Murtagh took a week to reach Gil'ead to find out where and how the eggs had been stolen. The guards told the strangest of stories of how they didn't see anyone suspicious going in or out and that we they heard something in the cupboard how they had to break down the door and when they got in that they heard a 'pop' sound and that no one was in there when they opened it up.
He left Gil'ead and set off down the road in the direction of the easiest way to get to the Varden, if that was where he assumed it was being taken. He headed to the villages by the Ramr River.
Rachel walked down the road to the small village. Jömudur had left to Ceunon with the eggs and went to the elves to collect the sword Naegling last week and had departed company for a while. Until, that is, they saw each other again back at the camp when they got back different ways to Feinster.
At this moment she was walking down a road away from a little village she had passed by so they could not interrogate her reasons for traveling alone. So far no one had passed or stopped by to ask her where or why she was travelling alone down the road. It was only a matter of time though for she could evade the people and questions for so long.
Hearing horse's foot falls, she walked slowly on the side of the rode and hoped whoever it was would just pass her by. Then the sound stopped, it seemed, near to her.
Just keep calm, she thought, keep calm and carry on.
"Excuse me," said a low male voice. Rachel looked up to see a young man with dark brown almost shoulder length hair that dipped in front of his grey eyes. "I was wondering if you needed a companion for you journey?"
She looked in front as she answered him. "Exactly why would you think I need a companion?"
He looked at her curiously. "You're a woman alone- all sorts of dangerous people could try and take advantage of you."
"And what makes you assume that I can't handle them?" she asked looking back at him.
"I'm not saying you can't but you might not recognise that they're bad at the time."
She paused and pondered his answer. "Are you a bad person?" she asked.
He looked into her blue eyes and said, "I probably am."
"Finally," she said in a laughing voice. "Someone who tells the truth."
"I tell the truth?" he asked her as she started walking along the side of the road again.
"Everyone assumes that they are doing the right thing. It's refreshing to meet someone critical of themselves," she replied.
He pondered her answer and then laughed with her as they walked along the road together with his hands on the reins of his horse walking, in horse terms, next to them. "Yes I guess you're right… So are you allowing me to accompany you?" he asked.
She stopped for a bit and looked at him again. "What's his name?" asked Rachel gesturing to the horse.
"His name is Tornac," he replied.
"That's a good name," she stated, smiling. "And what's yours?"
"Murtagh," he explained as he dropped his head to the ground as he wished he was someone else. "My name is Murtagh."
"That's a good name," she said looking at the trees covered in amber light ahead.
"It is?" he asked. "I never liked it to be honest." She giggled lightly at this news. "And what's yours, may I ask?"
"You've already asked," she pointed out. "My name is Rachel and I never thought much of it either."
He looked at her for a while. "It's pretty," he said in a friendly tone that he hadn't used in a while.
"What is?" she asked looking back at where he had stopped.
"Your name, it's pretty," he explained to her. "It fits with you."
She blushed as she realised what he was saying. "Now I'm not sure if I should trust you- You're lying," Rachel explained when she saw his confused expression on his face.
"I'm not lying," he said as he defended his earlier words to the girl.
"Thank you Murtagh," she said looking him in his deep grey eyes again.
"You're welcome, Rachel," he replied.
"Well then," she said as they stood at the side of the road together. "Murtagh I would be glad of the company," she said and they set of down the road together, again.