Note: Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Unfortunately life seems to be getting in the way of my writing again. Work, wedding planning and sudden need to move house are to blame.
Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 67- Relief
TA 3019 March 15th
Erestor collapsed back against the bed beneath him. He was in the healing halls having his arm set. As Elrond forced the bones back into place and strapped the splint tightly Erestor grit his teeth at the pain. He had barely noticed it at the time, but now that the adrenaline of the battle had left him his arm was burning with the pain. Finally his lord let the arm fall to his side and Erestor sighed. They had won the day, but they could not relax yet. There was a lot to do before that. The bodies of the enemy had to be piled and burned and many of the wounded had to be attended to. As it was Elrond had had no time to clean himself up before insisting that his advisor accompany him to the healing halls. Marshalling the pain as best as he could Erestor made to stand up once again so that he could help to look after the wounded, but Elrond shook his head with a stern look. "Not this time Res." Erestor was about to argue when he heard the voice from the doorway.
Glorfindel skidded to a halt when he finally saw Erestor frowning up at Elrond from a bed in the healing rooms. "Erestor" he breathed, relief flooding through him as he rushed forwards on legs that nearly gave out beneath him.
Meanwhile outside of the white city Athriel stood between Elladan and Elrohir as they watched Estel address the Army of the Dead. A least Athriel was watching him. Elladan and Elrohir were trying to pay attention but instead they were watching Athriel out of the corner of their eyes. The coldness was more apparent now, more obvious and even Elladan could not ignore it now. Elrohir's brain was running in circles as he tried to figure out what had changed about her. She had been doing so well. The nightmares had been coming less and less, seeing Legolas again had given her more confidence and meeting Nariel had given her back a lot of what had been lost as the wizard had forced her to face her demons. But now she was distant in a way they had never seen her before. It was as if she had completely detached herself.
Erestor tried to supress a smile as Glorfindel fussed around him. Elrond had already left to go and attend to some of the others needing his attention, and from the look he had given the advisor before he disappeared Erestor knew that he would not be allowed to move from this spot for some time. The broken arm was not the only injury he had gained in the battle.
Erestor could barely keep up with everything that was happening all around him, he couldn't see Elrond or anyone else from where he stood but he had to believe that they were alright. The same way he had to believe that Glorfindel and the warriors on the borders were alright. All he could do was react to the enemy as they struck out at him. And that was when it happened. Erestor moved to the right to deflect a blow from a large Orc as it rushed towards him. But as their blades connected Erestor felt a sharp burning pain in his left side. Glancing to the left he saw the goblin that had come up behind him. Without thought he struck out his elbow connecting with the creature who had stabbed him with it's spear. Luckily Lindir had been nearby and dispatched the goblin as he reeled backwards, but Erestor had another problem. The orc on his right had taken advantage of Erestor's inattention to grab his sword arm and twist sharply. Falling to his knees at the unexpected movement which was only an annoyance at the moment rather than pain he groped for the fallen spear and stabbed upwards only just managing to slay the beast before falling back exhausted.
Athriel listened intently to what Estel was saying not very far from where she should. But when he finally released the dead men she turned away. It was too horrible she thought as the words reverberated through her mind. "Be at Peace" She envied them in that moment the dead men as they evaporated into nothing. She envied them because she could not have peace, she had been denied it yet again in the battle. Death was the only way that she could gain peace now, the only way that she could rest, the only relief left for her. She walked away quickly on the pretence of helping the other warriors to clear away the corpses that still littered the battlefield. But the two who had been by her side did not believe it. They too had heard the words that had freed the cursed army and they had been watching her closely. They could guess her thoughts and they refused to give up on her. They couldn't, not now after finally feeling alive after all these years. They weren't going to let her slip through their fingers again. They would ensure that she woud find relief from her toments but it would not be in death. They wouldn't let her give up.