Mari saw with horror what had happened. Anger rose in her, dreadful raging, burning anger.
"NOOOOOOOOOO, I won't let this happen.."
Her staff came to life and burst into a cascade of lightning, fire and wind: The undead had no chance at all, they fell apart, burnt, scorched and blown away.
Dead silence...
Mari dropped the staff, rushed up to the elf and knelt down.
"No, Elendirill, noooooo! We're nearly at our goal now, don't give up," she sobbed.
Her anger slowly eased and something else took place, colours welled up in her and flowed out of every pore, shrouding both figures: the silent one on the ground and her. Soothing, giving strength and determination, slowly mending the broken ribs. It took quite some time and after the healing task was done, the colours did not fade away, they formed a globe around both. Mari knew, this was the end, this protection would stay until both had reached the cave and freed his wife. And after that? Who knows?
"Come on, get up, nothing will keep us from entering the cave now. Come on, give me your hand...Hang on, I'll just get the staff."
She turned around and grabbed it, it felt warm in her hand and gave her additional confidence.
"Up you go.." She grasped Eledirill's hand and hauled him up. Supporting each other they slowly walked towards the cave entrance.
