chapter - 6

The forests were quiet.A fire was kindled.Elves roamed here and there.A bodily figure was sleeping beside the fire.It demanded attention.Some elves and men tended to the body. Men were crying figuring their lord was dead.Elladan arrived from the forest bearing some herbs.He removed the juice out the herbs, mixed it with water and in a glass poured it.He went and knelt towards the body.

"He is dead.We have to bury him.He will not come back." cried one tears in his eyes. But Hawkhold and the elves were hopeful.It was five days since the battle.And the bodily figure had slept ever since he let out a cry.When the cry was several elves and men came to him and carried him out of the carnage.They looked at his wound.The figures carrying flames came and looked upon him.Their leader being Elladan and the host was elvish.They had tended to him day and night.The men had left hope now.For five days the prince never got up.But Elladan was hopeful.He knew the prince was recovering.He knew there was poison at work inside that ever moved towards his heart.He knew he had to do something quick.For he knew if the poison reached his heart, the prince would die. He had to be saved. The elves were commanded to bring the prince safe back to the west.Elladan had brought west.He had a stock of kingsfoil which the elves called Athelas.They had burnt the kingsfoil leaves and put those on the wound. Now the wound had closed but still the scar remained.Now Elladan put the herbs on the closed wound and said
"Ae stennin El benoratth.Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad"


A wind came from the west and blew away all evil air. warm and full of moisture it touched upon the face of the prince. The prince slowly opened his eyes.His sight was dimmed at first but he could now see clearer and far.He saw Elladan and smiled. He knew they had won.

The prince slowly got up.Pain still lingered in his hand but he felt better.He saw Elladan slowly going and conversing with the elves in a language he could now perfectly understand.
"Mae Govannen Elladan"

The elves were shocked.
"Amazing.How did you learn elvish so fast.We never expected to you to speak elvish so fast and nobody even taught you considering the peril that lingered around.Wea re both shocked and surprised?How come you?"

"I do not even know myself.Elvish words just came in my tongue. Also i can see clearer and farther than i could."

"I am curious to know what transformed you.But i doubt about the west wind.How is your arm now."

"It is better.I can move my arm and the pain is lessening."

"Good."

"I want to know what happened?Why you were delayed?"

"I am sorry my friend. We were delayed.When we marched in the forest from the east,a band of goblins waylaid us.We killed them all but it had become too late.The goblins were planning a separate attack from the east.We got some information out of them.I do not know how but the enemy seems to have information of you every minute.He sends goblins ahead of you without intercepting you or us would be more likely. i do not know why?i do not know his source.i cannot say how the goblins move faster and through what roads?Only the goblins revealed to us that the enemy was carrying out the will of something evil.And the elves of Cuivienen had to be driven out or killed.He also knows that you are in Cuivienen and so you are not safe here.We killed them all who had come in the elveses rear.Then mist delayed us.We could not see ahead and we had to stay.When the mist cleared it was already too late. I do not know what fate had bestowed or willed us. Or was it some dark power at work we did not know. But Cuivienen has many mysteries around it.The mist maybe sent on purpose but by which power i cannot tell.Maybe it was your fate that you should be transformed and if for good then it will be good.When we reached the battle grounds we could see you retreat towards the western borders and there were goblins behind you.We knew we had to light fire otherwise you would all be dead.We with arrows could not stop them.They were too many.With fire we killed all.We saw you fighting with the goblins with an extraordinary skill that we never saw till then.And the fight with the troll also.Then you moved towards us.You let out a cry which seemed glad.We thought you recognized us but then u fell giving such a cry that we felt something bad had happened.You fainted.Hawkhold told me what had transpired.We looked at the wound.It bled profusely.We stopped the blood but you did not seem to awake.We thought there was some poison at work that was working towards your heart.We knew if the poison reached your heart you would be dead.We have skill in healing but even we have to toil a lot to stop the weapons of the enemy.We stopped the poison but could not fathom why you were not getting up?We tried to revive you.Once i felt your hand you were as if dead.There was no life in you.Until today when the west wind came you were lifeless.When the west wind touched your body,life was back to you again,the same wind that you cursed the other day.You have been given life again and are returned from death.You are a lucky man friend though now i shall not call you man. You are elvish kindred now since the transformation.Now that you are well we shall depart soon.The enemy seems to be closer."