Julian took note of her silence. He cast a glance over his shoulder and could see the shaking of her shoulders and he knew she was crying quietly. He exhaled a deep breath and set his jaw just before lifting his eyes to see himself in the mirror. Indeed there was darkness in him but it did not have to be today.

He placed the bag down on the bench and began to loosen his belt, which he placed quietly down. He watched her grief in the reflection of the mirror and began to unbutton his long tunic and pulled it away leaving him in a light loose fitting undershirt and his leggings. "I can understand your tears darling. I assure you however, there is no reason for them."

"How can you say that? You know what they did to my grandfather, you were part of it and you took me away and for what I do not know."

He pulled the stool up to the back of the tub and began to brush her matted hair as gently as he could . She jerked forward and looked over her shoulder. "Yes I know what they did. I however was not involved that much. I was scouting and when I returned and made them stop. Pointless violence is just that pointless. There must always be a reason and you my darling are safe as a kitten as long as you just play along. I will see to it that you get back to your grandfather."

She looked at him wide eyed and for the moment forgot her modesty. She was stammering and trying to find the words when Julian just smiled at her. "You have lovely breast." She gasped and turned around suddenly and covered herself with her arms. He chuckled then and went back to gently working the brush through her hair.

"I can say with fair certainty that that old man is very much alive and being cared for and you are just going on a little adventure. Play along and be good and you will be back in your hovel before winter." He began to pick twigs and leaves from her hair. "We are going to be here all night just working on your hair. Remind me to get you into a grooming routine."

"I have one, You took me out of it." She growled.

"If what you were doing before was grooming then I would still say you need a grooming routine. You are far too pretty to hide away behind barely brushed hair and dour clothing."

Her brows creased. "You think I'm pretty?"

"You don't think so? Goodness I have my work cut out of me. You darling are going to be the star of a little production of mine."

Julian began to explain the different processes of applying cosmetics and hair do's, all things she had no woman to tell her about or teach her. During this conversation he began to realize she was more of a tom-boy than a girl and he needed to turn her into a woman rather quickly.

With most of the tangles and debris from her hair he lovingly washed it and oiled it and brushed some more until it was silky smooth under his fingers. She began to careless about her modesty in front of him as he began to talk of all sorts of womanly things as if he were female.

He had fresh new clothing for her. She had never had anything as fine as the dress he was showing her though sadly he would need to hang it for it to be free of the wrinkles. The humid air and the sun should do that. For now he had her in leggings and rather fancy tunic with lacy detailing. It was a soft green color with brown leggings and soft leather boots.

He looked down at her as he ran his fingers through his own very long and dark hair. He smiled and motioned to the mirror. "Go on darling and look."

She turned and gasped. Her freckled cheeks reddened with just how wide she smiled at her own reflection. She turned her head from side to side and lifted her hands to let her fingers pass freely through her hair. This was something that was always nearly impossible before. "Your hair's texture is course, that is why it always looked frizzy. When you use the right oils and a good brush though you can take all that away."

Her green eyes began to redden and tear up. Then in a sudden burst of emotion she turned and threw her arms around him. The hug caught him off guard. He stood there stiff for several moments before relaxing and embracing her gently. "Whatever is that for? You do realize I am your kidnapper?"

Her face was buried to his chest and words were muffled. "No one has ever taken the time to show me any of this. So thank you for that."

As they left the bathhouse and strolled along the same hallway none jumped away from her but she did find a few people did stare. This would take some getting used to.

"This is a terrible idea!" Was the extremely fed up cry that came from the wagon. Patsy half emerged past the curtain to look a wide eyed Moravar in the eye. He looked hard at Patsy and chuckled. "Well aren't you gorgeous." Patsy scowled and wiped the back of his hand over his lips smearing a streak of red across his cheek. "Though I do not think the blue eye makeup is your color."

"Why you I'm gunna.." Patsy's threat was cut off when he was pulled back into the wagon. I-lŷg came to stand beside him. "We could just put him in long silks and cover his face with a veil." Moravar cracked a grin and raised his brows. "Alright but let's let them finish first."

By mid afternoon the gentle chime of the wagon bells was heard on the streets of Bigly Port. Moravar rode beside Durk and for all appearances he was just one of the guards for the traveling troupe of performers. The tavern was expecting them and soon Moravar was unloading chests filled with costumes and props into the back entrance. With a smile and a little nod of his head he watched as Desi and Mati escorted the figure draped in blue and gold silk into the tavern and into the storage set up as dressing rooms.

When the work of unloading was done Moravar walked casually into the storage and was greeted by a deep low growl. "I hate you." Moravar looked to the corner where Patsy sat, in his hands were his face veil. "They are going to make me carry donations basket around for them. I have to be flirty. Do I look like the kind of man that would flirt with men?" He said indignantly.

Moravar looked at him and cracked a grin then laughed. Patsy was not only wrapped in sleek seductive silk but his eyes were painted heavily and his eye lashes were as long as a horses. Right when he was about to give Patsy his answer Patsy's hand lifted. The nails painted red. "Nevermind, don't answer that." He looked down, his shoulders began to sag. He looked as if he might cry.

"Ah no don't do that." Moravar stepped closer.

"You are just worried I will mess up all this paint." Patsy nearly sobbed.

"No I just can't stand to see a woman cry."

There was a commotion from the dressing room and Moravar was running out as hair brushes and shoes were flung at him from within. "Patsy now come on, It's just some good hearted humor."

I-lŷg watched her backstage turning into a circus and groaned inwardly.

The well in the palace's garden had been cleared and cleaned and was now the main source of water for those that resided and worked there. The garden was becoming one of Claressa's favorite places. Especially when the younger children were napping and she often found herself alone. She was taking her time about drawing water and she sat on the edge of the well in the shade.

Burt watched her from the window. He felt lost and unsure of what to do. He didn't even know what to say to her anymore. "I imagine you feel lost." The voice was Haldir's and since they had learned Claressa was with child Burt had not spoken to her much at all. He didn't look towards Haldir nor did he speak. Haldir had been angry with him and he knew it.

"I feel a bit lost myself." Haldir continued and joined Burt at the window. "I am ancient by human standards and you would think I would know what to do. Thing is that while I am so very happy that Hilda and I will be a family. I do not know if I know how to raise a child. What if I hold them wrong or I am complete disaster at clout changing."

Burt was listening now. "What do I do if my child is sick? Elvish children often get the sniffles but they never get very ill like human children. I am very afraid Burt. I can't imagine how you must feel."

Burt looked up to Haldir and just sighed before turning to walk away. "I know I was cross with you, but I do care Burt. You can come to me with anything, anytime." Haldir said to his back and watched Burt wander down the dimly lit hall. He looked back at Claressa then went on his way as well.

Claressa began to wander through the garden. Looking at the herbs and medicinal gardens that had been planted in the place of flowers and ornamental plants. Then there beside a bed of fragrant lavender Burt appeared.

When she saw him she began to cry and Burt drew her into his arms and he just held her. "I am so scared Burt." She confessed.

"Why wont you tell me who the father is? We don't have to tell anyone else. The whole world can just keep on believing this baby is mine and I will still take care of you both. Just tell me Clar."

"I can't." She pushed away. "Just please Burt don't do this. I am sorry. I can't. You don't have to keep up the lie I wont do that to you."

Burt shook his head and pulled her back in close. "Did they make you?" She shook her head. "I'm not gunna change my story Clar."

Haldir had made his way around the walled garden by moving along the craggy from atop it. He had been meaning to assess the damage to it anyway but as he neared where Claressa and Burt were to noticed something odd in the unkept bushes along the edges. He crouched down and narrowed his eyes and looked on the back of an elf. A rather young elf at that. The dark brown hair that sparkled with a bit of gold as the sunlight shone down on it told him who it was.

"Callon," The elf jumped and turned to look but saw none until his eyes moved up. "Shouldn't you be patrolling?"

"Yes commander I was but then I heard them talking and I didn't want to disturb them. It seemed important. So I just.."

"You just thought you would stay in the bushes like a little eaves dropper?"

"No commander I was trying to be respectful, I will just go back and come around the other way."

"mmmhmm." He eyes Callon as he quietly makes his way back the way he had come. He imagined the young ellon was trying to catch the two humans kissing or otherwise being naughty.

Callon had just turned 40. By elvish standards he was still a child until he reached his majority at 50. However, elves often began to become interested in the opposite sex before 50. Callon was no different. Haldir could remember spying on humans and elves when he was that age, just trying to figure out what it all meant. He rolled his eyes and continued his silent walk along the garden wall.

Supper had been served and devoured. Bertha had once again pulled off a culinary marvel using never to nothing. Rumil managed to fell 2 goats from the mountain side. The stew Bertha made from the portion that had been given was full of flavor and vegetables but not so much meat. There were no empty bellies however and the younger children were yawning before sundown.

Claressa sat on the floor with Pebble on her lap. She had blocks of different shapes and colors before her and Claressa was lovingly telling the toddler what they were each time a chubby fist held on up. There was no doubt in Hilda's mind that she could handle being a mother. Though she worried about for how long. The girl had already been a mother to these other children for months. She loved each of them and it showed.

Conal it turned out was a very bright and affectionate lad. Now that everyone was learning how to speak with their hands he just blossomed. He was currently hugging Hilda as he held out a book to her. He loved being read to.

Toby was still rather aloof. He seemed to prefer sitting to himself with a toy. His favorite was a wooden horse with all the tack for it. It was used to teach children how to saddle a horse or get it ready for a cart. Toby was now an expert. Hilda watched him care for his horse and smiled. "Toby, would you like to work in the stables?"

The boy perked up immediately. "oy, ya think I could? I know how to muck stalls and do feeding. I can even groom."

Hilda held out her hand and chuckled. "Well I see you do have the experience but I need to speak to the stable master first." Toby held his head up high for the first time when he learned he might get to work with his beloved horses.

Hilda was settling Conal on her lap while she prepared to read some of the book to him. Bertha was bringing a yawning Gwen into the room. Gwen seemed to have taking a liking to Bertha and was "learning" how to do things in the kitchen. Bertha didn't mind when the kitchen wasn't a mad house of food preparation.

The story was one that all the children of Dale knew. It was the most popular story there. The story of Bard the Dragon slayer. By the time she had gotten to the dragon slaying part all the children were asleep but Conal, who was hanging on by a thread. Bertha and Haldir helped with carrying them to their beds. Claressa and Burt sleepily shuffled down the hall and went to their rooms. Before too long they were all tucked away in their beds.

In the hall Hilda stole a moment to tug Haldir into the empty meeting room. "It's been far too long since we had time alone. " She said softly and laced her fingers with his. "You want to slip into the broom closet again?" He grinned and watched her expression sour. "No idiot, I meant Bard's secret room." She whispered. Haldir gasped a bit then lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I will meet my feisty firieth there within the hour."

He wore a smug smirk as he left the meeting room and sauntered down the hall passing Gimli who looked at Haldir with squinting eyes. "Oy Laddy what's gotten into you?" he said as he turned and followed Haldir.

Moravar was perched atop of the tavern. He could hear the merry making going on inside. The Serpents dancers were entertaining the rowdy crowd. Patsy tucked away safely inside. That worry gone from his mind he could now focus on finding where they had gone. He had little to go on. Patsy's non-descript description of Buster and the name Jewels. Apparently, he was as Patsy said "A little light in the loafers." He dressed as if he were of means, long dark hair and fancy clothing.

His gaze drifted down to the street. He watched a man drunkenly stagger from the tavern. His woman for the hour helping him up. As he rose to stand he looked out towards the docks. Neither of the 2 large barges were in, neither were their smaller companions that floated along with them.

Slowly he climbs down the stairs, the noise from the party inside gets louder and louder. He stopped in the hall and watched the cheerful display before him. Girl's twirled around on the stag. Others mingled with the crowd. Even her males seemed busy that night, he looked around for Patsy and found him sitting near her. There she sat staring down at the cards in her hand. She having already found herself a game. When the Serpent's eye fell on him he nodded and smiled before disappearing into the crowd.

He wandered the streets slowly drifting off towards the docks. The moans from a darkened alley told him just how far the drunken man with companion had gotten. Which wasn't far. Such things were common in ports like Bigly. The lusts of men fueled the business. The men that worked the barges often squandered their earnings in these very ports. He know most had no real homes to return to and if they did they had no desire to go back.

Occasionally, there was one that was truly only there to make the money to take home, though they were rare. His feet take him to a wide street. It was lined with barrels and crates ready to go on barges. There was a particular dock master that he was seeking. Though the last time he had seen him he was old. He was beginning to think he would need to break a new one in when the hacking cough behind a stack of barrels got his attention.

Slowly he stepped around to see his dock master sitting on an over turned bucket and adjusting his wooden leg. "Oy you be in me light." He grumbled and looked up then sighed. "Oh, it's you hunter. It still aches sometimes. Even after all these years." He continues to adjust his leg.

"How long has it been?"

"30 years since you pulled me from that wreckage. You still look the same and I am withering. Let me guess you're a lookin for someone." He finally finished what he was doing and looked up at the Hunter.

"They call him Jewels, apparently he thinks himself a Dandy Man. With long dark hair and the finest of clothing. He is traveling with a younger man they call Buster."

"eh my memory isn't what it used to be I can't.." The dock master began to speak but a gold coin was offered down to him. "Shiny coins help with memory or so I have been told." The Hunter smirked as the man took it.

"I don't know a Jewels but I did see a Julian, he fits who you be lookin for. Long hair like yours but black as coal. He dresses dandy."

When Moravar heard the name Julian he could feel his throat tighten. "Did he have a girl with him? She would have flaming red hair."

"Well you see I just can't be sure," He started off and another gold coin was held down to him. "Aye yes I recall now. She was in a terrible state. Looked like he had pulled her out of a bog. The other man looked like a farmer, He was keepin her in line."

Moravar just held out another coin but when the man tried to take it he pulled it back. "Which way did they travel?" The man eyed that 3rd coin and sucked on his teeth. "They took the big barge up stream. not 2 nights ago." Moravar lay the coin in the mans hand and nodded. "Thank you." Was all he said before turning to leave.

Later that night as the party died down and everyone was finding their beds Moravar was sitting with I-lŷg as she counted her till. "That makes so sense Moravar. Julian is not into kidnapping young girls. That is not his style and you know it. Stealing an expensive blue stone sure yes I could see that easy but stealing girls. No not Julian."

He just shook his head and looked down at his hands. "Things do change I-lŷg even if we stay the same. Desperation will make one consider horrible things."

"I think we will go upstream as well. Something tells me the money is good North. You will be passing Lorien will you stop?"

Moravar looked at her then. She thought she saw fear in his eyes for a moment and then it was gone. "I have no reason to stop in Lorien." His eyes averted then from hers.

I-lŷg just shook her head and sighed. "I never thought I would see you afraid Moravar. You need to stop running." She turned towards her mirror and began to remove her adornments.

"I suppose I will be seeing you along the way." He changed the subject.

"Indeed, I am very curious as to how this all plays out. I do hope I get to see it." She looked at his reflection in her mirror and saw him grinning.

Haldir had a difficult time parting from Gimli. The dwarf wanted to drink and tell stories all night. It seemed He and Raga were having a difference of opinion on a certain matter of their possible nuptials. Gimli was already 3 cups in and lamenting over the argument.

"She keeps sayin I am not getting any younger and neither is she. What's that s'posed to mean Laddy? I have a good 100 years or more still in me." He grumbles and drinks more. His beard getting wet from it.

"Gimli, listen to me. Get on with it." Haldir said plainly. The dwarf looked at him wide eyed. "You haven't even asked her, why not? You clearly love her so ask her. You don't have to marry tomorrow but at least ask."

He got up and pat the dwarf's shoulder. "You will be happy you did. Now I have an engagement to attend to. Don't drink yourself silly." He warned as he walked through the tavern and out the door. He was going to be late and he hoped Hilda would understand.

He passed the children's rooms and looked in on them. All of them seemed to be asleep. Even Burt who lay on his back with his mouth hanging open and his covers on the floor beside him. Haldir shook his head and silently crept through the room and got Burt covered back up. He paused a moment to look on the youthful face of the boy. A boy, he thought, He won't be one for much longer.

He walked along darkened hallways to the stairs and made his way slowly up them. Each step along the hallway was just as silent as the last. The only sound he made was at the closet door. It creaked softly as he closed it and then entered the secret room.

"You're late." He heard then was pushed harshly into the back of the door he had just come through. Lips crushed against his and when he tried to move he was pushed hard back against the door. He smelled her scent and felt her fingers unbuckling his belt. It clattered to the floor. He tried to move again and was once more shoved back against the wall.

It was mildly shocking to be treated so. That shock soon turned to arousal as he realized she was determined to take what she wanted. "Alright firieth, I wont move." He then leaned back against the wall as she began to tug his leggings down and her fingers dug into the firm flesh of his ass as she moved down his body making delightful shivers pass over him.

A jolt of pleasure suddenly worked its way up his spine. Warm moist silk just engulfed his flesh and he realized quickly what she was doing. Her lips glide over him and he can do nothing more than moan and let his eyes roll back. "Ai Hilda," He hissed through clenching teeth, "pen-dhir glidheb maus, Ai firieth nin." He likened her lips to the pleasure of sweet honey, she had no idea what he said but how he said it told her what she needed to know.

His trembling fingers caressed through her golden hair, her grip on his flesh tensed. "Hen maus othovor," He panted, "Hilda you must stop, I will yield soon." She didn't stop and his legs began to shake before she finally released him. He let out a deep reverberating growl. His breaths still coming in deep pants. "You have been thinking about this, since I was late, haven't you?"

"Maybe."

"Oh you have." He said smoothly. She could see his grin in the dim light and for a moment he looked rather wicked.

She felt the urge to back away. He began to kick off his boots and remove his leggings. "Oh now Hilda, now is not the time to put distance between us." He taunted her, making her gasp.

"Distance you will seek to close as soon as you are able I am sure." She swallowed past a limb in her throat as she rose to her feet.

He cast his tunic to the side and took a step closer to her. She took a step back. He steps closer and she steps back and finds the bed behind her. He rather liked how she looked a bit vulnerable in her undergarments. He could hear her heart beating hard below her firm breast. He could see the shimmer of moisture that has formed on the swells of her lush flesh as she breathes and all he can think about is tasting the salt of her skin.

He pressed against her. His arm slides around her pulling her in closely. His finger tips press to the curve of her chin and he tilts her head back just enough for his lips to easily meet hers. His kisses were hungry and lusty. The softness of the bed seemed to appear under her. His hands however were firm upon her. Her under wear came off far too easily it seemed because before she knew it he was resting between bare thighs and his lips were trailing down her body each button of her light linen shirt undone and the flesh below kissed.

She was squirming and near coming undone by the time his lips press just above her pelvic bone and when he looked up her body all he could see was her arching and her breast lifted. adorning each one was a pebbled nipple. She was glorious like this, her lust in bloom. Soft thighs quivered the lower his lips traveled.

Her whole trembled as she dug her heels in and pushed and wiggled back on the bed. Haldir grabbed her hips and pulled her back in close. Her gasps and cries began to fill the room with their song. 'She is beautiful and mine.' he thought as she grabbed his hair and curled her fingers into it. Her toes curl and her hips squirm.

He wanted to have all of her, right then and there. body and soul he wanted her. Their union made it harder for him to reel in his fea. He had promised her 10 years to make her choice. The temptation to hold her gaze was far to great like this. He pushed himself back and guided her to her belly. His hands grasp her hips and he pulls them up . She moans and seeks him. Shifting her hips and pressing back.

He was more than happy to comply. He melted down over her uplifted backside. The length of his muscular body lay against her with the last few thrusts of his hips. Her whimpers and the shivering of her body under him was just the frosting on top.

Pushing up he looked down on her. Golden hair in a mess, strands of it clinging to the moisture on her face. Looking utterly spent and aglow with it. He lay beside her and curled an arm around her. He felt as if he were home with her no matter where they were as long as they were together.