they were too far too tasty. Ellaryn chewed the sweet and succulent berries as she approached Aelin and Ofnir. She absentmindedly reached out and helped herself too even more, before she knew it she stood beneath the towering form of Lyanna. She looked up at her impressive stance, the sword held ready in her hand, and held up her own small hand offering some of the sweet berries.

"Mpppfft, mmm hur velly gud." she swallowed her mouthful and spoke to Aelin "Sorry, I still don't hear anything."

Ellaryn spotted spotted more fruit close by and quickly picked more berries, filling her mouth with the delicious bounty of the oasis.

"We are at the source of my melody - Can you not hear it?"

”Yes, indeed... We can hear that, whatever it is.” Ofnir stood besides Aelin, looking around himself, then down at the ground, then up at the sky. He did not know what he was looking for, but he kept searching nonetheless with his squinting old eyes. A flock of birds flew above them. Very strange... The first animals we see here. He figured the air above the oasis shared its eternal springtime. Can it rain here? he asked himself, imagining a warm spring shower coming down from those high clouds.

”Curiously shaped trees, don't you all think?” he asked, pointing at them with his staff. The brown barks of the trees in front of them was on an almost imperceptibly higher ground, clear of all other tree growth. The thick trees went up and then curved towards each other to meet and intertwine in the air, forming a portal-like shape through which the wood on the other side was clearly seen. The sparse leaves that grew on the branches were silver on the underside and yellowish on the top side and they each shone in its peculiar way. There were only stones on the ground, but grass had grown over and through them many years ago. Still, to a keen eye, their flattened shapes gave a sketch of an old path leading to the center of the small clear area. The tune still went on from its unknown source. As if the air played a song on itself, Ofnir thought.

”Hmmm.” He looked around once more and then went on towards the weird tree. A dozen or so steps he passed through the tree arch. Turning back, he saw his companions. ”Come here!” he said, observing the portal. ”This place is too...strange to be a accidental.” He looked up. ”Look. See how the leaves move as I speak. Each word makes them move in a certain pattern. When I stop, they swing slowly to this strange tune we're hearing. What make you of that?”

Thurin's curiosity had already been piqued once the strange music had wafted into the clearing like a curious scent. He hoisted himself up, and didn't bother putting the boots back on his thick and callused feet before he approached toward Ofnir and his path. There was a bit of water still dripping off his feet as he stomped over, ape-like and powerful arms swaying side to side, fists enclosed.

"I do not believe any part of this place is accidental." he said, huffing through his beard. The mere thought was absurd, but there must be something more to what was going on than Thurin was privvy to. Ofnir wasn't stupid and wouldn't say things without meaning off handedly. Thurin sword Wizards were sometimes as conniving as Elves, and could say yes and no at the same time without effort.

Ellaryn followed the others, she watched as Ofnir pointed out the tree archway, she squinted her eyes almost closed trying to see the leaves movement. There was something there, or was it just the breeze? Swallowing the last of the berries she looked about for something else to eat.

Walnuts and plenty about, windfall and easy to get too. Eagerly she reached and gathered and good handful. Then she heard it, a subtle sigh or a breath of tune. It seemed timeless, enchanting and mesmerizing. All at the same time, how had she missed such a beautiful sound?

She also spotted the smooth stone part hidden by the grass, only for her it was a tool. Walnuts at the ready she hummed quietly as she went to draw her short sword and cracked open each shell with it's hilt. The sound and her own chewing soon lost the eerie song in the glade, but the memory was there and she did her best to hum along.

The delicious walnuts and her own chomping teeth, soon ended her attempts and she almost sad that her own noises drowned out the subtle song about them. She turned to Aelin and asked "What would...hmmm, tasty...happen if you...<crunch> just another piece...sang the same song?"

Ellaryn didn't really wait for a reply as she already went to gather more walnuts and crack them open.

”Yes!” Ofnir said, ”Yes! Wonderful!” How could he have missed something so obvious? Perhaps his earthly form was finally giving up.

He turned around and scrambled his way through the grass back to the company. ”Do as she says!” he tapped Ellaryn on the head with his staff. He suddenly loved the little hobbit even more and wished her all the delicious desserts Middle-Earth cold provide, and those beyond, too. And who knows, there might be many of them -- and much more -- if her plan works.

He looked at the archway and squinted. Passwords, passwords... They always have a password. A word, always. But not this one. A tune this time, so that Orome's folk could enter. ”And maybe go nearer, stand in front of it. The song must be the password. Orome would not have used words because elves could not master the language of the Valar.” He imagined the winds played sweet sounding songs in the West all the time.

His excitement then subsided and he grew stern in face. Galadriel's sword was drawn. ”Watch out, however, the rest of you. Be prepared, there might be traps, or guardians of the place asleep for Ages. This is but a brief rest in our quest, we can't let ourselves die before we've even started.”

Thurin muttered to himself as he followed the skipping old wizard and the munching Halfling. First it was cold, then it was hot. First there was a bear, now he didn't know when he'd see one. First they were on a journey, now there's a door! He knew there must be a tune or a poem in this somewhere, but he'd think on it later. Right now they had more important things to worry on, like a different song. "Oi, you mean that song the Elf back there was playing? Or you mean the tune we were hearing flowing into the Oasis just a second ago, because I don't think any of us have sung it, nor do I fancy we know how to replay it again. Unless ye got some wizard's trick."
If he had to take a guess, Ofnir did indeed have some plan, by Durin's beard.

Ellaryn swallowed a mouthful of walnuts as Thurin rattled off a series of questions. She tried to answer, shake her head, shrug, all as Thurin put his thoughts towards her and Ofnir. In the head she put herself in his way with hands on hips, silently hoping he would stop before barrelling into her small frame.

"Master Dwarf, I simply meant joining in. For that I think a little quiet so our Elven bard can ply his arts would be in order." In no way did Ellaryn seem to remember the loud cracking of walnut shells or her own noisy chewing as they approached the wooded archway. Brushing the remaining shell fragments away on her clothes, she continued.

"Your thoughts on the tune are wise, perhaps an accompaniment to the song, something that blends in with it..." She stepped to one side in thought wondering what the others were thinking. "One thing is for certain, my voice cannot possibly match that delightful sound."

---

Aelin played a few notes before having a dramatic break.

"Do we actually know what we are doing? Perhaps it would be better to just leave?"

"Do we actually know what we are doing? Perhaps it would be better to just leave?"

"My..."

The wizard saw the branches move. As Aelin played his instrument the leaves flickered as if sprinkled with dew, and he felt the roots move underneath their feet. Upon the bark of the trees then appeared burning ancient carvings that no one in Middle-Earth could any longer decipher, but their lines were not of mortal make. And neither was the song they then heard coming from the very earth and the water: a beautiful hymn of all living things it seemed.

But the most peculiar thing was saved for the end: with the final tones a bright light shone between the bending trunks and a hiss of water was heard bursting from the ground high into the air. A warm mist then lay all about them. Only the pale blue carvings of old could be seen in front of them, forming an arching doorway glowing in the mist.

The wizard, astounded, set his staff on fire, but it could not pierce the grey veil that hat fallen upon them. Only a lucent straight path was shown in front of them, leading forward under the radiant letters.

"Leave?! Not an option! On you go! All of you! Follow me!"

He went on along the path, leading them with his light. Then he came to a set of stone cut stairs leading down into a hall of stone, smooth-walled and narrow, with unlit lanterns on either side. He halted, peering into the darkness for a moment, and then moved on slowly. His foot touched the first step and the first set of lanterns sprang to life, much like those he had known in the house of the Lady of Lórien. A sense of safety came over him.

"It is safe, I reckon. So let us on!"

With that, he went down.

@Vas Khaleen@Gate Keeper@Azazaa@Tombprince@POOHEAD189

~burp~

Ellaryn quickly covered her mouth, more in amazement at the doorway that opened up before them all. Her eyes quickly tried to pierce the mist that fell around them all, but to no avail. Frowning she placed one hand on her short sword before Ofnir spoke that all was safe. He hadn't gone wrong yet, his abilities seemed just as good as Gandalf (though not for the last time, she wished to see fireworks again.)

"Well then, lead on." and quick as she could she made a last grab for some more walnuts before following Ofnir into the passageway.

The lanterns that sprang to life, as they moved onward, surprised her. They were unnatural and having no hand to light them made her a little unnerved. "I hope this will save a little time of our journey north." she spoke quietly and then kept silent. It didn't hurt to keep a watchful eye out, and with that followed close behind the "wizard in firework training" using him so the lit staff didn't shine on her small frame.

Elvish Sorcery? It must be! For what else could so control the aspects of nature as such? He hefted his Axe as the vines and branches twirled and moved on their own. Even Ofnir lending the catalyst to open the gateway did not null how wary this old soldier could not help but be. The mist seemed ominous to the paranoid Dwarf as well. Though let no bard sing nor no story teller regale the time when Thurin Stoutarm did not go into the breach! He breathed in deeply, and then marched forward after the excited Wizard and his companions. The diminutive Halfling did not seem to scared. Why should he be, then? He simply muttered something about 'Wizards and their tricks,' and strode forward into uncertainty.

'I've heard that, Thurin Dwarf-Master!' Ofnir said. 'One would think a dwarf would be more enthusiastic about dark places under the earth! On now! For you might be the first to find gems yet unseen by Durin's folk.'

As they went on the elvish lanterns began to glow before them further and further until at least they passed through an archway into a wider, cavernous hall. A gentle stream ran from the direction of the passage they had come from, and seven pillars held the roof carved from stone and many runes were set upon them. The ceiling was decorated with scenes from history, showing the awakening elves under the stars.

Ofnir held his staff up and light from it illuminated the hall, silent save for the murmur of the water.

'Well, Thurin... I assume you would prefer a smithy over elvish sentiments,' he said and looked about him. Suddenly the arch they passed through was shut by a sliding stone door, and no hand, or spell Ofnir knew, could move it.
'There's only one way out of this, it seems.'

Walking around with light he found that three more passages led from the hall. Above one was carved the 'V' rune; above one the 'N' rune; and above the third the 'T' rune.

'Elves indeed!' Ofnir said. 'These are the initial names of the three tribes of the elves, or so I think: Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri. It seems that we have a choice to make as to which path to tread, for I am afraid that as soon as we pass into one of these passages the door behind us will fall and no return will be possible.'

He sat down and lit his pipe. That always made his thinking easier. 'Take a rest, and think of what is to be done with our choice! The first path should be that of a journey and fairness, as as the way of the Vanyar; the second that of war and craft, as was the way of the Noldor; and the last the way of the lingering, but fair-voiced Teleri.' Smoke went up towards the ceiling and formed into swan-ships before disappearing in the gloom. 'And don't you dare do anything loud!'

@Vas Khaleen@Gate Keeper@Azazaa@Tombprince@POOHEAD189

Ellaryn could not believe that she was actually standing in Elven ruins. To be in a party of such strange and wonderful companions and to see the wonders of the Elves of old astonished her. Then the archway behind them was sealed tight. Ellaryn ran back and tried to figure the workings of the door to no avail. Ofnir advised to go onward and it seemed the party had no choice, but which path to take.

"There were more than one Elven people?" she whispered. She didn't fancy taken the middle archway of war and craft, she took her place near to Ofnir, thinking about the choices. "It seem seem to me that the archway of lingering would take longer and the archway of journey would get there quicker. I for one do not fancy the archway war, if this is some kind of riddle I would pick the archway of the Vanyar."

At least the room was well lit at present, she felt inside one pocket and pulled out an apple from the oasis. She looked at it, not feeling particularly hungry, offered it to Ofnir.

Thurin looked about, chewing a bit on his beard. "Well, this certainly does accommodate me more than the open air. I've not been inside a proper dwelling in far too many nights." Thurin said. He gazed about as Ofnir illuminated the hall with his magical staff. Then again, he still felt a bit uneasy, and when he heard this was wrought by Elves he knew that was the cause of it. He plopped down, and muttered that Ofnir was being loud himself. "Why must I contemplate the riddles of Elves?" he said to himself aloud. He was well and truly stuck, however. "I suppose the only Elves I know of are the Noldor. I doubt the caverns travel toward what they represent, just the right path in general?" He looked to the others, wondering their thoughts, then gave a 'bah' and went back to his own grumblings and lamentations. He knew little of Elves and their ways, but Noldor would be his choice.

Ellaryn looked over towards Thurin as he spoke. "No," it was a long drawn out 'no' and as she spoke its single syllable, her eyes opened that fraction wonder and her mouth dropped. "No, it couldn't be that simple Thurin," now her thoughts were on his words, she turned asked in a slightly bemused voice, "could Master Thurin be right? Could the right path really be....the right path?"

She shook her head, and wondered if it could be so.

"He might be right, Ellaryn; but he refuses to contemplate Elvish riddles, so he will never know!" Ofnir said, chewing on the wood of his pipe. "However I don't know the answer myself, and I am contemplating them, and have done so for years. . . ."

He got up and viewed all the paths carefully with a scowl. "The things is, all the Elves share the same fate -- or rather doom, depending on your attitude. Whichever path they choose, their goal is the same." He put his pipe away and coughed. "I suppose that all our options lead to the same destination. But the journey there is different depending which way we go."

It seemed to the wizard that each path spoke to the heart of each of them: master Dwarf was drawn to the path of craft as was understandable for one of his kind, and the young hobbit to the path of journey and adventure, and niceties. He had no doubt that Aelin would pick the arch of the Teleri, being a bard. He himself felt discouraged by the Noldorin path, knowing from tales what doom befell them in the North. The Teleri remained and lingered, unwilling to go, and then many died, killed by their own kin. That left the Vanyar, the most eager to go; and he was eager to go too.

"I agree with Ellaryn and think we should make for it fast. I would remind you of your freedom to abandon the quest at any time and to turn away and leave, but the path is closed now. I am afraid uncertainty is all I can offer now. So on we go to the left! Unless you want to stay here and go mad."

Ellaryn gave the Wizard a wink as she stood up and brushed herself off. "If you intend to stay, just don't expect me to feed you!" With that she checked her possessions and made sure her remaining walnuts were safe nimble fingers (she even gave herself a little slap when she reached for one.)

Not entirely accepting that Elves had indeed dug out these underground paths, she ventured to the left most archway and peered into its depths. Shrugging to herself she moved forwards, once her eyes got used to the dimness, and crept onward just within the shadows of Ofnir's lit staff.

She hoped, as she crept forward, that the Elvish lanterns were only behind them. She would look pretty "Tookish" if they suddenly lit up before her as she moved.

The Dwarf grumbled, taking the logic for what it was. He'd listen to the Wizard over Elvish concerns, for he had heard Wizards were often quiet welcome in the Eldar company for some strange reason. Perhaps it was their love of speaking in a way that was both truthful and deceptive all at once? He picked his gear up, and followed them. "You seem quiet animated, young Halfling," he noted as they walked. He'd seen that eager eye for what lay ahead before, in the eyes of one Bilbo Baggins.

Ellaryn froze and slowly turned her head around to face the Dwarf. "Nice as room is, I cannot but worry about us being locked away from the oasis." She tried her best not to comment on the young Halfling remark but, even her face betrayed her and flushed a little. "So you know, I'm 34 and all grown up now," she fully turned around and placed both hands on her hips in defiance. The pose came off in all eyes as very defiant, and also very young at the same time.

"We do need to move on, and now we're stuck down here, getting out and food will start to be a problem," she had been without food before and it wasn't pleasant. Hopefully she could make her supplies last a little longer and the sooner they were all out in the open again where game could be found, the better. She faced the tunnel once more, time to move onward, she thought to herself.

Thurin's normally stoic face became somewhat curious at the Hafling's huffs and puffs. "Sorry about that, lass. Meant no offense," he told her. He had to admit it was hard to tell if a Halfling was young or old, though much less so than an Elf he'd knew. "Thirty four is young by Dwarf reckoning. We are beardlings until we reach fifty years old, you know." He seemed like he truly did not want to start a confrontation with the only other one here that couldn't reach a man's waist with eye level.