The first thing Adam was aware of was the ache in his head. His eyes flickered open and he reached up to touch the side of his face then winced. It felt swollen, just beside his eye. A panicked thought invaded his inspection and he scrambled to reach under his pillow where, with relief, his fingers found the parchment, the note he kept from Sylvar's clutches. A bright light made him flinch as he pulled out the note in the darkness that had settled across his tent. When his eyes adjusted he found that the light was coming from golden scribbling appearing on the parchment. He gasped as he stared at the writing forming on the page and slowly sat up.

"How..."

"Oh you're awake." He hurriedly hid the note under his blanket, lifting his eyes to the face that appeared in the tent flap holding a lantern and a bottle of ointment. The physician was a young nymph who'd been born to court. He remembered often playing with her in the court yard. Nymphs were creatures that were part humanoid, part nature. Water nymphs had bodies of water clinging to them in small bubbled. Earth nymphs were covered in rock and mud patches. Fire nymphs never worse clothes. It just didn't seem to work out for them. Helia was lucky. She was none of those things. She was a forest nymph. Her whole body was covered with greenery. She had leaves, moss and vines covering a lot of her mustard skin. Her eyes were wide and pitch black with green lashes. Her hair was covered in flowers and the thin yellow strands always had sprinklings of fern in them. She was of slight build and a delicate creature despite the fact that a strange kind if bark covered her feet and hands.

"You had a nasty knock on the head but I didn't think you had a concussion so I let you sleep." She said in a tiny soothing voice then settled down next to him. Nymphs were small creatures. The tallest Adam had seen came to 5 ft. They were absolutely adorable beings. Their control of their elements was incredible. They were the ones that kept the natural balance in nature.

Her tiny fingers dipped into the dark goo she'd brought along with her and reached out to dab at Adam's eye. He held still and sighed.

"Did the elf get into trouble?" Adam finally asked. Helia paused in her work.

"Not if you don't want her to." She continued administering the ointment. It stung a little but he could feel that with the stinging came soothing relief.

"Did Doctor Winchester teach you about Concussion?" His eyes searched her face and she dropped her head, a soft smile sliding across her brown lips then she nodded.

"He taught me a great many things. We are grateful for your contribution. " Did she have to say that because she feared not saying that? Adam wondered if they had ever belonged in this world. He was not magical or fantastical. He was so ordinary that he often wondered if it wouldn't be more benefitial to the land if he abdicated the throne entirely just like the black hoods wanted.

"Do you really mean that?" She lifted her eyes at his question and her bushy brow furrowed, the tiny little ivy leaves twisting together all the more.

"Yes, of course I do. We are able to heal more now. We are able to cure diseases-"

"Diseases that did not exist before the Gods came." Adam countered.

Helia's face grew even more troubled. "Where is this coming from?"

"Where did the gods come from?" He countered again.

She had a look on her face like she was now worried for his sanity. "From the heavens where all Gods come from. "

He sighed again, heavily this time and slowly lay back down. "I'm tired. I need some food and a good sleep I think." Adam finally said and that soft smile of hers returned.

"I'll have a soldier bring in some food. Rest now." Her hand smoothed his dull blond hair back from his forehead then she got up and left him to his peace. The moment the flap fell shut behind her, he pulled out the note again.

This is not the time for buts. Come to southern edge of camp at sundown

Adam scrambled from his bed and rushed for the tent flap. He threw it aside. The sun was already setting behind the far mountain range. Two gaurds stationed on either side of the tent entrance peered at him. And one was a brown, firmly built centaur. Adam sighed in disappointment and ducked back into the tent. Now what? His eyes shot to the back of the tent and he pulled at it but it would not lift. It was pinned down.

"Fuck." He hissed under his breath then scrambled for his quill and ink.

I can't. I'm stuck.

He stared at the note.

"Come on. Come on."

He whispered, his eyes darting from the tent flap to the note repeatedly. Wait... what if. What if this was an inquisitor working for the Black Hoods. What if this was a trap?

The shimmer began again and he squinted to read the note.

Try now.

His breath caught and he turned to look toward the back of the tent. What if he was heading toward his own death? His eyes flicked back to the tent flap. Wouldn't it be better for this world if the invaders were erased from it? Though with the gadgets and technology they'd brought with them they'd forever changed everything....

They could never be erased.