Rowan — Refuge by Himring

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Quickbeam

Quickbeam comes to visit Orofarne and realizes something has happened to his beloved tree in the meantime.

(Originally, no second chapter was planned, but I started thinking through some of the implications and also a couple of readers said they were interested in reading more.)


For a long time afterwards, there was just the gradual slowing of the galloping heartbeat and the panicky breath. Her mind filled with the soothing song of the tree that eased the pain.

But then another voice came, a stranger’s voice from outside.

Hm, ha, hey, my Orofarne! What have we here?

She shrank into herself and Orofarne’s woody embrace tightened around her.

The voice resumed, sounding surprised: Something you want to defend even against me? I will not harm it or take it away, whatever it is, I promise!

Do not trust them, they are worse when they promise, she thought.

But Orofarne was very sure of that voice and its trustworthiness. Nevertheless, it heeded her fears and eased only a fraction, opening no more than the slightest crack. The voice did not insist.

Hm hoom, it said, concerned. It seems you are hurt, young one, root and branch, leaf and bark! I see why Orofarne believes you need protection.

She began to hope that having conceded this, the voice would go away and leave them in peace together, her and the rowan tree, especially if she refused to react and maintained silence.

But I see a risk to you, young one. Orofarne has already begun to help you heal. That is good, but if you stay in there too long you will not be able to leave.

She did not see how that was a problem. She had no wish to leave.

You will no longer be able to survive outside Orofarne, young one, do you understand? Is that truly what you want? Never be able to go anywhere else at all?

I have nowhere at all to go!

There, she had been unable to resist answering after all! Why was she admitting she could hear?

Nowhere? Young one, the world is wide. Are you so sure there is no place for you outside?

The world she knew was full of prison walls, lies and chains.

If you choose, you could stay with me a while, said the voice. I can give you draughts to strengthen you, mind and body. I only have the lore to teach an enting—I cannot teach how to walk among Men—but I can teach you some of that. And, when you have spent some time outside, you can still choose to go back inside Orofarne, if that is what you really want to do. But I would like to think I had given you more of a choice.

She said nothing. But she knew that, despite herself she was listening, along with Orofarne, who was continuing to hold her, quietly, without protest.

You do not need to decide right now, said the voice. I will come back later and ask again. There is time yet… Also, my name is Bregalad.

She did not respond again, staying quite still, until she was sure he was really gone, just as he had said. Orofarne resumed softly singing to her.


Chapter End Notes

It is up to the readers to conclude what choices she makes, I think, but I wanted to give her a little more than she had.


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