[Eressië Ailin]

Luin led her horse, Thalion, through the thick forest. 'I know it is far, but this is the only way to get to the grazing-field!' she whispered to her weary horse. Thalion followed her around tree stumps and rocks, until the trees grew thin. 'Just a little further,' she said. Presently, they came to the fields that Luin had been seeking. There was a foul smell that lingered there, from far off. Perhaps only the Elf could sense it. 'Here we are,' she murmered. 'Thalion, I shall be walking amoungst the trees. When I call, I expect you to seek me.' The horse nuzzled Luin's hand affectionately. 'Run, Thalion, run!' She watched her horse gallop away, and laughed when she saw him lay down and roll in the grass. Luin turned away and went back into the forest. She sang to the trees and birds, and to all of the beasts with open ears. When it began to grow dark, Luin called Thalion to her. He came slowly, almost as if he was lame. But it wasn't that. He just seemed to be tired, very tired. Even more weary than he was coming to the fields. Usually, after grazing, he looked somewhat refreshed. But not that day.

Luin and her horse began to make their way to Rivendell. 'I can care for you once we reach Imladris,' she said reassuringly to Thalion. 'But we cannot stay here long. We must back before nightfall.' They continued on to Rivendell, and when they got there, Luin realized that she wasn't the only one who feared for Thalion's health. As she was putting Thalion in his stall, the Elves who spent their time in the stables told Luin to go and rest.

'But I am not weary!' she cried in protest. 'Thalion needs my help. He is ill!'

'We can care for your steed, Luinthindiel. You must trust us to heal Thalion.' The Elf who had spoken led a reluctant Luin to her room. 'You must be exhausted, spending the entire day wandering in the Wild! Have some rest, and your horse will be healed by morning.'

Luin still wasn't convinced, but she agreed to rest. In her sleep, Luin was still uneasy. She heard voices in the night crying, 'What has happened?! O! what has happened?'

'Is that not that Lady Luinthindiel's horse?'

'I fear so. We cared for him, and tried to save him. But, alas! we were too late. This horse seems to have caught a disease worse than any I have ever seen. See these red bumps on his neck? I have heard of a disease in the Shire with the same symptoms.

'What else do you know of this disease?'

'It is a plague. It is causing famine. All of their crops and livestock are dying because of this one disease. I cannot forsee how the Shire will survive if no cure is found. I heard a group is meeting in Bree to find a cure.'

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When Luin awoke the next morning, she was still haunted by her dream. It had been torture to her. Her horse had died, and she had heard rumour of a disease spreading in the Shire. There was something about a meeting in Bree... Luin's mind stopped wandering when she heard voices outside.

'Who shall tell Luinthindiel?'

'I do not think I have the heart to do it. She will be devastated to learn that Thalion has died!'

Luin had heard enough. 'It wasn't a dream!! How can I live in Imladris without Thalion?' Luin recollected the events of the night before. Hadn't one Elf said something about a meeting in Bree to find the cure? "I heard a group is meeting in Bree to find a cure..." Of course! 'There is nothing left in Imladris worth living for now that Thalion is gone,' thought Luin. 'I just hope there are no others that end up with the same fate as me. I might as well go to Bree to help find a cure.'

Luin left Rivendell in silence; for she had no one to say good-bye to, nor anyone who would care. It would be a long journey since she no longer had a horse, but Luin was now ready for almost anything. 'At last, I can get away from those dreadful relatives of mine,' Luin thought with delight.

[ March 19, 2003: Message edited by: Eressië Ailin ]