The company only just escaped then, the air coming from them haggard and heavy. Essence had some stamina of the elves but she was so rarely in battle to exercise her strength, so she, too, was most assuredly out of breath.

The company ran into the daylight, the light burning their eyes. Essence was at the very back, having lost many of the dwarves on her way out of the goblin caverns. Most of the dwarves were stumbling due to the excessive running, and many were on the ground, including an extremely large red haired dwarf, who was lying on his back and heaving labored breaths. The young healer sat down, and realizing she still miraculously was clutching her coat, heaved a sigh of relief. Her face was red and her usually pristine hair had dried with the stench of goblin in it. That would take a long while to come out.

"Lady?" came a bark from somewhere. As she looked around, it became apparent that Gandalf was the one calling to her. She immediately stood up and marched her way towards the dwarves as best she could without stumbling over her weakened legs.

"Yes?" she said, pausing at his side. Gandalf cast a worried look over his shoulder, and she saw numbers forming on his lips—he was counting the dwarves.

"A number of dwarves are injured, and we haven't much time." His tone was absentminded yet stern, but she got the message. Essence strode over to a dwarf with auburn hair in three distinct shapes on his head, formed with braids. It confused her how he kept it so neat, but she didn't ask.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, and the dwarf turned to her. His movements, the opposite of her own, were very heavy and abrupt.

"What." His tone was gruff and harsh, and she suddenly felt out of place.

"If you have any wounds that need healing, I would like to—"

"Lassie, you've done your part." She felt herself begin to recoil back inside herself at his tone. She was never very good at dealing with those who refused her help. "No one in this company will be needing your help ever again."

"Gandalf said to—"

"I don't care what Gandalf said!" He stood up, tripping a little on his ankle. She stared at it, her mind working, and she guessed that he had torn the delicate muscle in the back of his heel. By the way he was standing, with his hurt food relaxed on the ground and his left food holding his weight, she could tell the injury. If she didn't fix it, he would hold up the company for a few days, or maybe even more if it was more severe than it looked under his thick trousers and boots. "We made well with you not here, and we will when you leave, as well."

"Please, allow me just to take a look—"

"Nori!" snapped the wizard impatiently, startling Essence so much she almost yelped. "Allow her to help you while you can. She won't be here for long, so put your stubbornness aside and allow her to take a look at you." Nori glared at him, but sat back down on the rock just the same. "We are missing a hobbit," Gandalf snapped, but Essence bent down to help Nori and ignored his outburst.

"Nori," Essence tried his name out on her tongue. When he didn't snap at her, she took it as a sign to continue on. "My name is Essence."

"I know." She grasped his pant leg as gently as she could and slowly pulled off his boot. She felt him wince under her light grip, but paid no mind. She had cared for many egotistical creatures in her life, so she didn't mind the simple pride in strength that the dwarf had.

"I just…" Essence said, slipping off his stocking while staring intently at his foot. "I thought we should be introduced." She faintly heard Nori grumble a retort, no doubt mocking of her, but she didn't listen. Her eyes began to glow as she brushed the back of his ankle with her finger tips. It was definitely torn, she realized, and felt it move slightly under her fingers. Nori let out a hiss of pain, and she lessened her touch.

"This may hurt a little." She hoped he could hear her, because her voice had faded into a whisper. In reality, she knew it would hurt a lot, but a flash of extreme pain such as Kili had experienced was better than a month of prolonged aching.

She began to chant, her voice in a low whisper as Elvish words fell off of her lips. She was exhausted from using the magic in her voice and running and healing the young brunette dwarf, and she could no longer heal while chanting in her mind. She vaguely heard the dwarf say something to her, but she paid no mind as she poured her strength into healing the wound.

A yell from the dwarf in front of her as he experienced the jolt of pain broke her from her trance, and she realized the entire company was staring at her. Nori leapt up in surprise and backed away from the paling healer. The company was silent, and she realized the hobbit had rejoined them. She had spent more time healing the dwarf than she had realized.

"What are you?" yelled the dwarf, backing away. She tried to stand, but fell back on onto the ground as her legs gave out. Her face would have warmed in embarrassment had she had any energy, but instead she felt herself slowly fall to the ground. She would not fall unconscious; she couldn't, not in front of dwarves like these…

"Lady Essence?" Somehow her eyes slipped closed and she could feel the cover of darkness falling over her. Gandalf's voice whispered to her but she couldn't comprehend the meaning of what he was saying.

Visions of monsters, Orcs, holding jagged weapons and wearing cruel and malicious smiles danced across her mind as her mind began to shut down.

"Run," she whispered, her hand touching Gandalf's as he held the young girl in his arms. "They're coming."

Short Chapter, I apologize, but please review and give me feedback! I enjoy constructive criticism