Ayla had gotten a letter from her mother telling her that she was sick. With a kiss from Aeruthuil she set out to go home and attend to her mother. She and Aeru had thought that her going to Dale would keep her safe. She was thought dead, a trap set for the one that tried to get Aeru to bury her alive. To add to his pain. He held onto her, refused to let go, she was lucky. He waited long enough for the poison to wear off. The words she heard from his lips stung her deeply. She loved him more with every passing day. She would do as he asked, stay inside, stay where he could watch her. Somewhat…
Then the letter came, she could no longer hide within walls and stay dead. She had to go home. It was on the third week out that the group was attacked. She held Aeth close to her chest, protecting him. How she had wished for her sword, but there was no safe place for Aeth, all she could do was run. That was when things got worse, a slash to her back opening her up, the ground meeting her all too quickly, left for dead. They didn’t see Aeth in her arms, thank the Valar. As the footfalls grew more distant, she crawled to the woods. Wrapped Aeth up in her cloak, she hoped he sent someone to watch over her and that they were still alive. That they would find Aeth. It was there, with her body shielding him from the wild life that she took her last breath. Ayla was no more.
((Letter sent to Aeruthuil’s camp addressed to Ayla or Mr. Aeru. The writing was neat, the parchment basic.))
Ayla or Mr. Aeru,
I asked my husband to pen this for me, I’ve never been good at writing. I expected to see Ayla here weeks ago but I’ve not seen nor heard anything from her. I can only hope something has delayed her there. My cough has gotten better, but it still hurts to breath. Please be safe on the road.
Mum.
