Chapter 19

The elf's steps are even but thankfully not too fast. I doubt that I'd be able to keep up with her if they were. My head is foggy and light all at the same time, so I set my attention on the pain in my side to keep me alert. It's a constant throbbing sensation but not sharp, so I'm not really all that worried. I appreciate my guide's respectful silence and can only hope it lasts. I don't need the questions and worry and gentle prodding of a caring stranger. It just makes me nervous... Just give me what I need and let me be on my way. I don't need much of anything else.

Further and further we walk in a hurried but unhurried way. We'll get where we're going in good time, but not as fast as we halls we past are never-ending; confusing me as to how far we've gone and how much further we have to go. I bite my tongue against asking, simply pressing my hand against my stomach to stop the bleeding. Sounds echo in the distance, proving life exists somewhere in this place, but through it all we never come across anyone.

"Here we are, Miss." Holding open a wooden door for me, the elf gestures into the room with a polite inclination of her head "The Healer will be with you shortly."

Entering with caution, I wait for the elf to bow out before exploring the empty quarters. Like any other doctor's office, the room is stark white with the spicy scent of antiseptic floating around. Vials and tubes scattered around cluttered tables and shelves pluck at my curiosity but I ignore them all. I'd rather not get caught looking like a thief. Even so, I allow myself to drag a single digit along the leather bound spine of the book nearest me. If I were in a more welcoming place, I'd lift the gently worn tomb up and rifle through the yellowing pages but now is not the time to indulge. Even so... I do love to read...

"Greetings." Snatching my hand away, I flinch at the sudden voice at the door. Turning quickly, I am greeted by a brown haired elf, cloaked in loose fitting tan robes and a permanent frown. He is just as pretty as all the others, in a plain and tired sort of way, but something about him immediately makes me nervous "I am the Healer. Show me where you are injured."

"Aren't you going to ask me my name or at least give me yours?"

"Why?" Blinking at me, the elf steps into the room and puts away his belongings "Neither are needed for this."

"Yes, they are."

"Names do not aid me in stitching wounds."

"... We can't proceed without me knowing your name."

"Glaewon." He says as if it annoys him. Pulling my face into a frown, I bite my tongue when he doesn't ask my name. He obviously could care less "Let us begin."

"I-"

"Quickly now."

"Don't you think-"

"Quickly now, child." He repeats again, voice caked with the impatience of one who simply wants to complete a task. Pointing to a tall chair, not unlike the ones the have you hop up on in the doctor's office, the healer's frown deepens "I have not all day to give you nor any patience to clean up the blood you are dripping all over my office."

"... Fine."

I'd have preferred a woman, elleth, but beggars can't be choosers and the service is free. I want this to be over just as badly as, if not more than, he does. As he prepares his items, I slip out of my coat but pause momentarily at my shirt. MY shirt. It's not the shirt Gandalf bought for me from Madame Louise but rather it is MY shirt. The shirt I had to borrow back from Annie because I'd run out of clean ones. The shirt I came into this world in. The shirt that even now is stained on the hem with Killer's blood. The shirt has long been ruined, much like myself...

Shaking my head, I make a mental note that I only have one more now so I'd better be careful with it. Swallowing thickly, I pull off the ruined article and take my seat on the chair. Without another word in my direction, the healer begins his examination. His hands, while easily identifiable as skilled, are cold and brisk in their work. He does nothing to ease my discomfort as he disinfects the wound and I say nothing either. Wanting it to be over as quickly as possible, I grit my teeth and say nothing. It's always worked for me before.

"Chew on this." A dark leaf is pressed into my palm and I hesitate in following his instruction. Seeing this, the elf scoffs with impatience, looking very inconvenienced "For the pain. Be quick about it, for I will continue in 5 minutes with or without its effects."

"I..." Staring at the leaf in my hand, I try to convince myself to do it. Just... put it in my mouth and chew for a little bit, right? The odds are that this has anesthetic properties and I'll be grateful for it. However there is always the chance that it's not. There's always the chance that someone wants to harm me... That's not a chance I can take, so shaking my head I place the leaf aside "No, thank you. I'd prefer to go without it."

"This will be painful."

"I imagine so."

"Child-"

"I've had worse. I won't like it, but it won't kill me."

"You are foolish."

Staring at me as if trying to discern the truthfulness of my grit and statement, Glaewon sits silently for a minute. Elves don't really get old, at least not physically. Still, I can tell from his attitude and eyes that this one isn't as young as the more popular heros. It's a tired- no... warily aura that screams ' I've cared too much to care anymore. ' I do wonder how many times he's run into someone like me; Someone who can't care anymore either. When he decides that I am not going to be stared down into a drug induced state, he sighs through his pointed nose.

"You are indeed foolish. Keep your movement to the minimum. I will not be held responsible for any scars you bring upon yourself."

Nodding, I lay back and focus on anything besides the experience. It's impossible of course, with the healer mumbling and counting as he goes along. 1, tug, cinch, tie. 2, tug, cinch, tie. 3, tug, cinch, tie. So on and so forth. It makes me want to shift but I just said I wouldn't, so I focus on him instead of the needle. I can tell that he doesn't like me. He probably doesn't like anyone though; he seems the type. Not so much that he would want to hurt me but enough that it most likely doesn't beat him up inside if he does. I don't think it's personal but I'd prefer this ended quickly.

"14." The firm tugging at my center, along with the finality of his tone, alerts me of the completion of the procedure. That was... quick "Now. You will explain how you came across such a life-threatening injury."

"It wasn't life threatening." Squinting my eyes at the red slit framed by black spider-like legs thread down my side, I allow the healer to put a poultice on it. "Such a thing wouldn't have killed me."

"Not you. The child you carry."

"I- Uh... I d-d-d-don't know what your t... ta... t-t-talking about."

"You should not be traveling in your condition."

My anger rises like an ocean and I can hear the blood rushing past my ears so loud that it deafens me. I've been doing so well... I didn't mention it and I'd almost forgotten exactly what life-altering illness I was carrying. This... cancerous parasite.

"I-I..."

I could have pretended for a little longer that Lawrence's parting gift to me, before I ended his miserable life, wasn't a new one. A life for a life: One that is half me but all of him. My breath comes in pants and I grit my teeth until I hear them creak under the pressure.

"I... have to go now."

I don't mind the healer's annoyance as I brush his hands away or his confusion as I slide back into my clothes. Reining in my rage at him for mucking up the perfect conscious denial that I had going, I thank Glaewon for the service and walk out.

Dwalin POV

Supper may have progressed without incident but the later revelation of the map, and subsequent 2-week delay, has put my king in a most foul of moods. He sits apart from the group, neither indulging in merrymaking or business. At such times I have discovered it best to either avoid him or to provide him with something of use. Thus, I search for the missing assassin turned farseer. Though useless and threatening as a spy, an oracle is immensely beneficial.

Her absence has been noted for some time but neither elf nor wizard deemed it necessary to speak of her. Despite my initial skepticism concerning her, I do not believe she means the company, excluding myself, any harm. Far from pleasant, she poses no danger. Given her place and mine, it is understandable but has lasted long enough. As such perhaps she can be persuaded to share one of her sights in exchange for doing away with the cloud she casts over us all. Mahal knows what it'll cost me but that is not the only topic I need to discuss with the fiery redhead. Once I find her that is.

"Bloody useless wizard..."

Wandering the Elven Halls is not something I particularly care for. The architecture is impressive but in the wrong ways. There are too many open spaces filled with gardens and not enough of much else. I would definitely prefer to be making merry with my kin over listening to my boots echo on the smooth floor. The thought reminds me of the girl's prophecy on our safety and dislike of the location. Frowning, I speed up my steps as I search for her.

For the better part of an hour I scowl into every nook and cranny for the noisy far-seer but it is quietest of whimpers that guides me to her. Following the sounds, I am led to the stables only to have my attention drawn away. A horse trots around the garden dragging a saddle that had been improperly placed on its back. A pack lies on the ground; its content strewn across the floor and I know the farseer tried to run. Shoving the items into the bag and returning the horse to its stable, I continue my search.

As when I found her that first time, she is leaning against a tree, just as pale as the moon hanging above us. Her wolf is long-dead, slain by my own hand and placing us both here, yet I do not approach her. My words are harsh by nature and what I have to say now will bring her no joy even if buttered with a softer tongue. Lifting her drenched face with a grimace, it is she who breaks the silence.

"Well? Are you just going to stand and stare, you little freak tard, or are you going to tell me what the hell you want?"

"Freak... tard..." Not knowing what to make of the insult, I simply take note that the insult was given. Emboldened by that, I close the distance between us "Ye tried to run."

"Am I still a prisoner?"

"... No-"

"Then I can go wherever I want."

"Not as of yet. While ye are no longer our prisoner, the time has now come for ye to be of some use. If ye have the leisure to weep and give insult, then ye are able to share with me of vision pertaining to the future of this Quest."

"You are something else, aren't you? You see a girl crying and decided to stare at her. When called out on it, you make demands." Wiping away her tears with a strangled laugh, the girl shakes her head "You are a special kind of stupid."

"We fed, sheltered, and protected ye. We ignored yer insults and offered few in return. Ye owe us, Farseer Bloodstone. The very least ye could do in return is to provide us with-"

"Are you seriously that dense?! You kidnapped me based on a mild suspicions that you have since accepted isn't even true. You didn't even apologize!"

"Had ye simply stated yer true reasons for knowing what ye did, we would not have treated ye in such a manner."

"Like a criminal? You accused me of something you had no way of proving!"

"Though they were our actions, they were caused by yer suspicion and refusal to cooperate. Ye are also to blame."

"Everything. EVERYTHING was your fault! From the moment you killed my dog, you made choices based on your own ideas of the world. Be honest; It didn't matter what I had to say about any of this."

"You owe-"

"I don't owe you a damn thing!"

Launching herself to her feet, the farseer runs her hand through her hair in agitation. I grimace as it snags on one of the numerous knotted curls but she roughly yanks it, and a few strands, free.

"Ye are being daft."

"DAFT?!" I blink in confusion as she crosses her eyes and shifts her jaw to the side, all while making a poor attempt to mimic my speech "Daaaaft! You're unbelievable!"

"Stop." Grasping her wrist as she begins to storm passed, I spin the furious redhead to face me "I have not finished speaking with ye."

"Excuse you?" The warning hiss is full of fire, that where I lesser dwarf, I'd burn. Looking down at her captured arm, she's sneers "Who do you think you are?!"

"Dwalin. Son of Fundin. Captain of the King's Guard..." Straightening my back and only lifting my eyes to peer up at the woman, I continue without pretensed "And yer Only."

*Glaewon means Salve

Why hello there, my pretties! Nope, it's not a typo. Atina is Dwalin's ONLY, not his ONE. What is the difference you may ask? Attie will ask the same thing next chapter so don't worry. Until then-oh yeah, she's pregnant.. As if sheshe didn't have enough on her plate. Not a happy camper about that. Until next time!