(a/n:  Okay, so weekends are better for updating purposes.  I apologize in advance for the next one.  This upcoming week is going to be very busy...  :(  At the latest, I will have something up by next weekend, though I'm keeping my fingers crossed for something sooner!  Thank you as always for continuing to follow me and for the comments!  They always make my day.  <3 )

                After seeing two of his friends disappear and two others captured, Siwon’s demeanor changed.  He looked at Eun Mi with intense, troubled eyes.  “I need to be walking now,” he stated simply.  The scrying bowl sat on his lap, forgotten as he continued to force himself to take deep, measured breaths.  Her words from earlier came back to him and he decided his forward momentum was too slow.

                Eun Mi frowned slightly while her hands came to rest on her hips.  “I can’t heal you any faster than I am.”  She looked back at Yong-Soo for assistance but he just shrugged.

                “I’m not asking you to heal me.  You’ve done that,” he stated with an acknowledging glance at his person. “But I need to be able to walk on my own today.”

                His determination would have been admirable if the situation wasn’t so frustrating.  Quietly, she asked for patience as she took a deep breath.  “You just got washed down the greater portion of the Angmer and you demand a miracle.  You’re lucky to even be alive,” she stated bluntly, unusually annoyed with her patient.

                In frustration, Siwon growled and tossed the scrying bowl off his lap, splashing water everywhere.  The wooden bowl bounced off the wall and clattered loudly against the floor, settling noisily.  “Did you not hear what I said?!” he demanded heatedly.  “My friends have been captured.  I can’t just lay here anymore.”

                Taken aback by the reaction, Eun Mi took a step back and Yong-Soo cleared his throat.  “There’s no need for that, Siwon,” he chided disappointedly as he moved over to retrieve the overturned bowl.  “Do you think we like living in his shadow being able to do nothing against him?” he asked softly as he focused on the bowl instead of the elementalist, running callused fingers over the surface, noting a small dent in one side.

                Some of the anger drained from Siwon at the question, but his frustration remained.  Forcibly, he took another breath and made his hands unclench with some effort.  “What would you suggest then?” he asked the young man.

                After another moment, Yong-Soo looked up and met the elementalists gaze evenly.  “I would suggest you ask Eun Mi.  Nicely,” he added with a small smile and a nod of his head before he took the bowl to the hidden door and let himself back down the stairs to refill the bowl again.

                Feeling like a chastised child, Siwon looked up at Eun Mi from under his brows and he murmured softly.  “I’m sorry.”

                The herbalist sighed and pulled up a chair across from Siwon as she regarded him steadily, no trace of the surprise in her expression anymore.  Thoughtfully, she chewed her lower lip, making him more nervous with each moment that she didn’t say anything.  At last, she moved and reached easily for his forearm.  Carefully, she felt along the length of it, watching his expression change when she hit a tender spot.

                The majority of his person had been bruised and scraped when she had found him.  Most of the smaller injuries could be treated with salves and herbal teas, but the muscle soreness and the deep tissue bruises he had suffered were going to take longer to heal and that was simple fact.  Nothing she did was going to make that move any faster.  Still…if he wanted to put himself through that sort of trial this early on, she could at least make sure he was actually up for it.  She knew well that the mind could make many things possible that were otherwise not.

                “What are you doing?” he finally asked when she had finished his other arm and gently pushed him back on the bed as she probed his chest with tender, practiced fingers.  He was slightly uncomfortable with the present situation, but there was very little that was warm about Eun Mi right now, so his discomfort stemmed mostly from the fact that she still had yet to answer him.  She had very much become the focused healer and he was simply her patient.

                In a distracted voice, she responded, “I’m trying to make sure I don’t make things worse by helping you.”  Her lips pursed tersely as he winced when she hit another tender spot and she made yet another mental note.  Surprisingly, he was healing well, but he still had so many injuries she was concerned about.  Mindful of his privacy, she pulled the cover back over his chest and carefully tested his legs, which he was very shy about.  After he jerked from her touch for a third time, she sighed and placed her fingers to her temple.  “Would you just relax?”

                “It tickles…” he murmured in embarrassment with a slight flush on his face.

                Unexpectedly, Eun Mi actually laughed, her annoyance draining from her quickly.  Still laughing softly, she waved for him to sit up.  “I see.  Alright.  Then I need you to tell me where your tender spots are.”  Much more comfortable with that, Siwon nodded and felt his legs, easily denoting where several sore spots spoke very loudly.  Eun Mi filed them away and then sat back in the chair and looked at Siwon sternly.  “I will help you, but you must agree to stop when I tell you to.”

                Siwon frowned at the restriction and couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

                One brow arched in response to his query and she crossed her arms in front of her chest.  “Because I am temporarily going to help your body ignore the pain it’s going to feel and if you injure yourself more because you didn’t listen to me, I will not help you anymore.”

                “Oh…” he shrank back from the slightly scary expression on her face.

                “Agreed?” she asked, reaching out her hand.

                Hesitantly, Siwon reached out to accept the gesture and nodded.  “Agreed.”

                A smile crossed Eun Mi’s face again and some of the warmth returned as she called over her shoulder, “Yong-Soo.  You can come back up.”

                Carefully, Yong-Soo returned with a full bowl of water, an amused smile on his face as he looked between the two.  He had purposefully remained behind to give them privacy but sound carried very well inside the small enclosure.  The elementalist seemed to realize it almost immediately too and he flushed slightly at the thought.  “So what is the plan then?” he asked his cousin as he handed the bowl back to Siwon.

                “Just keep an eye on him for now.  I’ve got to go find that salve mother taught me and then I can make him some tea,” she shrugged before standing up and disappearing downstairs again.

                Yong-Soo chuckled at the lost look on Siwon’s face.  “We keep most of the finished products downstairs,” he explained.  “Her mother sells a salve in town that helps to reduce pain.  Similarly, there’s a tea she promotes that works in that regard as well.”

                “I see,” Siwon murmured in understanding, his face flushing again as he realized the salve would have to be applied directly to the skin.  Surely she wouldn’t…

                Eun Mi returned then, a small, sealed jar in one hand and a packet of herbs in the other.  The salve she gave to Yong-Soo before throwing the packet of herbs in the kettle and setting it over the fire to boil.  Easily, she returned to Yong-Soo and pat him on the shoulder, “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

                “Go on,” he waved with a grin.  At least she knew enough to know her patient was already uncomfortable she was a woman.  After she left and while they were waiting for the tea to heat up, Yong-Soo helped Siwon to undo the wrappings so that he could apply salve to the sore spots.  The tender flesh beneath was a surprising array of colors along the length of most of his body and even Yong-Soo was a bit surprised at the extent of his bruising.  “No wonder she was worried about you getting up and about,” he whistled appreciatively.  She really must have confidence in his ability if she was even letting him do this much.

                Rebandaged and fully dressed again, Siwon finally stood up while Yong-Soo went to get the tea.  Already, he could feel the numbing sensation from salve working on the sore spots they had addressed and it did not take long for the tea to go into effect either.  When Yong-Soo finally assisted him in stepping outside in the later afternoon, Siwon felt surprisingly good; far more so than he expected to with his current condition.  He was considerate of Eun Mi’s words though and relegated himself to walking only.

                The pair did laps outside the house so that Siwon could see the cart he was hauled here in, free of the donkey that was currently resting in a small stable large enough for two.  A moderate pile of firewood was stacked against one wall of the house and there was a rack upon which several herbs were laid out for drying.  It was a fairly quaint place, all things considered.  He could see the Angmer from here, but it was a fair distance away and making the trip on foot for him now would be an adventure.  Sedgewood forest was much closer and within easy walking distance of the cabin.  For now, he was more than content to avoid it.  After the first few laps around the house, he found he had to pause frequently to catch his breath, leaning on Yong-Soo who patiently waited for him to recover before they continued.

                After about an hour, Eun Mi stepped outside to call them back in.  “That’s good for now, Siwon,” she explained, watching him as his body began to recognize that it was overreaching itself, even if he didn’t feel it just yet.  She shook her head ruefully as he reluctantly headed back inside.  He was going to be sore tomorrow.  When he was back in the cot, she approached him with another tea.  “Drink.”

                Siwon shrugged and did as she asked, noting that this one was different from the other one he had earlier.  “What’s this one for?” he asked curiously.

                “Soreness,” she laughed lightly.  “You will feel it later,” she assured him simply as he looked confused for now.  “Later, I’ll give you a compress you can apply to help reduce it further as well.  How do you feel so far?”  Her question was warm and the concern was evident as she placed her hand against his forehead, testing.  His temperature was slightly elevated but that was likely from the exertion, even though he had only been walking.

                “Good,” he nodded, taking another sip of warm tea.

                Eun Mi nodded to herself and smiled.  “Just rest for a bit.  Let’s get some food in you and then you can take another few laps outside again.  Okay?”

                Agreeably, Siwon nodded and looked over at Yong-Soo who was smiling slightly.  “What?” he asked as Eun Mi stepped away to begin preparing dinner.

                “Nothing,” the other man laughed lightly.  Easily, he gestured at the water filled bowl off to the side.  “Why don’t you check on them?” he suggested before he got up to assist his cousin.

                Nervously, the elementalist stared at the bowl within easy reaching distance and finished his tea before he reached for it.  With shaking hands, he called up the image of Kyuhyun and Eleanara, concerned for their well-being.  They were still riding…  A sigh escaped him as he felt helplessness slide back over him.  Soon.  Soon, he would be able to do something again.  Hesitantly, he let the image go as he called up Kharin and Leeteuk, wondering what the result would be this time.  His heart soared when their pictures surfaced in the water.  A smile made its way across his face as he saw them moving along the tree line.  It looked as if they were walking with the forest on their left side.  If he wasn’t mistaken, they were heading this way and if they stayed the course, they would have to run into this house.

                He tried to pan out to see if they were even close to where he was but the image got distorted the larger his view became.  He gave up on the attempt quickly and called up Eunhyuk and Summer.  They were still together at least.  A sweet smile appeared as he saw Eunhyuk hug Summer and the immediate thought came to mind that Kyuhyun would be jealous if he saw that.  Despite the current circumstances, or maybe because of them, Siwon laughed lightly.  Easily, he let the image go and placed his hand over his eyes, focusing on breathing.  He felt an overwhelming array of emotions just then and with them, the urge to cry.  Resolutely, he pushed the feelings away and looked out the window.  Soon, he would be able to do something.  He had to keep telling himself that.

                As the rest of the day wore on, the three gathered at the table to eat.  Siwon found himself incredibly hungry and ate more than his fair share, to his chagrin.  Eun Mi encouraged it though and since Yong-Soo didn’t object, he finished what was left of dinner too.  Another dose of the pain inhibiting tea enabled him to step outside with Yong-Soo again while Eun Mi watched from the doorway.  She counted a few circuits before disappearing inside and when she called them back, she had the promised compress for Siwon.  She dosed him with more of the tea from earlier and then got ready to call it a night.  Yong-Soo did the same and both saw the water elementalist staring at the scrying bowl as they drifted to sleep.

                Siwon had to see them once more before he called it a night.  He made sure nothing had changed with Summer and Eunhyuk, glad they were still faring well.  Kharin and Leeteuk had settled down for the night without a fire.  Kharin was still up while Leeteuk was sleeping.  So they had decided to keep a watch after all.  Hesitantly, he switched over to Eleanara and Kyuhyun.  They were in a tent and the man that had been behind Eleanara while they were riding and who had captured them in the first place was still there.  The pair were still blindfolded and bound, separated on different cots.  He could tell by the way they moved that neither was sleeping just yet.  For a long time, he watched them carefully, promising he would not forget their treatment.  It wasn’t that they had been treated poorly, their initial capture aside, as they were both well, but it was the fact they were being held captive at all that really bothered him.

                He shifted his gaze to focus on their captor and etched the sleeping face into memory.  At least now he had something he could focus on…a face that he could vent his anger and frustration upon.  Right then, Siwon didn’t really care if he was just following orders.  He was already determined that Enrhyll was going to pay, but this man would too, for capturing and detaining the gentle Eleanara and the spirited Kyuhyun.  Finally, he banished the image and set the bowl aside.  When he at last allowed himself to lie down, he was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.

~~~~~~

                A great sense of glee filled Enrhyll when he realized that two of the elementalists had been found and captured, though he would certainly have to speak to Kwan about their treatment.  Granted, the elementalists had seemed alarmed at his and that surprised him, but they had just been washed down the Angmer.  Perhaps they were still suffering from some disorientation.  He was positive they would come around once they arrived here.  The other five had still eluded his patrols and it was maddeningly frustrating that he did not recall the others well enough to get a reading on them.  He was more concerned with the four other elementalists rather than the neutralizer.

                 He had forgotten to make any note of her…  It would not bother him at all if she did not accompany them.  He already had a neutralizer at his side.  There was no need for another, and yet he had remembered her better than the rest, if only because she had the vibrant red hair.  Red was such a pretty color and it looked so very good on him.  Then again, so did all of the other colors.  With a start, he pulled himself back to his former train of thought and regarded the scrying bowl again.  He could remember the obvious about them; that one had bright blonde hair, another vibrant red hair and they all wore specific amulets, but their faces were little more than blurs.  When he saw them the first time, it didn’t matter what they looked like, only that they were the Elementalists and they were coming to see him.

                Still…these two he could see and watch; the light and fire elementalists.  He had gleaned that much in the encounter they had been captured in.  A sigh of contentment escaped him as he imagined how they would react to his presence.  Surely they would pay homage to their God, the one in whom all the elements were gathered.  They would see him and fall to their knees in awe as they recognized his greatness.   The thought made him smile and he sat back in his throne as he crossed one long leg gracefully over the other.  “Hana?” he asked smoothly, his voice more of a purr.

                Surprised at being addressed but nearly ecstatic about the tone he had used, Hana stepped forward and knelt in front of him, but off the side and out of the way of the scrying bowl.  “My lord,” she breathed softly, keeping her eyes downcast on his booted feet.

                “Have the rooms been prepared?” he asked distractedly before he glanced down at her.

                “Of course, my lord,” she assured him with a deeper bow.

                “Hmm.  What do you think they will be like when they arrive?” he asked intently, waiting for a response.

                Hana dared to look up then and was rewarded with his direct attention as he waited for her response.  She had a hard time breathing for the look in his dark eyes but she finally gathered her words and spoke quietly, “I think they will love you, my lord.  You are so very worthy of it,” she added, hoping that maybe this time he would acknowledge the feelings he had to know she had for him.

                Enrhyll pursed his lips and leaned back again.  “Of course they will love me, Hana.  I was asking what you thought of them.”  Perhaps a new neutralizer might not be so bad after all.  Hana had been with him for a long time but she was trying to get too close of late.

                She nodded her head in apology.  “I do not know them, my Lord.  I would not wish to displease by telling you otherwise.”  Little by little, she had picked up on what his new obsession was and she discovered that he had been watching the elementalists.  As he had guessed, they had awakened and were on their way here.  She resented them really; hated them if she had to say it truthfully.  Their coming had changed him…but, their coming made him happy which she wanted above all else.  Maybe things would change when they finally arrived.  Maybe then he could finally go back to being her lord Enrhyll.

                He turned her answer over in his head briefly and then nodded.  That was true enough.  She could not see them in the scrying bowl and did not know who they were.  “Come then.  Let us see if the rooms are suitable for them,” he smiled warmly, gesturing imperiously for her to follow along in his wake.

                Eagerly, she stood up and followed quickly, excited to show him what she had managed to prepare.  The guest rooms in the palace were extensive and she had made sure to have them properly arranged for such distinguished persons.  Personally, she doubted they deserved such treatment but it was not her place to say.  She simply allowed herself to watch Enryhll from the side and slightly behind him.  He was so beautiful.  Yes.  Once they were here, things would change.  She smiled to herself as she was consoled by the thought.