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A Troth

Llud and Nara with their new companion Krull continued on to Braki. It was a long walk and as they walked Nara spoke of her arranged marriage to Alxanda.

"I must admit, returning to Braki is something I am most hesitant to do." Nara said looking at Krull, informing him of their journey so far. "Alxanda may very well force me marry him as soon as I step into Braki's hall. I have hopes that my champion, Llud, will be able to defeat him and avenge the slander to his family's name."

"And what of you, Llud?" asked Krull. "Are you prepared to face Alxanda?"

"As prepared as I will ever be."

"And should you die?"

"I don't know." Llud stopped walking and placed a hand on the back of his neck. "I keep thinking that I will win but what if I should die?"

"Then you shall strike Alxanda down as a Celestial!" exclaimed Nara. "Have you ever done anything so horrible that you would become an Eternal?"

"No, I have never done anything horrible." replied Llud. "And yet to face one I have never seen fight, I am nervous."

"Then I make a troth!" said Krull. "A troth to avenge you should you fall!"

"Oh, I hope you don't!" commented Nara, her eyes on Llud and him alone. "If one as gentle and as bold as you fall were to fall it would be a terrible loss." And for Nara to see Llud die it would break her heart.

"For you, Nara, I shall not fall." Llud took out his sword and looked at his reflection. "For you, for my fellow Gardites, for honor…" For Nara most of all he would not fall! There was a mutual attraction between the two it took less time for Llud to realize one of the opposite-gender had feelings for him than his younger cousin Balor did. And yet Llud did not tell Nara how he felt about her because it would have been too soon. It had been what? Almost a day? No, it was certainly too soon. Nara too had the same reasoning. They had not known each other that long. To say how she felt would have been too early. Perhaps someday they would tell each other.

"Night is falling…" observed Krull. "We must find a cavern where we can rest till morning."

"Aye, agreed." Said Llud. Night was a time for sleep and they would need shelter.