[b]Miriam
Chapter 18: Return[/b]

	"Miriam, quickly now." Said Freda, the knight looked back to her with an eager look but still seemed sympathetic to the huntress' plight. Miriam pushed a branch out of her face, the forest was quiet and scorch marks had imprinted themselves on trees throughout it, it was easy to find the way back but Miriam found focusing much too hard currently. When she looked up, she could not see the sun, though Freda assured her it was there and whenever she shut her eyes she would feel the presence of her parasite, so she kept her eyes open.
	"I'm trying." She complained, walking around a rock which lay in her way. "I'm not feeling very well."
	"Which is precisely why we need to be swift, my people will have healers - We must find Ellie as soon as possible." Freda explained for the fifth time, she waited for Miriam now and afforded her a helping hand up the slope.
	"Because the world is in terrible danger." Miriam muttered, the knight had explained her story but Miriam had paid little attention to it. "Ellie told you." Miriam added, as if to clarify the confusion.
	"Ah.. Well, no. A spirit did." Freda said, pushing her way through some shrubberies. "It only appeared as Ellie."
	"...Right." Said Miriam and looked back ahead, they were coming to the edge of the forest now.
	"I am not of full understanding either." Said Freda, slightly vexed. "But the task is clear enough." She was very invigorated and moved as someone who hadn't been punched by a troll ten minutes ago. Miriam was growing rather jealous of her new companions and their magical boons, which seemed to give them unlimited potential, where as she was only getting dragged along this journey of theirs.
	"If you say so." Said Miriam lowly. She honestly just wanted her dog right now. There was a brief silence as the subject was dropped, Freda spoke up again later.
	"Why were you weeping?" She asked, her voice grown softer and more curious.
	"As I understand it, I have a magical mad-man inside of me. So excuse me for crying." Said Miriam, rather annoyed. Freda frowned in some concern, most likely understanding there was more to it but she said nothing else about it. Miriam sighed, adjusted her large coat and looked back ahead, the trees became sparse, and the icy fields of the North were becoming visible through the woodwork. 

There was a happy bark, Miriam bent down and embraced Leia's head in a tight hug. The dog nestled her muzzle against Miriam and lapped her tongue in the air happily. Ellie appeared next to her, she seemed more like herself now, whatever that meant with a girl such as her. She'd stopped talking to herself, at least. She and Freda spoke instead. Miriam did not truly listen to what but she felt as if the two were aware of things she could not even comprehend.
	"We have got to hurry." Said Eliana to Freda, she held onto her tattered dress as it swayed with the cold wind. Freda nodded and looked down to Miriam and Leia.
	"How much further is it?" She asked, Miriam struck a frown and pushed herself to her feet, Leia left her and skipped about in swift circles around both her and Freda. Miriam looked across the landscape, rolling hills that were tied together by slopes and stretches of dense wood, this part of the Northlands was mostly useless to her, though she knew them nonetheless, even without the sun she could point out the direction they needed to go. 
	"Day's walk south." She said, nodding that way. "There will be a road past those hills there." She spoke from her own memories, every road and path cataloged and mapped. Every crevice and town placed in order of necessity. This is what she was here for. "We will see the fort long before they see us."
	"Then we've no time to loose." Said Freda, she then looked to Ellie who nodded gravely.
	"I do not know how long we have, but I pray it'll be enough.." The Walker said, she then turned and looked out into the field before them, as if she saw something they could not. She then took a step, and another and like that she was leading the rest. The Walker was transfixed upon her location, the knight walked after her, focused upon her task. Miriam and Leia walked last, unsure about most of it. Miriam was at least, she looked down to Leia who returned a happy bark, and it filled Miriam with a feeling of hope, she reached down, patted the dog's head and then followed the others. Though she was filled with doubt of both their destination and their purpose. Especially given the trust the two seemed to put in things they did not really understand.

[b]Meanwhile, further North[/b]

Walter took a deep sip from the tea, it was bitter but most likely good for your health. He had never enjoyed bitter tea but alas, it would have to do. He smiled politely and sat the cup down.
	"Thank you." He said and the woman nodded kindly back his direction. She was pouring her own cup now. The two sat in the center of a raggedy tent, the tent had been set up just a few hours ago in the outskirts of the rest of the camp of refugees. They blabbered and shouted outside, proclaiming both doom and glory. News came in hourly of the supposed fate of both King and the town. Walter looked down and noticed a face by the edge of the table where he sat. The little dark haired boy peeked at him, eyes just above the edge of the wooden piece of furniture. He smiled uncomfortably for the child and expected him to stop staring, he didn't. Walter blinked confusedly, unsure what to do. He was released as the mother spoke. Her accent thick and unruly.
	"'s a right mess it is. And you tellin' me the poor Walka's up and died?" She asked, unphased by the presence of her son.
	"Indeed." Said Walter, and took a new sip from his bitter tea before continuing. "Jonius' death is both a shame, and untimely. I am uncertain how the plan will continue without him..."
	"Got ta' be somebody else." Said Anathema, raising a questioning brow. Walter frowned thoughtfully and furrowed his brow.
	"Perhaps. Though even if we find them, we may already be out of time..."