3. INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE ROHIRRIM

"Ahch, Haelgin, you've seen better days my friend." Said Sighere as he assisted one his fellow warriors to the main bailey.

The man had been torn up very badly by one of the Gorrinvul. The creature had slashed one of his arms deeply with its claws, but he agonized all the more from where the creature had bit into his neck and shoulder several times.

"It burns, Sighere." The man moaned through grit teeth.

"Do not worry my friend. We've a druid among us who may know of a soothing herb." Consoled Sighere trying to disguise the worry in his voice.

As the passed beneath the inner wall which separated the baileys, Haelgin doubled over and screamed in pain. Quickly, Sighere attempted to assist the man to his feet and shouted, "Augustine! Where is the druid?" He looked to a nearby warrior, "Skaald, seek out the druid."

Haelgin contorted and fell to his knees. He growled like a wounded beast, pushed Sighere away and began to vomit black bile. "By the gods what is happening to me?" the frightened man asked.

Sighere's eyes were wide. "No! It is the sickness." he remarked and instinctively drew his sword.

The change came on fast. In moment's the Rohirrim warrior's flesh turned pale and the vibrant gold of his hair faded to grey. Haelgrin threw his head up and stared at his brothers who had gathered round. His milky coloured eyes had no recognition of them and he snarled with utter hatred.

Sighere's face sobered and he did not hesitate. "Forgive me brother." he said and raised up his sword and cleaved the transformed man in the head. Haelgin slumped to the ground, crimson blood flowing from his skull and did not stir. The lieutenant tore his gaze from his fallen friend and tossed his sword aside in anguish. Steadying himself against a wall, he thrust deep the loss and addressed the men.

"It is the black sickness." he announced, "We all know the legends and it would seem they are true. Take care of where ye have been bitten. If too much of the Gorrinvul's black bile had seeped into the wound, Haelgin's fate could be yours. If ye have been bitten hot steel is the best remedy. All of you check your brothers!"


Othargen pulled his eyes away from the main bailey when Brianna spoke to him. "Uh? Oh, I see nothing." he answered. He was about to comment on the woman's condition when the sound of Haelgin distracted him. Looking over the other side of the rampart, the Dwarf and Brianna watched the transformation occur below.

"Pergann's hammer!" Exclaimed the Dwarf when Sighere struck down his own man, but then the Rohirrim warrior had changed into something else. Some sort of combination between man and Gorrinvul.

Quickly, the Dwarf checked himself for bites, but he did not recall any of the foul creatures sinking their teeth into him. His eyes then darted to the woman.

"Ye dun look well, lassie." Othargren stated, his thick fingers tightening their grip on his axe. "Ye best, go and 'ave someone who knows a thing or two about these beasties take a look at yer wounds."

Othargren stood ready. He did not want to have fight a friend, but if it came down to it, he'd have little choice.

Augustine had only just entered the main hall of the keep when a young man came running.
"Augustine, come quick, Haeglin is very sick!"

The druid followed the young man only to round the corner to see Sighere cut the white eyed man down.

"It's the black sickness..." Sighere said glumly. He instructed the men to check one another for bites.

"If anyone is bitten, I have some medicine." Augustine announced.
Deep in a secret pocket the druid still carried the small vial of luminous blue water the Nymph had given him. He had used it once before to heal Ssinjin, and once before for himself. The druid was not sure if the mysterious water would heal 'the black sickness' but it was worth a try.

Augustine did not produce the vial yet, it was a powerful and rare thing and had never shown it to anyone but Lac'Nala and Ssinjin.

"Anyone in need is welcome to it." The druid said quietly.

He looked to the floor at Sighere's feet laid the dead man, he no longer resembled the rosy-cheeked fair haired man he was only a short time ago, his skin was the color of ash and his hair was white/gray. His face was sunken, his hands now ended in thin long claw like fingers.

Fear gripped the druid, he would see to anyone that needed healing and then treat his own wound with the Nymph's water.

Another young man came forward.
"Miss Rodreven is hurt sir, she needs looking after."

"Take me to her, and I will see what can be done."

The kid took off quickly and led the way up to where Brianna was, she looked pale sitting near the Dwarf.

"Brianna, where are you wounded? Have you been bitten?"

Ceolwulf had only just arrived on the scene when the druid announced that may have a way to tend to the black sickness. Before he whisked away after one of his men in search of Brianna, the tall man laid a hand on Augustine's shoulder and held him place.

He nodded gratefully but then stated grimly to his men, "The medicine must be used sparingly, saved for when we need it most. All of you who have been bit will put fire to flesh, this I know will purge one of the sickness. The poison is slow, else one is gnawed upon as Haeglin was." Turning once more to the druid then he bowed once more, "My thanks to you, Augustine. Surely the gods have steered your course to bring you to us. After you have tended those in need please tend to the last rites of those in the main bailey. Speak your words that their fiery steeds will run fierce and true to those that await them."

Ceolwulf then patted the druids shoulder a few times and released him to his duties but as Augustine made his way up the rampart to where the warrior had last seen the lady Brianna with the Dwarf the lord followed.

"Augustine." called the lord when the druid was midway up the four flights of stairs that lead up to the inner rampart, "A word if you please."

Lord Ceolwulf stood before the druid, his cape flowing in the wind. He motioned for the Rohirrim guide to continue on up, then his deep blue eyes fell upon Augustine. He was an imposing man and the gratitude and praise he had only just extended to the druid had melted back into his usual grim and serious expression. "Did you see how the Gorrinvul were drawn to the gate at the back of the fortress? They know that your companions seek Kallus. They know that we seek a way to destroy them while the rest of Rohan cowers at their fires and hide in their beds. I tell you this because I suspect that we may have a spy among us. Be on guard."

Ceolwulf then left once more and allowed the druid to tend to Brianna.



Staring out over the vast web, Sorrelwind's thoughts drifted back to the temple. The dark spires of the mountain peaks rose up behind the Deithir and cool Autumn wind played with his hair. Shirtless the talisquetric tattoos were plainly visible upon his ivory flesh, winding round his thin waist that expanded into a wide and powerful torso. He stood before a rectangular pool of water it's still surface a mirror reflecting the blue sky above. Across the pool were stretched several silken strings shining in the sun light, each one foot a part, sixty for the length and thirty the width. Each barely strong enough to support the weight of squirrel and yet at the center sat the enormous figure of master Tenshal, his legs folded beneath him, the strings hardly flexing.

Master Tenshal was a Kymir of the Tayven type. Of their kind there were two, the other being the Drensa who appeared much like an Aethiad, Daeyel or Deithir, but possessed the markings and colouration characteristics of a specific animal type. They were accepted amongst the Aethiad, their societies not unlike the Men of Middle Earth, while the Tayven were often shunned as they were the more bestial of the two.

Tenshal bore the head and overall size of a lion with the beautiful markings of tiger mixed into his thick golden mane. His humanoid torso was covered by a thin layer of fur, which was like Sorrelwind, tattooed with talisquestry that magically coloured the fur as well as the skin beneath. Were it not for the flow of his mane in the wind he would have appeared as a golden idol in the amber light of dawn, sitting cross legged his great paw-like hands relaxed, their padded palms upward.

Sorrelwind eagerly approached the pool. It was his first time at the 'pool of winds' and only those students endowed with the skills to master the technique ever set eyes upon it. He was one of the few privileged bards to study wind-walking with the legendary Tenshal but he could not boast that it was skill alone that brought him to that mystical place. He was the first Phaerie in a thousand years to be accepted into the Temple of Falling Leaves, and since his kind were naturally gifted with the wind-walking talent he always knew that one day he would stand at the edge of the sacred pool.

As the Deithir bowed humbly to the back of the giant master, Tenshal opened his jade green eyes. "Good morning." he greeted in a deep growling voice.

"Good morning, master." Sorrelwind repeated.

"You sound very confident." Observed the master, a slight grin tugging at the pads of his feline face, "Let us begin. Cross the pool."

Sorrelwind pondered the task, surprised by its ease but then thought that the master might just want to observe his technique so he leapt onto a thread. Then using the winds around him to push his weightless body, floated through the air, skipping upon cushions of air, his feet barely touching upon the threads. As drew near to Tenshal, the Kymir rose to his feet with incredible quickness, the thread flexing beneath his massive form but not breaking. His speed while weightless was both surprising and puzzling to the Deithir and as he sailed by the master summoned a gust of wind that tossed him back a ways but the Phaerie knew how to deal with the winds. He simply turned the elements around and used their energy to propel him further, a solution that seemed to impress the master but he was far from done. He leapt backward, arching high over Sorrelwind and once more landed upon the threads, causing them to flex ever so slightly beneath his controlled weight. Tenshal leapt into the air, then thrust a paw toward the Phaerie, striking him with a release of prana that pushed him back with such force that he skipped off of the threads and landed back to where he had begun. Again he proceeded forward and again the master threw him back. He tried this several times until he realized that only way he could countermand the force of the prana was to manipulate his weight, becoming his normal mass then becoming light once more before breaking the threads. Sorrelwind did this and was able to deflect the wave of force but in doing so was unable in time to slow his descent and broke through a thread and several more and into the water he went.

In time, Sorrelwind had become quite an expert at re-stringing the threads, but he also learned that the 'pool of winds' was about the control of energy in its purest form. Learning to utilize the powers of prana was the only way he would cross the pool, but that was only the first trial.

After the battle and the wounded had been moved to a chamber in the keep. Lac knelt next to a young wounded Rohirian warrior, softly speaking "Wenhirartin Gulrilastracuraest hiemastrisor borloneldsatsayevdil moreva lorevtor intae boreth golrelalnartynestda tiroth tynhinisasor borrinanvalkelda welatharelrelitholren .... laeethatyn hirimsay wisossauthunirdilstar borelda haleldaartlirethadae , huristsat hamethaanraytil beareth maearthdaeev sattynrilornelgal. loneldtar hinistsata laeistifaeeva bearelda silpalartharaeestday." (TRANSLATION: What Grace has blessed me let it be granted to this brave warrior .... let his wounds be healed , his heart be made strong. Let his life be spared. ) as he passed his hand over the warrior's wounded arm and squeezed a potion from a soaked gauze, slowly over the wound.

"Is someone there?"
Hap said sharply, a note of true fear in his quivering voice.

The hobbit strained his eyes but it was no good, he simply could not see anything. Hap had not heard anything for the drow were near silent as they approached but the hairs on the halfling's neck were standing on end and fear was washing over him.

"I say is anyone there?" Hap asked again.

With a wave of his hand Verin produced a small red orb of light that hung suspended in the air near the hobbit. The light it produced was the color of blood but it allowed the hobbit to see, Hap shielded his unprepared eyes from the orbs red light.

"Who is there?, I can't see you..." Hap stuttered, his hands still shielding his eyes.

Pytha watched with delight as Verin turned one of his many rings, as the Drow spun the ring a column of black smoke began to rise from the floor of the passage just behind Pytha. The drow woman spun around, her red eyes flickered in the dark. The smoke danced on the ground like a snake at the center of the smoke forms began to appear, Pytha could just make out their outlines.

The shapes of three large canine animals stepped from the smoke, the animals were white as snow, they were half as high as a man and eyeless and blind.

"I thought that they were all gone cousin..." Pytha said clearly impressed with Verin's apports.

"Almost all gone Pytha, behold the Naut'kyn ikal'daka, the blind hunters of Under Dark."

The animals stalked past Pytha and Verin hissing and growling as they ran at the hobbit.

Jin observed the spider web before her. While it wasn’t a web spun by the spiders that dwelled within the darkness of the tunnels, it was created to honor them…and no doubt the black hearted Goddess who controlled them. But Jin’s admiration was also an analytical one. While these ropes, woven to resemble that of a web, looked like it was rather easy to just step up on them and get to the suspended island in the center, she knew they were the most deadly trap of all; complacency. They were meant to draw one in and build a sense of false confidence only to send them to their death just when they thought they had beaten the webbed ropes.

Her red eyes studied each rope carefully and she knew that stepping on or using these ropes to get to the island was not what they should use. Remembering how easily Tiphereth kept up with the others and it seemed as though he walked on the air, Jin let a small grin ease her features.

”To use these woven ropes would be certain death. At least, if we put pressure on them. But they will lead us to that island in the center. How do you feel about using the ability of yours to walk on air? I will be able to do almost the same thing, although not as elegantly as you. Once we reach the island, be prepared. We will be walking into the lair of Kallus herself and she will NOT be pleased. I cannot say for certain what she will have waiting for us, but do not think she is totally alone. I have a feeling she has some surprises up her sleeves.”

Jin looked at the rope webbing once more and the island set in the center of the ‘web’ then looked back to Tiphereth and smiled.

”Shall we?”

Jalisa stepped back away from Elogart to allow his fellow warrior comrades the chance to talk to him and find out what happened to him. As she gave them all room, she watched the human woman that had been traveling with Lac’Nala. She could smell the fresh blood and Jalisa began to follow her. Her eyes observed Brianna carefully and noticed the blood dripping from a wound in her side. Oh now, she thought to herself. This sure as HELL can’t be good.

Just then a sound caught her attention and she saw Sighere and another of his fellow men and saw the way the man had been transformed by the bite of one of the Gorrinvul. Jalisa looked at the fallen man Sighere killed then to Brianna. Then again for a second round. With a sense of dread Jalisa realized what happened to Brianna and she quickly watched where the woman was going.

As Jalisa heard Ceolwulf explain about the ‘black sickness’ and told how to purge it from their bodies she knew it was only a matter of time before Brianna fell victim to the Gorrinvul poisoning. But something else was bugging Jalisa. There was something about the way the Gorrinvul decomposed and the way their blood seeped into the ground so quickly. She couldn’t exactly put her finger on it, but she knew there as something different about that. Something…..other worldly about it.

Finally she moved again following Brianna. Following the scent of the fresh blood, Jalisa saw the blood droplets on the ground and when she came to the wall, she looked up to see Brianna talking to the dwarf. Scaling the ladder, Jalisa walked quietly up to Brianna and the dwarf. Her eyes scanned Brianna carefully and she saw dark circles forming around the woman’s eyes. Already Jalisa could hear the strain her heart was having to keep up with her body. Knowing Augustine had a spell or something that could aid Brianna, she turned and searched for the robed druid. Seeing him make his way towards Brianna, Jalisa followed aong quietly behind.

Jalisa knelt near Brianna as Augustine approached to see what he could do for the woman. As Jalisa heard Brianna turn down the help, she snorted and looked to Brianna. Her brows furrowed and her words were not all that gentle.

"Have you gone daft, woman? Do you want to end up like that poor, hapless soul Sighere had to cut down? Or go through what Ceolwulf suggests? As long as you've been ripped open, that poison has circulated through your body now. What ever the druid can do for you will be much better than having your side cauterized. Listen to what I'm saying, Brianna. Let the druid help you. Now."


Jalisa’s eyes took on an eerie look for just a quick second when she said the word ‘now’ and Brianna would find herself wanting to do as Jalisa was requesting her to do. It was a form of hypnosis dragons were gifted with when they needed something done and had to call upon the smaller beings of the land to do it for them. All Around them the warriors had ceased what they were doing and watched the two women, paying particular attention to Brianna when they head Jalisa barked at her that she was infected.

Brianna watched as the warrior changed and was swiftly taken from his misery by Sighere's sword. Watching him fling his sword away from him, she felt for the warrior with a ready smile. She knew it would have been extremely hard to have to strike down one's friend. She then looked at Orthargren as he spoke and drew his axe. It became clear to her that he was worried that she too would change and she listened as Ceowulf voice carried up to her about the black sickness and how one would get it. She knew that it was the Gorrinvul's claws that had ripped open her side, but she had no idea if there'd been any black blood on those claws or any that would have splattered to the wounds as she became enraged when she cut down as many as she could.

She smiled when she heard Augustine having sunk to the floor of the rampart by then the pain of her wounds which was getting worse by the minute.

"Just mere scratches, Augustine. You should see to your arm first for I saw you reenter the keep holding it. Please, care for yourself first so that you may attend the others that have need of you."

She sat there, her dark green eyes imploring him to give himself aide first even though she had no idea that he'd been bitten. Her face paled more as another wave of burning lanced through the three gouges. There definately had to have been something on the creature's claws to cause this acidic burning, she only hoped it wasn't what had turned the young warrior down below.

Brianna found herself wanting to do as Jalisa said and as she looked at Augustine, she was going to allow him to treat her when she shook her head. She wanted to let the monk treat her, but there were others in more need, at least she thought so. When she heard the silence, she looked at the men who were now staring up at them.

"Jalisa, I have only been scratched, albeit deep but not bitten. Others have been bitten and have less time than I have. Let Augustine treat them first. If I have to go through being cauterized then so be it, we will be moving on, they will not. They will being staying here after we have left and will need all the men they can keep alive."

As she spoke, her breathing was becoming labored. When Jalisa looked at her and again repeated that she allow the monk to treat her, using her hypnotic ability, Brianna was too weak to fight it. She turned her head to Augustine and lifted her tunic to reveal the three deep gouges in her left side right at her ribs. The wounds themselves were about 4 inches long and the skin around them was turning black.

Augustine stepped forward to have a look at the wound, the three scratches were dark in color, the wound looked painful. Augustine reached into his robes and produced the small glass bottle. The bottle was only two or three inches tall with a small stopper in the top. The bottle held only two or three ounces of the crystal blue liquid, it looked like water but it was colored bright blue.

As the druid brought the bottle forth it seemed to glow, the glow faded when Augustine pulled the stopper from the small bottle.

"Drink this Brianna, do not be afraid it is water from a sacred place. This water is the purest there is, it will give you comfort."

Augustine gave the small vial over to the dark haired woman.

Brianna looked at the small vial and what little liquid was in it. Others needed this as well so she took the vial and took only a small sip. It was warm as it went down her throat and then a warmth began to spread throughout her body as she lay her had back along the wall of the rampart and closed her eyes. She had no idea what this liquid would do, but she knew that she trusted Augustine. Opening her eyes, she looked at him.

"Now you, monk. You need to care for yourself as well so that you can care for the others."

The ghost white canines padded silently down the passage, their feet made no sound but they announced their arrival with terrifying snarls and strange hissing as they came to the hobbit. One of the Naut'kyn ikal'daka slipped past the halfling, the other two moved up and completed the circle around the small creature. The blind wolves began to yip, hiss and snarl the sound was something out of a nightmare.

The hobbit pulled his legs to his chest and put his face down into his knees, he made no sound as he tried to hold still in hopes that the three beasts would let him be.

One of the dogs came forward and shoved at the hobbit with it's snout, the other two sniffed and hissed as Hap fell to his side. The halfling began to sob as the animals circled around him, each taking turns sniffing and pawing at him.


"These creatures are pathetic, these shinduago can't last but a few moments down here, separated from their beloved sun they are like newborn younglings."
Verin said with disgust as he watched the Naut'kyn ikal'daka growing more aggressive. The wolves were taking turns snapping at the hobbit, each time they tore at his clothing tearing pieces of his cloak, shirt and leggings away with each bite.

Pytha watched these events with glee, she had always admired Verin, he was unafraid to punish intruders and enemies of Under Dark with extreme prejudice. Pytha smiled wide, her eyes glittering red in the dark tunnel.

"Stop this Verin, this is not the way it is done." Lunazul snapped as she came up behind Pytha.
"We destroy all who trespass here, we do not toy with them like beasts,"

Luna glared at her sibling, rage was smoldering behind her crimson eyes, it burned at her sister. Pytha looked away from her sister and back to Verin.

"No cousin, this a fair turn of events, these fat and lazy things come here with no hesitation, they think that there is nothing left to fear in dark places. We will remind them to fear us."
Verin said with no emotion.

Pytha nodded as Verin spoke, she looked to the three wolves, one had a hold of the hobbit and was dragging him across the stone while the others yipped and hissed.

"This is our world and we are bound by the will of the great goddess, she would not approve of these tactics." Lunazul said attempting to appeal to his sense of duty.

"The goddess no longer speaks to me cousin, I am bound by no one's will but my own."
Verin said with his back to Lunazul, his arms were crossed over his chest as he watched the Naut'kyn ikal'daka playing tug of war with the halfling.

"It will be a long while before they tire of this sport."
He said with a smile.

"I demand that you finish this cousin, do not force the eyes of the goddess to look away from us."
Luna said loudly.

Verin was silent as he watched the wolves.

"Pytha, finish this!" Luna barked, her sibling looked at Verin and then back to Luna. For a moment it seemed that the drowess had decided to disregard her sisters words, but then she pushed past Verin and approached the halfling.

The blind wolves backed away from the woman as she came near. Pytha crouched over the hobbit and stroked his forehead.

"It's okay small one, Pytha is here now."
The hobbit was bleeding but he still lived, he opened his tear streaked eyes and looked at Pytha.

She cradled him like a child, slipping her left arm behind his head, her right arm was at her side. Pytha raised her right arm and slid her dagger into his side. The poison blade was treated with enough venom to kill a full grown man, the hobbit went limp, his small eyes closed as he slumped to one side. His arm drooped to the ground, his hand opened and out fell the dragon earring.

Tiphereth nodded to Jin then turned once more to look across the immense web. It was true that he possessed the power of flight, many of his kind did, but he had perfected it. Still, something troubled him.

"Would Kallus have not accounted for those creatures endowed with the power of flight?" He inquired of the Drowess. "You yourself have learned the magic enabling you to become light, an incantation that others may also know."

The Deithir stepped close to the edge of the precipice. "Stay here." he asked of Jin.

Sorrelwind had caught sight of something. Something fast. An elemental perhaps? He couldn't be sure, not without testing his theory. Taking of his shoulder satchel, he dropped it behind him and leapt out into the air. He ascended at normal rate, reached the apex of his arch then fell at a great speed, like a diving hawk. As he soared down toward the web, the winds began to stir. A great gust tossed the Drowess' white hair and the giant web began to ripple as it bent and flexed from the turbulent air conditions within the enormous cavern.

As Tiphereth crossed over the web he saw it! At first it was only visible to his eyes, a faint outline of a great wind elemental, then as it grew in strength and neared the trespasser, Jin could see the massive form of spider comprised of misty air current appear before the Deithir. Sorrelwind, landed upon the web and thrust himself backward, just as the elemental lunged forward, but still he was caught within it's powerful gusts. He was thrown backward like a rag doll, but managed to right himself and land upon the wall, then push himself upward tumbling back over the edge to stand before Jin once more. Without hesitation, then he leapt into the air once more, but this time without becoming light or the use of wind-walking. He landed upon one of the great supporting strands and nothing happened, then walking a few more steps, the air elemental still did not attack. Out of curiousity, Tiphereth reached over with a foot and touched one of the smaller connecting webs and at that moment, the elemental rushed out, nearly knocking the Deithir off of great strand.

Tiphereth made his way back, leapt back up to the narrow ledge and collected his satchel.

"It seems that we must travel by foot across the greater strands." He said to JIn, "I fear, however, that we may yet meet more challenges on the way. Perhaps something that will try and drive us into the path of the great wind spider. We must be on guard."

Augustine was unsure how much good the Nymph's water would do, it had always done exactly was what was needed but this 'black sickness' was something he and the Nymph could not have foreseen.

Brianna drank a small sip, the druid held her tunic open above the wound, the dark color of the wound began to turn red and pink again. The torn flesh of her side slowly pulled together, the wound did not simply fade, it began to knit right before their eyes. The lacerations closed slowly, the damage was growing smaller. The marks did not completely leave her side, small scars remained but the wounds color was good and there was no more bleeding.

Augustine lowered the woman's tunic with care.
"How do you feel now Brianna? Has the burning ceased?"

Pain gripped the druid as he spoke, he clutched at his own wound. His arm was turning an ill color, Augustine dropped to his knees, he held his sleeve over the bite mark.

A rush of burning pain traveled up his arm, it felt as if a snake had bitten him in the neck.

Augustine dropped his wounded arm in his lap, he held his good arm out in front of him.

"I will drink the water, i will not allow you to burn my flesh."
Augustine said to everyone present, there was a hint of a threat in his words, his face was a mask of pain.

Jalisa watched as Augustine withdrew the vial of water from his robes. She recognized it immediately and her eyes grew wide and she gasped softly. The Druid was truly blessed to have such a gift for the Nymph’s didn’t just give this sort of thing away. Best of all, Augustine seemed to use it only when absolutely necessary and sparingly.

As Brianna’s wounds began to heal right before their eyes, the Rohan warriors gasped and whispered amongst themselves. Unfortunately, Jalisa also heard rumblings about why should they suffer the pain of cauterization when they had this miracle liquid. When Brianna’s wounds were healed and Jalisa saw the color returning to the woman’s face, she knew Brianna would be fine. But it was Augustine she was most concerned with now.

The bite the Druid had received was affecting him now and as Augustine sat back as the wave of pain gripped him, Jalisa let her knowing gaze slide around to the gathered Rohirrim. Seeing how things could get out of hand quickly, Jalisa stepped up beside Augustine and let her gaze settle on his. Her words were spoken softly, for his ears alone and unlike Brianna, Jalisa didn’t try to use her hypnotic ability on the Druid knowing he would be able to tell what she was doing.

”Do what you must, Druid. I will make sure they do not take that which belongs to you.”

Her eyes had a strange look to them but all too quickly they returned to the strange blue they always looked like. As she stood up, a few of the Rohirrim gathered around and Jalisa stood between them and Augustine. A slow smile eased over her features but there was something about the smile that looked as though it were a silent challenge for any one thinking of possibly taking the vial from the Druid.

”Gentlemen….I believe you have been charged with checking each other to make sure you are not infected by this….sickness. Perhaps you should do that. And be thorough. Now.”

Once more her eyes took on an eerie look to them when she said the word ‘Now’ and within moments, the warriors began checking themselves......very thoroughly.

As the gust of air rushed past her, Jin immediately pulled one of her daggers and glanced around looking for the enemy she couldn’t see. To be a creature of a dark world and be able to see everything except for this was disconcerting to say the least. But as she watched the Deithir as he moved about the web then saw the elemental spider as it lunged for him, Jin gasped softly.

”By the Goddess….”

She was prepared for almost everything…..but an elemental guardian. If she had dared use her powers to make herself light as air, she would have fallen victim to the elemental spider and plummeted to her death. When Tiphereth landed back on the ledge with her, Jin slipped her dagger back into its hiding place and clasped his shoulder.

”I owe you, friend. Had you not been here with me, I would have gone through with my initial plan. We both know how that would have turned out.”

Looking out over the giant web once more, Jin carefully placed her booted foot on one of the anchoring ropes and tested its stability. Looking to where the air elemental was still crouched and waiting, Jin carefully placed her other foot on the rope and began a slow, creeping move forward. Crouching to maintain a low center of gravity, the Drowess clenched her jaw and whispered to her companion.

”When we get back to the surface, we will look back on this and laugh at the fun we had. But right now, I find no humor in this.”

Her eyes would glance down at her feet but most of her concentration was on the spider that was the owner of this webbed home. Her senses were on high alert for as Tiphereth told her, they needed to be on guard for anything and Jin had a vivid imagination of what could be lying in wait for them and the outcome of that encounter. And the outcome wasn’t in favor of her or Tiphereth. She prayed silently her Goddess would find favor in her and Tiphereth and help them get to Kallus without incident but somehow Jin knew that wasn’t going to be the case.

As the wounded began to rest and their wounds were dressed and bound, Lac stood up slowly. His face revealed the tiredness that slowy engulfed him. He moved slowly amongst the wounded and made his way out of the healing chamber. As he walked into the courtyard his eyes fell upon Augustine and Jalisa standing in front of him as some of the Rohirian began to gather around them. Lac's soon stepped up behind Augustine and Jalisa and looked out on the gathering Rohirian's, his hand resting on the pummel of his sword, his eyes were cold and dark. An unspoken challenge could be seen in his expression, to anyone that dared to interfere with Augustine or challenge Jalisa, as he stepped to stand beside Jalisa. .............. It was then that Jlisa spoke and the Rohirian wariors began to examine eachother for wounds.

No one was going to burn the druid, Augustine would not allow it. He had been burned before and although the physical wounds were gone, other unseen scars still ran deep.

Like a tattoo, streaks of black could be seen creeping across the druid's arm. Augustine finally pulled his sleeve from the wound, several of the Rohirrim gasped and grumbled at the sight of the bite mark. The wound was black, the dark infection radiated out from the wound.

Reaching out to Brianna Augustine spoke through gritted teeth.

"I will drink now."
Augustine took the vial and sipped the ice cold water, his pain began to leave his arm right away. The wound shrank away and within a few seconds was not but a small blemish on the druid's arm. Augustine breathed deep as comfort washed over him, he was nodding in relief as he put the small stopper back into the top of the bottle.

He got back on his feet and faced the gathered Rohirrim, Lac'Nala had come and was standing at his side, the druid nodded to the Half-Elf. Jalisa was facing the warriors, her eyes glittered in the gloom and the men began to check each other for similar wounds. They seemed as if they had been commanded, looking at the sapphire eyed woman Augustine though it strange how she so easily compelled them.
"There is medicine for all who are in need..." He said breathlessly to the men.

Jalisa glanced at Lac’Nala and nodded when he came to stand beside her as she shielded Augustine from the possible backlash from the Rohirrim warriors. When she heard the Druid’s voice, she turned and gave him a hard look then blinked and put a friendly smile on her face.

”Wonderful, Augustine. Wonderful.”

She nodded her head and turned to Lac’Nala then smiling even more.

”Well….now that the crisis is in a lull right now, I think I’ll see about getting something to drink and make sure these fellows are hydrated as well.”

As Jalisa walked away it would seem strange to someone with a critical eye for detail that she still looked as fresh as she did when they first met her. While the others that had battled the Gorrinvul were tired and had torn, battered and blood stained clothing, Jalisa was rather clean and showed no signs of fatigue.

As she got to the ladder that would allow her to get back to the ground, she glanced at Lac’Nala once more and smiled. Leaning over to grab a hold of the rails of the ladder, something dangled from around her neck. It wasn’t very big but what ever it was dangled from a delicate chain of silver.

Descending the ladder, Jalisa looked around when she was back on the ground. Spying the water barrel, she located a bucket and ladle then filled up the bucket with water and made her way to the Rohirrim warriors making sure they had a good drink before she moved to the next one. As she reached each warrior she would give them all good praises for their efforts and offer a bright smile as well. An odd site, no doubt, but Jalisa was proving more and more she was a rather odd person.

Lac watched as Jalisa started to climb down the ladder, his eye caught the sight of a delicate silver chain and the flash of something silver and emerald dangling from it. As he was close and blocking anyone's view of her decending the ladder he was sure that he alone had seen the chain and emerald and silver pendant that hung from it.
After she had reached the bottom of the ladder and walked to the water cask, Lac climbed down the ladder as well.

Brianna was amazed to feel that her wound no longer burned but she became angry when she saw Augustine's bite wound. He had cared for her before himself and he was the one who had what they needed to heal those who'd been infected. She instantly handed him the vial and was glad to see his own wound heal, but she was still livid with him for risking himself.

She stood up and saw Lac standing there next to Jalisa and then Jalisa left and Lac followed a few minutes later. She turned to look at Augustine, her green eyes hard.

"I appreciate what you just did for me, Augustine, I truly do. But you are the one who had the vial and you'd been bitten. You should have taken care of yourself before me as you are needed to heal."

Turning, Brianna left him standing there and climbed down the ladder to the ground below, letting Augustine deal with the men who needed his help. She looked around her as she stepped down off of the ladder and was instantly unsure as to what to do. Her grief was beginning to consume her and she turned away from everyone and headed back to the stable. She was thinking about what had become of her adopted parents and prayed that they'd died and not been changed into a Gorrinvul. If they had, would she recognize them and if she recognized them, would she be able to kill them?

A few steps more and the great spider of swirling air vanished, but both the Drowess and the Deithir knew that they need only set foot upon the smaller connecting webs to summon it. So long as they treaded upon the greater supporting strand, the beast seemed to stay at bay. Once again this troubled, Sorrelwind. Why would the most obvious and easiest path allow safe passage?

"Owe?" The Phaerie repeated, pondering the Drowess' choice of wording, "I absolve you of the debt." he told her with a very serious tone, then he noted the puzzled look in Jin's eyes and quickly realized she was merely expressing her gratitude.

"Oh, forgive me, Jin. I misunderstood. You are very welcome." he corrected.

Walking further along the large fibrous rope, Sorrelwind considered it was most like walking along a fallen tree, only the surface was far smoother. Though he could see little detail in the rope by his 'dark-sight', he figured that attempting to cut it or even the smaller stands would probably be very difficult.

The rock island was growing closer now. They had walked a quarter of the distance when both of them were alerted to the sound of soft foot steps padding along the giant rope ahead of them. Strangely, though whatever approached them did not throw off a lot of heat and soon they would know why.

The creatures were dark skinned, their flesh a deep blue colour, but Sorrelwind would not be able to specifically determine that in the dark. To him, they appeared as Drow, black skinned with glowing red eyes, but they were far from. They were much larger, taller than Tiphereth by a head, with long lanky bodies and wiry limbs. Whatever they were, they were hairless and each one of the six creatures carried jet black scimitars. They gripped their weapons with three fingered hands and held fast to the rope beneath them with three toed feet.

Sorrelwind drew his knives and crouched low. "What are they?" he asked the Drowess.

Never before had the Phaerie encountered such creatures. They moved so fluidly, Tiphereth figured they were good climbers, and noted that one of them slid down and stepped onto one of the smaller ropes that ran perpendicular to the larger. The great spider did not appear, but one could hear it stirring. What ever the creatures were, they were in league with the elemental spider.

Lac waited paciently until Jalisa was alone and no one was near to hear them speak. He bowed his head in respect and said softly ... "Jalisa might I have a word with you in private?" without waiting for her replay he gently guided her to a more secluded place. "I do not meant to pry, but I could not help but notice the pendant that hangs around your neck. I saw it as you climbed down the ladder." Lac said soflty. "Two dragons of silver facing each other, one charred black and the other a briliant silver with an emerald heart between." Lac then spoke softly again in a strange language "Si vucot di ergriff ir di nomenoi. Si tepoha ti saubwa coi li si jahus vi vrak. coi jahus belhala ekess sia protector, vi drangon vucat lae Loki. Nomag si tor svanoa wux confna ini coi?" As Lac's finger lightly touched the pendant, his eyes looked pleadingly into Jalisa's.

Jalisa wondered what was of such importance that Lac would need to guide her to a place no one else was around. Glancing down at his hand where it touched her arm then back up at the Ranger’s face, she arched a fine brow and let him guide her.

When they reached the place Lac felt secure to speak to her, Jalisa looked down to see the pendent that had slipped from under her shirt. Quickly sliding it back beneath the shirt, she looked to Lac, furrowing her brows. She hadn’t meant for the thing to be seen and now, her mission just might be in jeopardy.

But when he spoke the strange language, Jalisa’s expression totally changed. Her brows slowly rose and she blinked, completely surprised he would know the language so well. Then again, she should have expected as much. Still, to hear the language spoken by another other than the ones whose language it is native to surprised her.

Jalisa’s eyes held Lac’s for a moment before she spoke in the same hushed tone he used.

” Vucot batobot wux re still protected, lac'nala. Tangis sjek Loki ui ti leirith wux.”

Reverting to the common tongue, she nodded slightly.

”I was sent to insure you make it to Oron_D_Narr safely. It’s the least I could do to repay what Loki has done for me. It’s a mission that will be completed. Even if I have to take you there myself.”

Her intense blue eyes seemed to take on a strange look to them for a moment before returning to normal. It was clear if things grew dire she would not hesitate to make sure Lac’Nala was returned to Oron_D_Narr how ever she needed to accomplish the task.

Lac smiled at Jalisa and said softly "Fear not my friend your secret is safe with me. I know that if you pocesses that pendant you are indeed a trusted friend of Loki and therefore of mine. I shall protect you as well. ....... But tell me is Loki well? ....... I would advise that you take care not to reveal that pendant to any others at this time." Lac then turned slightly and said "Shall we join the others, there is much work to do. The Gorrinvul force that attacked us was but a scouting party. I feel that we has seen but a small portion of their force. They do not suffer defeat easily." With that said he guided Jalisa back out to the courtyard. "We have brave, fallen warriors to honor this night."