The SONGS of SPRING

ESCAPE TO THE SOUTH

'Quiet!' Legolas said under his breath. They lay flat on a stanting rooftop, still and quiet. 'He will not stop looking for you.' He gave Raen a sideway look, slightly tilting his head. His silver hair seemed brighter than it should, under the dimmed surroundings it is very hard to guess when the Sun would sail over the line where the mountains and the sky meet.

'I'm not believing this.'

'I told you. He is not you think he is.'

'He is my friend, how could he lie to me?' Raen's voice is faltering, hurting. Of all she trusted Beren more than she should, more than she trusted his foster father and brothers.

'Come,' he whispered, and his eyes were piercing her heart all the same. 'Come with me this time Safirah.'

Lay beneath her sullen eyes are countless questions, calling her another name is just one. And last night...that last night when he touched her lips with his. What comes back never left and so it explains why she could not stick the dagger to his throat. Raen threw her eyes away, watching Beren and his men marching East to the town. Galdohir was with them, even Galu betrayed her. With a hurt-filled breath she turned to the elf.

'And when will I get my answers?'

'There is someone you would need to see and trust me, you will have your answers in due time.' At length he looked at her as if his gray eyes are begging, I wouldn't let her off my sight this time, he thought, never will I give her up.

'Alright,' Raen exhaled nodding her head. 'And this someone could tell me everything?'

'He could make you remember.' And they scuffled down the roof with speed and caution. Legolas led the way South of the Town, speeding on the narrow space between houses as Raen followed with haste. South it is, to where the scent of salt is near and the singing of seaguls linger in summer mornings.
They took a sharp turn off the track, now zigzagging through few people in the narrow street until they reached the spot where Legolas left his mare, it's the edge of the Town near the exit gate.

Off they went, Raen could feel the wind brushing her cheeks, colder as it should when she tucked her arms around his waist, pressing herself more as they galloped away from the Town.

'This is heading South of Emyn,' she said after a long moment of quiet journey. The Sun is hanging above the gray rolling hills from distant sight and morning wind began to fall warmer and peaceful. 'I've been here before.'

'Long before I have come.' Legolas pulled his mare to a walk, steadily through untamed sloping field where the grass grows greener and tall and the ground scattered golden flowers that blooms all day long, to their right a vast empty land stretching far to the edge of the Great River marked by the lining of thick clusters of trees. To their left is where the Sun waves overhanging the hills. South is quite far off, but somehow the journey proved to be easy.

'My brother found me floating half dead in a river, his family took me in, fixed me up and I never left.' No memories of it came to Raen for that too she could not remember. And everytime she thinks of it there still lay gloom in her heart, shrouded with sadness and many many questions. Namir used to tell her this, in gatherings when her brother had fallen mad because of too much grog, she was never embarassed.

'It must have been terrifying!'

'No more less than I would imagine, not knowing what happened to me, where I came from, why am I floating in that cursed river.' Raen loosen her arms to her side, looking South wondering why her hatred to the elf seemed to have magically disappeared. Now her heart is at peace and strange feelings surfaced as if she had them before.

'The past may not be as good as it should to you, nor reasons to hurt others as it did you. Aye, some things are best forgotten. But some are worth remembering for.'

'Like what?'

'Like the time you told me you love me,' Legolas smirked, he couldn't contain it anyhow.

'I did?' Raen sounded rather doubtful.

'You did.'

'I hate elves, I don't believe you.' She crossed her arms as her cheeks started to feel warm.

'Then why did you let me ki---'

'shhhh, shut it!'

'Truth isn't always easy to admit, I know.'

'You are one very rude elf,' and Raen thought if it's worth sticking a dagger to his throat, make him bleed to shut his mouth. Yet everytime he speaks some tiny wings flutters in her stomach, the feeling of hate to hear his words yet she wants to listen to his voice. And then they agree and argue in many things as they began to gallop again, faster this time.

[][][]