[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman was about to answer Lira when a small, pained, murmering gasp came from somewhere to her left, following, as Aman turned quickly, but the sickening sound of bone hitting the floor. The Innkeeper found the origin in a split second - an elven woman lying on the floor, apparently unconcious. After a second her eyes widened quickly, becoming as big as saucers, and once more she gasped, a terrible, desperate gasp for life-giving air.

By this time both Aman and Lira were at her side, Lira calling the name 'Esgalhugwen' at the prostrate woman, holding her hand. Aman lifted the woman's head from the ground onto her lap, lowering her head and listening to the woman's breath. She seemed to have momentarily stopped breathing. Aman swore silently, then turned to Vanwe. "Vanwe, we need herbs and water."

The elf nodded quickly, shaken and now sobered up, and stumbled off to the kitchen. Lira continued to call the elf's name, tears now rolling from her eyes as she held her hand desperately, but the one of the men who was with Esgalhugwen, as she was called, seemed frozen in a daze, simply staring at the elven girl, horror in his eyes. Aman was about to try to wake him from his reverie, to ask what happened, before a terrible noise broke out from the stables - the sound of a horse trying to break out from it's stable. Aman cursed again inwardly - perfect timing, just perfect. She would have liked to go herself, as her skills with horses were extensive, but she knew she had to stay. She shot a look at Derufin, and the man nodded - he was already on his feet, knocking over the chair behind him as he raced out towards the stables.

Beren stood behind Aman, anxiety on his face. "What happened?"

Aman shook her head, signalling that she didn't know, her eyes still on the girl.

"Anything I can do to help?"

Aman turned to look up at him. "Have you any experience with horses?"

"Er...a little?"

"Then go, Derufin will need your help by the sound of it." She looked back at the girl again. Beren wavered for a moment, seemingly about to say more, and when Aman looked at him, exasperated despite herself, he made up his mind. He bent towards her, his lips almost touching her ear, her hair tickling his cheek.

"Watch out for that stranger," He whispered, before racing out the door after Derufin. Aman paused, but, knowing it would be too obvious, did not look at the scruffy man. What was Beren talking about?

Vanwe came out of the kitchen with the herbs and water, as quickly as she could without spilling them. On her lap, the white-faced girl seemed to be saying something, her eyes still scarily wide, her blue lips moving quickly. Aman brushed her hair behind her ear and bent low over Esgalhuhwen's face again, and listened.

"The wound is clean...but fires devour...everything...." The last word came as a sigh, and the whole sentence had been too quiet for any but the Innkeeper to hear. Aman stared at the elf again, then noticed how her necklace was glowing. These cryptic words, a horse suddenly causing a racket, this glowing, eerie necklace....something here wasn't quite natural.

Aman did not have time to muse as Vanwe knelt beside her, laying out the herbs, and Aman was back in business form again, pushing aside the fears of something less ordinary...