Part Three: The Return of the Wizards

Finding Fendan

Just as a warning, this one is a little dramatic and sad. There will be a few more like this, but it will also come with warning.

Lily's point of view:

After a while, I started to get worried. Fendan had been gone for almost an hour now.

"Should we go try to find Fendan? He's been gone for way too long." I said. Adren nodded.

"Yeah. I trust you and Sophie to go. Hopefully, you find him." Adren said. Sophie and I walked into the forest. After a few minutes, we heard the stream. We ran over and saw the overturned bucket of water. I looked over a little and saw Fendan, lying on the ground, an arrow in his stomach.

"Fendan!" I screamed, rushing to his side. He was conscious, but only just. I cradled his head in my arms.

"Lily, the arrow. It's poisoned. I don't have much time left." He said, taking my hand in his. Tears filled my eyes and immediately started to spill.

"Fendan, I can't lose you. Sophie, is there any way you can heal him? Could Adren still save him?" I asked, practically begging.

"I'll go get Adren. He works miracles, but I'm not sure if Fendan has enough time." Sophie said, rushing back in the direction of Adren's cabin.

"Lily, I love you. I don't have enough time, but I want you to know that I love you." Fendan said. He brought his hand up to my face and brought me closer. Our lips met. He let me go and sadly looked into my eyes. I knew that this was goodbye.

"I love you too, Fendan," I whispered. He layed back down on the ground and closed his eyes. I kissed his forehead gently and threw my arms around him. Sophie returned with Adren.

"Lily, I'm so sorry," Sophie whispered. I sat up abruptly. Qinric hadn't returned when we left to find Fendan.

"Where's Qinric?" I asked.

"He returned to the cabin a few minutes after you and Sophie left. Why do you ask?" Adren asked. Suddenly, everything fell into place. I ran back to the cabin and found Qinric.

"Qinric! How could you?! You killed your own brother!" I screamed.

"Fendan's dead?" Qinric asked.

"Don't even try playing dumb. I know you killed him. You left the cabin, saying you were going to explore, but really, you shot Fendan with a poisoned arrow." I yelled. Qinric shook his head, confused. Sophie came over.

"Lily! Qinric would never kill Fendan!" She exclaimed. I ignored her and waited for a response from Qinric.

"Lily, I didn't kill him. I promise, no matter what, I would never kill my own brother." Qinric said, sounding sincere.

"Okay, fine. Wait, if it wasn't you, then, who was it? That would have to mean there was someone else in the woods that shot Fendan." I said. I immediately thought of Eirynor. He had been jealous of Fendan, and so maybe he killed him. Sophie and Qinric both nodded.

"Hmm, you're right. Maybe we should go back and see if there are any traces of someone being in the woods." Sophie suggested. I nodded. We went back to the forest and started looking for signs of people.

"He was sent to get water, right? He's not very close to the stream. He would've had to be moved by something." Qinric said. I nodded. I had been so distraught that I didn't notice that he wasn't near the stream.

"Yeah, you're right. Well, many animals lurk in these forests." Adren said. We walked over to where Fendan lay. Adren looked at him. He looked around the forest.

"What? What is it?" I asked.

"It looks like he was hit with some sort of troll club," Adren said.

"Okay? I don't see what you're getting at." I said, confused.

"Well, trolls don't usually come to this part of the forest. By the club markings, it looks like it might've been a stone troll. The sun has started shining brighter. Maybe if it hasn't gone too far, we could be able to see if it had been in the area. Then we could get closer to knowing who shot Fendan with a poison arrow. I'm really hoping it's not orcs. Orcs usually have poison arrows and they will kill anything in their path." Adren said. I nodded, slightly worried.

"Yeah, let's just hope it's not orcs," I said. Sophie nodded as well. Adren kept walking. Suddenly, he shouted.

"Aha! It was a stone troll!" He exclaimed. We all rushed over to see a giant statue-looking troll.

"Is it going to stay like this forever?" I asked. Adren nodded.

"Yes. Once the sun reaches them, they stay stone forever. Unless, of course, a wizard comes and decides to bring the troll back to life. But, that rarely happens, so we're good." Adren said. I nodded.

"Okay. Now, what are we going to do with Fendan's body? He had told me that he wanted to be buried by a tree in Mirkwood, but we don't have time to go back." I said.

"Hmm. He is an elvish prince, so he should be properly buried. Maybe we can bury him here. I know it won't be the same, but it'll have to do." Adren said. I nodded, tears welling in my eyes. I thought about Fendan's last moments and how he died in my arms.