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Eld'yea followed the line of her father's arm. She hadn't noticed the armor clad man in the doorway. She paused a moment taking a good look at him before the sweet smile reappeared upon her face "Certainly, Father. You should know I always make extra for the next day and we can't let Mr Ler'en go hungry". Her voice was soft and melodic enchanting Ler'en. Suddenly he realised that he had just been staring at the girl with his mouth slightly open. His bottom lip wavered slightly before he said "Thank you, Miss, you are too kind". He attempted to make his way into the room but his movements were slow, the armor was becoming dreadfully heavy. "Is there somewhere I can change out of this?" He asked N'denon fumbling at the metal. The baker showed him to the master bedroom "You can choose anything out of my wardrobe if you think it might fit" he offered before leaving the room. As the two men left Eld'yea let out a small giggle - she had noticed the look the soldier had given her but she wasn't going to let him know just yet.

Ler'en followed N'denon and Os'ver into the house. It would have been small for one person but somehow it had managed to shelter a whole family. The aroma of the tea wafted down the corridor. The sweet hum of a female voice could be heard as they closed upon the kitchen. Ler'en stopped in the doorway of the tiny kitchen come diner. It was not a voluntary stop but he was forced to. The girl did not stop singing when her family entered the room, not turning around she hadn't noticed they had company. Lar'en's eyes traveled across her curved body. She had golden blond ringlets that rippled across her slender shoulders and wore a modest brown dress that was pulled in at the waist with ties that were tied into a bow behind her. She turned and smiled at her father holding a huge cooking pot. You could now see that the top layer at the front of her dress was pulled up and tucked into the waistband to reveal her underskirt - such was the fashion at the time. "Eld'yea, have we enough to accommodate Mr Ler'en here?" N'denon said gesturing towards the soldier.

The sun was low in the sky as Ler'en and Os'ver rounded the large sweeping bend into the boy's village. They had stopped a few times on the way, mainly because Os'ver was tired or thirsty but they had made it before nightfall as Ler'en had predicted. The boy lead the way to a small bakery with a pine front door, the aroma of fresh bread still lingered in air even though baking had ceased many hours before. "Father" Os'ver called out as he made his way across the shop towards the house. The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard as his father rushed down the stairs to greet his son. Taking the boy into his arms his said "This is a swift return, Os'ver" He then noticed the built man in armour standing a few feet into the shop. Letting go of the boy he made his was towards Ler'en "And what do I owe the honour to have a soldier escort my son home?" He asked giving Os'ver a sideways glance. Ler'en introduced himself and recounted the tale of the thieves in the wood. "I am N'denon" the man replied holding his hand out which the solider accepted "Please come through to the house and make your self comfortable for the night" N'denon offered as he turned to go back into the house "Dinner is just ready" He added ruffling Os'ver's hair on the way past.

"And what does you mother think of you off all over the place?" Ler'en asked remembering with a supressed chuckle his mothers reaction when he told her he was joining the army. The boy looked up from kicking a hole in the dirt "I don't have a mother" Os'ver replied emotionless "She died when my little brother was born" He himself had only been a young boy and had no memory of his mother. Ler'en was slightly taken aback by the simpleness with which the boy spoke about such an incident. Maybe there is more to this lad than meets the eye he thought as he placed the last of the salted meat into his mouth. A moment later Ler'en stood saying "Collect your things. We had better keep moving if we want to be there before nightfall". Os'ver did as he was told before rushing down the path to catch up with Ler'en's large strides.

Ler'en passed an eye lazily over the boy and repeated his name "Os'ver ey?" The boy was thin and could have be berely more than 14, his clothes were tired and his shoes worn thin. "A fine name to be proud of" He added with assurance. He picked up Os'ver's bag that was lying next to him and rummaged through it producing some bread and salted meat "Are you hungry?" He asked, looking up at the teen who was staring off into the distance. The boy shook his head and offered the food to Ler'en. The man took a bite out of the bread and continued the conversation through his mouthfull "So how comes a small lad like you was in the was in the woods alone?" He asked curious to know the answer. Os'ver turned to face the man and explained that he was on an errand for his father. Feeling that he had no reason to distrust the man that saved him he continued to explain where he came from and that as the eldest he was often given errands but had taken the short cut this time to avoid the coming storm.

Ler'en lead the boy along the downhill path until they reached a small clearing. The sun was getting high in the sky and Ler'en's stomach was letting him know that he hadn't eaten for days. Coming to a halt he looked around them to check that the band of thieves had well departed. Satisfied, he pulled a log into the clearing from the undergroath - beetles, worms and other insects scuttling to safty - and gestured for the boy to sit. Ler'en then pulled a larger log next to it and sat himself heftily upon it. "What is your name, boy?" He asked in a rough tone that sounded more of a command than a request. "O...Os'ver" The pale lad replied hesitantly.

"I will ask you one more time" Ler'en said, his patience already precariously thin "Leave this boy alone or I will be forced to take action." A few hushed murmors could be heard among the pack as well as the odd laugh. The bolder theif, now obviously the leader, laughed at Ler'en. His laugh was cut short as a dagger plunged deep into his jugular. The man lay on the floor gasping for breath clutching at his throat, his laugh now replaced with a sickening gurgle. The rest of the group scattered into the trees. Ler'en turned to the boy who was turning pale as he stared in shock at the man on the floor. "Lets get you out of this place" He told him as he picked up the few items that were still on the ground.

The thieves stopped what they were doing for a second and looked up. All but one of them backed away from the boy dropping a few of the belongings upon the floor at the boy's feet. The boy dropped to his knees to group together what they had given back. The one man that stayed where he was scanned the trees to see where the shout had come from. Ler'en's clanking would not have given him the element of supprise even if he hadn't of shouted. Suddenly a dagger came flying toward Ler'en but he did not divert his course, it merely glinted off of the heavy duty armour. The thief cursed but did not move. Ler'en emerged from the foliage and took up position next to the young boy, placing a hand upon his shoulder to reasure him. "Leave this boy to his buisness" He boomed as he scanned the dozen or so scrawny men that surrounded them. "Why don't you leave us to our buisness" The nasal voice of the thief challenged.

Ler'en walked aimlessly amoung the pine trees. In his mind he was still with her lying on the battle field. Red lines marked his face from where the tears had fell, his auborn hair had fallen out of his bun and lay messy over his shoulders. His armour clanked as he walked, drowning out the sound of the bords in the trees and the crickets in the undergrowth. Pausing a moment he rested his head against the tree. "Help me!" A young voice cried from over the hill. Ler'en ignored it until it rang through the air again "Somebody please help me".

Ler'en asended the rest of the slope quickly and frowned at the scene below. A young boy of only 13 or 14 years of age was being attacked by theives and beggars. They lived among the tree tops waiting for such victims to walk along the path, this is how they made most of their money. "Hey!" Ler'en shouted as he made his way through the bushes towards the group.