With a screech that reminded him of steel grating against steel the wight seemed to fly across the twenty feet that separated them. Forcing his unwilling legs into motion, Illeandir scrambled just far enough so the possessed bones of a man long dead missed him by mere feet. The wight screamed in frustration when it hit the ground, brittle bones cracking. Immediately it began clawing at Illeandir's feet, trying to drag him away. Illeandir kicked with all the strength he could summon.

His foot made contact with the wight's hand and the hand flew through the air clattering against a nearby rock. The wight hissed sharply and used its other hand to pull itself closer. Illeandir tried to stand but his legs wouldn't support him and he fell again. His left arm, numbed from the wight's touch, refused to move. The wight inched closer and closer, a malicious grin split its face. White light spilled from the opening, eerie and deadly.

Illeandir knew he had to get away before more Borrow Wights came. Even as he tried to move the fog thickened and the wight's song grew louder as more ghostly voices joined. The sound was at once dry and cold, like a thousand dead leaves on an autumn gale, empty of all humanity but for the words ghostly lips formed. Out of the misty shapes of the night, with eyes whiter than the moon, glided on unseen feet with the arms of dead bodies reaching for the living. Illeandir felt his courage fail as the spell of the Borrow Wights took hold. But even as they descended upon a strange light filled him, beautiful and whole. Pressing the darkness and banishing it. The wights screamed and fled, the fog receded after them revealing the clear, starry sky.

"Run!" A voice whispered and strength flodded Illeandir like a river after the first snowmelt. He pushed himself to his feet and ran. Faster than a horse he sped through the Borrow Downs with the eerie song of the Borrow Wights following him.

"Faster!" The voice whispered again just as cold fingers touched Illeandir's arm for a fleeting moment. Though it seemed impossible Illeandir forced himself to go faster. His hand still gripped his bow so tightly the knuckles turned white.

"Cold be hand and heart and bone!" moaned a wight in his ear. Illeandir jumped to the side to avoid the spirit twisting his ankle painfully. Limping heavily with each step he continued to run. The wights drawing ever closer. How far in had he come?

"Just a little further, young one."

Illeandir sobbed with the effort to keep moving. The light that had filled him had vanished. Only his will to stay alive kept him going. Suddenly the Borrow Wights stopped, hissing and seething behind an invisible barrier that stopped them from going any further. Illeandir noticed that he was no longer surrounded by graves but by a sea of grass, unmoving in the still night air. Past the rasping of his lungs as he tried to catch his breath he heard the voice, soothing and calm.

"You are safe now."

The wights had fallen silent and now watched him with slitted white eyes. One hissed softly and they melted into the fog behind them. As they disappeared the fog thinned until only thin wisps remained. Illeandir shuddered and fell to the ground, unable to hold himself up any longer. He tried to stand but his arms and legs shook uncontrollably.

"Rest young one. You are weary."

T'would be an understatement of larhe proportion, Illeandir thought hazily. Whether it was his imagination, brought on by sheer exhaustion, or not, the air seemed to quiver with laughter. Illeandir felt himself slip into a trance but a single thought jerked him awake.

"The dreams..."

"Will not bother you. Sleep."

As he slept Illeandir was aware of a steady gaze watching him. Beautiful and terrible as the sea with eyes of blue starlight. The face was elven and the voice, both male and female, sang a wordless song achingly beautiful and foreign, yet familiar. Like a memory as real as the stars yet far more distant.

§§§

A tickling sensation on his fingertips slowly roused him into full awareness. Opening his eyes he saw a small bunny sniffing delicately at his fingers. It was soft brown in color with large liquid black eyes and a tiny pink nose. Illeandir reached out with his forefinger and gently brushed its fur just above the eyes. The small ball of silky fur paused its investigation for a moment before resuming as if nothing had happened. Slowly Illeandir pushed himself up, the moment he moved though the creature vanished into the tall grass swaying in the wind.

The sun had risen until it was nearly midday. Wisps of cloud floated across the sky on a stiff breeze. The sun beat down warm and comforting, dissipating the horrors of the night. But Illeandir did not forget. His arm was still cold and pale from the wight's touch and a deep ache had settled in the bone. Carefully he examined his arm but found nothing wrong.

He slowly stood and set off at a walk toward the village. In the distance the Ered Nimrais Mountains were visible, blurred with distance. The elf encountered nothing save for the wind that whispered in his ear. He took solace in the constant motion that distracted him from his thoughts and memories. When he arrived back at the ruined cluster of homes his mind was clear and movements relaxed and controlled.

Shouting accompanied him as he walked steadily through the ashes. Children danced playfully around his legs, occasionally tripping him. He came to the tent where the women were preparing the evening meal and tending to the wounded and sick. They laughed when they saw Illeandir trying to weave his way through the overly excited children.

"Could not bare to stay away, Elstan?" one exclaimed. Illeandir gave her a puzzled look.

"I never left," he said. The woman frowned in confusion.

"Oh, leave the boy be, Gis!" Jaxon said humorously. "Where have you been, lad?"

"Every where and nowhere," Illeandir replied.

"Come lad. You have a troubled look about you. What did you find?"

"It is not what I found but what found me," Illeandir said. The smile slid from Jaxon's weathered face. He glanced at the women and jerked his head toward the back of the tent. Illeandir nodded and Jaxon left and made a roundabout path to the back while Illeandir set the children on a hunt for blue flowers. Without the women noticing he disappeared. Moments later he stepped silently next to Jaxon, who was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't notice Illeandir. When he did he gave a small exclamation of surprise and pressed hand over his heart breathing hard.

"Dont do that to me! I'm to old for surprises," he said once he caught his breath. Illeandir remain motionless.

"You wished to speak with me," he said.

"Ah, yes. I want to know what you saw."

"Have any of your people traveled south or intend to?"

"Not that I know of. Why do you asked?"

"Do not ever let them. I came across Borrow Downs home to wights." Jaxon paled. "I do not know what has summoned them for they all but vanished when the Witch King of Angmar was slain at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. No being since has been powerful enough to call them. Something evil is at work and I fear for the lives of men."

"You speak as if you remember the centuries that have passed," Jaxon mused. Illeandir looked at him gravely.

"I do."

"B-but..." Jaxon stuttered, eyes wide and fearful.

"Not all creatures of old are myths. Most were real and still live today," Illeandir said. Jaxon stared long and hard at Illeandir, who returned the gaze.

"Who are you?"

"No one of consequence."

"I must know."

"Ai, you think that but it is better that you do not know." Illeandir sighed heavily. How he wished for someone with whom he could share his troubles. Jaxon must have seen the sorrow in his eyes because his frown eased and his eyes softened.

"I do not know who you are, Elstan, but you are welcome to stay for as long as you wish," Jaxon invited. Illeandir looked away, eyes hard and back stiff. He still bore the memories of the last time he had been invited to stay in a man's home. He did not trust these people despite their hospitality and openness. It had been that way before and suddenly he found himself fighting for his life.

"I cannot stay any longer."

"Why?"

"I fear I have outstayed the welcome of your people. And not all trust me nor do I trust them. Remember, I am the one who brought the orcs upon you."

Jaxon pursed his lips and bit the inside of his cheek. He knew it to be true.

"The children will want to say goodbye. They quite like you," he said. A smile touched Illeandir's thin lips and his dark green eyes lost their hardness. Though, turned away as he was, Jaxon did not see it. When he turned back his face was unreadable and eyes hard once again.

"I leave within the hour." Illeandir strode past a blustering Jaxon to collect his things. He reappeared minutes later next to Matilda with a light pack slung over his shoulders and now in hand. His sword hung sheathed at his belt. Matilda turned to him, eyes wet with unshed tears.

"Jax said you're leaving soon."

"I never meant to stay," Illeandir replied gently. Of all the people in this village Illeandir liked her the most, though he still had no love for humans.

"You'll be missed." She turned away.

"So I heard."

"Where will you go?"

Illeandir was quiet for a minute. "East," he said while looking toward the north. Toward home. Thunderous grey clouds were building in the west. It would be raining by nightfall. A small tug on his pant leg pulled his gaze from the clouds. Everild was looking up at him with wide brown eyes holding a kitten clutched in her arm.

"Els'an! I found flower!" She held up a crushed blue cornflower in her little fist. Illeandir kneeled down next to her and took the flower she offered with a soft smile. Everild giggled.

"May I?" Illeandir asked gesturing to the burn on her face. Everild nodded solemnly and turned. Illeandir gently touched the shiny red skin around the scab that was forming over the worst of the burn. The skin was warm to the touch. "Does it hurt?" Everild nodded. Illeandir looked back up at Matilda. His voice lost all the tenderness it had held for the child.

"Keep the burn clean and covered in something to keep it moist so her skin won't dry out and crack." he said briskly. Matilda nodded. Everild tugged on his arm.

"Are you leaving?" she asked quietly. Illeandir nodded. "Why?"

"I'm going to find my family."

"Did they leave you?"

"No. They were taken from me a long time ago," Illeandir said. Everild looked puzzled for a moment then understanding lit her face.

"When you were this high?" She held her hand just below her eye, smiling. Illeandir laughed, a laugh that sounded like the river laughing at its own joke.

"Something like that," he said. Everild laughed and, dropping the kitten, wrapped her little arms around his neck and hugged him. For a moment Illeandir was too surprised to move.

"I won't ever forget you," she whispered in his ear. Illeandir wrapped his arms around her tiny body, nearly completely engulfing her.

"Neither will I, mellon nin."

******************************

Bit of a longer chapter for you all. Still working on developing Illeandir's character but don't worry I will be adding more characters as the story progresses. To be honest this is the second story I have written with truly dynamic characters. The rest have been simple stories where the characters are not nearly as complex so I'm still kind of new to it. So yeah, let me know what you think I could improve on.

Illeandir