[Mattius]

It had been a year since the book had been found. In that twelve months Jack had spent almost all of his time with Anioun learning the elvish tongue and reading the book itself. Through fast learning and a great teacher Jack had untied the elvish language in the year and remembered some of the incarnations off by heart.

Today was the day though, he thought as he held his gold braclet up to the rising sun.

"Ready?" Anioun asked him.

"Sure am! Lead on!"

Anioun was leading Jack back into Mirkwood where he had been only three times before. He went there when he was seventeen and came acros a beautiful elf maiden dancing in the flowers. He fell in love that day with her. It was the second time he ventured into the woods that he approached her. She was young, for her kind, and they got on fantasticly. All day they talked and danced under the sun and at night they continued under the moon. Jack's heart grieved at their parting but he returned a week later. This was a not so happy meeting as her father was there and banned him from returning to the woods, he was a general of Tharnduil and a powerful elf. At his parting with his love Jack recieved a gold braclet, crafted by her fair hand.

It was two years later now and Jack did not know what to expect, he was banished from Mirkwood but Anioun was sure he would allow him to gain access.

All day they walked and it soon came to where they parted.

"Here I must leave you dear friend," said the elf, "but I am sure we will meet again one day soon." The two shook hands.

"Goodbye Anioun," said Jack.

"Goodbye and goodluck," replied the elf.

Jack watched his comrade walk into the distance before turning to where he was heading. It was only an hours journey and the young man remembered it from two years ago step by step. Eventuelly he reached the place he had fallen in love and behold! There once more danced the elven maiden under the sun and on the flowers. She caught sight of him and stopped. As he made his way towards her she backed off. 'No' she mouthed. Jack smiled and raised his arms, under his breth he muttered a phrase in ancient elvish and the sky began to rain pink rose petals. The elf giggled as the put out her hands to catch them.

It was at this moment that her father entered the area, searching for his daughter. He saw her with the human and made for him. Jack saw him comming and turned before bowing before him.

"You have been banished from this place, leave immdiately," he boomed.

Jack raised his head and once again whispered in ancient elvish. He reached inside his pack and brought out The Book. In the Dale he had made several copies to help people but he had wanted to save the original to impress the elves. Jack bowed his head again as the elf flicked through the book. At length he felt the touch of the elf's hand on his golden head and looked up at his smiling face. He had won his respect.