Eliriael sat upon the stone ledge with her legs folded in front of her. She had just returned from scouting the woods in the west with Belegos. They had little news for their kin who awaited them at their current encampment. All they had found was some information from Rangers about the surrounding areas. After some discussion, it seemed that their next course would lead them south. Perhaps there would be more promising signs to be found there.
She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. There was something in this place which unsettled her. Already, she sensed the tension that held its breath beneath the surface – a force that masked the whole land in a silent hush and threatened to create discord among her kin. Thus far, her healing salves and bandages were of no use in binding anything together. All she could do was keep a careful eye on these Eldar who were dear to her.
The night drew on and the darkness closed in over their camp. Even with her keen eyes, Eliriael could see little of what lay before them. This darkness was more than the mere passing of night.
Already, the flowers in her hair had withered and lay limp among her tresses. She had been unable to replace them with fresh ones since they had passed out of Eregion. Only a couple days had passed but she missed the fair sound of wind rushing by to greet the tall grass, the bubbling symphony of streams in the valley, and the rustle of the golden leaves above her head.
Golden leaves…
The warmth of the sun caressed her skin as she traipsed in and out of the streams of light filtering through the canopy of leaves. Her feet brushed the soft grass upon the ground as she danced among the trees laughing.
“Eliriael…”
Her body froze instantly and she turned her head. The voice came from everywhere and nowhere in particular.
A flash of light brown appeared on the edges of her field of vision before it disappeared behind a tree. She took off running towards it. That voice was unmistakable.
“Eliriael…”
The sadness in the tone gripped at her chest painfully as she ran forward. Again and again, she saw the flash of long brown hair disappearing behind trees. Again and again, the voice called her, but she could not catch up. She was being led deeper into the woods.
Suddenly, all was silent. Eliriael slowed her steps until she stood still. No one called her name, and there was nothing to see but the fauna around her.
Then, her ears caught the faint sound of rushing water above her. She looked up and saw a haze of golden leaves drifting off their branches and towards her on the forest floor.
“Eliriael…”
The voice called faintly one last time before she awoke.
Eliriael looked around. It was still night and all was quiet at their encampment.
She pulled her large pack beside her and rummaged through it. She found a satchel of all her healing supplies and pulled it out. Grabbing a scrap of parchment and pencil from her bag, she scribbled something quickly and tied the paper around the satchel. Pulling her cloak around her and setting her bag on her shoulders, she passed through the shadows silently out of the camp.
There was no trace of her movement or where she had gone. All she left behind was a large satchel with a piece of parchment that read, “for Laurelindo.”
