Intrepid

Chapter 9: Troubles

The fire crackled dimly in the darkness, making shadows. It couldn't have been true. Alice... Is that even her real name? A shadow lurked in front of me. My heart throbbed hard against my chest. 

For a moment I expected something pernicious to happen but it never came. My lungs inhaled a sigh of relief. It was just Mother poking at the fire. 

"Hey sweetheart, you should get some rest. Rhovanion can be a very exhausting journey for some, although I see that I have raised a very capable daughter."

A smile crept up to my lips. "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have come this far. Besides, are we halfway there? It won't take long, will it?"

"I can't be sure, the journey ahead is unpredictable. There are stories about people who took this path and never came back. They better not be true."

I thought for a moment. "Mom? If you're Alice, isn't it an easy task for you?" 

She glanced at the trees behind me, filing through some thoughts in her mind. She seemed to be trying to come up with an explanation and it took her some time to finally say something again.

"My dear, heroes don't always win their battles. Well, sometimes, things just come unexpectedly. And if we're not prepared..." 

She looked at the flames and lifted her eyes back to me, "Alessandra, you should take a break. You've been through a lot. I'll take watch for tonight and you can repay me with the next few nights."

I shook my head in disbelief but smiled. She knelt down beside me, running her fingers through my hair and singing an old lullaby. 

It worked all the time. And it did again. My eyelids grew heavy. The lullaby worked like a charm. Thanks to my mom, I managed to catch the sight of the rising sun after my sound sleep.

"You slept like a baby. It's been a long time since I had a chance to see you sleep so well."

I brushed the dirt off my dress as I stood up and my eyes instantly fell to my feet. It was true. The last time I saw her, I had only recognized her warm smile, and thought nothing much about it.

"Mother, is Edna really..."

"Your sister? Yes, if that's what you're asking. I can't say I regret ever having such a child, since we all make mistakes."

"Mother?"

She looked at me with concern, trying to study my expression. "Is there something bothering you, my dear?"

Well, now that I had brought it up, there was certainly no way I was going to let it go again. "Edna said she had an army in Eriador and... She had threatened me to join her against-"

Father. Had he really loved me? Why did he agree with the marriage proposal without my consent then? I had thought it wasn't a problem anymore, until now.

"Alessandra, Edna has told me all about it and if she has told you that I loved her more than I did towards you, don't be discouraged by her malicious lies. I have loved you both equally and forever will. But your sister has let me down."

That was assuring; She seemed to have read my mind. However, something worried me. After my escape, could Edna have found me that important to send an army in search of me as we spoke?

I hoped against hope that it would be a no. We didn't need more trouble. Well, I was quite sure things would get better. Almost as soon as the thought came into my mind, my worst fear appeared as if on cue.