November 3, 2001

Brithiach: West Bank of Sirion

The river Sirion flows quietly from the northeast here. Windswept plains of gorse and grass grow right up to its edge. The river is shallow enough here to be forded and the road seems to continue on the other side. To the West the road skirts along the north edge of a forest. Silvery green birches and pines dominate its growth, and a high hill amidst stands out as well to the south.

The summer breezes do little to quell the growing and almost weighted heat that accompanies the early afternoon. Now and then, the cooling effect of the Sirion can be felt with a shift of those winds, though not enough to last for long. Where the sun's brilliant rays reaches the ground, the scent of browned, baking pine needles is earthy and sharp. Near the outpost here at the borders of the Haladin's home, the trees thin somewhat and plains of windswept gorse can be seen ahead nearer the river.

A figure travels in the sparser forests towards the outpost. Needing no cloak, the young woman's hair has been swept back and tied carelessly with a narrow strip of soft leather in the day's heat; sun has already turned the exposed skin upon her neck pink, though Aldawin seems not to care for the resulting sunburn as she hefts a shoulder pack and trudges up a slight incline into the shady reaches of a copse of close-growing pines and birches. Stopping a moment, she loosens the waterskin set to her belt, uncaps it, and takes a quick drink.

Across the Brithiach, the forest sounds insinuate through the heat, though some of the calls are by birds unknown in these groves. A haze lies on the horizon, waves of shimmer deluding the sight and confusing location. Presently, a figure emerges, running lightly northeastward and bounding across the brook, hardly leaving ripples. As he nears, the figure resolves into that of the Basadur of Doriath, accompanied by only a single warden. His face is wreathed in a smile and his tawny hair flies in the wind as he approaches, his attention clearly focused on the healer trudging here, but he does not verbally herald his approach. Apparently he will wait until he closes the distance.

Not far behind the first figure comes another, dressed in woody browns meant to blend with the forest surrounding them. A long slender bow rests on her back, nestled alongside the sturdy weight of an axe and a quiver of arrows. With long, easy strides she travels over the rise and fall of the forest floor, her feet pressing lightly down upon the brittle needles of pine. Pausing to pass a hand across her dampened brow, Finnabair looks up and past Aldawin just as the tall elf and his companion come crossing the river swiftly. With a sombre look and a quiet word, Finnabair calls the healer's name to draw her attention to the arrival as she moves up quickly to join the woman.

Already at the Haladin outpost, a figure swings down from one of the lower branches in a tree where some guards are posted in the leafy canopy. An axe is strapped to her own back, a sturdy weapon that does not look like it has seen much use. Her dark eyes squint into the dappled light of the forest, noting the people gathering there. Leana raises a hand in hailing and wordlessly starts walking towards them as well.

Pouring some of the water into her palm, Aldawin pats the moisture upon her face before recapping the waterskin and setting it to her belt. She catches the movement of one or two in the distance, but before she can settle upon recognition of the figures, Finnabair's call from just behind her diverts that gaze. "Aye, I see them," she answers quietly. "It looks to be the same Elf that we met near the Brithiach some days ago. Vollonwe--" And yet another movement and the sound of feet planted firmly to ground draws the healer's grey gaze towards Leana. "Aye, Lee. Good day," she greets, looking past the smithy's apprentice to the approaching elf once more.

Vollonwe's advance slows as he spots the girl descend from the trees. A cloud passes over his face and, though he continues on his errand, he veers slightly away from her path.

He arrives just a moment after Leana does, his warden moving onward a few paces to take up station on the northeast side, towards the enemy outpost invisible to human eyes upriver. The elf's posture suggests the outpost is not invisible to him, however. Vollonwe inclines his head a fraction to the human women, "Greetings, my ladies. And Leana. Did your herbal outing bear good fruit yet, my lady Aldawin?"

Finnabair slows her step as she arrives at Aldawin's side, a look of surprise on her face as the Haladin girl drops from out of the trees before them, "Leana, what has you out here?", she asks quick and with distraction, turning toward the Elf as he addresses her two fellows by name. Eyeing him over carefully, the grey eyes of the Beorian ranger linger upon the dagger at his waist and the broadsword at his hip only a moment before looking up again, making the same observation of his companion who stands a few paces away.

"Good day," Leana responds to Aldawin, smiling quickly in greeting and then turning towards Finnabair. "They were short on people for the watch last night, so my da sent me up here," the Haladin explains with a shrug. Her tone is casual, though the faintest trace of annoyance seems to taint her features. "Not much help in case of trouble, but an extra pair of eyes is an extra pair of eyes." Now glancing towards the elf, Lee nods cautiously in his direction, her brow furrowing slightly. The apprentice does not remain looking at the elf for long, but turns her gaze downwards to the forest floor as he speaks to Aldawin, scuffing the toe of her right boot in the twigs and old leaves that litter the ground.

The Beor healer nods a greeting to all as they are gathered, though Vollonwe's inquiry bears first reply. "Indeed my herb-gathering was successful and 'tis the reason I am here today, bringing some salves and supplies to the folk at the outpost, here." She reaches up to pat the pack she carries over her shoulder. Leana garners Aldawin's next glance, and the young woman chuckles. "An extra pair of eyes is useful in matters of the enemy's approach." Her smile solemns. "Has there been much sight of them recently?" Even as she speaks, she lowers the pack from her shoulders, setting it upon the ground near her feet.

Vollonwe catches the ranger's glance from the corner of his eye and his eyes twinkle at Leana's discomfiture, but he addresses Aldawin's response first.

"There has, my lady. The gaur you mentioned has been spotted near Mindeb and tracked. He seems to be watching for something along our borders and we have responded by bringing our forces closer to the edge of the Girdle." He turns to Finnabair, openly glancing at her weapons. "We tend not to come out of our Kingdom, can we help it, but that degree of reserve seems now over-cautious. I am sent by my lord Beleg to learn if any of your folk would seek recompense, as I might phrase it, against those who took your homelands from you."

Finnabair's gaze travels between the two women and the Elf and his silent companion, a steady, earnest look on her as she listens to the passing coversation. News of the gaur draws a frowning look across her, But when the Elf addresses her directly, giving explanation to his coming, she meets his eyes boldly, answering him, "I cannot speak for the Lady Emeldir, who lead her people out of our lands, but I do think she would thank your Lord Beleg for his offer and may wish to call upon it. I think too the people of Haleth would think the same, now that their borders are harried from that which has come down out of the north. You have heard of the trouble?", she asks.

"Nothing showed last night, but there's been increased activity around here, like everywhere else on this border," Leana replies to Aldawin as she brushes a lock of hair out of her face. Vollonwe's offer catches her attention, and she turns a quizzical glance upon the elf. "You might rather ask those in Amon Obel, who are not already seeking recompense. Why do you think they fight here?" she asks directly. "We do not all fight only in defense, but for many reasons."

The healer's eyes glint with the report of the Gaur; her lips press together in a tight line with an audible, strained intake of breath. The grey gaze rests upon Finnabair with the ranger's statement, though travels between Elf and Edain in the moments that follow, settling doubtfully upon Leana in the apprentices' retort. "Aye," she agrees softly, turning her gaze beyond the Sirion. "We do fight for many reasons." The gaze is next directed to Leana, telling in its fervor. "And some of us still hope to return our homes."

Vollonwe shows no surprise at the news proffered by the humans. "I must assume you are aware we Quendi can see long distances and that our vigilance does not cease. And we keep the Isle close in our thoughts, not least for the tragedy of its loss." He gestures to the warden, who now comes forward. Turning to the elf, he murmurs a question. The other now speaks up. "I have been stationed at the...location...closest to Mindeb and have seen a small company of yrch moving south along the other shore. We cannot permit the Enemy to so easily patrol lands our Lord King holds sway upon, yet we have not engaged them." He stops at a gesture from the Basadur, who resumes the conversation. "That is not to say that we do not wish to engage them, however. Only that we have simply maintained surveillance. There are those among us who counsel restraint from passing our borders. I am not among them. I counsel quite the other direction: we should move up the river to enforce a boundary for Brethil the enemy may not pass, for the security of our folk." He cannot restrain himself glancing to the Isle's direction. Catching himself in that unguarded moment, he turns back. "I will be more open. I have personal reasons to engage the enemy and will not let pass a chance to inflict harm, if I can. Yet, under my circumstances, I would move in disguise, if I could."

Finnabair keeps her eyes upon the Elf as Leana and Aldawin both speak after her, and then he too. Stepping forward, "Be assured, the Haladin hold the crossings of Teiglin as they swore to your Lord. They keep the oath.", she replies, nodding carefully to Leana, "It is the north west corner, down along the old road into the edge of the forest that has been troubled of late. The bands of yrch you have seen are likely the ones that test the borders of Brethil, and they grow bolder.", she explains, stopping suddenly to frown with thought, "Why should you have to come disguised?", she inquires.

Leana returns Aldawin's gaze directly, dark eyes steady and betraying a hint of something like regret, strangely enough. She does not hold the look long after Aldawin has spoken, rather turning again towards the elf, trying to sort through his words. Either she does not succeed in translating all his words or she has naught to say on the topic, for she falls silent, looking down on the ground once more with her mouth pressed into a grim line.

Aldawin, too, seems to fall to silence, her grey gaze drilling downwards to her feet for a moment as the conversation continues, then lulls. Though question is held in that gaze as it is once raised, and she looks to Vollonwe in measured soberness. "We most of us hold personal reasons to defeat this threat. How then might we hasten our efforts to gain this retribution?" She looks next to Finnabair, shifting in her stance and gripping her hand about the pommel of the longsword at her side.

A slightly frosty look comes over the Basadur at Finnabair's question, only intensified by Aldawin's apparent curiosity. He covers this, noticing that Leana has kept herself out of the conversation. He turns to her, "I do not know your native language, lady. I am sorry if you don't know mine, either. I shall try to use words you will not feel shut out of knowing." He turns back to the others, having used the interval to compose himself. "I do not like to talk about it much, lady Finnabair, Aldawin. You have lost your homeland. I have lost my heart. I am wed to her who is, after our Queen, the finest healer in all Doriath. It is a long tale, but she is captive among the guarhoth and I want to retrieve her, if I can. If I am identified by the enemy and reported to the Isle, it may be that she will be put to torment. I would not endanger her position, which is now at least only a drudgery, not open and acute pain."

Finnabair exchanges a look with Aldawin and turns back to the Elf, pity held in her steady look, "Then in kind, I would offer you what help we can give in seeking to reclaim what was stolen from you.", she says, bowing head slightly and asking as she lifts it again, "How did you know my name? I do not remember telling you it and I know not yours.", she says, lifting a brow. "Unless Aldawin or Leana have spoken it while we were here.", she adds, looking over to the two women questioningly

"I know a fair amount of Sindarin," Leana says defensively to the elf, shifting her weight to her left foot. "It is only that your accent is strange to me. I'll learn to decipher it eventually, I've done so before." She listens to his tale with detatched interest, listening closely while yet avoiding looking directly at the elf.

"I have not spoken your name," Leana remarks to Finnabair, shrugging. "Nor mine, and they knew that as well." Leana seems slightly bothered by this, but only in that she is bothered by elves in general, and puts this down to their general strangeness.

Vollonwe gives the hunter a polite nod of his head. "It seemed you held back out of some frustration, lady. If I mistook your reserve, then please accept my apologies on the occasion. As to your names, your reputation precedes you, my lady Finnabair. We have only met once, but when I discussed the matter with wardens, they provided your name, having only a vague description to go by. It seems your fame is so well regarded as even to have penetrated the Girdle of Melian. I do not know if you appreciate having that be so." He gives both ladies a slight bow. "I heard my lady Aldawin mention my name as I approached, but do not wish you to feel dishonored. I am Vollonwe surnamed Ranedhel, Basador a Arantir o Doriath, captain of the House Guard of King Elu Thingol in Menegroth, a Quendi of the third Kindred and of those who awoke by Cuivienen. I was late in coming to the West and have lived in Doriath only these last 10 years, but a moment in the reckoning of our kind. For long, I lived and scouted for my lord Celegorm, but that is near 400 years of the Sun ago. So it is I know of Dorthonion, for I long hunted its eastern woods."

Finnabair nods to Leana, answering, "The Firstborn know many more things than we.", she with a wink at her bothered expression, turning back to stare widely at Vollonwe, listening to his account and then throwing back her head to laugh. "Well met Vollonwe Ranedhel!", she replies, still laughing as she bows to him again, "You have the silver tongue of your kind but if my reputation has proceded me, you will know not to call me lady and know that my fame is not so well regarded as it considered infamous. Yet even so, I thank you for your flattery and will long remember you for it and I am joyed to hear that you have set your foot across the highlands of Dorthonion. I would hear how it was then, but I have come with a purpose to this outpost and must see to it.", she says, looking to Aldawin and Leana, "Stay and speak longer if you wish."

"Well," Leana says a bit uncomfortably shortly after Finnabair has said her farewells, running her thumb under one of the straps that attatches her axe to her back. "I'd best start moving back to the camp myself, if I wish to get there in a timely fashion at all. I'll see you, Aldawin ... and maybe you too, Vollonwe. Fare well."

Vollonwe chuckles at Finnabair's adroit response and turns, giving Leana an incline of his head at her departure. To her retreating back he says, "The stars shine on your comings and goings, lady." To Finnabair, he says, "I heard only that your hand is heavy against the enemy. If there is other reason to consider your fame less than honorable, I do not know it. Let me not delay you from your duty, however. And if you wish it, I shall save the honorific and simply give you farewell, Finnabair of the Heavy Hand."

Her silence at last breached, Aldawin bids a farewell to Leana as she picks up the pack and looks to the gathered Haladin scouts still many paces ahead. "I must be about distributing these salves," she says, seeming distracted of her thoughts, and giving a nod to Finnabair. "Though assuredly, I should like to speak to you further of these things, Vollonwe," she says to the Elf, offering a faint smile. "Travel safely along these borders," she says. With one more glance to the Beor ranger, Aldawin turns and continues along the path, under the hot and brightening midday sun.

Finnabair lifts her arm to Leana as she departs, turning back to the three left, grinning broadly at the Elf, "It was well to meet you Vollonwe Ranedhel,", she adds, revealling nothing else, "And your wordless friend.", she adds with a smile, nodding to the warden near to him, "Tis not my place, but I think that you would be welcome at Amon Obel, should you wish to come there. Else I think we will meet again and hopefully we will both put our hands against the enemy. Till then, fare thee well!", she calls, moving for the press of trees behind her, turning to wave before slipping into the green shadows.

The Basadur quietly watches the ladies departing in their various directions, thoughtful and only giving a wave as they leave. He turns and gazes upriver again, then signals the warden, the two of them disappearing into the forests along the river like wisps.