[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Adding some more wood to Jess and Cartil’s small fire by a building close to the fountain, Jess crouched next to the fire and kindles the flame with her own twig. Cartil’s white horse, Sparrow, had taken a liking to Calembel, it seemed. Sparrow would explore all open doors and windows unless Cartil called him back towards the tiny flame that he and Jess crowded around.

“Why did you come, Jess?” Cartil continued a conversation they had been holding, and he pulled his pack from under his head, for he had been laying on it until then. Sitting up, he opened the pack and began rummaging through it.

“Father isn’t young anymore, you know. Mother merely knew that she wanted to help in sending someone else. Our sisters are all married, and you know Jovanna has two children to take care of and Najah is with child. They couldn’t send anyone, much less come themselves, even if they were to only be a healer like Roana or be a map-reader. So, I decided to go. Besides, I can feel the air changing, and I know if something isn’t done about the raiders, they’ll do something about us.” Jess took a bite of an apple she had packed, and then made a clicking noise with her tongue, and Sparrow trotted from his exploration of a tavern nearby to stand next to Jess. Jess patted his forehead, and took an extra apple from her pack for Sparrow.

“I know…father probably didn’t even want to send anyone in the first place. You know you can’t fight as well as some of the men that came here from Rohan. Why come? Mother could have always sent someone else.” Cartil groaned inwardly as Sparrow clip-clopped from Jess to him, and nudged the man with his muzzle.

“I know, I know. I can defend myself though, and mother didn’t want to be sending any other mother’s child, no matter how old. You know how she is. I can help, I know how to read maps…not that we’ll really need them, what with Laurel here and all,” Jess’ eyes became hazy, as though she was lost in thought. “What did that decree say?”

Cartil smirked at his younger sister. Leave it to Jess. She’d always get to the ‘heart of the matter’. Laying back again, and using his pack as a pillow, Cartil thought of an answer. “You know full well I’m not supposed to go reading letters that aren’t mine.”

“C’mon, Cartil! I know you read it! I can see it on your face, you high and mighty messenger boy!” Jess laughed and took her apple-filled bag and hit Cartil’s stomach lightly. Cartil sat up and readied himself to throw his pack at his sister, but he stopped and smiled.

“Okay…fine! I can’t quite remember everything, but it was definitely something about sending his support to the cause of Swan Wood, blah, blah, blah…” Cartil glared at a playful Sparrow as he continued to nudge Cartil’s shoulder and back.

“Of course it says that! Anyone could’ve told you that! Why did they send those other Gondorian people if they sent you?”

“Well, I actually am not sure why they’re here. I didn’t know they were coming. But, that’s the hazard of being a messenger and diplomat kind of man: you’re never told anything unless you read the messages yourself, or you write them youself!”

“Do I hear a confession?” Jess laughed again, until Cartil hit her over the head with his soft, not-filled-with-apples bag. After a few minutes of pack-fighting, Jess and Cartil settled down, and under the tarp of the store they had chosen for their shelter, the siblings stared at the fountain, and the mist-rain that sprinkled it.

"Cartil?" Jess broke the silence that had fallen over the two, save for Sparrow's slight whinnies.

"Huh?"

"Have you ever seen elves before now? Why would any still be about if they could go over the sea and be forever happy and joyful?" The question had bothered Jess for a time, and she never really thought of an answer.

"Yes...you may be too young to remember, but once a group of Elves visited mother, and they showed me how to use the bow and quiver. That was the first and last time I saw Elves, until today. I think they miss Middle-Earth, but somehow know they have to go. This is the Age of Men, or so I've been told. Though I cannot rightly tell you, Jess, for I am no Elf." The two sat in silence for a time, after Cartil answered Jess' question.