[Ealasaid]

Between the combined efforts of the two elves, Vanwe and Lespheria, Benia found her ankle well bound and set, the pain already subsiding. Grateful, she thanked the both of them, and Silvanis again as well. She drank the thyme tea slowly, savoring the warmth. Before she knew it, the room was empty aside from herself and Silvanis, the others having gone on to other chores, or, in Gilly's case, to fetch dinner.

She smiled at Silvanis over the brim of her tea cup. "I don't know how I can ever repay you," she said in the dialect of the southern desert. "I am forever indebted to you. You and the others. You are all too kind."

In response, Silvanis inclined his head slightly and answered in the same language. "Speaking for myself, m'lady, I can safely say you owe me nothing. I did what any man should do. Nothing more."

"Nothing more!" echoed Benia, dropping back into the common speech. "And certainly nothing less. Even so, I must tell you. I am not one to forget a kindness." She put the now empty tea cup aside. "But, tell me... how is it that one such as yourself would speak the language of my kinsmen?"

Silvanis smiled. "I have done no small amount of travelling in my time," he answered obliquely. "But, by the same token, I might ask how a desert lady such as yourself might come to be this far north."

"I came to visit my friend Gilly," Benia answered, still smiling, but her fingers felt the hem of her bodice for the red stone. "She doesn't travel beyond the borders of the Shire. Therefore, if I wish to see her, I must come north." Locating the stone, Benia slipped it out of the hidden pocket and palmed it neatly between her fingers. Her instincts told her to trust Silvanis, but she still harbored doubts about the stone... if he had been the one to give to her. And, if so, why. Carefully, she repositioned herself on the mat and smoothed her skirts. She gave her ankle a rueful glance. "And, from the look of it, I will be staying in the north for a little while, yet."

He gestured to the open pack in the corner and the pile of packages Gilly had retrieved from the foot of the stairs. "It seems you were preparing to leave."

"I was." For an instant, her expression darkened. There were people who expected her. If she didn't arrive as planned, they would assume that she had been detained or worse. If only someone could get word to them. She gave the Ranger a considering look. But could he be trusted? She felt the stone, small and hard between her fingers. She had to stop wavering. Surely, if Silvanis had meant her harm, he would have done something toward that end by now, she thought. Finally, she came to a decision.

"Could you help me, please?" she asked, holding out her hand. "I would very much like to move to the chair." Taking the proffered hand, Silvanis wrapped his other arm around her waist and assisted her to the chair. When she was seated comfortably, she released his hand.

When he looked down, there on his palm was the red stone, shining darkly in the lamp light.