Eruthaiwen watched Zargodon stand at the edge of the landing, speaking with Leothross. Acurith and Mariym had already gone to sleep. She smiled at their group, thankful for each one. No matter how bleak the surroundings, they could make her smile and bring her hope.
She sat by the cliff side in the small hillmen camp, trying to muster up the courage to truly rest. After the previous night’s lack, the journey through Malenhad, and the attack on the goblin structure, the elf maiden was exhausted. It was as if Angmar’s very air drained her. Even so, she tried her best not to show it, putting on a good face and her smile was genuine, for she was glad they had made it this far, no one had been seriously hurt, and she was even more hopeful that they would fulfill their mission to help Leothross.
Eruthaiwen rubbed her temples, hoping to dispel the small, nagging headache she had had since the incident with the goblins. It was only a small nudge in her mind, as though it were an omen that did not want to be ignored. She pushed the sensation away. Taking out her locket, the only other thing damaged by the goblins, she turned it over to examine it. There was a larger dent, below the first, where the malleable metal was mangled. She might be able to pop it back into shape if she pressed on the inside. She touched the latch, thinking to open it to do just that. Sighing, she stopped and rubbed her temples again as the headache reasserted itself. She put the locket away under her robe and pulled her mantle closed over top.
Lying down, she faced the stone wall away from the group just in case another dream came. She traced the curves in the rock with her eyes as she pondered the possible reason for remembering the last dream: perhaps it was Angmar, perhaps it was her worry, perhaps it was merely an exception to the rule, perhaps…..
Drip. Drip.
The only other sound was her erratic breathing. She was shaking. Her hands half covered her face. She tried to look away but was transfixed. The air smelled of copper.
Eruthaiwen’s eyes shot open. Between her fingers, she still saw the rock in front of her. “…can’t be…no…” She stopped, realizing that she was whispering those words. She took her hands away from her face, staring at them as if they were alien to her. What had she been looking at and why did it fill her with such sadness and dismay, even horror?
Hastily, she wiped the water from her eyes. Turning over, she saw Seargildin, still standing watch, talking to Leothross. She wanted so badly to go over and talk to him about it, for him to hold her and to hear his comforting words. However, she did not want to worry him more than he already did. With everyone’s safety in mind and their path ahead to think about, he had enough worries without her placing another on his shoulders. If these dreams were her only concern, she smiled as she thought to herself, then she could bear them. His strength in this gave her hope and Leothross’s courage bolstered her own.
As she watched them, she saw in the distance to the north one of Elbereth’s shining stars, gleaming out against the blackness, even Angmar’s oppressive sky could not snuff it out. Her eyes never left that star until morning’s light came as a dull glow behind the clouds.
