Chapter Five

They had been walking for what seemed like hours to Andie. She wasn't quite sure how much time had pass since they left camp but, the pain in her legs and feet gave her a bias estimation. Reaching into her back pocket for her phone had grabbed the attention of Idhrenor. Andie noticed how intense his gaze was on her as she fiddle with her phone. It made her highly uncomfortable. Neither had spoken a word since the early morning, they simply walked in silence. There wasn't much they could say to each other and Idhrenor's body language told Andie that he didn't have time to play charades right now.

With her phone dead Andie pulled her book bag in front of her so that she could search for her power bank as she walked. She rummaged in her bag for a few seconds until she found it. All the while, she was unaware of Idhrenor's trepidation as his hand had slowly made way to rest on the hilt of his sword. Andie attached the solar power bank onto the top of her bag, making sure that it would be in direct sunlight to gain power. She then connected her phone and tucked it away in the book bag's side pocket. she desperately hoped it wouldn't be a long wait. She returned the book bag onto her back and couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

Andie's eyes turned to Idhrenor and his expression was a grim one. Her heart dropped into her stomach and she slowed her pace. Had she done something wrong? Was he mad at her? She recalled him having the same expression when he had returned her phone. Should she ask him? How could she ask him? Andie observed him at bit more closely. She noticed he wasn't walking normally. His arms were not at his side and she could see his right hand holding a object that laid on the left side of his hip. She couldn't see clearly what he held and it unnerved her. Andie didn't understand how he could go from being somewhat friendly to this overly serious person in such a short time without being provoked…at least that's how she perceived the situation.

Nothing made sense at all. Andie had no answers as to how she ended up in the old forest. There was nothing to explain how her neighborhood seemed to have disappeared or even that horrible monster from last night. And now not even Idhrenor made sense to her as well. Andie's whole body ached and she walked silently with a limp. It was fortunate that the monster had grabbed the same leg that her foot had a blister on. She would have preferred to be lucky enough to not have a blister or any pain at all but, at least she was able to put her weight more on her right leg to alleviate some pain. She hated this overwhelming feeling of despair and Idhrenor's recent demeanor wasn't helping. Andie wasn't a talkative person in general, especially not with people she just met, but she couldn't take the silence much longer and she stopped walking.

"I—Iheener"

Idhrenor stopped walking and turned to face her. His expression was the same and his hand still remained on the object she could now see. It was a sword! There was no mistaking it. She no longer felt safe. Why would he have a sword? And why did he look ready to use it? He just saved her last night! He went out of his way to show he meant no harm and for what? To just end her moments later? Andie slowly moved to take a step away from Idhrenor.

'How did I not notice that sword?!' She thought. 'Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!'

Idhrenor examined her closely and seemed to come to the realization that Andie was fearful of him. His hand dropped from where it held the hilt of his sword as he straighten himself up. His expression soften and he stood before her silently. Andie took another step back. She needed distance between them. She was too scared to run away and too scared to make any sudden movement. Slowly inching away was all she could muster and it wasn't like she could do anything else. She was still recovering from all that had happened already.

"Andie…" Idhrenor's voice was low.

He continued to observe her. His eyes looked to hers and moved to scan her face. Andie's heart beat rapidly in her chest as she watched his eyes move down to her feet. She froze.

"Andie.. te laedi", he asked concerned as stepped toward her with his hand reaching out.

"NO!" Andie yelled with her hand held out before her.

"NO IHERNER!" She shook her head no while she spoke.

Idhrenor blinked in surprise and did not advance any closer. Andie's eyebrows furrowed with worry and confusion. Here she was, terrified of him because of his behavior and now he had the gall to look surprise that she yelled at him! As if she was overreacting to the sight of a man with a sword. Andie's vision blurred with tears and she fought to hold them back. It was all too much and she was exhausted. She blinked and tears fell freely. Andie quickly wiped her eyes. She didn't like that he was seeing her cry. It made her feel vulnerable and weak…but, ultimately with all things considered..wasn't she?

"Andie…Mea Domina…"

"No… Iherner no." Andie sniffled and shook her head no again.

She wiped at her eyes once more and looked at him defiantly. She saw what looked to be confusion..no not just confusion, panic. Idhrenor's face held a expression akin to slight panic and bewilderment. He held his hands up in a gesture that she understood as surrender.

"Andie pax"

"Iherner" She sobbed as she pointed to him.

"Leave." She said as she pointed east to where he stood.

"Andi—"

"Iherner go away!" She shouted while repeating the pointed gesture vehemently.

Idhrenor looked to have understood clearly. He looked to her and then to the direction she pointed at. He noted the way her hand trembled as she held it pointing to where she wished for him to leave. Idhrenor eyes met Andie's once more and he shook his head no. His hand slowly moved to his sword and his fingers worked to untie it from his side. He heard her whimper slightly and understood how frighten she was of him.

"Pax Andie"

Idhrenor kneeled in front of her and placed his sword on the ground. He slowly pushed the sword far away from himself and looked up to meet her gaze. He placed his hand on his heart and bowed his head and said, "Mea Domina paenitet me."

Andie dropped her arm by her side. She studied Idhrenor cautiously. What was he doing now? She took note of him down on one knee. She remembered how he had placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head earlier this morning. He did this when he was trying to gain her trust. Andie looked to the sword and the distance between it and Idhrenor.

'Is he apologizing?' she thought.

"Parce mihi Andie"

The words sounded sincere. 'He is apologizing!' she concluded. Andie continued to contemplate in her mind about his actions. 'Was this all just a misunderstanding? Had I done something to start this?' She thought hard on every little thing she did leading up to this moment. What had sparked this reaction from Idhrenor. 'My…phone?' Andie thought of both instances where Idhrenor's behavior towards her had changed.

'It's whenever I touch my phone…but, why would that make him act like this?' she wondered.

Idhrenor waited, still kneeling, for acceptance of his expression of regret. This was not the norm of how people said sorry, at least not where Andie was from. She reasoned that he was most likely from another country and these were his customs. It didn't explain his attire, weapon, or why he seems apprehensive of her phone. His apology seemed genuine. Many people had hurt Andie in the past and she rarely got an apology at all. If she ever did receive one, it was never as heartfelt or grand as Idhrenor's. He had gotten below her level and placed his weapon aside for her. She still felt reluctant to accept. She was also reluctant to send him away, despite just yelling at him to leave.

Could they fix this riff between them? Could there be a better understanding of intentions? Andie sighed. She pulled her bag off one shoulder and fished out her phone from the side pocket. Idhrenor tensed immediately and his eyes narrowed at the device. Andie notice the change in him.

'It is the phone.'

"Andie" Idhrenor said gruffly.

Andie looked at her phone and then to him. She began to mimic his gesture of apology. Andie winced as she lowered herself to the ground and rested on her knees. She held her phone in front of her and slowly placed it on the ground. Looking straight at Idhrenor she carefully pushed her phone away from herself just as he did with his weapon. She placed her hand on her heart and slightly bow her head while not breaking eye contact.

"I'm sorry Iherner"

She hoped he understood the message she was trying to convey. She hoped it was clear that while she acknowledged and accepted his apology that she also wanted him to acknowledge that she was harmless and sorry for any misunderstanding. Andie found her answer in his smile. Idhrenor was smiling warmly at her. She heard him chuckle and she looked at him questioningly.

"Idhrenor" he said while patting his chest. "I-ger-ner"

"I-jeran-ner" Andie repeated. She could hear the difference and she had improved! She smiled widely at him. "Ijeraner!"

Idhrenor smile mirrored Andie. She was closer to saying it more correctly. He could tell it was her accent that got in the way. He corrected her once more. "I-ger-ner…. ger-ner."

Andie sniffled and wiped away any remaining tears from her face. "Idhrenor" she said clearly.

Idhrenor stood and Andie followed suit. He made his way to her and she noticed he had left his sword on the ground, he didn't even glance at it. Idhrenor grabbed her arm gently and she pull away slightly at first. His grip tighten just a smidge and he rolled up her sleeve. There on her right wrists was a huge dark purple bruise. It wrapped around her wrist about 5 inches wide. Idhrenor lightly touched the surface of her wrist and Andie hissed in pain.

"Te laedi Andie"

She looked up to him questioningly. "Te leedi?" She tried to repeat.

"Laedi" he corrected.

Idhrenor pointed at her feet and then at the bruise on her wrist and said, "Te laedi."

It didn't click at first but after a few seconds she guessed he was saying that she was hurt and he suspected her to have more bruises on her leg. Andie looked at her left foot and hovered it over the ground so she could show him that she was fine. She wiggled her foot around slowly and then smiled at him.

"I'm ok" she said while nodding yes.

"Sedens placere" he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder and pointed on the ground with the other. Idhrenor then sat on the ground and pat the spot directly in front of him. Andie regarded him for a moment. She knew what he wanted but, she didn't like the idea of being in these Hills much longer. She wanted to go home already. Focused on her destination, Andie shook her head no and said "Bree."

"Non" Idhrenor said firmly. He pointed at the spot on the ground again and said persistently "Sedens"

It wasn't that Andie didn't appreciate his help or his concern for her well being. She was glad that whatever misunderstanding they had right now was partially resolved for the moment. She just wanted to be in a place she recognized at least, somewhere familiar. She needed to be home.

"No. Bree." Andie said obstinately.

Idhrenor and Andie stared at each other, both refusing to back down. Idhrenor pointed again for her to sit. Andie responded with crossing her arms and shaking her head no. They were at an impasse. Idhrenor sighed and began to look through his pack. He pulled out a small pouch and dug through it's contents. Andie watched him curiously from where she stood. He remained seated on the ground and he held his hand out to her.

"Andie"

He pointed at her wrist with his other hand. It was Andie's turn to sigh. He was stubborn but, at least he moved on from insisting that she sit. Maybe they would get moving after he looked at her wrist. She cautiously place her wrist in his hand and his fingers softly curled around it. She grimaced at the touch but, stayed quiet. She took noticed at how concentrated he looked. His eyes never left her wrist as he inspected it. His lips were pressed in a firm line and his eyebrows lowered. With his other hand he lightly gripped her forearm and the hand that held her wrist slipped down to hold her hand. Before she knew it she was on the ground on her knees. Idhrenor hadn't pulled forcefully to hurt her but, just enough to bring her to his level. A small gasp left her mouth and she gawked at him.

"Hey!" She shouted.

Idhrenor smirked in triumph. He gripped her shoulders and pushed her back gently until she landed on her bottom. Andie couldn't believe what had just happened. She was flabbergasted and she could hear him chuckling. She sat there staring at him in disbelief. It was unexpected and she had to give him props, he outsmarted her. Andie scowled at him to which Idhrenor responded with direct eye contact as he leaned in closer to her challengingly.

"Ostende mihi faciem crus"

He reached for her leg and Andie slapped his hand away. Knowing very well that Idhrenor wouldn't let her have her way, Andie rolled up the left pant leg of her jeans to reveal a matching bruise on her shin. She was glad that her legs were still pretty much shaven but, she still felt very self conscious. Idhrenor was focused on the bruise and he poked and prodded at it. Andie jumped at each touch, the bruise was painful. Idhrenor pulled out a white flowered plant and showed it to her.

"Athelas"

Andie reached to touch the plant briefly while repeating after him. Idhrenor took a portion of the plant and began to chew on it. What was he doing? Is he eating it? The answer to her questions horrified Andie as she watch disgusted as Idhrenor produced a paste from the chewed up plant and smeared it on her leg. She was frozen and her mind filled with panicked thoughts of germs. Idhrenor didn't notice her disgusted expression. Andie saw him tear off another piece of the plant and pop it into his mouth. He chewed and chewed but, before he could apply more to her bruise she jerked her leg away.

"Iherner no!" She said reverting back to the incorrect version of his name.

Idhrenor was startled, a baffled look on his face. He reached for her leg again and Andie attempted to grab his hand to stop him. Idhrenor quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him.

"Andie non."

He released her hand and dragged her leg near him. Andie knew it was useless to argue with him. She wrinkled her nose and tried not to squirm as he continued his task. It was off-putting to her. She fought the urge to reach in her bag for her water bottle to wash off the paste and saliva. To know that a stranger's saliva was on her bothered her greatly.

'Does he think this is a good way to treat a bruise?! Bruises heal on their own!'

Idhrenor began to wrap up her leg with what looked to be a cloth bandage. Tying the bandage securely, Idhrenor unrolled her pant leg down to her ankle. Much to Andie's dismay he wasn't done. Idhrenor grabbed her right arm and Andie reluctantly obliged. He worked quickly repeating his treatment on her wrist. Once she was bandaged up, Andie moved her arm away from Idhrenor before he could adjust her sleeve. Sensing her discomfort with him Idhrenor slightly help up his hands in a show of surrender to indicate he was done. Andie eyed him for a moment and then nodded her head. Andie was mildly upset and needed a moment to calm. She was thankful that he understood this. He had moved a small distance away from her to allow her space. Andie didn't acknowledge him. Instead she focused on not picking at the bandage on her arm. There was no doubt Idhrenor would scold her.

She could feel the pain in her wrist and shin dull until she could barely feel any pain at all. Andie pressed on her wrist lightly and then a bit more firmly. To her surprise it was as if nothing was wrong with it in the first place. She turned and looked at Idhrenor with brows rising and lips parted to which he responded with a raised eyebrow and a look that clearly communicated the words "See?"

She huffed at him and rolled her eyes in annoyance. Idhrenor shook his head at her willfulness. A lot had happened in a few hours. It was still morning but getting closer to noon. The sun was still high and the air had warmed up. All this walking was a bit much for Andie. She was happy that Idhrenor was allowing her to rest. She was sweaty from all the activity and she wasn't use to walking for long periods of time. Pulling down the zipper of her sweater and removing it earned her a choked and sputtering sound from her travel companion.

"Mea Domina!" He shouted in a disbelieving voice.

Idhrenor stumble to grab her garment and he held it over her to conceal her person. His face was turned away from her and his eyes looking elsewhere in avoidance. When she didn't cover herself Idhrenor hesitantly glanced at her all the while making sure that he held the garment high enough to block his view.

"Idhrenor?"

She tilted her head to side with her eyebrows squishing together, not sure what he was doing. Idhrenor pushed her sweater closer to her insistently and motioned for her to put it on. His posture was straight and he appeared visibly tense.

"Consurge induere vestibus placere. Et induere cultioribus vestimentis."

The words were spoken at an alarming rate. He was noticeably uncomfortable. Andie slipped her sweater back on but, chose to leave it open. It was hot and she needed to cool off. Upon seeing Andie's decent state, Idhrenor relaxed greatly. His shoulders slumped and he let out a huge breath while running a hand through his hair. Idhrenor scowled at her as he gestured to all of her and shook his head no. He grabbed either side of her sweater and tugged on it securely, solidifying the meaning that the sweater stays on. Andie shoved away his hands and returned his glare.

"What's wrong with you? It's hot. I cant take off my sweater?!" She shouted at him.

Her voice rose in frustration. Suddenly Andie became aware of an urgent feeling. One that she had hope wouldn't bother her until they had reached Bree. She had been ignoring the call of nature for awhile now. She was able to go in plain sight the previous day before night fell. It was awkward enough when was she was alone but, she had no choice. She was with Idhrenor now and how could she possibly go with him around. There was nothing to hide her unless she walked further down one of the hills. She had wondered if she could even trust him to give her privacy which is why she waited this long. She couldn't wait anymore. There was no avoiding it. If she didn't go now she would have to face the embarrassment of peeing on herself in front of him. Andie stood up straight quickly and pointed one finger at him.

"Stay here."

She turned to walk away only for Idhrenor to follow and grab her arm. The feeling was becoming more urgent with each second and she couldn't help but squirm about to keep it at bay. Fortunately for Andie the pee pee dance was universally understood causing Idhrenor to release her arm. His gaze shifted away from her and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He pointed a little ways down a hill and turned his back to give her privacy. Andie blinked at him, unsure if she could trust this display of chivalry. Her little dance was proving to be ineffective and Andie couldn't ponder on this any longer. She took off on the direction Idhrenor showed her and shamelessly relieved herself. Today was turning out to be a very long day. Without any tissues to use after the deed was done Andie grudgingly got dressed. She reached into the front pocket of her bag and pulled out hand sanitizer.

'At least my hands will be clean' she thought.

Putting away her only means of cleanliness Andie thought of the "paste" on her wrist and leg. Idhrenor was no where in sight. She could clean off the gross paste and he wouldn't know. She lightly tugged at the bandage on her wrist and thought about how the pain had gone away. It did help her. Maybe he actually knew what he was doing.

"It doesn't change the fact that it's still disgusting" she argued with herself.

She was taking too long to return to him and she had a feeling he would search for her soon. Fighting the conflicting thoughts in her mind, Andie let out a long sigh. She decided to leave the paste on until night or until they reached Bree. Whichever was more likely to happen first she was not sure but, she hoped that it was Bree. Walking back in the direction she came from Andie was determined to move on. It was time for her to get home and the less breaks they took meant she could accomplish that goal faster. She may not know how she ended up here or even where she was but, she was going home. She was sure of it. Little did she know that this was only the beginning of a very long unexpected adventure.

A/N: Welcome back everyone! Its been awhile since the last chapter. There was a lot more written to happen in this chapter but it became too long so i had to break it up. Hopefully I can post the next chapters this week. There was a lot that had to be edited and changed because of my indecisiveness but, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think about Andie and Idhrenor so far. Any feedback or constructive criticism is always appreciated, it helps me get better at writing. Let me know you're predictions for the coming chapters.

A big thank you to all those who have given me feedback and advice! Welcome to Tibblets, Freya's Dragon, BlazingPheonix, and KaylalaBooksandCandy :) Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews!

-DreamingGalaxies

Andie.. Te laedi: Andie.. you're injured

Mea Domina: My Lady

Pax: Peace

Mea Domina paenitet me: My Lady I'm sorry

Parce mihi Andie: Forgive me Andie

Te laedi: You're injured

Sedens placere: Sit please

Sedens: Sit

Ostende mihi faciem crus: Let me see your leg

Andie non: Andie no

Consurge induere cultiorbus vestimentis: Please put on your clothes. Get dressed.

Disclaimer:

Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien except my OCs and the unrecognizable parts of the plot.