The SONGS of SPRING

AN UNEXPECTED SAVIOR

Raen woke by the sound of cracking logs and there she lay weak and hurt on a blanket of leaves near the fire under the shadow of a great tree. She couldn't have guessed the time for the boughs where thick and she could not take glimpse of the sky or the moon, but her pants have dried and her hair was mussed dry, proof that she had been lying there for long. Quick, she sat and took her bo after realizing her upper clothes and boots had gone, all that wrapped her chest was a gray strip of cloth and there she remembered her wound. Down her right shoulder the arrow pierced deep yet of why she could feel less pain, Raen did not understand. The River carried her far South.

At length she sat quietly looking around to see who had saved her, and there was no shadows save those of the trees. And when she was to stand came a sudden rustle from the bushes. Raen stood wielding her bo, heart pounding her hands trembled.

'Who's there?'

The wind past by from the tree-tops showering her with green leaves, the trees hissed and sighed but there was no one. 'Come out the dark, whoever you are,' and her heart grew more restless. She waited and waited until...

Out of the bush leaped a black Hound Galu the Hound of Lorien, she sprung in fear and thrust her bo side to side with all her might. 'Stay away. Scram! Stay away...dog. This stick is enchanted, this will hurt. Sho!' she cried as if it would do less to amuse the Hound, instead the dog stepped closer staring like it was trying to push her back near the fire. She swung her bo aiming to hit the hound but it caught her stick by its mouth and she could not pull it off its fangs. 'Bad dog! Give me back my stick!' She tugged the stick again and again but she could not even cause the dog to move. At last the Hound released the stick and Raen was thrown back and she fell to a nearby bush.

Dismayed she gathered herself up, leaning on her bo as she scratched her lower back. 'What are you? Did you save me from the river? Huh! I couldn't believe a dog rescued me,' she murmured. 'Here's a tale unheard of, a hound rescued a woman from drowning, drag her into the woods and stole her clothes and her boots. Well, you didn't chew them out, did you?' She stared at the Hound raising her brows as if expecting a word to come out of it.

'Law,' a voice said.

And Raen flinched in amazement. 'Did you just...talk?' The Hound dropped his head low and circled her.

'Will that frighten you?'

'No! I mean -- yes!'

'Dogs don't talk.'

Raen stepped back wielding her stick to the Hound, bewildered. 'Then what are you?' Before she could say some more something moved from the tree-trunk, a tall figure cloaked in gray, his long tresses had the same color as hers - dark as raven, and though there was little light to reveal his face Raen noticed his piercing gray eyes. Age could not be guessed by looking at his face yet if  it was measured by wisdom on his brows Raen knew he was old. She trembled, holding her bo tightly she swung to keep him away. 'Don't come near me Elf! I'm warning you!' That moment she wished she had a sword or a knife the least, now she holds little faith on an unbreakable stick upon seeing two long knives by his side. He carried a bow and a quiver of green shafted arrows.

The Hound stood in between gazing at her as if wondering why she acted so strange towards her saviour.
At length the Elf stared at her with his heart melting, thinking of how he should tell her of his name.

'Don't you ever have any thoughts! Just tell me where you hid my clothes and my boots then I'll be on my way.'

'Is that what you think of Elves? I think you should say thank you.'