[Arien]

Ceros’ eyes rose from the face of Ihwesta at the sound of talking. Taurëwen had returned and was now tending to Gilbereth with Arië. He overheard her soft whisper to Gilbereth "I know what you did and I thank you, I am only sorry that the cost was so dear". She knew then of what Gilbereth had done to save her, sacrificed himself to cut his companions down from their confinement. Taurëwen now came over to Ihwesta.

“You are awake too….” she said faintly giving Ihwesta a little more sage infusion. “And how are you feeling?”

“Better…” she replied barely. Taurëwen nodded.

“You will feel the pain from your leg for a few days, but with time it will heal.” Ihwesta acknowledged her and then closed her eyes again. Ceros sighed, and got up from the ground where he had been seated.

“We are to stay here for the remainder of the night,” he told the others, “it is better for them, we will move out a soon as the sun rises. But for now take rest.” The others agreed, but all of them stayed in their own space for the night. To reflect on the days events. Ceros, as usual chose a place where he had a view of all of them, even Reynion as he hid beneath the shelter of a dark tree. The other were gathered in the clearing, scattered with Taurëwen nursing the wounded. Ceros admired her too, she put the others before herself even tough the poison from the spiders still flowed through her veins.

Her sword at her side glimmering in the fire light. It was from Talas, he remembered her reminiscing about it before he went missing. Ha, missing! Ceros dreaded to think of the fate of his friend and fellow guard. Was he overwhelmed by spiders or was there something even darker inhabiting Greenwood? And now the sword was the only…..her sword! She did not have that when we left the spiders nest. But she couldn‘t have gone back! No, surely not….

Ceros slowly rose from the spot where he sat and went to Taurëwen’s side. She was cleaning Ihwesta’s wound when she turned round.

“Ceros, she has fallen asleep again”, she said briefly looking at him and then back down at Ihwesta.

“Why?” he asked sternly. She ascended slowly, the rag she was cleaning Ihwesta’s wound with hung loosely in her hand.

“Why what?” she asked in a defensive voice.

“Why did you go back?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said quickly and she walked past him. But he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

“Back, back to the spiders nest?” She looked taken aback as if she was going to fight him but then dropped her head.

“How did you know?” she said hoarsely looking up into his eyes.

“Your sword, the one Talas wrought for you. You did not have it when we first got her, nor when I helped you tend to Ihwesta and Gilbereth”

“I went back for it, I could not just discard it!” she replied defiantly.

“I understand, by why, why did you go alone?”

“I..” she started, but then stopped.

“I am not angry with you,” he said softly, “I just don’t want to loose another friend on my part. I am your leader and should watch over all of you. And no matter how much you wanted it back, was it worth risking your life? Next time, Taurëwen take some one with you!”