<b>Allassiel looked up, glancing across the fire in search of her cousin. It appeared, however, that Pegawen was already laying down, Lotharn sitting up next to her, his eyes scanning everything around him as he kept watch over the strange surroundings. When his gaze passed by her, she gave him a brief nod before resuming her task. The blade in her hand was already bright and sharp, but she continued to rub. It was easier, focusing on this simple task, than it was to think over Pegawen's words from earlier.</b><br/><br/><i><b>'Kinslayer.'</b></i><br/><br/><b>It was the worst crime an elf could commit – slaying one of their own. It had stayed her own hand when she faced him in battle, before he'd gone on to prove that he was truly gone in spirit as well as mind. <br/>
</b><br/><i><b>'How do you think he'd feel about that?'</b></i><br/><br/><b>Allassiel knew exactly what Hadron would have felt, could he only know or understand what he was doing now. He would have been mortified, the grief and pain of what he had done so great the he would willingly choose to lay down and die rather than live with it a moment longer. If there was even the smallest part of him left beneath the monster, she knew he'd fight every step of the way to end what he was doing those innocent of any crime except being in his path. <br/>
<br/>
She set the dagger aside, taking out its mate and began the process of polishing anew, and listened to the sounds around them. The light hiss of the burning wood and the rustling of leaves were usually peaceful sounds to her. Not this night. It felt as though every sound was a potential threat or enemy. She heard the cracking of a twig and her head jerked up, but it was only Timberlane and Thorgan returning to the campsite. Her hand continued to move up and down the blade while her eyes followed them to their bedrolls. <br/>
<br/>
She'd not lied to Pegawen when she had declared Thorgan fair to behold. He had an appearance that would have rivaled many of the elven hir, and a bearing that spoke well of his upbringing. And, much as Hadron had been, he was muscular. At least she imagined he was, though she'd not seen any part of him bared to her. <br/>
<br/>
A stray image of Thorgan naked had Allassiel's face turning bright red and she redoubled her efforts to polish the second dagger, muttering under her breath about Pegawen putting fancies in her head.</b>