come from? The Rohirrim speech is not the only tongue he is familiar with."

Eoghad shrugged. "He found us one day, orc- hunting. He joined up with us and tagged along for a while. He's a damn good fighter, that one- for as young as he was he earned our respect. Fearless. Totally unafraid of death. He followed Eomer when he was exiled from Rohan, but returned at the battle of Helm's Deep. After that he got promoted to where he is now, although they had to twist his arm to get him to accept the position. But he only talks when he has to. Nobody's been able to get anything out of him."

Anourir nodded. "How many years ago did you first see he- him?"

"Less than ten years. He doesn't look that old, does he? Let's see…well maybe it's been more than ten years. Yes, a little longer than ten years. Why are you so interested in him, my friend?"

But now Anourir's eyes were flaming with anticipation, and he had no more patience for talking with Eoghad. He pivoted and started back towards the doors of the tent. He stopped short. "Well…this could be embarrassing. I suppose you are marching tomorrow. What if I'm wrong? I could deprive him of valuable rest…if it's not who I think it is…"

Eoghad laughed. "I don't think you'll have to worry about waking him up. He doesn't sleep."

Anourir's mouth dropped open.

Impossible…

Inside the tent, Elfhelm's eyes were clouded over, and she lay on her cot in a daze. Sleep

had again escaped her. It was what allowed her to keep her identity a secret, always being able to be on guard. But she wished with all of her heart that just for once, she would be able to let go of consciousness, slip into forgetful sleep. Just once, dreams would overcome the ghosts that haunted her daily. Just for once, she could feel human.

But you're not human….

Flashback

A young girl stood at a door of an adjoining room. Her room was dark, and she peered into the candle- lit living room without being seen Outside, hail could be head bouncing dully off the roof The girl was immune to the horse smell of the stables adjoined to the small house, but the stink of alcohol flooded her senses.

Her father sat in a chair in a corner of the room, staring with bloodshot eyes into the crackling fireplace. A keg was only a few paces from him, and his half- empty mug had spilled ale onto his table. He hiccupped, then leaned over to a corner and started retching.

"Daddy!" the girl said, breaking her silence and opening the door a sliver more. She could not have been more than eight years old. Her long, blonde and brown hair was neatly braided, and her ears were tucked behind the folds to hide their length. Her dark green eyes shone with worry for her father.

"Stay away!" he screamed madly, hurling his mug at the girl. She ducked behind the door and it ricocheted away from her. "Stay away…Don't…don't you call me that!"

"Daddy I found a dog…"

"Don't call me that!" he screamed before turning towards the corner to retch again. His speech was slurred. "You'd'nt I d'nt even know if you're mine. Gets gone!" He yelled.

Eyes wide, the girl ran to the front door. "But…but I…"

"I don't want you any more!"

The girl threw open the door, and ran outside. She tried honestly to stop from crying, hold the sobs inside of her. A tan, black and brown flecked dog ran from its bed in the stables to her side. The puppy was just starting to reach adolescence. She licked the tears from her master's face. "Daddy says it's not good to cry, Derra." She told the dog.

"Daddy says a lot of things aren't good." She stopped, drying her face on Derra's fur.

"Maybe Daddy's not good."

The hail was pelting down on her, so she ducked into the stables. Readying her horse's saddle, she wondered dimly where she would go. She didn't want to stay any longer…but where could she go?

"Doesn't matter." She said, "wherever I want." And she hopped into her saddle. The old mare whinnied in confusion as the young girl steered her into the hail.

With Derra trotting briskly behind her, the young girl set out to the south- east. She'd never been there, and there were no mountains for as far as she could see…

"Surely if I could sleep I would see better dreams." Elffhelm sighed as she removed her helm and armor. It was more than likely the last night of her life and she still couldn't sleep.

Thanks for the reviews orchdork18. and yes, i have seen the princess bride. lol thats why I put it in there...