Carya stood up stretching her legs, "If we stay here for the rest of the night I should probably collect some firewood.  It is getting colder already." 

Agraelith nodded, "Fire would be nice, you don't think anyone will see it do you?"

She could see that the battle he had fought was still on his mind.  Though he tried to sound light hearted she sense his fear.  "I do not believe anyone will see.  Besides, I am here."  She pulled out her dagger and twirled it playfully; tossing it lightly into the air she caught it easily and sheathed it once more.  He did not look too relieved.

"Are you sure you can handle it if we were attacked?"

She shook her head, "No, but I would try."

 "Are you sure you can fight, you're a woman."

She looked at him shocked.  Perhaps that was why her elders had told her to stay away from the likes of men.  He seemed friendly enough but also a bit patronizing.  "We women train to fight as soon as we can hold a bow.  The majority of our warriors are women; do you truly doubt my skills?"

            She found that Agraelith was grinning, "I was only joking, I really have no doubt in you.  In fact, I'd rather hate to be the one fighting you."

            She was puzzled by his smile, it was almost playful.  Had her elders seen her conversing so loosely with a human she knew they would not be pleased.  He seemed to notice her sudden discomfort, "You may want to gather the wood before it gets to dark."

 "The darkness is my home," Carya reminded him.  He was right though.  She did not want to leave him alone in complete darkness, though it did not look like it could get any darker.

            She felt so at home under the sweet smelling trees.  Her footsteps could not be heard as she silently searched for dry wood.  Starlight shimmered between the trees and she deftly reached down to grab a dead branch.  She felt sad as she collected the dead wood.  They had once been so full of life.  She laid a hand on one of the giant trees surrounding her.  At first she only felt the roughness of the bark, but then she felt a small tingle.  Magic.  The magic that was in everything.  She smiled content for the moment.  Then her mind returned to the present.  She should get back to Agraelth.

            When she returned she found him asleep.  Tossing down the wood she knelt over it.  Concentrating hard she lay her hands on it.  One spark was all she needed.  The tingling sensation spread down her arms into her fingertips and she closed her eyes. Quickly she yanked her hand back as the wood caught fire.  She leaned back for a moment to admire the leaping flames.  They were beautiful to her; they had been formed out of the magic from within herself, not like the High Born.  A scowl crossed her face; they should have never tampered with magic to begin with.  Carya hated thinking about them; she decided to make herself busy instead.  She reached into her pack and pulled out a soft fur blanket.  Instead of using it, she rolled it up and gently placed it under Agraelith's head.  His face looked calm in sleep.  His golden hair shimmered in the flickering firelight and without thinking she brushed it out of his face.  She lightly placed her hand on his cheek to check if his fever had subsided.  The early stages of a beard tickled her hand and she withdrew it quickly.  Never had she touched a man like this before, she knew it was nothing but still…she returned to the other side of the fire and sat down.  She would keep watch that night.  Her eyes wandered, constantly scanning the darkness for approaching enemies.  Finally she let them rest on the blazing fire before her. The light played on her delicate features, reflecting in her violet eyes.  She was worried; Agraelith had no home left according to his description.  She could not just leave him wounded in the woods.  The only thing that she could do was take him back to her people and hope they would be received.  Hopefully Lyra Silvermane would understand and would be willing to heal him then send him on his way.  She dreaded to think what the other possibilities were; after all there was no friendship between humans and Night Elves.  She knew that if he was not welcome then she would not be either.  Leading a human to their glade would mean that there was a possibility she could be exiled.  In her heart though, she knew that she would rather face exile then leave him to die alone.

Sunlight warmed his face and he groggily opened his eyes.  His whole side felt like it was on fire and he uncontrollably grunted in pain and confusion.  Through his still sleep clouded eyes he saw her.  It was the first time that he had really been able to look at her and he was struck by her raw beauty.  Her skin was painted the color of the sky at night; right after the sun has set.  It was a deep purple and he noticed dark blue designs tattooed all over.  Her hair was so black that it seemed to gleam blue and her ears poked out of the thick waves, long and delicately pointed.  She knelt by his side and her face made him want to reach out and touch it, it was so perfect.  It was finely featured with high cheekbones and arching eyebrows.  Her violet eyes were filled with concern.  He felt her hand rest on his forehead for a moment and a tremor ran down his spine. 

"Your fever has left.  If you are able to move I shall take you to my home and you may be healed there.  Afterwards you are free to go where you will," she stood gracefully.

"Are you serious?" he managed to croak, "How long has it been since a man has entered one of you sacred groves?"

"Not for thousands of years has any human ever set foot in our woods."

"Are you sure your umm…Chief? Queen? King? Won't mind?" he looked slightly worried.

"I do not know.  I do not believe they would turn away the wounded."

"If they did what would they do?"

She shrugged, "Perhaps put me into exile for 'betraying' my kind, or perhaps something else."

"You're willing to risk it for me?"

"I have chosen to help you and I will do so."  It was the truth.  In deciding to help him the previous night, she had made it her duty to make sure he remained safe for the time being.  "Would you like anything to eat?" she had anticipated his answer and was already digging through her pack.  She withdrew a plump, dark red fruit and handed it to him.  "This is the fruit of my people and can only be found in our villages."  He took it and turned it over in his hand admiring it for a moment then he asked, "Are you sure I can eat this?  I mean it's not sacred to you or anything is it?"  Carya smiled, "I have offered it to you, you may eat it."  She then walked off towards the river bank holding a cup like leaf in her hand.  She let the cool water run over her fingers for a moment then filled the leaf and returned to Agraelith's side.  When he was done with the fruit she handed it to him and he took it gratefully and drank.  Carya waited for him to finish, "We should probably be going soon."  Agraelith nodded, "Yeah I guess we should."  She reached down a hand and helped him stand.  He leaned on her heavily for a moment.  He was at least a head taller then her and it was rather awkward.  "I uhh…sorry," he stammered, but she shook her head, she had not minded.  He could not help her with cleaning camp because of his wound so she covered the fire and shoved everything back in her pack.  When she was finished she walked over to him and looked up into his clear blue eyes, "Let us go now, soon you will see the vanished race of the Night Elves."