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"There is the camp up ahead!" cried Bella, laughing with relief. She caught Leafa's hand and quickened her pace.
Leafa walked with her eyes cast downwards. Now that she had returned, she wished she had not. Ędegard would be waiting to greet them. Ędegard who was a member of their company... not her betrothed. And they would ask her why she had gone. She could not tell them, she would not tell them. She could not tell them that her heart had been shred to pieces.
Liornung, who was standing on the outskirts of the camp, was the first to reach them. He caught them up in his arms, and kissed the hair of each. His fiddle was under his arm, and Leafa felt a tear spring to her eye at the sight of it. No more would she dream and hope when he sang his songs of happy lovers.
"What joy to see you back again!" he said. "I shall certainly write a song in honour of the occasion. Nethwador and Ędegard will be more joyous than I, if it is possible."
At the mention of Ędegard's name, Leafa's face paled slightly, and Liornung did not miss it. He grew more sober, and took her hand gently. He smiled at her in an encouraging fashion, and then likewise took Bella's hand, and led them to the others.
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