Mendra awoke to darkness. She began to grow frantic, her breath coming short. But feeling the blankets over her, shielding her from the cold, reminded her of the past events. She closed her eyes, thinking it pointless to have them open when she could not see. She laid her head back upon the soft comforters, wondering how much time had passed since she had been awake. Many images filled her dreams, and what bothered her most was that of Ralith dead.

She could feel the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Ralith had to be all right. He knew how to take care of himself. He had to of escape the attack of the orcs. A sob slipped through her lips.

"You’re crying," spoke a soft voice across from her.

Using her hands, she wiped away the moisture from her eyes and cheeks. She didn’t want Alak to see her weakness, though she knew he had already seen it. For endless minutes, she sat in silence. She knew not whether he wanted her to answer him. Her ears strained to hear any indication that he was moving, but there was none.

"It’s almost morning. I checked while you slept." He went quiet for a moment, knowing she could not see as he could. "We’ll leave when you are ready."

Mendra said nothing as she listened. She wanted to leave immediately. The dark that surrounded her frightened her beyond belief. When she awoken, it had almost suffocated her.

She felt a hand upon her shoulder, which caused her to jump. There was no sound of his movements to warn her that he had come closer.

Alak pulled back as she jumped. "Come."

Mendra felt around her, her hand falling upon something hard, and remembered the jerky she had placed there before she went to sleep. Grabbing it, she sat up and searched for her pocket, stuffing it in. She rose to her feet a little clumsily. Again, she felt his hands upon her, but she said nothing, knowing only that he was helping.

For Alak, touching her was torture. He didn’t sleep well that night and he knew his mood would be touchy later in the day. But touching her as he was, he had to work harder to keep his guard. For hours during the night, Alak had done nothing but sit on the cold hard ground, watching her as she slept. Many times he had seen her shiver and many times he had brought the blanket up to cover her.

He guided her towards the steps and helped her up slowly, only stopping when they reached the top. Feeling along the crevice, he unlatched the rough hatchway. Light spilled in through. Instantly, Mendra pulled from him, stepping out of the chilling hole they had spent the night in. Pulling his hood up to shield his sensitive eyes, he followed her out.

The sky was a little gloomy, though sun shone through open spaces in the clouds. that clouds did not cover. It felt mucky rather than dry, and wearing on the clothing Alak wore, became bothersome.

"Oh!" Mendra turned to Alak. "I forgot my bag."

Alak stared at her silently, his eyes moving over her delicate features. Getting a grip of himself, he turned and stepped back into the dark opening.

She waited patiently until he returned.

When he did, Alak made sure the latch to the secret cellar was secure before he stepped to Mendra, holding out the brown bag. Taking it, she nodded her thanks and began heading in the direction they came from the previous night.

"Where are you going?"

She continued, "Back to the market."

Alak was at her side at once, taking hold of her wrist causing her to spin to face him. "You can’t go back there?"

"And why not? I have to see if Ralith is all right. In fact, I think he is waiting for me right now, worried to death about my whereabouts or if I am even alive."

"After such raids and everything is destroyed, there are many thieves and evil doers about. If your friend survived-"

"He did survive."

"Then he is hiding elsewhere as well in search of you. Or perhaps, he is even heading where you planned to go hoping to meet you there."

Mendra frowned. She knew Ralith wouldn’t do such a thing. He would look for her without rest until he found her. There would be no giving up and he could definitely not go to the Somber Forest. But she remembered the sounds outside her door. Had Ralith been killed that night? No, he had to have gotten away. He was too skilled to let such a thing happen. But if he had? Should she go on without him? The book had to be found soon. If she waited to long, the drow might get it.

She looked at Alak. One more time she would try. She had no other choice. The map was lost to her and she knew not the way to get there.

"M’lord…"

"Alak," he corrected her.

"…Alak, I know you refused the offer given to you at the inn, but would you-"

"No."

"Please! If you wish me to get on my knees to beg you I would. I need you more than ever." Mendra was becoming desperate. She needed him help more than ever now. He was the only one. "I need you."

Alak stared at the ground, a dark scowl crossing his features. Had he known this would happen, he would have left her at that inn. No, he was a fool. He would not have left her. But he could not take her offer as a guide either. Yes, he knew the land like the back of his hand. Yes, he knew all the secrets. But Mendra he did not know, and he didn’t what to either. He had only hoped to save her from death, or worse, then to let her go her merry way.

What would become of her then? Lifting his eyes to study her anxiety, he sighed.

"Where are you heading?"

Mendra hesitated for a moment. "You will be my guide then?"

"Yes, I will be your guide! Now tell me where." Alak was growing impatient. He wanted this done and over with.

"T-the Somber Forest."

Alak’s eyes leveled on her beneath the shadows of the hood. "You are serious?"

She could feel his gaze on her. Nervously, Mendra shifted her weight. "Yes."

"Damn it all," he grumbled. Why, of all places must she go there? And for what purpose he wondered.

Again, Mendra hesitated. Had he changed his mind? "You will still take me?"

Alak rubbed his eyes, the reflection from the ground irritating them. He wanted to say no and leave her there, standing alone out in the wilderness, but he couldn’t. "Yes"

"I don’t have anything to pay you. Ralith had-"

"I will ask of you payment when it suits me, but as of now, no questions." With that, he turned and stalked off, leaving Mendra no choice but to follow.

No questions? Questions about what? Himself? She wondered what it was he had to hide, or perhaps he simply did not wish to let people to get to know him. Either way, it mattered now. He had agreed to be her guide.

*****

Pain shot through Ralith as he tried to force himself awake. What was happening to him? His whole body felt bruised, some parts worse than others. A strange aroma drifted into his nose, one he could not identify. His eyes flicked as he tried to move. His head felt heavy and his limbs felt heavier. But he managed to move his arm.

"Aiya!" exclaimed a soft voice at his side.

His eyes finally opened, though blurred at the light seeping through cracks in the walls. Ralith was lying on his stomach, his arms up near his head rather than straight at his side. He didn’t know where he was or how he got here, nor could he remember why he was in so much pain.

Lifting his head to the best of his ability, he turned it to the other side, letting it drop back upon the soft pillow. His eyes then fell upon the woman, standing a few feet away, her eyes wide as they beheld him. In her hands was a jar with a green substance smeared on the side, which he guessed the strange odor was coming from.

His head was pounding and his body ached. Looking at the woman, forcing his eyes to remain open, he finally allowed himself to take in her appearance. She was quite thin, perhaps too thin, but that did nothing to blemish her petite structure. A drab brown dress covered her body seeming home made with the leather stitching. Looking at her face, he was taken aback. Gold hair, much like his own only brighter, framed her thin heart shaped face, most of it pulled back and tied at her nape. Her eyes, still wide as they stared at him with uncertainty, were the brightest of blue he had ever seen. She was beautiful.

Ralith groaned, feeling pain somewhere he had not felt anything before.

The woman stepped closer upon hearing the groan, a frown on her lips. "Where does it hurt most?"

He stared at her, not comprehending the words until moments later, but decided not to tell her exactly where. "Everywhere." His voice was raspy. He needed water.

Dipping her tan fingers into the green paste, she reached for him, though slowly, afraid he might be dangerous. As gently as possible, she dabbed the paste on Ralith’s temple where she had cleaned up the dried blood earlier in the day.

Ralith winced, causing his head to hurt something fierce at the fast movement.

The woman frowned deeper at the pain she was inflicting upon him. He was already feeling so much of it. What amazed her most about this man were his wings. She had never seen the like on an elf before, she rarely saw any elves. "You took an awful fall?"

Ralith scowled. Fall? He did not remember falling. In fact, he could not remember how he had even come to be here. All he seemed to remember was his name.

"I found you near the cliffs," the woman continued softly, obviously trying to get his mind off the pain. "You were quite beaten and you didn’t have a thing on you except for the clothing which was so bloodied and torn. I brought you here, though how I did, I can’t recall." A small smile appeared on her full lips. She pulled back to look at him. "You may stay here for as long as you like. I will help you get well, but," she bit her lower lip, "I am not sure how long it will take for your wing to heal. I mended it while you slept to the best of my ability, but it was so broken."

Ralith tried to move upon hearing this news, but pain stabbed his back. She was right. It was broken, and he could feel it above all the other pain in his body. He moaned and ground his teeth.

"Oh, please don’t move." The golden haired woman placed a gentle hand upon his bare shoulder.

Ralith gazed upon her soft features. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad under her care. "What is your name?"

She tilted her head as if wondering if she should tell the stranger, but knew that there was no harm in it. He didn’t look as if he would hurt her. "Sinia."

"Sinia? A beautiful name for a beautiful woman." Ralith’s words began to trail and his eyes slowly began to close. Unable to fight it, he felt the weariness take over him once again. Soon, he was fast asleep.

Sinia studied the sleeping man, setting the jar aside on a small table near the bedside. Such a man like him would be a grand prize, one she did not deserve. She couldn’t let this man get close to her. But she had other things she had to tend too that were more important.

Turning, she silently stepped from the small room.