[Brinniel]

The sun was setting when Calentoliel began her walk through the streets of Isengard. She had given Losthyando to a stablehand for the night and wandered off to explore the city before retiring.

Even in the evening, the streets were crowded with all sorts of people. No elves in sight, though. Calentoliel received many stares and felt tempted to draw up her hood, though she did not.

As the day grew short, many of the small businesses were beginning to close, and soon only one remained open. Calentoliel could see that it was a forge and whoever owned it was a fine craftsman. Curious, Calentoliel decided to enter the forge and have a browse.

Calentoliel was examining a long sword when a boy who had not quite reached his manhood approached her.
"Are you lookin' for something?" he asked, politely.
"Oh, no," Calentoliel responded, setting the sword down gingerly. "I was just browsing."
"Oh." Calentoliel could see that the boy was trying not to stare at her Elven features.
"Say, has anything strange occurred here in Isengard lately?" the elf asked. "The city seems unusually crowded."
She hoped this question would lead to an answer for all her questions. Calentoliel wished not to speak of her discovery earlier. Fortunately, the boy seemed quite happy to answer the question.
"Why, haven't you heard?" he said excitedly. "The news has spread all over. There have been disappearances lately; of both men and children. Some men have turned up, their bodies mangled beyond recognition." The boy lowered his voice. "They say it is the trees that are causing all this."
Calentoliel frowned. "The trees? From Fangorn, you mean?"
The boy nodded. "But anyways," he continued. "Many have come all over to find out what's really happenin' and perhaps even fight back."
So that's why Calentoliel must have felt the sudden urge to head for Isengard. She could always sense when something was wrong. Memories of the mangled body she had found earlier flashed through her head as the boy spoke. It grieved the elf deeply to think of what happened to all these victims and she couldn't help but wonder herself what the cause was. But the elf wasn't sure if she was willing enough to go on another quest.
"Are you the owner of this forge?" she asked the boy.
"Oh, no. I'm only the apprentice. She's the forger." He pointed to a woman, who was conversing with another, though she could not see whom.
Calentoliel smiled. It was not often one would find a female forger and the elf liked the fact that they did exist. She believed that female forgers did the job best.

Calentoliel's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a large crash come from behind her. She turned around to find the apprentice had just spoken with franticly picking up tools and other odds and ends he had spilled.
"Buck!" the woman shouted. She had also turned around to see what the boy had done, and was not at all too happy.
With forger's head turned, Calentoliel could now see whom the woman had been conversing with, who was now staring directly at her. Calentoliel stared back in sudden surprise. Though the face was one she had not seen for 1,000 years, it was one she had not forgotten. Calentoliel gave a small smile.
"Mattius," she said, quietly.