Beyond the Darkness - Chapter Four

Finduilas was tying a sky blue robe around her slim waist when a maid knocked at the door.

"Yes?" said Finduilas.

"A healer to see you, M'lady," said the maid firmly. "I told 'im to wait 'till you'd had a bit o' breakfeast, but he said no, his business was more impor'ant than breakfeast."

"Bring him in" sighed Finduilas.

Tharantor appeared at the door, a bit bruised and rubbing his arm.

"Tharantor!" Finduilas cried. She flew towards him. "Are you all right? Do you remember what happened to --" The expression on the healer's face wasn't one that Finduilas recognized.

"Tharantor?" She said, quieter this time.

"You might want to sit down,"

"Why?"

"You'll see. Sit down"

Finduilas sat down and looked expectantly at Tharantor.

"Well? You can tell me now, I'm sitting down."

Tharantor looked at her for a minute, then said.

"You know Armond?"

"..Yes.."

"Well, Armond is .. Armond- Is Alientes" Tharantor tensed, ready to yell for maids, but Finduilas nodded slightly, only a bit pale.

"Explain, please, Tharantor"

"Well.. The dwarves came when you were at the battle and Alientes was sick. They knocked me unconcious -- I was reading an account of a famous healer -- And took Alientes. My guess is that he was drugged and that he is drugged daily. However, he may have vague memories of you and the castle."

When he finished, he changed his gaze from his boots to Finduilas's face, reminding her for all the world of a child who had been caught in some wrong doing.

"Is something wrong, Tharantor?" she said softly.

He looked up, alarmed.

"N-No, nothing is wrong, Finduilas!" he said, and fled the room.

That's strange.. she noted. He's never, ever called me Finduilas. Something is definitly wrong.

* * *