[Imladris]

Lira

The wolf cub shuddered and wailed plaintively in Esgallhugwen’s arms as the elf carefully bound the two broken legs. A tear trickled down Lira’s cheek as she sensed the incredible pain of the cub and the outrage of Eswen. “Dear Eru,“ she murmured as she kneeled down besides her, and sang a wordless song of comfort to the wretched cub. Corn fluttered over and alighted upon the cub’s the back and ran his beak gently through the wolf’s matted fur, smoothing the tangles from it. “Eswen,” he croaked softly.

The cub soon stilled as the soothing melody that Lira sang wove its spell and calmed the wolf’s troubled spirit. The fur was stretched tightly over the its bones, its yellow eyes were pale and dull…lifeless. “His heart is barely beating,” Esgallhugwen said, her eyes stared into Lira’s: rage and sympathy burned in them as she turned back to the cub.

“Who would do this, Mellon?” Lira whispered to Esgallhugwen as the elf bandaged the legs. “It would be difficult for a cub to break both his legs in open wilderness.” Lira shivered as she again felt the dark premonition that had assailed her earlier.

Rising, Lira took an iron pot, filled it with water, and put it on the fire. She untied her leather herbal bag and tossed in some lavender seeds and peppermint to make a soothing, warm tea for the starving cub. The steam billowed into a moist cloud as she poured it into a cup and crept towards Esgallhugwen, put it into her hands, and said, “Here. This is for the cub.”