[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Before she could make it to see the Lord and Lady, Jemel was distracted by the sudden rush about Caras Galadon. Someone appeard from around the trees and tried to catch his breath as he went up to Jemel. Jemel helped him steady himself, and looked questioningly at him.

"The north border! We were," The elf panted and spoke between deep intakes of air. "We were changing shifts. There weren't many of us. At least ten or fifteen of them!"

"Take a breath! Calm down. What happened?" Jemel's usual smile was cast down into a frown of worry.

"Wild men. They attacked. There could not have been more than five of our men. We could barely see them. Then we heard a scream. Most of them have left the woods, but we fear they may have-" Jemel hushed him and sent him to find water for himself.

Jemel turned and whistled louder than she ever had. Then in a loud voice she called, "Aniram! Nya mára mellon! Ettul, Lothlorien ná arwa mornie! (Aniram! My good friend! Come out, Lothlorien is caught in darkness!)" In response came a loud bird-cry, and Jemel knew Aniram would be close behind.

Jemel ran as fast as her strong legs could carry her, pulling out her daggers as she moved silently about the woods. She wasn't sure if she would need them, and hoped she wouldn't. As she reached the post of guards and sentries, people rushed around, and two bowmen shot an arrow once or twice.

"Miss Jemel! Jemel!" Someone called her name and ran to her, motioning for her to pull out a parchment and quill. She did so, listening intently.

"One of our own is wounded, but none are dead. We lost one horse, it ran off in fear. Also...we fear we may have lost..." He stuttered, maybe afraid to have to admit something.

"Yes?" Jemel prodded as Aniram flew to her shoulder.

"We fear we may have lost one of the citizens. Not a guard. A female. One of our men heard her scream once, and then we never heard her again. We think she may have either been killed or taken off. If someone finds their loved one is missing, well..." the guard stammered again.

"Varda hold up the stars! They may fall at this news!" Jemel sighed, and reluctantly wrote down the news. "How can this be? Orcs have never lived through Lothlorien, yet one of our own girls is taken by MEN! Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm not mad at you, I am reluctant to give such news to the Lord and Lady."

Jemel put a hand on the elf's shoulder for a moment, and forced a grim smile. She rolled up the parchment and held it out for Aniram. Aniram cried a chirp of either sorrow or dissapointment. Then he flew into the distance.

"I wonder who it was..." Jemel asked herself as two male elves burst through the trees. One she knew a little, Feadhros, whom she had met when sending news to Galadriel. The younger one she knew not, though he still held a look of little hope upon his face.