<b>Pegawen gave Lotharn a kiss, watching him depart with Flagdon and turned to study the others. Allassiel and Thorgan seemed happy enough with each others company, so she left them be and went over to the hobbits. “Would you care to hear a song?” she asked. “I even know one or two from the shire.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Oh yes!” Merry exclaimed, with Pippen chiming in an enthusiastic agreement. They scrambled after Pegawen as she went to retrieve her small harp from her horse, making suggestions on which songs she might know. At the mention of one of them, Pegawen laughed. “You hobbits and your love of food, even writing prose about them.” Her grin was good-natured, however, and she led them to a spot to sit as she started to play. <br/>
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Allassiel leaned against Thorgan to watch the others leave to hunt. “I could have tended them on my own,” she pointed out, shaking her head. “But if we're to do guarding, what words shall I teach you today?” She tilted her head, humming to herself. “I've taught you our greetings so far, and the courtesies. What would you like to learn?”</b><br/><br/><b>Upon hearing the first harp notes, Allassiel grinned. “Pegawen plays beautifully. Always has, and she sings quite well. If she'd had half as much care in learning sword, she would be a fine fighter.” She tugged on his hand, encouraging him to follow as she headed to sit down and listen to her cousin sing.</b><br/><br/><br/><b>The warg loped across the clearing, confident as it reached the next cropping of rocks. On its back, the orc napped, the rocking cadence of the run rocking his chin against his crossbelt, rattling the line of darts against each other and waking him once more.</b><br/><br/><b>The master's plans were clear – he was to wait for the fighting and, in the confusion, steal the gold-haired elf. She wasn't to be harmed, yet … that would be for him to do. He'd been disappointed to find out they'd not be allowed to partake of her flesh when the master was done, but he had promised they could do so with the others when their mission was complete. There'd been another there, often with the gold-haired one, and the thought of feasting on her now put a toothy smile on his face. </b>