[Nerindel]

Amandur

Amandur lead Léspheria and Maethor cautiously through the forest, it had been agreed that they would continue on the straightest route leading them to the ford, once across they would take the stairs and alert the elven guards that secured them and the wooded slopes before continuing on to the last homely house. Amandur's thoughts were ever on Toby and every now and then he broke away to see if he could catch Naiore's spy, but since entering the trollshaws there had been no further sign of their small shadow, this concerned him. What plan is she concocting! He wondered silently as he looked out into the uneasy stillness of the forest.

Glancing back, he saw Maethor shift uneasily in his saddle, the usually cheerful ranger also seemed unsettled by the haunting silence, his merry tune an attempt to hide his discomfort, but the younger ranger remained alert keeping a close eye on his surroundings. Confident that Maethor would be ready for what ever Naiore threw their way he shifted his gaze towards Léspheria. Her eyes remained on the road ahead, her serenity adding to the haunted ness of the woods, but a stray ray of sunlight pierced the thick canopy lighting her graceful beauty.

Since breaking from the other rangers, Léspheria had distanced herself from him and Maethor, focusing on controlling the pain of her young friend and her own emotions. However, as much as he tried he could not do like wise, instead when he looked on the elven woman a sadness gripped at his heart. He feared that once all was done she would be but a shell of the woman he loved. But as he looked at her fair face, he now wondered if it came to it would she strike down one of her own kin, even to save her own life. Turning away he realised he already knew the answer and he also knew that he would not let any harm come to her even if it meant forfeiting his own life.


They rode through the night and into the morning, stopping only briefly to rest the horses and take some lunch, by mid afternoon they were back on their way and by early evening they could hear the crisp clear sound of the river Bruinen as it ran its course to join the Mithiethel.

"The Ford!" Maethor exclaimed looking to Léspheria hopefully, but she shook her head, guessing his thought. "That protection faded after the one ring was destroyed and..." but she broke off abruptly her hand reaching for her sword.

"Orc's" she whispered But seeing her actions Amandur and Maethor had instinctively drawn their weapons and where searching the darkening tree line, listening for the slightest sound of their enemies.

"Quick, to the ford!" Amandur ordered, slapping Lespheria's mare with the flat of his blade, before she had the chance to object, "Keep tight!" he cried back over the thunder of hooves to Maethor as they galloped towards the Ford.

Behind him, he could hear the orc's crashing through the trees. "We can't let them cross the ford!" Maethor cried, a stern determination set on his usually gentle features, Nodding Amandur reined his horse and turned to face the oncoming enemy. Léspheria too started to turn.

"No, go on" he cried back to her

"You are out numbered!" she retorted and for an instant, he saw a flicker of fear and genuine concern in her gentle grey eyes.

He smiled, "All the more reason for you to go and get help, the arrows of the Elves would even the odds!"

"Go!" he said more urgently, seeing her hesitation and hearing the orcs closing the distance they had gained. Reluctantly she conceded and took flight over the ford. Amandur pulled up beside Maethor and the pair dismounted, sending the horses to wait on the other side of the ford.

"No heroics we hold the ford for as long as possible, crossing if they get too many." Maethor nodded his understanding.

Standing on the bank of the river Bruinen, he sheathed his sword and raised his bow and knocking a green fletched arrow he whispered, "Are you ready, my friend?"

"Death to the foes of Imladris!" he cried loosing his arrow as the first of the orcs came within bowshot.