[Ithaeliel]

Spirits lifted from the evidence that they had found the night before, the searchers slung their packs across the backs of their horses and rode on toward Mirkwood. Galloping as quickly as they were, the horses ran as though in a herd, occasionally shifting positions through the day. On one of these, Feadhros dropped to the rear of the travellers, and he noticed Harlon, who had his eyes squeezed shut and whose teeth were clenched in anxiety. Feadhros shouted to him over the noise of hooves on the plains. Harlon opened one eye. "Come again?"

"You're doing well," Feadhros told him. "You're keeping your balance!"

Harlon, as though amazed, looked at himself with raised eyebrows and grinned. "I am! I'm riding a horse!"

"I told you you could," Feadhros replied.

Reaching the very outermost trees of Mirkwood, the searchers stopped their horses. Aniram landed on Jemel's arm, gave a slight cry, and stretched his wings a bit. Jemel nodded. "Yes, my friend. We are getting closer."

Feadhros, knowing well the regions surrounding Lorien, came up beside Jemel. "I think it would be quickest to cut through the southern part of the forest and then turn northeast toward Rhun; we will intercept the Easterlings faster."

Jemel nodded. "Aniram tells me we are less than fifteen leagues behind them. By nightfall the victors shall be decided, if all goes according to plan."

Now the searchers trekked through the dense forest of Mirkwood. The air was thick, and if one waved their hand about in the forest, they could feel and almost see it move. The horses went a little slower than planned, seeming apprehensive of the wild wood and the shady creatures that seemed to creep about in the trees.
Everyone was frustrated with the horses. Feadhros constantly spoke to Ithilion, urging him onward through the dark. Eventually, Thoriel had worked her way up beside him, having a bolder steed than others of the company. "It's the spiders, is it not?" she whispered to Feadhros. "I have seen several remnants of cobwebs along our route through the forest."
Feadhros glanced to the side as they passed another silken thread strung through a tree. He thought he saw a brief black shape pass overhead. "It is the spiders," he answered Thoriel cautiously. "They are all about. They reign over this region of the forest."
Garen shuddered behind them as he heard a skittering in the bushes nearby. "Will they attack us?"
"I don't believe they would," Lilebrian answered. "We are too large for prey; rather we are the predators. We are armed as well."

Ithilion neighed softly and backed away as a shadowy creature ran in front of them, paused, and ran off in another direction.

[ February 24, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]