[Aylwen Dreamsong]

The plains felt lonely and seemed eerie with the two ladies standing together, stranded alone as the men went off to save some stranger. The situation had been completely lost on the confused Bellyn, who felt utterly swamped in all the events that moved so quickly from one to another. Her jaw remained dropped, her eyes remained wide, and her surprise remained written on her face. Their companions had completely deserted the two ladies. The distaste for how quickly her companions would drop them off could be clearly seen in her horrified hazel eyes.

And Argeleafa! "Hurry," she had said to Bellyn. At first, Bellyn only obliged and gave her horse up willingly. Now the Gondorian girl's formerly pale cheeks flushed red in anger at the word of her Rohirric friend. Did she not also feel anguish at being left behind? All because we are women...Bellyn thought bitterly.

The two women began to walk slowly in the direction that the men had taken. Bellyn kicked the ground harshly with each step, and Argeleafa gazed loftily at the dust flying upwards, saying naught. Bellyn's brows furrowed in unnecessary fury, and if Bellyn had been less offended by the action of her friends she might have seen the folly in her anger. However, the Gondorian lady could only be cured of her upset heart by the patience of a friend...

"Leafa, are you not also angry that we were left behind?" Bellyn finally murmured when she felt as if her voice could stay at a controlled level. Her dark hair snapped gently at her face, and the soft breeze brought Bellyn's inner fire to a dull roar with its cool touch. Bellyn looked up at Argeleafa, who thought on Bellyn's words for a moment before answering.

"What would we have done to help if we had gone in the place of two men, Bella?" Argeleafa asked, and Bellyn frowned. She is right...Bellyn realized quickly. Argeleafa continued with the answer, "We would have helped little."

"I know," Bellyn replied softly. The words escaped her lips sullenly. She did not like being wrong. She liked it even less when she realized her wrong in front of another. "I only feel angered, I suppose, at being so readily left behind."

"They will return for us, when all is finished," Argeleafa attempted to comfort and quell Bellyn's worries.

"But we were so quickly dropped in favor of those who Amroth does not know. A pair of thieves. It is not done," Bellyn argued. She felt badly for placing such angry weights on Argeleafa's shoulders, but the others had left them. "But...I do see the folly of my thoughts. My words were rash and I was quick to act as the judge of my friends. You will not speak of my former anger to Liornung? Or Amroth? Or even Ædegard and our Elf-friends? I feel ashamed..."