[Garen LiLorian]

The Sun shone down, changing the grass to burnished gold, rippling gently in the breeze. It gleamed off of the waters of Celebrant, flashes that caught the eye and forced you to squint at the same time. It shone off of the Men's armor, gleaming even brighter than the grasses. They were atop horses, all save one, who squatted in the grass. He straightened. "Lord, they were here. The tracks run south and east, away towards the Elfwood."

"The time, Surie. The time!" The voice was urgent, and rung through the summer air.

"Maybe two or three days ago, lord. Could be more. They could have reached the woods and been out the other side by now. We can't catch them, if that's what you're thinking."

The man he addressed looked out across the plains towards the woods, and spoke. But if it was for the others, they made no sense of it. "All these years, from the coming of Gareth down through Galthun my father." "Pardon, lord?" The tracker looked confused.

The youngest of the group, his hair outshining the fields as it streamed from beneath his helmet turned back to face his men. "Our pact, Surie. To protect the Golden Wood from all who would endanger it. To hinder those who would enter without the Lord and Lady's permission. The reason for our house, and our lands. We have broken it. This day will long be remembered as one of bitterness for the house of liLorien." He broke off again, staring keenly towards the wood. "Return to my father. Tell him what has transpired here. Inform him that I will be taking this news to the Lord and Lady of the Wood, to ask forgiveness."

"Captain, we've been ordered to escort you. To leave you here alone in the wilderness is not to my liking at all." This was from an older man, who sat in the saddle with an air of long patience. "After all, these men may be on the Northern borders of the wood. It is perilous to enter there, and more so for Men of that kind, I deem. It would be unwise indeed to risk the wrath of the Elves for a deer or two. No, my lord. I think they must have skirted the woods to the north, and made for the river Anduin."

"Your words are wise, Mablong, but you know as well as I that they are false." The young man answered kindly. "These Men have been arrowing towards the Wood for a tenday. To stop now would be unthinkable. And the quickest path to the River lies through the Wood, and not around. No. They have entered the Wood, and my heart tells me that great pain shall come of this. Ride home. I am in no danger here. Have I not played in this field since I was a lad? I know the lands between Dimrill Dale and the Wood better than any, I deem, and will make better time alone. And," he added a wry smile, "If that isn't enough, you may consider it an order from the heir of your lord."

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Garen rode towards the wood with heavy heart. He knew full well these Men would not stop at the borders, and feared the Elves reaction when they learned of the breach in trust.

He entered the wood, and sounded his horn, the horn that all of noble blood carried, the horn that would summon any Elven ranger within hearing. He had not long to wait. Arrows pointed at him from the trees, and a voice carried from beyond sight. "State your name, and quickly. What buisness have you in the Golden Wood?" It asked quickly in the Elven tongue

"I am Garen, son of Galthun, heir of the House of Lorien, and I seek the Lord and Lady." He answered slowly and haltingly in the same tongue. Are there those among you who may speak in Westron, for my knowledge of the High Tongues is but scarce.

A ranger stepped forward, clad in the shifting cloak of Lorien. "Well do we know you, Man's heir of Lorien," he spoke, using the Common tongue, "but we have orders not to let any now save our own kin enter the Wood."

"Then I am too late!" Garen cried, "And some crime has been committed under these boughs?"

"You know of these matters, son of Man?"

"Indeed, yes. For many days now have I tracked a band of Men across the land from Dimrill Dale. But a short while ago I sent my men home, with orders for my father. I come to bear apologies to the Lord and Lady, for indeed their trust has been most greivously broken, and I would see it righted. I ask now that you let me go forward, bound as a prisoner. For I have broken faith, and deserve no more."

The Rangers conferred quickly in Elven, and Garen caught no more than one word in four as they talked. Eventually, one turned back to him. "I will escort you into the city, and take you before our Lord. If what you say is true, than mayhap your punishment shall be no more than you deserve."

Garen bowed his head, and allowed himself to be blindfolded and bound. He was then led forward into the Wood...