Amused yet again, Léoflic hid it better this time, but paused nonetheless before responding to the question asked of him.

"Yes, I came with my sister, and we later met up with our mother and younger siblings."

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(I wonder where everyone else is.... )

"Should you be getting back to Diore and your mother?" Naefrewyn asked with concern. She assumed that Leoflic was the head of their household and that his mother and siblings might not want him to be gone for so long.

She looked around at the bustling crowd then suggested, "Perhaps we could all find a place in the keep together?" She didn't know how long they were going to be held up in Helm's Deep, waiting out the hordes of orcs, but despite how much she loved her brother, other company would be nice. She looked up at Heorl, silently asking if the suggestion was okay with him. He shrugged his assent.

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I'm back!

(*shrugs* I dunno..but I, for one, am not going to let this idea die.)

Léoflic paused a moment, considering his answer before speaking. "Perhaps I should get back. Knowing Díore, she's probably worrying about me."

Then, he was a little taken aback by the suggestion, but approved of it almost instantly. "Maybe so. I, for one, would appreciate someone different to talk with for a while." He loved his family dearly, of course, feeling rightfully as if he was responsible for their safety and well-being, but at times, the responsibility chafed at his now-buried free spirit, and it was truly a relief to escape the pressure every now and then.

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((I'm still hovering around, I'm just not coming up with brilliant posts. lol))

"Wait-" Adwine paused in the middle of the crowd. People pushed past the two with mild curses. "I think I saw mother."
"Where?"
"Over there-against that wall." Adwine pointed. Thire immediately moved in the direction that she pointed, pushing against the crowds.

Naefrewyn grinned. "I would also like some other people to talk to," she said, "Heorl here isn't the greatest conversationalist." She giggled, and Heorl rolled his eyes.

"Let's go find your family," Heorl said, for once not replying to her playful jab. He gestured to let Leoflic take the lead since he didn't know who to look for. Naefrewyn moved up beside Leoflic.

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I'm back!

A small child, no more than three winters of age, stumbled through the crowd, bustled about by all the rushing people. "Da!" he cried, sobbing, looking frantically for his father. He looked up at the faces of those passing by him with big, liquid blue eyes filled with tears that rolled down his round face.

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~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Mejia halted her horse next to the bawling boy.
" Shhh," she tried to quiet the boy, " Where is your family?" she bent down to his level and talked to him.

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"Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes -- it approaches to cold-bloodedness"

The boy shook his head and sniffed; he didn't know.
From further out in the crowd, a voice shouted above the rest of the noice. "Leuwynn!" a man called, rushing frantically through the crowd. He came running towards the boy and Mejia as soon as they caught his eye and swept the child up in his arms, a look of relief plastered on his young, handsome features. "Leu, thank Fates you're safe," he murmered, hugging the boy - Leuwynn - tightly to his chest for endless moments. The child cuddled against him, his crying soothed by his father's embrace.
"I can't thank you enough, miss," the man said to Mejia. "I'd thought I'd lost him!"

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~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

" It was no trouble. I seem to have lost the young man I was caring for, but he should...should be trusted on his own." she moved her horse out of the way of the on coming crowd and turned back to the man, " you have a charming son , I wish I had eyes as blue as his," she softly rubbed a tear from his check.

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"Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes -- it approaches to cold-bloodedness"

Léoflic half began searching the crowd before taking the lead, but it would seem that no searching would be necessary, as he promptly caught sight of a head familiar red hair. "Díore!"

Díore 'looked' towards his voice, then nudged her mother, who had been leading her, and the two then made their way over to Léoflic, the three younger children, as always, in tow.

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The man smiled, though there seemed to be a look in his eyes of immense sadness. "Aye... His mother had the same eyes...," he said softly, then dismissed the subject. "If you need help finding the one you lost, I'm willing. It's the least I could do." He paused, and then, remembering his manners, extended his hand in warm greeting. "Sorry, I haven't even introduce m'self. M'name's Rorian."

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~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

( Where the flip is everyone else!? I need to go Pming some folks......)
Mejia smiled," Oh no he's nineteen and he still needs to get the herd he brought here with us out from the make shift pen the army has provided us," she brushed an easily visible speck of dirt off her stallions creamy coat. L
She found herself looking at the man fondly he was very handsome. When he looked up at Mejia she blushed and turned away.

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"Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes -- it approaches to cold-bloodedness"

Rorian noticed the way she acted, and it made him a bit uncomfortable, though part of him liked it. No!, he mentally scolded himself, then shook his head. "I should go..." he said to her, shifting his young son up onto his shoulders, "I've got people to meet up with." It wasn't true, of course, but it just kind of slipped out.

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~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

" Oh I see I need to go help Arvel anyway and unload the provisions I have brought. if you ever want a good cup of ale come and find me." she smiled and remounted gracefully swinging her legs over the horses back and squeezing his sides she set out at a fast paced walk.

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"Holmes is a little too scientific for my tastes -- it approaches to cold-bloodedness"

Rorian smiled and nodded, then watched her go with a wistful sigh. He had to admit, he was somewhat attracted to Mejia, but he tried to ignore this, feeling torn between her and his late wife, who he had loved dearly; she had died in childbirth the hour Leuwynn was born.
He shoved all emotion away, back into his scarred heart, and smiled at his beloved son. "Well, little matey, where to now, eh?"
Leuwynn giggled and tugged at his father's dark hair. "Hungry!" he exclaimed.
Rorian chuckled in agreement. "Aye, me too. Let's see if we can't find a decent meal 'round here, shall we?" he said, and the two disappeared into the crowd.

ooc: Found a pic of what I think Rorian should look like -
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/gender/male/men/2216425_what_is_love.php?id=2216425[/url]

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~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Heorl introduced himself to Diore and the rest of Leoflic's family. He felt a little awkward though. Since they were very young, Naefrewyn had always been the outgoing, talkative, vivacious one of the two. Heorl had always been shy and introverted. He didn't have many friends because most people took his shyness for cold indifference.

For most of that day the crowds of Rohirric refugees poured in through the gates into Helm's Deep. Later, Heorl, Naefrewyn, Leoflic, Dior, and their mother and younger siblings sat together inside the keep. Things had settled down for a bit, and it didn't look like they would be expecting an attack right off thankfully.

Heorl passed Naefrewyn a piece of dried meat from their pack of provisions and took one for himself. Naefrewyn wrinkled her nose at the rather unsatisfying piece of food before taking a small bite. She was sick of having nothing good to eat for so long, but she supposed that nothing could be done about it.

She knew that unless she started a conversation, Heorl would never say anything, so, seeking to fill the silence, she said, "So did you live in Edoras before we all had to come her?" She and her brother had lived far outside the capital, alone on a small farm. It had been devastating to her to have to leave.

(I pushed things forward a little bit. I hope that's ok.)

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I'm back!