Cassiah stood in her little "corner" unflinching her arms casually crossed over her stomach. Eliad did not look at her but had noticed that she was around to have listened.
"...How much did you hear?" asked Eliad.
"Only a little," mumbled Cassiah.
She calmly looked toward Eliad, knowing he wouldn't hurt her to begin with.
"Sorry...," smiled Eliad sadly, glancing towards her.
"You weren't exactly 'subtle' so could you blame me for hearing?" replied Cassiah, shrugging before giving him a smirk. "It's fine though. I don't think any less of you."
"You are...very kind, Cassie," said Eliad. "I'm glad to have met you."
"Eh...," said Cassiah. "I tend not judge a book by it's cover.
Eliad moved towards the fireplace, letting out a soft sigh.
"I chose to forget about her after I left," said Eliad. "I only wanted to remember the parents."
"Maybe it's best that you continue to forget....," said Cassiah. "Though, granted that might be difficult if she keeps showing up. But it's not just you she wants. Thus, she sticks around."
"I'm going to make sure that it would only be me that would be taken," said Eliad before taking out the letter that he kept, holding it out. "I learned the truth."
"Who says you will be taken?" asked Cassiah, snorting. "Don't always assume the worst."
"I don't want you or Aeru to be in that situation or worse," said Eliad.
Aduninzil then entered the room before sitting down in the chair, looking at them.
"Aeru doesn't care anymore; so even if it was me...," said Cassiah, shaking her head before shrugging then saying in a lower tone. "Doesn't mean I wouldn't want to protect the man regardless.
She had shut her mouth as Adun sat down. She sighed, simply staring at the woman. Eliad gritted his teeth before glancing towards Adun once again.
"What else is there to be talked about, Aduninzil?" asked Eliad.
Aduninzil gave a sickenly sweet smile and crossed her legs, resting her hands in her lap and stared back.
"Nothing...," answered Aduninzil. "Am I not allowed to enjoy this fine room?"
"When you 'enjoy' something, it's always not a good sign," said Eliad.
"Come on now...," grinned Aduninzil. "Lighten up! Not often that we have a nice family reunion."
Eliad slipped the letter into his robe again, preventing Aduninzil to ever think of questioning about it.
"Oh, sure," laughed Eliad bitterly. "It would be nicer if Father was here but... He isn't."
"You're not that important to him, but you are welcome to visit him any time!" shrugged Aduninzil, leaning back in her chair.
"Maybe I will if your 'friends' are coming with," said Eliad, turning to face Aduninzil. "I'm afraid that I'll get lost on my way." He then glanced towards Cassiah before saying, "Let's get out of here."
Cassiah didn't say anything, only walked ahead of Eliad.
"Hummm...," said Aduninzil. "I wonder how much her heart would break if she knew Aeruthuil loves her."
She had giggled afterwards. Eliad glanced forward before walking away without a word to join Cassiah. Once he was close to her, she did not look at him.
"She always shows up at the worst moments but suppose tha's the point," mumbled Cassiah.
"She's known to be like that but I'm going to make sure it will stop," said Eliad, glancing towards Cassiah.
"Like it's that easy," mumbled Cassiah, looking at Eliad.
"Didn't say that it will be...," replied Eliad.
Cassiah shut her mouth for now and shook her head, the girl looking beyond exhausted, which was common these last few days. She tugged at her gloves.
"You need to have rest...," said Eliad.
"Oi...," said Cassiah. "I'm fine."
Eliad kept his gaze on her before shaking his head.
"No, you're not...," said Eliad. "You've been exhausted these past few days, haven't you?"
"More mentally than physically," shrugged Cassiah, speaking quietly again while trying to brush it off.
Eliad, not needing to look that Aduninzil was close by, had come with a solution.
"Would you...like to get some fresh air?" asked Eliad.
"Couldn't hurt," shrugged Cassiah.
Eliad smiled a little before moving to open the door for her. As soon as she had exited, he followed her outside. Cassiah walked oer towards the fountain and faced the courtyard. Eliad moved to follow her but stood at a safe distance. Cassiah sighed, taking careful note of her surroundings, looking across the courtyard, then up to the man perched at the steps, a brow raising. Eliad had noticed this before glancing to who she was looking at.
"That one, I don't remember...," muttered Eliad. "Or even have thought to meet."
Cassiah had stood silent for a while. The man had moved to go towards the south shortly afterwards, following Aduninzil.
"Was he...following us?" muttered Cassiah.
"He's possibly Aduninzil's friend but I don't think he knows too, too much to even bother," said Eliad.
"I'm curious as to where they are going now but it could be a trap," said Cassiah lowly. "Gods, I'm getting so paranoid."
"Just stay...," said Eliad, moving to place his hand gently on her shoulder. "Just to be on the safe side."
"She makes my blood curl," mumbled Cassiah, sighing.
"You're not the only one unfortunately," said Eliad.
"I...," mumbled Cassiah, shaking her head. "She followed me yesterday, to a place where I didn't think anyone else even knew about... Well, at least few other people."
"Where was it?" asked Eliad, releasing his hand on her before stepping back. "If I may ask."
Cassiah's jaw shifted before she even answered.
"There is an old abandoned graveyard, a few leagues away from town, just as you leave the north gate..," mumbled Cassiah. "Keep going straight then take a left...and it's there. Hardly anyone is buried in that place anymore...but my Father was. Seems I can't cover my tracks at all."
Eliad glanced up as if trying to get a general idea.
"I didn't realize there was one on the way here," said Eliad. "It must've been well-hidden."
"It is...," mumbled Cassiah, nodding. "Hardly even maintained anymore... I'm usually there alone, or once in a blue moon, there will be other mourners. Older people, though. Muc older."
"I see....," said Eliad. "....Someone should help with that and fix it to where it could look better."
"Well, they don't..," shrugged Cassiah. "But that's not the point. If she can find me in a place like that... She can find anyone
Eliad glanced towards Cassiah before looking away.
"I won't let things happen to you," said Eliad. "If it would be alright, I could accompany you from now on. She...is my sister after all."
"Don't you understand?" mumbled Cassiah, shaking her head. "It's not me I'm worried about." She sighed and brushed her hair out of her face before saying, "I've been bruised enough. Doesn't make much of a difference anyways. I'd rather others be safe."
Eliad kept his gaze on her before looking away.
"I won't let anything happen to Aeru and the others as well," said Eliad. "And your friends like Miss Brynleigh. That is who you're concerned of the most, correct?"
"Never said you ad' t' do it alone, but yes," said Cassiah quietly, sighing. "Their lives are always more important than my own."
"And to think that this all started ever since the attack," said Eliad, rubbing his eyes. "Nevertheless, Aduninzil is my sister. I would wish to be the one to deal with her... Although.... What she told me was troublesome."
"She...was standing there the whole time at the graveyard and I didn't even know it," mumbled Cassiah, shaking her head before sighing. "She started...talking about my own Father, mocking the fact that he was dead. I never found out who did it...which makes me suspect even more." She cringed. "And there I go...talkin' about et'. I swore I'd never speak of et' again."
Eliad glanced towards Cassiah, tilting his head to the side.
"Do you think...that she could have done it?" asked Eliad.
"I don't have any leads, other than the fact that she is completely out of her mind, and probably would do so without needing an actual reason," muttered Cassiah, rubbing her forehead.
"That...is her unfortunately...," said Eliad.
"Et's been only a couple months since e' died," said Cassiah quietly, shaking her head. "Found em' outside the north gate, with a broken bottle of whiskey an a knife in es' and'... I have theories but no proof as to what lead to the death."
"We will find the truth eventually, Cassie," said Eliad.
"Eventually...," replied Cassiah, shrugging. "Aye...but et's messing with my head."
"I will wish it to be over soon for you then," said Eliad. "You need a large time after this to relax."
"We'll see...," snorted Cassiah. She hopped on the fountain and sat down, her small legs dangling over the side. "This town never changes."
Eliad watched her before looking around the area.
"I suppose I'll just have to take your word for it," chuckled Eliad.
"Look...," said Cassiah, sighing. "I'm sorry tha' I ain't given ye' a cheerful word right now. My mindset isn't the greatest."
"No, no," said Eliad. "You have a perfectly good reason."
"I'll get over et' eventually," said Cassiah, shaking her head.
"I would happy when you do and feel better," said Eliad.
"You an' me both," said Cassiah.
Eliad glanced up in thought, trying to think of a good topic to talk about.
"If I were to have been able to take Mother here, she'd enjoy it much better than Angmar," said Eliad, letting out a small chuckle.
"So yer' mother ye' don't ave' problems with?" asked Cassiah.
"No," answered Eliad, shaking his head. "She wasn't....Angmarim. I think...she was like Aeru since Father didn't treat her right, even when she had to deal with giving birth to Aduninzil and me."
They both had fallen silent then. Aeruthuil glanced over to Cassiah and Eliad, shaking his head a little to himself before glancing over towards the Inn. Eliad blinked and glanced towards him, rather surprised.
"A-Aeru...," said Eliad.
Aeruthuil cleared his throat as he walked over towards him, raising a brow.
"Are you alright?" mumbled Aeruthuil, looking at Eliad.
"As much as I can despite Adun," answered Eliad, giving out a small shrug. "But..."
"But?" repeated Aeruthuil.
"She had told me that she has a few men sent over from...him..," answered Eliad.
Aeruthuil wrinkled his nose, shaking his head.
"How many?" asked Aeruthuil, glancing over to Cassiah for a moment.
Eliad knew of one of them but was not sure of the other two.
"Three," answered Eliad. "But whether they are as strong as her or just trusted in general, I'm not too sure."
"Great...," said Aeruthuil. "Thanks for letting me know."
Eliad nodded before looking down.
"Also...," said Eliad. "You...weren't the one that....killed her. My mother, I meant."
Cassiah snapped out of her thoughts and blinked, seeing Aeruthuil. She hopped off the fountain before moving aside.
"If you say so...," mumbled Aeruthuil, nodding a little. "I mean, I've killed so many women in the past so..." He raised an eyebrow at Cassiah, "Would you like me to leave, My Lady?"
Eliad glanced over towards Cassiah, now worried.
"Why would I want you to?" replied Cassiah, shaking her head as she looked at Aeruthuil.
"You're acting all jumpy-like," answered Aeruthuil, shrugging a little before chewing his lip a little. "If my presence bothers you, then tell me... I have no actual reason to stay here anymore. If anything, I stayed here for you."
"Well, uhm...," said Eliad, pursing his lips. "I believe this is time for me to leave for now..." He glanced towards Eliad. "If I find out of anything else, I'll let you know."
Eliad glanced towards Cassiah, remember of the words that were spoken to him earlier by Aduninzil. He bowed his head before making his way south towards his camp.
