8 Blotmath
It has been three days since we arrived at Ost Galadh. Aeralin does not say much but I can see how much pain she is in. If she is not sleeping, she writhes in pain.
We met Camaenor’s mentor, Milnir here. A skilled healer with great knowledge about poisons. He has been keeping Aeralin under observation for the last couple of days. There are so many wounded here, he is not able to give his full attention to only one of them.
I stay with Aeralin at all times. Yesterday, as I was humming her favourite tune and trying to ease her pain at least a bit with an ointment I made of athelas, she suddenly opened her eyes.
“Are you awake? Did I hurt you?”
Before I could finish my sentence, she started shaking in my arms, foaming at the mouth. She was seizing. I tried to lay her to the side, put a piece of cloth in her mouth to ensure she wouldn’t bite her tongue.
Milnir saw me struggling and ran to my help.
After the seizure was over, Milnir asked me to his study. He looked thoughtful, which made me get even more worried than I already was.
“It doesn’t look good,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer she can survive.” The sorrow took over, I felt like I couldn’t stand up, my knees shaking. I wanted to fall into an endless pit, be swallowed by a great darkness, so I wouldn’t have to see her go.
“There has to be something I can do. I cannot possibly stay without doing anything and watch her fade away. Please… There has to be something…”
“I do not want to give you any false hope, I am sorry Eleanias.”
10 Blotmath
Aeralin had yet another seizure yesterday evening. She is burning hot, the dark green covers most of her torso now and I know we do not have much time left.
I went to see Milnir.
“You said you did not want to give me any false hope. That means there is at least something we could try.”
After struggling for a few minutes whether to tell me anything or not, he finally spoke. He mentioned an ancient mushroom, Anvelain, the Gift of Gods, so powerful that could extract most poison from the body, heal the damage it has done. They used to be found in Drownholt, but Milnir noted that no one has seen one for thousands of years, it is considered long gone and even if I found it, it would not be for sure that this was going to heal her completely. But with all the desperation I’ve been feeling for the last few weeks, I did not care.
He also told me of a rare flower, growing on the banks of the Anduin, shaped like a star, therefore named Elenduin, the star of the river, only blossom at night time. He said they are used as a very potent athelas, but they are difficult to find.
“You cannot take Aeralin with you, she can barely move,” he said.
“I could not possibly leave her behind.”
“Except for a few who are protecting us here, most who can wield a weapon are in Dol Guldur, no one can lead you there and protect you on the way.”
“Aeralin and I made it here from Dol Guldur, we can do this as well.”
Milnir sighed, “I cannot let you take her along. She would not last a day on the road.”
I knew he was right. But how could I leave her here? How could I be sure she wouldn’t die before I get back? I know, I cannot take here with me.
Milnir promised he would look after her. I am leaving at dawn.
17 Blotmath
I am in Drownholt. I could not risk getting lost and losing time, luckily there are no orcs or goblins here. It’s mostly wolves and giant moths. I’ve been looking for the mushroom for the last day, no sign of it yet.
26 Blotmath
Anvelain is nowhere to be found. This was our best chance, but if I lose any more time here, I could be too late to save Aeralin. Besides, as I walk deeper into the marshes, the number of the foul creatures increases. I encountered a giant spider yesterday.
8 Foreyule
I’ve been looking for Elenduin for over a week now. I was about to give up and go back to Ost Galadh to at least be able to see Aeralin one last time. After dusk, as I was filling up my water skin, I heard a noise and turned back to see two orcs roaming behind me. They had not yet seen me.
I looked around to find a place to hide, there were no trees, no rocks… I saw a big bush to my left. I put my water skin back and tried to sneak there as quietly as possible. I crouched behind the bush and started watching them. And then I saw it… Three star-shaped flowers, all pale yellow, almost white, facing me with all their beauty.
I carefully picked them up and put them in a pouch.
19 Foreyule
I am back in Ost Galadh. Aeralin is still alive, but Milnir says she’s been seizing multiple times a day now, she hasn’t woken up for the last week. I showed the flowers to Milnir. He has all the other ingredients to make an extremely potent healing potion and some ointments as well. I have hope.
