Haldir winced and sighed as He stood outside of the privy. He listened to Hilda wretching within. The sickness began 2 days ago and he was growing increasingly worried. It seemed to happen in the morning and then randomly throughout the day. He could not figure out the trigger for it. She would be fine and then suddenly vomiting. Hilda kept telling him she was fine but as the frequency increased he was becoming sick from worry.

Haldir swallowed his pride and and went to seek out Ro-laurë. Harvelle was already out in tent town, he would have prefer to seek her out but Hilda's health was paramont to him at this moment. He found Ro-laurë finishing his breakfast and reading a message. "Oh Haldir you will be happy to learn our lady made it back to Lorien with no issues." He cut his words off when he saw the look of near distress on Haldir's face. "What is it?"

The next thing Ro-laurë was doing was following Haldir down the hall. Haldir was so worried he had a hard time speaking and all he could say was something was wrong with Hilda. Hilda was coming out of the privy unaware of how she was about to be accosted. No sooner than she looked up Haldir was hooking her arm with his and pulling her into their shared room and pushing her to sit on the bed.

"Haldir," She said exasperated. "What are you doing?" She started to rise angrily when Ro-laurë stepped around Haldir and was now front and center and Hilda lowered back down. "Ok what is going on here?" She demanded but in a much more quiet tone than she would have if the healer wasn't there.

"Haldir came to me so distressed that he could barely speak. He said something was wrong with you." Ro-laurë explained and began to examine Hilda. She looked to him and she saw a look in his eyes she had never seen before. That is when she began to understand what was really wrong.

"Ro-laurë, there is no need to check me over. I am having morning sickness."

Ro-laurë looked into her eyes then and tilted his head a bit. "Really?" The way he looked at her made her pull back. "I know you know about morning sickness, You are the elven expert on humans."

"Of course I know about morning sickness." He scolded her. "The things is why are you having it?" He got distracted by the slight fever she seemed to be experiencing when his hand pressed to her forehead.

"Oh I don't know maybe because I am human?"

"My dear give me a moment." Ro-laurë snapped.

Haldir stood there looking completely confused.

"Elves do not experience morning sickness when they are with child, You are no elf I know but you are carrying a child or the Eldar. I theorized you would not have this complication. Luthian experienced morning sickness and it was surmised that she was ill because it was a child of the Edain she bore." Ro-laurë explains.

Hilda just looked at the healer and her eyes narrow. "You are looking at me as something to study? Some experiment."

"Of course not but everything must be documented. Especially if these types of relationships continue to blossom." Ro-laurë sighed then looked to Haldir. "She is probably fine. It is a normal human issue. Now if she becomes unable to hold anything down then of course there is more to be done. Other than that, I will get Hilda some tea that should help with the sickness."

Hilda looked over to Haldir that now looked far less worried and more embarrassed that he had pushed the issue when she had told him she was fine. "I need to go write this all down. Hilda I will bring you the tea shortly. Haldir, don't be so hard on yourself. You have the makings of an excellent Adar in you." With that Ro-laurë left them.

Haldir exhaled and closed the door as she stepped further into the room. "I may have over reacted." He said in a small voice.

"You over reacted," Hilda said flatly. "but, I can not be angry at you. You were concerned for me and the baby. Just maybe listen to me a bit more. I might know a thing or 2 about human babies and all." She nodded a little and smiled.

Haldir found himself on his knees in front of her. He body between her thighs and his hand against her belly. "I will listen more but if I feel something needs looked at I will call the healer again. I am guessing I am about to have an education on human child bearing."

Hilda cupped his cheeks in her hands and she leaned in to kiss him softly. "Yes you are. Seems like all elven kind is going to get a lesson on it if Ro-laurë has his way." She chuckled softly and even Haldir found his smile.

"Onward and Upward." Hilda encouraged the children. They were busy at work cleaning up the ballroom. The sound of hammering overhead as the elves patch the roof. She was in a rather cheerful mood after her rough morning and she figured she would take all the good moments she could.

The scrubbing of base boards and crown molding was paused when a procession of elves carrying several large and heavy looking crates entered the room. Hilda got to her feet. Her hands resting on her hips as a dirty cloth dangles from her grasp. She chuckled and looked to Haldir, who was the last one to enter. "What is all of this?"

Haldir approached her slowly and his smile began to widen. Hilda's eyes narrowed a bit. He turned on his heels and stood beside her. "Hanna-lye" He said and the elves having placed their burdens down smiled and waved to the children as they left. Haldir looked down at Hilda who slowly began to make her way to the crates. "These are the slate tiles but what will I do with so many?"

"Often in elvish classrooms there is a wall of slate, the teacher uses it to write things about the lesson on it for all the class to see. I thought perhaps We could make such a wall for your classroom." He finished as several of the children came to peek into the crates and they began to talk among themselves.

Hilda blinked and then looked up at him. "Well thank you. I knew there was a reason I loved you." You whispered. "You're so kind and thoughtful."

"Thank you."

"Alright kids let's get back to work." She clapped her hands together and began to usher the children away. "Aww do we have to?" was whined from one of the younger children to which Hilda replied. "Yes we do. Everyone is busy building or planting. Some of them are even busy cooking your lunch right now. Everyone works, now come on lets make everything shine." Hilda moved away with a smile as she ushered the children back to their tasks.

The voice was deep as it spilled forth. It held a soothing quality to it with a warmth that just embraced you. They called him Strong-Nor. Where he actually came from was a mystery but he had joined the caravan heading to Dale on the road near the Rhun. He had many wagons and people and when he joined the population swelled.

Kal was sitting across from him. He gaze fixed upon his. His eye's were an unusual hazel color. The way they bore into you should he lock his gaze on yours could make you feel unnerved or seduced. She had noted that long ago. Much to his chagrin his charms did not work on her. He was talking to one of the other council men. She was just watching him from over her veils. She could not decide if she disliked him or not.

"I assure you good people of the council that none of my ladies or men are under marrying age." He sat back and laced his fingers together. They rested on his thighs.

"Not under marrying age? By which culture?" The man on her left asked. She cast a sideways glance at him when he spoke. He was a man of the far north. A mountain man. With a brawny build and long thick read hair. He had lead his people out of the mountains, away from their ancestral homes, fleeing a scourge that saw their lands salted, their cattle slaughtered and wells poisoned. Even after they were done there was nothing left for the survivors to return to. He was a blunt no nonsense type of man.

All eyes turned on him then. The subject of ones culture, laws and beliefs had become a very hot topic. It was one of the things they argued about the most. He shrugged and even laughed a bit. "What? It's a reasonable question. Some cultures marry their children off as young as 10 years old."

Strong-Nor just smiled and did not look bothered at all by the question. "Yes they marry at 10 but they still live at home with the parents until their 16th spring then they live together with one of the families. They do not live alone until their 18th spring. You must look at the whole law rather than just part of it."

Kal looked at him then. He was completely calm and in control. The man on her left was becoming angry. She reach out and placed her hand on his arm. "Gouble, please. He is correct, we should look at the entirety of the law." Gouble sat back and nodded.

Her eyes locked on his now. He lifted his brows a bit in question. "Gouble's question is reasonable. Would you please answer it."

"All of my workers are 16 or older. You younger ones generally work in the kitchens and in the cleaning department. You are more than welcome to come by and see. Yes we provide," He paused then and inhaled. "entertainment. Some of that may be in the more adult realm of things. Yet I see no law preventing such establishments. I promise not to hire any one under 16."

The was a long pause, this uncomfortable silence that the man to her right would thankfully break. His name was Ermit. Ermit was one of the survivors of the same escape Kal had made. He was of the plains tribes who's history of mounted war was somewhat legendary in certain crowds. "I hope you understand that we do intend to take that offer of a visit and that visit may come at anytime." He said in a rather monotone voice. His lack of emotion could sometimes be unsettling. In this case Kal was thankful for it.

If Strong-Nor was bothered by this news it did not show. The meeting ended with that and the mysterious man bid then a good evening and he left with is entourage following.

The Hunter had been awake for sometime. He sat beside a small fire and drank a cup of coffee. Tea had almost become too delicate for him. Something he only drank on certain occasions. Hanging over a stick were rashers of bacon that sizzled and each drop of fat made a hissing sound as it dripped into the fire. Patsy began to stir now. His curly short hard adorned with orange and brown leaves from the forest floor.

The smell of bacon had him talking pretty quickly. "Oy Bacon in the morning is the best, then again bacon anytime works dunit."

Patsy was already moving, he got to his feet quickly and wandered off into the trees. He returned fairly quickly, crouching down near the fire he picked up a tin cup and filled it with dark liquid from the pot.

"Ah coffee, I reckoned you a tea drinker but coffee goes really good with bacon." He chimed before he blew on the streaming cup to try and cool it. "You don't talk much do ya."

"I have been thinking."

Patsy watched The Hunter lean forward with his knife in his hand he lifted a rasher from its stick and offered it out to Patsy who immediately took it and played hot potato with it until it wasn't too hot to touch. "bout wha?" He asked.

"of what our next step should be. I know they had already left the Port, but which way did they go? Up stream or down stream? There are a few places that could be their destination. We need to go to the Port and speak with the barge men."

"Bigly port?" Patsy just rocked a bit in his crouch and chewed on his bacon. "That's a really bad place mate. Cut Throats and Thieves. I should know, I am a thief. My face is known there mate. It's a bad plan." His voice was almost cracking with emotion as he got the end.

The Hunter chuckled at him. "Oh I think you will be safe as a kitten." His grin widens when he hears the gentle sound of bells coming up along the near by road. It took a moment before Patsy heard it too. He looking off towards the road and thinking of hiding.

"Relax Patsy, I know who it is."

The Hunter rose slowly and began to walk through the trees towards the road. Patsy timidly following not far behind. He stood on the side of the road as the first wagon rolled up and stopped.

"Good morning Durk, is the Lady in?"

Durk was massive. Durk was brave and loyal and not one to mess with. He came from Umbar and was a dunedain though his blood was weakened by the blood of lesser men. He was still quite powerful and wise. He also had a weakness and that was his stomach.

He opened his mouth to answer with the deep sultry voice of the serpent answered. "Yes yes I am in." The curtain behind Durk open and he see's the lovely face of I-lŷg. "I new we would meet along this road Moravar. What do you need?"

Moravar held up his finger and smiled before turning to the trees and pulling Patsy from his hiding place. He struggled a bit but Moravar put his arm around his shoulders and forced him to stay. "I need you to make him unrecognizable."

I-lŷg looked Patsy up and down and shook her head. Her nose and lip curled and she tosses a bar of sweet smelling soap to Moravar. "Have him bathe in the brook with that soap and then when he is squeaking clean we will see what we can do. Ladies and Gentlemen!" She called out loudly. "We are taking a small break"

Soon the other wagons began to empty as the girls and men began to pour from them. She leaned out of her wagon and looked down the line and called again. " Desi, Mati, Take this filthy thing to the brook and scrub him red. We need a clean canvas to work on."

Patsy and Moravar looked at the 2 rather pretty humans. One male one female and obviously twins. They were rather young looking and smiled as they nodded to her then looked to who they were tasked with bathing.

"I-I can do this mahself I wont be needin any elp." Patsy was stammering out as the twins took the soap and a bucket of brushes then hooked their arms with his and began to drag him away. He protests repeatedly. His cries fading down as they get further away.

"You are tracking my dear. Your prey is putting distance between you. I fear you must not tarry too long in Bigly."

Moravar looked to Durk and grinned. "There is coffee and Bacon just follow your nose. It's yours." Durk gently climbed down from the wagon and made his way towards the scent of bacon. Moravar climbed up and behind the curtain with the serpent. The curtain closed.

She was past exhaustion. They had been moving ever sense they had taken her. Her shoulders ached from her hand begin bound behind her. She lay on her side and tried to sleep. Her eyes watching their shoes as they moved about the plain room. Buster was the cruel one. He had no hesitations about mistreating her. The other was far more kind and gentle with you. His name as Julian. It was Julian's shoes she watched coming towards her.

He lowered down into a crouch and brushed some of her tangled hair from her face. "I believe it is safe enough to untie you, but if you misbehave Buster will punish you. You do not want Buster to punish you darling. I don't want him to punish you so be a good girl." He reached over her and she felt cool metal against her skin then the pressure of the bindings left her wrist.

He carefully helped her to sit up. She was trying to bring her hands before her. She begins to panic when she finds she can not move her arms. Her shoulders were locked into place. "What's happening? I can not move my arms. Oh no, please help me please." She began to sob. Buster raises his voice. "Aw make her shut up will ya Jules?"

Julian scowled at Buster but smiled for her. "Shh now there is no reason for all of this." His hands rested on her shoulders then began to message them gently. "No more tears darling, this is not permanent." The more his fingers messaged into her tensed muscles the more then began to relax. "See, it was just your muscles and now they are loosening up."

Her eyes locked with his. The beautiful light hazel color contrasted against the back drop of his olive skin. He was still smiling for her and within moments her shoulders were fully recovered and she could move her arms. "Thank you." She spoke very softly but he did not stop messaging her shoulders.

"I think we should get you cleaned up and fed darling. Maybe some new, clean clothing is in order as well." Julian said with yet another smile.

"Oy, you plan on treating her like a guest? Why bother? We just have to deliver her with her maidenhood still intact and alive. There was never any talk of her being pampered." Buster whined.

Selwyn stiffened up as the word maidenhood passed Busters lips. This made Julian narrow his eyes. He turned and looked to his companion and hissed a low warning to him. "I know what I was hired to do Buster and if you continue along this path you are traveling down I am afraid what you find at the end of it will be the death of you." Buster nearly choked on his own spit. He coughed and grumbled as he looked out the small round window.

"Don't let him bother you darling. As long as you behave I have no reason to turn you over to him. Understood." She nodded quickly. He rose then and offered his hand down to her. "Now come along darling. You have a date with some hot water."

Julian looked like a man of means. He was dressed in fancy silk from head to toe. Silver silk, with green brocade and golden buttons. The tunic was long and belted. His leggings were a soft grey buckskin and his boots shiny black leather. However, she dangled off his arm like an old well used dish rag. Fiery red hair tangled and matted so that it nearly stood straight up. across her freckled features was splatters of mud. Her feet were bare and her dress was soiled and torn beyond repair.

She felt the floor lift and sway and she stopped in the middle of a hall way. Julian looked to see her looking rather dizzy and he let out a soft chuckle. "Darling we are on the water right now. You are feeling the movement of the water." She looked to Julian with wide eyes. "we are what?" she asked in shock.

Julian only grinned and turned towards the stair and lead her towards them. Even the deckhands they passed tried not to touch her when they looked upon her and made their circles around. Still Julian continued on his way. Seemingly oblivious how they were being regarded.

She felt cool night air and smelled the scent of a river. She stepped onto the deck of the largest barge she had ever seen. It had to be at least 40 feet wide and when she looked down it she realized it was over 60 feet long. Her heart was racing as she moved to the rope railing and looked over the edge at the oars rising and dipping into the water.

On the deck was stacked hundreds of wooden crates and various sized barrels all tied together. She had seen small barges before. The ones that regularly went to down the river near her home were much much smaller. She did not believe this vessel would even fit in the river there.

She was truly held in awe of what she was seeing. That warm gentle voice of Juilian's was suddenly sounding softly in her ear. "I take it this is your first time on a barge." He asked softly and wrapped his arm back with hers.

"Being on a barge yes. The ones I have seen were much smaller. To be honest, I have never even been on the water before." She looked out over the dark waters towards the shore and it was way to far to swim. Now she knew why Julian felt it safe to untie her.

She was gently being lead back down the stairs and along the hallway. She was beginning to be glad for everyone's avoidance of her. They stopped at a desk and Julian handed her the bag from his shoulder to hold. He smiled to the older woman with the painted face. Selwyn blinked a few times having never seen so much make up on one person before.

"Good Evening dear Lady. You are looking absolutely delightful this evening." Selwyn listened to him flatter her.

"We are in desperate need of a hot bath. No no laundry service will not be necessary. Disposal might though." They both looked at Selwyn and had a little giggle which made her frown.

"Oh yes the larger bath would be a much needed luxury in this case. Thank you." He was digging in his coin purse and making the payment. Selwyn began to look around. Casually trying to find an escape route.

"Enjoy your bath little slave." The painted woman looked at Selwyn and smiled.

"Oh, I am not sla.." Selwyn was about to set the woman straight when Julian tugged her rudely by the hand and she stumbles forward a few steps. He nodded and smiled to the Painted Woman then tugged her long with him.

"You are indeed finding yourself in the position of being a slave. At least in name darling. Do play along or it could all get a bit ugly." Julian warned her.

A bath maid was leaving the room they were entering. "Just pull the rope should you need more hot water." She told him before she hurried off to fill the next bath.

It was a plain room lit by a lantern that hung from the ceiling. There was a large wooden tub in the center of the room that steamed. "Remove that rag and get in the bath." He says and motions with his one hand while he looks in the bag and riffles around in it with the other.

"In front of you?"

"Yes yes get on with it." He was still looking in the bag.

"I will not."

"Yes you will. Ah ha found it." He lifted up and looked at her. In his hand was a bar of soap and a wash cloth. "Well come on. It is hard to bathe full clothed you know darling."

She stood there in wide eyed terror and simply did not know what to say.

"I have seen naked women before just so you know." He looked at her and she didn't move. "You see one you have basically seen them all." That did nothing to remove the look from her foce or make her move. "Fine I will turn my back and you tell me when you're in."

"Thank you." She finally said as he turned around. He could hear shuffling around and finally the sound of water moving. "I am in."

He turned around then and she shyly pushed back in the tub and covered what she could. He handed her the soap and cloth and turned away. "Go on and scrub. I swear you smell worse than Buster and I pulled him out of a pig's sty."