[Maikadilwen]

"If you will not do something, I will! If you will not kill him and let us move on, I will, Vlad!"

Vlad only raised an eyebrow as he looked at Jaheira, knowing that she was smarter than that. She wouldn't do something as foolish as killing the Elf without his approval. He watched her in silence as she threw the dagger, slightly amused that she was suddenly so concerned about the well-being of them all.
The angry glare in her eyes as she turned and looked at him showed something else, something he hadn't seen for a long time and a thought struck him.
Are you afraid, Jaheira? Is that why you're suddenly so ready to listen to Snyd?

"Woman, I weary of your words. You are correct, there is no one coming for me, neither lover nor enemy."

Having to restrain himself to hold back a chuckle, Vlad looked at Melost with an almost childlike expression on his face. Only a few outside their own group had dared challenge Jaheira during the time he had known her and Vlad knew her anger all too well.
"Especially not lover..."

So that's why you're here, Elf!
A smirk crossed his face as a memory entered his mind. So it appeared that the reason for all of this was in fact a woman. Ah yes, Vlad certainly knew how much trouble a woman could cause. Who could've known she was the mayor's daughter anyway? But she had been more than willing...

He was ripped out of his thoughts by a movement and he realised that Jaheira was now threatening Melost with her dagger. Quietly he watched her every move, waiting to see what she would do when she placed the blade against the Elf's throat.
When Vlad saw the blood, his anger flared and he moved up behind Jaheira and grabbed her wrist as he quickly turned her towards him. She didn't even realise what was happening before he struck her across the face with the back of his hand, his face twisted into a mask of fury.

"Enough of this! This insolence ends here! If you get anywhere near that Elf again, Jaheira, I swear to you, it'll be my pleasure to make sure you won't be able to do it again. What are you afraid of? Is it because he's got a prettier face than you?"

Snyd broke into a howling laughter but was quickly silenced by an angry glare from Vlad.
"Should any of you "accidentally" harm this Elf, I will kill you! Understand? Snyd, get Fidrohir and break up camp. We're leaving! Khalad....go help them. Jaheira, you too!."

Khalad was about to object but one look at Vlad's face decided against that. Now was definitely not the time to question their leader and reluctantly he trotted after Snyd.
Vlad stood for a moment gazing after them, then slowly turned towards Melost. He knew that the Elf could easily have killed Jaheira before and the fact that he hadn't only strengthened the decision he had made.
Slowly he drew out the dagger he had taken from Melost earlier, for a moment weighing it in his hand. It was indeed a beautiful weapon. Seeing the Elf tense by this action, he smirked and then handed the dagger over to its rightful owner.

"You can use it to kill yourself or you can come with us. But know that I'll be watching you!"

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]