Chapter 24: The Return to Neverwinter

They were only a couple days into their journey back and Sand had been talking about what to expect when the trial commenced since day one. Nimbrethil thought that if she had to listen to this the whole way back then she might indeed say to hells with it all and take Bishop up on his offer to go away. As Sand chattered on he kept repeating many of the same things over and over, and finally she had enough.

"Sand, I don't know why, but for some reason you seem to think I must be stupid," Nimbrethil told him sharply. "You've told me the same things so many times that I think I'll hear your words in my sleep. If you have nothing new to add then please give it a rest." With that she quickened her pace and was soon well ahead of the group.

"I'm just trying to make sure she understands the seriousness of the situation," Sand said in exasperation as the girl marched ahead.

Shandra couldn't help but laugh at him. "Sand, she knows how serious it is but she also has a point," she chuckled. "You have been repeating yourself and even I would get annoyed after a while. Give her a break for a bit okay?"

"Very well, I'll keep silent for now," Sand grumbled and then scowled as Khelgar murmured praise to his god for small favors. Then he saw that everyone else seemed to be a little annoyed with him as well.

Shandra turned back to see where Nimbrethil was and saw that Bishop had joined her and they were talking animatedly about something. Quickening her pace a little she managed to get close enough to hear bits and pieces of their conversation. The talk was all about different animals and the best way to trap or kill them. As she listened she could see why the elf was so drawn to him, even though she kept her distance from other humans. He had many of the same opinions as her and they talked easily about things that would only be of interest to rangers and hunters. Even their companions were getting along, to the point where Thorondor would occasionally ride on Karnwyr's back. She got the feeling that the two animals were talking and wished sometimes she had Nimbrethil's ability to understand animals. She would love to know what they were talking about. Suddenly she realized that Nimbrethil had turned to look over her shoulder at her.

"Was there something you wanted Shandra?" Nimbrethil asked.

Gathering herself she nodded. "I'd like to talk with you, privately if that's okay," she gave a pointed look to Bishop who scowled in irritation.

"Bishop, we'll continue this discussion later," Nimbrethil told him with a smile.

Bishop continued to glare daggers at the farm girl's back as he stayed far enough back to give them the 'privacy' they wanted. Since that one time in the woods, he hadn't managed to get Nim alone again. In fact, the elf seemed to have gone out of her way to make sure it didn't happen. Today had been the first opportunity he'd had and the farmer had butted in. He wanted to keep the fire he thought he had started in Nim alive, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen now.

"I just wanted to say that while Sand was getting a little tedious, you should know it's only because he wants you to win," Shandra told her once Bishop was far enough back. "We all do because we're your friends."

Nimbrethil eyed the woman closely. "To Sand I'm an unwanted problem and he's probably more concerned with his reputation than anything else."

"I know it seems that way, but we've talked and he really does care about your well being, but he's no better at showing it than you are," Shandra said pointedly.

"What are you talking about?" Nimbrethil asked puzzled.

"Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me that you don't care about any of us?" Shandra asked. "Do you really think that any of us would be out here with you if we didn't care about what happens to you?" When the girl refused to answer her or look at her she pressed the issue. "I think that whether you wanted it to happen or not, you're actually enjoying having us around. However, you're too afraid that it will all be taken away so you deny the truth. Just because bad things happened in the past does not mean that they will in the future."

Nimbrethil said nothing, merely continued to walk silently, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. The woman did have a point, everytime she had found a way to enjoy life, things happened to ruin it. She saw Shandra watching her and felt she should say something. "You might be right, I'll think about it."

"Good, you should do that," Shandra bit her lip to keep a pleased smile off her face. "I know that I probably don't have to tell you this but I will anyway," she hesitated as the elf looked at her. "Bishop is the kind of man that looks out for himself first, everything else is second. No one can tell you whom to spend your time with, but be careful. I've seen his type before and they tend to use up women and then discard them when they get bored."

Nimbrethil realized that Shandra suspected something going on between her and Bishop. "Are you trying to tell me not to fall in love with him?" she asked in amusement and saw Shandra flush a little. "I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself here aren't you?" What she didn't say was that she was far more attracted to the ranger than she wanted to be. He had stirred something in her that night in the woods, something that even now she was trying to push away. However, whatever it was he had made her feel, it was definitely not love.

"Maybe, maybe not," Shandra shrugged. "However, he has looks, charm and skills that to someone like you would be very appealing. I don't think he's capable of loving anyone, even himself, and I just don't want to see you get hurt that's all."

"Fair enough, but don't expect me to tell him to get lost just for that reason," Nimbrethil told her. "I know enough about him to know not to depend on him, is that good enough for you?" She saw Shandra nod and then smiled. "Now that we've settled that, tell me, would you like to try some of the more exotic animals sometime? After all, you don't seem to mind snake as much anymore. I can always ask Grobnar for some of his recipes."

"Gods no," Shandra shuddered. "The first thing I'm doing when we get back is having a nice juicy steak with all the trimmings, thank you."

Nimbrethil laughed at that. "Come on, nothing ventured, nothing gained. You might find other things to your liking." She saw the woman start to turn green and decided to have pity on her. "Okay, okay we'll forget about the exotic creatures for now. At least let me show you the different plants that are edible. You never know when the knowledge might come in handy."

Shandra sighed and gave in and the next couple of hours were spent looking for and learning to recognize what was edible, inedible, poisonous and not. Until Nimbrethil pointed them out, she hadn't realized that there was so much available out here in the wilds. She also learned that some of the prettier plants and berries weren't safe to eat but some ot the uglier ones were. Nimbrethil had spoken truly when she said to one with experience there was no such thing as nothing to eat. There was plenty, in fact, there was more there than many farmers had to eat.

When they finally stopped to make camp, Shandra felt like her head would explode with all she learned. Nimbrethil had actually picked some of the plants and berries and was going to use them with some of their dried rations to make a stew for them. She watched as the elf filled a pot with water from the stream they were next to and started putting various ingredients into it as it sat on the fire. Khelgar was watching them with interest, asking questions about the different plants he saw. When the food was ready, they tried it and were suprised at how good it was.

"You know lass, I like my meat," Khelgar told her. "I always thought of this stuff as rabbit food, but I have to say that this is actually pretty good. But don't go thinking to change my diet, a dwarf's got to have his meat or he might as well be put out of his misery."

"Like I said, there is not always meat available. If you're out in the middle of nowhere, with no town in sight and no game either, you have two choices. Look for alternate forms of food or go hungry." Nimbrethil told him as she was gathering the dishes to wash them. "I prefer to not go hungry just on principle, but to each his own."

"That's all well and good if you know what you're doing out here," Shandra spoke up. "If you don't know about these things, then you could end up eating something poisonous or just plain bad for you. If I had to make my way alone out here I might have eaten some of those pretty purple berries you showed me and not realized they were poison until it was too late."

"My father aided many travelers who ventured into the Mere without preparing properly," Nimbrethil replied. "He used to tell them that they should make sure to buy more supplies than they expected to use before setting out. Sometimes they would complain about the cost of such supplies, and my father would answer them by saying if they couldn't afford to do it then they should stay home instead of risking their lives." She shook her head and sighed. "Sometimes I would find lone bodies of people in the mere and they had died because they were not prepared for their little jaunt. Their deaths were caused by either eating something bad or because they had insufficient water."

"The Mere is not a place to take lightly and it has grown even more dangerous of late," Elanee joined in the conversation. "I too sometimes found the bodies of travelers and for the same reasons."

"Maybe these people had no other choice but to do as they did," Shandra said. "I have seen desperate people do dangerous and even life threatening things when they feel they are out of options."

"That may be, but the knowledge I have gained over the years is not a big secret," Nimbrethil pointed out. "Anyone who wants to know these things can easily find someone to teach them. There are also numerous books published about how to survive in the wilds to use as a reference. Too often I have heard people use the excuse that they were desperate to explain away the folly of their actions. A little planning in advance can save their lives, but they don't do it and thus pay the ultimate price. Unless, of course, they're fortunate enough to cross paths with someone like my father who can help them."

"Well then I guess we're lucky to have you with us," Shandra said with a smile.

"I have already shown you quite a bit and if you want to learn more then I'll be happy to teach you," Nimbrethil smiled back. "You grew up on a farm and I imagine that it wasn't easy to work it by yourself but you managed it. You were independant and able to look after yourself then. I imagine now that it is a little frustrating to you to have to be dependant on others, is it not?"

Shandra realized what she was getting at and nodded to concede the point. "It is, just as it is frustrating you to have to rely on Sand for help in the matter of your trial."

"At least you have the time to learn what you need to know," Nimbrethil replied. "I however would never be able to learn what I need to know for the trial in the time I have. For that reason I have no choice but to look to others, whether I like it or not. Those who can't adapt don't survive, and I am nothing if not a survivor." With those words she got to her feet to go wash the dishes in the stream.