"Yrchs!" Gondien yelled as we skid to a stop in the courtyard.
Guards sounded a warning call on their horns as Elves from every direction ran from buildings. Gondien helped me down from his horses and hurried me towards the main hall.
"Get inside. You must not leave until we return."
"But what about you?" I asked and grabbed ahold of his arm as he turned to leave.
"They are my men, I must lead them out to dispose of the filth," he snarled.
I dropped my hold with a start and stepped back in surprise. His face held such a look of hatred that it contorted his handsome features, and, honestly, made me a little afraid of him. He did not seem to notice, though, and glanced over his shoulder at the Elves hurrying to form their ranks. An armour clad Elf raced up the steps we were standing on and held out Gondien's bow, as well as his broadsword, which he hurriedly strapped to himself. He pulled the quiver over his shoulder, and for a split second I thought I saw a flash of pain on his face.
I gasped, and pulled on his arm to stop him as he started to follow the soldier down the steps.
"Gondien, your shoulder! You'll rip your stitches if you fight right now!"
He gently grasped my hand in his own. "You'll have to stitch it again, then," he replied with a smirk.
My face burned, and I dropped my gaze to the ground. His hand squeezed my shoulder, and then he was gone in a flurry of movement, yelling commands to the Elves gathering below me.
I watched silently, gnawing my lip, as they set out at a run into the forest. Would they be alright? We did not know how many orcs had been at our borders. They seemed to get braver with each passing month, passing closer by our lands. Arwen had told me they were on their way across the Misty Mountains. Where they were going precisely, we had not heard, and Elrond would tell us each time we asked to not worry about it. Seldom did they come back with severe injuries, but I still worried.
"Esther," a soft hand landed on my shoulder, the same shoulder Gondien had just touched. Tearing my eyes from the woods, I turned and forced a smile on my face.
"Hi, Meril."
"Come inside and change. They won't be back for some time, and I could use your help once they do return."
Glancing once more towards the darkening forrest, I allowed her to lead me out of the chilly air. We walked in silence back to my room, where I changed out of my riding outfit into a warm woolen dress. It was not the typical material used by the Elves. I had noticed that even in the chilling air they tended to wear lighter shoes and clothes. I sighed as I slipped my boots back on under neath my ling skirt and stood to smooth back my hair from the fast ride back.
Unconsciously, my mind drifted back to the feeling of his arm wrapped around me, and his chest pressed to my back. In that moment I had not mentally registered that we were so close, but now that I have a chance to calm down....
My face blazed with color, and I groaned loudly inside of the washroom off of my bedroom.
"Esther?" Meril said from the other side. "Are you alright?"
"Uh, yes, I just, uh, was having a difficult time with these laces," I cringed at the lie and bit my lip, hoping she would not question me any further.
"Alright," her hesitant reply came through the wood door.
Glancing in the mirror, I nearly groaned again at the bright color on my face and rushed to pour a little of the cold water into a basin to cool my burning skin.
YOU ARE READING
Her Resurrection
Fanfiction"My life had changed, and not solely for the better. At least, it did not seem that way at the time." A young woman goes missing in a small southern town. What the residents do not know is that she has not only gone missing from their town...
