Morwen turned to face her cousin, surprised by how close he had suddenly come. Halmir seemed indifferent to the nearness of Thengel's sister and guard who were each poised to intercept him if necessary.
She backed away until she felt the solid line of Thengel's body behind her. His arm held her waist and she felt somehow less exposed, though the relief she found in his presence turned out to be short-lived.
The commotion in the yard had attracted more of Halmir's men, as if smelling trouble the way hounds scented blood. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Guthere and Thurstan appear from the paddock. They each looked grim as they surveyed the tableau before them.
Halmir's dark eyes shifted between Morwen and Thengel with a mix of contempt and curiosity. "I should give Hundor more credit for his reconnaissance skills," he drawled. "Even I did not quite credit that you were ensconced with Prince Thengel in your bedroom this morning and yet there seems to be no end to your familiarity with one another."
As if to make his meaning clear, he eyed Thengel's arm. Morwen winced, then found Hundor in the crowd. He smirked at her, then shrugged.
"Well, and so this is your choice, Morwen?" Halmir held up his other hand as she tried to reply. "Hold. Before you go on, hear this. I have not been idle since you left for Minas Tirith, in more ways than one. We'll call it something of an investigation." He held up the first letter, which had arrived with the courier. "I have some unfortunate news about your fortunate favorite."
Morwen glared at her cousin, feeling an itch in her fingers to snatch away the offending letter, whatever it contained. Dread flowed through her veins like ice water. Just what had he found and how much trouble would he cause Thengel?
"Whatever it is, I'm not in the least curious," she lied.
Halmir ignored her, glancing down at the paper in his hand. "I suppose an exiled prince is still a prince in name, if not in, ahem, honor." He smirked at them. "Do you know what drove Prince Thengel into exile?"
Halmir's expression morphed into a condescending frown when she refused to answer. "How could you, Morwen, secluded as you are in Imloth Melui? Although now you seem to be using that seclusion to your advantage," he intoned. "Did he tell you about his past in those intimate moments you've spent with him?"
Morwen felt herself blushing. It really was too much to expect that Hundor would behave himself for once! "I don't know what you mean, Halmir," she answered with difficulty. Her heart raced in her chest and she found it hard to concentrate. "There's nothing…"
"Did he?" Halmir pressed.
Morwen was forced to look at Thengel over her shoulder. He stood proudly but his eyes seemed veiled as he listened to Halmir.
"You haven't told her what you threatened to do in the king's hall?" Halmir gloated, shifting his attention to Thengel. "Shall I?"
"Halmir, don't," Morwen barked, having now enough of an idea about the contents of the letter from what little Thengel had told her of his past. "It's none of my business or yours."
Halmir turned the letter around for her to see the scrawl of ink. The letters blended together into meaningless nothings to her eyes. "He threatened to put the king's head on a pike." He grinned as a murmur instantly rose among the crowd.
Morwen cursed him for his knack for sensational announcements. She hated to see Halmir humiliating Thengel, even if the prince had meant to direct all the bad behavior toward himself.
"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped. "You're only making a fool of yourself."
Thengel's arm tightened around her waist. "Morwen," she heard him murmur in her ear.
"Is that not true?" Halmir demanded, looking past her again to Thengel.
"No," Thengel replied evenly.
She felt herself relax against him. Of course the accusation was ridiculous. Thengel would never do something so inhuman.
Halmir waved the paper in the air. "Well, this letter says otherwise. Am I to believe that the Steward's chamberlain is an unreliable witness? A man present on the day the Steward received Marshal Oswin's testimony and application for Prince Thengel's asylum?"
Slowly, Thengel turned Morwen to face him, gently gripping her shoulders. The yard had grown so quiet as everyone strained to listen that she could hear the gravel crunching under her boots. For a moment her eyes locked eyes with Wynflaed's and she startled when the shieldmaiden turned away. Paling, Morwen met Thengel's gaze. His eyes were clear but hard; the veil had fallen from his eyes and they pierced her.
"You don't have to answer him," she whispered.
"No, Morwen, let's be clear," Thengel told her. "I threatened to hang Fengel's head from the stockade encircling Edoras where everyone could see it as they rode by until the crows picked it apart," he said coldly, though Morwen was shocked to detect a certain note of relish too as they regarded one another. "I never considered a pike."
"A technicality," she heard Halmir hoot.
Thengel shot a jaundiced glare over her shoulder, but if it hit the mark Halmir remained insensible to it. The prince's admission served only to puff him up further.
"I want you to see this man in full, Morwen," Halmir continued. "What sort of person threatens to kill his king? His own father, no less?"
Halmir had meant for the letter to strike a cord in Morwen and it worked. She stepped away from Thengel, his arm falling away as if she had scalded him with her dismay. She couldn't imagine saying such a thing to the Steward - it would've been impossible to threaten her own father.
Thengel had threatened king and father.
She felt bewildered. When Thengel had described the event that had led to his exile on their walk to Anorian's well, he had understated the situation. He had disrespected the king. Threat of regicide and disrespect did not belong in the same category, to her mind. Morwen had been led to feel that his father had overreacted, had wronged him in sending him away. Yet it had been a mercy of sorts.
Or King Fengel's reputation failed to live up to reality, a part of her rallied. Nobody could behave like that without provocation. Could they? Thengel's father sounded like a torment, even from the little Wynflaed mentioned about him. When Morwen caught Thengel's eyes hoping to find answers, he somehow managed to look defiant and ashamed at the same time.
"Do you still wish to choose him now that you know what he is?" Halmir asked her. "Or is he content merely to use you as his slut before he runs back to Rohan?"
Morwen's skin burned inside and out as if Halmir had blasted her with fire. And just what had Halmir planned for her? The base hypocrisy left her stunned.
"Mind your tongue," Thengel growled, "or I'll have you and your brother for slandering a lady's name."
"You've overstayed your welcome, horse lord," Halmir shot back, unconcerned. "Go back to Minas Tirith."
Morwen bristled, turning back to face her cousin even as he crowed in triumph. "Don't forget yourself, Halmir," she told him, "Prince Thengel is my guest and you have no right to send him anywhere."
Halmir scoffed. "This man is a traitor to his country, you little fool. Is he worth ruining yourself for? How hard was it for him to override your principles? Not very difficult, I wager."
Morwen hazarded a sideways glance at Thengel. As she watched him watching Halmir, she felt surprised by the sudden fire in his expression, where he had been cold before. Although Halmir's letter had temporarily derailed him, he was rallying anew. That gave her courage and reminded her of another truth.
Morwen surprised both men by slipping her hand into Thengel's, holding it fast.
"Halmir, remember that Thengel is the Steward's friend and Captain Ecthelion's lieutenant, whatever his past might be. They wouldn't associate with him if he was the malefactor you're trying to paint him," she reminded her cousin.
Halmir stared at her in surprise. "Are you deaf? He admitted—"
"This is my house, Halmir. You're the one overstepping yourself."
"You are not mistress of this house, stubborn, foolish girl," Halmir seethed. Even his curls seemed to shake with anger at Morwen's open defiance. "Remember, I'm regent!"
"Do you have that right?" Thengel challenged. He spoke soft and slow so Halmir had to strain to hear him. "You're being careless with semantics." He held her hand against his chest, the better to give Halmir an easy view of it. "My history is public knowledge, easily discoverable," Thengel continued carelessly, "but I think you dislike that you've lost the key to your fortune." He smiled unpleasantly. "You know, I could get used to this valley. Morwen and I will be very happy here."
"You can't stay here forever," Halmir said through clenched teeth. "Have you considered that, Morwen?"
Thengel shrugged. "King Fengel might live for another twenty or thirty years, give or take. I suggest you find another wood for your ambition. Ithilien perhaps? Turgon thought you might be interested when I mentioned your predicament to him."
Halmir shook with poorly concealed rage, sputtering, "Ithilien!"
It was like watching two ships collide in the harbor, Morwen thought. She couldn't look away while Thengel slowly wheedled and goaded Halmir into a frothing rage.
"You may not be the man that Hardang was," Thengel continued. Halmir flinched at the mention of his brother's name. "But you'll find Ecthelion a fair captain. He accepts people for what they are; in your case, orc bait."
Halmir rushed Thengel who dropped Morwen's hand and spun her behind him with dizzying speed before he received a backhanded blow to the jaw. The smack of flesh mingled with Morwen's gasp, echoing through the yard. The prince's head barely moved on impact, though his cheek blazed red. Halmir raised his hand to strike again, but Thengel caught his arm in a grip that shocked the weaker man.
Thengel's lips curled into a grin of victory. Halmir seemed to shrink beneath the reckless fury behind the expression, confused by the swift reversal that had occurred just as he felt the surest of victory.
"I am Thengel Thrice Renowned," the prince said proudly, as if the shame he had exhibited at first had been but little more than a show. Here was a man who knew himself, the good and the bad, and had risen to meet it with an embrace. "I've bested uglier vermin than you, Halmir Hatholson and now you owe me satisfaction."
"Satisfaction?" Halmir parroted. His face drooped in surprise.
To the side, Cenhelm made a strangled sound before being hushed by Wynflaed.
"Do you retract what you've said about Lady Morwen?" Thengel challenged.
"Never," Halmir spat. "You made her a slut, not me."
Thengel twisted Halmir's arm. "You'll answer for that lie and all the mischief you've done to Lady Morwen and the orchard. Choose your second."
"M-my what?" Halmir bent at the knees as the pain in his arm increased. "Augh!"
Morwen stared at Thengel, stunned as if witnessing a falcon in the dive. She tugged on his sleeve. "Please, Thengel…"
Thengel shrugged her off, his eyes never leaving Halmir's face. "Your second, Halmir, in a trial by combat. According to the ancient customs of Gondor, you owe me satisfaction after dishonoring me with a blow and to pay for your unflattering words and trespassing on Lady Morwen's property," Thengel stated. "Wynflaed will stand in as my squire."
"Hurrah for me." Wynflaed gave Halmir a grin that had turned doughtier men's bowels to water.
Halmir's eyes raked the yard full of his supporters, perhaps looking for the first one to stand in his defense. His followers, Morwen's household, the prince's men, had all witnessed Halmir strike the prince without physical provocation and he received quarter from no one.
"A duel….t-to the death?" Halmir stammered.
Thengel glowered at Halmir as if he were a malodorous dog. "Customarily, as you have dishonored my royal person, yes."
"What!" Morwen cried.
Thengel glanced at her sideways then focused on Halmir again. "But for the lady's sake and in memory of similar mercy, we will fight till one opponent yields. Name your second."
"Someone's got to clean up the ribbons when Thengel's done with you," Wynflaed quipped.
Halmir's eyes nearly rolled into his head as if he might faint at any moment. He had turned pale and only seemed to stand upright because Thengel had him by the arm still. Morwen felt oddly sick to see him so greatly reduced from the puffed up cockerel to this quivering mass. How quickly he dissolved into panic once Thengel turned the table on him!
"H-Hundor," he finally managed.
Halmir's younger brother did not look happy to be chosen as second. He shrugged before stalking deeper into the sea of bodies, abandoning his brother.
"Fine. These two will name the time and place," said Thengel. "In the meantime, I suggest you find a sword."
Halmir's eyes bugged from his head. "Sword! I won't. I'll only agree to a hand fight."
Thengel dropped Halmir's arm as if it belonged to an orc. "You aren't in a position to negotiate, lordling. You've recklessly accused Lady Morwen and myself, which you will answer for in this trial. Find a sword unless you'd rather forfeit now and withdraw from Imloth Melui?"
"Never!" Halmir tripped away from Thengel, seeking safety on the far side of the yard where his men were tightly clustered. His bravado rallied in proportion to the distance between him and his rival. "You can't accuse me without a judge and jury."
"The sword will serve for both."
"And if you win, what then?" Halmir shouted.
"Then you leave Bar-en-Ferin immediately, apologize for slander, drop your suit for Morwen's hand — oh, and pay a fine for the destruction you wrought here."
"And you get her and the orchard then, is that it?"
Thengel crossed his arms. "That's the idea."
"But—"
"And if I win?" Halmir asked over Morwen interjection.
Thengel gave him a slanted smile that reminded Morwen of Wynflaed. "It'll be a cold July in Harad."
An animal sound tore from Halmir's throat as he hastily exited the yard for the tents. His followers didn't linger long, most of them wandering under the trees to discuss the prospect of future entertainment between Lady Morwen's rivals.
…
"Oh, is that Teitherion coming up the road? I just recalled I have something particular to say to him. Step along, Nanneth. We're taking the long way home today. Goodbye, Lady Morwen!"
Morwen registered Midhel's words with a pang as the two old women crossed the empty yard toward the road. The whole valley would know about the story of the prince's challenge in full before suppertime. She saw Gildis and Hareth duck back into the house, leaving Morwen alone with the Rohirrim. An eerie silence filled the yard.
She flinched in surprise as another grin spread over Thengel's face even while he rubbed his bruised cheek.
"That went well," he congratulated himself as if insensible to the mood around him. He clapped her on the shoulder. "Didn't I say he'd do something stupid before long?"
"Don't tell me you're pleased," she gasped. By his sudden good mood, Morwen half suspected he had planned for the afternoon to pass in just this manner! But that was nonsense. Surely.
"Of course," he answered. "He surprised me with that letter, I admit, but it did make things simpler in the end. Béma bless your cousin's short fuse."
"If you say so," she answered in a brittle tone, "but what put such an idea into your head?"
"You know," he said happily, "Halmir gave me the idea."
Morwen looked askance. "He did?" That didn't sound like Halmir at all!
"After I helped him to a drink from your rain barrel he threatened to call me out." Thengel laughed, a grim bark. "As if he had a right. But Gondor's honor codes have turned out to be quite useful."
"Thengel," she breathed, as suspicion clouded her mind. "Do you mean to say you always intended to challenge Halmir?"
A shadow fell between them as Wynflaed approached. "I've seen that tactic used more than once," she interrupted, "but never by you, Thengel."
A current seemed to pass between the brother and sister, the cause of which Morwen could not guess.
"Tactic?" Morwen asked.
Wynflaed glanced at her. "Setting a trap and then baiting Halmir to fall into it. It's a family gift." She pretended to pick off a piece of dry skin from around her fingernail. "As far as coordinated efforts go, you both did well."
Coordinated effort? Morwen hadn't meant for this to happen! She'd only wanted to stand up to Halmir for once.
"It's useful, isn't it?" Wynflaed continued as she gave Thengel a pointed look. "Especially for getting rid of competition."
"Wynflaed, hush," Thengel warned.
The shieldmaiden shrugged. "For better or for worse, we are our father's children."
Thengel looked stunned by the comparison. "This is not the same thing," he answered.
"Suit yourself." Wynflaed shrugged again. "I half hope he finishes you off so I can have a crack at him."
Morwen listened to this exchange, feeling her forehead begin to throb. Is that how Fengel had managed to rid himself of his son's presence? By verbally whipping his son into a frenzy in front of witnesses until Thengel compromised himsefl? Morwen felt sick, imagining the scenario she had just witness but between a king and Thengel at Gundor's age.
She brushed past the brother and sister to go into the house, feeling horrified by her own participation in the things to come and only just beginning to grasp the enormity of it. The long room stood empty. Vaguely, Morwen wondered where Gildis had spirited away Beleg and the rest.
Thengel caught up with her just inside the door. "Are you alright? You don't seem pleased."
She whirled round on him. "Pleased! Should I be?"
Thengel closed the door behind him and looked at her with an odd expression. "Well, yes."
Morwen paced deeper into the room, stopping at the hearth, seeking whatever residual comfort remained from her parents' chairs. What would they say if they knew what had transpired in their home? And what would her father think about his favorite nephew facing off with the Prince of Rohan? And she had helped bring about the duel! In ignorance, admittedly, but still. She wanted justice and for Halmir to answer for what he had done to her home, but did she want it with the possibility of blood? Thengel's blood?
She heard Thengel's footfalls following and she turned to face him.
"Your cheek is still red where he hit you," she pointed out. "I'm sorry, Thengel, but I'm not pleased that we've incited Halmir to violence and then helped you invited more of it."
"Morwen, don't you see that with this course we can settle the question of Halmir's encroachment in one morning?" he reasoned. "We may not even need Ferneth now."
"That's all very convenient," she retorted, stung by another point. "And so you thought you'd just throw me in there too, to be settled between the pair of you in one morning?"
Thengel stilled, resting his hand on the back of her mother's chair. "What do you mean?"
Morwen gestured to the horn that had rematerialized over the fireplace since she'd last thrown it at him. "Your disguise. Did I not just hear myself parceled out to the winner along with the property?"
Thengel crossed his arms. "Morwen, he isn't going to win."
Morwen fought the urge to throw the horn at him again as he completely missed the point. "Somebody's going to win," she nearly growled. "And someone's going to believe that this gift was in earnest. Then what?"
"We talked about this last night." He shrugged. "Does it matter what people believe?"
"Yes! Midhel is out there right now spreading the word. Someone's going to hold us to it." She inhaled sharply, thinking of word traveling as far as Minas Tirith. "Thengel, what were you thinking?"
"I'm sorry," he retorted, voice brittle. "When you asked me to help, you weren't specific."
"Because I never thought you'd choose to do something as reckless as challenge Halmir to a duel!" she cried.
"Reckless! Young woman—"
"Yes, reckless and dangerous." Morwen said, holding her ground. But then she pressed her hands to her cheeks. "I shouldn't have asked you to come back here. You could get killed or worse!"
"What's worse than killed?"
Morwen ignored him. "Oh stars. This is not what I had in mind at all!" she said to herself.
He scowled as he watched her pace the length of the deerskin rug. "You overestimate your cousin's chances, Morwen."
"And what if you're underestimating him?"
"No fear," he sneered. "Besides, what happens to me is my business."
"It's going to be mine too if you get killed acting as my champion. Just what will I owe Rohan then?"
The doors opened. Morwen reached for a poker in case Halmir appeared to rush Thengel and start the duel early, though which man she intended to hit with it, she couldn't clearly decide. Perhaps both! But Cenhelm appeared instead, Wynflaed following close behind. Morwen replaced the poker rather than provoke Thengel's guards. She could imagine they were as uneasy about this development as she was.
Cenhelm barely made it inside the door before he unstrapped the sheathed sword from his waist and handed it to Thengel. His men followed and looked startled by their captain's actions.
"What is this?" Thengel asked.
Cenhelm bowed his head. "Prince Thengel, it is clear that I have failed in my duty as your protector. I'm surrendering the sword Marshal Oswin imparted to me."
"Cenhelm, put your sword away," Thengel ordered contemptuously, thrusting it back at his guard.
"My one task was to keep you safe," Cenhelm answered gravely. "I can't seem to guarantee that even in the peaceful land of Lossarnach when you rush headlong into every danger." He glanced quickly at Morwen and she felt his blame. "It is clear that I am incompetent and unworthy of the charge placed on me."
Thengel looked stunned. "Don't be a fool," he groused after a pause. "I won't accept your resignation."
Wynflaed took Cenhelm's sword away from Thengel and threaded her arm through the unfortunate guard's when it looked like he would argue his case. "Come along, Cenhelm, I want to speak to you."
Thurstan and Guthere watched the whole exchange with inscrutable expressions. Thurstan chose to follow Cenhelm and Wynflaed out, but Guthere slipped into the kitchen.
"Poor Cenhelm," she breathed.
Morwen received an irritated look from Thengel. "Wynflaed will talk him down."
"Yes, she's good at that," Morwen muttered. "I wish she would talk you down instead."
"Why?" he said with an irritated expression. "This is just the boon we needed."
Morwen's mind reeled. Had he lost his grasp of basic Westron? Surely he didn't mean what he'd just said. Surely. And yet, she detected actual traces of satisfaction in the curl of his lip and the keenness in his eyes.
"Thengel, thank you for all your help. I think you mean well, but this is a bad situation." Morwen reached for his arm, bunching his sleeve in her fingers. "Please, can't you call it off?"
"Call it off?" He seemed to finally register the anxiety creasing her eyes and mouth. "Morwen, what's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with me?" she cried. "You're going to fight my cousin! Did you expect me to leap for joy?"
"Perhaps," he retorted. "I certainly did not expect you to take his part."
She gaped at him for a long moment. Bloodlust in the heat of anger was one thing, but to contemplate it in the cold light of day? She shivered. Blood wouldn't erase what had happened. It would only compound it.
"I'm not taking his part," she finally answered, "but what makes you think that I would approve of this?"
"He has to answer for his behavior," Thengel told her sharply. "King's rules."
"Which king?"
"It doesn't matter which," he groused. "Can't you see it's a matter of honor, Morwen?"
"Honor!" She wanted to shake him. Of course he would be thinking of the letter first and foremost. "He can't blacken your name to me. You have nothing to prove. I know you're a good man, no matter what happened in your youth."
Thengel looked incredulous. "Morwen, I'm not talking about what happened in Edoras. I mean the language Halmir uses against you, every ugly word since we arrived here. He's not the first person to bring up my father and he won't be the last. I can take it. But he has no respect for you. He'd use you the way he's using this orchard. It's time someone taught him some regard."
Morwen tightened her grip on his sleeves, making him look at her. "Listen, Thengel, my value has never depended on Halmir's opinion and I don't think it's a lesson he'll learn from a sword."
Thengel's brows dipped low of his eyes like storm clouds. "No? Well I am not going to stand by while he rakes your name through the mud, whether he's teachable or not," he said tersely, not giving ground. "What about the orchard then? Look at the marks on your arm. You think he should get away with that too? Don't you see that this way he'll have to answer for his force on you without judge and jury?"
She pressed her lips together in a firm line, unable to trust herself to answer.
Thengel's eyes widened in disbelief when she didn't jump to take his part. "You can't be serious." He backed away from her, but since she still held his sleeves he only managed to tow her with him. "Just two days ago you wanted to run him through with trowel!"
"Yes, and sensibly you stopped me." She jabbed him in the chest with her finger. "What is it you told me about no one dying? Suppose you kill him or he kills you?"
"It's not a fight to the death, Morwen," he reminded her, jerking his arms away. "All he has to do is yield."
"You can't guarantee that!" She took a deep breath. "What if you're injured? He's not a farmhand and neither are you. What would be the fallout? I agree with Cenhelm. It's foolish."
"Morwen, look at the harm he's done, that he means to do?"
"Fighting won't bring the trees back. Please, Thengel. Not everything can be solved with blows."
His hands rested on his hips as he frowned at her. "Quite a lot can, actually."
She huffed and bowed her head. So it wasn't the best argument to give a warrior of his stature, she acknowledged. Yet she believed that Thengel was being especially obstinate and she simply couldn't understand why.
"What did you tell me about leaving Halmir to the Steward's justice?" she asked.
"I am the Steward's justice," he told her coolly.
Morwen barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. "I'm not going to be responsible for the injury or death of the crown Prince of Rohan. Please, Thengel, we can think of something other than a brawl until Ferneth comes."
His expression twisted with disgust. "It's not a brawl, it's a duel. They're completely different."
Morwen failed to appreciate how they were different. Where reason failed, how were fists or swords an improvement? "Can't you see this is taking the Thunor charade a bit far?"
Thengel expression closed to her like shutters over a window. "I can't believe we're arguing about this," he groused. "Halmir doesn't deserve your concern. He's a worm."
"I'm not concerned about Halmir, but I am concerned about you. It's reckless, especially for a man in your position and it's more than I have a right to ask of you."
"I'm not standing by when he has so much to answer for," he swore.
"A few slights aren't worth fighting over."
"Slights?" he repeated as his eyes blazed. "Morwen, Halmir treats you like you're nothing."
"Most of Halmir's accusations weren't true! Why are you so eager to defend my name?"
He surprised her by cupped her face in his hands. Without thinking, she leaned in. "Because I—"
"Excuse me, Lady Morwen?"
Neither of them had heard the housekeeper enter the hall. Thengel's hands dropped away from Morwen like stones. She had to crane her neck around Thengel's shoulders to see in the direction of the kitchen door. She never felt so unhappy to see Gildis in her life. When she glanced back at Thengel, he had already drawn back into himself. Whatever reason he might have given, the opportunity to hear it had passed.
Morwen hugged her arms to her chest, feeling shaken and angry. "What is it?" she snapped.
Gildis sniffed, affronted by Morwen's tone. "It's Teitherion. He claims he's brought a betrothal gift."
"We don't want it," Morwen groaned. "Send him away, Gildis. Whatever you have to do."
"It isn't for you. It's for Hareth." Gildis glanced covertly at Prince Thengel. "And Guthere. I thought you should know since it's a pair of goats and the horse barn's full. Where do you want them?"
What! When had that happened?
"Morwen, just what's been going on here since I left?" Thengel growled.
That was the last straw. Morwen raised her hands between them like a buffer. "Don't you dare blame me!"
Then she fled the hall.
AN: Happy birthday, lightsofkeziah! ;)