They had been travelling for almost two weeks. According to Malethion’s guess, they were near a place called Midgewater Marsh, and were extremely close to arriving to Bree if they continued travelling at their pace. She realized that Malethion was good-natured with a light spirit and a smile permanently etched onto his face. There wasn’t a moment where they didn’t speak, and she shared things with him she didn’t think she’d tell to another person – how she felt like an outcast, how oppressive and suffocating the forests of Mirkwood were, how she was glad she found someone that she could speak to so freely. Malethion always greeted her words with a smile. “Nothing wrong with being an outcast, it’s what makes you unique,” he had answered when she told him, and the words kept ringing in her mind. Unique. She had never thought about it that way.
They had travelled quite freely with little to no trouble – the few wild animals that attacked them were easily countered with Bethrelfin’s arrows or Malethion’s spear. Though Malethion had confided in her that he was not as good as his brothers when it came to combat. “I spent more time making bread with my mother than sparring with my brothers.” Bethrelfin laughed when he told her. “There’s as much need for bread makers in our world as there is for soldiers,” she told him. She wished she could have painted his face, which shone with gratefulness at the words.
It was settled that Bethrelfin would handle the combat as much as possible, and Malethion would help if they got too close. She even challenged him to spar one evening. He was strong, but Bethrelfin was light on her feet and soon brought him down where he had fallen on his behind and couldn’t stop laughing. She was falling in love with his carefree nature, and that beautiful smile. She always tried to chase those feelings away. She knew him for what, two weeks, and already she was falling head first over the first person who showed her kindness. Though there was something special about him, she knew it could never come to pass. She would live on and he would grow old. He’d wish for someone to grow old with him, she thought. So whenever he smiled, she quelled the butterflies in her stomach and shut off those thoughts firmly away.
They had decided to set up camp for what was hopefully their final night. They had just dismounted and were about to begin when Malethion let out a gasp. Bethrelfin quickly looked to find an arrow lodged right into his side. Panicking, she quickly grabbed her bow and managed to spot the culprits – two goblins who seemed to have strayed away from the marsh and had decided that they were the perfect targets. She quickly dispatched them, cursing herself for not being able to hear them. She had been too distracted to even realise that there may be any danger around them.
She turned to Malethion, who had fallen to his knees pressing his side, trying to quench the blood that oozed out his wound. Dumpling had wandered up next to him, slowly rubbing against his side as if to ease his pain. The arrow had gone straight through his armour, piercing it and embedding itself into his side. She knelt down next to him, hearing him take in quick breaths. She was at a complete loss on what to do. She helped him lie down, trying to ease his pain as much as possible. Muttering under her breath, she remembered her mother’s healing practices and rushed to her backpack, looking for the athelas her mother had continuously reminded her to carry.
She quickly found it and rushed back over to Malethion, who was slowly growing pale. His breathing was growing ragged, his hand still pushed against his wound. She quickly cupped his face. “Stay with me, I need to remove the arrow to be able to help you. Are you ready?” Malethion winced but nodded, removing his hand. She grabbed the arrow and tried to pull it as quickly as she could, eliciting a howl of pain from Malethion. She managed to get it out, realising in horror that the arrow was barbed, and she had to act fast. Malethion’s eyes already had started to glaze over. “Stay with me,” she repeated. She quickly chewed some of the athelas, making it into a paste and covering his wound with it. Blood was freely seeping out of it, and she put her hand over the wound, murmuring under her breath as her mother had taught her.
“Malethion, tolo annin, do not go into darkness. Tolo annin,” she repeated. With every repetition, blood still continued to flow from between her fingers and she cursed. “Avo davo am môr Malethion, stay with me,” she yelled, concentrating even harder. Her mother made it seem so easy. She told her to use athelas and simply focus, and the magic would follow her focus. Dumpling started meowing, rubbing her face against Malethion’s, as if trying to help her heal him.
His breathing had begun to slow and she felt tears building up out of frustration. “Gin iallon, don’t leave me!” she cried, her tears flowing freely as she tried to blink them away. “Malethion please, tolo annin. Avo davo am môr. You cannot leave me, you cannot leave. Gi melin,” the final words came out as a whisper as she finally removed her hands and wept. A moment of distraction was all it took, and the one person who seemed to show her an ounce of care was taken away from her. She fell on top of him, her head resting atop his chest as she cried. She felt completely lost. What was she supposed to do now? Does she keep travelling?
She heard Dumpling meow and something touch her back. She quickly looked up to find Malethion looking at her. His breathing was slowly returning to normal, his face not as pale. She got up and looked at his side, finding that the wound had started closing. She couldn’t hold her cry as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. She felt his arm slowly wrap around her back, and she breathed deeply, calming herself down. She felt Malethion’s hand cup her chin as he lifted her head to look at him. He still had that damned smile on his face, though it looked pained.
“Annon i velleth…” his voice trailed off as he thought, seemingly trying to get the words right. “Annon i… ah it’s no use, I cannot remember,” he said with a chuckle. Bethrelfin looked at him. “Annon i velleth nîn allen,” she murmured. Malethion’s smile grew wider as he repeated, “Annon i velleth nîn allen.” She leaned down and pressed her lips against his, a soft kiss full of promise. When she pulled up, Malethion stroked her cheek, his rough hands caressing her soft skin. “I think we better leave, before I do something stupid and get another arrow lodged in my side,” said Malethion with a chuckle. She found herself laughing as they both slowly stood up.
Sleep would not come tonight, so they decided to make their way to Bree and rest there. They’d have a conversation about their relationship later. For now, she reached over to him and clasped his hand, afraid that he’d leave her. For now, she’ll relish this.
