Chapter Six: Time Changes Nothing

The first time, emotions had been leeched away to come flooding back in a surge of energy and power. The second time, it was rage and anger, and a desire to learn and be taught. The third time, the most recent, it broke walls down, destroyed the body and weakened the soul. It was different from its predecessors and brought fear.

Zerith had raced to her companion in desperation, knowing there were too many wolves for him to escape. If he would strike, one would pounce upon him and the rest would follow. She had not known him for long yet he was a comrade. Bonds made in battle were stronger than bonds in blood. It was a split second decision that saved his life and ended hers. She had known this. What else could be done?

Breath, focus. She took in a long inhale, feeling tight pressure building in her heart and an overwhelming heat radiating. It was a matter of letting go, but doing so would make the flame inside her volatile. Zerith's heart pounded in her ears, and she could not keep it in for long. Drawing closer to the wolves, she released the buildup of the storm within her. It was a blaze; the wolves could not be seen in the inferno and their cries were deafening. Seconds passed by and she still spit fire. Closing her mouth and extinguishing the embers within her, she watched the grass beneath her feet catch and burn away. Tarnished canines yelped and jumped, their tails smoking like torches. Two turned on her while a couple fled and the others returned to their previous target, who was too stunned to move for a moment. Zerith and he exchanged glances, and her knees turned to slush at the murder in his eyes. Not being able to bear his penetrating stare, she cut down a wolf and ravaged the other, wiping the sticky blood of the slashes that tore into her shoulder where the leather had been clawed at and worn. Hassun followed suit as he defeated his twin enemies, and all was still as the remaining pack of wolves retreated into the depths of the forest.

Zerith let out a slow exhale, and her fatigue dropped her down on one knee. Her flame-breath consumed so much out of her like it never had before. It was a mistake. She could have just fought the wolves to draw some attention away from her companion, but instead she had given up her most precious secret to the one who might actually have known what she was. She had been prepared that it would be spilled eventually, but not this early in the journey. He would hate her. He did hate her. If she came out of the confrontation unscathed, she would consider herself lucky.

"Well, we made it." Her voice was raw and cracked as she looked up, watching sparks fly into the air as the ground burned and Hassun tried to stop the consumption of the flame. Her cheeks were smeared with blood, covering the sparse freckles dotted beneath the iron-smelling substance. With a pounding headache, Zerith rubbed her temples and traced her ragged scars, silently praying for some hope that might be given to her. She heard his heavy steps towards her that quickened as she approached, and she was ripped up by her neck and pinned against a tree, feeling a strong pressure on her throat and a sting. Staring into his eyes she saw nothing. A cut grazed his cheek and he had not shaved in a while. His forehead displayed dirt. She saw nothing.

The pressure increased on her windpipe and she could not breathe. Reaching up she squeezed his hand with her own two, knowing she had not the heart nor the strength to betray him. He said nothing for a long time, only stared into her watery eyes with a disgusted sneer. She had begun to see black spots and accepted the end when he threw her to the ground on her hands and knees. Life, life! Zerith panted, greedily taking in the precious oxygen she was deprived of. He circled her now as she recovered, pointing his sword at her.

"I should have known witches are masters of trickery. Was this a plan all along to kill me or did you conjure the idea up on the spot?" Hassun growled, giving a kick to her side when she did not respond. She rolled onto her back out of exhaustion, and shivered as he laughed cruelly. "You were high and mighty, and now you are nothing."

A burning rage filled her, and she stumbled to her feet, though she did not draw her weapon. "Are you so foolish to judge so quickly?" She asked in desperation, panting and wincing at the throbbing pain and blood trickling from her jaw. "I am no monster! Your people know who I am, though they are too stubborn and locked on the past to see it."

With a roar, Hassun leaped the distance from him to her, and Zerith quickly drew her sword and dagger. "You know nothing of my people! Do not even say you do, for you are sorely mistaken."

"I do, and I will say it." She retorted, backing away from him as he threatened her. "A long time ago a prophecy was struck in stone. A woman and dragon, once friends, died enemies. Their souls did not pass on, and they were reborn as one." Glancing behind him, she saw Applegrabber try to rid himself from his restraints to come to her aid, but his efforts were futile.

"And how is your knowledge of our history relevant to who you are?" He grumbled, standing still as a statue.

"It is everything. It makes up who I am. I am the one. Satherra and Gostir incarnate. The body of a Tarakona warrior and the soul of a dragon, formerly a cold drake."

"Cold drakes do not breathe fire," he informed her.

"No," she nodded resolutely, "they do not. I am still trying to learn why everything is the way it is. That is why I accepted your proposition so enthusiastically. You can bring me to your tribe, and I can see the prophecy-stone."

"No one is permitted to see it. It has driven sane men mad by just a glance." Hassun seethed, shaking his head and wiping the sweat off of his brow beneath the glow of the rising sun.

"No one but your leaders and the honored," Zerith replied charmingly. "I will earn the honor. Your wise-woman needs a task performed that requires a special someone, yes? I am special, and I will complete it."

"My people would kill you on the mentioning of who you were. We have passed on the tale of bad blood and luck since the treason of Satherra."

"Treason?"

He watched her stretch and wince at sore muscles. "By befriending a servant of Morgoth and Sauron, she betrayed us. I reckon she went further than that. She was our light in darkness and it was extinguished. We have been lost without her ever since then. She was always different from the rest of her kin; distant, grim, and forlorn. When the children would sing songs and dance 'round the fire, the coldness in her eyes did not melt." His eyes narrowed as he watched her gaze confusedly at him.

"So if mentioning who I am earns me execution, I shall remain anonymous. I have played the part of someone who I am not before. Should the secrets about me be discovered, I will become quite the diplomat and peacemaker. Or, I will flee." Zerith's mouth twitched slightly in a grin. Hassun huffed, exasperated with her.

"You will be discovered. If you seek out the prophecy-stone, everyone will know who you are. The only way to reveal its inscription is to use what created it. Gostir's blood seeped into the land where it lay. It is a monument, or a sort of gravestone to mark the place of his demise. Your blood may show what it foretells."

"I only have the dragon's soul," Zerith corrected sharply.

"Hmm," She had stumped him, for he stopped and stared blankly in thought at the ground. Pacing, he wiped the dirt crusted in his hand's wrinkles on his dark forest green pants. She noticed a new wound that slashed on his collarbone above where he wore a mail-shirt.

Approaching him slowly, she reached to grasp his hand. "Let me care for your injuries." She was not surprised at his recoil.

"Come no closer to me, harlot." He snapped, though he did not brandish his weapon at her. Zerith only snorted at his harsh words.

"I only want to help you. Fine. If you want your wounds to get infected, I will not stop you." Suffocated by the hostility in the air, she drifted to Applegrabber, who pushed his nose into her chest lovingly. He only had a few scratches, so she was grateful that he had been spared from the wolves. Taking bandages out of her pack and a spare cloth, she cleaned her cuts with the rag and some water from her waterskin. The wrapping she placed onto her jaw was rough on her skin, but it was effective and she was glad to have brought plenty of medical bandaging. She could feel injuries in other places on her body, but those would have to be dealt with when she could undress away from Hassun. Glancing over at him, he was tending to himself, though not with as much care as she was. It seemed like seconds had gone by before he was hastily packing up and grabbing her, signaling that they had to leave.

"Where are we going, and why so quickly? The danger has passed." Zerith mumbled with protest.

"Tharbad. We cannot stay here. Those wolves were not ordinary. They sought us out on their own initiative, despite the danger. Something or someone has twisted them, and that means our presence is known and unwelcome." In mere minutes their camp was gone and what could be taken was packed on their persons or Applegrabber. Hoisting himself up, Hassun scooted back to allow her room on her mount. She followed suit after unlashing him from the tree, and made a sharp turn towards the road, pushing Applegrabber into a full gallop, who seemed happy to be free from the dark woods.

-o-

"You were up the whole night, yet you fought with great valor. You should rest, Hassun." Zerith mumbled as they slowly trotted on the road under the bright glow of the day.

Hassun did not respond for a while, and she had almost thought he had followed her advice. His voice made her shiver at its proximity to her neck. "We will be at Tharbad soon. There is no point. We will need to find a way to cross the river Greyflood."

Clearing her throat to hide her embarrassment though he could not see her face, she shook her head slightly. "I know you do not trust me, but you cannot go on like this. How are we to cross the river with my horse, anyway?"

He huffed, banging his head on her back as though one might do with a wall. "We will either have to leave him, or build some sort of way across. The bridge that connects the banks is completely crumbled in parts. That is if anything will even hold your beast." Applegrabber snorted and Zerith rubbed the backs of his ears affectionately.

"You are no beast, my friend. That silly Tarakona man is clearly blind." The woman murmured in a gaudy, cutesy voice. She could not prevent the smile that formed when she heard the man's warm chuckle that he tried to hide with little success.

"So you hate me but still enjoy my humor and wit? You are such an enigma." She added, and was given silence in return.

"I do not hate you but I do not trust you. I do not know what you are, and I would be foolish to trust the unknown."

"Yet you seemed to trust me, a complete stranger, with carrying out a secret task for your reclusive people back at the inn. You also forget that I saved your life."

"With your witch-fire!" He exclaimed with a growl.

"I did not ask for it, and I am not a witch. I just happen to hold a powerful soul within me. Satherra and Gostir make up my being. I hold both friend and foe within me. I do not understand it myself, and that is why I want to help you. Maybe the prophecy-stone can tell me more. If it foretells of my coming, it must mean something." Zerith replied with a bored tone, since she had gone through the same lines before and would most likely continue to do so.

"What will you honestly do if you were to be discovered? My people hate you. You are a source of regret, sorrow, and anger. There is still some pride in Satherra, though." He hissed by her ear, and she almost believed that he was trying to make her nervous. She had never been so close to a man such as Hassun before. The only one she had ever ridden with was Gandalf, and he had never made her flustered in this way that she felt. She brushed off her rambling inner thoughts as just a normal part of being a young 'maiden'.

"Tell me of the regret." Zerith asked, wanting to know more about the minds of those she would be dealing with.

Drawing in a great breath, Hassun started slowly. "My people regret having not kept a closer eye on Satherra. She chose to be alone, and they thought that she was gifted with great wisdom and strength, the makings of a great leader. In truth, she was supposed to lead them after the chieftain's passing. Instead, she had forsaken her people for a dragon of all things. Those who followed her went blindly because they saw her as a goddess. They eventually returned to their tribe where they rightfully belonged. Regret came about because it was her distance that let her completely abandon her own people!"

"And the sorrow?"

"Sorrow grew because they had lost a woman of their own whom they loved. They revered her for her virtues, and she cared for them greatly. Despite what she did, she wanted the best for them. Perhaps she thought she would disappoint them. With her leaving this world, they lost the beacon and last chance of hope for their people." Hassun lamented. She felt terrible for asking him, hearing his voice break. Despite Satherra's death in the late First Age, it still had after-effects and clearly meant a lot to the man behind her.

"How did she die?" Zerith asked gently, not wanting to push him.

"They say she had no injuries or illness. She was young and age did not touch her. After slaying Gostir, with his blood covering her, she wept violently, sinking to the ground. No one could have predicted her passing. She lay resting next to him, face down, as though she were sleeping." He stopped for a moment to compose himself. "As though she was glad the end had come." With his final words, she shuddered, not being able to imagine the sorrow that Satherra felt. The dragon and woman must have been quite close.

"I truly apologize for making you so upset." Zerith whispered with a bow of her head.

"It is no trouble. You have made me upset before." He laughed bitterly with heavy words.

"I will try not to, then. It is never my intention. Well, I do like to annoy you, but not that much." Zerith smirked, trying to lighten the conversation since it had taken a dark turn.

"Are you so sure, my lady?"

"Go to sleep."

-o-

With some time to herself, though she was reminded that she still had a companion by his steady, warm breathing, Zerith was left to her thoughts. She was afraid of the future, and a little of Hassun, but he had ceased to act like he wanted to kill her. I am more useful alive than dead. He wants his tribe to decide my fate. They would judge me before they even had a chance to get to know me better. Figures. She pushed her hood up as there was a sudden chill in the air, letting Applegrabber trot slowly and cautiously while she braided her hair down to the side. It was getting so long, to the bottom of her ribs that she thought about cutting completely off. Looking up, to her left she noted the dense forest and the high hills. They drew very close to Tharbad, as she could hear faint sounds of the river. Riding slowly to give Hassun some time to sleep, Zerith hummed to herself in boredom while braiding her horse's mane.

It was late in the afternoon when the trees dwindled on the sides of the road and she found herself in view of the ruined town and fortresses of Tharbad. Many crumbling towers and structures of sorts lined the roadway, growing in density as she pushed further in. There was an inclining road that intersected the middle of the town next to a large corner house. The path led to the bridge that they could cross to get to the riverbank, but upon approaching, Zerith's fears were confirmed. Few parts of the bridge were even standing. It was too far to jump and she could not lose Applegrabber. Turning away and riding back into the main ruins, she took in the view of the desolation. Craning her neck to look at the sleeping man behind her, she did not want to be rude and wake him, but her surroundings gave her a bad feeling and she did not want to stay long. He was so peaceful with his head drooped down and shoulders pitched forward. No sign of hostility or troubles marred his brow, and she caught herself gazing too intensely at his face. Whispering his name and shaking his shoulder, she pulled him out of dreamland.

"We are here at Tharbad, Hassun," Zerith murmured with a tilt of her head, "and I do not know how to cross the river. I seek your guidance."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes. I crossed here when I split off from the rest of my kin to search for someone who could help us."

"There were others like you?"

He replied with a rumble deep within his throat. "One was to stay in Minas Tirith, another in Edoras, and I went to Bree. After I found you, I sent a crow with a message informing my tribesmen that someone suitable had been found. I was alone when I came here and I was on horseback." There was a spark in Zerith's mind.

"Did you happen to pass by Weathertop?"

His eyes met hers as though he fully understood the meaning behind her question. "I did, but only because I had heard some interesting rumors of a witch who had been hunted by the men of Gondor. I fancied a witch hunt."

Zerith's mouth went slightly agape. Uirien. "That happened a year ago. Why would you honestly think she was still there?"

He chuckled. "Curiosity, my lady. The lands were still charred to bits and bones were scattered. You seem like you know more than I do about it." He leaned in so that he was closer to her, and he stared down at her as she leaned back.

"I met the witch. She was an elleth named Uirien. She killed the men who were hunting her. She was no worse for the wear, and disappeared. I do not know of her whereabouts." Shivering, she kept her voice steady.

"You are more knowledgeable than me in some aspects, it seems." He snorted, noting her frightened and annoyed appearance and shifting back in the saddle.

"I will only give as much as I receive, but enough talk." Zerith hissed uncomfortably. "Tell me how to cross the river since you have already done so."

Turning back to the task at hand, he resumed a serious tone. "The river was shallow and slow. It is wide, though, so we must be cautious. Go back to just before you entered these ruins, and travel down to the riverbank." Nodding her head, Zerith hurried her horse who darted through the rubble and back to the forest. Tree leaves drifted down in bright colors above her as she slowly descended towards the river. She saw glimpses of it through the beeches, but nothing more than that.

"So where are you from, girl?" Hassun asked behind her, and she frowned remembering that she had asked for quiet.

"Minas Tirith." She replied shortly.

"You are a fair way from home, then." He had caught her, and her eyes widened.

"I am from there, but no longer."

"Did you not enjoy it?" He asked softly, taking notice of her sluggish response.

"I was exiled by my family, and no others would take me in. That was, oh, seven years ago. I was eleven, I believe. I went to Rohan seeking help, and someone was kind enough to take me in. They provided me a home that lay northeast of here, nurturing and teaching me. We visited Uirien to seek out the possibility of knowledge on my dragon soul. I fell into a long sleep she had induced that she said would bring me closer to understanding Gostir. When I awoke, both the witch and my caretaker were gone. I have been on my own since then." The woman murmured, stopping Applegrabber at the pebbly shore of the river.

"We need to check the river. I believe it to be safe, but one can never be too careful." Turning to nod, Zerith leapt off her horse carefully, beginning to walk into the river. Chattering her teeth suddenly, the cold leeched through her boots and greaves but surprisingly did not completely leave her swamped in her shoes. The current was slow and as she went further into the middle of the water, the depth remained the same. Even if things looked well enough to permit them to cross, the body of water was vast; she could barely see the other side through the fog.

"It is alright, if terribly cold. I do not know how far it is across, though. That is a problem." Zerith called, hurrying back to rid herself from the chill. Mounting Applegrabber who snorted at the icy water from her boots touching his flanks, she urged him forth with encouraging words and praises. The two of them were tense, and Hassun gave the woman a comforting pat on the shoulder. "I will not risk my horse just to cross one river." Her voice was hoarse and came in a breathless whisper as her eyes were glued on Applegrabber's steps and the water below.

"He is strong and resilient. My horse was in just the same condition as yours when I crossed and I had no trouble."

"That was a while ago. It was warmer back then." Zerith reminded him, sending a silent prayer for her horse's safety. This was a cold day like no other that passed through even the soul itself.

In silence, they trudged through the silvery water, swallowing the fear that the heavy fog brought as it surrounded and suffocated them. Trying her best to focus on her horse and the man behind her, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. I am already nervous and we are crossing a river, of all things. How pathetic can I get?

Running her fingers along Applegrabber's neck, she urged him forward with more vigor. He picked up speed and soon they were halfway to the other side of the water. The bobbing of her horse alongside the movement of the water was making her dizzy and she looked down at her shaking hands. I am pathetic.

"We must ride hard on the North-South Road, Hassun. I have heard many bad things about Dunland." Zerith spoke, ignoring her nerves.

"As you wish." He simply huffed, keeping hold of her waist for balance as the horse did his best to move quickly with chilled, stiff legs.

"No arguments?" She scoffed. "What has gotten into you? Where is the man I know that scorns me in every word?"

"I can do that silently." He sneered. Ah, we are back to being hostile! Lovely. I did have a part to play in this…

The fog cleared suddenly, and the water became shallower. They were nearing the shore. When Applegrabber's legs were exposed to the air, he neighed and stomped the pebbles beneath him. Zerith got off as soon as she was able to and dried off her friend. He gave her a playful shove, but despite his joy at returning to dry land, he was shivering.

"We need to make camp. Start a fire," Zerith said to Hassun who had been standing behind her, looking at the land they had yet to travel.

"It is still light out. We do not have time to waste." He huffed, shaking his head and running a hand through his messy hair.

"I will not risk my horse's health. He needs to warm up. We all do." She countered, narrowing her eyes.

"Whatever," He replied coldly, turning away and climbing a flat hill overlooking the river. When Applegrabber was well enough, Zerith led him up the hill slowly, squinting at the sun that caught in her eyes.

"This area is a bit conspicuous." She murmured under her breath, but bit her tongue when she heard the sharp inhale that meant insult. Her horse grazed freely while she spread bedrolls on the grass, running her fingers through the endless, soft green. With the cold dissipating from her body, she let her hood down, freeing her hair from its restraints. "I need to wash up, if that is alright with you." She hesitated to speak, but he seemed to only half-hear her.

"Yes, do what you like. Be careful." With his approval, she gathered up a few necessities. Remembering the sting of her injuries, she brought bandages and plenty of plants she knew would be preventatives against infection. With slow steps, she made her way back to the river, and looked back to bump into a familiar, warm body.

"Followed me, did you, dear friend?" She giggled, running her hands along Applegrabber's neck. Finding a secluded, hidden spot with plenty of cover, she began to undress. Applegrabber stood as another barrier, his long, tall body concealing her away from the world. Smart horse. When she was comfortably free of her armor, she examined her injuries. There were bruises and shallow scrapes on both of her shoulders and marks all along her neck, but it was nothing that could not be easily tended to. Readying herself for the freezing waters of the river, she waded in, chattering her teeth. Quickly scrubbing herself with a spare block of soap she had made so long ago by herself and washing her hair, she submerged herself into the world below. Shades of silver danced before her in a blurry realm. Particles swam around her illuminated by sharp tendrils of light and she felt as though everything had changed. The freezing temperature numbed her cheeks and she was frozen in time. Distant memories flooded her, and she felt suffocated by them. Suffocated…

Darting her head out of the water, she gasped for breath. Brought back to reality, she stared up at the pale, sunlit sky and raced towards where she could find shelter from prying eyes. Applegrabber was aloof, not blinking at her chattering, drenched naked form. Wincing at the air hitting her body, she made to dry herself off vigorously as fast as she could, putting on her undergarments before cleaning her wounds again. The scent of dried herbs she crushed filled her nose and she breathed in deeply, trying to recall their name since she had long forgotten it, only identifying them by appearance. Pressing them into the cuts on her shoulders and jaw. Wrapping them up with bandages, she cleaned off her armor in the river and put on a long, plain tunic and trousers. Always bring a pair of dry socks, she thought as she wiggled her toes in their wooly warmth.

Once she was warmly dressed and her damp hair gathered high upon the crown of her head, she returned with Applegrabber, who no longer seemed to dislike the chilly Greyflood. Gazing up at the smoke drifting high above camp, she quickened her pace, heartbeat ceasing for a moment in realization.

"Hassun, it is dangerous being so exposed here. With thatsmoke—"

"We were hidden at our first camp and we still were discovered. You think it makes any difference?" He interrupted, balling his hands into fists as he took hold of his own belongings in his arms. "I have done this before. I know what I am doing."

"They were wolves! They have keen senses. Despite what happened, we need to not let it change much. If anything, let it make us more cautious."

"Are you stupid?" He lashed out suddenly with raging anger that caused her to step back closer to her horse. "It changed everything! I am forced to go roaming around Middle Earth with an evil monster! A plague upon my kind. My hands are tied. I have become more cautious, Zerith," He spat her name and her brow furrowed, "and I have learned that even women can be abominations."

A dreadful silence was all that followed. She was numb. No coherent thoughts passed. They stood with widened eyes waiting for the other to say something. Like her swim through the water, memories came to her as though she were dreaming. She remembered this familiar void in her heart, the same that built just before the burning rage when she first breathed fire. This is different. There is no anger, but sorrow, because his words are true. Salty tears ran down her cheeks before she felt them arise.

"Why have you not killed me?" Her voice was a hoarse whisper, choked by a suppressed cry. He had not changed his expression but softened, slowly approaching her. She backed up and was surprised at the disappointment in his eyes, but could go no further with her equine friend pressing against her back. Hassun dropped all that he was carrying at his feet midway between them and approached her in a trance-like fashion. Grabbing the reins of her horse tightly, she was prepared to escape. He was an arm's reach away from her, and she felt the shadow of his body coming closer. Wincing as if she were preparing for a slap from her mother, she closed her eyes in preparation. She was shocked to find his fingers ghosting along her face, wiping away her tears. Slowly opening her glassy eyes, she sucked in a gasping breath that her emotions smothered, she locked her gaze with him, not daring to make a sound for she knew her words would betray her.

"You intrigue me," he murmured, and it was as if she were staring at a completely different person. He must have seen the twinge of irritation in her eyes at his words, for he quickly corrected himself. "You could not have wished for all that was brought upon you. I…forgive me." He shook his head and looked down before crouching to pick up what he dropped and disappearing to the shore of the river. Zerith watched his heavy steps and how he never looked back before she approached the fire, beginning dinner for them. As she stared into the glow the flame emitted, she contemplated his words with a solemn face. He is no different from anyone else who discovers my identity. Not the first, nor the last to loathe me. I should turn this pain into a lesson. Do I deserve this? Was I destined to become who I am? Why me? She let a small whimper pass through her lips, and realized how ridiculous she was. I am a fool, not one to be pitied. I will find out the truth of why this even started and what I must do. It is the only thing that might bring me comfort, save for Mithrandir… She had tried to block the recollection of him from her mind because she had little hope in reuniting with him. This journey very well could claim her life. She was inexperienced, and many perils lay ahead of her. Even if she should have any chance of seeing him again, his sudden departure had left her shaken. If he of all people abandoned me, then what hope do I have? Reaching out at the fire until the heat became unbearable, it brought her some understanding. Fire consumes all and does not discriminate. It decimates everything in its path until there is nothing more it wants. Even if it touches nothing that people value, it consumes what births it. Though I control it, I have already lost control before. How long until it completely engulfs me?

By the time Hassun had returned, she was handing him some spare bread and cheese along with boiled vegetables. The sun had set and any trace of warmth in the bare air was gone. The two had not said a word to each other save for pleasantries, and they had gotten used to the uncomfortable silence between them. Zerith had become particularly interested in the swish of Applegrabber's tail, whose head began to nod off. She felt Hassun's constant gaze but steeled herself to ignore him. It could not last, however.

"You are only eighteen." He mumbled and it sounded like he was questioning the fact.

"What about it?" She replied icily.

"You do not look or act like it. I was only surprised." He sounded embarrassed and shrugged in an attempt to brush off what he had originally said.

"Why?" She inquired, cleaning up after the both of them with harsh movements.

"You seem much older. Much wiser and world-weary; like you carry a heavy burden. I meant no offense. For being so young, you are also a capable fighter."

"For an abomination, you mean." Zerith snorted.

"That is not my point," He sighed loudly, "I have just seen men of Gondor that were just beginning to train at your age."

"I am not a man, if you have even noticed." She countered, taking a whetstone to temper her sword and dagger.

"Of course I have. How could I not?" He blurted out, and she looked up at him to read his face. Was there a double meaning behind that? Valar, this man has more mood swings than I do.

He clearly did not mean all that he said to come out in the way it did, for he wore a look of shock for a split second. Coughing, he continued. "It was a compliment. Forget it, if it troubles you so much." She did not respond, and quickly changed the subject.

"How old are you, then?"

"Twenty-two, though it matters little. My life might be a third of the way done with, and time changes nothing." He watched her strokes idly.

"What do you mean?" She asked, concentrating on her weapons.

"Which part?" He smirked.

"Either. Both."

"Some of the Tarakona, and even other clans experience shortened lifespans. It does not happen to everyone, but there are enough men and women that die too young. It is as though they pass from old age, yet some can live to double what they do. It started a few years ago, all of a sudden. I wonder if there is something that has caused it. Our shaman was investigating it. Perhaps she might find your assistance useful in the matter. Time changes nothing, though, as I have found. I have grown from a boy to a man and few things have changed. My beliefs, my morals, and what I believe to be true and right. Perhaps it was due to the information I was force fed as a child; that outsiders are evil beings that would only cause us harm. That I must believe what our leaders say without question. Those principles still stand true. I am constantly reminded of them, but now I question the meaning behind it. Ah, I did not mean to trouble you." He got up and stretched, burying his nose in a book from his pack.

"It is no trouble. I enjoy listening to you talk when you do not insult me." She smiled at him, though her heart was still hurting at his words before dinner.

"Perhaps I should practice. With any luck, I will become better at it." He returned the expression, and she did not fail to take notice of how the smile spread to his eyes. Is anything normal with this man? He is so unpredictable.

With the last of the tasks of the day done, the two of them were very glad to crawl under warm furs and sleep before the fire. While Hassun had a resting face of peace and sleep, Zerith knew she would not. This night, she would not be alone in her world of dreams.

This was a rollercoaster of emotions and thoughts. Wow. I didn't mean for the chapter to end this way, but it sort of wrote itself. Yeah, pretty boring chapter, but you get to see Hassun and Zerith interact with each other. I'm sorry that I took so long to upload this. I rarely find inspiration or drive to write so I often force myself to. I was also busy with midterms and winter break. I got to play some pretty fun games, like Shadow of Mordor, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Destiny. Those distracted me. Oops.

Anyway, reviews are appreciated and sorely needed! I need anything and everything I can get ex: suggestions, reviews, thoughts on the story. See you next time, when our dragon buddy returns at last!