[*Varda*]

They had stood by the grave of Hading, silently mourning, until Izrenna had called out about Deorlin’s disappearance. The group had been taken with panic, as they looked around and ahead for Deorlin. There appeared to be no sign of the man, but Malienna distinctly remembered him riding far ahead. Was there a chance he had avoided the attack altogether? Or had…had they got him first?

Not knowing what the company would choose to do, to follow Deorlin and help him, or to remain and hope, Malienna busied herself with other tasks. She gently tended to Naroch’s scratches, cleaning them with some ointment she had found in the bottom of her pack. She had some pain in her arm, from a cut that was bleeding slightly, but she could see to that later. Malienna sighed to herself. Who knew what they might find ahead, but they could hardly afford to lose another member of their group, and if Deorlin was hurt, they could not waste too much time in finding him. And with every moment they lingered, the horse thieves were getting further and further ahead…with Rohan’s precious horses.

No, they could not delay much longer. Malienna silently checked Naroch’s tack, finding nothing terribly beyond repair, being ready to depart swiftly when the command came.

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: *Varda* ]