"Again, goheno nîn. I think in time, you'll come to appreciate my warning. You may even harbor anger towards me for not enlightening you earlier."

::::::::::

     I groaned awake, my head a pounding drum and my arms full of pins and needles. Leaves crackled as I rolled off my arm—and into a cold patch of mud. 

    I sat up abruptly.

    The men—

    My bow!

    My head pounded harder as I stood, but my legs were convinced my body was heavier than it was. I took a frantic step, stomach churning, and turned in a circle, searching the blanket of leaves. Except I could barely see those leaves, because the only light shed on them was pale moonlight! A dark expanse, dotted with distant stars stretched above, the tree branches now just dark smudges against the sky.

    Pure, dull light leaked out of the bottom of my gloves—I ripped them off, grateful now for my emotions triggering them, no matter how weak the light was, and shone that soft light on the ground. For once, I didn't shove that power away.

    I scoured the damp ground on my hands and knees, kicking up leaves in my search—

    My light found something. My bag.

    I could just make it out, lying on the ground, the contents strewn out like a pack of rats had searched the inside.

    But no bow.

    I released a strangled scream.

    My hands tangled in my dyed hair, twisting and pulling—I felt crusted blood on the back of my head.

    "Those—those—idiots!" My light flared brighter, my pores starting to glow.

    Then I noticed how cold I was, noticed the white cloud vanishing in the air in front of my face. Noticed that I no longer had my cloak.

    Panic made my veins freeze, then burn with fire.

    My cold fingers felt my wrist—my bracelet was still there. I searched my bag, my starlight glinting off the objects, but when I couldn't find it, I searched the objects strewn on the ground.

    There—my notebook, my pen. My recent memories still with me.

    Relief flooded me and I gulped in the air of it.

    Except I still didn't have my bow. Legolas' bow. That bow was my ticket to getting my memories back, to finding this 'Legolas.' To finding people who weren't afraid of me.

    I stood, ignoring the nausea creeping up my throat.

    I set my jaw and gathered my things. Snatching up my gloves, I put them on over my hands to hide the soft power emanating from my palms. It wouldn't go out until my emotions settled anyways or until I collapsed from lack of food and water. Plus, my fingers were more than cold.

    And I was more than ready to hunt these thieves down.

    But I needed light to see their footprints.

    Sighing, I took off one of my gloves and stuffed it in my pant pocket.

    Taking in a deep breath, I began tracing the men's mud-imprinted footsteps down the trail and shouldered my pack.

    Here we go.

***

    I peeked out from behind the building, following the footsteps of the men until they mingled and tangled with the footprints of men, women, children, and horses, all of them fading into the darkness in front of storefronts. I tried shining the light from my palms to guide my path, or at least see my surroundings, but like earlier along the trail, my reserve had faltered. Having gone a day or two without food—only having a little bit of ale at the pub and a bite of stale bread—my unwelcome light finally had faded to nothing. As much as it was a relief, I—

    No. No, I don't need it. It only causes me trouble anyways.

    Several men walked patrol around and in the town—and they had too. Orcs and mercenaries preyed on the vulnerable, killing and stealing from anyone they saw. Stores were commonly ransacked, cattle and crops were often burned and killed, children wandering and playing taken. Many dead. Wander too far outside of any town, and there were patrols of the enemy.

    And then there were the uur rauko.

    Those fire demons were a million times worse than wargs and wolves. It was hard for me to kill them, but for the mortals... I had seen a team of men try to take one down and only two barely survived. The only thing I had going for me was my light which seemed to harm or stun them. And I also knew their weak spot was their temple.

    It was a wonder that people even travelled from village to village. Not enough did though. I had seen towns that desperately needed supplies when another had those supplies and almost no one dared travel over those dangerous grounds to get those life saving things. Towns are dying, dwindling to nothing. But who knows, maybe things didn't use to be that way. I couldn't remember if things use to be more prosperous.

    Both gloves now securely on my hands, protecting my palms from view just in case, I left the coverage of the building. I left my hood down, thankful for the blood on the side of my face and for the fact that the only bath I've had for... as long as my memory knew was the cold rain. I let my feet sink a little into the mud, making the wet ground suction and make noise as I walked towards the patrolling man.

    The sentry twisted to the sound of my boots in the sludge, holding a carefully polished sword the wrong way. My hand twitched to grab a knife in my palm, to feel the leather hilt for less than two seconds and throw it.

    "Who goes there?" The sentinel, who I now saw to be a young man with a patchy black beard. Blotchy scars engulfed most of his face... what could have—? I couldn't help but pull at my sleeves to hide my own scars. Scars that covered the entirety of my hidden body.

I had no idea what had caused them and had no way of knowing except through the only person I had a lead on; Legolas. He could tell me why scars covered my body, why people were afraid of me and called me Gwaraith when I thought my name to be Lumornel, why I had a scar running across my throat that looks as if whatever made the scar should've killed me.

    Lumornel—stop. Act like a poor girl.

    I help up my gloved hands, bowing my head to partially show fear and to hide my eyes and the scar running along my neck. "Please, don't harm me, mister. I'm no orc nor traitor."

    The man lowered his weapon, again a mistake. He eyed my submissive form and my worn clothing and sword, my ratty hair and bloodied face. I winced, I didn't have a way to hide all my weapons from him. Hopefully the dark cloaked most of them.

    "What you doin' out here so late for, miss? You in trouble?" There was an odd lilt to his voice. Was he from Gondor?

    "I only need be gettin' home, mister." My heart leapt in my throat.

    He's going to figure out I'm faking!

    He glanced around the dark night, looking for hidden monsters or ill-meaning people, I didn't know. But he nodded.

    "Alright, miss. Where to?" He sheathed that sword of his and offered his arm out to me.

    I backed up, shaking my head. "Oh, no need for that. I know my way home. I was only alertin' you so you didn't harm me, mister."

    "You may call me Ander. May I know your name, miss?" He flashed a yellowed smile, still holding out his elbow for me to take.

You don't want to know my name, trust me.

I quickly lowered my eyes once more, realizing he had been looking at them. But what did I say—

"My name's—" I glanced at my bracelet "—Sunngifu. And I really must be going—" I quickly turned in a random direction and began walking away, hoping he wouldn't stop me—

Ander jogged up beside me. "I'll walk you home, Sunngifu. No need for you to come in harm's way."

My body stiffened. "Okay," I said meekly.

We continued walking down the muddy road, storefronts on either side slowly turning to houses. Houses slowly became more spaced out, with a corral of animals fenced in. Roads forked, leading to more homes, but if these thieves had a hideout here in this town, I felt as if it would actually be in the thick of the village. So, I led Ander and I deeper into the thicket of homes.

    My blood ran through me like liquid fire. Do I run into a house, pretending it's mine and hope the owner doesn't wake? Do I—

    An abandoned house. With all the enemy raids and uur rauko prowling about, there's bound to be an empty house somewhere around here.

    I went to pull my cloak tighter around me to keep out the cold before I realized I didn't have one.

        Instead, I pulled my arms taunt against my sides. This man by my side needed to go, before he tries killing me. And then I need to find those thieves who stole the bow that could hand me salvation.

          I stopped abruptly, sticking my feet to the muddy ground. Ander nearly stumbled to a halt, mud slicking up over his weathered leather boot. My fea trembled inside me in anticipation.

         "Miss Sunngifu?" He creased his brows.

          "I'm sorry, Ander. But I really must be gettin' home and my ma and pa would..."

           I trailed off, the phantom of my next words hanging before us. For behind Ander, I spied a rugged two-story house, the door decorated with a crude white painting of a sword, a black line running through the white.

           Could it really be that easy? Find the man who has my bow and the Mongerer in the same building?

           Ander twisted around, searching the darkness for whatever he thought I saw.

           "My ma and pa would scold me if I'm home any later. Good bye now." I gave an awkward smile, meeting his eyes only for a brief moment before I walked past him to the house.

           My boots stopped right before the steps up to the small porch, the painted door staring me down like an omen.

           I didn't think this through. I can't just walk in! Maybe there's a back door, but then Ander would know something is amiss.

           "Ah no," Ander breathed, thick disappointment coating his words. "Sunngifu? You don't really... work for them, do you?"

           I turned, unsure of what to say.

           "Please, miss, come away from there. You don't belong in a place like that. I'll—"

           He strode to me, close enough that I could make out the scars on his face in the moonlight.

           Ander reached out awkwardly and pushed a strand of brown, badly dyed hair behind my ear. The action was so unexpected, such an act of care, that I froze in shock, eyes going wide.

           "You girls deserve more than what they do to you." He sheepishly looked into my eyes, then wandered to the blood on my face and my scarred neck and uncovered elven ear—

            He stumbled back, face paling considerably.

    "You're... you're..."

    Gwaraith.

    My heart seized painfully. What could I possibly have done to be known as 'Great Betrayer'?

    But my heart then hardened and I lifted my chin, cold and thick ice drawing me up straighter. I refused to feel anything other than cool detachment and resolve.

    "I'm sorry," I said coolly, "but I really must leave." I took a step back, heel hitting the step up to the door.

Ander gulped, tan hand reaching for his pommel—

    Before he could fully unsheathe his sword, I right-hooked him. My fist hit so hard I was afraid I broke his jaw—that fear snapped me right out of my coolness.

    I rushed forward as he fell backwards, hand going to his jaw.

    "Sorry, sorry—!"

    I haven't eaten in two days, my strength, whatever strange ability that comes with my light, it shouldn't be strong—

    Ander groaned, feeling his already swelling jaw, but he moved it. Without screaming. Not broken. No supernatural strength present.

    I sighed—

    Ander reached for a knife at his waist—

    I bent over him, taking his head in my hands and bashed his head against the ground. As gently as I could without gravely injuring him. His eyes fluttered shut, but he'd still wake up. With a really bad headache.

    Heart beating as fast as a running horse, I hooked my hands underneath his shoulders and dragged him between the Mongerer's house and the neighboring one, just out of sight of prying eyes.

    I stayed hunched over him, waiting. Waiting for somebody to find me and Ander's unconscious body. But after a few minutes, nobody came to inspect.

    The wind howled coldly, sending shivers and goosebumps over my fiery skin, my unbound brown hair acting like rivulets of water in the autumn wind. Energy, my constant companion, bumped into me from all sides, the wind carrying so much life, every gust was like a bombardment of power. Power my body was not strong enough to take in. Good—yet, I felt myself weakening and felt my stomach screaming for food. Adrenaline would keep me going, for now. I unsheathed a knife, holding it loosely in my hand and considered my options.

    Going in through the front door would be idiotic.

    Walking in through the back door would be risky...

    What about a window?

    My eyes travelled up the side of the Mongerer's house to a window shutter high above. No light filtered through. Perfect.

    Now just need...

    Cautiously, I crept out to the front of the house, to where a barrel sat between two chairs on the porch. I snuck onto that porch, wary of squeaky boards and tipped the barrel slowly onto its side, holding my breath the entire time. My fea was on high-alert, stretching to sense the light of another being.

    Heart pounding in my ears, I began rolling the barrel to the edge, all too aware of the soft thundering roll it produced. I hopped off the platform, trying my best to roll the barrel onto the ground as silently as possible. Once it was on the ground, I continued rolling it to underneath the window, then turned it to stand.

    You have this. You have this, Lumornel.

    I need that bow, I need to get my memories back—to stop losing them.

    My fingers steadied, as did my breathing, and I stepped up onto the barrel and jumped.

    My nails scraped against the wood of the window ledge, a few splinters digging into my skin but I held my tongue and hauled myself up. A small grunt escaped me despite my efforts as my feet grappled for purchase against the wood of the exterior wall. Holding myself up with only one arm, I used the other to pry open the window shutter—

    That was locked.

    My hand slapped back down on the ledge—I held my breath. Please let there be nobody in the room to hear that.

    My muscles burned in protest against hanging for so long. Panic now surging through my veins, I forwent caution. Pulling out a wickedly sharp knife, I shimmied it between the shutters, prying at the bar that locked the shutters closed—

    The shutters glided open, gentling bumping into my fingertips.

    Maneuvering around the openings, and with screaming muscles, I pulled myself up and through the window.

    A dark room greeted me, a looming dark figure of a desk beside me. A couple of stiff, wooden chairs faced the giant desk, an armchair and couch further into the room facing a low table. Another higher table sat against the wall, crystalline bottles of spirits on a tray.

    Crouching, I held my knife out for anything—anyone—hiding.

    It was only a matter of time before I was discovered, only a short time to find my bow and confront the Mongerer. All without getting caught. In and out. Easy.

    Yeah, right.

    The bland carpet underfoot, the absence of light making it nearly impossible to make out the color, masked my steps—

    On the other side of the closed door, a creak sounded.

    I froze.

    Another creak erupted, further down the hallway, and then a door shut.

    Letting out a breath, I opened the door while no one was in my way, and entered the hallway. A few candles safely perched on the wall dimly illuminated a staircase directly in front of me, a banister adorned the balcony to the right of the stairs. The hallway extended only a short ways to the left and right. It was to a room on the right that the person had entered into. Light glowed under the door crack to that room.

    I thanked the Valar for my light, elven feet as I padded down the stairs, not even the slightest creek alerting my presence.

    My knife glinted in the ever-soft candle light, but the glinting was a risk I was willing to take. If anyone else was awake in this house, I didn't want to be caught unaware. There were most likely more people awake, nobody would risk having candles burning while they are sleeping. It just wasn't right. Only a true idiot would do such a thing on purpose.

    The front door I had been in front of minutes ago loomed in front of me. Hanging on the wall next to the door was a wickedly sharp knife.

    A shiver went down my spine. If I had tried going through that door... no doubt that knife would be hilt-deep in my gut.

    To my right was what appeared to be a formal dining room, with whetting stones and half-sharpened swords and knives littering the nicked table. On the wall there hung swords, knives and bows. They looked eerily like morbid prizes in the near-black light.

    With hopes high as a giant eagle, I searched to find Legolas's bow on the wall. Of course, of course it wasn't there. That'd be too easy.

    To my left, in front of the front door, extended a shorter hallway. Going down that path, I came to the edge of what appeared to be a family room, but considering what kind of house this was and who it belonged to, I doubted a family ever gathered here. A fireplace glowed brightly—but it needed another log before its fire was reduced to glowing embers.

    Despite the urge to go stoke the fire, I glanced around further. A few plush couches faced the fire and on the other side of those seats, was the kitchen. A still-hot stove glowed softly with embers, a cast-iron pot half full with something I couldn't see. Next to the stove was a basin for water. Next to the partly open pantry door sat a collection of kitchen knives that gave my back the tingles.

    Laughter rose loud and indecent from a table smaller than the one in the dining room. My eyes landed on two rugged men with a start. They both held a smattering of cards in their hands, a pile of dry beans in front of them acting in place of coins.

    Near them, leaning against the wall, was my bow.

    I sucked in a breath. A breath that sounded like a cannon blast. Quickly, almost on instinct, I folded myself into the pantry and closed the door to a crack.

:::::
I'm sorry, I can't help the cliff-hangers.

Also... I might not update next week 😔😔 I really need to write more and haven't been able to.

Anyways, thoughts so far?