Leena had slept fitfully through the night and now her back was knotted. First thing she did upon waking was to go in search of the three Rohirrim soldiers who had helped her in moving the army. She hadn't gotten to them yesterday and felt they should be included. After a second thought she went to Herebrand. He was their leader after all.
"Yes?" he looked up as she marched right up to him, interrupting his small breakfast.
"Beil, Mohinder and Dreven, have you invited them to the meeting?" she stood with power and authority even to the leader of an army. Herebrand eyed her critically; she seemed to be taking some liberties.
"They were going to stay with the men for the duration," the captain leaned back a bit, settling into a more comfortable position to converse.
"They would be beneficial. I request their presence to be in the main participants," she suddenly turned into the cautious diplomat.
Herebrand kept the eye contact that the priestess had established. "I will take it under advisement."
Leena bristled the slightest amount, yet nodded and walked away briskly. He was their commander and ultimately it was his choice.
~*~
Leena walked slowly to the central part of town where the meeting was to be held. After doing all her morning exercises and eating she had taken another bath. She knew even now she was early for the meeting, yet she wanted to watch everyone as they came to make her own assesments of those attending. She rounded a building and was slightly suprised to see Lanaey already there, sitting on a recently fallen tree. They acknowledged each other and Leena moved to sit next to the aged Elf.
"Didn't sleep much last night?" Lanaey asked, looking sideways at the new arrival.
Leena raised an eyebrow. "How'd you know?"
Lanaey shrugged and turned to watch a cat chase a mouse that had happened to come out for some food.
Leena closed her eyes, then opened them to find the Elf looking at her again. "Do you think the village has a chance?" Personally, Leena didn't. She still wanted to fight them though; she'd kill as many of those bastards as she could.
"There's always a chance..." Lanaey spoke as if she wanted to believe that, but couldn't quite make it true.
"Why do you fight for them?" Leena was being very forward again, trying to get some answers that they had sidestepped the day before.
Sighing, she spoke quietly. "This whole village has become very important to me. The land and these people." she paused. "Besides, I came to help and gave my word to Laurel long ago. At the first meeting."
Lanaey didn't need to ask why Leena kept fighting. Besides her orders or alterior motives for her order, she simply wanted to get revenge for her lost partner. It showed in the priestess' very being.
Soon others began to arrive.
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