Tewarn took a leisurely swallow from his water-skin, savoring the crisp coolness of the water as it splashed against his tongue. A fine spray of water struck the side of his face as he corked the flask, the shower kicked up by the many marching feet wading through the shallow river they were using as a path. With a short sigh he wiped the droplets from his brow, intercepting their descent as they trailed towards his eyes.

His routine had varied little in the many hours they had been traveling, with he and Sade alternating watches over the comatose elfling. Presently it was his turn, which denoted that he would sit on the small cart with the boy, while the younger healer trudged alongside them. Recalling the blonde elf, he glanced down at the still form beside him, absently checking for any changes in his condition. The man grunted as he again noted no change, and allowed his gaze to drift away, momentarily focusing on the position of the sun. His grey eyes dully watched as the bottom of the radiant orb seemed to rest upon the tops of the trees before ever so slowly sinking beneath them. A conversation he'd overheard earlier swam through his mind – a discussion between Jarek and the head guard in charge of watching over the hostages.

"We depart upon the noon hour. Make certain you are prepared for a long day of travel, we will not be stopping till the sun rises anew," the short commander advised, glancing down at the bound captives. "See that one of the healers is at the elf's side at all times. Doubtlessly we will be afforded greater haste if the load on the wagon is lightest, therefore have the healers take turns watching over him. We have not time to waste on negotiations, therefore should they resist you in any way, you may deal with such behavior in any manner you choose to achieve the desired compliance."

Tewarn grimaced as he recalled the look of delightful malice he'd seen reflected in the guards' eyes. His alarm had only been heightened by the malevolent stare and menacing sneer that Jarek had returned before turning away to retreat to the other side of the encampment.

After a time the wagon's progress was paused, and he was gruffly ordered to trade places with his apprentice. It was not an easy task, removing himself from the small wooden platform, for his arms remained bound together, and his legs were tethered so to limit the length of his strides when he walked. His head still ached from the harsh impact it had received not that long before, and when he managed to get his legs beneath him on the land, the world swam around him rebelliously for a few moments.

Hummeth roughly nudged him forward, showing no sympathy for the older man's less than steady disposition. Much more nimbly than his teacher, for he was not only younger, but considerably less bound, Sade climbed up to take the other's place on the wagon. His eyes followed Tewarn's progress, their widened depths radiating the concern he felt over witnessing the older man's temporary vertigo.

With an air of defiant pride, Tewarn cast him an annoyed glower, knowing full well, even without looking, how the apprentice would react to his current condition. Inwardly, he was touched by the youth's concern, and his heart burned warmly for the compassion his pupil held for him. But he was a practical man, and one well seasoned in hardship. It would not due for the younger man to waste his concern on an old healer; such attention was a distraction from his duty to his patient. A second, more pointed glance at the young man seemed to successfully convey this reasoning, and with suddenly flushed cheeks, the young healer moved to check on the elf child.

The creaking wheels of the cart marked their passage, as minutes dragged into indefinable hours. The young healer religiously checked the elf's vital signs, and as discretely as possible, kept an eye on his master's condition too.

XXXXXXX

Monotonous hours had passed, and Sade's eyes were now lazily following the activity of two small sparrows, caught up in something of an argument on one of the branches that hung over the river's edge. When the cart's slow progress at last moved them out of sight of the odd pair, his gaze shifted to scan the party he was an unwilling member of. At the front of the group were Jarek and Prevos. He scowled as his eyes followed the hulking leader of this murderous band. He'd never liked the man, and was disgusted to think that these other men, many of whom he'd trusted in the past, had willingly gone along with his plans of betrayal. From there, his gazed alighted over the other four members, all of whom stared determinedly forward, though looked significantly more worn than they had when they'd first departed. Finally, he looked over at Tewarn. The older man moved awkwardly in the knee-deep water, the tether between his legs impeding his progress. Less obvious were the wounds he still bore, for though he hid the pain they caused well, Sade could still detect signs of the discomfort they caused.

His idle surveillance was interrupted by a soft rustle beside him, and with a start he turned to see the elf child, now fully awake, looking around in terror. The boy let out a soft cry as the brown haired man gently laid a hand on his shoulder, murmuring soft words of comfort. The words did not seem to register in the small elf's mind though, for his panic visibly grew.

Tewarn's attention was immediately drawn by the sharp increase in activity on the cart. "The child awakens," he hastily informed the guards near him. "I must see to him."

The two guards' eyes grew wide, and one of them rushed ahead to alert Estaf, who was walking at the front of the cart. As soon as the man heard the news, he ordered the wagon to pause.

"Voern," Estaf said quickly, indicating the man at his side, "Go and tell Prevos the elf is awake. Hummeth, let the healers see to the boy."

By this time, Sade was more actively restraining the elf, who had begun struggling to get away from the strange person that had first touched him, and was now pinning him in place.

"I mean you know harm, but you must remain still. You are injured, you must not move," he told the frightened child, his own tone colored with alarm as he fought to keep the boy still, while also trying to avoid the numerous injured areas on his body.

The young healer felt a rush of relief when he looked up to find his master scooting nearer the side of the elf. He'd never had to care for a patient by himself before, and he worried that he might have been more nervous about the situation than the terrified elf child.

As if reading his thoughts, Tewarn sent his apprentice a warm smile and patted his shoulder. Then he moved beside him, his gentle but firm grip holding the still trembling form of the blonde child. It had taken a bit of negotation to get the guards to allow him use of his hands, but after fiercely pointing out his absolute need for his hands, with no small hint to the wrath the guards would face from Prevos if something happened to the elf, they had hurriedly acquiesced.

"Ada," Legolas cried in a whisper-soft voice. His mind was still groggy, and the swimming sensation inside his head was making it hard for him to focus on his surroundings. Nothing about the scene around him was familiar. In searching for answers, the waves of fear pulsing through his veins increased dramatically as he found a terrifying abundance of gaping holes in his memory. Where was he? What had happened?

Legolas had never had the misfortune of serious injury before, and certainly had no experience with the sluggish way his mind was working. He did not yet have sufficient control over himself to command such obedience from his mind or his body as to calm the frenzied beating of his heart, or end the sickening swells of dizzying motion that blurred his vision and churned his thoughts. His ability to recall anything, be it recent or something from his more distant past, was severely hampered, with large blanks filling in areas he would normally find vivid memories. With nothing to anchor himself to, he was scared; the faces peering down at him were foreign to him, their words incomprehensible, and his body ached with a throb that chased itself from one end to the other and back again, the limbs protesting the mere suggestion of movement.

It was a small mercy, then, that the sleeping draught's effects were not wholly passed. In spite of himself, and even as he fought to clear his mind and rouse his senses, the edges of awareness slowly melted away, sending him back to the blissful abyss he had left only minutes before.

Tewarn breathed a sigh of relief, and set about checking on the elfling's injuries once more. "This is a good sign," he commented to his apprentice. Beside him, Sade continued to sit frozen, his muscles clenched in worry. Tewarn also suspected the young man had yet to release the breath he'd been holding for some time now. "He has awoken once, it is only a matter of time before he does so again."

At last Sade exhaled, nodding his head in relieved understanding. The small elf's eyes had closed again, but, if only in his own mind, Sade though he looked to be resting easier.

"The elf?" a gruff voice barked. With a start both healers looked up, finding the stout form of Jarek beside the cart. He had rushed over as soon as the outcry had been heard, and there was a clear mix of anxiety and excitement etched in his features as he gazed past the healers at the child.

"He awoke briefly. The draught yet runs through his veins, and he has fallen asleep once more. He shall awaken again in time, perhaps as early as the morrow," Tewarn informed him coolly. His face was unreadable, but his apprentice noted the scorn that tinted his words, masked by the detachment with which they were delivered.

"He will be well, then?" Jarek wanted to be absolutely certain. It would be an utter shame if this mission failed due to their own folly, and so early on. Even more pressing than his impending wealth was the immediate need to ensure he would not bear the brunt of Prevos's anger, should he bear false witness and the elf's health fail.

Tewarn gave a slight nod. "It appears so, his wounds are mending well."

Jarek smiled, though there was no warmth in the expression. With a nod to the healers and surrounding guards he turned, hurrying back to report to Prevos.

With the excitement faded, the men returned to their earlier positions and their progress continued.