"May I help you m'lady?" growled Dorlas as Menelya sat next to him and Thelian. He no longer needed to restrain Thelian, who was wheezing slightly with his head in his hands. Dorlas looked up at Menelya, and rolled his eyes at her shocked expression. She shook her head as if to say 'no'.
"Then make yourself useful and watch Thelian. Make certain he does not run off and get himself lost," ordered Dorlas. Menelya gave him a hard, cold stare, but nodded and turned away from Dorlas.
Dorlas wandered to where Arthain was. He stopped a few paces away from the captain, and continued on cautiously. Was that truly Arthain? Dorlas had never seen the man he served in such a state of despair! Dorlas put a hand on Arthain's shoulder tentatively.
"What has happened?" asked Dorlas softly. No reply came. Dorlas was about to ask again, but before he could Arthain shrugged off Dorlas's hand with force that sent the young squire stumbling backwards.
"Yilsa...Melost...Gone...No...Eru...Lost..." Dorlas could hear Arthain mumbling to himself.
Dorlas walked away, expression stony and determined. The Elven women were still gossiping and twittering about the events involving Melost, Arthain, and Anwenelme. "Get some rest, all of you!" Dorlas shouted, silencing the women. "We leave tomorrow, no matter what!"
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...Come down now, they'll say. But everything looks perfect from far away - Come down now! But we'll stay.
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