Éolan stood and watched the dramatic disappearance of the elf before anyone had the chance to make a remark or inquire any further details. [i]Perhaps it is his majesty who will be answering questions now[/i], she thought trying not to think about that inevitable topic she would have to face one the meeting was over, [i]unless he follows his [b]guest[/b]...[/i]. She had not understood all the details of the speech delivered to them, but the gist was clear enough, and she could feel it in her breast better than any language, mannish, dwarfish or elfish, could describe -- something dark and menacing was going on in the world, terrifying in its subtlety, clutching its shadowy fingers around her heart, and presumably around the hearts of many more in the east, even more strongly, and in their case literally. For a moment, the flames in the room seemed to cast shadow instead of light, and the draft of the wind around her feet, drifting through the castle, whispered sinister chants to which the thunder outside gave the rhythm. It was of course her imagination at work. There was no way any accursed sorcery -- a phenomenon ever so detestable and horrifying to her -- could, no matter how weak and merely suggesting, manifest itself there in that hall. [i]Or is there?[/i]

She looked at the dwarf again, both because she wanted to yell at him for being a part of the greedy race whose maker's tools now threatened peace, as if he were to blame, and because she could not shake off the feeling of security he gave her. The former reason was the product of the moment, of her nervousness and apprehension. It had no reason or logic behind it, and was not in her nature, so she dismissed it as a fruit of horror that overcame her, letting a touch of sadness take its place. Feeling guilty of even having such thoughts, and nostalgic, she thought about all the preparation she had to do: ask someone to deliver a message to her family -- [i]a long, sappy one, in case I never see them again[/i]; talk to the more friendly of her possible future companions and gather some more information about the whole situation that she must have missed; find a place to lodge for the night and eat; somehow get a decent horse and provisions, for which she had no money whatsoever; and first of all, follow the dwarf, ask for more information and properly thank him once she's gutsy enough to talk to the subterranean creature in private.

[i]One thing at a time,[/i] she thought, overwhelmed by everything. Unease and unwilling to stay there any longer, she turned around and left, soon finding herself in the yard in front of the King's halls. There were no guards there now, fortunately, and no sign of the weather getting any better. [i]Sleeping outside will not happen tonight, my dear.[/i] Suddenly a glitter caught her eye, and she walked towards the shiny thing in the mud, so fortunately placed there to reflect the faintest of light coming through the cloud. It was a coin, old and dirty, and not very valuable. She tossed it and caught it in her fist. [i]Enough for a piece of dinner, at least.[/i]

The refreshing effect of cold, fresh air faded soon, and the worry returned. It felt as if its strength reached the full potential there after the initial shock and confusion. The long term peril of the possible quest was far greater than she had though, if she had thought about it at all, focusing on more immediate problems when she was inside. Images of dark forests, bottomless chasms, graves, iced rivers and hungry beasts of bloodied jaws reddening the snow all flashed in front of her eyes. She shuddered. [i]He would have drawn his sword and pledged it to the king immediately, my brother would. Be the first to charge, be the enemy man or beast. Maybe he is there somewhere? Tortured and broken, more dead than living, in some waste land under foreign sun and false foreign gods' statues laughing at him. Would he recognise me? Of course he would. And I him.[/i] She felt courage kindling in her gut. Yes, she would prepare and ride out, do anything it takes, yes, fight and march and ride and swim and starve and fight again, all the time, until it's over and all the things end, and then she will laugh at the edge of Arda and celebrate and yes even hug them all, and be an apothecary until her final days. 

[@BCTheEntity][@DrunkasaurusRex][@Vor][@POOHEAD189][@Jbcool]