[maikafanawen]

Ani Dao returned to the camp soon thereafter with an armfull of firewood. She noticed everyone crowding around something near the fire, talking quickly in hushed tones. They seemed to be working on something. She dumped the pile of sticks on the ground and rushed over. Dismay blanketed her face as she saw what had happened. A knot formed in her stomache and she almost fainted. Coming to, she immediately ran to find her saddlebag. It was by the stone where she had shown Bali its contents earlier. Rumaging through, she pulled out two poultices and ran over to the wagon. Squeezing through the circle of Gondorians, she stood next to the healer and presented her medicines. His eyes flashed with recognition of the things she held, and took them gratefully. He immediately began to apply them to the elf's wounds. Ani Dao stood in shock as she took in the damage done to her friend's body. I am dreaming, this is not happening. She reached out to touch Burzdol's forehead, the healer made to stop her, but thought better of it and resumed his task. The she-elf brushed the hair out of the unconscious elf's eyes and ran the backs of her fingers along his cheek. Tears crept into her eyes and she blinked them back impatiently, and gave a distressed look towards Bali who was staring blankly into the fire.

Not able to take it, she broke through the circle of onlookers and ran across the little meadow to find Uesse. Covering her face in the horse's mane she wept. She thought of her friend back at Bree, and what she had said the night they left, Kemi! I knew something like this would happen! I told you it would! We have not even come to the most dangerous part of our journey and something like this has allready happened!! She sobbed and sobbed. Sliding to her knees she held her face in her hands. Uesse nuzzled her back with his nose and laid down beside her. The elf nestled her head in the crook of his neck and cried herself softly to sleep.

[ March 09, 2003: Message edited by: maikafanawen ]