Eira rode in the wagon, holding a sleeping Briar as Dammon tried to doodle despite the bumpy path. Eira was half asleep herself, looking out into the dead wilds. The grasses were brown, the river was almost dried up. Sadness flooded her chest as she blinked slowly. The group approached the bridge. Nimraph frowned looking around at the landscape. He emitted a soft sigh, "I do think we made the right choice..."
"It's so sad..." Eira frowned, "I know we made the right choice, but I'm scared for everyone we're leaving behind."
Nimraph sighed and nodded, "So am I... I wonder if they will follow..."
Eira bit her lip, thinking of young Syllea. She also remembered Ris' recent letter about feeling like Bree was not her home. How was she right now? Eira leaned her head back and closed her eyes, feeling so unhappy looking at the barren landscape. "Last time I travelled through here, it was so lush and green. Almost reminded me of Nurn."
Eira sighed as they passed Adso's Inn. There was no time to stop and rest, not right now. The wagon moved onto the hills...
Nimraph took her hand, frowning gently, "We will get through this... I have couriers running from us to Bree to keep track."
Eira gave her husband a sad smile, allowing herself comfort in his presence. She leaned her head against his shoulder, once again feeling tempted to sleep. Briar snoozed soundly, hard as a rock, as the wagon moved out.
Nimraph looked over at Briar, chuckling softly and shaking his head a little, "Lucky..."
Hearing this, Eira lifted her head and smirked a bit, "Hey, you can have a turn when we're alone." She winked at him before yet another wave slammed into her gut. "I... need to relieve myself again." She smiled nerviously, loathing what this pregnancy was doing to her body already.
Nimraph nodded, pulling the wagon over, "Not a problem, love. I do not mind."
The pregnant woman nerviously smiled; setting Briar gently aside and struggling to get up, "As long as we stopped, perhaps you should find a tree too?" She struggled to balace as she stood then gently stepped down from the wagon.
The redeemed Angmarim helped her down from the wagon, "Likely a good idea..." He kissed her cheek gently, which made Eira coo, then wandered off.
Eira kept her eyes on the wagon as she relieved herself at a nearby bush. When she was done, she wandered back to the wagon. She noticed that three people were approaching the wagon from the direction of the forest. A gut feeling swelled in Eira's stomach. Perhaps it was just the times, but the fact that they carried weapons discomforted her. A motherly instinct took over. She looked down into the wagon. Dammon had fallen asleep next to Briar. The Numenorean girl jumped down from the wagon and instinctively stepped between the three men and her boys, "Hello?"
The head man scoffed, "Drop the formalities." He brandished an axe, "Hand over your money and valuables."
Eira froze, eyes widenening as she came to understand that this was indeed a stick up. Of course, this happened the moment Nimraph was away... She looked back to the sleeping children in the wagon, then turned her gaze to the robbers. She pulled her staff out, holding it defensively, "Please, there's two young children here. And I'm pregnant. Can't you just leave us alone?"
The man scowled, "Desperate times, sweetheart. Hand everything over, or else."
When Eira stood still, eyes wide, he motioned for the two subordinates to attack. The two rushed her. Eira immediately brought her staff up and blocked their blows, relunctant to hurt them.
"Please! Leave us alone, before I'm forced to-" The sound of a young gasp echoed in her ears. Eira turned to see that the head robber had snuck around while the two were fighting her, aiming for her children. Instantly, Eira snapped into something completely different. She turned, feeling a sharp pain in her side but not awknowleding it as she rushed forward and drew her sword. She yanked the man off the wagon, driving her sword into his chest as he fell.
One of the robbers cried out and the other shouted, "You'll pay for that!"
The man fell with a heavy thud. Eira turned with a snarl, yanking her blood soaked sword from the leader's corpse. Almost looking like a different person, she sneered, "You did this to yourselves! All bets were off when you threatened my children!"
She tossed the staff to the ground. The staff clanged as she gripped Camcalar. The blood drip drip dripped and she stood between the two men who dared to threaten her sons...
Meanwhile, Nimraph had heard a noise and came running back, sword drawn. He snarled and charged at the men opposing Eira.
