Eäris jumped as the carriage thundered past him. He heard his wife call him to get on, and for once unquestioningly, he did. The horses ran at full pelt away from the city. Eäris struggled to catch his breath.
"I take it-" he began, but had to stop panting. After a few seconds he began again. "I take it you have a good reason for leaving without your two youngest children, wife?" he asked Astarielle. As soon as he had said it he felt sorry. He had not meant to hurt her, for he could see how upset she was.
"I am sorry" he said gravely. "They have been kidnapped by these, these- pirates!" he spat.
Shock seemed to reverberate through the coach. There was silence among the many inhabitants for a moment, then they all began to peak at once.
"Quiet!" called Eäris. "We must get home, get to the King, as soon as possible. We must tell him-"
Suddenly he stopped with a humourless laugh. "What am I saying? Trying to pretend I am important? Dol Amroth will have sent messengers already. Faster ones, no doubt. There is nothing for me to do." He was speaking to himself now.
"I can do nothing" he whispered softly.
[ March 20, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]
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“Sylphs of the forest,” I whispered. “Spirits of oak, beech and ash. Dryads of Rowan and hazel, hear us. You who have guided and guarded our every footstep, you who have sheltered our growth, we honour you."
the Forbidden Link
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