Nightime in Hadorsford. The streets are almost empty. The shops closed long ago. The folk of Marach rest in their houses, except those who decided to join the inn or some guards and scouts in service tonight. All is quiet and calm... And especially inside the Healer's Halls, where the peace is always a need, even a law.

The shadows are leving, slowly, the mind of Morlin. Cautiously and still groggy the bandit manages to open his eyes but the light of the lamp -a little one, though- troubles him and remains for a while with his eyes closed tightly. After a while he tries to open them once more, just to see he is lying in a large and unknown room. The man eyes the hall, tries to focus his gaze and mumbles weakly, asking for water.

The door of the healers house lurches swiftly open, and is a tall guard steps inside the room. The grey eyes of the man survey the room and he walks towards the guards who have watched the house for a day now. "Is all well for the Lord to come now?" The second guard simply nods his head to the first. The first turns upon his heal and walks back to the door and holds it wide open. "All is ready for you my Lord."

From without the healers house a rich voice comes in response, spoken with elven polish, yet Marachian fervour. "Splendid man. Set two men to watch the door, and two to watch the gardens. The rest shall stand with myself and Coronost." Stepping in from the shade of the street, to the low lamplight of the room a tall man comes. Through the frame of the door he comes, stooping deeply to get beneath the beam of the door. Eyes of cool grey survey the room with great care and he steps through the room towards the beds of the ill. He stops a moment and looks down towards Morlin, a look half of distaste and pity sits on his mouth, yet with a soft sigh he speaks once more. Little more than a murmur "Is that him Coronost?" He turns to the other and holds out and open palm. "This is your matter friend, seek the bottom of it."

Stone faced, Elagil enters in the trail of Galdor white cloak and ere anything else is done, he ensures the guards are at their right place; "Belnar close the door" he orders and then brings a stool closer to the head of the bed.

"So what is your name and how are you feeling ?" Elagil asks rather gently, wouldnt it for the edge omening nothing good. His hand moves as to take Morlin wrist, but instead two fingers presses just below his wound bandaged. "It's there ?" he asks releasing the pressure after a cry or a couple of seconds.

Morlin manages a movement trying to sit up in his bed, once he notice the voices and their owners enter the room. But the ache of his back and his weak harmed right arm forces him to drop the body on the bed, groaning, while the men walks towards his place. Still is the man managing a greet, sort of, when unwillingly but swiftly moves a hand to reach his right side, where Elagil presses, wincing. "My Lord Hadorion, Lord Coronost" he says, dragging slowly the words, his voice still weak. "My name is Morlin and.. How did I arrive here?".

Belnar who have seen his lord for the first time a few minutes ago shut quietly the door and stands near it, awaiting for orders. He seems quite ill-at-ease and seeing so many important people in the same room is quite astonishing for a young recruited guard. And the sight of the wounded man is not to reassure him. He does not know anything about him, but if the lord move himself, it should be an important matter and Belnar is really wondering what is happening.

Galdor's gaze falters a moment as Elagil squeezes the wound of Morlin, and he lets his eyes drift towards Belnar. A soft smile, kindly and oddly unmoved rests on his mouth. "Be a good man and have the healers fetch some tea, and some boiling water." He turns back to the bedside and Morlin and Elagil.

"I am asking questions" Elagil's voice cuts and he nods afterward, watching the wince twisting Morlin's face. "It's painful I know, I have been wounded so. What do you do in your life my poor man ?" Elagil asks and joins his hands not so far from the bandaging; perhaps about to press again, perhaps not. "And tell me what you did two nights ago too, halt me if I am too fast."

"My lord Elagil" Morlin mutters, absolutely distressed, "How could I express you how miserable do I feel myself? Only if I were a skilled man used to the weapons and I could have saved your sister... but I am only a poor wool merchant, my lord...". The man shudders, his face showing up his sorrow. "Of course I understand you have all the right to be mad at me, nobody could you say you are wrong." A cough and a wince cut off his words.

Belnar looking gratefully at the lord goes to talk to the healers who were waiting in the background.He asks them to look for some tea and then turns again to the lord, waiting for further instructions. He sees the acts of his captain, and his gaze goes from the man to the lord. "What did this folk do to deserve such a treatment... That's quite bad" he whispers, hoping not to be heard by anyone.

Galdor lets his cloak fall back from his tunic and lifts a hand to his chin. He pulls slightly upon his lip as he watches the Lord of Coronost question the man. Yet as Morlin begins to break Galdor turns his glance back towards the eyes of the wounded man. The face of Hador's son holds little expression of note, indeed the eyes of the man seem unmoved as he steps forward to the end of the bed. There he stands, unstooped and staring down at Morlin, then to Elagil. As Belnar speaks Galdor's gaze turns back to the guard, clearly he has been heard to speak at least. A soft smirk touches Galdor's lips as he places a finger over them and urges the guard to silence. Then again he turns to face the bed.

"Eh well, speak first and we'll decide after what I may do or do not. But your first defence is thin like a elven parchment." Elagil replies to Morlin, ignoring pointedly whatever he may have heard or not "Continue, retell me what happened this night and why. I dont advise you to lie or try to." Elagil warns with the assurance of a seer or a haggler.

Morlin's head rolls on the pillow, his gaze searching for Galdor's eyes, as if begging of him for pity. What did he supposedly do to deserve such a poor treatment? Wetting his lips and after to take a breath, a painful one, he readies to reply to the captain. "The lady insisted and insisted to take a walk, and well, all her friends had left. Never I would dare to say I was one but... even I understood that, to leave alone a lady so late in the night, alone... So I agreed to walk with her, she was a little..." he looks desperate choosing the right word "well, say she had drank a couple of goblets..."

Belnar, seeing the lord's movement stands where he is and just looks at the room. He seems really nervous now and his eyes are rolling, as his gaze goes from one place to another. Then the healers come near him, bringing the tea and some cups. Belnar takes them and walks to the two lords, without saying a word.

Patient Elagil, until the slow muttering of Morlin wear his nerves so much that... A booming shout, "What did you do to her infamous worm !" Elagil bursts and his joined hands reach for the man collar and half strangle him while clear blue eyes turn ultramarine Standing now, the stool behind Elagil rolls and he lifts the unfortunate Morlin up uncaring for wound or onlooker. "Speak or I send you to the rot you love ! Speak !" he shouts and releases him brutally.

A dark red sea starts to soil Morlin's bandages, first and slowly a simple red point, after and quickly many points appear, covering the whole bandage on arm and chest, when his hands rise to catch Elagil's hands around his neck. The legs removes the sheet, trying to keep a distance between the bandit and the captain. A poor intent, of course, he is too weak to do anything except to complain. Redden his face, not too long ago pale as the cloths of the bed, barely he can hisses, "I ... did ... nothing ..."

Galdor's face clouds with a look of distaste, yet he sighs lightly and turns upon his heal, waving a hand to Elagil. "Tell me what you find Coronost. I go to my bed now." He stoops once more as he goes from the room , and onto the street. A couple of the guards follow him, yet most remain in and about the healers house.

"Your last chance ! Speak all the truth ! Where is she ?" thunders rolls again in the room and the last words are clipped and very clear. Finally a red Elagil picks the stool and sits again, letting a circular glance at the guards around. One other door pops open and a healer irrupts in. "What ? Lord ! I ? you ?" the girl lack words to express and surprise. Elagil doesnt reply her and turns to Galdor, nodding as he trembles of rage.

Belnar, when he sees his captain strangling the strange man, stops brutally. His gaze become strange, and as if he was following some basic instinct, he runs to the Lord Of Coronost, and using all his strength, try to move him away from the man. "My lord" he says firmly, "I don't know what this man did to you. Something bad for sure... But that's not a reason for killing him now... He must be judged first... He will surely die if you continue... And maybe he says the truth". At that moment Belnar seems to be a high lord, giving orders to one of his underlings and his voice is strong...

When the captain releases him, Morlin falls on the bed as a broken doll, no pillows under his head- they fell to the floor when Elagil attacked him. For a long while he stays silent, rubbing his neck, his chest up and down breathing compulsively. "I did nothing to her, I repeat" he speaks hoarsely, gulping, the blood of his wounds spreading on the sheets. "A man attacked me and robbed her, it is the truth, I promise.. He harmed me and when I tried to join the city to denounce him, he attacked me once more... I guess he thought I was dead."

With the deftness of a cat or the strenght of the bear, Elagil disengages himself, staying barely one elbow to fly by pure reflex in his attacker stomach. "Mind your own business" Elagil turns the dangerous angry gleam of his glance at the guard who grabbed him. "He wont die, not yet. Healess, staunch his wounds and ensure he lives a few hours more" Elagil orders and resits once his minimal discussion with Belnar is ended. "I hope she will live to confirm your saying, if you touched the least of her hair, I tear your with my teeth if needed" the savage captain threathens and stays silent while the healess enters the bloody area and remove Morling shirt to press fresh cloth on him. "Where have you been armed ? Why did you lead her otu of town ?"

Belnar, doubled with pain as receiving the kick of Elagil, succeeds in saying this few word "I'm sorry my lord" he whispers "I thought he was going to die. I should not have interfered with your designs...". Still bowed, he walks slowly to the wall. "I will never do that again. And i will accept any punishment you will give me."

"She is still alive, at least she was or that told me that villain. Unharmed? I do not know, but I hope." Morlin's cough breaks his words once more, and the wince in his face increases. "I do not know the name of the place, I am but a newly arrived here, I fear, my lord... But for sure I could show you the way and the house where his captor lives. But if the lady is there, hardly I could say." he continues after a while "Why I did... Didn't I tell you? She insisted!" the man claims, blinking, as if not understanding what is happening.. "All I hope is you finding her and she confirming what I told you, and you will see how wrong you are with me."

"You can tell me, you will stay here too long, and I have no time to spare. Or perhaps you desire to stay here forever ?" Elagil counters and frowns. "Tell me where is this house, is it far ? to the south ? north ?"

"Southwards" the man mutters "People name it Marach's way... there's a faint path and a little house near the river, near the ford, my lord. It is not too far from the town, really, just a walk of some minutes. Beware that man, the scout, he is a dangerous one, trust me. How he addressed the lady and..." Coughing, he leans the head on the pillow, anc closes tightly his eyes.

"Speak the truth now ! I know this house and this man. I think you will have a short existence Morlin, longer if you dont lie. Look at me !" Elagil fumes and grabs his chin, turning not so softly toward himself. "I want the truth ! Where is she !"

"I said the truth!" Morlin groans and hisses, and for once his eyes looks back at Elagil piercing him, a couple of black shining starts, so cold. "Why don't you go there to verify if I lie or not, instead to beat the only person of the Lordship who can -and is- helping you, captain?"

Belnar, hearing the sounds of 'Marach's way' and 'scout', walks closer to the captain and the strange man and says "Well friend, i defended you, i was beliieving that you should not be killed. But if you say bad words concerning my friend Baradil, then i regret what i said... And maybe death would not be enough for you... I know you're lying. Baradil is not a robber but a fair scout of Dor-lomin."

"You're just earning some time for your friends, it's a pity you earned none for you." Elagil shakes his head, and this time no fist or foot goes Belnar way. "Milady ? Dont loose your time with him" Elagil orders and stands from his stool. "You can count your last hours. Belnar stay here and ensure he is not healed or feed or served to drink. Soon he will pass out." Elagil concludes and leads the maid away by the arm and mutters quickly into her ear, "But if he seems willing to speak, have my man call me, we'll see then. Strenghten yourself daughter of Marach" Elagil ends with a higher note and makes ready to leave.

"Even the lady thought as you, sir, and unfortunately she was forced to change her mind and in a way I would not desire even for an enemy." The bandit replies to Belnar and sighs sadly as he hears Elagil's words regarding him. "I pity you my lord. When you realize I was not lying, it will be too late for your sister. Only were I stronger and I would do the work you refuse to do..."

Belnar bows as hearing the orders from his captain but seems quite reluctant to bey the orders. He does not tell a word though, thinking he had done enough for this day. He stands near the bad as his fellow guards follow their captain.