[Susan Delgado]

The floor squeaked. He knew it wasn't a part of his dream, though his dream was strange, all water and shadows and horns blowing. Even in all that, the squeak of the floor was so ordinary, so mundane, that it brought him out of sleep. He looked around, confused. Something had changed. What? He rose from his bed and crept to the door adjoining his room and the next. Somehow he was not surprised to find the bed in that room empty. She had always been a wanderer and on some level he'd always known that he would wake one night and find her gone. He moved quietly over to her window overlooking the stable and peered out. He saw the two Elves in earnest conversation, though their voices were too soft for even his sharp ears to pick up the words. He watched the end of their cooonversation and their departure together with a pang of sadness. He had a feeling she was really gone this time, and wasn't coming back. Why had she never told him what she was thinking of? He would have understood, might even have joined her! But maybe that was something she didn't want. Maybe she wanted to be on her own. NNo, if that were the case, she would never have left with that horse-thief. Though Dineniel was a pretty thing, and decent aside from being a thief. With a sigh of bitterness and longing, he sent a wish of good fortune her way and returned to his bed.

Lenilos woke with the sun. He did not look into Hithduiniel's room but hurried downstairs, where he could smell the breakfast the Men were making. He headed off their questions about Hithduiniel and Dineniel--he really didn't want to discuss it, especially not with the shortlived Men--and settled in to eat. It was bacon and sausages and eggs, with biscuits and butter and some sweet light drink he couldn't identify. Good solid fare for Men, he supposed, though it wan't at all what he was accustomed to eating. Still, he ate it all, even the meat, so he wouldn't insult them. They'd worked so hard to help him find his sister that he wanted to leave on as good of terms as he could.

After breakfast, they all went to the stables to find a horse for him. He was not a good rider, but he was determined to improve. Remdil was furious to find that the best horse in the place was gone, however. Evidence of a certain horse-thief, obviously, and now all they could do was deal with it. The owner of that horse would be most unpleased, though. Lenilos hid a smile. Their concerns were so delightfully small! Putting a gentle hand on Remdil's shoulder, he quietly told him that it really wan't that important. Remdil sighed and nodded. He knew that, he really did.

Lenilos remounted his horse and, provided with enough supplies to last a month, turned back toward his home in Ossiriand. As he disappeared into the town's throng, Carathon gave voice to the thought that was in all their minds:
"Do you think we'll ever see them again?"