Dain had come trudging back into camp, with the carcass of a small stag slung over his sturdy back. Even in tough times, dwarves have to eat, he reasoned. He had looked on in horror to see and hear what had happened to Burzdol.
He watched as Belfalod was sent off to find the athelas. Then Dain impatiently paced about in large circles, waiting for the man to reappear and bring back the precious herb. Minutes dragged on and soon turned into hours. Kili and Dain exchanged worried looks, wondering what would happen if Belfalod didn't reappear very shortly. The large pile of herbs which the healer had placed on the ground was shrinking by the minute, and would never last to the morn.
Durin looked back at his father and growled, "What's taking so long? The moon was just beginning its journey when Belfalod left, and now it's high in the sky. Burzdol's life or death could hinge on this!"
"I don't know, son, I don't know. Let's just hope he hasn't run into any more trouble. Orcs or such."
Dain's eyes skimmed the outskirts of the camp for any sign of Belfalod, or any indication that there was more trouble brewing, but the night was absolutely still. The only sound to be heard was the fierce beating of his own heart.
Kili came up and growled, "I can't take this any more. Let's not just sit here and wait. Let's do something. I certainly can't sleep."
Dain nodded his head in agreement. So the three dwarves--Dain, Kili, and Durin--lit large torches to guide their path and went out into the shaded grove searching for any signs of athelas. They weren't more than a quarter of a league from the camp when Kili stumbled on to a considerable patch of the stuff, not more than ten hands' breadth from the main trail. The plant usually grows in tiny secluded spots under the leaves of another plant, but this particular patch was quite large and very visible to the naked eye, without having to get down and peer about on the ground. They hastily loaded down their arms with the leaves and ran back to camp, dumping their treasures down in front of the healer.
Burzdol's breath came jagged and heavy. His chest rose and fell with difficulty. The only thing keeping him alive was his own fierce will and the soothing power of the kingsfoil. It was good they'd brought in the lot, for the healer was down to his last two plants.
As they walked back to the edge of the camp, and laid down to try and catch a bit of sleep, Kili pulled Dain over and whispered in his ear. "Belfalod's still not back. What's he doing? And why didn't he see that big patch we found?"
Dain shrugged his shoulders, and muttered something incomprehensible about it being difficult to see things at night. But in his own mind, he was beginning to ask the very same questions, and to wonder what was going on.
[ March 10, 2003: Message edited by: Dain Ironfoot ]
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