"Morning." she handed him the ale again. "I don't usually condone drinking so early, but in your case it is necessary." is the pain still as great?" she went for his back, again cleaning the wounds and re-bandaging them with more strips from her skirt. "We must clean and dress these frequently." she said as she finished. "I will stay with you until you are well enough to go on your own. Unless you object, you are a free elf now." she moved to her things, getting a water skin and holding it put to him. "Water, as well."

Markus stiffened and pulled away from her touch. His back stung. "They'll be fine. Save your skirt," he pasted on a smile as he drank from her flask. "How long have I been out?" He asked curiously as he looked around his surroundings. His body ached from his lashings and beatings. He looked to Luna with so much compassion and admiration. "That was a very brave thing you just did. Did...Did the master hurt you?" He asked quietly.

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"If they get infected you will not live to see your free days." she looked down "You were out all night, as well as some hours this morning. But you needed it. Don't concern yourself with me, I just did what needed to be done." she began gathering her things. "Are you well enough to travel? I fear a chase."

"The master will not chase us. He has many other servants to take care off. He will not miss me." Markus stood up, testing his weight on his legs. "I believe I can walk. Perhaps we can go to the next town over. I can get a healer to check my wounds over. I have some money saved up." He looked round to her. "I do not know how I can ever repay you..." He sighed softly.

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"You will not pay for your healing, I caused the wounds in the first place." she kept her eyes downcast still. "You needn't worry about repaying me at all." she picke up her things and pointed "That way." before starting to walk at a slow pace, knowing he would follow.

Markus followed her. He caught up to her and walked by her side. "It was not your fault. I would have gotten that beating regardless." He smiled to her. "Do not worry. As you said I am free now and I am eternally in your debt."

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she knew it would not have been so severe if she had not angered his former master. "Then I release you from any debt you feel you have towards me. I am just seeking to help..." she said very quietly. She knew he must think her an odd one. Which she was.

Markus walked on silently. His mind, however, was not so silent. All his life he had been in captivity. Lived through at least four generations of his master. Each one detesting elves more than the last. In all his life he had never happened across anyone who would help him. Anyone that knew his master, and that was everyone in the village, knew not to get involved. Therefore he could only assume that Luna was a visitor or a traveller. If so where had she come from? How did she come to be travelling on her own? He stole a glance at Luna, before looking ahead.

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She walked on, her eyes on the ground. She felt his glance but did not comment on it. Once at the town, she would make site he got a room, she would pay for the healer, then she would leave two bags of gold coin in his room, then she would disappear. He would enjoy his free life. She smiled softly to herself. She was happy he was now free.

"Who are you?" Markus asked abruptly, and perhaps a bit rudely. Markus acknowledged this. "I am sorry...Forgive me. This is new to me. It is not common to come across a hero or heroine as the case may be, these days. I cannot help but wonder who you are and why you would put your neck on the line for a stranger."

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She chuckled. "I am not a heroine. And I would answer you if I honestly knew who I was." she looked up at him. "I put my neck on the line for a stranger because it was the right thing to do. I don't have to know a person to care." she gave a small smile. "No needto apologize, I can understand the questions you would have." she turned her eyes back to the ground.

His brows raised further. "How could you not know who you are?" He cringed, sensing a rude tone in his question. He had been in captivity to long with his masters. Neither of them had cared to show any compassion to him. How was he to know how to show compassion to others?

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"Have no family." she said simply and kept walking. She took it from his tone that he didn't like her, but soon enough she would be out of his hair. She had no family, no idea where she came from, or where she was born.

"Miss Luna...I am sorry. Truely. I do not mean to be so rude...It has been a long time since I have been in such nice company." He paused and thought for a moment. "I plan to return to my home. Perhaps you should come with me? Perhaps you could take a look into the looking glass? It might be able to tell you something about yourself?"

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She blinked "Home? Looking glass?" what on earth did he mean? She didn't understand. The word 'home' was a new concept to her, and whatever a looking glass was, she could not comprehend.

Markus cleared his throat. "I am from the forest of Mirkwood. I was taken from my family as a child and lived here the rest of my life. I long to go back. The looking glass...Is more of a silver bowl. Water is poured into it. It is magic. When you look into it, it can show you many things..."

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