The soft, flickering glow of the dripping candles that sat atop the simple, wrought-iron sconce near her rented bed was enough to relieve the darkness of the room, but not enough to bring light to the grim thoughts that plagued Addie’s mind. She sighed as she looked down to the book in her lap, unable to focus; her trusted distraction for these unwanted thoughts was of no aid tonight. Oh how she needed to talk to someone, to focus on asking her endless questions of others, but it was midnight and those that had not left were asleep.
She closed the book and awkwardly turned her bruised and broken torso to place it on a nearby nightstand next to a napkin that held a partially eaten blueberry-cinnamon muffin Byrge had so kindly made for the injured party. Normally, Addie found joy in such simple pleasures, but as she looked toward the muffin, she was only reminded of the cruel torture that took her gift of taste. She shook her head, trying to prompt her mind to clear the vivid images that rushed back, but these flashbacks ever lingered, ready to haunt her at every opportune moment. Reminded of her injuries, Addie now looked to the silver goblet on the nightstand which held the one thing that truly did bring her relief- pain-relieving herbs from Imladris graciously gifted to them by a healer named Karlie. She reached for the goblet and downed the herb infused water before carefully leaning back against the headboard once more.
Once settled again, Addie sighed and looked around the room, her gaze stopping on the small, hobbit-sized bed to her right which held a full-sized sleeping woman with injuries very similar to her own; Addie kept her gaze on this woman, Nethrida, until she was satisfied that she was indeed breathing and sleeping peacefully. She, then, turned her gaze across the room to another human stuffed into a bed that was far too small for him, Masin; he had also received his own injuries during the rescue, however, he was not in the room for recovery, but had personally chosen to endure these conditions to ensure that both Neth and Addie remained guarded at all times. As she looked to Masin, she remembered what he had told her of his past, of what had happened to his family, and she couldn’t help but feel guilty for the fears and remembrances this incident must be bringing to his mind. She felt even worse as she looked back to Neth, knowing that this entire thing was her fault. Her gaze drifts downwards as the cold reality grips her once more, she has brought pain and suffering to so many since she stepped foot in Bree. She is a curse.
For a moment, these dark thoughts are combated by the remembrance of conversations with Miss Cesistya, Neth, and Masin on these matters, their words of reassurance comforting her once again. She thinks to all the others that she has come to regard as friends: Doc and Bild, two humble, but skilled, dwarf healers that have not only brought her physical aid, but whose friendship and opinion she has truly come to value; Byrge, a dwarf that still remains somewhat of a mystery to her, but whose heart of gold she can already see; Master Zurri, a kind-hearted friend and ally that she bonded with over the death of his father; Miss Finchley, a cheerful woman with a zest for food and hunger for sightseeing, much like Addie’s own desire to see the world; Xanderian , a fierce ally and friend who selflessly devotes herself to helping others; Lady Ahmo, whom Addie considers as one of her true mother figures; Taphreille, a feisty, skilled warrior with as much determination to fight evil as Xanderian; Miss Linda and Aida, Addie smiles for a moment as she thinks of her latest conversation with Linda; Miss Kithri...
The visions of friends stops there in her mind with Kithri and the dark thoughts come once more. Kithri’s life has been threatened twice now because of Addie, twice; Neth’s as well, and Lincoln. Many that she thought of, and more, have been hurt because of her. Her fears seem confirmed, those she cares for are in danger.. and it's all because of her.
