Aeirillen

It was safe to say that she was feeling nervous about walking up to the witch’s home. Lieta Woodfield usually could put up an act to get out of trouble if she needed to but to fool a rumored witch so she could, essentially spy on her, was a bit harder in her mind. The elf, Aeirillen, was supposed to be making sure that trouble didn’t kill the girl.

"Well, it is about time you come explain what in the world you've been doing, Phae."

"I've been busy, Tess," the huntress explained, sitting down next to the physician on her front porch.

"You don't say. You did not get to explain much, what with the food poisoning. Athlenah, was it? Yes, that was it... Athlenah did explain some of it, but now I'm curious about what you will tell me."

"You should have come sooner, silly. It's starting to fester. Any longer, and you'd have had bone fever. They cut through the bone a bit," the doctor said. Her black hair was tied back in a bun, her green eyes inspected the huntress's wound with care. "It'll be a pain to fix, just warning you. Literally."

"Sorry Tess. We 'ad t'go back to the barracks, and I had 'nother... Well, y'know," Phaewyn muttered. The doctor, Athessa, looked up in worry.

"How bad?" She asked.

The band had set out from Bree after meeting at the Mess Hall, Fiontann explained to them that they were going out in the fields to train in real conditions. "Many have big mouths, it's time to see what they have." he said and sent everyone outside to get on their horses.

Tied to the stump of a large and ancient tree, fasted tightly with thick leather straps, bound by the hands and feet, and gagged with a dirty and bloody rag, the elf slumped unconsciously against the worn bark.

How life can change in just a matter of moments.A day that started under the light of the warm sun and loving company, ended in darkness and pain.