I got to my feet and paced the small stretch of carpet before the hearth. My heart beat wildly in my chest as the image of my horse and my friend lying unmoving on the ground swamped my mind. The carpet whispered under my shoes as I turned about, almost losing my balance, to face the fire. Then the door. Then the fire.
"Henny, what's wrong?" Tormir asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. I crushed my eyes shut in pain--only Derkeethus called me 'Henny'.
"I have to go," I said at last, rushing towards the door in stumbling, weaving footsteps that struggled to even land properly. The room swayed, suspended on a diaphanous thread. I reached for the door knob and missed, and before I could try again, Tormir led me back to a chair and pushed me into it.
"You aren't going anywhere," she said firmly. Shrugging her hands away, I made to try to leave once more. "If you keep this up, you're only going to hurt yourself further!" She held onto my shoulders firmly, keeping me in the chair. "What's your hurry to leave anyway?"
"Derk is in trouble! He's fallen on the side of the road! I have to get to him. Get out of my way!" I fairly shouted, shoving her away from me as I stood unsteadily.
"What's the meaning of this?" Legate Hrollod barked, seeing our struggle. His soldiers looked up from a map on the counter, while the barman continued on with his commentary over their discussion. The Legate strode over and looked at Tormir in askance.
"Our elf friend is just worried over Derkeethus. She'll be fine," she replied, glaring at me coolly.
"Fine? He's fallen! I just saw him get attacked by an assassin!" My mind whirred maddeningly about as my voice rose in pitch to a hysterical shriek. Tears sprang to my eyes as I fought Tormir's collected grip. "I have to find him! He needs help!" Weakening, I slowly sank to the ground and wept, searching for the connection frantically, trying to find some sign of life. Some sign that I wouldn't be left to face the world alone. But my mind remained empty and solely my own for the first time in a long time, and I felt naked in the face of it.
I sat for a time, clutching at my face with my fingers, almost as if to tear it off of me and leave my expression frozen upon the floor. The air in the room froze with tension, and not too far off, I heard the soldiers muttering amongst themselves again. Then, outside, there was a commotion. Hoofs were thundering straight up to the inn, and the town guards shouted and the steed neighed brokenly.
With a burst of cold, moist air, Derkeethus burst into the inn, panting with his hands on his knees and his eyes darting around in confusion. Upon seeing him, the connection between us burst open and I was flooded with memories in a boggling jumble of images and fragmented thoughts. I couldn't understand what I was seeing, and my friend only stared up at the assemble with rolling eyes. Carefully, he removed a small vial at his side, shaded a delicate amber, and swallowed its contents. His eyes squinted shut for a moment, and then he stood straighter, though looking more tired than I had ever seen him.
Out of the corner of my eye, the Legate glanced at me questioningly before turning to the Argonian. "Glad to have you join us. We've been waiting for your return for some time now." But Derk paid him no heed and looked at me, eyes full of breathless concern.
"Henny, I'm sorry... Nael is...your horse, she's--" he stammered, waiting for the blows to fall, but I saw the image in his mind. My horse got up, but her nose streamed blood and her breathing was wet and shallow. She hobbled slowly along the road, dragging an unconscious Derkeethus behind her, his foot stuck in the stirrup...
I saw Derk give her a little of the White Phial's contents, and though she still sounded sickly, she was able to bear him back to Rorikstead.
Slowly I crossed the space between us, relieved about my horse, but more than anything else, relieved to see my friend alive. He looked at me quizzically for a moment, then his tunic was pressed against my face.
I hugged him tightly, afraid if I let go, he'd disappear again and I'd have to face the duality of my mind alone. "I missed you," I admitted, having kept this idea even from myself. It felt good to say it, and my friend's arms wrapped around my shoulders in return. He stood there with his arms around me for a few moments.
The pain, weakness, and stress of the last few days compounded as he let go of me and I looked into his face, seeing the exhaustion looming at the edges of his expression. My battered heart thundered still, and my breath hitched as I felt my chest compress against some unknown weight. A chill spread from the center of my breast outward through my body. My jaw clenched tightly as a needling pain shot through it, and my arms ached at the joints.
"Derk, do you have the White Phial still?" I gasped, feeling myself faint. He nodded, rustling in his pockets for the precious artifact. His eyes were knowing as he withdrew the Phial, as if this moment were expected. And why not? Had he not also been privy to my thoughts?
Hrollod murmured an inarticulate sound of appreciation when he saw the item we had fought so hard for. Our bargaining tool for his daughter's life. "It's so small," Tormir commented. Somewhere near the bar, one of the soldier's sniggered darkly. Ignoring all of this, I took the Phial and uncorked it with shaking, numb hands. My ears began to ring, and I hurried, not sure if my heart had, at last, had enough.
The potion was sweet as it went down. It was like drinking light, and burned like the sun when it went to work. At first, that was all I felt, and I worried that my insides were being turned to ash as I stood, but then my breathing eased and my heartbeat slowed and became relaxed. Standing straighter, the weakness plaguing my muscles faded. I didn't feel strong, but I felt...normal. With a beaming smile, I handed the Phial back to my friend for safe keeping.
Finally, the effects of the briarheart had been banished completely. Turning to Hrollod, still grinning, I said, "So, we have a Legate to catch and a girl to save. Where do we begin?"
In my mind, I felt Derk's broad grin, though his face remained immobile. You're back, he thought, mutual fondness blooming between us.
Maybe things will get back to normal, I pondered in return.
So long as you are not gravely injured. Again. When will it ever be my turn? Amusement mingled with a kind of longing as he thought this. I meant to respond, but was distracted as Hrollod summoned us to the counter at the far end of the room.
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