Laurelin felt as though she was floating. White clouds seemed to surround her as she felt herself fly over the earth. She looked down below her at the mortals below. Everyone was fighting and killing; orcs, men, elves, dwarves, all of them. Though they were all as different as anything they still all held a common bond, they had to share this Middle Earth together."Morwen, please." Came Eldarion's voice into her dream, "You must wake up,"

The blue began to fade then, along with the rest of the dream. The black began to drink Laurelin again back into its warm dark arms.

Something wet was dragged across her forehead. The moisture soaked into her parched skin that burned with pain. It hurt so much. Laurelin struggled to open her eyes.

"What, where am I?" She asked, trying to command her eyelids to open.

"You're in the sick tent, well a sick tent. We managed to get you a private one." Came Kale's voice.

Laurelin managed to open her eyes a slit. It was morning; the sun was riding low in the east, its golden rays cascading through the tent door, spraying upon Kale's fair head. He was so different from Eldarion it was almost comical that two such men would be friends, much less related.

"What were you thinking anyway running into that tent?" Kale inquired with a grin.

Laurelin chuckled softly but it hurt to laugh, "I don't know. What happened to me?"

Kale leaned back in his chair, "When you ran into that burning tent, someone saw you and ran after you. You got quite a bad knock on the head, though. Then, much to our surprise and relief, who should come up upon our attacked and burning camp but the Silvan Elf company we were expecting a few days from now! The orcs were defeated, and we had to fight for your own sick tent! Eldarion should be back in a bit. I told him to go get some rest. He's barely left your side."

Laurelin smiled softly, just as the tent flap was thrown open. Eldarion walked in, his hair was combed in place and it looked as though he had shaved.

"Good," Laurelin thought with a grin, "He was beginning to look like a bear."

"You're awake!" Eldarion said smiling and closing the flap door.

"Yes, your highness" Laurelin said, trying to sit up a bit in bed, "Just barely."

"Well that's good, because I was just talking with the leader of that second company. He informed me that the captains are to meet tomorrow to talk of strategies. Do you believe you will be well enough to attend?" Eldarion asked walking over to her bedside.

"Yes, I believe I shall be well by then," Laurelin replied rubbing her head as if trying to brush away the ache.

"Good, I must be going now," Eldarion said smiling weakly at her, "I must see to the other men,"

And with that he left.

"Man of few words," Kale said pouring her a cup of water, "He's always been that way. Even as a child."

Laurelin grinned at the thought of Eldarion as a child. It was almost impossible to imagine him running about, pretending to be off on great adventures, catching frogs and butterflies, even getting in trouble. Little Eldarion must have been quite a character to have few words for those activities; she knew she never had had enough.

Kale handed her the cup with the water and she drank it greedily.

"Who is the leader of this third Company of elves?" She asked looking up at Kale.

"Oh, he's interesting, as far as elves go. From Mirkwood, I believe. He's serious, but nothing like Eldarion in that sense."

"Just what we needed; another statue." Laurelin said with a smile.

Kale chuckled loudly.

Kale walked out of Morwen's tent into the mid morning sun. He had been told that she must get some rest and he agreed whole-heartedly. He walked briskly down the row of tents, most of which were just scarred, charcoal remains, till he found Eldarion. He sat beneath a tree looking at a map in his hands, the breeze making the worn brown paper flutter in his hands.

"Well, your highness, how fares the company?" Kale asked coming up beside the prince and sitting beside him, his back to the trunk of the tree.

"As well as expected, cousin. It seems as though we did not lose as many as first thought, though many were injured." Eldarion said gravely.

"Yes but those injured will heal and are seething in their sick beds, wanting to get back into battle." Kale answered lightly with a chortle.

"Will you think seriously for a moment?" Eldarion said harshly looking up from his map, "Do you really believe we can build up our men's hopes in just a few short weeks time as well as their bodies? If that second legion of elves from Mirkwood does not arrive soon we shall have to leave to meet the dwarves with only two and a half companies of our own and you know that is not enough to launch an attack upon Moria."

Eldarion stood up rubbing his forehead, worry creased his brow. Kale sat silent staring at the ground.

"Something else troubles you, does it not?" Kale asked still staring at the charred gravel.

Eldarion looked up at his cousin, "What do you mean?"

Kale glanced up, "Why did you not want me to tell Morwen that it was you who saved her? We have known each other since we were children and you have never acted like this before."

Eldarion let out a loud sigh and put his back against the tree next to Kale, "I know not, it's just," He looked off into the sun.

"It's your impending matrimony with the child bride, and...Morwen, is it not?" Kale inquired.

Eldarion knelt down, rolling the map up and tying the leather strap, "If I pursue a relationship with Morwen outside of captain to captain, it may lead to something that may hurt one or both of us." He stood, tucking the map into his belt.

Kale nodded and rose to his feet, "I see." was all he could and would say on the subject.

"Now let us ready for the captain meeting on the morrow." Eldarion commented starting down the dusty road, Kale following behind and wondering where this would all lead to.