Outside of Firelight

"Not this fool again," was all Dru could think when she realised the man they'd followed was none other than Furley. She had aided him before when he managed to get on the bad side of a less than savoury group and Ashwyneth requested her assistance. 

Now, here he was again, on the bad side of a large group of horrible people. This time, in the middle of nowhere and completely alone. Her mind was churning, picking through all he'd said, while he and Davamir continued talking.

"Truly, it seems as though he does not fully know why he is right here at this moment either. Like he is searching for direction. I am not sure he realises what dangerous enemies he's made either. If I know so much about his business so easily, there is certainly no world in which the bloodhound and his allies do not either."

She bit at her thumbnail as she thought, a bad habit she'd picked up recently as her wrists began to make their recovery. She had already been surprised when Dav had accepted that she needed to turn back and deal with some issues before continuing to Gondor. New information from fellow travellers in Imladris had led to this decision, but she did not expect his response to be so...courteous. He was growing. But this did not mean her business could take years. She had still made him a promise and intended to fulfill it as soon as possible.

"I imagine that woman they'd taken, the one I suspected was tied to him, is more involved in it than he realises as well." She shook her head. If only she could save all who were in danger. But she did not even know where this woman was...and she was not the only innocent tied up in this horrible affair.

"Nay, cut off the head and the body of the snake writhes," she thought as she edged around the little camp.

"-have someone like that, do yourself a favour and don’t let duty get in the way. A man’s got to make choices in life, and realise what’s important to him. And if you want to know what I think," she heard Davamir pause and give a sigh before continuing. “If you have someone that makes you feel like pride and honour come second, don’t throw it away for anything”.

She smiled to herself.  "Well, look at that. He truly is growing. And speaking as though he's on the same level as a "common" man."

She paused and shook her head. No, she had to keep an eye out and couldn't get sucked into their sweet little talk. She had to keep them all out of danger.
She mustered an exasperated sigh and said, in a voice loud enough for them to hear, "Girls," while shaking her head. They chuckled, as she knew they would, and gave her the perfect time to step away and keep an eye out.

Davamir had changed since she first met him. He still held the haughty, bratty condescending attitude prominent in nobility. But unlike so very many people she had met, he was very honest with who he was. He did not pretend to care if he did not care. He did not pretend to like someone if he despised them.

Yes, he had ulterior motives she could not always see, but he never would lie about them when asked, nor did he ever deny having them. Not only this, but she could see he was coming to care. To see that people were not less important or less smart simply because they were not of noble birth.

She sighed again and began stretching her fingers out to flex her wrists. She needed to focus.
She would need to find more information on the woman connected to Furley, and she would need more information on who was working with the bloodhound. As much a fool she thought Furley to be, she did see he at least attempted to make things better for those around him.

"But for now, best I not mention the woman until I know more..."