Rescue

Eruadan stepped into the warm, dry house that provided him shelter from the cold mist outside. Ignoring the fact that he was cold and damp from being exposed to the mist outside, he stood gazing at his set of armour and weapons neatly placed on the display. Long and hard he stared at it, slowly being aware of his own reflection on the almost mirror-like shield. It was crude as a mirror, but it was sufficient to tell Eruadan that his posture and his poise lacked the strength, composure, and confidence he was supposed to have. Eruadan tried to straighten up and project his usual strong, composed, and confident self, but to no avail. He knew what exactly bothered him.

The absence of one person. One particular person. One significant person. One that he swore to protect.

Anger boiled in Eruadan's blood. Questions poured in his head like a sudden burst of a dam at the river. 'Why did this happen?' 'Why couldn't I do something?' 'Why?' 'Why?' 'WHY?'

Blood was trickling off Eruadan's fist. He only noticed it now - one hand clenched tightly around the blade of his sword. In his anger, he didn't know that he took his sword and held it in his two hands. Placing the sword back on the display, Eruadan paced around the room. He has to do something. Valaina has to be rescued. He cannot despair or feel angry. He has to put all his feelings into action. Not just any rash action, but an action that is clinical, critical, and well thought out. He knew that the King would allow Eruadan to plan something and carry it out - even to give Eruadan the order to do something. He knew that he has friends who would stand by him in any situation. The rest now lies in his own decision to rescue Valaina.

Getting out of his outer robe, Eruadan prepared to put on his armour. Normally he would have been assisted by Valaina, but right now... her absence was really felt. Without someone to help him put his armour on, he took almost three times as long to put his armour on. Despite all that time spent, Eruadan was able to devise and work out a plan in which he could rescue Valaina successfully.

Stepping back out into the cold, damp mist, Eruadan got onto his horse and sped off. He is going to do whatever it takes to rescue Valaina.