<b>One one way and one the other. It seemed to her that Allassiel was keeping it that way on purpose. If she didn't allow herself to stay near him, she wouldn't get attached. But Pegawen thought that it wasn't working, and she felt bad for both of them. She shook her head at Lotharn's question. “She's afraid, is all. Though I don't blame her. Seeing what she went through after Hadron's loss was … he wasn't just her mate. He'd been around for her entire life. He was there as she grew up. He was the one that gave her first sword. She would tell me such tales of him when I was young.” She paused and took a bite of her stew, glancing at her cousin. “He was already 1400 winters when Allassiel was born. Those around him had long since stopped wondering if he would marry at all. He suited her, and she suited him. His loss tore at her. Not just his death, but the finality of his life.” <br/>
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Setting her bowl aside, Pegawen sighed. “There was a time when I thought I would lose her as well. She was as a ghost. But she is strong, and there was a war to fight – kinsmen to protect. Do you know what she said to me just now? She said he,” Pegawen motioned in the direction Thorgan had taken, “he was almost as good as Hadron. This is not something she has ever spoken to anyone about – not elf, certainly not man. If she can say such things, it is certain she likes him far more than she will admit. And it scares her.”</b><br/><br/><br/>“<b>Afraid,” she muttered again, stabbing at another piece of meat. How dare Pegawen accuse her of being afraid. If her cousin had seen even a portion of what she'd seen in her life, she'd not banter that word around so lightly. <i>Afraid of what, though? Thorgan? The mission? The orcs?</i> The last thought had her stop in mid-chew. Afraid of what they could do, what they would do if captured any of them. <br/>
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But the first one that came to mind wasn't Pegawen, or Lotharn even. It was Thorgan. The thought of what would happen to him, should Rakothûrz capture him. If he even thought Thorgan was someone she cared about … <br/>
</b><br/><i><b>Cared about? Where'd that come from? </b></i><b>Allassiel stared off into the distance. <i>Nononono … </i>It wasn't possible. It just wasn't. She'd have to make sure that she kept her distance from …</b><br/><br/><i><b>'Orcs!'</b></i><br/><br/><b>Allassiel tossed her bowl aside at the call, sprinting to her sword. The blade seemed to glow with its own energy as she grabbed it, just as a small band of orcs came out of the shadows. From the corner of her eye, she could see the others jump up as well. A quick scan told her none of them was Rakothûrz and, with a battle cry she charged them. Facing off against the closest of them, she swung as the orc raised its mace against her in response. The clash of weapon against weapon reverberated through the air. Using the same series of feints she'd used against Thorgan, she drove the first back as his companions headed towards the two hobbits. The orc blocked the first blow, then the second. But as it raised its arm to offer its own counterattack, she saw an opening. Drawing her dagger she feinted once more with her sword and came in close, shoving him away from her with her foot. <br/>
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Before the body had even hit the ground, she was off running again in the direction she'd heard Thorgan's voice. </b>