I learned that day that Renvan gave the nicest of hugs.

Ms. Elendawen let me cry for as long as I needed. Which was a long time.

They both tried to comfort me, but it didn't work. How could it?

"Why?" I sobbed, my breath shallow and shaky. "It's not fair!"

No. No! This just couldn't be happening! Right after Gyllyn... I lose Codd?

No one said anything for a while. I just held Ren's hand as I cried. "Why was he out of the city, anyway? He said he was warning people!"

"Maybe he was warning other places."

"No one actually saw him die." Ms. Elendawen said, attempting (and failing) to comfort me. "The last I saw, he was still alive! He was being dragged off, but I saw him try to kick the orcs who had knocked him out." She paused. "But they knocked him out again."

Still alive? Maybe they're keeping him for questioning...

"I'm finding him." I declared, wiping tears from my eyes.

"No." Ms. Elendawen said bluntly. "The last thing your mother needs right now is another dead kid."

"That's the last thing I need! Another person who I loved, dead!"

Renvan cringed at that.

"Oh come on! You can't possibly think I can just sit around here and rot while Codd is in danger!"

Renvan looked at me with sad eyes. "Well, you can't just walk into Mordor."

I stared, appalled at my little friend. "Watch me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mom was asleep when I returned. She was always asleep nowadays. She didn't have a reason to get up in the mornings. Or at noon.

Well maybe her daughter being a hero can wake her up. I declared.

What was the best way to disappear without causing panic?

Mom, She decided to write. I am going away for a while. I need time to clear my head after Gyl. You may hear that Codd has gone missing. Well, he has. I can't bear losing anyone else, and need to get away for a while. I think I'll stay at Osgiliath for a week or so. She scratched out the last sentence. I think I'll stay in Osgiliath for three weeks to a month. Don't worry about Driam, I'll take him.

Lots of love, Abeasa.

It pained me to lie like that, but I thought I was being kind of obvious that that's not where I was going.

I put it in a place I knew mother would find it, and left.

I went strait to the stables to get Driam. "Hey, boy." I said, stroking his mane. "We're gonna go on a trip okay?"

I sighed, wondering if I should do this. It would be really dangerous. And if I got there and Codd was-

No. No, this was something I had to do.

Just as I grabbed a saddlebag, I heard something coming from the stall about two away from Driam's. I walked over to investigate.

I realized that this was where Codd's horse usually was. She was a lovely black mare. Strong and muscular, truly a fine steed.

But she wasn't there.

Instead, there was a silly little boy.

Sorry for the terrible update. I'll try and post another one that isn't so bad soon. :/

The reason I've been away so long is: Da da DAAAAA. Exams. blah.

Anyway, that'll be over soon, and I'll get back to updating more often.