<b>Their footsteps echoed down the silent hallways as they headed out to where the horses stood ready. A pair of elves, upon seeing Thorgan and Allassiel, approached and took their bags, and she watched as they were secured to the mounts. Freed from the weight of her bag, she adjusted her bow and stared blindly up at the night sky and pushed back strands of almost silvery bangs from her face, allowing her mind to wander. Although she could feel Thorgan standing near her, she dared not look at him. Was she not partially responsible for the troubles in his kingdom? His people's troubles – the orcs infesting their homes, the loss and destruction – could have been prevented, had she only done what she should have to start.<br/>
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Someone approached, joining the group. <i>Lotharn, </i>she thought. At first she didn't move, unable to think past her own pain. But the thought of Pegawen going through the same thing, or worse, had her clenching her fists at her side and turned to face him, her lips pursed. She could see he was waiting for her to speak, to perhaps even yell at him. She strode up to him, and stared up at him, her hands on her hips. “She is my only kin left to me here,” Allassiel started, letting the words sink in before she continued. “You would have her break our customs, lay with her as though she were some ...” she paused, searching for the word. “If you bring her to harm, I will ...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Allassiel, dina! Tampa tanya!” </b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen raced down the stairs, her cloak flying behind her and she dropped her bags as she came to a halt in front of Allassiel.</b><br/><br/><b>Allassiel turned to her, switching to Sindarin as the two began arguing rapidly back and forth. </b><br/><br/>“<b>You know our customs, you know what will become of you should anything happen to him --”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I am not a child, and I won't have you treat me as one --”</b><br/><br/>“<b>You are my kin, the only one I have left --”</b><br/><br/>“<b>And you are mine! Do you think I went into this lightly? I've waited 600 years for someone like Lotharn --”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I won't see you hurt! I won't see you go through … go ...” Allassiel stopped, her face crumpling.</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen shook her head, wrapping her arms around Allassiel. “It won't be like that, I promise,” she whispered. </b>