"Do you suppose Crank Puss has calmed down yet?" Alex questioned, brushing a clinging leaf off her jeans, leaving a smudge of dirt. "I'd like to find some help."

"Am I not good company?" Orophin teased, mocking to fall over dead. "I think I shall fade away for the lady thinks my company is dreadful."

Alex rolled her eyes and smirked, "Oh hush. I did not. You know what I mean, I think."

"Aye," he sprang up from his death and saluted her, "I do know. I mean I think. Or imagine. Or…" he stuck a twig in his mouth and stopped.

"What? I was listening to you."

"That's usually the part where Haldir tells me to make a point, any point."

She gave the 'I should have known' nod and did her best to reassure him. "Ah I see. Well my dear, Pablo Personality isn't here right now. You can do anything you wish in front of me. As far as I'm concerned right now, you're like God."

"Is that good?"

She nodded calmly, "It's a pretty big honour."

"Well thank you my lady, you won't regret it."

"Lady.." she echoed out loud ,"I like that. It's classy."

"Come," he offered extending his hand to her, "Let us see what your fate shall be."

"I'm scared."

"There is no reason to be, I will protect you."

"No, not of that, I'm a professional at the Kick and Run Method."

"I have never heard of that," he swore, looking down at her intently.

"And I don't wish it on you. Basically you kick the male in a very private place as hard as you can and run." She explained quickly, "Thus, the 'kick and run'"

Orophin led her away from the comfort of her spot deep in thought. "Kick them -where-?" he finally asked, staring at her innocently.

Alex, who would never ever admit to being mature started to giggle like a maniac. "Oh God don't make me explain that part!"

"But I want to know"

"I know," more laughter, "I know you do. Okay. Where is the one place one kick would temporarily cripple you?"

"Um.." Orophin looked down at his feet declining to finish

"You don't have to say it, but there. And HARD." She emphasized, "I can't stress hard enough."

"Ohhh I get it!" he exclaimed, proud of himself. "You kick, they go down, and you kill them!"

"I wouldn't chisel that into a stone tablet, but close enough. Good work."

"Is it effective?"

Alex twirled around nearly tripping over her own feet, "Well, I'm still here."

"May I ask you a question?"

"You don't have to ask, just go for it."

"I wished to give you a warning before I… went for it."

"Aw, how kind."

He ignored her. "If you method of protection works, what is it you fear?"

"Bad news" Alex replied without missing a beat. She had been wondering when something like this would arise.

"Such as"?

"I don't know," she whispered shifting on one foot to the other, "That I'm stuck here I guess. Not that it's awful" she added quickly "but I'm not prepared in any way. I've left an awful lot of people alone at home. I'd like to let them know I'm sorry and all that. I just wish I had time to set things up before being thrown here."

"I wish more than anything I could help."

"You do. You don't want to kill me. You have no idea how much that takes a load off my mind, one less thing to worry about."

"No, instead I'm going to keep you safe, and you're going to let me." he finished when Alex opened her mouth to protest. "I can tell you're used to doing things for yourself; I can see that, but here we will take care of you." he concluded, using an authoritative tone for the first time with her.

She huffed and stared at him. "If you don't look out for yourself, who else will care?" she questioned, perhaps a bit rougher than she had intended. Annoyed by terms she didn't like and didn't agree on, she stomped forward and moved on.

"Me." Orophin responded to her back, "I will care."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Regardless of your lack of concern for what happens to you here," he caught up to her quickly, "I happen to care for your well being."

"Why? You shouldn't. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

"You would most likely be dead if not for me."

"No instead you" she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "kidnap me. I should…"

"How sweet, their first fight" another voice rang out behind her.

[Ohh hell to the no!] Alex thought turning towards the speaker, ready to tell them to butt out and shut the hell up.

"Rumil!" Orophin breathed, never so glad to see the other elf. "Will you talk to her please? I'm not getting anywhere."

Alex raised her eyebrows and cocked her head defiantly. "If he parrots words from you, I don't want to hear it."

"Glory to the Lady, you're impossible." He cried, throwing his hands and walking behind his brother.

"Oh yeah?" she challenged, crossing her arms and sticking one foot out- verbal battle position, "You're a scuzball."

"Threat!"

"Fake!"

"Orc!"

"Lizard!"

Rumil's head bolted back and forth watching them argue. None of the insults hurled seemed passionate and from the heart, so he was sure it would be a quick and easy mend.

"Python!"

"Swamp Insect!"

He had to laugh. It was so pointless. "Well how about we get back to camp, and then you can go about screaming at each other.. Give everyone else a show." he tried, hoping it would appeal to Alex's defiant nature.

"Absolutely not! It's none of their business. We'll finish in private." She glared at Orophin who nodded his agreement. Rumil tilted his head indicating their direction while the other elf and human trailed him.

Alex shoved her hands in the pockets of her dirty jeans and decided to spend the rest of the walk thinking up fresh insults. Determined to show Orophin up, that she could take care of herself just fine, she darted ahead with fake confidence. When Orophin's steps became longer in effort to reach her, Rumil pulled him back.

"Leave her alone brother, she's scared."

"She's got me."

"The one who called her an orc. Granted she probably has no idea what that means, but I'm sure she realizes it is not good."

"I'll apologize."

"Orophin," Rumil wondered how to get this out, "we aren't what she wants. She wants familiarity."

"Ah what do you know?" Orophin whirled back at his brother and went after Alex anyway.

Rumil just shook his head and prepared for another showdown.