"My name is Aiwendil. It's nice to meet you Silica," he said, smiling.

She returned his smile, seeming a bit more composed. "It's nice to meet you too," she said.

Aiwendil said, "Feeling a little more calm?"

Romestamo thanked the Gondorian guardsmen as he passed through the gate. The territories of Gondor, or indeed, the Reunited Kingdom, had increased far into the East and South since the crowning of King Elessar, Aragorn son of Arathorn. The wizard knew that he still dwelt at times in the citadel of Minas Tirith, known now as Minas Anor. The ancient city of Osgiliath had been rebuilt, but the former Ranger had been loth to relocate from the Tower of the Guard so swiftly. It was with him, and his family, that he wished to speak concerning the return of the Dark Lord.

Continuing down the wide, well-paved road, he seemed nothing more than an old man wrapped in blue robes. His neck and shoulders were concealed by a warm, green mantle, and be bore a wooden staff, adorned with a single sapphire inlaid into the top. Hidden in his tunic was a great secret he had hidden even from Curumo and Olorin, those who had come to be called Saruman and Gandalf. The only indication of what the secret may have been lay in his Valinorean name, Pallando 'Far-sighted. Only Morinehtar had ever discovered what he was truly hiding.

Coming to a divide in the pavement, he looked at the signs carefully and followed the one announcing; 'Horse and Pony Market'. The establishment was not far, and it took only minutes for Romestamo to spot the white and chestnut beasts corralled together. He spent some time examining each animal, running his bony hand down their silky forelocks alike to the manner of the Men of Rohan. At last he decided upon one, paid with what little coin he had, and promptly named the steed Erurainon 'Eru is gracious'. He was a sturdy beast, and swift of foot. There may even have been a little Mereas blood in him, but even the far-sightedness of Pallando could not tell for certain.

He set off in the early afternoon, taking few provisions and naught but a small flask of miruvor the Elvish cordial. There would be many villages and settlements along his road, for the Men of Gondor had increased in the eastward lands. He set off at a good pace, meaning to continue until late evening. His ill tidings, dire as they were, would have to reach the King swiftly - within months, the final End could take place.

"I wonder how far away is Rivendell... Maybe I'm lost, but I can not be, I'm still on the road... Maybe I'm just losing my mind, obviously I am because I am talking with myself..."

Silica nodded. "I wonder what happened to my father...and my brother..." she mused, looking at the sky. Now that she wasn't blinded by fear, she felt that it was beautiful outside today.

"Hm...I don't know...but something doesn't feel right...We should hurry to Rivendell. Maybe there someone will know what's happening."

Silica nods, now urgent. "Let's go," she said, starting to walk again.

Aiwendil walked with her, while glancing around to make sure there wasn't some kind of creature following them.

Silica would occasionally bite her lip, lost in thought. She noticed that the trees began to thin out.

The next morning, Lyra was gathering provisions she would need to make her way to Rivendell. She was giddy yet at the same time nervous. She had never been around elves but her father had taught her to speak as if she was one of their own. She sighed lightly, packing what she thought she might need to make the trip across the vast country. Her brother was making the rounds without her today, she would make sure she said farewell to him before she left. Taking her things out to the stables, tacking up her black horse and placing her belongings into saddlebags. She had an olive colored cape on with her bow on one of her hands and a quiver at her back. A short sword at her side and two daggers kept on the back of her belt that rested just on the small of her back.

She brought Kuran out of the stables and met her father, who was there to see her off. Once she had said goodbye to her father, and telling him to be careful until she returned with good news, she would ride out of the white city to meet with her brother who would see her to the outskirts of Osgiliath before he would head back home. The two talked and Lyra promised to return hopefully soon with some news. She bid farewell to her brother and rode away towards Rivendell, being mindful of her surroundings on her way there.

Vevila rode quickly through the familiar roads and back roads towards Rivendell. As she was riding and humming to herself, she saw two traveling figures in the distance. She quickened her horses pace to get a better look. It was a man in robes, and an small girl. She quickened her horses pace once again to catch up to them, then slowed to their speed.

"Hello there!" She almost sang the words. "Need a ride?"

Kalina gradually picked up her pace until she was panting for breath between each stride. Had she not been as fit as she were, Kalina might have found herself collapsed a while back. Somewhere off to her left, where she knew the road to be, she heard the sound of hooves trampling the dirt. The sound grew louder then faded as the group of horses continued on without knowledge of her presence. Finally she had to stop to catch her breath, stopping by a small stream for a drink of water. Sitting beside her on a branch was a small bird watching her curiously. Smiling warmly she prompted the critter to perch on her finger, speaking to it softly. "I seem to have lost those closest to me. If you happen to see any elves in the area could you let me know?" The bird chirped cheerfully and took off, flying above the tree line and down the road, following a band of horses led by a single rider.

Silica walked alongside him, hearing birds chirping. "We're here," she said.

Aiwendil smiled. "Yeah. Maybe now you can find out what happened to your dad and brother." He put down his hood, revealing that he appeared to be about her age, maybe a year or two older.

She had finally got the old man and the girl in the back of her cart, when Vevila heard a noise in the forest.
"Wait here." She said to the two. If it was wolves, they could be attempting to hunt her horses. She would have to take care of them.
She drew the short elven blade her father had given her, and cautiously waded through the underbrush. She ducked under a low branch, and came across an Elvish girl speaking to a bird.
Vevila gasped at her beauty, and immediately blushed at the sight of the most beautiful creature she had ever seen.
Spark shook her head and swallowed her infatuation. "U-Um, excuse me..." She started cautiously. "I... what are you doing in the forest?"
Vevila didn't even know why she had asked, she could have very well just turned around and left but...she wanted to talk to this girl.

Kalina heard the footsteps and deemed their owner harmless long before the girl had made an appearance. She turned her head slowly, deliberately, with a slow and kind smile. "Would you be less surprised to find me under a mountain?" She asked with good humor, raising up to her full height. "I am Kalina Greenleaf, daughter of Legolas son of Thranduil. I wander the forest in hopes of finding my missing family members." Her eyes dimmed somewhat, thinking about the blood left behind on the grass. "You haven't seen any of my kin running around, have you?"

arowne97 said
Aiwendil smiled. "Yeah. Maybe now you can find out what happened to your dad and brother." He put down his hood, revealing that he appeared to be about her age, maybe a year or two older.

Her eyes went wide, and she blushed ever-so-slightly. "Yeah, hopefully," she said.

The little hobbit attempted to lean on a tree, but missed the tree completely. She cleared her throat. "No, I can't say that I have. You're the first elf I've seen all day..." She paused, then added. "Kalina was it? And you're Legolas' daughter? I'm Vevila Baggins, but my friends call me Spark...." She winced, cursing herself for sharing her embarrassing childhood nickname. "My father was Frodo Baggins. He and your father were good friends." Vevila sheathed her sword, clicking it into place. She had forgotten she had it out. "Would you like a ride? I've got a cart, you can sit in front with me if you'd like. I'm headed toward Rivendell, maybe you're family will be somewhere around there...?" Her voice trailed off. She was beating herself up internally. She had no idea why she was offering up all this information to a complete stranger.

He chuckled when he saw her blush. "Well, shall we enter the great Elven city?"