4. INTO THE NORTH

Brianna lagged behind the group, keeping watch from behind as well as keeping her distance from Tiphereth. She really wanted to ride next to Augustine but so long as the Phaerie was there she would remain where she was.

When she saw the great statues she gasped. They were magnificent!! She looking longingly back at Rohan, knowing that they were leaving her homeland and knowing that her homeland was now changed for her with her village and adopted parents gone. She thought again about her birthmark and decided that once this war was over she would go in search of the Dunedain...her people by blood.

After a short time, she looked again at Augustine and Tiphereth and decided that she was being foolish, allowing the Deither to keep her from the monk and nudged Raelayeg to a light canter to catch up to them, reining the horse in on the opposite side of Augustine. She returned his smile with her own and then nodded her head at Tiphereth.

"I will miss Rohan but am looking forward to seeing Lac's lands. How about you, Augustine?"

Jalisa was partly right in her assumption that Augustine's and Tiphereth's blood were intertwined. Not all druids shared such a rich beginning to their order as the Columbans, but the magic they wielded flowed from the same source. Druids were always Men. Not due to the attitude of ignorant, misogynic males as some would think, but by ancient tradition whose wisdom was as old as the mountains it was said. The orders druids and enchantresses had always been separated and it was no coincidence of the similarity to the Phaeriekynde. They were comprised of gender specific races for they were not born into the world as natural beings were, they were created from nature and the elements. So too was the magic of the druids and witches which was why they were closely in tune with the realm of Phaerie.

"Indeed the ranger will be most ple—"

The Deithir's words were cut short as Brianna rode up and addressed the druid, speaking of how she looked forward to viewing Lac'Nala's lands.

"Oron_D_Narr is yet many leagues away, Brianna." Tiphereth interjected, "There are many sights yet too see before we cross Master Othargren's, Red Mountains."

"Ah, the Orocarni!" Piped up the Dwarf who had been slumbering in his saddle until he heard the mention of his name and home. "My people will have a fine welcome for us. The hospitality of the Dwarves is second to none!"

Tiphereth smiled at the words of the boisterous Dwarf. He was still getting used to his wild but earnest boasts. The Red Mountains were, however, as rich in history as they were in precious metals. The lore of the land spoke to the bard and had told him much.

"On the western slopes of the Orocarni there was once a Wild Wood and it was there by a great waterfall of a river that flowed from the now dried Sea of Helcar the Elves did awake." Spouted the bard his dreaming eyes staring off beyond the great statues.

"Aye, Fair-one," acknowledged the Dwarf, "'tis one o'the stories of me lands."

By the time the others in the party had arrived, Lac and Sinjin had already gathered wood for a camp fire at the foot of one of the statues by the river Anduin. The River Anduin effectively marks the East/West divide of Middle-earth at this time. Lac was speaking softly to Ssinjin "Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings is the gorge on the Anduin with stone carvings of Isildur & Anarion, marking the northern border of Gondor. Isildur was my father's father's father and Anarion his father. Anárion was born in Númenor, the second son of Elendil. Together with his father and brother, Anárion was a leader of the Elendili or Faithful, the part of the Númenórean people that opposed the dark rule of king Ar-Pharazôn and Sauron. And now an evil has risen again even stronger and more cunning to spread evil and bring darkness across the lands .... Morgoth. He had just begun to unsaddle Lightning.

"Welcome my firends, we shall rest here tonight, eat and gather our strength. Tomorrow we climb the steps and cross Emyn Muil, and then into The Wilderland."

Emyn Muil is translated as "Drear Hills." The word emyn means "hills." The word muil means "twilight, shadow, vagueness."

Rugged hills along the Anduin. The Emyn Muil were located on both sides of the river around Nen Hithoel north of the Falls of Rauros. The landscape was bleak and the terrain was difficult and treacherous.
On the west side of the river, the Emyn Muil formed two long ridges that ran north to south. The western sides of the ridges were steep, while the eastern sides sloped more gently but were intercut with ravines and gullies. There was a deep, winding valley between the two ridges with a stream running through it. The ridge nearest the Anduin was the taller of the two. The other ridge descended about 20 fathoms to a wide shelf which ended in a sheer cliff that was the western edge of the Emyn Muil. This cliff was called the East Wall of Rohan because it formed part of the eastern border of that country.
On the east side of the river, the hills of the Emyn Muil extended farther and were more irregular. The terrain was like a labyrinth of twisted rock through which there was no straight passage. The southeastern face of the Emyn Muil was a high, sheer cliff overlooking the plains below. The cliff was lower at its northern end, but it was still about 18 fathoms (108 feet) high. At the foot of the cliff was a gulley that ran north to south. In this gulley was one of the many small rivers that flowed down from the Emyn Muil into the marshlands below.
Ancient landmarks of Gondor in the Emyn Muil included the Seat of Seeing on Amon Hen on the western shore of Nen Hithoel and the Seat of Hearing on Amon Lhaw on the eastern side. The North Stair was carved into the cliff beside the Falls of Rauros. The Argonath were erected at the northern end of the Emyn Muil on either side of the Anduin to mark the northern boundary of Gondor by Romendacil II probably around the year 1248.

tuckborough.net

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Tiphereth surveyed the place the ranger had chosen to camp. It appeared that through the years many others had chosen the spot by the river Anduin. It was defensible, yet provided good escape if the need be. The fast waters rushed by the rocky shore line and the wind whistled through the nearby reeds. A fine place to bed down for the night, a picturesque site rich with history and old magick.

The bard nodded to the ranger approving of his choice and timing of his stop, not that such approval was required nor heeded by one so attuned with these lands. It was merely a habit of the Deithir to acknowledge such things.

Happily the bard lead to his horse to the natural corral with the other mounts. The well trained beasts gathered together and relaxed as their saddles were removed for the night. The Deithir then found himself a suitable spot by the fire which the ranger had started and began to play a soft, lulling tune on his flute.

"I have never been to these lands, there is a great deal of flowing water in Oron-D-Narr, many rivers and lakes and snow in winter. Back home was more arid, even the winters were mild. I am very excited to see these wild places, these rivers and mountains." The druid said to Brianna with a smile.

The trees, the water, the hills they all spoke to Augustine, his magic was reaching out to them for the first time, it was somewhat intoxicating. The druid could feel the raw power in the surrounding hills, it felt to Augustine like drinking from a cold fresh well after riding through a desert. The druid always did well in places that were more densely populated with growing things, he drew his strength from them and they seemed to reach out to him as well.

Augustine drew in a deep breath through his nose as he climbed down from the saddle. The breeze smelled of juniper, pine and the sweet smell of the freshwater river nearby. The druid approved, he began to untie his robes from the saddle and then ceased, instead opting to go to Brianna. The Dunedain beauty was climbing from her mount too, Augustine came close to her to see if he could offer a hand (knowing that she would not need it).

"Let me help." The druid said as he offered her a hand down from her saddle.

Just as the druid had said this he felt a strange pull at his magic, he was still letting it flow into the surrounding area, the feeling pleased him so he had allowed it to go longer than needed. Augustine had felt this before, his magic had innocently traveled around the nearby hills and groves and had found something. The feeling intensified as Tiphereth began to play his flute, the druid was quite sure that there were Pharie folk not far from this camp. The druid did not know where or how many for sure but he sensed them.

The druid shot the Fey a curious look to see if the bard was receiving a similar transmission.

The Deithir's dimming eyes glanced up at the druid as he continued to play his charming tune and it was then that Augustine had a revelation. The notes that the bard played were a message — a warning of sorts to those Phaerie that were about and intended to do mischief or worse. Unfortunately it seemed that while the mystical music did in fact discourage some, it provoked others.

In the moment that the druid looked away from Tiphereth, the music stopped and suddenly the Phaerie was standing right beside him. None had witnessed the travel, it could happen only when no eyes were upon him, save one pair and those belonged to the Dragoness. She alone would not impede his magical movement with her perception of the world for her kind within his world were part of the Phaerie-realm, though they themselves were not bound to it nor did they dwell within it.

"Huldrafolk." Whispered the Deithir, "Though, there may be other kynde about. It is only they that I have seen."

The Huldrafolk, were actually a form of Elf. Dark skinned like Drow, they were smaller, less attractive and their hair matched their flesh. They dwelled in the earth which was their primary element and only came out at dusk and the night as they had no tolerance for sunlight. Malicious creatures, their dark brown tongues were poisonous, one touch of it and they could inflict deformities upon a creature or alter their appearance for the worst. The greatest desire was to turn people against the world of mortals by the use of their powerful charms.

Brianna was looking around the area, her dark green eyes taking in the beauty around them. Even Raelayeg was calm, as if this place were sacred. When Augustine offered her assistance in dismounting, she surprised him by accepting his offer and allowed him to help her down, smiling shyly at him as their bodies lightly brushed together before stepping away.

"Thank you, Augustine.......are you well? You seem.....well.....giddy."

She had noticed the change in him. He looked more pleased...more relaxed than usual. With his explanation, she nodded her head to him.

"I envy you, Augustine....this ability you have to feel the living plants of the world around you. I have no such abilities and in truth, Raelayeg is the only horse that I've ever had a connection to, even though I was raised by the Rohirrim. It has always been a constant reminder that even though I was raised Rohirrim, I am not like them. But, Raelayeg is different. As are you."

The last she said with a pinkening of her cheeks before following Raelayeg to the natural corral and removing his saddle before rubbing him down, speaking softly to him. As she turned to look back at the druid, she saw Tiphereth standing next to him, speaking and wondered what it entailed. She looked around her as she left Raelayeg and smiled and nodded to Lac and Jin before doing the same to Jalisa. She approached Lac, again smiling at Jin, glad that she and the Drowess were becoming friends.

"Lac, I thought that maybe a couple of fresh hares over the fire would be nice for our evening meal. If Jin would like, as she has her bow, the two of us could go see what we could get for some fresh meat. What do you say?"

When the group finally came to where Lac and Jin had set up camp and started a fire, Jalisa was glad for the break. It had been all she could do to keep her mount in check and prevent him from scrambling off to escape the danger he sensed so near yet could not escape. Thankfully she dismounted and set the poor creature to rest with the others.

As she looked around, she felt a slight tugging wishing she could take wing and fly the cool air currents that were going to be circulating this night. She loved doing that. Even when she was not hunting, she just loved to glide along the darkened sky, free of anything but the air as it rushed over her scaled body. With a sigh of resignation, she busied herself in preparing a place for her bedroll to rest, making sure there was plenty of room for the bard to lay his near her and separate them slightly from the others just in case.

She could smell the fresh water nearby mingled with the sweet scent of the trees that surrounded them as well as the soft grass under their feet. She had to give some credit for this form she used. In her true form she wouldn’t have been able to enjoy these things. She would have smelled everything, yes, but to feel the soft grass beneath her as she lay? Her scales prevented her from feeling almost anything like that.

Once she had taken care of the things she needed to, she sat on the ground allow her mind and body to rest. Tiphereth’s lulling song was helping relax her a good deal but there was something still nagging at her enough to prevent her from relaxing too much. There was a presence she sensed here that wasn’t the Drow. It wasn’t until she saw Tiphereth move like the wind and get close to Augustine and whisper softly to the Druid Jalisa understood why she felt the way she did.

Those hateful creatures would cause some trouble, no doubt. Great. Just when she was hoping for a restful night she would have to remain vigil. But she knew she wouldn’t be the only one on alert. Tiphereth would be and from the looks of it, so would the Druid. While it gave her comfort to know this, she still let her knowing eyes move about the area looking for one of those devious things to dart about in the shadows.

Jin was glad to break away from the group with Lac. As they traveled at a comfortable pace they talked about a good many things they had been unable to discuss in the past. Lac explained what took place with the King when he went to get aid for them leaving out the part where Jalisa intervened. He didn’t want to reveal any more about the dark haired being Loki had sent to him for fear he would somehow betray his friend.

When he asked Jin what happened when she and the Deithir went below the earth, Jin grew quiet for a long moment as she tried to collect her thoughts. Finally she told him what happened as they traveled the bowels of the earth in search of the Gorrinvul Queen only to discover she was a conniving demi-goddess. Several times she had to pause and collect herself before she could go on. The emotions the retelling of the journey invoked were almost too much for the Drowess but she finally managed to get everything out.

Lac would know by the way she talked she and Tiphereth had grown close as a result of what they went through together but he would also know who her heart belonged to. It was impossible for her to keep Tiphereth at arm’s length considering everything. But she didn’t tell him about what she felt each time the Fey grew too close to her. She couldn’t simply because she didn’t understand why it was happening herself. She knew full well what it was, but why was a totally different story. There simply was no way she could honestly explain it to him.

As Lac told the Drowess about the history of his lands, Jin could hear the p ride in his voice and see the way his eyes seemed to sparkle with new life knowing he was nearing his home lands and he was treading in places his father and his forefather’s treaded. While they still had a good ways to go, it did her heart good to see him grow a little more light hearted. Even with things the way they were in the world right now.

When the others began to arrive Jin handed them some fresh water she had retrieved from the nearby clear stream that emptied into the larger lake a short bit away. Once everyone was settled, she rejoined Lac’Nala and let the days events play over in her mind as she heard Tiphereth’s soothing song playing in her ears.

The Huldra were cowards, Tiphereth knew this. They would not cause mischief until enough eyes were closed that they could slip into the camp unnoticed. The Deithir could not be sure what their intent was, the minds of such folk were difficult to read, but they were clumsy little deviants and their movements within the Realm of Phaerie would not be difficult to detect. Once they passed into the physical world the keen ears of the rest group would most assuredly notice them and they would be quick to deal with. More or less they were but pests, but there was something else that troubled the Deithir and he was sure that the Druid had felt it as well.

The bard was also aware the Huldrafolk were sometimes used as scouts for other Phaeries or even Greater Elementals, powerful beings, some of which like the Balrogs were in the employ of Morgoth. There was a chance they preceded something stronger but only time would tell. Until then the bard went back to playing his tune and lounged by the fire. The Huldra despised all light, and even a simple camp fire would keep them at bay.

Laying with his back against his satchel of many compartments and one leg crossed over the other, the bard kept a close eye on the river. Fast moving water could disguise many things, both in the natural and unnatural realms. A running river was a barrier to Phaerie-kind, and only because the Deithir was welcome in the company of those who were of the physical could he traverse such obstacles without appeasing the essence of the waters. The river could hide many things from the keen senses of the Phaerie bard, it was his blind spot and thus he was ever vigilant of it.

How fast the weariness of the day's travel was setting upon him. As resilient and fit as the Deithir was his kind often slept on average twelve hours a day, unfortunately in this world they were a little shorter than his own, but not by much. For sometime now he had forced himself to match the patterns of his traveling companions, and he was ready for a long rest.

The Deithir stopped his song and put away his flute. Surprisingly he procured a good sized bed roll from his satchel and spread it out near the fire. The sun had not yet fully set, but sleep was calling and Tiphereth was quick to answer. He stretched out on the soft material and began to doze, paying attention to his companions through half closed eyes.

Jin smiled at Brianna and when she offered for the Drowess to accompany her on a hunt, Jin looked over at Lac and grinned even more. Her eyes twinkled as she spoke to Lac’Nala.

”We will be back shortly with food for all. Get the coals good and hot so the roasting of the hares will be done easily.”

Before she and Briannna left out, she gave the Ranger a tender embrace and whispered in his ear.

”Think of me while I am gone.”

Without further word the two females left the encampment in search of their quarry. Jin pulled the hood of her cloak up over her white head and the clothes Brianna wore made it easy for the dark haired Rohirrim woman blend in easily to her surroundings. Using hand signals, Brianna and Jin communicated easily with each other as they began to move slowly, silently through the woods.

Jin was impressed with how quiet the woman moved for a human. With a new found respect, the Drowess moved a few feet away from the human and they began to make a slow sweep of the area. Jin’s normal cross bow had been traded for an Elven long bow. Her bolt was knocked and ready to be pulled back and fired at a moment’s notice and it didn’t take long for that notice to come.

As Brianna and Jin made their way through the woods, they came across a thick patch of clover close to a thicket of briar bushes. There were several hares munching on the sweet clover around them, unaware of the danger that now stalked them. With some more hand signals, the women chose their targets and in almost perfect simultaneous firing, their arrows hit two large hares and scattered the others in fright. As the women went to retrieve their respective hares, Jin pushed the hood of her cloak off her head and smiled brightly at Brianna.

”I am impressed by your huntress abilities, Brianna. I am finding you are full of surprises.”

Jin removed the arrow from the hare and proceeded to whisper softly in her native language as she field dressed the hare so she could take it back to the encampment. Digging a hole and burying the skin and internal organs removed from the hares, she looked over at Brianna and smiled.

”It is always best to return to the earth that which has been given to you. And besides, it is better to not have the smell of fresh blood lingering in the air.”

The two women walked back to the encampment talking quietly among themselves. Jin thanked Brianna for her help with the Gorrinvul and admitted she looked forward to leaving Rohan behind as they made their way closer to Oron_D_Naar. But Jin also said she understood Brianna’s conflicted heart as they moved out of Rohan and headed into territory neither woman had been before.

When they finally reached got back to the encampment, Jin and Brianna handed Lac the hares so he could prepare them for roasting. Once they had been set up to cook, Jin and Brianna walked to the water and washed their hands and face in the cool water before returning to the others.

More conversation ensued and each woman found they had more in common then they realized. By the time the hares were ready to eat, Jin and Brianna were feeling quite hungry, like the others, and was glad to have some fresh food for their bellies.

As the sun began to set and set the sky a blaze with the fiery colors of amber, gold and orange, Jalisa felt a stirring within her again longing for the chance to take flight. This time of the evening was the perfect time for her to take to the skies and glide on the cooling air currents. Not to mention look for some prey to stalk for when the sun went completely down.

With a sigh she resigned herself to knowing she would have to stay in this form until her puppet master gave her permission to change into her true form. Perhaps she could persuade him to let her have a quick flight one of these nights. She could slip away undetected and enjoy the ability to fly like she so longed to do.

OR perhaps he could be seduced into letting her.

That thought brought a look to her face that didn’t hide how she truly felt about that. He would be the LAST one she would allow herself to lay with. Not so long as he held such control over her. It simply didn’t set well with her. If the shoe were on the other foot, though, it would be a different story.

Bah….anyway. She was tired and she was hungry. Once she satiated her hunger and quenched her thirst, she took her meager bedroll and walked over to where Tiphereth had stretched out. Setting her up beside his, she soon stretched out next to him and rested her head on a makeshift pillow.

The Deithir wasn’t fully asleep yet and while he never really opened his eyes to look at her, she knew he’d watched her until she settled. Sighing heavily, Jalisa closed her eyes that whispered softly to Tiphereth so only his ears heard her.

”I shall be vigilant.”

She sensed his unease about something but couldn’t put her finger on it. Knowing he needed rest to help his still healing wound, she wanted to let him know he wouldn’t be alone in making sure things were watched over. Even when it didn’t appear as though they were.

The bard smiled at the Dragoness' gesture but his eyes remained closed. He knew she would detect any unwelcome visitors in the night, as would each member of their group. All were veterans, possessed of keen senses and even a master thief would need tread very lightly indeed in their midst. The Deithir would rest well in their company and it was these moments that he despised, Verin most of all. He was nothing more than a snake in the grass amongst these good and honourable people and as far as he was concerned the stroke of anyone of their blades in the night would be a justifiable and fitting end to his life.

Nearest to Jalisa there was no guilt. She too was immersed in Verin's dark waters and both of them viewed the world through it's mirky surface. Truth be told though the visage of the Dragoness had grown darker still and despite her best efforts the bard feared that evil root within her had grown. How long before she became a willing instrument of Verin? Strong was her will, but the Drow's silvery tongue could corrupt the most stalwart of men and perhaps even sway a Dragon.

The scent of the fresh kill brought a twinge of sadness to the Phaerie, but his placid, slumbering, features betrayed not a sign of this, nor did he stir at the prospect of fresh meat as the Dwarf had. He was forbidden to taste the flesh of a living creature, although naturally the smell of the roasting rabbits was enticing. The Aelaeydium granted their people the magic to create food to protect life and the circle of predator and prey did not exist in Arkauld. A difficult concept for those beyond his lands to grasp, but one that they all lived by, except of course for those who spat upon the Tome of the Aelaeydium and chose not to heed their words. The fallen ones, the Umanesh hunted with no regard or respect for life. They killed for food, they killed for pleasure and this was just one of the reasons that the Wind of Sorrows shed not one tear for each on whose life he took. At least Brianna and the Drowess showed compassion and respect for the lives they took to perpetuate their own. This was their way, and far be it for the Deithir to dare preach the laws of his world in a foreign land. Such was the ignorance of the Umanesh.

Bathed in the warm glow of the fire the Deithir delighted in the sounds of the snapping wood and talk while the meat cooked. The ambience nearly inspired him to fetch a fish, the one creature of creation that the people of his world could harvest from nature without the use of magic, but the grip of sleep was too strong. Soon the bard was in a deep sleep, his tall form stretched out along his bedroll upon a soft layer of moss.

While Briana and Jin were out hunting rabbits, Lac had taken his bow and dissappeared into the nearby woods. Just as the two women returned Lac arrived with a field dressed dear slung over his shoulders. He took the dear to where the Rohirian warrior and the Dwarf had set up their camp. "This should help you regain your strength my friends." he said has he laid the deer down, and returned to Jin and the others. Lac had also thanked the deer for his life and gift to the travelers.

Tiphereth didn’t know just how close to the truth he was when he was thinking about Jalisa’s spiral downward into the darkness. Her thoughts were beginning to turn more towards what sort of deceit and chaos she could infect the group with. It wouldn’t be too difficult. After all there were old mistrusts she could easily manipulate and capitalize upon to plant the seeds. And once the seeds were planted, it would be just a matter of time before they took root and grew from there.

As she lay there letting the quiet conversation and the sound of the crackling fire soothe her she thought of Verin. His actions had much to be desired but his motivation was commendable. Not to mention he was a master manipulator knowing just what strings to pull and when to pull them. The Drow always were a crafty race. But the sorcerer seemed to take it to a new level. One she had to admire, even if it was begrudgingly.

Perhaps there was a way out of the situation she was in if she found a common ground they could both step upon and see they had much more to gain by cooperating than having him control her like the slave she was to him right now. Oh how that word left a bad taste in her mouth. She. A dragon. A slave! How degrading and absurd at the same time yet here she was. The unwilling minion of a half crazed Drow sorcerer who was hell bent on ruling a world.

Jalisa opened her eyes then and stared skyward as a thought came to her.

What if his maddening fantasy became reality? What if, by some chance, he became the ruler of what he desired? Would it not be better for her to aligned with him than against him? Why she had never thought about that, Jalisa didn’t know why. It wasn’t impossible. Highly unlikely, but not completely impossible.

Another thought struck the disguised Dragoness then.

What if all he needed was the right assistance in achieving his ultimate goal? Perhaps, she thought, she’d just found that common ground she needed. And she would discuss it with him when all the others had drifted off to sleep. She would contact him and see what he thought of her….proposal.

Yes. That’s just exactly what she would do.

As the others ate and Tipereth slept the sound of flapping wings and a gust of cool air decended upon the group, causing the fires to flare and sparks to rise. A soft guttural growl filled the air as Loki desended and landed next to the river. Slowly he lowered his massive body to the ground, beside Lac'nala, crossed his fore arms and lowered his massive head down upon them his golden eyes resting upon Jalissa.

Needless to say, the arrival of Loki brought a stir of activity tot eh group. The Rohirrim warriors quickly jumped to their feet and took out their blades ready to fight whatever was descending upon them. When they saw the enormous green dragon land behind Lac’Nala they glanced at each other then gave a wary glance towards the massive beast before they slowly put their blades back and sat down again.

Jin jumped up as well and was ready to run if it hadn’t been for Lac’Nala’s steadying hand up on her. As the large green beast landed and settled behind Lac’Nala she blinked her red eyes and glanced at Lac’Nala then slowly came back to sit next to him.

Jalisa, though, didn’t even bother to acknowledge his presence. Her eyes opened and she glanced over at him then furrowed her brows before she closed them again and rolled over so her back faced him. This was the LAST thing she wanted right now. He should just go away and let the group be. After all, hadn’t she proven she had protected his ward thus far? Why did he insist on checking up on her constantly now?

With a frustrated sigh, the Dragoness tried to ignore the green Dragon and get some rest but all she could do was stare off into the darkness with an angry expression upon her face.

"By the gods look at that monster!" Exclaimed Sighere as he sheathed his sword, "'Tis the Dragon Loki, our savior my brothers. Try to be a little more hospitable."


Skajrnir glared at his countryman and thrust his sword back into its scabbard. "The beast startled me, 'tis all." he muttered in their native tongue then looked to Jorneff who remained frozen in place, his sword still in in his hand.


Only when his lord playfully slapped him on his beefy shoulder did the tall warrior snap from his stupor. It was the first time he had been so close to the magical beast and his immense size was overwhelming.

"Me father's father told many a tale of Dragon's and ne'er did they do a kindness out of the goodness o' there hearts." Said Jorneff in the the Rohir language.

The two other warrior's shared the sentiment of the older man. Their people had much to hate and fear of Dragon-kind. It had only been in the last century that their skies had been blissfully vacant of their dark shadows, but they remembered their raids.


"Com'on lads." Called the Dwarf as he observed that the Dragon had come to speak with Lac'Nala, or so it seemed, either way it was none of their concern, "Let's get back to cuttin' our steaks."


The Deithir had remained asleep despite the earth quaking arrival of the massive Dragon. Had Jalisa stirred the perhaps he would have reacted but as it were she had hardly moved. He could, however, feel the eyes of the great beast. Loki was mindful of the Dragoness and the bard was curious of what he suspected, if anything. Could he know? Tiphereth was unsure and of what he knew of Dragons their powers and knowledge greatly varied from one to another. The outcome would not be changed by worry so the minion of Verin continued to sleep. If the Dragon had in fact arrived to expose them, then he was prepared to fight.

Lac gave a reassuring smile to Jin, took her hand and rested it slowly on Loki's snout. A small puff of smoke rose from Loki's nostrils and he rumbled softly deep in his throat. "He is alright Jin, Loki is an old friend, and is just saying hello. He is also letting us know he is not far away." Lac scratched behind Loki's ear and said "Lok, wux bvare Ssinjin, sia trelk thurirl."

Loki's eyes flashed a deep gold as he blinked and he nuzzeled into Jen's hand. Loki glanced again towards Tiph and Jalisa an instantaneous flash of red appeared in his eyes that only Lac and Jin would see, then they returned to a golden yellow.

Lac leaned close to Loki's ear and muttered something unheard be the others. He then continued to scratch behind Loki's ear as Shape and his companions slowly trotted out of the wood to stand close to Lac, Jin and Loki. A small yelp was heard and a small wolf pup stuck it's head around a fallen log, bounded out and leaped into Jin's arms, licking her face.

Jin was a bit hesitant and concerned when Lac took her hand and laid it on Loki’s snot. To be so close to such a destructive and powerful creature yet the Dragon seemed to be quite content to just sit and rest allowing this affection from humanoids take place. She caught the momentary flash of red in his eyes and couldn’t help but glance in the direction his eyes seemed to be looking. She saw Jalisa’s back turned to the Dragon and Tiphereth still stretched out. Had they not even heard the Dragon arrive? It struck the Drowess as odd but then again, both Tiphereth and Jalisa were odd so perhaps this was actually normal.

Jin turned her attention back to Loki again and she was amazed by the smoothness of his snout. She was fully expecting it to be rather rough and unpleasant but as she moved her delicate hand over the green scales, she found them to be quite soft all the same.

Seeing Lac lean closer and his lips move but unable to hear what he said, she gave him a puzzled look but said nothing. Obviously the conversation was meant to be between Loki and himself. Instead, she turned her attention back to the Dragon and continued to gently stroke his snout, a small smile easing over her features as she did so.

”I never imagined a Dragon would be pleasant to touch. I always thought them to be rough and uncomfortable. I am glad to see I am proven wrong. At least with this Dragon.”

When she heard the small yip, Jin looked just in time to see the wolf pup and she instinctively reached out to grab a hold of it and pick it up. As it began to lick her face she laughed softly and tried her best to evade the pups enthusiastic greeting.

"Vendui', Dalhar d'Heeth"(Greeetings Child of Shape)

Jalisa could feel Loki’s eyes upon her. She knew he was aware of something but exactly what he had yet to discover. She would have to do something to placate the Dragon and keep him from discovering the truth. If that were even possible. She would have to at least try. Finally, out of self preservation and to keep things from going sour, she rolled over and turned her head to look over at the Dragon.

As Jalisa’s eyes settled on Loki’s golden gaze, she smiled a welcoming smile and gave the slightest nod letting him know she was still making sure the Ranger remained safe as she traveled with him and his companions back to Oron_D_Naar.

Brianna moved swiftly, her sword at the ready when Loki caused the ground to shake. When she saw who it was and the way Lac approached the dragon, she sheathed her sword and sat down once more to eat some of the hare her and Jin had killed. She smiled at the other three warriors, thinking they were comical in their haste to defend themselves as well as the group from the dragon. This dragon, she had a feeling, would cut them all down in a matter of seconds, leaving no opening to even cause him a scratch. Her eyes lighted upon Skajrnir and she studied him beneath lowered lashes. She felt as if she knew this man, but she couldn't place him. She looked around for Augustine and did not see him. Mayhap he was meditating somewhere close. Again, she looked to the warrior and thought that she knew him from somewhere.

Brianna watched as the wolf pup launched itself at Jin who bent down to pick up the cub and she found herself envying the drowess, being able to hold the wolf cub and give it affection as well as be so close to the dragon. But, she wasn't envious to the put that she was jealous of her friend. She had glowed beneath Jin's words of praise in her hunting abilities and was glad that she'd asked her to join her in the hunt. She too, felt that Jin was a great huntress and had been impressed by her stalking abilities. Together, she felt the two of them would definately give the men a run for their money in hunting techniques. This thought had her smiling again and looking to the three warriors whom the oldest one had finally sheathed his sword but was still watching the dragon warily.

Finishing her part of the hare, she walked away from the camp and buried the bones, again thanking the small creature for it's sacrifice so that they could eat. She'd not partaken of the deer that Lac had provided, leaving that to the men as she had been taught to do in her travels when she'd been a slave. Some things were simply difficult to unlearn and this was one of them. The men partook of the hardier foods and she took what she provided for herself. She thought nothing of it, truly she didn't, it had been instilled into her by the man who had been her master for a little over a year before she'd escaped and was on her way back to her village before this group had found her.

Standing where she'd buried the bones of the hare, her thoughts overtook her as she stared into the night sky. She thought about when she'd left her adopted parents to go find herself and where she belonged. The things she'd seen and the things she'd been subjected to. Sometimes, she wished she'd never left the only home she'd ever known, but then she would remember that if she hadn't, she wouldn't be the woman she was now. And this was who she was.....old fears lay just below the surface, but she'd learned over time to overcome most of them and turn the fear into anger or force the fear to feed her courage. She didn't wish what she'd been through as a slave on her worst enemy and even now, occassionally, the night terrors would envade her sleep, but not as often as before. Especially since she'd become of Lac and Jin's group.

For a little while longer, she stood there, pondering on her life and how she had changed from when she first encountered her new friends to now. She heard a rustle in the bushes a few feet from her left and looked towards the sound. Seeing nothing, she turned to head back to camp and the safety of the fire. She hadn't realized that she'd gone further than she'd intended from camp to bury the bones. She saw the blaze of the fire and gave a sigh of relief.

Tiphereth could not sleep. How could he with all the commotion about. Behind his closed eyes his mind teetered on the edge of dream but he was more or less quite conscious. Whispers buzzed past his ears and thoughts poked into his brain, it was a wonder he was able to relax at all but then again the noise itself was soothing.

Since he could remember the Deithir would just know things. The Phaerie were naturally far more sensitive to the emotions of mortals, but he had always been able to read far more that how they felt. Strong, heart-felt emotions carried with them thoughts that were normally unreadable but Tiphereth could know some of them. A natural talent honed by his bardic ability to 'lore', allowing him to know a person's mind should their feelings become intense. An often common state for the dark haired Rohirrim woman. So passionate was she that Tiphereth could not help but to pick up on her thoughts; nothing one could put to pen, but enough to know her mind.

Just before Brianna left to bury the carcass of her meal the sleeping bard spoke. "Why do you not go and greet Loki." he suggested, "I hardly doubt you require an invitation to go and speak with a member of our group, even IF he is a Dragon."

Tiphereth did not stir nor did he open his eyes as he spoke, nor did he consider the fact that what he had 'heard' from the woman he siphoned from her meandering thoughts. Quite often during periods of weariness he did not distinguish 'thought' from 'spoken word', but what he had learned from Brianna was merely inflection. He felt 'longing' while envisioning the Dragon, such was an example of what he perceived from the thoughts of others.

The Deithir yawned and snuggled deeper beneath his cloak in the flickering fire light. His features were serene in the amber glow, a far cry from the sinister face of the woman's dreams although she was sure they could just as easily be one in the same.

Brianna looked over at the Deither and saw his peaceful face as he relaxed even more after speaking to her. She was still leery of him and probably always would be now, knowing within her gut that he could very easily become the being she saw in her dream and she would not have a chance against him. But, for now, she pondered on how he'd known that she longed to meet the dragon. Ignoring him for now, she continued her walk into the woods as her thoughts overtook her.

Later, when she was returning to the camp, she'd heard the rustle in the bushes close by but saw nothing. Breathing a sigh of relief when she saw the campfire, she mentally scolded herself for straying further than she should have from the safety of camp. She was just within the perimeter when again she heard the rustling sound. She was instantly uneasy and unsheathed her sword, walking towards the bushes. She gave a glance at camp and again her eyes lighted on Skajinir. She also looked for Augustine, but still did not see him.

Approaching the bushes, she reached out with a hand to part the branches when she pulled back with a 'OW!!' She saw an angry cut on the top of her hand but had not seen what caused it. Again, the rustling and again she tried to peer into the bush.

Tiphereth's patience with the Huldrafolk had worn thin. He had hoped the mischievous little buggers would lose interest in their party, but the arrival of the Dragon their curious natures had been piqued. To them the presence of a Dragon, meant on thing, and one thing alone — treasure.

As Brianna withdrew her bloodied hand and detected yet again the rustling through the bushes, a greater gust of wind rushed past, tossing her thick dark locks before her face. Flipping them back in one smooth motion and assuming a guarded position she spied the Deithir standing before her in the place where she had received he wound. He had in his hand a small, black-skinned creature, about the size of a child. It squirmed about frantically, but quickly gave in to the much larger Phaerie's tightening grasp about it throat.

The Deithir had moved from his comfortable bed by the fire, to grappling Brianna's unseen attacker in the blink of an eye, but the Dragoness would have seen his trail. A Phaerie trick really done by slipping into his realm temporarily and ever so briefly touching upon what his people referred to as the 'Greyness', that place where times stands still. A frightening realm that none cared to travel in for more than a few blinks. The trick, however, was entering the realm of the Fey. It could not be done while mortal eyes looked upon them and saw them for what they were and so the ability was reliant on not being seen.

The creature held on futilely to the Deithir's arm and stopped it's kicking. His eyes, at least Brianna believed it to be male, were dark and most like a dogs. His hair an unruly mess of black and brown locks and his clothes were a mishmash of earth tones garments obviously stolen from different places and combined into a rather foolish looking ensemble. The Huldra was visible now to the Human's eyes, as Tiphereth had pulled him from the unseen realm and into the material world.

Realizing he was caught the creature just dangled there, his frightened eyes darting about and finally resting on Brianna.

"Atalfa!" Growled the Deithir in a strange tongue that the small Phaerie seemed to react to and understand. "Unig marwolaeth aros, ellulhuldra."

The Huldra stared in the Deithir's black eyes then looked to the woman. "Edifar." Said the fiendish looking creature in a humble tone, "Edifar, trafferthu nad. Trafferthu nad."

The diminutive creature's uncomely features almost looked sincere, but Tiphereth continued to hold him firm. He turned his head toward, Brianna and smiled. "He says that he shall bother you not anymore." he translated.

The creature offered a smile and nodded in agreement to the bard's words.

"You cannot trust a Huldra." he then stated and the small elf-like creature scowled like a bratty child. "Make him swear, to leave us alone, Brianna." Requested Tiphereth, "I cannot do this, but you... a mortal... can."

The Huldra's small brown eyes darted toward, Brianna while licking his lips with a long brown tongue in anticipation of her binding.