[Child of the 7th Age]

Andreth came over near the fire and spoke a morning welcome to Bird, holding out two more apples as a peace offering to supplement her breakfast. Then she glanced over at Volondil and asked him how he hd fared. Despite his weariness, he grinned back at her, "Well, to be truthful, I've had better nights, but since Mistress Bird has put this leather vest on me, my temperment is much improved. He looked over to the shapechanger with a softer face.

"And you, Andreth?" he Ranger looked deep into her eyes. "It doesn't look as if you had much better rest than I did."

Andreth tossed the question off with a casual shrug of her shoulders, and sat down on a nearby log focusing all her attention on another apple that she hastily tugged out from her pocket.

No, she hadn't slept well. Not after her discussion of the night before. How strange that the Elf should confide in her. And how sad that he remembered only the horror of the outlaws and not the steadfastness of the Lord and Lady. But how could she blame him? To see so much hurt in Gilwen's eyes and not to be able to do anything to soothe it. People envied Elves their immortality, but, after talking with Nardol, Andreth wondered whether it was little more than a burden, with one bad remembrance following another.

She sternly warned herself to be more cautious. After all, the Elf was no kin, and had barely spoken civilly to her. Yet, try as she might, the image of his haunted eyes kept creeping back inside her mind

She tugged herself away from these morbid thoughts and looked over towards Holly, raising a question, "Does anyone know when we will reach the Castle, or what will happen to us once we get there?"

[ January 09, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]