[Nerindel]

Imladris Sorry about that, I have so much to do and not enough time to do it in, The next move for Meathor, Léspheria and Amandur, would be to get across the bridge and into the Troll shaw as this is where I think Naiore et all are hiding and I think Naiore has set things up for an encounter???

I was planning to write something for Amandur but I was waiting for the Lone lands group to catch up to see where Rauthain would fit in, because I beleive Elora has also began to set things up for a scene between Barrold and Rauthain.

If you like you can take us into the Troll shaws and into the night setting up camp somewhere, where Lespheria will alert the group that she senses Naiore is near. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Hilde, EalasaideDúlrains post is up. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

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Pio please could you place the following post before Everdawns post of December 17, 2003 01:29AM, Thank you. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Toby

After reporting to Naiore Toby huddled himself against the bowel of a nearby tree, but he could find no comfort. The closer they got to this place Naiore called Imladris , the more uneasy he had become and now with the revelation that she was bringing reinforcements, which should have to his mind abated his anxiety, but now he found it only increased it, bringing the dawning that they where now dispensable and he had no doubt that if things went awry she and the others would leave him to his own fate, without a second thought.

He fumbled about in his pack for something to eat, food always helped to calm his nerves enabling him to think clearly. "Keep quiet, my hill rat," Toby turned at Barrold's hard words and narrowing his eyes he crunched hard on the apple, but as Barrold shifted he leaned back against the tree, "Hill rat!" he snorted indignantly, "Least I'm no murderer!" he mumbled to himself. staring hard at Barrolds back.

As he chewed through the apple he thought about their pursuers, the Bounty hunter Kaldir and his two female companions, one of which to his surprise was a hobbit, had now been joined by Dúlrain, a ranger that Toby was acquainted with, he kept his thoughts on this group, although he feared the bounty hunter he knew the ranger Dúlrain was a just sort, even when the ranger him thrown in the lock holes for thieving, he had made sure that the judgement was fair and fitting with his crime.

Casting a scrupulous gaze over the others, he wondered if some reward would be placed on Barrold and Avanill for killing the old man, Tallas? and if he could use their crimes against them, after all he was a victim of mere coincidence, a prisoner of his fear and had committed no crimes that would warrant his death! Perhaps during one of his scoutings he could secretly treat with the ranger. But then his gaze fell on Vanwe and he shivered, not from the chill night air, but from the images of Naiore's assaults on her own flesh and blood, if she did this to her own what evils would she bestow on someone who betrayed her?

But as he looked at the young elf, he felt himself pitying her, The first time he witnessed Naiore's brutal treatment of her daughter he had been physically sick, never before had he seen the like and he found himself several times after fighting the urge to cry out for Naiore to stop, his cowardice the only thing keeping him in check. Before he even realised what he was doing he had lifted his water skin and was walking towards Vanwe.

At his approach she looked up, he shivered violently as her serene expression matched that of her mothers. "Here you should drink something," he fumbled holding the skin out to her, but her blue eyes just stared at him blankly. "It's just water " he said taking a drink to assure her. "You should keep up your strength!" he whispered looking over his shoulder to make sure no-one else could hear him. Hesitantly she took the skin and drank deeply, With what was the beginnings of a smile on his lips he turned to leave, but stopped as the elf spoke.

"Thank you."

He did not turn back, but those two little words stirred emotions in him that he thought were long dead, killed when he had betrayed his fellow hobbits and listened to the honeyed promises of old sharky, now so long ago in his memory. Guilt, pain and regret soon followed, After the scouring of the Shire Toby had only helped himself, but this night Vanwe's words had made him feel good and as he lay down to sleep he resolved that if he should happen on one of the rangers he would leave some clearer clue for them to follow, that they may save the young woman from the fate her mother was shaping for her.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:56 AM December 21, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]