Alendariel glanced out the window once more. "You go on. I'll finish the last minute preparations." she volunteered.

"If you are certain," Maralyn murmured in reply, giving Alendariel a grateful nod. "Hannon le." She turned and disappeared up another narrow staircase, which led to the small garret room where she had been staying for the past several months. After she had taken off her travel-worn shoes and hung her weathered green cloak on a peg on the wall, the She-Elf sunk onto her bed and immediately fell asleep. That night, many strange dreams entered her mind, but when she awoke the next morning, she could remember none of them.

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Lilaine woke up with a start in the morining. she was sweating lightly and breathing hard and a little faster. "whoa what a nightmare." she put her hand to her head and relized that she was sweating. she got up and found a washing bowl. she poured some water in it from a water jar sitting next to it. she splashed her face and then looked in the mirror that hung on the wall by the washing bowl. her eyes were blood shot and her hair a mess. "what happend to me last night." she said to herself. Lilaine walked to the door and opend it quietly the door slightly creeked. she saw no one out in the hall so she shut the door again. she took off her cloke that she hadn't taken off since the night before and she hung it on a peg that was on the back of the door. she looked at her window and the sun was just rising. she looked out the window and saw pitched tents and fires going and some people walking around. she saw some of them look up at her. she quickly moved away from the window. "that must be Alendariel's friends she was talking about" she thought.

Maralyn hastily freshened up, put on her shoes, and tidied up her room, then she silently climbed down the narrow staircase, arriving on the second floor. All the doors in the hallway were closed, including Taranu and Lhun's room, but judging by the tantalizing smells which wafted upstairs from the kitchen, her brother was already up and at work making breakfast. Maralyn thought about checking on Lilaine, but the door to the spare room was closed, so she assumed that her guest was still abed.
The She-Elf made her way downstairs to the kitchen, where Taranu was, indeed, preparing the morning meal. He gave his sister a slight smile. “You did not wake as early as you usually do, so I assume you and your guest stayed up late last night,” he said, wiping his floury hands on the apron he always wore in the kitchen.
Maralyn sighed softly, leaning against the kitchen wall. “I slept like a rock,” she said, tucking a strand of black hair out of her eyes, “I wonder if Lilaine slept as well as I did.”
“She should wake up when she smells these,” Taranu said with a grin, motioning to the tray of hot buns he had recently pulled out of the oven.

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Lilane sat on her bed for a wile wondering if she should just go down stairs and wait for someone to wake up and come down stairs. then she smelled a beautiful aroma. "well someones awake i guess i will go down stairs." Lilaine get up and walked to the mirror on the wall and fixed her hair and then opend and walked through the great oak door and then headed down the stairs. when she found the kitchen she saw Taranu and Maralyn sitting and talking. she walked in silently.

Both Maralyn and her brother looked up as Lilaine entered. "Good morning, m'lady," Taranu said, inclining his head.
Maralyn smiled at her guest, motioning to the tray of hot buns. "My brother just pulled those out of the oven, if you're hungry," she said softly. She wondered if Lilaine had slept well during the night, for her eyes appeared bloodshot, and she appeared tired. "How do you fare this morning?" Maralyn asked.

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Lilaine sat on a stool "good morning" she said trying to seem fine. she took one of the buns. " i'm fine i sapouse. did you sleep well last night?" she asked Maralyn. she then look a bite of her bun.

"Yes," Maralyn said, shaking her head to Taranu as he wordlessly offered her a bun. "I slept quite well. I'm almost certain I dreamed of something, but I cannot recall what was it was." She shrugged. "Not that it matters."

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Lilaine nodded as she took another bite of her bun. "that is strange." she said after finishing her bite. she then got a clouded look about her face when she recalled her own dreams.

Alendariel stumbled into the kitchen, her eyes bloodshot, her hair windblown. "I apologize for my appearance. I must look quite terrifying." she said. She washed her hands quickly and smoothed her hair. She yawned widely and sighed. "It was indeed a long night. Several disagreements arose and had to be taken care of. Then there was a slight dilemma regarding the rations and supplies. But nothing that could not be..."she yawned once more. "...over...overcome." she struggled to keep her eyes open.

"good morning Alendriel." Lilaine said. she then turned to Maralyn. " so what is our first order of bisnuss?"

Alendariel rubbed her eyes and nodded. "Yes. We await your command."

Maralyn pondered this for a moment. While she was doing so, Taranu handed Alendariel a cup of something hot. "This'll wake you up properly," he whispered with a slight smile.
His sister finally spoke, glancing from Alendariel to Lilaine, and finally back to Alendariel. "If everything is ready, it would be easiest to leave before noon. That way, we have most of the day in our favor."

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Lilaine looked at Maralyn and shruged. " thats not a problum for me. but will the army be ready to go in time?" she looked at Alendariel.

Alendariel accepted the mug gratefully, and turned her attentions back to her friends. "Yes. They shall be ready. I shall go give the order." she said, standing.

Maralyn studied Alendariel carefully. "Are you sure you are fully rested? You look like a couple more hours of sleep wouldn't hurt." She absentmindedly picked up a bun from the tray and sunk her teeth into it, realizing how hungry she was.

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