Chapter Fifty-Two: Fearful Emblems
Vincent followed the familiar trail to the Forgotten City, hoping that Aralyn might have stopped there before venturing to Faramir. He knew that she only endured the pain of the memories this place held when necessary, but he guessed that if she were truly going to Faramir, she might return one last time.
He quickened his pace when he entered the shade of the glittering white trees, not caring about the branches that snagged his cape and whipped his face and ankles. If he couldn't catch her here, then chances were that he would never see her again. Pushing himself still faster, he finally broke through to the glade.
The tree that Aralyn had so faithfully visited stood before him, the only vegetation beside the grass that grew inside the circle of bushes. The branches, besides being naturally white, were brighter still from the snow crystals that had accumulated on the branches. Under the umbrella of the branches, there was a circle where the withered winter grass peeked through, free of the snow, but not immune to the cold. It was in this area, beside one of the large roots, that he saw the defiled remains of Aralyn's final gift.
In numb shock, he gathered the red rosebud that had long since withered, its color having nearly bled completely out. He fingered the torn and scarred petals of what had once been the white rose. Now, what wasn't covered in deep, poison black was gray and dead.
It didn't take him long to decipher what it was that Kadaj had meant him to see.
Turning to the east, he took off at a dead run, tearing through anything that stood in his way like a madman. He only had the vaguest idea of where Faramir was, and he knew that precious time would be lost trying to find it…time that Aralyn didn't have.
The only hope he had on his entire venture to Faramir was that perhaps Kadaj was just trying to scare him, or drive him to do something rash.
But he knew, though he tried to deny it, that Kadaj was planning to do exactly as Vincent feared.