[VanimaEdhel]

Menelduliniel held her breath as the others followed her instructions, praying that she had told them everything and that these directions were not laid out for them as a trap. She heard a click, then Maladil hazy shape faded before her eyes. She let out a big breath and looked around in the very brief silence that followed.

Suddenly, other members of the party came, prepared for battle as though it was eminent. Menelduliniel looked around, not seeing any immediate danger, but she drew her daggers nonetheless. Estelarion, however, did not draw any weapons. He looked very confused.

Menelduliniel realized then that he did not know what happened with the spirit of Maladil. He could not see anything that had happened. Everything that had occurred had been entirely invisible to the poor Elf.

"We are safe from the spirits. Maladil is gone. But we must be on guard in case there is a lesser, but still present, evil," Menelduliniel said quietly. Estelarion raised one eyebrow, but nodded.

Menelduliniel looked at Poppy, who was not prepared to fight either. She looked somewhat disappointed. Menelduliniel wondered what the Hobbit was going home to. She began to wonder what was to become of the company when they disbanded. Menelduliniel wondered of the hopes, dreams, lives, and families of the group. Then, as she so often had done in the past, Menelduliniel let her mind wander perilously into the world of dreams and fancy, forgetting the danger that possibly lurked for the group now that one obstacle was through.

**********

Estelarion saw everyone rejoice suddenly after he heard a click. He did not know what they rejoiced for, but he could sense that they had been in danger caused by the shades that haunted the place. Nearly everyone gave a jubilant shout and, although he had seen nothing that had occurred on the spirit end, Estelarion joined the sounds of merriment. Estelarion listened to quiet conversation of others, piecing together stories of what had occurred.

He turned and saw Menelduliniel with her daggers out.

"We are safe from the spirits. Maladil is gone. But we must be on guard in case there is a lesser, but still present, evil," Menelduliniel said quietly. Estelarion looked at the others who, although alert, were still relaxed and feeling merry.

Estelarion wondered when they would be leaving, for he realized it had been a while since he had been in the lovely bustle of an Inn. He suddenly felt lonely for Imladris and his home. He missed his family.

Estelarion looked at Menelduliniel, who was now off in her own world. Poppy, the Hobbit and now the Elves' companion and friend, appeared to be in a similar state of reflection. Estelarion took his two friends' leads and looked off into the dark, wondering what else was happening in the wide expanse of Middle Earth and how what the company accomplished would play into the history of the vast land, if it had any effect at all...

[ April 01, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]