[Arry]

‘You really don’t look very well. Shall I have one of the other Elves help you?’ The Lossoth’s face peered up from his seat at the ruddy face of the Elf. Annû had stood up, the better to catch the breeze off the Bay’s waters. His face was flushed, as someone who had exerted himself hard and long. But beneath the tinge of color that stained his cheeks and neck, lay a lingering pallor. His eyes glittered, but not with the fair light of the First Born. Rather, they bore an ill glaze from some fire that burned within.

‘I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me,’ returned Annû, waving the man’s offer of help away. He pointed to where the filled airbladders lay at the front of the longboat. ‘Help Galhardir get those tied to those coils of rope, if you will.’ Annû nodded to where Rôg could just be seen gliding back and forth beneath the water. ‘Once Rôg has found a palantir, we’ll need to have those air-filled floats to tie onto the net Luindal will put under it – to mark its place so we can haul it up while they search for the second one.’ Galhardir welcomed the man’s assistance, though he glanced curiously up at Annû, after a whispered conference with his fellow Lossoth.

Elwë picked his was to the middle of the boat, his bow in hand. He’d heard Annû protest the offer of help and now stood looking at his fellow Elf. Annû managed a meager smile in greeting, saying again that it was nothing. Something he’d eaten had not agreed with him. Changing the subject, he asked if Elwë had seen any sign of the Corsairs. Elwë said he had not, and the two passed a brief time in conversation as their eyes scanned the low lying hills and rocky outcroppings that lined the edge of the bay, looking for signs of any who might be spying on them. After a while, the two Elves changed placed in the boat, taking the opposite ends from each other. Their weapons were ever at the ready as their keen grey eyes swept in an arc, toward land and water. All was well as Rôg continued his searching dives for the stones.

Galhardir glanced up from his work with the ropes and nets, startled to see that Annû had thrown back the hood to his cloak, letting the chilly breeze ruffle the hairs escaped from his hastily done braid. Unaware of his concerned observer, Annû fished into the small pack at his waist now and again, bringing out small pieces of willow bark to chew on. It was meant to keep down the fever he could feel rising. And to ease the pain in his side. It was doing neither very well as far as he could tell. He forced his thoughts away from the pain and the fevered discomfort, setting them solely on keeping watch against the foe.