Forty years later...

Halien Greenleaf found herself in the Blue Mountains, having gone from village to village as she tried to give what aid she could to those who were in need of it. Her next stop was a dwarven village. As she made her way through the streets, asking directions to the inn, she heard someone crying out in pain. She rushed in the direction it had come from, dismounted from Torwen's saddle, and hurried inside what looked like a healer's hut. She saw an elderly dwarf laid out on the table that stood in the center of the main room, a few others gathered around him as they tried to help him.

Turning at the sound of her entering, one of the dwarves asked her what she was doing there.

"Please, I can help." She said, approaching the table.

Two of the dwarves, guards by the looks of it, stood in her way with their weapons drawn and at the ready.

"There is no time for this! Please, I have healing abilities that could save his life!"

The healers looked at each other, then nodded and instructed the guards to let her through, unsure if they could trust her or not. Halien went through the guards and to the table, running her hands above the length of the elder dwarf's body.

"Tell me what has happened." She asked the dwarf across from her.

"An Orc party came too close to our borders and he was injured in the battle that ensued. His patrol party managed to drive them back and there is no sign of them returning, but the Elder may die of his wounds."

Halien nodded and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She breathed out slowly and opened her eyes. She focused her magik into the tips of her fingers and willed it to flow from her and into the elder's body. The dwarves stepped back and watched in awe as the Elder's cries of pain ceased and he went still, a soft white glow emanating from Halien's fingertips. After a while, Halien stumbled back and steadied herself on a column that supported the ceiling. The dwarves looked from her to the Elder and gasped in surprise as the Elder opened his eyes and sat up.

"How did you do that?" one of them asked.

"I am blessed with the healing magik of my people." She explained.

The dwarves thanked her and the Elder looked at her. He thanked her and introduced himself as Fisil Zirak, a Council Elder for the village. The other dwarves introduced themselves as Malonna and Neana Zirak, sister cousins of Fisil the Elder, and Tanar, Tusur, and Gusur, sons of Migan Stonehelm. Tanar was the other healer and Tusur and Gusur were the guards that had tried to stop Halien from approaching the table. Halien bowed her head as Tusur and Gusur apologized for stopping her before.

"I am Halien. And do not worry, it is understandable. Tensions will always run high between elves and dwarves, but I am glad that you allowed me to heal Elder Fisil. I should go, though, as I fear I have overstayed my welcome here."

"No dear, you are welcome to stay," Neana said. "We are grateful to you for saving our cousin's life and we are indebted to you. Halien, we would love it very much if you could stay and perhaps teach us what you know of healing."

Halien smiled. "If you will have me, then I shall teach you what I can."

The dwarves thanked her and welcomed her to stay with them in their hut. Halien accepted and soon settled in, wondering what the time she spent in the village would bring her way.


Some weeks had gone by and Halien had begun to build her name in the village. Everyone knew of the elf maiden who saved the life of Elder Fisil and they had seen for themselves her skill as a healer as she worked with Neana and Malonna.

Nearing the end of her first month in the village, Halien decided to go to the market to fetch some more herbs for the healers. She had already taught them everything she knew about healing that did not relate to her magik, as it was something that only she could do, and it was nearly time for her to move on to another village. She had already gathered the herbs that could only be found in the forests and moors that surrounded the village and showed the healers where to find them, but they needed a few more that could easily be found at the market.

As she finished her errands, she began to head back to the hut when she was stopped by someone calling her name.

"Lady Halien, could you come with me? One of our students broke their wrist and it needs to be looked at quickly," the dwarf said and Halien nodded, following him to the training school that had been built.

As they approached, there was a loud wail from a young boy sitting on the ground as one of the teachers tried to set his wrist.

Halien set aside her basket and kneeled down in front of the boy. "Here, let me help." She gently took the boy's wrist and focused her magik on setting the bone like she had done to close Elder Fisil's wounds. "Tell me your name, lad."

"Dorin, miss," he replied.

"I am Halien. Now, how did you break your wrist?"

"Huldor and I were sparring and he smacked my wrist hard." The boy tried to explain through the pain.

Halien nodded and continued to ask the boy questions to keep him busy and his attention focused on the answers instead of the pain. After a few minutes, the wrist was set, the fractured bones were mended, and Halien smiled at the young boy.

"Your wrist will be fine. Just give it a few days before you spar again, understand?" she told him. She smiled when he nodded and thanked her.

Halien said her goodbyes to the children and went back home to the healers' hut with her herbs. She presented the remaining herbs to the healers and was very surprised to find a guest waiting for her.

"Hello, lass. I'm Bofur."