Welcome to Gaia! ::

Celeborn nodded at Donovan, stopping the cart near the horses. He climbed down and stretched a bit, then moved to join the man.

"I see things went well," he commented seriously, folding his arms across his chest. He glanced over at Celebor, who was still kneeling and talking with the girl. "How did he do?"

Celeborn nodded. "Excellent. It will probably hit him later, though. We should get moving again, before the other group gets even further away. From here we turn east, then north ... it may be another week before we catch up with them, though I hope it won't be so long."

Celebor nodded at Donovan, then held his hand out to the little girl.

"We're going to keep going now," he smiled at her. "There are other children that we have to rescue. Come ride in the cart, there are lots of blankets and food there for you."

One down, two more to go, Donovan thought absently as he watched Celebor help the children. He wasn't overly surprised the girl fell asleep, she had been crying a lot, and it took energy. A great deal in fact.

He mounted his horse once more, checking to make sure everything was in place.

Celeborn flicked the reins and the cart started forward once again, wheels creaking softly as they passed over the uneven ground.

The afternoon was warm and sunny, and though it was perhaps a bit hotter than Celeborn personally would have preferred, he had to admit that it was perfect weather for traveling. To help with the heat problem, he removed his tunic and set it on the bench beside him so that it wouldn't be in the way, then pulled his braid in front of him so that it wouldn't bother his back. Every few minutes he would peer over his shoulder at the children - even the boy had fallen asleep by then - to make sure that they were still all right.

When night came, he stopped them in a small clearing next to a river. He unhitched the horse from the cart, and once it was grazing and resting, he turned back to Donovan.

"How shall we split the shifts tonight?" he asked quietly, careful not to wake the children.

Celebor had been quiet all afternoon, but now he looked over at Donovan. his eyes as serious as they had ever been.

"I'll take the first shift," he said, more as a fact than an offer. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep anyways."

His thoughts had been busy all afternoon, and he needed the time to think.

"I'll take the second," Donovan murmured.

It would be easier for him to get up that way if it was the second rather than the third shift.

Celebor moved to begin his watch, but seemed to think better of it, because he first headed over to Donovan, coming to a stop just in front of the man.

"Donovan," he said softly, "do you remember that talk we had a few weeks ago? About what I would do back in Gaia, what schooling I might take?"