" Well--to put it briefly--Arianna and I had become--well--friends." " I see." " Nothing improper, you understand," Lelldorin said quickly. " But our friendship was such that--well--we didn't want to be separated." The young Asturian's face appealed to his friend for understanding. " Actually," he went on, " it was a little more than 'didn't want to.' Arianna told me she'd die if I left her behind." " Possibly she was exaggerating," Garion suggested." How could I risk it, though?" Lelldorin protested. " Women are much more delicate than we are-- besides, Arianna's a physician. She'd know if she'd die, wouldn't she? "