<b>Allassiel stared up at the tent ceiling, counting the minutes as she rested. Nearby, she heard Pegawen scratching away at a piece of parchment she'd borrowed from her new friend, Horn. Whatever she was writing down she was humming, intent on getting it done fast.<br/>
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In the corner, Allasea lay curled with Jax, who had managed to sneak into the tent sometime during the night. The bear was apparently awake too, making little huffing noises to himself. Allassiel smiled as she realized he was imitating Pegawen's humming. Since when had bears learned to sing, she thought to herself. But then, a bear who lived around an elf? She imagined anything was possible.</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen paused her writing and reread the notes, her lips pursed. She'd gotten Horn to play the song again for her before the others arrived for the evening's rest, and she wanted to make sure she'd gotten the melody right. It was a deceptively simple song, but as she'd started to work she realized there were subtle nuances that she'd not appreciated the first time she'd heard it. Or even the second. She scratched the side of her head with the charcoal stick, leaving a smudge in her light hair, before making a change to one of the lines. “Better,” she muttered.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Do you truly believe this Horn is the right match for the young lady?”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen lifted her head to look up at her cousin, the humming stopping. “I think that'll be up to them,” she started, considering the lengthy conversation they'd had as they settled in to rest. “From what you said, though, he'll have a hard time convincing her as she's got it in her head that she must marry from outside her clan.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>And from what you said, his mother isn't from these lands at all. I wonder how that would translate into the old healer's prophesy.” Allassiel stood up, stretching before she went to peer over Pegawen's shoulder. “Ahh, the song he played us last night. You've been writing it down. Somehow, I imagined you just absorbed music that you heard.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>HA!” Pegawen let out a snort, causing Jax to lift his head and grumble in response. “Were it but that easy, I'd know every tune from Hiril Galadriel's court.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>You probably know them anyway, if you were to stay still long enough to remember them,” came the amused reply from the corner.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Allasea. I thought you were sleeping. We didn't mean to wake you.” Pegawen lifted her finger to her lips at Allassiel, earning a swat to the back of her head in return.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Not hardly. Listening to the wildlife around us. The horses here are well, happy and strong beasts. But the further out I go ...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Is there aught wrong?” The other two leaned in to listen, the amusement of moments ago forgotten.</b><br/><br/>“<b>That's just it. I cannot tell, for these lands are foreign to me. But it doesn't feel right. As though the animals here are silent … or simply gone.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>The lady Ellawynne told us that what we've been sent to find is located in old family barrows. Could that be it?” Even as she asked, Allassiel began packing the small bag that'd been brought in for them the night before.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Not normally, for beasts are rarely concerned with the death places of men. They would only concern themselves with it if those places were already being disturbed.” Allasea rose to her feet, brushing strands of hair from her face. “It may be wise if we left sooner, than later.”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen jumped up, dropping her charcoal atop the parchment. “I'll go find Lotharn and let him know then.” </b>