Holly reached down to the figure and whipped the bandana from their face. "He's a girl!" Holly exclaimed as she dropped the bandana to the ground.

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"He's a WHAT?" Lairiel exclaimed, pulling the person around to face her, staring into violet eyes and a feminine face. "What the damn do you think you're doing?"

Lairelosse glared "Ok! So I'm a girl pirate captain. Let me go!" she kicked at Lairiel. Lairiel evaded the kick and shook her. "Not anymore." she pulled the woman's bandana back up. "We'll keep your secret, but you are still coming with us."

Holly looked at the woman curiously. "Is there a particular reason for your disguise?" Holly pondered the danger that could be chasing the woman.

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Lairelosse rolled her eyes. "Of course there is, I'm a pirate. First off, men don't approve if women sailors, particularly woman captains of pirate ships. Secondly, if I were ever seen as a woman, do you know what those guards would do?"

Lairiel jabbed the woman in the side with her elbow. "Speak to my brother with respect, wench."

Holly stepped back from the woman as though the force of her anger was a physical presence. "Calm down," Holly hissed between clenched teeth. "I meant no offence!" Holly rolled her eyes.

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Lairiel roughly tugged at the woman, annoyed by her already. She pressed a dagger to the woman's back as she made her walk in front. "You're our ticket to safety. Make a noise and I will run you through." her voice was dangerous, and the pirate nodded stiffly.

Holly pursed her lips worriedly as she followed Lairiel and woman. Her hand flicked out of her cloak to adjust her hood. Her keen eyes darted around. There was no sign of the figure she had seen earlier. Perhaps she had imagined it. Holly shook her head as they made their way through the streets.

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She walked into the inn. "One room please, we are escorting this pirate to trial, and need rest before we go." the inn keeper nodded and took them to a room, where Lairiel pushed the pirate to the floor. "Filthy pirate." she muttered and gave Holly a warning look to signal to her to be careful what she said and did.

Holly gave a slight nodd to Lairiel as she crossed over to the bedroom window. She glanced out to the street. Still no sign. Holly shrugged her shoulders. "I shall go and get us some food." She nodded to the women as she left, closing the door behind her. Swiftly she made her way down the stairs and across to the bar. Holly ordered three bowls of soup and some rolls. She paid the bar tender and waited patiently.

A hand slid around her mouth. "I would know that voice anywhere..." a voice hissed in her ear. Holly's eyes widened as the figure dragged her out of the inn and down a side street. The figure whirled her around to face him. His claws scraped her cheek. "Morohtar!" she squeeked.

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Lairiel knew something was wrong. She locked thenpirate in the room, and raced out into the alleyway. She saw Holly with some man. With a roar she threw herself into the man, knocking him to the ground. She stood in front of Holly, her sword already drawn and at the ready as she snarled at him, menacing and glaring.

The man grunted as he fell to the ground. Holly gasped. "No Lairiel...He is a friend..." Holly patted Lairiel's shoulder. "This is Morohtar Traster...He is from Gondor. My uncle used him for experiments..." Morohtar got to his feet. He stood at six feet. He was dressed in light green trousers and a grey cloak fell around his naked chest. His chest was marred with scars. Also on his chest were black tattoos. They formed elven twirls and sprials from the base of his neck, over his shoulders to the top of his arms. His hands were fairly normal except for three claws protruding from each hand. The claws were metallic and deadly sharp. They came from between his fingers, bored deep into his flesh. They looked as if they had been joined to his knuckles. Morohtar shoved his grey hair from his blue eyes. "I'm sorry.." he muttered quietly.

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She bowed her head and put her sword down, kneeling. "Forgive me, my lord, it was a mistake. Forgive me, I gave my sword to this girl, swearing to protect her." her voice was normal now, tinged with embarrassment and guilt.

"Do not be sorry..." He shrugged his shoulders. "If I saw someone who looked like me lurking around I would attack him too," he looked at his claws distastefully. "I am glad my Holly has found someone to look after her. I was so worried when she disappeared. I feared I would never see her again."

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She flinched "I actually didn't even see your claws." she said, "I merely saw someone I didn't know." she got up. "I am glad you found her again, I can't imagine how good it must feel to finally be reconnected with a friend you thought you would never see again." she paused, "Please come in, I shall buy you dinner, as an apology."

Holly smiled to Lairiel and Morohtar. She linked her arms through theirs and walked with them into the inn. Holly had so many questions to ask Morohtar. How did he escape? When did he escape? Did he have news of her uncle?

Morohtar chuckled faintly as Holly slipped her arm through his. He looked down at her in amazement. How had she survived this long? He answered his question by looking to Lairiel. He smiled to Lairiel warmly, his steel blue eyes, shining brightly with gratitude.

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She went in with them both, nodding at Morohtar. "Anything you wish, order it." she fingered her short hair self consciously, aware she now looked exactly like a man.