ellie7

***MUCH AWAITED****
                                                 Chapter 7

      The rosy fingers of dawn roused Ellie the next morning. Quickley, she gathered her things and hurried down to the stables. Thom was already there waiting, with her mare saddled and ready to go. He himself rode a gelding. Ellie blinked dumbly for a few seconds before realising that he expected her to mount. Possibly due to lifetime of nocturnal activity, the young Rogue wasn't much of a morning person. "What? Did I cut short your beauty rest?" The mage teased. "Only merchants 'n fools have th' right te be up at this hour" she grumbled "I'm neither." Grinning, Thom urged his gelding, Swiftwind, towards the Inn's wooden gate. "It'll do you good," he commented "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy-" She laughed "You have te ride with me in a mood th' rest of th' day, tell me how 'healthy' you fell by th' end of it!"
     The ride to Pirates Swoop was enjoyable. Thom and Ellie exchanged some light hearted banter, but mostly, they observed the gorgeos landscapes. Tortall was expiriencing a mild winter, with only three weeks until midwinter festival, there was little snow. Enough, perhaps to dust the tree tops, but not to slow the progress of travelers. At this rate, they would reach 'the Swoop' before dinner the next day. As the sun dipped lower and lower on the horizon Thom became more and more anxious. Ellie, who had been staring off into the distance, jumped when he spoke. "There's a wayhouse just up the left fork of that road." It was only when she thaught about warm beds, Ellie relised how cold and stiff she was. Without a second thought, she turned her mare up the left fork. Thom followed. Looking down into a nearby valley, Ellie noticed a small frozen pond. She remembered how local children used to skate on the Orlorun river when it froze in winter. Ellie herself had never participated, partially for fear of the river, and partially because she'd always been too busy stealing food. Now she looked longingly apon the glacy surface, wondering what skating might be like. Surley Thom, being noble born, would have tried it at some point. She looked towards the Noble, turning qickly enough to realise that instead of gazing at the scenery around them, Thom's eyes hed been fixed on her. Suddenly she didn't feel so cold.
     Ellie broke the scilence "Ha-have you ever been skatin'?" Thom grinned, "Actually no, I haven't, I suppose you're about to tell me I suffered a deprived childhood?" Ellie laughed "Actually no," she said, mimicking his voice " I was 'bout t' ask you what it's like" He chuckled softly "I never found out, my mother won't go near ice with a ten foot pole." Before Ellie could enquire more about his childhood, they had arrived at the wayhouse. After a warm meal of barley stew, the two travelers lounged for hours in front of the raging commonroom fire. They laughed and joked, roasting bits of bread and (anything else that happened to be withing arms reach) on sticks over the dancing flames. Finally they said thier goodnights, each retiring to his or own sleeping chamber.
     Ellie was flying. Or rather, Thom was, he was holding her up and they were soaring like birds high above Corus. She felt liberated and safe in his arms, soaring gently through beams of sunlight. The city was beautifull glittering like a gem. Suddenly, the sun dissapeared behind a passing cloud and the land fell into shaddow. A wave of sickness washed over her. Thom still held her tightly, so tightly in hurt, his nails dug like calws into her arms. Thom? Se turned to face him, to tell him that he was hurting her. To Ellies horror, it was no longer Thom who supported her, but a huge wingged horse that reaked with the stench of dried blood. She screamed. Corus was far, far below them and she was terrified. She fought mentally, trying to get a hold on her emotions, but the darkness and the Hurrok were too much. In her self pity, Ellie barley noticed the large arrow protruding from the beast's side. The thing cried out, it's shrieks mingling with her own as they sipped lower over the Corus skyline. Below them, the Olorun river, writhing like a serpent, seemed to come nearer and nearer. suddenly the painfull grip released and she was falling. With a sickening splash she hit the water.Icy turrents clawed, suffocating her as she struggled to reach the surface. "Thom!" she cried, sitting bolt upright.
       Trembling violently, Ellie wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. The only sound in the otherwise silent room was her heavy breathing. She padded to the ajoining privy and splashed her face with cold water. Rubbing her aching elbow, she thrust herself back into bed, ignoring the bizzare images filling her mind, and falling into a deep dreamless sleep.
      The next morning at breakfast Ellie did her best to seem cheerfull and forget all about the troubling dream. It was only when Thom suggested that they go skating, her cheeks began to grow pale. " If I didnt know better," the mage commented " I'd think you were afriad" She glared at him, unsuccessfuly atempting to cover a grin. " Keep talkin'....you're headin' th' right way for an unwanted knifin' lesson..." He didn't laugh. "Are you afraid?" She sighed, "Maybe..." Thom looked genuinly dumbfounded. "Yesterday you thought it sounded like fun...why the sudden change of heart?" She rubbed her elbow thoughtfully, and the mage noticed a mark on her body he'd never seen before. It was a small scar at the base of her left elbow, shaped like a cresent moon. "How long have you had that?" he asked, gesturing at the marking. Ellie, who was quite relieved to hear the conversation shift topics, looked up. "Dunno" she said honestly "My whole life I s'pose..why?" He just shook his head. "Does it ever...hurt?" Ellie shrugged. "It's fair sore now...if that's what you're gettin at.." Thom reached out a hand to touch it, "May I?" He asked. Ellie nodded. Thom's hand began to glow with a soft purple light, he touched two fingers to her skin, then pulled away as if he'd been burned, colour draining from his cheeks. The mage was silent for a long time. Finally he raised his eyes. "There is something you haven't told me." He commented quietly.Ellie looked away, suddenly feeling very defensive." It wouldn't be your buisiness, would it?" She snapped. "Tell me." He pressed. Ellie stayed silent. "This is serious" She could hear the tension in his voice.The young woman had known Thom long enough to recognise the insecant tapping of his fingers against the table as a sign of his growing irritation. When she continued to stare at her plate, he stood, as if peraring to leave. "Ellie," He demanded, more frocefully this time "Look at me" This was something she could not do. He thrust a hand under her chin, forcing her face upwards. Ellie was reminded bitterly of her days serving men in taverns, she glared at him in utmost defiance.   "What's wrong dammit!" His voice was unitentionally harsh. Thom saw a glint of somthing in the young woman's eyes, something that made him sick to his stomach. It was the same look you see in the eyes of a dog, right after it's been whipped. Imeadiatley Thom resented his tone. "I'm sorry, I-I want to help you" he amended, releasing her. Ellie sighed, mentally forgiving him. He was scared, and that scared her."That scar must have been of immortal origin..." she suddered. "Something had to trigger it to burn like that... I just wanted to know..." His voice trailed off. Ellie got his gist, "W-Would a dream do it?" , she asked softly. Thom met her eyes again, smiling this time. "Would a dream be able to scare 'the Rogue' herself away from something as tame as ...oh, say, skating, for example?" Ellie grinned "Nothin' gets past you does it?" Seeing the familiar flirtatios twinkle re-appear in his hazel eyes, Ellie relaxed. "Now...are you going to tell me about this mysterious dream of yours... or am I going to have to resort to more painfull methods of information extraction?" She had a feeling she knew where this was heading... she was going skating unless she could provide substantial explanations on the contrary. "I s'pose you think you're awfull clever..." she commented dryly. Thom grinned broadly. "It's genetic... I asssure you" She chuckled, "Then I s'pose th' ability to get yourself outa uncomfortable positions is also inherrited?" Thom winked at her, "I guess that all depends on what sort of 'position' you had in mind..." Ellie, who had just begun to swallow the last of her breakfast, choked.

AREN'T I EVIL?????