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The return 26
Terri hobbled along and every now and then the little flower would poke its bloom out of her shirt pocket to look around.
But Terri didn't notice.
Her feet were sore and she was worried. Easy enough for her to find water as there were little springs and through the open scattered meadows, creeks ran.
But food was scarce. She knew she better start figuring out her food situation. She came across wild strawberries which she picked and ate. But the vegetation was mostly unknown to her.
Then she came upon a track.
An unshod horse.
She stopped and looked at it. Maybe two hours ago the hoof pressed it into the soft ground.
It was roany's track and right beside it was the print of Joe the cowdog.
Terri looked around. Did she dare whistle to call them.
She looked down at her sore bootless feet.
I guess I must, she thought.
She put her fingers to her lips and whistled the return.
Out of the grass like mist rising ten figures slowly stood up.
They were bright and swords were in their hands and two or three had nocked their bows. Male and female all strong and lithe.
They were tall and their expressions at first gravely serious then seeing Terri they relaxed slightly. Sword points were lowered or sheathed and arrow points dropped.
To Terri they were extremely impressive. Most were well over 6 feet tall and their hair was long and their eyes fierce and bright.
The old woman looked the ones in front of her in the eye and furrowed her brow.
This actually allowed the eldar to see clearly into her mind.
And these then smiled gently at her.
The leader motioned to the others to crouch down. And by doing so he hoped that would ease Terri's concerns as they were all so much taller than her.
Terri backed up.
' Look folks, your world is mighty odd. And I don't think I got the hang of it yet. But I got to go and git my horse.'
She glanced over her shoulder.
There were two behind her and they looked at her kindly but she realized that they were not going to allow her to walk off.
The eldar spoke to each other.
'She is frightened.'
'Out here alone.'
'Was she in the battle? '
'She is not armed, but she is wounded.'
'It is an old injury.'
'Atani, I have never met one.'
'How small and fragile….'
'is this one that the years have laid heavily on?'
Terri could not understand them.
She struggled to remember the few words Fin and Tor had taught her. She hoped she wouldn't confuse Tor's quenya curses with Fin's words of welcome.
Finally Terri remembered
she stated loudly…
'FANA! ' And pointed with the back of her hand to the sky.
All The eldar looked up at the clouds.
The leader looked back down at Terri and smiled broadly.
'Fana….' he repeated, and nodded to the old woman.
Terri then said, furrowing her brow in concentration,
'My go van…..govGovan......'
Terri drew a blank how to finish the word.
One of the bowman said helpfully, 'govanen?'
Terri laughed, 'yep,'she said in english…
'My horse is that way and I gotta go get him…'
She backed up. One of the eldar behind her walked up to her and put an arm around her shoulder.
'No, no little sparrow, you need to stay with us. You are injured and tired and hungry.
We will help you.'
Terri allowed herself to be steered into their midst.
One knelt down to look at her leg. But Terri took his hand and pushed it gently back.
'Do you mind. I'll heal it myself.'
He raised his eyebrows and smiled and pointed to his eyes then to her leg.
Meaning he only wanted to look at her leg.
Terri eyed him with grave suspicion.
She then returned the gesture to him. Terri pointed at her own eyes and then at his leg and she smiled a bit grimly.
'Ah, 'one of the swordswomen told him.
'She wishes to see your leg first.'
The kindly healer, 'very well' he said, then rolled up his soft legging and showed Terri his knee which glowed faintly.
'You are Weird.' said terri.
All the eldar muttered, 'weird,' fascinated by the strange word.
Then the swordswoman laughed and rolled up her legging. And showed Terri her knee, that faintly shone with light.
'See no reason to fear….he just wishes to look.' She told terri.
Terri told her, 'you guys are so odd. And your world is bizarre, and my horse and dog are close and I've lost my grandson.'
The eldar listened carefully to this string of words and spoke softly among themselves. A few nodded at her gently.
The healer said, 'the wound has been treated by our folk a few days ago. But the infection runs deep and the older atani in particular take a long time to heal.
She was not in the skirmish.
We should take her to our encampment and there let the king decide what to do.'
Something dropped out of terri' pocket. And the healer picked it up. It was Terri's glasses. Now terri did not wear them when she range rode. Only for close up things and reading as they were bifocals.
She said, 'heck I thought I lost these. '
And she took them out of his hand and put them on.
Now terri had never seen the eldar really up close and clearly. Even fin and tor..
She glanced up and was at once riveted by what she saw.
The eldar were not only tall but beautiful in the way of dreams. And most of them had a glow about them as if they stood in morning light but it was coming from their own flesh.
Terri took the glasses off and wiped them with her shirt and put them back on and stared at the elves while they watched her with some amusement.
'You guys are very peculiar aren't you?'
She told them.
The swordswoman sheathed her long blade and picked Terri up.
Terri told her, 'I wish you guys wouldn't carry me around. It is weird to me.'
The swordswoman listened carefully smiled kindly and told Terri, 'I am not sure what you are saying but my name is Doreth. I wonder why you are tapping me ?'
Then the company vanished into the forest.
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