"Well, I shouldn't be." she said slightly gruffly, slightly uncomfortable. "Indeed, she should not have had to grow up so fast."

Sensing her tone, Morohtar moved on. He cleared his throat, which was hoarse from years of smoking. "I hope one day she can stop running and enjoy her life. I hope one day I can give her that. I would give anything to see her safe."

Holly stirred slightly. She could vaguely hear Lairiel and Morohtar's voices. Their words soothed her. Turning onto her side she fell back to sleep.

"What is your plan? Where do you plan to go from here?" Morohtar asked, glancing at Lairiel curiously. "Is there no one that would give us shelter?"

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"if you see to it, she will have a safe and happy life." she glanced at Holly. "I have a cousin, on the northern side of Rohan. She and her family will gladly see to both your shelter and safety, both you and Holly." she would get them to Rohan, on the way teaching Holly. Then, after getting there she would disappear.

"And where will you go?!" Holly barked angrily as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Morohtar started and looked round at her, frowning deeply. He knew she had been getting attached to Lairiel. He knew it was going to hurt her when they parted.

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Lairiel flinched "Holly, I am a ranger. After that I'll wander more." she said gently, hoping to ease out Holly's anger. Lairiel had no reason to settle down. If she did, then she might, but she really didn't.

Holly glared at Lairiel. "And what about me?" She asked coldly. Morohtar walked over to Holly and laid a hand upon her shoulder. "Come now, Holly. Lairiel is a free spirit and is free to come and go where she pleases. You would not want to force her to stay when she would rather leave would you?" Holly sighed deeply. "Fine." She tore herself from Morohtar's grip and began to walk in the woods. "Where are you going?" Morohtar called to her. "I want to be alone," was Holly's reply.

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Lairiel jumped after her and gripped her arm. "You will not go off alone, so help me, you know that's foolish." she looked to Morohtar. "If she wishes to go for a walk, go with her and by the gods, don't let her out of your sight." she wouldn't take any arguments, Abd she knew that Holly knew better than to try.

Holly tore her arm from Lairiel. "Leave me be!" She hissed as she wandered round the other side of a tree and sat down with a huff.

Morohtar watched after her. He had never seen her throw a tantrum like that before. "Lairiel...Give her a moment to herself. She...she's probably just still tired. Holly would not mean anything she is saying at the moment." He motioned for Lairiel to sit with him again. "I guess she has some abandonment issues..." He grimaced, watching the tree that Holly sat behind.

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"Tired my foot..." she grumbled in her low voice and sat again. "She needs to learn not to take things personal, she is still young, granted, but if she wishes to become a ranger she has to learn to control it. I did." she puffed furiously on her pipe. "It will be just as hard for me to leave her, but I must do what I must do."

"Do not be too harsh with her. Try and see it from her point of view. Her parents died and left her when she was very little. And for most of her life she was alone with only her memories to comfort her. Then I came along. She grew attached to me, but had to say goodbye to me when she fled. I can only imagine since she left her uncle she has been alone. Can you blame her for wanting to cling on to a companion? All she wants is to be with someone she loves and who loves her back." Morohtar spoke quietly. "I hope one day she finds that person in me. But...The day you leave there will be a void in her heart that I will never be able to fill."

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"yet you speak as though I never went through the same type of thing." she shook her head "I am not being harsh with her, I am trying to help her." it may be a twisted way, but she knew in the end it would be good for the girl.

"I do not labour under the impression that your life has been easy. I do not think any one of us can say that our lives have been easy." He frowned deeply. "I know you are trying to do good by her. I just fear she will grow to distrust people in the fear that as soon as she lets them get close they are going to leave her..."

Holly stormed back to them. Her hood was pulled low over her face. "Better keep moving." She stated.

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"Holly, we are not leaving yet. It's not morning. There is no need to move on yet." she sighed and puffed some more. Holly had a lot to learn. She and Morohtar were but children. Perhaps they would understand in time. She glanced at Morohtar. In truth she had no idea how old he was, but she assumed he was around Holly's age.

Holly huffed and returned to her bed. She huddled up under her cover and closed her eyes. A few more tears trickled down her cheeks.

Morohtar watched after her. "While her soul is much older, her true age always shows when she is hurt or angered. Another thing that makes me think I should find a more...suitable...partner. I am an elf. Holly is mortal. She is only sixteen and has her whole life ahead of her." He spoke quietly to Lairiel.

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Lairiel watched Holly silently, then turned as Morohtar spoke.
"That decision is yours to make. It is not my place to counsel you in that, nor would I even know how." she glanced back over at Holly. "Perhaps just give her time to grow up. I do wish to see her have what I have never had." she gave a slightly sad smile then went and sat against the tree again as she smoked more. "Things will look up, I'm sure."

"I cannot ask you to stay and I won't ask you to either, but just know she will miss you terribly. I am sure she can handle everything else that comes with being a ranger, but losing her companions will be something she will struggle with. Are you sure it has to be that way?" He glanced over at Holly. Her breathing had slowed, a sure sign she was asleep again.

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