[Elora]

Uien gratitude and relief was evident at Lira's reply. She reached to grasp Lira's shoulder with a warm smile.

"My thanks, Lira." Lira nodded, returing Uien's warmth in her expression. Uien glanced at the silver dagger that hung from Lira's belt.

"Tell me, are you a warrior?" Uien recalled the fierce flash of Lira's blue gaze at the inn and the way she caressed the dagger's hilt with an air of familiarity. As though the weapon gave her comfort with its presence. Lira blinked at Uien's forthright query and faint regret for her boldness coloured Uien's cheeks. She released Lira's shoulder and spread her hands in a gesture of apology.

"Forgive my curiosity," she added, "I do not mean to pry. You seen so capable with that dagger is all. It is not like any other that I have seen." Uien fell silent then, for she had seen more than her fair share of weapons and the grief that they brought. She had a healer's soul and she carried only a meagre belt knife that carved wood rather than foes.

Lira, with her air of capability, reminded her a great deal of her brothers. Their hands had wandered also to the hilts of daggers and swords when roused. She wished they were here now also, able to aid Edowine and Falowik. With a small sigh of wistful regret for their absence, for she missed them keenly still, Uien gestured through the stables to the day pasture where the horses still waited.

"I should see the horses and ponies safely stalled for the night," she said as Lira contemplated what to disclose to Uien of the dagger and herself, if anything at all. Gathering her skirts, Uien started for the pasture and the horses that waited impatiently for their stall, oats and comfort of the stables. When she heard Lira's footfall beside her, Uien shot a pleased smile at the Elf, relieved that her earlier boldness had not undone Lira's decision and pleased for the company in the absence of her love, Falowik.