Dusk has just passed and now is the time of twilight, that last bit before night fully falls. Crickets chirrup in the woods and fireflies dance along the path and between the trees, and somewhere close by a nightingale sings a lovely tune.

Mia emerges into the crossroads suddenly and with no warning. She is simply there one moment when she was not there before, the tress and buches behind her concealing any number of paths in their dense foliage. A casual air hangs about her, but she looks about expectantly as if waiting for some event...


Dropping down from a mallorn to the North of the crossroads, Varya appears in the crossroads without a sound to betray his entrance. Silently looking about the crossroads, he starts a slow pace towards the Banneret, a salute coming as he moves. "Mae govannen, Banneret."


"Oof!" A small Aderthad elleth had been sitting under a tree not far from where Mia had appeared. Startled, she had bolted to her feet, tripped on her new blue and silver dress which had been exchanged for the one which had been ruined in Fangorn, and fell forward, stick rolling forward to lie before Knight-Banneret's feet. A small rip announces a new tear in her hem. Sitting up, she inspects the bottom of her dress, cheeks turning a decisive pink. Getting to her feet carefully this time, she tries to sneak toward the adult in front of her in order to safely retrieve her "sword".


Arriving silently to the sign is the Knight Erucolindo, cowl arranged high on fair elven head as the sure-footed edhel makes his silent entrance to the crossroads. He does not speak, or yet make any gesture those here gathered, he but stands a while, peering out with keen glinted eyes towards the scene around him. The Banneret as she presents herself, relaxed yet attentive, and the small child as she scrabbles for some lost item of treasure.


"I'm not skeerded." Whispers a little Alakadoliel as she tiptoes along the Forest Path. The elleth of 7 holds her little fists upon her chin as her bright blue eyes dart back and forth over the shadows beside the path. "Nopes, not me. Big bad wooofes won't get me." she whispers a little louder. Her soft pink clothing seems to reflect the starlight and as she prances on the tips of her toes she looks almost like a strange pink cloud moving along the ground.

The little elleth stops suddenly when she hears voices just up ahead and she gasps. Her eyes grow wide, but innocent curiosity spurs her to move closer. Reaching out a tiny hand she pushes away a large leaf of a bush to peer ahead. Catching sight of big ones she visibly relaxes and she jumps up and down in childish excitement. "Peeks on you!" she shouts in excitement as she bounces into the clearing to get a better look at the big ones.


Giggling at the elleth who was startled by Mia, Tinwedhel runs around on the crossroads towards her. But he also stops short as he notices the weapons and backs off a little, bumping into Varya. "Oops, sorry." He looks up at the Squire with big eyes, most apologetic. He turns around and backs off a bit, careful not to bump anyone this time.


From the south, voices can clearly be hear. Or one of them is clear at least, the other is a deep lazy mumble.

"What did it say again? What do you think they'll make us do? How come I have to do this anyways?" The questions tumble out in a high childish voice, to be followed immediately by, "If I don't like it, I'm not staying!"

An adult's voice rumbles in reply, its tone somewhat amused. And not too long afterwards, a small brown-haired boy clutching a bow appears from the path; followed by a tall edhel. Rhibi stops abruptly, eyes that are hazel in the dimness lighting up. He takes a step backwards, bumping into his father's legs and looks up, twisting his head around and saying in an accusing whisper, "You didn't tell me SHE was going to be here!" The vintner gives his small son a gentle shove forwards, nods to the Knight Banneret and turns towards a nearby tree. "I will be waiting here, Iaurfer. Mind you listen and do as you're told." He leans up against his chosen tree and closes his eyes, seeming to merge into the trunk and becoming hardly visible. His son takes a few steps forward, impelled from behind and then stops. The other children are ignored for now, instead, he just stands and stares at Mia.


The appearance of the Squire Varya is noticed as silent as he may be, and though the newly demoted member of the Order may recieve an odd welcome from some, the Banneret is not one. She nods to him and returns his salute with a smile, just as her foot slips forward and the toe of her boot overlaps the stick now within her path. "Mae govannen, Varya." Mia says softly. "I was afraid we might have to wait for our other guests, but I think they may have us surrounded."

She lets her eyes wander, a pause here, a slight hesitation there... each moment marking a child in the woods or... a Knight on a path. She nods slightly to Erucolindo and then moves on. The woodland confection in pink, the boy now bouncing off the Squire... and then the wide-eyed Rhibi. Yes, they have all arrived. "More than I had expected, to be sure." She nods to Rhibi's father as he steps to the side, "I think once word of this spreads you may have to fend them off with a stick, Varya. Remember what was spoken of earlier... I want you to stay at the base of the hill and watch carefully." With a quick motion of her hand, she waves Erucolindo over to join their conversation.


Heeding the signal of the Banneret, Erucolindo takes not more than a few strides and joins the gathering, black cowl now removed and his fair elvish features revealed to those present. A brief salute does he offer the Banneret, more from custom than from any feeling of need to, yet formalities are formalities, and adhered to by this Gweth Mellyrn as he stands, attentive and wide eyed, countenance set in stifled amusement at the children gathered nearby.


As a child bumps into the Squire, Varya's form spins around slowly so as to face the small edhil that stands there. A soft smile is given as the Sindar only nods his head in acceptance of the apology. But, turning back to the Banneret, and a glance is given to all the edhel arriving in the area. The Sinda laughs softly, "Yes, we are vastly outnumbered." But, that is all that he speaks, and he falls into silence, gaze drifting about the area, as if searching for others.


Still bouncing on her toes Alakadoliel looks around in wonder at the other children. By appearances this only serves to excite her. "Momma said this would be fun for me and daddy says it might wear me out and mamma said it would be a good chance for me to learn things that will help me when I'm older and daddy...." the little elleth rambles on and on until she has to stop and take a big breath. "And daddy says he'll get some quiet. Quiet is good I think since mommy is always making me practice it."

Taking another breath, she looks up at the big elf with bright blue innocent eyes. "Is that what you think mister?" she asks of Erucolindo. "Is quiet a good thing since my mommy and daddy want me to do it so much? And how come you have a black thing around your neck? I like pink, do they let you wear pink things around your neck when your older?" She looks at the Banneret with a hopeful expression. "They do let you wear pink right lady?"

Led hand in hand, briskly with short legs doubling pace, skipping step or two, hopping, running a pace or whatever else should keep him abreast with his mother, stern and cool, a Sinda blonde with mahogany headed offspring, Thurinvir is brought sharply to within sight of the group - a disdain clear in youthful eyes rolling about, but unseen by endlessly gabbing mother.

Swathed in deep purple with green sash, the lady should seem nobility, or at least wish to give the impression, fidgeting over son as she stoops before him saying, "Now, Thuri, you be a good boy for Momsies, its a pretty night and you promised Mommy you'd be nice." Her voice groes clear with belying imperative, tucking his shirt, adjusting his baby-blue over-coat, stuffing handkerchief crisply in the pocket.

"But of course, mommy-dearest, I love my friends and daddy promised this would be fun," answers the troublesome sprite, mock naivety spread sugar-sweet over sparkling blue eyes. He shuffles at the feet, she pats him on the head, and promptly the two part ways, she busied speaking notes to herself as she passes, he swiftly pinching the nearest arm as he joins with the rest.


The small boy who was bumping into everyone has somehow managed to land up near Alakdoliel. "Ew, I wouldn't want to wear pink when I grow up. I think adults forget about color when they grow up anyway." he says solemly, looking at the older elves. "Is that right?" he asks, looking at Erucolindo, "Did you forget about color? Couldn't we wear green? I like green." He nods sternly. "I'm going to wear green when I'm as big as you."


Through the trees, another of these little forms emerge, albeit slowly: Taudhoron wends a meandering path through underbrush and tree, picking out pebbles amidst the litter of the leaf-strewn forest floor. Now and then he glances towards the towering mellyrn -- and thus he catches the form of Iauranc to the south, and more importantly, the brown-haired child beside him. "Rhibi! Over here." A smooth stone is shoved quickly into an already-bulging pocket as he trots towards the gathering group of Quendi.


Rhibi's eyes stay fixed intently on Mia, it appears he might be trying to memorize her every word and action. But the sound of his name brings his head around and he breaks into a grin. "Cabor!" The stone gets an appreciative glance. "Hey, I want one, where'd you get it?" And he kicks at the ground speculatively as he walks.


"And Eruc," Mia says as she turns her head to the Knight, "I want you as our eyes here. Try not to let any of them by you, hear?" A moment is spared to give the pink woodland confection a thoughtful and serious look. "I prefer lavender, myself, but pink works just as well. But when you wish to blend in and not be noticed... well, tis best to be less obvious. And who could take their eyes off such a vision as yourself?" She grins and walks a few feet away, then turning towards those gathered and raising her voice for all to hear.

"I thank you for joining us here tonight. This first meeting is simple enough, but I hope it will provide some entertainment while teaching those who are being punished here tonight," Mia glances at Varya pointedly, "An important lesson. We are to have a race among the children in which speed will be important, but more so is your ability to sneak. You showed us you could do it once before... I wish to see for myself how good you are. Did we underestimate you... or overestimate our guards? Hmmm, yes... it should prove to be insightful. The goal is to make it to the top of Cerin Amroth and enter what you find there. The first child to do so wins the race" She pauses for a moment to fix each child with a look. "Any questions before we begin?"


Smiling down at the young edhil would anyone find Erucolindo should they look at him at this precise moment, face lit up with radiance at the amusement and innocence of those gathered about him, banter as cradle-born as one could imagine washes amongst his ears. No reply does he offer the children who direct questions in his way, but a rosy wide-lipped smile he will afford them as the Banneret continues. As she finishes, he stands upright, ready and raring to begin.

"Watch out for the scary Knight!" he adds, jokingly. "Anyone caught by Erucolindo gets...well, you'll find out!" A laugh does permeate from between the fair Silvan lips. "So be careful!" he adds, standing ready to await instruction.


After he said the last thing, someone pinched him. "Owwwww." he moans, as it was quite a sore one. Tears swell up in his eyes and he clutches his arm, rubbing the sore point. Between sniffs, he tries to listen to what the elleth, Mia, is saying, but can't concentrate through the soreness of the pinch. He blinks and tries to look for the person who did it, but didn't actually see the culprit, so can't possibly locate the one. (Tinwedhel)


Grinning back at Rhibi, Taudhoron draws the smooth pebble forth again and quickly draws abreast of the other. "My father gave it to me. Look." He tilts the stone back and forth, casting what moonlight still filters through the overhead branches towards the natural markings on its face. "It looks like one of those swanships at the river, don't you think?" He holds it on the flat of his palm for a moment, then looks up as Mia speaks. "What's everyone doing--" He starts to ask Iaurfer softly, then cuts off at Erucolindo's display. "You don't scare me."


Alakdoliel looks at the little ellon who speaks beside her. And when he comments about her beloved pink the little elleth's eyes grow wide and begin to water as her little mouth puckers into a pout. "No pink?" she whimpers as her lower lip quivers. "But, but, I like pink." Clutching the hem of her most favorite outfit, she snaps her head back to the big ones, casting a hurt and worried expression towards them. A tear rolls down her right cheek and her lower lip trembles. "It's not true is it? Do you really really forget about color when you're all grown up?" she asks, ending her words with a sniffle. It looks as if she is going to start crying at any second.

As suddenly as the tears formed the Banneret's words calmed her and she turns on the little ellon with fire in her blue eyes. Poking a finger at his chest she scrunches her nose and makes a face at him. "Don't skeerded me again." she says jerking her head downwards in a firm nod. "That lady there says pinks works." she says as she points at Mia with a little finger. "Meanie! I don't like meanies and you are a meanie and I'm gonna tell my daddy and he's going to be mad at you cuz he love me and won't let anyone be mean to me. Say your sorry or I'm telling my mommy too and you're going to be in so much trouble, just you wait and see!" she rambles without really looking at the ellon.


Rhibi bends his head over the stone, messy brown hair falling into his eyes and being impatiently shoved aside. "It does." Disappointed that he doesn't have a stone too, he scuffs the ground again, but with less hope this time. Just then Mia begins to speak and Taudhoron, rock and all, is forgotten until she is done. Then he nudges his friend gleefully in the ribs. "It's a race!"


Having skipped quickly away amongst the bustle of the voices, the speach of the Banneret, the cry of his victim, Thurinvir shuffles closer to Alakdoliel, her protest seeming camouflage. And louder then the one he created. Giggling triumphantly, hands clasped behind his back now he looks about, eyes searching everywhere as if their lack of landing should signal truth in his false innocence.

Stifling his laughter with little success, he kicks at a clod of dirt, taunting in support of the other then, "Meaaaanie, Meaaaanie, meanie-nini-nini!"


Mia looks about one last time. "No? Then I wish you all good luck and I will see you... or not, at the top of the hill. Just remember this, you must sneak by each guard and if they see you as you go by you must try again." The disturbance so close to her is hardly something she can ignore, and so with a firm and loud clearing of her throat she announces herself to the bickering children. "Some of you likely won't be able to keep quiet long enough, I'm sure, or resist the temptation to cause trouble, but I highly recommend you refrain." She turns her eyes slowly and deliberately towards Rhibi. "And be aware that you don't really know where we will be... or when we will be watching you."

She nods to Varya and motions east, her own feet making tracks in that direction as well.


Closing his fist over the pebble as he is jostled, Taudhoron grins even more widely, bright eyes switching from Rhibi to the indicated hill. "Oooh, a race? Really? I wish Gailglin were here..." Yet for the second time tonight, he is drawn to a commotion -- Thurinvir and a girl-child this time. Taudhoron regards Alakdoliel for a moment, then he shoots Iaurfer one of those Looks. "Girls."


The ruckus around him brings an expression of lofty superiority to Rhibi's face. For after all /he/ has a bow and SHE said he was special. His freckled (although you can hardly tell it through the dirt) nose tilts disdainfully up into the air. Mia's gaze, and the words seemingly directed at him, bring a hurt look to his face. "I wasn't doing anything!" he protests. SHE is already leaving however, and for a minute, he wavers between running after her or staying.


Casting a sharp glare at Thurinvir, Varya says nothing to the young edhil. Shifting his gaze to the Banneret, he listens silently to the words that are spoken. Only after she finishes does he move silently to the east.


Catching enough of the instructions even amidst his poorly contained laughter, Thurinvir takes his chance - to get away clean with no report back for mommy dearest. Even as the guards begin their movements eastwards he too moves, slowly in shadowed step, ducking low past bush.. and stopping. Crawling then along the grass he moves towards the hill top, foot by scampering foot.


Alakdoliel looks up at the big lady with big blue innocent eyes. "Quiet is an important thing." she whispers in awe as if she had just come to understand something being taught to her over her short years. She looks at the other children and busts out her chest in pride. "I can be sneaky." she hops up and down on her toes with excitement.

Pausing her hopping for a moment she looks around wondering where it is she's suppose to go. Her littl mouth frowns slightly, but she catches sight of Thurinvir leaving and she smiles. Her hands go under her chin, clutched in little fists as if she is scrunching herself into a smaller figure for the game. Rising up on the tip of her toes she looks to the east and starts to tiptoe along the side of the path. It is clear that she hopes to sneak past the big ones.


The other children are leaving one by one and Rhibi forgets his injured pride in excitement. His beloved bow still clutched firmly in one miraculously clean hand, he sidles around behind Taudhoron and edges into the trees along the eastward path. And as quietly as possible, each foot set down with care, he creeps away after the others.


Clutching her hands over her mouth, trying her very best to keep quiet, Alakdoliel looks back to see if she'd been caught. Still on tip toes, she moves through the brush along the path, almost afraid to have her pretty pink cloths seen. Excitement flashes in her eyes as she pauses to look around.


Face flushed happily, Rhibi continues his careful progress through the trees. Once, the bow he refuses to set down almost catches on a branch and he stops, eyes wide with fear. But no noise results from the near-mishap and he relaxes and returns to his careful journey.


His breath heavier, the gentle mist of the early night in Dwimordene sweeping cool in the soft kiss of the breeze, Thurinvir continues sliding over the ground, lifting at length to look about. Still no one in sight. Back into the grass, but now with the shadow of one of the hilltop's trees in his sites, moving quickly, silently and desperate to take home the prize. The rest of them got to go to Fangorn, after all..


Bitting her lower lip to keep from giggling, the little elleth takes another step and begins to sneak up the hill. Her bright blue eyes flash nervously over the landscape as she looks for signs of both children and big ones. Still on her tiptoes she moves carefully along the path and moves up the mound.


Wind travels up the slopes of Cerin Amroth tonight, shaking branches, rustling leaves, heavy-laden with the scent of earth and song of of growing things -- or is that the rasp of cloth on bark, and a small, crouching form? Carefully, carefully, Taudhoron sneaks his way up, only pausing at the outer ring of trees. His free hand hovers protectively over one bulging pockets; the other is still clenched into a fist.


Not having been called back, Tindwedhel goes on, pushing past bushes in the dark, continuing along as silently as he can, trying not to let the darkness scare him. He glances at the one called Varya, trying to be careful not to be caught by him and goes at quite a slow pace.


The sight of the watchful guard makes Rhibi slow to be even more cautious. Almost holding his breath, he creeps from one tree to the other, staying in the shadows as much as possible.


From Down, A voice wafts through the air, obviously from the base of Cerin Amroth. An edhil has been spotted. "Come back to the base of the hill, Alakdoliel." And that is all that the Squire Varya speaks, for now.

From Down, A voice wafts through the air, obviously from the base of Cerin Amroth. An edhil has been spotted. "Come back to the base of the hill, Thurinvir." And that is all that the Squire Varya speaks, for now.

From Down, A voice wafts through the air, obviously from the base of Cerin Amroth. An edhil has been spotted. "Come back to the base of the hill, Tinwedhel." And that is all that the Squire Varya speaks, for now.

From Down, A voice wafts through the air, obviously from the base of Cerin Amroth. An edhil has been spotted. "Come back to the base of the hill, Taudhoron." And that is all that the Squire Varya speaks, for now.


With gusto and desire now heavy in unseen eyes, Thurinvir stops suddenly, the ladder shimmering in starlight from the talan down to the smooth grass. "What to do what to do," he whispers in near breathless haste, only to be caught! Embarrassment takes him, as panicked he finds no other option to begin running. Not in the direction of the guards, but southwards swiftly, step after skipping step in a flash of blue and mahogany hair, seeking mother and escape before he gets caught.


Barely making it up the hill, Alakdoliel cringes when she hears a big one call her name. With drooping shoulders she stands upright and stomps down the hill towards the one who'd called her name. Her lower lip pouts heavily. "Bet it was the pink he diesn't like. I was really really quiet, I know I was, I practice lots." she complains as she makes her way down the hill.


Here where the trees thin and the grass takes over, it is a little harder to find cover, but crouching low, Rhibi works his way up to the top of the hill. The bow is held close to his body, away from the ground. Shouting from the bottom of the hill freezes him in place again, and he listens breathlessly - No. None of the names were his. A gleeful grin spreads itself across his face and he starts on his way again.


And at the shouts, a shadowed form returns to the beeches, silently returning downhill.


The top of Cerin Amroth is ringed by the crowns of trees that begin down at the hill's base and some that are not quite as magnificent, but the very, very top of the hill is bare. Bare, that is, except for a a large, clear bubble hanging suspended in the air. It bobs gently on air currents, but it never goes too high and it never shakes wildly. It is quite peaceful, really, and it almost seems to beckon one foreward.

Of Mia or any living creature, there is no sign.


Rhibi stops again, this time to look around. Carefully, he peers at all the trees he can see, checking the shadows for the guard he knows is supposed to be there. But he sees no one and nothing unusual until his eyes land on a strange floating thing. That must be it. And as quietly as he is able, he approaches the oddity.


Mia spies Rhibi trying to sneak by. In a loud, clear voice she calls out "Birds fly past and snakes crawl by, but Rhibi is the one I spy!" Her voice comes from everywhere at once.


The voice of his idol echos from everywhere around and Rhibi stands up and turns around. Chagrin at being caught wars with triumph at being the only one to make it this far on his small dirt-besmeared face. But still she is not in sight. "Where are you?" he calls out at last.


A whisper of a voice on a soft breeze ruffling Rhibi's hair answers him. "Look not with your eyes, mellon. They betray you more than they can help sometimes."


From Down, A voice wafts through the air, obviously from the base of Cerin Amroth. An edhil has been spotted. "Come back to the base of the hill, Taudhoron." And that is all that the Squire Varya speaks, for now.

From Down, A voice wafts through the air, obviously from the base of Cerin Amroth. An edhil has been spotted. "Come back to the base of the hill, Alakdoliel." And that is all that the Squire Varya speaks, for now.


A large bubble bobs gently on the bare top of Cerin Amroth, urging those who see it to step inside.


Bewildered by the incomprehensible advice, Rhibi nonetheless makes an attempt at following it. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut and crouching down, he feels about with one hand for the next step, slowly making his way back up towards the remembered floating bubble.


"Rhibi...." She calls out softly. "However did you get past my guards? Were they sleeping... or are you off tonight?"


Rhibi's shoulders slump dejectedly. Caught again. But a small gloating smile appears on his face at the question. "They didn't see me," he replies. "Or before either." Now he stands up and trudges back to his starting spot once again. "You must be much better than they are." Admiration fills his tone even though he still hasn't any idea where the Banneret is.


Hearing a call for others, but not for himself, Tinwedhel smiles a bit and looks around the area, trying to see other people who have made it, laughing silently in his mind as others are called away. He stares off into the dark, not seeing much, becomming a little scared.


Mia spies the young edhel Rhibi, but as he is far ahead of the others she is fairly sure of her next move. As he disappears into the bubble, she reaches up and pushes her hand through the thin membrane and pulls him out the back and over towards a cluster of bushes. "A moment while the others try their hand. Unless one manages to pass me, you are the one to win this race, Rhibi." She whispers to him and then moves back to her position to watch.


After having his look around, Tinwedhel decides that by this time it's ok to move on, seeing as he hasn't been called yet. His fear lowers as he starts to have more fun sneaking around. He continues up, hiding in bushes, moving slowly and as silently as possible in the shadows.


Mia spies Tinwedhel trying to sneak by. In a loud, clear voice she calls out "Birds fly past and snakes crawl by, but Tinwedhel is the one I spy!" Her voice comes from everywhere at once."


Coming back down, Tinwedhel tries to figure out where exactly the voice came from. He looks frantically around the mound, searching for others, a touch of fear returning to the small boy.


Just as Rhibi thinks he has finally made it, a hand grabs his arm pulling him back out of the prize. Mia's whispered words bring a glow of delight and pride to his face and he crouches in the bushes to watch the other children.


Hands reach out and grab Tinwedhel before he can make it back to the starting point, and secnds later he has joined Rhibi while the Banneret returns once more to her perch. "And still they come...:


Finally, finally, no call comes. Starlight is refracted every which way by the bubble that holds Taudhoron transfixed; a moment more he stands, half-turned down hill, as though ensuring that no the squire did not catch him. And he edges closer towards the...thing, uncertain.


And the last one arrives. Mia watches him and follows his movements as she did the other two, and as with them she draws him forth and scurries him to the hiding spot. Once there, she smiles at them all. "Three of you have made it, and fortunate it is because we now have first, second and third place." She reaches back behind her and removes a deep bag from her back. Eyeing them for a moment, she reaches in and draws out three small packages. One is larger than the others and this she hands to Rhibi. "Aside from my respect for trying this, I am giving you a bit of a treat. They are not as good as what you will find in the village of the Beornings, but these are honey cakes made from their very on recipe." She grins broadly at them. "And I am working on the Commander to try and have you titled... " She admits a bit shyly.


The package is taken with an eager grin and the small boy seems ready to rip it open at once, but her words stop him. Open-mouthed as well as wide-eyed, Rhibi simply stares at Mia for several long minutes before he breathes, "A title? For me?" Ecstatic, he turns and races headlong down the hill, calling at the top of his lungs, "Father! FATHER!! Wait until you hear..."