[Airerûthiel]

Torfithien's heart leapt for joy at the sight of her old friend. It was all she could do not to run to her and begin talking excitedly about the latest news from Lothlórien. But suddenly all that seemed trivial and worthless; there were more important issues at stake. Celebrian seemed to be a different person from the one who Torfithien had known almost all her life. It was unlikely that she would have much interest in news of her people at this time.

The group continued making their way through the tunnels, but their speed was painfully slow. An image that had plagued Torfithien ever since she had joined up with the rescue party flashed into her head: that of less leaving the mines than had entered them. She shook her head to erase the vision and continued on her way. Her fear was starting to seep into all her thoughts, and she doubted whether they would survive.

The sound of the Orcs seemed far away; they must have lost the trail a little. But Torfithien knew that tunnels were places where everything was distorted. Nothing seemed real any more. She kept expecting to open her eyes and be sitting in her talan in the Golden Wood. Beside her Fingil seemed to be frustrated with the speed they were moving at.

"Shall we go on ahead a little way?" she asked him. "That way we can try and find a safe path for the others to follow." Fingil nodded and the two Elves quickened their pace a little, so that they were slightly ahead of the main group. Torfithien wrinkled her noise slightly at the musty damp smell that hit her full in the face. The long dark tunnels seemed to stretch on forever into a deep blackness.