[Airerûthiel]

Torfithien was taken aback by her discovery of the male Elves. She cursed herself silently for not being more careful. What reason could she give them for her presence, other than she wanted to prove she was not some pathetic female who had been reluctantly allowed to come on the quest because she was a friend of Celebrian. She hated lying - her father had brought her up to tell the truth at any cost - but her reasons were so feeble that she felt she had no choice.

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I am afraid that Elladan and Elrohir went on alone," she said. "We found a clue that might help us find the Lady Celebrian, and followed that trail. While we were travelling I felt a little dizzy, and had to stop and rest. I must have fallen asleep, for when I awoke they had gone on ahead. I could not find my way back to them, so I followed the tunnels and came here. It is fortunate I found you."

She glanced around at their faces. They looked expectant, as though they were waiting for her to say something more. "What path they took I know nothing of. That is all the news of them I have for you."

Suddenly her sharp ears picked up on a faint sound in the caverns ahead. Her hand went instantly to the hilt of her long knife. She was wary instantly, glancing around in the darkness. Her ears listened out for any sound or movement they could detect.

"What is it?" asked Fingil.

"I don't know," Torfithien said slowly. "But whatever it is, I don't like it.

[ July 19, 2003: Message edited by: Airerûthiel ]