Thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoy this and more are on the way. Also, don't forget to let me know who your favorite knights are and why and I'll see what I can do. I am honestly still picking them for it is not easy to do but I would like to hear some input. I can't promise that your favorite knight's will make it though so please no flames if/when that happens. Thank you.

The talking began again, this time not as loud as before for now more were there to hear them. Gestures of defiance and purpose were traded and scowls were passed around as they decided whether to trust them, let alone if what she was telling them was true. A man from the semi circle told their guards to take them and the on listening Woads away while they discussed this. The onlookers were ushered beyond hearing and the little band was taken to a small hut and left there.

They sat there in the slate mists. Not much could be seen through shadows, though they could still see each other clearly. Slouched against the wall, they looked at her in wonderment. And why not, she chided herself, they didn't know what had been said and didn't really know what they were in for. They should have doubts, even I do! And I can see in their faces that they are confused and wanting to know why they were here. Sure enough, Aragorn's lips parted.

"What happened back there?"

"I told them what I told you, about their history; the Woads and the Elman."

"I take it they are discussing it now?"

"Yes."

"And what happens if they don't believe you?" Faramir asked attentively.

"They could kill us or have another plan for us. Either will get us nowhere." She decided to be blunt in her answer. They were seasoned warriors and the question had already been answered by them in their own minds. Why withhold the plain facts of their dire situation? Time passed slowly as they were left alone with their thoughts which were none too pleasant. She knew they had to find a way around this. Everything was counting on it. The Men, the Elf and the Wizard had all left loved ones behind and she was not willing to let it become permanent. She would not let it be so. She could not allow the suffering that she knew so well to be placed on anyone else.

Hours passed and the light had completely disappeared. Sounds could be heard from outside and then a man came through the entrance of their small hut. He went to Ilara and hauled her to her feet by pulling her upper arm. Legolas and Aragorn moved to put up a fight but she cast them a look that told them to wait and they did. She was led back to the council, now only holding two; the man called Merlin and the one who had spoken to her first.

"We have come to a decision" he informed her. "We will hear what you have to ask of us. Indeed that is your intention is it not?"

"It is. We need to take three of the Sarmatian knights with us. But as you can see we do not exactly blend in, especially the tall man in green garb. I ask, then, for help in finding some new clothes for him."

The two men looked at each other and then the same man turned to her again. "We shall help you in this, though you have to get it yourself." He almost smirked.

Ilara was confused in this and did her best to keep the appearance of how much from her face. "How is this helping me if I have to get it myself?" Bold move and probably stupid to say it as well!

"In order to get these clothes you will go with our warriors on a raid. In this way you will acquire these clothes, but you have to do it."

Ilara looked at the ground now, stunned by this. They were asking her to kill not only for clothes but for their own profit. She should have known that any help in this place would come at some price. Though she was not expecting a price this big! There was no other way though. If she did this and failed, then they would either be killed or kept. If she did this and succeeded then they were free to go on. She had no choice in the matter. She just couldn't figure out why they had chosen her specifically. They were testing her, she decided.

"Well? What is it to be?" the man demanded. His eyes were twinkling with anticipation. She looked to Merlin, who had given her a spark of hope before. Now he just gave her an almost blank stare. There would be no spark of hope this time.

"I will do what you ask." She did not meet their gazes as she answered.

"Release the others but keep an eye on them and do not let them leave" Merlin said to her guard. The other man looked at him with some shock on his face. "We can keep them from leaving, Taneir, we are helping them so why treat them as prisoners, and if they were going to leave they would not have come in search of us and have given themselves over so willingly knowing the dangers." This made Taneir's face darken in the shadows and he nodded in agreement.

The guard sent a man off to release the others before cutting her bonds. Taneir rose to his feet and stalked off. Merlin rose to his feet and stayed where he was, looking deep into her eyes. This stare was unnerving for she could almost feel him probing her mind and even down into her soul. He reached out his hand then and said "walk with me." Her eyes widened a touch. He spoke the common tongue.