(The following takes place immediately after What the Neighbor Knew - Xan's Helpful Chronicler)
The door to Xanderian’s rooms at the Pony was kicked open abruptly with a booming crash. Calidis, who had been awaiting the return of the party that had gone to question Finchley’s former neighbor leapt from her chair, prepared to defend herself. However as the dust settled she simply stared as Nethrida and Eduwiges helped a still swooning Addiela through the door..followed by Xandilif, carrying her sister Xanderian like a corpse in her arms.
Calidis let out a soundless gasp as her pendant blazed brightly and her chest felt like someone had stuck a cold knife into it. She froze in shock, dark eyes locked on Xanderian and shook her head ever so slightly. Had the worst happened?
Lif looked at Nethrida..."C'mon Trouble. lets get the Monk and Addie stowed somewhere before they begin ta rot....'
Calidis stumbled backwards against the wall, clutching her chest. "Xandilif," she half gasped out. "What happened?"
Xandilif looked at Calidis for a long moment before speaking. "Long story....help me put her somewhere until she comes around...'
Nethrida nodded at Lif’s response and helped Edu haul Addie to the rear chamber, laying her down. "What DID happen to them anyway? I heard both scream...but my attention was elsewhere."
The Champion shrugged. "Ain't sure...likely that sending hit em harder than the rest of us...'
Nethrida pursed her lips. "The only thing that hit me was that Orc... In fact I can still feel the blow." She huffed but was only half joking. For a moment she had been afraid she was going down.
Xandilif glanced at Neth and snorted."You'll be wearin’ that bruise for a few weeks…Damn, the Monk has been puttin' it on lately...all that Bree food.'
Calidis seemed to look visibly relieved by the banter and her pendant's glow died just a little. She stood straight again and hurriedly motioned for Lif to follow towards Xan's room. She moved into the bedroom and seated herself at the head of the bed before stretching her arms out towards Xanderian, expression making it clear that she'd take no more wisecracks or arguments at the moment. "Give her here."
The Banshee was surprisingly silent....and still wouldn’t meet Cal's eyes. She laid Xan down in the bed...the Huntresses eyes were open, unfocused and sightless and she was still totally limp.
Calidis immediately pulled Xanderian closer to herself but managed to keep from clinging for fear of doing her any damage. She ran a hand over Xan's cheek and peered down worriedly at her, barely keeping her emotions in check as her pendant still shone brightly.
Suddenly feeling awkward, Lif stepped back, looking at Neth and inspecting her vividly bruised face...."Ya better put some meat on that, or you're gonna give Ryn a contest for "Most useless left eye"'
Nethrida nodded ruefully. "I'm going to go get something cool later... Perhaps the fountain outside..." She tapped her chin for a moment, checking again that her jaw wasn’t broken.
Calidis reached over and pulled a blanket up over Xanderian and shifted so that the huntresses’ upper body rested against her chest, her voice just on the edge of angry. "... What has gone awry?"
Lif shrugged like a little girl playing truant. “Not sure...you got any idea what that was, Trouble?'
Nethrida pondered for a moment, before shaking her head. "Nay…I wish I did... It seemed some kind of specter... And it referred to Finch as a ‘Prized possession’?"
The Champion nodded..."Yeah, I would say that was a projection of someone not very nice inside the Guild of the Unsealed...maybe the Archpriest, or someone higher....'
Calidis looked to Xandilif for confirmation as she brusheed some of Xanderian's hair away from her face. "... You were attacked then after you arrived at your destination, you are often attacked, it is not surprising... But that does not explain this. What have they done to Xanderian?"
"Well…” Xandilif took in a breath before continuing, gathering her thoughts…”That sending did what a Necromancer with no upper limit and a few thousands souls to suck power from can do...he pulled the wall between the living and the dead so feckin thin it became transparent. I got no idea what Addie and Rian saw when the veil parted, but something not very nice...they were both obviously vulnerable ta that. Rian cause of recent events, HorseImp cause...well...HorseImp.'
Nethrida cringed at the thought. "Will they be alright?"
Calidis looked deeply concerned as her pendant blazed brighter yet again. "... And the girl, Finchley? It was her they came for, correct?"
Lif ran a hand through her hair..."Yeah, I think they’ll be ok. I gotta go see ta Babygirl..she's ok..they don’t wanna hurt her..this was just...well...figure Babygirl is a whelp in a basinette and this giant grownup just leaned in ta wake her up and made baby talk at her, just ta make sure she was ok...that's what happened.”
Nethrida scratched the back of her neck and frowned. "I... DO not understand that? Were they not trying to reclaim her? Or worse yet, slay her?"
The Banshee shrugged again..."Slay Finchley? Absolutely not..slaying us is fine, but not Finchley...they want her alive. Likely snatching her would have been their best case...but that wasn’t workin out and rather than let her get damaged whoever this is pulled in his shadows and came in person...well...sent a projection in person.”
Calidis shook her head. "But they are willing to “damage” any who are in her company?" She winced and raised a hand to her face, breathing in slowly and exhaling slowly in an attempt to calm the emotions roiling beneath the surface. "... I am sorry. That was unkind."
The Champion sighed..."That blast likely was not even meant to hurt us..just meant to shut us up for a minute'
Nethrida nodded slowly. "And it clearly worked... Thank goodness it didn’t affect everyone..." She cringed for a moment at what might have happened, but did cast a concerned look at Xan.
Suddenly growing more business-like, Lif looked at Neth..."We're gonna have to get this bunch ready for the road within the next couple days...'
'I agree.” Calidus nodded firmly. “We cannot linger much longer in Breeland... Though I worry for our journey Eastward... I have received a letter in reply from Merilos in Imladris."'
Lif lowered her voice..."Saying what?'
"That Lord Elrond is deeply unhappy with the events that transpired around us as of late...” Calidus continued to watch Xanderian as she spoke. “…And I fear that our safe passage through or even around Imladris and the Trollshaws is not guaranteed. Something seemed…strange in her response, but Elrond does not seem closed to negotiation. I have sent a letter in reply."
The Banshee spat. "And what did you say in this reply, Blackbird?'
Calidis looked up, 'I asked for a chance to hold an audience with him to speak on our behalf... And reminded him that I am still my father's daughter and have the right to ask this.'
Xandilif scowled. "I do not take the orders of Lord Elrond Halfbreed no more and I do NOT need no one speakin on my behalf, he can lick my shiny palantir.'
Calidis was not backing down. "Yet I would see that we come to no harm from either action or inaction from his sentinels. The more we are delayed or harried by our so called friends as we try to move away from here, the more that puts us in danger from our chiefest foes.
Nethrida crossed her arms and pursed her lips for a moment. "Cali is right... We cannot travel via the Gap of Rohan, that is another problem... It is best we attempt to sort this out as we pass through Rivendell..."
“Yeah..we just make friends wherever we go, huh?' Lif sighed..."Yeah...I get all that. Fine…Do what ya can....I'm gonna see how Finchley is farin’.”
Calidis nodded. "If I am granted an audience, we will be granted safe passage, for I will claim you all as my escort." She held Xanderian tightly and looks anguished all over again. "I will stay here with her."
Lif paused, looking back at Calidis, eyes meeting hers and holding for a few long, silent moments. "Yeah....you do that."
Nethrida looked at Calidis as Xandilif slammed the door behind her. "Is there anything you need? My injuries do not require much in the way of treatment, so if you require aid, let me know."
"No, Nethrida. Please, see to your injury. I am not unaware that Men heal wounds at a slower rate than we do." Calidis looked at Nethrida compassionately, knowing she was lingering out of her own concern for the unconscious Xanderian.
The Gondorian chuckled a bit. "It's just a small scuff. But I'll see to it. I should have some dried up Athelas still left..." She patted through her pouches.
Xanderian moans softly, beginning to stir and Calidis ran a cool hand over her cheek, falling silent as she worried over her, unsure of what to do or how to fix this. Nethrida raised her eyebrows and glanced at Xan again, still worried. Xanderian blinked, light returning to her eyes like a glass being refilled...staring upwards at the ceiling, confused...
"Xanderian..." Calidis looked visibly relieved as her pendant's light flickered and then was reduced to a mere glow. She ran her fingers through Xan’s dark hair soothingly. "Are you in any pain? Can you speak?"
Xanderian shook her head...looking around...."Merifindiel...Nethrida...how did I come here?
Calidis spoke softly, as casually as she could manage. '"You were brought here by your sister... There was an attack when you accompanied the girl. You swear you are not in any pain?"'
Xanderian sat up..eyes clear for a moment, then clouded again in thought..."Yes, I...no..no...not me.
Calidis allowed her room to sit up and then stood, moving to the side of the bed to look her in the eye seriously, brows still furrowed. "Not you?"
"I...I have learned things...but I fear illusion....Xanderian closed her eyes again then took Calidis' hand before glancing up at Nethrida, smiling gently. "You seem more chagrined than wounded, my warrior..”
Nethrida nodded slowly. "I am alright. But what happened at the cottage does concern me a great deal"
Calidis squeezed Xan's hand as gently as she could, forcing herself to calm as she knealt down by the bed, still looking intensely worried and perhaps even a little puzzled.
Xanderian ran a hand through dark Calidis' hair, seeking to reassure her. "Such a...such an attack opens a window....but windows may serve more than one purpose, no?
Calidis 's pendant flashed once then twice. Almost as if it agreed. But this did nothing to calm Calidis' worry at all.
Nethrida nodded to Xan, 'They do... But I know not how to proceed. Nor how it aids us in improving our standing with the folk of Rivendell...'
"Leave that matter to me. I will take responsibility before Lord Elrond for anything else that should occur. A reply from Merilos should come to me soon, for her courier is swift." Calidis shook her head firmly, still looking at Xanderian, a slowly rising fear visible in her eyes as if she were realizing a terrible truth for the first time.
Still appearing to be in two worlds, Xanderian looked at Calidis gently but her eyes questioned."What troubles you, sweet Nighteye?”
A long pause, then Calidis slowly shook her head and stood again, moving decisively and obviously away from the bed, perhaps to give Xan room to breathe. "... It is nothing. I was not the one brought here injured or otherwise this evening."
Nethrida narrowed her eyes a little, distrusting secrets between friends at the best of times, all the more so now after what had happened to Addie. "Come now. You can share what ails you."
Xanderian nodded at Nethrida, sitting up in bed. "Indeed...now is not the time to keep matters to oneself...especially not one who sees the depth of matters as do you, sweet one.” Her tone was light, but it was clear she felt the distance Calidis had suddenly created between them like a rebuke.
Calidis shook her head again and seemed to retreat across the room a little more. Her voice was growing strident. "It is a mere worry on my part. It did not come to pass... I shall be calm henceforth and focus on the task at hand, yes?"
Xanderian seemed uncertain, watching Cal...then slowly closed her eyes as Nethrida tilted her head a little. "Even worries can end up becoming burdens... I've noticed that myself."
Looking a little like she had been slapped by Xanderian’s sudden silence, Calidis nodded. "But should not even one such as I should be more than capable of shouldering my own burdens well as you all do?"
Nethrida nodded slowly, feeling herself on steadier ground with the often confusing elf. "There's nothing wrong with sharing what ails you with your fellows. They may be able to offer support in carrying such burdens." She smiled down tenderly at Xanderian. “I've certainly had help.”
Calidis clenched her fists together and turned somewhat stiffly, eyes bottomless and expression quite clearly closed off. "I am not unaware of the burden I placed upon you all in recent days and I am grateful for the support you have given... But in light of recent events, I should not stretch you all too thin. I should…I mean…" She looked to Xanderian and furrowed her brows, appearing to try to gather courage to say something...and failed.
A long, awkward silence descended....
END PART 1
