Old Forest Road

The ancient road through Mirkwood continues to weave and turn its path across
the forest. The road is rutted, and wet looking. Around you, the spring wood is
greening with new growth.

The road continues east and west, it's deep ruts thick with footprints, tracks,
and an occasional bleached bone. Beyond the dim road, you can make out little
in the darkness.

Rains falls steadily through the gap in the trees and runs down in rivulets
down into pools in the ruts. The water streams down slowly and seeps into the
ground.

Rimli is sitting under a big tree, but it rains so hard that he's completely
wet. He's very hungry too, as a lonely rabbit is all what he has eaten since he
escaped from the spiders battle some days ago. His look is even more ragged
then usual, as he's beginning to wonder if he will ever come back to the
Mountain.

Through the rain soaked foliage that lines the western end of the Forrest Road,
the faint sounds of footfalls and light singing can be heard above the pitter
patter of the storm. A few moments later, a cloaked figure emerges from within
the trees using a large spear as a walking stick. The figure stops as the
naughrim comes into view, and after a moments consideration, procedes forward
and draws back the hood of the cloak to reveal Khillaure. She cocks her head to
the side and cautiously approaches the dorf, not speaking until she is more
sure of the situation.

Frightened by the sound he's just heard, Rimli suddendly stands up and wields a
short dagger that was hided under his cloak, his back sticked on the tree. With
an ill light in his eyes - looking around without really noticing the Elf - he
shouts: "You damned beasts I'll take you with me in the grave!".

Khillaure steps back at the sudden reaction of the dwarf, concern clouding her
eyes as she raises her spear to a more defensive position. She steps forward
slowly and calls out to the frightened Rimli, trying to affect a soothing tone
to her voice as she speaks, "I would certainly hope not, friend, though if you
insist I'm afraid I'll have to oblige."

A bitter simle appears on Rimli's face as he notices the small figure . "You
doesn't look like a spider neither an orc, stranger, and indeed to die by your
spear will not be worst than to starve in this evil wood. So, who might you be
?" he smirks without secreting his dagger

Khillaure glances down at herself and chuckles, shaking her head slowly from
side to side, "I would hope that I am far more pleasant to behold than one of
those fell creatures, friend. I am Khillaure, a commander in King Thranduil's
guard, protector of his lands and friend to the dwarves. You have my word that
you need not fear me." She lowers her spear and steps forward once again,
coming closer to the naughrim that he may see that she means him no harm, "And
now that you know who I am, may I ask the same of you?"

With a loud laughter and a friendly sparkle in his eyes Rimli says "People who
live in this wood have not been always friendly to us dwarves, but I'm not in
the position to question about the companship I've found." Then he briskly
hides his dagger, and showing his bare open hands he continues: "Now I'm not
dangerous anymore. All I need is some food and a dry place to rest for the
night. Tomorrow I'll come back to the Mountain, if you show me the way." After
a ceremonious bow he finally says "Rimli the Ereborian at your service and your
family's"

Khillaure curtsies and smiles in response to the dwarf's actions, "Well met,
master Rimli, but it would seem that it would be best if I were in your service
for awhile." She chuckles softly at her own joke, taking in the sight of the
poor bedraggled dwarf, and speaks softly as if to herself, "It seems that I
have stumbled upon another of that wayward group..... Attacked by spiders, I
would presume, and scattered to the four winds?" She raises her voice slightly
and directs the last part to Rimli.

...(one pose missing)

Khillaure nods her head curtly and motions the dwarf to follow her, answering
his questions as they move along, "Aye, my camp is not far from here, and I
think you will be pleased to find one of your friends among us."