•~Beredon POV~•

"Agh!"
I cried out. Aldith and Haldin were bent over me, trying to extract the arrow without causing me too much pain. Despite their best efforts, the slightest touch to my arm sent a spasm of pain throughout my whole left side.

"Beredon, this is really going to hurt."

I felt sick. I clenched my teeth, closed my eyes, and prepared for the worst.

Haldin grasped the arrow. I grimaced.

And suddenly I felt the arrow leave my shoulder.

"Agh!" I gasped. I turned to look at my shoulder. The skin was torn around the wound. Dark blood began to ooze from it. I felt sick to my stomach.

"Beredon?"

"Is he alright?"

I felt as though I couldn't breathe. I muttered something even I didn't understand.-

•~Aldith POV~•

-"Beredon?" I called softly. There was no answer. He stared at the ground. I looked towards where he was staring. There was nothing significant there that I could see.

"Haldin, what is wrong with him?" I whimpered.

"He's in shock." He muttered.
"He'll be alright in a while."

I hope so.-

•~Later that evening~•

-Beredon had eventually passed out and was laid upon a cot. I went to visit him while he was sleeping.

His shoulder was cleansed and bandaged. His face looked unusually peaceful, considering all he had been through. I walked over to his bedside.

The last rays of the sun shone upon his face. It glowed softly. I grabbed his hand and rubbed it between my own. One single tear rolled down my cheek. I wished I might have prevented his injury. Haldin entered the room quietly. He laid his hand on my shoulder.

"He will be all right, Aldith. It wasn't as bad as your stab wound."

As soon as he mentioned it I felt a small twinge of pain in my shoulder.

"What is it? Aldith?" He asked.

"Nothing." I lied.
I touched my shoulder gingerly.
Just at that moment, the sun set. I turned to look at Beredon one last time. The last rays of the sun touched his face and then disappeared.

"Come on, Aldith. I have a few reports I need you to finish."

I sighed and followed Haldin.-

-I had planned on finishing the reports but that isn't what actually happened. I sat at the entrance of the cave and stared out. Something was drawing me outside. As if in a trance, I began staggering out of the cave.

I heard a nightingale up in the trees somewhere but I didn't bother looking for it now. Suddenly I heard a voice inside my head. You cannot escape. An agonizing pain ran through my shoulder. I gasped and collapsed on the ground. You will tell me all there is to know about Ithilien or face my wrath. I shook like a leaf. Beads of sweat formed on my face.

No!
Suddenly the pain intensified.

No? I heard a laugh. You shall regret that.

I felt as though my shoulder exploded. I screamed and writhed on the ground. It felt as though someone was searching through my mind. One thought ran through my head: Don't let it in. My vision clouded over. One thing only I could see: a dark shape gliding over to me. Merciless eyes stared into my own. It held my gaze. I could not look away.
Even though the pain intensified I could barely think about that now. A thrill of fear spread across my heart. My breath came in short, ragged gasps.

And suddenly I was back in the cave, lying on my back. Haldin and some other Rangers were bent over me. Haldin was wiping my brow with a cold, wet rag. I clutched my shoulder and attempted to sit up. Haldin pushed me back to the ground.

"What.. Happened?" I gasped.

"I'm not exactly sure." Haldin replied.

"I heard screaming and there you were, lying at the mouth of the cave, writhing. We couldn't figure out what was wrong with you." Caran informed me.

"So we brought you back inside."

I tried to get up again. This time Haldin helped me up. I felt extremely dizzy.

"I will help you back to your room." Haldin said.
Too exhausted to argue, I agreed.-

-A/N
Thank you so much for reading! I apologize for the late update but it took forever to write. It is, however, a longer chapter than usual and I feel it was some of my best writing. It's definitely one of my favorite chapters. Please vote and comment!

Q: Who's your favorite character and why?

A: Aldith. She's just so awesome. I put her through so much. xD I actually based her shoulder injury off of mine. I sprained my shoulder or did something to it and still have problems with it. xD-