[Amanaduial the archer]

Arthain found conversation between himself and Anwenelme becoming more easy. At the beginning, he had thought that maybe he couldn't have chosen a worse subject when the elf's face darkened and her glare became even icier when he asked about how she and Melost had met. But now they seemed to have slipped more easily into conversation, and Arthain wondered if perhaps he had misjudged her, and maybe Thelian had been a little harsh. But other things were coming out- Melost had said naught of an arranged marriage. He had always implied they both loved each other equally and that was the reason for their betrothal. Arthain shrugged it off- he had simply assumed too much, and what did it change, for both elves were easy in the company of the other, and Melost's love for Anwenelme was obviously strong and true. No matter what it had started out with at the prompting of Anwenelme's mother, what it had become was quite different. Melost was devoted to his lady, and she enjoyed his company it seemed- Arthain had seen the eager, overjoyed manner in which she had run into his arms when they had first ridden in. Arthain was pleased for both in the way it had turned out, and the origin little seemed to matter.

"Our wedding should have been long ago, but then came the war and he had to leave. Not wanting to make me a widow just when he had made me his wife, he postponed the wedding. And has done so ever since." Sure enough, a melancholy note crept into Anwenelme's voice, and her smile faded. She obviously could not wait for a time when they would finally marry. Then her smile returned as she asked her next question.

"So tell me, Master Arthain, how and where did you meet Melost? I do not recall him ever telling me about you and yet you seem to be close friends."

He never told his own fiance about his best friend. And he never told me about the nature of their marriage. Arthain held back the frown which threatened to give away these odd thoughts, and he smiled back at Anwenelme.

"I am surprised at that, my Lady, but no matter. Melost and I have been friends for a long time, before ever I was a Captain, and before these dangers which we now face seemed so close. We met when I was, well, I suppose when I was just a boy really. I was about...say fourteen years old when Melost met me? I was enchanted with the elves, but Melost did not shake me off like the others, just a pesky human child. Rather he told me stories from elven yore. We became friends, before losing touch once more, but only for a few years. I was eighteen or nineteen when I next met him, and had the pleasure of fighting by his side. He was a good teacher in the ways of the sword, as well as being an excellent drinking partner!" Anwenelme laughed engagingly, and Arthain grinned back, pleased he had not bored her. Her expression had been interested in what he was telling her, and she leant across the table, her hands close to his where they lay clasped in front of him.

"So you have fought together for many years?"

Arthain sighed. "No. No, I am afraid we hadn't even seen each other for what may only be a few years by the reckoning of elves, but was many years for me."

"I'm back." Melost's voice shook Arthain from his story and he looked up, along with Anwenelme, smiling at Melost as he pulled back his chair and sat. His face was pale, and Arthain reckoned he could not have missed the last few sentences. It was unlike his friend to miss up on an oppurtunity to make a witty comment of some sort in such a place, but instead all they had recieved was 'I'm back'. Odd. Was he angry at Arthain for telling his beloved of their past? Arthain withdrew his hands slightly from where they rested near Anwenelme's, and she did the same, smoothing her dress- or was she wiping them on her dress? The thought hurt Arthain, but he brushed it aside, reckoning he was being paranoid. Thelian also sat again, beside Dorlas, and they began to talk together. Arthain smiled to see that they had become such fast friends, like an image of Melost and himself so long ago.

"You have done your business with the king?" Arthain inquired.

"What was it he asked?" Anwenelme asked at exactly the same time.