Chapter V: Reaching Mengolion
Darkness fells as they reached land, hours later. They climbed onto shore, and after he rested a minute, Jaramiah looked around. Mihanna laid on her back, and took deep breaths. “I don't know where we are, besides on land.” He said, kneeling down to her. He helped her up, and she looked at him. “Well,” she said, looking away. “what do we do now?” she asked. “Well,” Jaramiah began, looking around also. “if we head into the forest, I'm sure we can find a place to spend the night.” he said, walking in front of her. “Well,” she said, with a slight laugh. “lead the way, captain.” he lead her into the forest, where they found a big Oakailian tree, under which they fell asleep. Meanwhile, Ragar and his men were just reaching shore. They were soaked, and cold. There was a troop waiting for them, and they were surprised to see their master's appearance. After words were said, they lead him to a spot, where there were foot prints from the water. “This is good.” Ragar said, wrapping himself up with a blanket. “They left prints. When it is light, follow these prints.” he said, turning away and heading for the wagon that was waiting to take them to the castle. Hours later, Jaramiah woke up, and saw Mihanna's head laying on his shoulder. He smiled. He gently got up, and walked out of the forest. The moon-light shone on him, as he looked up at the sky. “I have found her, Father” he said, looking up still. “I will do my best to protect her, and keep her safe. But it would be easier if you were here, to give me advise.” he continued, lowering his head. “She is counting on me, to take her home. And I mustn't let her down again.” he said, looking back up. He waited for a minute. “I have a feeling when I'm with her, that I've never felt before. I think, I think I love her, father.” then turned and, looking back one more time, went back in the forest. When he got to the tree, ha saw Mihanna had rolled over, and was in a deep, tender sleep. He knelt down to her. “Rest peacefully.” he said, putting his hand on her head. Then he turned, and left her, to go look around. The night went on, and Mihanna never woke up. The next morning, she got up, and looked around, but did not see him anywhere. He had not come back yet. She wondered, then decided to wait. She waited for almost an hour. Then she left the tree and went in search of him. Mihanna called his name all through the forest. But Jaramiah never heard her once, for he was high above her, in a tower of stone. Ragar had found him, early in the morning, around the castle. His solders had almost shot him, but he told them not to. “Tell us where she is, and it will be easier on your part.” He said, looking out the window, then back at him. Jaramiah didn't answer, he just thought. “It would be wise.” he said, with a caulk of his head. Jaramiah still said nothing.”Fine!” Ragar said, growing impatient. “Since you said nothing freely; you will tell me everything, under threat.” he shouted, calling solders in the room. “Tell us where she is, or when they do find her, they'll kill her!” he said. Jaramiah stood up. “No!” he shouted. “Then tell us, now.” Jaramiah lowered his head. “She's sleeping under the big Oakailian tree, just inside the forest.” he said, sitting back down, and putting his face in his hands. “Good.” Ragar said, his tone growing softer. “I see you have a soft spot in your heart for her.” he turned to his solders, and said: “Go then. To the Oakailian tree, on the west side of the forest.” they left, and Ragar looked at Jaramiah one last time before closing the door. Then Jaramiah was left alone, walking around, and strengthening his legs. About an our later, the solders returned, and informed Ragar that she was not there. Ragar stormed up to the tower room, and opened the door. “She wasn't there!” he yelled. Jaramiah looked confused. “Well she was when I left.” he said. “But that must be nigh on five hours ago.” he said, thinking. Just then a solder walked in. “Sir,” he began, saluting him. “we have found the girl, on the east side of the forest. Shall we fetch her?” he asked. “Yes.” Ragar replied. “And go by horse this time. So I'm not left waiting as long as before.” The solders left, and Jaramiah was once again left alone. This time he thought of a plan. It was almost dark, when Mihanna looked up at the sun-set, and sighed. It was absolutely beautiful. “I wonder where he is.” She said, the sunlight splaying about her. She felt renewed, and alive. Her hair blew in the gentle wind. Then she heard the snap of a twig, and quickly turned. There was nothing in plain sight, but she knew she was being watched. She walked on, occasionally hearing other snaps, crackles or pops, in the leaves. Elves have an incredible sense of hearing. Finally she could not stand the suspense, and turned around, to face the noise that bothered her. “Who ever you are,” Mihanna began, her voice crackled, and scared. “show yourself. I know your here.” she said. No answer, no noise, no sound of bird, beast, or wind was heard in that tense moment. Then, out of the shadows, horses approached her, and some even drew swords. She was encircled. Mihanna could think of no way to escape this one. “Please don't run.” Telibraun began, pushing farther ahead than the rest. “We have traveled far, and long, and we would prefer it, if you would just come easily, and quietly.” He said, reaching out his hand. She thought, for a moment, then reached her hand up to his. “And go back with you?” she asked sarcastically. “Never!” she said firmly, jerking her hand away, and running behind him. See, when Telibraun went a little farther than the other solders, he left an open space behind him. Mihanna used this to run out of the encirclement. She ran, and ran, as fast as her feet would carry her. She soon came to an open space, of dead, and felled trees. There was ash everywhere, and she knew that she would get caught. “They'll cover more ground than I, in this barren place.” she said to herself, as she looked for a place to hide. She threw her back up against a fallen tree, and waited, barely breathing. She closed her eyes, as she heard the solders get closer. She hoped, and prayed that this would be enough to protect her. She laid down on her stomach, and looked through a thin crack, between the bottom of the tree, and the ground. She watched as they rode in, and then away. She breathed out, and sighed in relief. But they rode back, and Telibraun got off his horse, and examined the ground. “The foot prints stop here.” he said, turning. “But I cannot make out where they go.” he continued. While their attention was on their captain, Mihanna ran forward, and forgot her previous fear of arrow, or blade. “There!” one solder shouted, pointing to her, running on the plain. “After her!” Telibraun cried, getting on his horse. “Wait!” the other man said. “We have a long way to go, back to the castle.” he continued, reaching behind him. “Wouldn't it just be easier to...” he stopped, as he pulled out his bow, and an arrow. “bring her down?” he finished, with a cunning smile. Telibraun thought. “Good point.” he said. “Alright. But aim for her feet, she can't run without them.” he said. He gave the signal, and all but one of the arrows were spent. Telibraun took the last arrow, and rode his horse forward. Then, aiming carefully, he shot it. Mihanna felt something like a stick of fire, burn her leg, then fell to the ground. Telibraun's shot was aimed perfectly. He had shot her, right above her shin, right below her knee. She rolled into a pile of ash, and dirty water. She moaned as Telibraun and his men rode up, and he got off his horse. He put a hand under her head, and partially lifted her up. “Can you walk?” he asked, looking in her eyes. She didn't answer. “Answer me!” Telibraun shouted, thinking she was purposely ignoring him.
“I know you can.” Mihanna just rolled on her back, and looked up at the sky. Slowly her world turned into shadows, and then went black. Her eyes fell back in her head, and she closed them, and knew not, what happened next. “Well then.” Telibraun began, locating the wound. “It's not that bad.” He said, picking her up. “I'll carry her back. She is out cold, and probably will not wake, until we reach the castle.” He put Mihanna in the saddle in front of him, then jumped on. Then with hand around her waist, and one on the reins, they rode away into the night, and into the dawn.
Early in the morning Jaramiah was looking out the window, when he saw the troops come back up the hill. He saw that one had a burden in front of him. “Oh no.” he said, realizing that she was probably hurt again. He walked around, piecing together his plan. Mihanna suddenly woke to the thumping of the horses hooves. Telibraun tightened his grip around her waist. “Do not try to get away. It is wiser not to do so.” he said, in her ear. Mihanna looked around uneasily. She now realized her wrists were tied, very securely. Then an entire kingdom, old and forgotten, loomed up before them. The horses slowed down to a gallop. Then as if in a dream, a giant castle cast a shadow on them. “This is the fortress of the Mengolion kings of old.” Telibraun said, slowing the troop to a trot “The kingdom of Anirondrá dé Éwrýno.” He said, to her. “Do you know what it means?” he asked, in a whisper. “Yes.” she replied, back over her shoulder. “Shadow of Guard.” she said, looking around. “I have heard stories, but never, did I think I would see it with my own eyes.” Her eyes were all of the sudden fixed on a distant hill. She saw a memory that was from so long ago, it was no more than a dream. Her vision went like this. There was a hill, and a battle was going on. There was a dark headed elf, with a crown on his brow, and a sword in his hand. The men around him, ran towards him, but were too late. He had been shot by three arrows. One in his left shoulder, another in his back, and the last, in his chest. She screamed. The vision suddenly went away, and she gasped for air. “What is it?” Telibraun asked looking down at her. She looked at the hill, then said: “My Father.” she said, in a sad whisper. “He died on that hill, over there.” she said. “I have lived here, ever since the last day you saw me, fifteen years ago.” Telibraun said, remembering the past. “I'm Ragar's close personal friend, so don't try anything.” He said, jerking the hand around her waist. They rode into a courtyard and stopped. Telibraun got off his horse, and pulled Mihanna down to him. She landed on her feet, but then fell to the ground. “I'll carry you.” he said, reaching down to her. “No!” Mihanna yelled pushing him away. “No! I'm not going in there.” Telibraun, was upset, and lost. “What would you rather do?” he said, wonderingly. Mihanna pulled herself up, and looked in his eyes. “I would rather die.” she whispered angrily. “Then I believe I can help you out!” a solder said, pulling out his sword, and coming towards her. She backed up against the horse and covered her head. “Peace, Grendo.” Telibraun said, staying his weapon. The young man walked away. “Well then we'll just push you in!” he said, taking her arm. He and another solder took her arms, and pulled her inside. Mihanna cringed with every painful step. The went up three flights of stairs, and down two hallways. Then they came to a door and stopped. Telibraun leaned forward and knocked on it. The door cracked open. They could see Ragar, on the inside. “Oh!” he said, fully opening the door. “Come in.” they walked in, and Ragar shut the door. Then he walked over to Mihanna. “Well.” he started, walking toward them. She didn't look up, but breathed faster. Her eyes were pointed down, but her head forward. “You put up quite a struggle, and a chase to find you.” he said, lifting her chin. She yanked her head away, but did not say anything. “You may go, and have a brake from babysitting.” Ragar said, to the solder. “But Telibraun,” he added, calling to him. “I want you to wait outside the door. I want a word with the prisoner.” Telibraun left, and did as he was told. Without some one behind her, to hold her up; Mihanna found it impossible to stand. She fell down, but Ragar held her arms. He untied her, while he pulled up a chair, and set her in it. Her eyes followed Ragar, as he circled around her. “I was just making plans to find you, myself.” he said. “You know there is no place you can hide, where I won't find you.” he said in her ear, as he came back around full circle. “You may find this interesting.” he continued, pulling a shiny object out of his vest pocket. Mihanna gasped. “So you have seen it?” he said, handing it to her. Mihanna grabbed it from him, and looked at it in the light. It was a small dagger, with a J on the hilt. She knew that it had to be Jaramiah's. “Have you seen it?” Ragar asked abruptly, taking it, and shoving it back in his vest. “Yes.” Mihanna answered, after thinking, and giving him a side-long glance. “I have seen it.” she said, again. “What if I told you, I had the owner of that dagger?” he asked, looking at her with an eye brow raised. “What are you saying?” The elf asked, but beginning to understand. “Well do you know?” The tall, evil man asked, in a tone that made her angry. “I think I do. But what does that have to do with me?” she asked. “Well I'll tell you.” Ragar paused. He looked at her like, he had just won a battle, and said: “I've got captain Jaramiah.” Mihanna was mad now. She stood to her feet. “What have you done with him!?” she demanded.