[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Cartil could not hold his tongue any longer. He had done so in attempt to learn something of what he had come for and why.

“It is to my understanding that your people have been fighting this enemy for a recent amount of time but using different battle tactics. All have failed so you called for help. Only fifty percent of your plea has been answered though. The givers of assistance have arrived, but will it be enough? What methods shall they take to give true help?” One elf, though Cartil could not remember her name, spoke.

Cartil considered this. Yes, the group had been gathered to help, but what would a few humans and elves do to help that many residents of the wood could not? How would they find a way to rid the enemy if every other plausible way had been tried, or at least considered?

“We will need time to become familiar with the geography.” The elf continued, and at this, Jess snapped back out of a daydream of sorts. Cartil had been gone from home long enough to forget the land, but Jess had been through the woods and the areas around it, especially her home in Tarnost, enough times to remember most of it.

“Time. Laurel? How much time do we have? How many people are left in Swan Wood?”

Jess opened her mouth to speak, but Cartil frowned and she was silent. Cartil decided to speak while he still had the chance.

“How can we help in a way that the residents could not?” Cartil voiced, before Laurel could answer the elf.

“The children,” Jess began, not able to stay quiet. “We should evacuate them, at least. Minas Tirith would welcome them, I’m sure. And geography should not be a problem, what with Laurel here with us. I’ll help too, as much as I can. I know enough about the northern confines of the forest and the surrounding areas.”