Lairiel glanced between both of them. "Aye. I believe you will, Holly. And of course, Morohtar." she replied easily, though her mind was already elsewhere.

After moments of silence, Morohtar spoke. "There is a cave across the way," he pointed. "Stay here a moment. I will go and check that it is safe." He cantered over to the cave silently, peering around for any sign of danger. There was no decipherable trail leading to the cave or from the cave. It was clear it had not been in use for a long time. Morohtar dropped down from the horse and peered into the cave. It was rather small, but it would do for one nights sleep. He signalled over to Lairiel and Holly for them to follow him.

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Lairiel smiled at Holly and got off her horse, leading the animal over to Morohtar. "It looks decent. If you two wish to sleep, I can take first watch."

Holly followed suit. With a yawn she handed the reigns of her horse over to Morohtar and stepped into the cave. Morohtar simply chuckled, watching after her. "Are you sure, Lairiel? I do not mind keeping watch." He found a tree nearby to settle the horses. He set them up with food and water before taking out sleeping mats from his bag.

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"I don't mind...mayhap until one of us falls asleep we could keep company?" she did get rather lonely.

Morohtar paced Holly one of the sleeping mats. She snatched it from his fingertips and lay it on the ground. Within seconds she was upon it and fast asleep, with her cloak wrapped tightly around her for warmth. Morohtar just simply chuckled. "That sounds good to me," he took a seat at the mouth of the cave, shadowed enough to not be seen, but close enough to see out. He pulled out a water skin from his pouch and passed it to Lairiel.

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She plopped down next to him and took the water skin gratefully. "Thank you." she handed it back after a moment of drinking from it, then looked at him thoughtfully. "So what changed?" she asked softly, her voice sounding feminine for once.

Morohtar took the water skin from Lairiel gently. He drank a small ration from it before returning it to his sack. He glanced at Lairiel as she asked her question, his brows raising to a point. "What do you mean?" He asked, his tone confused.

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"Between you two. Something changed." she said quietly, tilting her head to study him. "You know she is the same person, Morohtar." she stated softly, looking away.

"I know she is the same...I just wish I knew how to help her. I wish I had all the answers..." He glanced over at Holly. "This is certainly not normal. I just wish I knew what she was and...whether or not it can be controlled..."

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"I doubt she will use it for evil, if that is what you are implying. She's a good kid." Lairiel said thoughtfully. "Don't push her away because of it. Don't treat her like some...out of control thing. She is still Holly, and will need you just to be there as she is working through this herself. She is having doubts about herself, I can see it. Don't let her slip away." Lairiel patted his shoulder.

"I hadn't know it was so obvious. Do you think Holly has felt my distance too?" He asked, his eyes flowing from Lairiel's hand back to Holly, a frown deepening on is forehead. "I know she cannot be evil. I guess I just fear the unknown. My fear can only be a fraction of the fear Holly feels herself." Morohtar sighed heavily. "I never stoppped to think how she must feel about all of this." His eyes fell to his own clawed hands. "If anyone should know the pain of alienation, it should be me." He looked back up to Lairiel with a smile. "Thank you for showing me the error of my ways, my friend."

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Lairiel nodded. "Just doing my job as an old nose bag." she dipped her head, back to her brusque behavior. She dug out her pipe and lit it, looking off into the distance.

"I am curious..." Morohtar ventured to say. "Please stop me if it is not my place..." he hesitated. "You are a very different Lairiel from the Lairiel I first met..." he said thoughtfully. "What changed?" He looked over at Lairiel, his brows raised.

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"I decided to not be bitter, for once in my lonely life." she snorted a laugh out. "What can I say? If I'm going to be an old maid, I might as well have fun."

Morohtar glanced down at his feet, a smile playing across his face. "I do not think it is your fate to become an old maid Lairiel," he said simply. "I think Mr Right," he wrinkled his nose. "...is just around the corner. Just you wait. Besides you are not the only one with friends in Rohan," he winked at her playfully.

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