[Amanaduial the archer]

Arthain's heart felt immediately lightened as he heard Thelian's rather hesitant words.

"Do not- do not think more upon this matter. The past is the past, and we can not correct its errors. My only concern now is Melost."

So the squire had forgiven him? Arthain knew not how he had managed to do this, but he felt infinitely grateful for this gesture, especially after what had passed today, for that would have given Thelian an easy excuse to form an even deeper grudge towards Arthain. The man stood and sat beside Thelian, thinking to make a reply which might ease the tenuous bond between them further...but Thelian stood, quickly, stepping away, his expression almost one of disdain, it seemed to Arthain.

"I am following Dorlas' example." The elf said hurriedly, before walking away briskly. Arthain watched him go, and as the squire moved into the darkness, Arthain's heart and mind settled into the same. He thought more deeply on the some of the words which Thelian had said: "Do not- do not think more upon this matter."

Do not think on this matter? The matter of the snake? How could that even be possible?! Arthain felt anger rise in him as he stared fiercely into the fire which suddenly matched his feelings, and thought of the way in which Thelian had departed so suddenly when Arthain sat down beside him, standing quickly and stepping away, as if Arthain was dirty. And Dorlas had abandoned him, left him for the elves, for a member of the race that had been his downfall, that had caused him so much pain...

He slumped, and shame overwhelmed him suddenly as he realised the foolishness of his thoughts. Thelian had acted valiantly in trying to put his mind to some sort of rest, although it was impossible for it to come to such, and for that he should not be angry at the squire. And Dorlas... well, why should I blame him for going, Arthain thought bitterly. Why should be ally himself with one so soiled?

"Dorlas, do you abandon me now?"

"You give me little choice. You have allied yourself with the witch twice now,"

No! The thought was so strong in Arthain's mind that he almost yelled it out aloud as he stood abruptly. It was wrong! He had not allied himself with the viper, as he now called her always, he had done nothing of the sort! If his squire had known what had gone on in his mind before and as he grabbed Thelian's wrist- it was not the viper he had been protecting! It was an instinct, the sense of duty that lived in him, the oath that he had sworn to uphold. The oath that he would never allow an innocent or woman to be harmed. And when Thelian had raised his weapon, all Arthain had seen was an image of the woman he had loved, and who he had thought he had been with that fateful night, a blinding flash in his mind. The image of a woman who had had no protection. Yilsa.

So much was misunderstood here, and was misunderstood by the one who was meant to understand Arthain better than any- for in battle what would become of them if this apparent rift was still there? Arthain deserved to die, as Melost would have wished, but for the second part of the elf's 'curse' on Arthain to be fulfilled? For the one he loved most to die in his arms? Impossible. All who he loved had turned from him, or their spirit had left this world completely.

Arthain tore his gaze abruptly away from the fire and gazed into the night, staring out the shards of broken light which flickered across his eyes after staring into the fire, and for a few moments simply stared into the darkness which surrounded the camp. Then, his heart heavy and thoughts of what was to become of all who were, or had been, close to him, he departed to the tent where he would lie sleepless until morning.