Lord Aradill had sent a note to her, wishing to speak to her. He suggested on meeting her at the Windview Estates again, so she went there, since she felt obliged to him. He immediately started by telling her she was ruining her reputation by being seen with Haldrid and those companions of his known as the Defiant Daggers. It was Lord Aradill's intention to make her realise the mistake she was making by associating with them. Lieve frowned at him, her eyes starting to flash angrily. He was a friend perhaps, but that gave him no right to tell her who she might or might not see, he was not her father! Though she well knew her father would not be understanding at all about the company she was keeping lately. She had been with Haldrid to visit his father's mansion. There were some shady types loitering about the place. Lieve felt distinctly out of place and quite uncomfortable. But as long as Haldrid was with her she would not be afraid. They all seemed to defer to him and the only one he deferred to was his father. But Lord Aradill was speaking again. She could hardly listen to him. It mattered not to her what anyone said, she loved Haldrid, would do anything for him.
Lord Aradill's manservant arrived then, wanting a private word with him. Nodding, he motioned to Lieve not to leave but to stay where she was while he listened to what his manservant had to say. The Daggers were gathering it seemed. Lord Aradill was in danger. Lieve frowned, hearing them speak. As she waited, Dalgaroth arrived. She did not have time to wonder what he was doing there, for a hobbit dressed in black arrived too. Then another of the Defenders. And another man she did not recognise. Then Haldrid arrived. Before she knew it, the place was crawling with people. There must have been about twenty of them. She did not recognise half of them either. The arguing that ensued was heated, swords and knives were drawn, everyone speaking at once. Lord Aradill was accusing Haldrid of being a thief and a murderer. Lieve tried to get between them, to stop them from fighting, but Dalgaroth grabbed her around the waist and dragged her to the sidelines. Struggling uselessly against Dalgaroth's grip, she watched helplessly as they argued.
Finally an agreement was reached. Lord Aradill and Haldrid would fight it out, man to man. Grinso, a hobbit and one of Haldrid's associates, was put in charge of keeping Lieve out of things. The rest marched off to watch the two men fight. Sobbing, she watched them walk away. 'Now now miss, no need to get upset,' the hobbit said, looking awkward. Lieve glared at him through her tears. Making a feint, she bolted past the hobbit towards the group. When she arrived, she found Lord Aradill lying on the ground, badly wounded, with Haldrid standing over him, a fierce, deadly expression on his face. Kneeling at Lord Aradill's side, she looked up at Haldrid, hardly recognising his features as they were set into a cold mask of hatred. 'Let him kill me Lieve,' Lord Aradill spoke weakly. 'Let him kill me, so you can see him for what he truly is!' Looking at Lord Aradill, then back up at Haldrid, Lieve spoke urgently. 'Please, Haldrid, do not kill him! It is what he wishes!' At first, Haldrid did not react. Then, raising his sword, he made as if to deal the final blow. 'He needs to die. He is nothing but trouble,' he said. 'No!' Lieve insisted, 'He wants you to, so you will be arrested and jailed, can you not see that? Please, Haldrid! Do not give in to him!' Then, blinking, Haldrid faltered, the hand holding his sword dropping to his side. 'Get him out of here then, quickly,' he said curtly, turning on his heel and leaving the crowd behind. After a quick glance at Lord Aradill, seeing that his manservant was tending to him, Lieve hurried after Haldrid.
