The sun found Laurelin the next morning when she awoke propped up against an old oak tree. She had slept there that night, too angry to return to the camp. When she awoke she thought she saw a figure through her fatigue-ridden eyes. She soon realized that Eldarion was standing close by, gazing into the dawn. He turned and smiled wearily.
"Good morning," He said softly, "Rolen and I were worried for you when you didn't return last night so we went searching for you."
Laurelin sat up, stretching and tucking her short black hair behind her ears, "You mean Rolen was worried for me," She answered standing and rubbing her back, "You were worried losing another one of your soldiers," She started to walk away.
"That is not what I meant and you know -" Eldarion began harshly than stopped himself before he went any farther, "Morwen, we need to come to an understanding, before we kill each other."
Laurelin stopped. She knew, to her annoyance, that the Prince was right, "Very well then," She answered scornfully, "You are right," She turned and walked back to where the Prince was.
Laurelin sat beside the Prince, inwardly scolding her self for coming back, but a curiosity bit at her about what the son of Elessar would say.
"We must try not lose our tempers with each other so quickly. That is what leads us to quarrels," He said holding up one finger in front of her as if she could not count.
"Secondly," Laurelin said before Prince Eldarion could add it, "You mustn't criticize me so much. I despise that."
"I can believe that," Prince Eldarion said with a chuckle, "Thirdly, you must leave some matters up to me. No matter how logical your explanation might be, sometimes some things are best left up to those with more experience." Eldarion said looking over at her, "Do you think we can live by that system?" He asked.
Laurelin thought over his arguments. They were good, she had to admit, and did make sense. They could succeed in keeping them from getting into too many fights.
Prince Eldarion stuck out his hand, "Do we have a deal?" He asked.
Laurelin took his hand and shook it timidly, as if trying to weigh his trustworthiness by the weight of his hand. Then when she seemed surer of her decision, she shook it more confidently.
"Yes," She answered, "Yes your highness I do believe we have a deal."
They stood, "I fear though, your highness," She said with the beginnings of a reluctant smile stretching across her face, "I will find it very hard to live by this the first few days, especially after being around you for so long."
The Prince laughed. A clear laugh, true in its intent, "I believe you may be right Morwen, you may be right," he answered, "Now, we had best be getting back to Rolen. He will be wondering where we are,"
The mountains were grey with afternoon by the time the threesome had reached the root of the mountains. The overcast sky made the travelers weary and silent. A desolate mood had settled upon the day. Even Rolen, who was usually lighthearted with a jest upon his lips, was quiet in the unstable hush of twilight.
They set up camp by the very edge of the mountains. After eating a frugal meal of leftover rabbit meat and cabbage, they settled about the fire. Laurelin lay on her back by the crackling flames, counting the stars. Rolen and the Prince sat nearby discussing Rolen's warfare experience, waiting for the evening chill to roll over them.
Suddenly a sound caught the maid's ears and sent a shiver up her back. It could have been the wind, but she knew it was not. It was too deep and ill meant to be the wind. Laurelin sat up, her body tense. It was a howl; an animal scream.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice dipped with fear and alarm.
Rolen and the Prince stopped talking and looked over at her.
"Hear what?" The Prince inquired.
"That sound. Like a wail or something," She answered.
They sat silent for a moment listening. Nothing out of the ordinary could be heard.
"The wind makes awful noises in the cracks an' creases of the moun'ain. You, most like, jest 'eard that." Rolen offered.
"No," Laurelin answered abruptly, "It couldn't have been."
"Morwen," The Prince said, trying to reason with her, "Rolen is probably right. The wind would make a sound like an animal in the crevices of the mountain."
Laurelin felt her insides still. Maybe they were right; no earthly creature could make that sound. Her muscles relaxed and she breathed slower now. Yes, why wouldn't they be right? They had been about the country more than she and they would know these things. Laurelin shrugged.
"Yes," she said, "You're right. Most like, it was just the wind."
She lay back down and slowly began to fall asleep. However, a feeling in her belly told her that something was still not quite right. She ignored the instinct and fell asleep.
The next morning, they began to slowly trudge up the mountains. The white light of dawn doused the travelers in an early sweat, cooling them off for the day to come. The Prince led them, then Rolen and at last Laurelin brought up the rear. It had been cool in the deep shades of the forest. Now they traveled open and in way of the sun. The heat of day descended upon them like a winter blanket, heavy and suffocating.
Laurelin was glad she wore no armor. The beautiful gleaming mail shirts had become a burden to the two men.
"Oh," complained the Prince, "If only I could get rid of this blasted chain mail."
"Aye sire," Answered Rolen, "I be of the same mind."
They paused to rest toward midday, the sun climbing higher and the air getting hotter. They all sat beneath the shade of a lone elm, the men red-faced and panting. Laurelin could not help but wish to laugh. She chuckled lightly.
"And what, may I ask, is so amusing?" Prince Eldarion inquired of her.
Laurelin felt a bubble of laughter escape her lips.
"You and Rolen," she answered, "You look like a pair of overworked mules."
Rolen chuckled, "I believe she is right sire."
The prince sat indignantly until a traitorous smile ran across his lips, "Yes, I believe so Morwen. Yet," Prince Eldarion continued, picking a dandelion from the ground and twirling it around in his fingers, "You, yourself, liken to a crebain." He grinned.
Laurelin self-consciously tucked a strand of her short-cropped hair behind her ear. She had seen crebain before. Like crows and ravens at the same time. She probably did look like one now considering how much she had changed in the past few weeks. She probably looked nothing like the girl she was back in Rohan. Laurelin smiled.
"Considering we'll be in the mountains for a long time to come," Laurelin continued, "I believe we shall fit in with the scenery perfectly,"
"Oh aye lass, I can believe that," replied Rolen.