[Mattius]

"Stupid girl," Menelya said as she quickly ran up the stairs.

"I think its safe now Dorlas," whispered Thelian walking into the corridor and out of his hiding place. Across the way Dorlas did likewise.

"Quite a strained mother-daughter relationship I would say!" He said looking up at the stairs where Menelya had headed.

"You have no idea..." Said Thelian in almost a whipser looking up at Menelya's door. "Still," he said trying to change the subject, "better for you, and I too, not to worry about such matters." Thelian looked at Dorlas who nodded in agreement. The boy seemed quite shook up about the whole argument, on the whole he had only seen elves being majestic and wonderful, if only in battle and speech. "Come, let me show you the unrivaled beauty of the waterfalls here," said Thelian leading away the awed Dorlas.

"Before the interuption I asked you if you have been here before Thelian," said the young squire.

"Ah yes! My apologises, I forgot all about it!" The two of them stood on a balcony overlooking the silver river and a waterfall so tall that one would have to point their nose vertical to see its top. "I have been here once before, to be healed actually."

"What happened to you?"

"I was with a small group, around fifteen, when we were attacked by orcs on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, we managed to fight them off and get to Elrond's House but an orc arrow pierced my left shoulder." Thelian lifted up his sleeve to reveal a thick scar. Dorlas made a wincing sound. "I stayed here for almost five years after I was cured but that was before the threat of Sauron loomed as thickly as it does now." Thelian paused, for thought or dramatic effect Dorlas knew not. "I believed that I was right to leave."

"Are you sure it was not Menelya who convinced you to leave," asked Dorlas, "and not the war!"

"Ah some may say so Dorlas!" Laughed Thelian.