4.
Raven woke slowly, noticing the flickering of firelight before the curved stone walls around her. Confused as to why she was staring at rock rather than grass or dirt, she turned ever so slightly to ascertain her surroundings further. The flicker of firelight grew stronger, as did the faint dripping sounds from somewhere and the soft murmur of voices. Voices that seem to be arguing about something in rather heated tones. After listening to the voices, curiosity got the better of her; she quietly raised herself from the cave floor and walked as silent as a shadow towards what she could only assume was the people who were the ones the voices belonged to. Silently as she could, she leaned against the cavern wall and listened to what was said in the next room.
"D'ya think she'd 'elp us, Kornis?"
"I don' know Lorenian. 'Ope she does tho'. Seen' as how the village needs it badly."
"Aye but can we convince her of that? She's an elf afterall. An' they don' 'elp if they can avoid it."
"Perhaps this one's different. She looks different don' she."
"Oh aye, but she's still an elf. "
"I'm not sayin' she isn', but this one can grow things, that's what we be needin' to get our village ta live an' thrive again."
Raven quietly moved back to the room she had awoken in and sat upon her spread out cloak upon the floor. She didn't know much about these people and she did not want to gain their ire by being caught eavesdropping. Many thoughts were flying around her head in a tumult the most pressing one being "why do these people dislike my kind so much, what have the elves done to show animosity towards the other races…unless they are dwarves, but that couldn't be the only reason behind this." The young elf maiden sat for some time pondering what these people could want from her, how she was to help their village and why this place was so desolate, for she felt no plant life around for leagues.
Sometime later, Raven was roused from her meditative state by the shuffling entrance of, who she could only guess was one of the people who had been speaking earlier. She watched silently as the rather large feet moved painstakingly slowly into her line of sight until they were directly in front of her. The feet were not shod and instead were wrapped in cloth strips wound tightly completely around the foot and up the leg, disappearing beneath some oddly baggy pants which cinched together about the calf. Raven wondered why this man was adorned in clothing the same color as the long dead grasses which she had walked through the day before. Perhaps to better hide themselves, but why would these people want to do that? The elf maiden was pulled from her thoughts by a rough voice speaking to her in an almost frightened manner which made her balk. Who would be afraid of her?
"Excuse me your ladyship, but could you be so kind as ter see yer way ter helpin' out a village in desperate need of talents such as yours? We wouldn' wan' ta impose or anythin' but we won' survive withou' your help miss."
It took her a few moments to respond so shocked was she by not only the way he spoke to her, but also the thought that she was the only one who could help. Surely there were those more equipped to help these people. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked upwards into this strange man's face, finding it to be a kind one with many lines and tanned from exposure to the sun. His scruffy blonde hair was intertwined with grasses and framed his earthy brown eyes. There was hardness within them, yet also warmth and kindness. These eyes belonged to a man who had seen many hardships in his lifetime had grown stronger because of them and had not let those hardships make him angry. All this ran through Raven's mind in the time it took her to lift her head and find the man's face. Silence prevailed for a moment longer before the elf spoke in her soft lilting voice.
"What is it that ails your village? Who are you? What makes you think I am able to help your village?"
"Our village has been unable ter grow anythin' for several years. Nothin' grows in this land. The people are starvin', relyin' on what we can hunt. Though even the game has been scarce with nothin' ter eat for them either. We are the people of the plains, sworn ter no man, dwarf or elf. I know you can 'elp us thrive once more, my friend and I saw ya grow those plants like it was nothin'. You have the power ter 'elp, so will ya?"
Raven didn't have to think very hard about her answer before responding. She stood up and carefully extended her hand out to the man before her.
"I will do what I can to help your village, though I do not think I can heal this entire land. How far is your village?"
The man's face broke into a crooked grin and he clasped her hand tightly. "Three days journey northwest of here. Thank you, thank you your ladyship. Now you should get some rest an' we will head out in the mornin'. "
Raven smiled and nodded as the man shuffled his way back into the main part of the cave. Once he was gone she sat back upon the stone floor and bowed her head, deep in thought about what she agreed to do. There was no doubt in her mind that it had been the right decision, yet her heart ached for her friends, for Aragorn and she yearned to be on her way to him. As her thoughts turned to the man she had pledged to follow, a single tear carved its way down her cheek. She knew he thought her dead and she wanted to get back to him as soon as possible. However she could not turn down those who so badly needed help, she knew that if Aragorn were here he would agree with her and do what he could to help. She could not dishonor him by refusing. So she lay down upon her cloak and attempted to rest while she was able before morning came and they made their way across the harsh landscape beneath the burning sun. Her last thoughts before drifting into her meditative sleep-like state was for her friends and to the king she was to follow, attempting to get her thoughts to reach theirs and let them know she was alive and coming back.
