Wednesday, September 24, 2003
He did not note the passing of the night for his thoughts lay troubled and only the rythmic footfall brought hope, If he could find again the path that led them to the hidden refuge, yet he had not found it, it had fallen to the ranger to discover it and he believed now that it was to the ranger they must look for help.
Willow-wand had not been willing to travel at night so the Strongbow had left him at the woods edge, promises given he would return shortly, now he stood a little south of the Limelight River looking out over vast plains of the East Emmet.
He wistled long and low, his eyes scanning the horizon,
"Soon dearheart." He wispered to the small form still held in his arms,
"Fear not for we shall find the way once more. I have not followed you into Mordor nor journeyed back to see you lost."
As he stood waiting he searched in his mind for the memory of the ranger, hoping to find some trace of him in thes vast lands, something stirred, a small hawk fluttered into branches just above his head.
Laying Elnineth carefully on the ground he extended his hand and the hawk flew to him alighting gently.
"We have need of you my friend, fly fast and high and seek out the ranger Bragolath, tell him, . . . ahh no . . . here,"
He quickly wrote a few words on a small page of parchment,
"Take this to him and bid him hasten here."
He watched as the small hawk flew skyward, for a while it hovered until suddenly as if called by an invisable voice it swooped off in the direction of Edoras.
A nicker brought the Strongbow whirling round, a soft nose was thrust into his face as Thindsul greeted his friend. Beleg smooth the horses graceful neck mirroring the enthusiastic greeting.
"It is good to see you my friend, and truely I am in need of your help once more, are you willing?"
At this the dark horse lifted his head, shaking his mane,
The Strongbow raised an expectant eyebrow attempting to hold a stern look at his unwilling accomplice. Thindsul began walking away then turned and with a playful nudge he affirmed that he was more than willing to aid the Strongbow once more.
He was about to lift Elnineth and begin retracing his steps, when he was aware of the approach of another. It was Willow-wand, his slender form shining silver in the early dawn light.
He bowed to the Strongbow then reached down to lift Elnineth, at once the Stronbow reched forward,
"No . . ."
Willow-wand withdrew his hand quickly staring at the Strongbow his eyes filled with hurt.
"I sought only to lift her from the damp ground Beleg Cuthalion, to spare her from the chill of dew laden grasses, for surely there is no heat in her, Why do you not trust me?"
Beleg raised his eyes from Elnineth who he now held once more,
"I am sorry my friend, I did not mean to cast doubt on your thoughtfulness, I have long been her guardian, forgive me."
Willow-wand's eyes sparkled and smiled down at the bright hairerd Elf,
"I understand, it is good she has one such as you to watch over her, her peril would have been much greater and her loss to the darkness assured had it not been so."
For an Ent Willow-wand seemed to be one gifted with much insite, perhaps because he stood on the edge of the wood listening intently to the wind and the river, did they convey to him the happenings in far off places, places like Carahadras, Isenguard or even Mordor. Beleg wodered just how much he knew of his small charge, did he know or was he just gifted at guessing.
Thindsul suddenly raised his head, testing the wind, a few snorts and a soft snicker warned of the arrival of the ranger Beleg was waiting for. Keen, Elven eyes sought him on the southern horizon, he could hear the soft rhythm of hoofbeats across the plain and soon he could see the outline of the rapidly approaching figure.
Willow-wand had not been willing to travel at night so the Strongbow had left him at the woods edge, promises given he would return shortly, now he stood a little south of the Limelight River looking out over vast plains of the East Emmet.
He wistled long and low, his eyes scanning the horizon,
"Soon dearheart." He wispered to the small form still held in his arms,
"Fear not for we shall find the way once more. I have not followed you into Mordor nor journeyed back to see you lost."
As he stood waiting he searched in his mind for the memory of the ranger, hoping to find some trace of him in thes vast lands, something stirred, a small hawk fluttered into branches just above his head.
Laying Elnineth carefully on the ground he extended his hand and the hawk flew to him alighting gently.
"We have need of you my friend, fly fast and high and seek out the ranger Bragolath, tell him, . . . ahh no . . . here,"
He quickly wrote a few words on a small page of parchment,
"Take this to him and bid him hasten here."
He watched as the small hawk flew skyward, for a while it hovered until suddenly as if called by an invisable voice it swooped off in the direction of Edoras.
A nicker brought the Strongbow whirling round, a soft nose was thrust into his face as Thindsul greeted his friend. Beleg smooth the horses graceful neck mirroring the enthusiastic greeting.
"It is good to see you my friend, and truely I am in need of your help once more, are you willing?"
At this the dark horse lifted his head, shaking his mane,
The Strongbow raised an expectant eyebrow attempting to hold a stern look at his unwilling accomplice. Thindsul began walking away then turned and with a playful nudge he affirmed that he was more than willing to aid the Strongbow once more.
He was about to lift Elnineth and begin retracing his steps, when he was aware of the approach of another. It was Willow-wand, his slender form shining silver in the early dawn light.
He bowed to the Strongbow then reached down to lift Elnineth, at once the Stronbow reched forward,
"No . . ."
Willow-wand withdrew his hand quickly staring at the Strongbow his eyes filled with hurt.
"I sought only to lift her from the damp ground Beleg Cuthalion, to spare her from the chill of dew laden grasses, for surely there is no heat in her, Why do you not trust me?"
Beleg raised his eyes from Elnineth who he now held once more,
"I am sorry my friend, I did not mean to cast doubt on your thoughtfulness, I have long been her guardian, forgive me."
Willow-wand's eyes sparkled and smiled down at the bright hairerd Elf,
"I understand, it is good she has one such as you to watch over her, her peril would have been much greater and her loss to the darkness assured had it not been so."
For an Ent Willow-wand seemed to be one gifted with much insite, perhaps because he stood on the edge of the wood listening intently to the wind and the river, did they convey to him the happenings in far off places, places like Carahadras, Isenguard or even Mordor. Beleg wodered just how much he knew of his small charge, did he know or was he just gifted at guessing.
Thindsul suddenly raised his head, testing the wind, a few snorts and a soft snicker warned of the arrival of the ranger Beleg was waiting for. Keen, Elven eyes sought him on the southern horizon, he could hear the soft rhythm of hoofbeats across the plain and soon he could see the outline of the rapidly approaching figure.
