After what happened in Esteldín, there was much to think about. My poor Guri had safely made it back to Bree, thank the Valar, but much damage had been done. I found her waiting for me at our gazebo, our safe place. Ulysior arrived shortly after, and she broke the silence.
‘Lady Guriwen, Sir Alairif’ she greeted us. She was grim with worry. ‘I have heard some disturbing news about your kinship, are you alright?’
‘I don’t know, Ulysior’ Guri responded. ‘Everything happened so fast…’
‘What did?’ she asked. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘Take a look at this‘ I handed her the flier.
‘How… How can this be?’ Ulysior, as stoic as she could be, could not help but be betrayed by a faint look of surprise in her eyes as she read the poster.
‘I knew… I knew, but refused to believe it!’ I slammed my fist against the gazebo’s railings. ‘But I cannot ignore this signature.’
‘Are you sure this is true?’ asked the Elf.
‘Yes…’ Guri’s voice trembled. ‘Mowine threatened me when I confronted her about it.
The tension inside Ulysior was palpable, her body starting to emit a strange glow. ‘I refuse to accept that!’ she said, containing her anger.
‘Ulysior, what’s wrong?’ I rushed towards her, not sure what to do.
‘Nothing’ she assured us, and the glow began to dim. ‘I have it under control.’
She closed her eyes, and her breathing calmed. Soon it was as if nothing had happened.
‘What was that?’ asked Guri.
‘It was nothing’ she answered, with an almost motherly look. ‘Nothing of importance, at least. I am not ready to share it yet.’
We sit there in silence. We were not all that familiar with elven sorcery, so we were not sure of what we had just witnessed. We decided to trust our friend and not push the matter any further.
We shared with Ulysior more details of our journey. How we felt unfriendly eyes upon us, the Guildmaster’s hostile response, and our conversation with Tornimrad. Ulysior was deeply concerned about the King’s involvement in the matter.
I excused myself, as a storm of thoughts clouded my mind, and left for a short walk. I wandered aimlessly around the neighbourhood and reminisced of the happiness I felt when I saw that most members of the Company had received a house there. ‘Now’, I had thought, ‘things will not be as lonely around here. Guri and I will have our companions to share our stories and our music’. But now, I felt more alone than ever before.
I visited the kin house. I realised I had not been inside yet, but nor did I wish to be. What should have felt like our new home had turned into a den of lies and deception. A haven of hope turned the root of my worries, and a profound heartache.
Walking back to the gazebo, I found Ulysior comforting Guriwen. This was not the first time she had a falling out with the Company, and she was troubled. I leaned against the railings, looking at the full moon.
‘How are you feeling, dear?’ asked Guri, rubbing my shoulder.
‘I have not feel this lost in many years…’ I answered, not daring to look her in the eye’ I simply do not know who I am anymore.
‘Well, I do’ said Guri. ‘You are Alairif Nordhcoll, bravest man I’ve ever met.’
‘Am I?’ I responded. ‘Am I brave, when I have been too afraid to face the truth? After having spent so long refusing to believe I have been working for a murderer and a thief? I can no longer see the man I want to be.’
‘I can see him alright’ said Guri, tapping my chest. ‘Because he’s always been here.’
I finally turned to her, and found her smiling. Believe me when I tell you that that smile would be enough to raise entire armies, dedicated entirely to protecting it from all that would dare harm it. And it was definitely enough to make my mind.
‘Deorla will face justice’ I proclaimed, reaching for my sword. ‘Guriwen, Ulysior. Let you bear witness to this oath!’ I raised Calathand towards the skies, only our beloved gazebo preventing me from reaching them.’ I will not rest until Deorla answers for her crimes! Until she comes clean before the entire Company and is brought to fair trial!’
‘An oath like that should not be taken lightly, Alairif’ warned Ulysior. ‘There is power in such words.’
‘I am not taking it lightly, Ulysior’ I answered. ‘And power, I will need. King’s Justice, is the name they gave me when I became a mercenary. That is the name that I vow to honour from this day. And that is the name that all that is evil will come to fear.’
