A look of perplexity knit the brow of the young hunter. Still, he urged his horse gently forward until he stood next to Fairlain, and bending down from the saddle he lifted her behind him on his saddle. She made no protest yet made no movement once she was astride the white horse. Laying the reins on his horse's neck for a moment, he reached back with both arms and brought hers forward to wrap around his chest. Trying to make his voice jocular, he said
"You'll not want to fall in the mud again, Princess..." then stopped short when he looked down at her arms. They were covered with shallow wounds and claw marks from the battle she had just fought. He drew in his breath sharply, then raised one gloved hand to cradle the arms that were wrapped in front of him.
"We'll be at the Inn soon, " he said, the tone in his voice taking on a grim edge. Turning his horse with his other hand, he kissed to it and they started at a steady pace to the edge of the marshes. Fairlain squirmed a little in protest,
"My arrows..."
Cynraede said nothing but a sound like a growl seemed to come from his throat. Fairlain could tell from the set of his shoulders they would not be turning aside, so she fell silent. It was not long before the broken outline of the Inn came into view. She ventured a question,
"The man who was hurt...did he reach this place safely?"
"He did...as did your horse."
A small sigh of relief escaped her lips and for a moment she rested her head on the broad shoulders in front of her. They stopped in front of the small stable that was as ramshackle as the Inn itself and Fairlain could hear a familiar nicker coming from within. She pulled her arms away and slipped to the ground, going quickly into the stable. Cynraede dismounted his white horse and followed.
Daysey stood with a generous measure of hay in front of her, her coat brushed and her mane and tail combed. Her ears and eyes were craned towards Fairlain who rushed to her and threw her arms about the horse's neck, placing numerous kisses on the mare's broad forehead. "Agoreg vae, pinig", she whispered, giving the horse another hug. Cynraede tethered his mount by the hayrick and stood waiting.
Fairlain turned Daysey loose and turned to the hunter, who stood tall beside her. She looked up into his face and her voice seemed to catch momentarily. She drew a breath and bowed as she had been used to in Imladris.
"Thank you." They were the first words they had spoken since she had helped to bring him from that dark cave in Eregion. He said nothing, but just gazed at her and smiled.
She felt her cheeks redden and she quickly looked down. "I must find water and wash...your pardon."
Fairlain turned and headed for the stable door.
"I will be inside the Inn." Cynraede called after her.
Standing in the darkened doorway of the Inn, Fairlain surveyed the room's sparse occupants. There were several travellers seated at one of the tables and Cynraede stood opposite them, seemingly in pleasant conversation. She watched him unseen as he spoke with the others in the room. He was tall...she had known it before but had not truly marked it. His hair was shorter than the last time she had seen him and as she looked at his face it seemed less sad than she remembered. And his eyes....his eyes were the colour of the sea lit with the light of Ëarendil and she could not look away from them. She did not want to. She stood motionless for a very long time, before burying her face in her hands with a shudder. She had looked into the eyes of cruelty and had been given her stubbornness in answer. She had looked into the face of pure malevolence and her pleas had been answered by the Light of the One Himself. But this...this she had no answer for, and it was terrifying.
She turned and walked directly back to the stables. Pip Wortley, the stable boy, was brushing down the white horse but stopped as he watched Fairlain leading Daysey from her stall.
"Miss..." he called in confusion.
Fairlain leapt onto Daysey's back only pausing to say "If He asks after me, say I have gone on to Arrowhaven."
She had promised Lord Elrond she would go to protect Milady. She could not stay in this place where her heart haunted her.
