Lairiel grew silent as she thought. Why couldn't she stay? At least for a bit. To stay at a home, enjoy life, to relax...she gasped and pulled her hood low over her eyes and turned her head as she felt tears coming. You fool! Idiot! Moron! You never cry! She thought to herself.

Morohtar watched Lairiel curiously. "I guess it is something for you to think about." He yawned widely. "If you do not mind, I think I am going to retire to my bed." He rubbed at his eyes, under his thick grey fringe.

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"Please, I would not want you to miss sleep." she said quietly as he went and did so. Four years of wandering. Perhaps it would be a good time to settle down...she could be the gruff old maid of the town that sat on her front porch and smoked her pipe. She chuckled at that and settled down to watch the night.

The night passed quickly, with no interruptions. Soon the first rays of the sun sprawled across the land. Holly woke up instantly. Silently she sat and rubbed her eyes. They along with her emotions were still sore from the night before. She shook herself slightly and looked over her company. With a shrug of her shoulders she stood and pulled her hood down low over her features, casting them in shadow.

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"You place yourself in darkness again, Holly?" she stood, still puffing her pipe. "Would it make you glad if I said I would stay with you when we reach Rohan?"

"I would rather be safe than sorry," she murmured quietly. "I will not force you to stay Lairiel. You have your own free will, do with it as you please." Holly crossed over to Lairlosse (sp?) and shook her gently. "Come, miss. It is time to go." Holly crossed to Morohtar and done the same.

Morohtar woke as Holly shook him. "Something wrong?" Said Morohtar as he came round from his slumber.

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(close, Lairelosse)

Lairiel nodded and puffed more one her pipe as she stood, stretching her lean frame. She tossed the waking Lairelosse some a bag of food, as well as Holly and Morohtar. "Eat up, we walk far today." she said quietly.

Holly bowed her head to Lairiel in thanks and ate silently. Morohtar looked between Lairiel and Holly he frowned deeply. He could feel the tension, it unnerved him. The tension was so thick it could be cut by a knife. His concentration fell to Holly. She was much more quiet than what she had been the previous day. Clearly she was still hurt. He hoped she would lighten up throughout the day. If it was true that they had far to travel, then an awkward silence would certainly make it worse.

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Lairiel dumped her pipe, not eating anything. She would stay. Holly needed it. She put her head down while they ate. "I guess," she said softly to Holly, "I'll be the old maid of the town." it was her way of telling Holly that she would stay.

Morohtar stopped eating and watched Holly and Lairiel. Holly tensed at Lairiel's words. "You mean it?" She asked in a quiet voice, her head still bowed to the ground. Holly felt guilty, her childish outbreak was going to force Lairiel to stay beyond her will. It was not right. How would she feel if she was being forced to stay somewhere she did not want to? Holly kicked herself. She did not stay anywhere she did not want to. Was that not the reason for all this running? Holly's lip quivered. "Lairiel...Forgive me. I was being childish. I realise my mistake and I will not let you stay...Not when you do not want to." Holly, finished with her food, wrapped it up and placed it in her bag for later. "We should get going," said Holly.

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"Holly. No need to apologize, I was harsh. I'm staying." she picked up her things, getting ready to go. She quietly packed her things away. Old maid. She snorted. At this rate, she would be named 'old man' by the way she looked.

Holly continued to frown, but gathered her things. Morohtar did the same. He walked over to Holly and lifted her chin. "Smile, Holly. There is nothing to be sad about." He grinned at her. Holly reclaimed her head from his hands, placing a small smile on her face. "Thank you Morohtar."

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Lairiel smiled slightly as she heard the two, then groaned as she just wished he would tell Holly already. She slung her things over her shoulder, then stopped, her eyes wide. She tossed her thing on the ground and took Morohtar's arm in her hand momentarily as she whispered harshly and urgently into his ear. "Take Holl, and run. Don't stop and don't let Holly come back here. have Lairelosse help you. Don't look back." she watched as he did that, and she drew her sword and walked forward to meet the men that had followed them.

Morohtar's eyes widened as he looked back to the men. "Oh..." He grabbed Holly's hand and Lairelosse's elbow and pulled them off into the trees at a sprint. Holly gasped sharply. "Morohtar! What are you doing?" Holly glanced back at Lairiel and then to the men behind her. "No!!!"

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Lairiel glared as she slowly made her way towards the men. She sneered, they sneered back, and without words they charged her. She charged into the group, sword raised. Everything else left he mind as she focused on the fight. Four of them. She fought as hard as she could, felling two, and she faced the other two. There was a pause as they stood, facing each other. Lairiel's eyes were red with the rage of battle. Then they both attacked. She managed to block one, then before she knew it, they were all dead. She swayed, looking down. She saw blood seeping from her mid section and side. She had not even felt the wounds when she got them. She turned and staggered a few feet then fell, hissing at the pain.

Holly struggled with Morohtar's grip. "Let me go!" she grumbled. Suddenly her hand came loose and she started back towards Lairiel. A shrieked gasp escaped her lips as she found Lairiel on the ground, blood seeping into the clothes at her stomach. Holly dropped down to her knees. "Lairiel?!" Her hands skimmed over the wound. It was pretty deep. Morohtar fell to his knees beside Holly. "Back up Holly. Give her some air and go into my pack and bring me some bandages will you?" Holly nodded and immediately done as Morohtar had demanded. Morohtar worked carefully at cleaning Lairiel's wound and bandaging it. Holly watched him worriedly.

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