[Airerûthiel]

Airerûthiel looked long and hard at the stranger, blinking as if trying to recall a long-forgotten memory. She could surely remember seeing this person somewhere in her past, but the memories were hazy...he could have been someone whose face she had seen when travelling through Middle-earth after her parents' murder, or he could just look like a figure she might have momentarily glimpsed in an inn or walking the streets.

"Do not judge on appearances, my friend," she replied in a voice as bitterly cold as the morn of midwinter after a layer of frost has smothered all it can reach like a spider's web. "I may look as what I am - trapped between the end of my childhood and the beginning of my adult life - but these young eyes have seen sights that would no doubt strike terror into the hearts of the most valiant Men of Gondor and Rohan."

Her hand tightened its grip on the hilt of Minyacirith, and a strange fire none of her companions had ever seen before blazed in her eyes. Elentari and Hreeza glanced at each other, both recognising the look at the same time - it was that of one with a quick temper and a vicious loyalty who seeks revenge on those who have wronged her or her house.

Elentari reached out and took Airerûthiel's hand from her sword hilt once again. "I admire your bravery and courage to defend our party, young one," Hreeza whispered in the Gondorian's ear, "but do not act too rashly for your own sakes. I suspect that this kin to you when you walked the wilds may be helpful to us."

After a brief period of silence in which the only communication was a brief stare from Airerûthiel that could have burnt a hole straight through the walls of Moria, Soronûmë spoke. "If you think we are not capable of getting to Cirith Ungol and completing what business we have there, then maybe you should come along as our guide. Of course, if you do not wish to..." He turned to the rest of the party. "Come, let us ride east to the tower we seek!"

"Wait..." Khôrbar had made his decision. Although he still refused to fully commit his trust into the hands of this motley crew of beings, he knew that if he did not help them in their quest, then they would all be slain before they had reached the Golden Wood.

"I shall aid you in your mission for as long as you may need my help," he said. "But I make no promises."

[ January 14, 2003: Message edited by: Airerûthiel ]