[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Saeryn tried desperately to keep hold on reality. As the vibrant colors of her room swirled softly into shades of undefined grey, she strove to keep sight of the two little girls who watched over her. Their shimmering blonde hair turned dull as Saeryn's vision clouded. She felt weak. As her body trembled faintly, Saeryn thanked the Valar that she was not standing, or she would have fallen. She grasped her blankets, sweating. As Mereflod's eyes, the last glimpse Saeryn caught before everything went black, turned panicky, Saeryn whispered. "I... can't see.." She went limp.

Mereflod cried out, heedless of the rule of silence. "Motan, get Master Eodwine!" As her younger sister pelted through the door, Mereflod held Saeryn's hands in her own much smaller ones. "Help is on its way," she crooned, much as her mother did for her when she was ill. "Motan went for help..."

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Eodwine sat with Gudryn at his side. Across the wide table stood Ruthven, a demanding look on her face. Falco stood beside her, as the Innkeeper walked toward them.

"Thrown from her horse, no doubt." thought Eodwine aloud. "But why alone? Where was that scoundrel of a brother I left her in the protection of?"

Ruthven spoke hastily. "Who waits beside the girl? A head wound, you say, and that oughtn't be left alone." Bethberry spoke.

"I know as well as you, Ruthven, that bruised heads should not be unaccompanied. I have left her with Mereflod and Motan. They will alert us if any change shows. What most worries me is not the bruise... that will heal. Her memory, however... she does not recognize us."

Eodwine fell into silence, pondering. He had not much liked the lady's twin, but Saeryn had insisted that family was family, and their business must be dealt with in a timely fashion. He had been loathe to part with the girl, leaving her in the company of the prideful young man, but she had assured him she would return within days. She had been so sure that all would go well and swiftly. "Swiftly," he muttered, "but not at all well."

"What do you mean?" asked Gudryn softly. Eodwine explained his last conversation with the Lady Saeryn. Gudryn trembled. "You do not think that Degas would harm her?"

"I do not know, but she lays now unremembering, and her brother is nowhere to be found. But conclusions should not be drawn lightly..." Eodwine trailed off once again.