[Lyra Greenleaf]

"Hush little baby-" Lara stopped midsong and turned to her husband with a worried frown. Somehow it seemed out of place on a face designed for smiles and laughter.

"Ered, I'm sure there's something wrong with Laila" she said, rocking back on her heels.
Her husband turned from his place at the window and gave a distracted smile to his wife.
"You're always sure there's something wrong with the baby. I don't know where my jolly wife went"

He walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. With a sigh she leant against him. Now that her back was facing him Ered's smile was replaced by a frown, but there was still a forced calmness to his tone.
"She is fine. She is always fine. We're fine." He sighed. "We are fine" he repeated, but there was a lack of certainty in his voice.

Appeased, Lara began to sing again and Ered returned to his post at the window. He had felt something for a while now, something bad. He shook himself, mentally asking why a grown man with responsibilities should pay heed to silly feelings, but nonetheless he had not gone to his farm today and had discouraged Lara from attending the market.

Lara herself felt no such worry. Ered had assured her Laila was fine and she trusted his judgement completely. And he had always been right on the subject before! Dangerous fevers had turned out to be teething, and deadly poisons merely a touch of colic. She knew she worried overmuch but it was her first child and she did not know exactly what she was doing. She wished sometimes that she had stayed near to her mother, but Ered's future was hers, and she had known that since the day they met. Also it was good to be seeing a little more of the world than if she had stayed in Hamere, even if this village was practically the same. Ered had promised to one day take her to the city. Minas Tirith! she now thought excitedly. One day-

A loud noise from the village startled both of them. Lara grabbed the baby and Ered's hand flew to the hilt of his sword. Laila began to scream at being woken so suddenly. Her screams were joined by similar sounds from the village. Colour drained from Lara's face.
"Ered, what-" she began in a shaking voice.
"Stay here Lara, quiet Laila and don't make a sound" There was a studied calmness in Ered's voice, belied by the terror in his eyes. He kissed Laila, then Lara's head.
"I love you both."

He swiftly left the room, brown cloak swirling around his legs. Lara followed him to the door.
"Ered-" she began again, and he turned on the stairs.
"Lara stay there, stay silent" he said desperately. "Please"

Mutely Lara turned and re-entered the bedroom. She began to hush Laial and soon the baby's screams became gulps. Then there was a crash at the front door. Lara screamed along with her child.

Ered stood at the foor of the stairs, undecided about going out to see what was happening or staying with his family. Before he had a chance to make a decision the door flew off it's hinges with a curved blade appearing through the gaps. Ered swayed on his feet.

Why is this happening to us? he wondered fleetingly, before a huge ugly faced followed the sword. It gave a grin to the man, making it's face seem even worse than before. Eru help me! thought Ered and brought up his sword. Screams from upstairs and outside the door rent the air. Ered lunged, getting a smaller creature who had wriggled through the doorway straight in the throat. It fell, but another approached from the right. Ered turned and swang the sword, hitting its arm. It fell back with a muffled curse, black blood covering Lara's clean room. A wave of dull pain hit Ered from the back. He fell to the floor panting. His eyes began to close, but he struggled. Lara! he thought desperately. Laila!

Once again his eyelids drooped, and this time they did not open.

[ March 30, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]