Galena knew deep down Tark was being reasonable, but she felt they were somehow wasting time by not starting after Rau’s army. Even if they didn’t catch up within a couple of days, they would at least keep them from getting so far ahead. She stormed in the direction she smelled food, hoping to find some sweet bread there. She managed to lose the crumbs she had been using to make more of it on their return trip. She assumed this happened when she tossed her bag down.
Elenio had retrieved her bag when she’d been recovering from her big battle and to her immense relief, Twoit stayed with the pack during the battle. Elenio said she appeared to have been asleep the entire time. Since the arrival to camp however, she made herself scarce just as she had done with the other camps. Apparently, the ferret had aversions to elves other than Galena and her companions, which suited Galena fine. She’d only seen the ferret once in the last couple of days and that was when Twoit was sneaking back into the tent after hunting the night before. Earlier that morning, she noticed the tiny creature had curled up at the foot of the hammock and slept the night away with Galena without her knowing.
Galena knew she’d arrived at the right tent because the smells of good things to eat were stronger here. Galena’s stomach gave a loud rumble and much to her embarrassment, the elf who was entering the tent next to her chuckled as they passed. Yeah, yeah, I know, she thought to herself.
Inside, she found several elves sitting on the ground, their hands full of food. Galena took a deep breath of the warm smells of bread and sweet smells of fruit, her mouth salivating in response. She entered and stopped in shock when all the elves in the tent, stood and bowed low to her before they began clapping. Galena felt more than a little uncomfortable at the sight of so many elves treating her like royalty. She’d been here a couple of days and all the elves she passed while in camp had thanked her personally, but this was the first time this many responded to her at once. It was overwhelming.
“Please, you are to be thanked as much as I,” she said loudly while she held her hands up to quiet them. “What I do, I am doing for you and for those we left behind. Please, do not thank me for the gift I’ve been given. I don’t deserve it.”
The elves responded by bowing low once more as a sign of respect before sitting down to finish their food. Galena approached the area where she could get a variety of different things to eat and chose a loaf of sweet bread, several pieces of cheese, fruits, and vegetables. Not only her hands were full, but so were her arms. Even then, she realized she would have to use the wind to help her carry it all. One of the underground elves who was in charge of the food, laughed at her when she saw the burden she carried.
“We won’t run out,” she said, laughing.
Galena blushed. She nodded in thanks and set off for her tent once more. If she thought she had attracted attention before, it was nothing compared to the stares she now received. Every elf that passed did a double take causing Galena’s face to turn redder with every glance. Finally, she reached the safety of her tent, where no eyes could follow her and the large amount of food she carried.
“Hungry?” Elenio asked, laughing when Galena entered the tent.
“Yes, but I brought some for you too,” Galena said indignantly.
“Well, you never know with you,” Elenio said, smiling broadly.
Galena rolled her eyes at this and handed him several pieces of food. Elenio kept his eyes on her at all times, the smile never leaving his lips.
“Where were you off to, besides hoarding half of the elves’ rations?”
That does it, she thought. She’d had enough of the teasing. Using the wind, she sent a small chunk of bread flying through the air and straight up Elenio’s nose, where it lodged nicely.
Elenio’s smile disappeared from his face as the discomfort of having food shoved up his nostril replaced his amusement. He choked and began to sneeze furiously before he closed his other nostril with a finger. With a mighty effort, he blew the chunk of bread out and sent it bouncing across the floor. Galena roared with laughter throughout the entire process, tears streaming down her face when he was finally able to dislodge the food. Elenio studiously ignored Galena through the remainder of their morning meal, for which Galena was perfectly fine with, now that she felt better.
“Tark and Morgo had me do a sort of experiment this morning.”
Still attempting to ignore Galena, Elenio continued to eat, but Galena could tell she had gotten his attention when he turned his face so he could hear her better.
She smiled before continuing. “They wanted to see if I would be able to see the landscape surrounding Rau’s army. I was successful. Unfortunately, we found out they’re already several days ahead of us. The ridiculous part is that Tark is still maintaining we need to wait until tomorrow morning before we head out.”
“I agree with him.”
“Somehow, I knew that was what you were going to say,” Galena grumbled.
“Galena, have you even talked to any of the other underground elves besides Nigora?”
Galena looked at Elenio, waiting for him to continue.
“Nigora wasn’t the only one who was passed out by the end of the day. Morgo and I went around checking on the other magical elves. They were all passed out. Only Nina actually made it to her hammock. The others were found near their tents or passing elves took pity on them and placed them in their tents. Most of them, I imagine, still have not stirred from where they lay. Tark told me when they began to use their magic to build tree homes a good many of them would be out for days at a time. He also said they had gotten better over the weeks, but big and different magic is still hard on them. Now, in order for us to get into Blackwell, we need every elf we can spare. So quit complaining and accept we need to give others a chance to catch up.”
Galena felt stunned. Elenio had never been so blunt with her before.
“So, what you’re saying is that you really don’t like bread up your nose?”
Elenio looked at her in shock, before abruptly getting up and storming out of the tent.
Well, that didn’t go quite like I was hoping, Galena thought miserably. Getting up, she ran out after Elenio who was storming off in the direction of Tark and Taura’s tent. “Elenio, wait!” she called out to him.
He stopped, but refused to turn around.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
He acknowledged her by turning to face her as she continued.
“Chalk it up to feeling like I have been laughed at more often by more elves and feeling completely helpless. I shouldn’t have gotten upset either with you or Tark. I know you’re both right, I just hate to admit it.”
Elenio’s face softened when she finished and grabbing her hand, he pulled her to him where he could wrap his arms around her. “I’m sorry too,” he muttered into her hair, kissing the top of her head. “I didn’t mean to be so blunt earlier, I just felt like I was dealing with a two year old.” He tickled Galena’s side causing her to wriggle around, fighting to get away from the torturous fingers. He stopped and pulled her close to him once more. “That and I got used to having you all to myself. I don’t like having to share you with everyone and I really don’t like the fact that if it hadn’t been for you, we would still be fighting.”
“Elenio...” Galena started, but Elenio stopped her by placing a hand over her mouth.
“I wasn’t finished yet,” he said, putting a finger under her chin and raising her face so she was looking directly at him.
She saw weariness there, hidden in the circles around his eyes and the tightness around his mouth. She knew he had been through as much as she had and would have to go through much more before they were finished.
He kissed her nose and resting his forehead on hers he continued, “I’m getting better, but there is some male instinct there that tells me I’m the one that is supposed to be protecting you, not the other way around. No matter how many battles we go through or how many tight situations you get me out of, that instinct is always going to be there. Just ask Tark, Morgo, and Morak. They will tell you the same thing holds true for them as well. So be patient with me for it will always be a struggle and one that my better judgment will not always win.” He smiled at this last statement before kissing her quickly.
Galena smiled in return and took a step back. “Shall we head to Tark’s and see what the plan is for tomorrow?”
Elenio nodded his head in response before taking Galena’s hand once more and starting in the direction that he had been heading.
Galena felt better after settling their argument. After all that they had been through, it seemed silly to go on being angry at one another for sheer pettiness.
Within a few moments, they arrived at Tark’s tent to find Taura alone. After giving them both a hug, she told them Tark started out early that morning and she hadn’t seen him since the night before. She also said he could normally be found with one of his generals. They thanked her and headed out to Morgo’s tent, but found that neither of them were there. Finally, after they ran into Hasa, they were able to meet up with Tark who was indeed meeting with Fala, Morgo, Nina, and Naradin on different battle tactics and their overall impression about the first attempt. Galena threw in her two cents while Elenio sat back and listened to it all. Naradin felt that they might do better if they surrounded Rau’s army, but Tark laughed this idea away.
“We don’t even have enough elves to surround one side, let alone all of them.”
Naradin looked grim at this reminder and thoughtfully sat back.
“The earlier we leave, the better. I think we should pick off as many as possible before they reach Blackwell. Once they do, it will be nearly impossible to gain any ground,” Elenio said thoughtfully.
“Galena could always blast her way through,” Nina said sarcastically, but this remark was met with Elenio and Tark’s instant disapproval.
Morgo held up a hand to silence their further complaints before saying, “She only teases. You forget we know better than any other elves how far you can take magic. However, you do realize it will take something of Galena size to finally get to Rau.” Morgo was staring at the floor at this last statement while he waited for everyone to absorb what he told them.
“As much as I would like to say no, I realize that would be fool hardy,” Tark nearly whispered.
“So, I guess the real question is how do you plan to get into Blackwell, Galena?” Morgo asked, still looking at the floor.
All eyes turned to look at Galena, but she found that she couldn’t meet any of them, especially not Elenio’s or Tark’s. “Ummm, I hadn’t thought that far, but I definitely plan on doing something to keep us from dying,” Galena muttered to no one in particular.
“Spoken like a true hero,” Elenio said, rolling his eyes as he did.
“Well, it’s definitely a start,” Morgo said grinning broadly at Galena. “I’ve got a couple ideas on the matter.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Galena said, returning Morgo’s grin.
“It definitely sounds like I’ve thought of it a bit more than you have,” Morgo said, chuckling as he did.
“You think about everything more than anyone else!” Tark exclaimed.