[Amanaduial the archer]

"Or shall I look elsewhere for a guard?"

Arthains eyes snapped back open immediately and he spun quickly, jumping out of bed to face his friend, and stubbing his toe as he did so. He winced then turned back to Melost. "You wouldnt dare!"

The elf laughed, stepping back out of the tent. Arthain glared at him, continuing to pull on his clothes. He did up his shirt and pulled on his tunic quickly, before starting to look around for his armour.

"Dorlas!" He called, as loud as he could without wakening the rest of the camp. "Where is that useless squire of mine? Dorlas, wheres my armour!?"

He flung aside the flap adjoining his tent and his squire's and raised an eyebrow, seeing his squire snoring away. He went right up close, until he was behind the boys head, then spoke right into his ear. "Dorlas!"

The boy shot up immediately, scrambling out of bed sleepily. "Im up, Im up, Im-" he stopped, turning and looking at Arthain. "Arthain? Why..."

"The elven Lord Gil-Galad has asked Melost to take a message for him. Now it may be that elves never sleep, for Melost has certainyl chosen the most awkward hour to ask me to accompany him."

"Accompany him? And as for me?" Arthain could hear the excitement in the boys voice and smiled.

"Aye, youre coming with us. Provided I can find my flaming armour- where've you put it? And my sword."

Dorlas pulled on his clothes and they quickly prepared. Barely five minutes later they were outside and ready. Arthain grinned to himself- so much for Melost, trying to catch him off guard in the middle of the night! Muttering dark things about the inconsideration of the Melost, elves and the world in general, he went to find his horse.

As he tacked the stallion up, rubbing sleep out of his eyes and he threw on the saddle and made him ready, he yawned widely, not able to restrain it any longer.

"Tired Arthain? Not the worlds greatest riser, hmm?"

The soldier whirled around at the mocking familiarity of Melosts voice and saw him leaning against the door, loaded saddle packs draped over one arm. Arthain glared at him again, but once more, then elf only grinned. Arthain raised one eyebrow at him, then, rather grudgingly, not able to stay anygry, he smiled slightly back. Melost breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew! At last, I am assured that this is my friend Arthain, not just some wild faced barbarian warrior who had killed him and was lying in wait for me in his tent!"

Arthain took the offered saddle bags, attaching them deftly to his horses saddle. In a smooth motion he mounted and turned the stallion easily. "Maybe a barbarian indeed, when woken by an unsleeping, inconsiderate elf, masquerading as the noble Melost, at this ungodly hour. And as to where the noble Melost is, I have yet to find out."

"Oh, you wound me Arthain!" Melost fell back, retreating outside, and the man followed, rolling his eyes. Once outside, he found the sleepy eyed Dorlas, Thelian and the fresh faced Melost already mounted. Nodding at them all, the group set off under the caver of the velvet blanket of the night.

[ April 06, 2003: Message edited by: Amanaduial the archer ]