[Nerindel]

Taurëwen had went with Reynion to search by the injured tree's as he walked past her she looked on him trying to figure from whence His harsh words to Gilbereth had come, but she said nothing and followed him silently. She kept her bow readied as did Reynion , and took in their surrounding as they went. just before the clearing both elves stopped , Reynion signalled for her to fall into the shadows, by now she to could here the wild screams and shouts coming from ahead, "Orcs" she hissed under her breath , She levelled her bow ready to shoot the foul creatures when they came within range. 'of course' she scolded herself 'It was they, that defiled the trees, how could I forget what my brother and father had told me of these abominations.'

Four orcs rushed through the trees, Taurëwen immediately let loose her arrow and quickly in one fluid motion pulled a fresh arrow from her quiver, nocked it and fired, Her first shot had taken down the first orc and her second shot the third through a gap in the shoulder of its black armour, at the same time as another arrow Rynion's, it struck the creature through the throat. It made a gurgling sound as it fell clutching at the green flights of the arrow in its neck, Rynion had already dispensed of the second and The both renocked their bow's, but before they could fire the ground shook unsteadying them for a second then the monstrous eight legged beast crash through the trees and grabbed the screaming orc in its great maws.

Taurëwen's green eyes widened at the sight before her and her bow hand faltered slightly, "It's Eyes" she heard Reynion scream at her. She immediately levelled her bow and fired at the creatures many eyes, the creature she had though only legend, made a loud hissing sound and headed straight for her, she kept her nerve, firing arrow after arrow that the spiders massive head, trusting that Reynion had a plan. "Reynion!" she cried throwing down her bow and drawing her sword, the creature was now to close for her bow to be effective, "Reynion!" she called again anxiously. The spider could on longer see her clearly but her cry had alerted it to her position and as it raised its front legs and opened its great maw, Taurëwen feared that this would be her end.

"Now! Move!" she heard Reynion cry as he rushed under the great beast and pushed his sword into its soft underbelly, Reynion rolled out of the way just in time as the creature fell, Taurëwen then with all the might she could muster drove her sword through the things huge head and with what Taurëwen could only described as a death wrenching scream the creature finally died.

"do not touch it" she warned as she saw Reynion approach the dead monster, "If the legends are true then its great bulbous sac holds its poison" Reynion then held out his sword and examined the sticky black/green fluid that adhered to it, he screwed up his face in disgust and wiped his sword clean on a dead orcs body.

After making sure there was no other enemies about they made their way silently back to camp, they arrived back just afore Ceros and Gilbereth, at the sight of Gilbereth she looked to Reynion, the guarded elf to looked in Gilbereths direction and something in his grey eyes told he that he regretted his harsh words, though she though him to proud to admit it. 'pride the bane of all' she chuckled to herself.

"What happened!" she heard Ceros's voice cut above the others, as she turned she too saw the welt on the trackers face, she instantly searched her pack for the right mixture that would take down the swelling and stop the bleeding, as she mixed the components in her pestle, she listened to Ceros and Ihwesta's words.

Tears streamed down her face as she learnt of the fate of Airelóme but she kept to her task, 'had this been my brothers fate also', she thought sadly to herself. With the mixture now ready she wiped the tears from her eyes and walked slowly to were Ihwesta sat, nodding to Ceros and Arie as she passed, "Here" she said softly examining with welt closer, "This will help with the swelling" she continued. "It is fine" the young bowers daughter answered defiantly turning her head her still tear-filled eyes sad and mournful almost broke Taurewens heart, " please" she urged softly, slowly the younger elf turned her head and let Taurëwen administer her remedy.

Ihwesta flinched slightly as she cleaned the wound with salted water, then relaxed when she gently added the cooling mixture, the mixture was sweet smelling and smooth and left but a green tinge to where it was applied, "It should not scar" she said thoughtfully, even though she knew the elf woman would have guessed as much. She picked up her things and made to leave the younger elf to her grieve, when she felt an hand on her arm. "Thank you" Ihwesta said wiping the tears from her dark blue eyes, Taurëwen nodded, realising that she thank her not for the healing but for not asking more of Airelomes death, the young bowers daughter knew that Taurëwen as a healer would likely know of the effects of the spiders poisons.

Taurëwen then went about the company checking that no one else was hurt, she was relieved to see that only Ihwesta was hurt and that was but a minor injury. after packing away her things she gathered some fallen branches to whittle into shafts to replenish her spent arrows, staying within the confines of the camp, keeping her own advice. She then sat by the fire between Ainemetion and Gilbereth and silently whittled the Branches into straight shafts.

It wasn't long before she felt someone beside her watching her work, she inclined her head and found herself looking straight into the soft blue-gray eyes of Gilbereth, he tensed slightly at her gaze, she smiled and he relaxed instantly. "Would you like to try?" she asked indicating the knife and the half whittled shaft in her hands, his eye's widened in mild surprise, "I don't think ...." he began, "Nonsense, it's easy" she interrupted pleasantly as she pressed the knife and branch into his hands.
The deer handled knife sat comfortably in his right hand, but he looked nervously at the half whittled branch in his left, awaiting her instruction. "Follow the grain and let the wood be your guide," she whispered softly as she put one hand round his and the handle of the knife and used the other to help him steady the branch , she closed her eyes and lovingly ran the blade down the length of the branch, in one fluid stroke, again and again she repeated the strokes slowly turning the branch in their hands. "see!" she smiled opening her eyes and looking down at the straight shaft that sat in their hands. She then lifted one of the silver arrow heads and showed him how to bind it to the shaft.

He watched intently as she showed him how to cut the feathers into flights and how to attach them to the other end of the shaft, he then handed her back her knife and took out a narrow bladed dagger of his own, He picked up a fresh branch and began to whittle it down for himself.

Taurëwen watched Gilbereth work the wood in his hands, the young noble seemed to take a great pride in his work, She nodded her approval as he held a finished arrow in his hand, as Gilbereth picked up another branch, she thought about the fact that he had no bow, it was then that she remembered the large branch that she and Reynion had brought to Ceros.

As she looked around the camp she saw the branch at Eurwen's feet she walked over and smiled at the elven woman, as she gently picked up the branch and took it back to her seat, the large branch would make an average sized bow, crude though it would be. Her hands worked lovingly carving the bow shape, as she worked she thought of those who had been lost to the growing shadows. Without realising it she had carved the image of the trees that had been damaged into either end of the bow, majestic and proud as they were before their marring. she then searched in her pack for the spare bow strings she carried.

After stringing the bow she picked up an arrow and nocked it to make sure they would fit, it felt comfortable in her hands almost as if the wood itself approved of her work. The bow was only waist high, but sturdy and durable. She turned back to Gilbereth and looked at him trying to find something unique to him to add to the bow, her eyes fell across the crest on his buckler, she delicately carved the hand bearing a branch, then underneath it she carved the sword bearing the delicate elven script " Do not draw me without reason, do not sheath me without honour." This carving sat just below the tree at the top end of the bow and at the bottom she carved the Elven runes of friendship and protection and also the elven words *"Nailya pilind rip linta'ar anwa." then down the length of the bow she carved the leaf pattern that she had seen on his court finery, the few times she had ventured to the courts of their realm.


Once finished she took out a small pouch of green powder and mixed it with a little water , she then dipped her knife point into the green liquid and traced the tip around the intricate carvings. The design on the bow now stood out a vibrant green against the slivery grey of the wood. She wiped the knife clean on her green skirts and slipped it back into its sheath.


She smiled approvingly as she turned back to Gilbereth, the young elven noble had managed to whittle and fletch fifteen arrows for himself, some of them could have been better, but this was his first attempt she reminded herself. "Is this enough" he asked uncertainly, "Yes, I think so" she smiled. She noticed Gilbereth staring at the bow in her hands, "Do you like it" she asked holding it out for him to examine, "It is wonderful " he replied taking it from her, and examining the design, his eyes widened as they fell on the crest at the top end of the bow, "this is the crest of my house!" he exclaimed.

"Only fitting for a bow belonging to one of that house" she chuckled lightly.

"for me!" he exclaimed, His thanks shining on his elven face.

"It is crude by elven standards and I do not have any wax with which to add as a protective finish," she replied frowning slightly.

"Do not frown my lady, I can only but hope that I can learn to use it with as much skill as the hand that made it" he smiled genuinely.

"for that you will require the aid of another for my bow is used only to stop those who would think to destroy or mar our woodland realm," she told him, not at all abashed at her words.

"I understand and would not trouble you further, Ihwesta has offered to teach me" he replied.
"yes, I think the bowers daughter would make an excellent teacher," she smiled back at him, "she may even have wax with which to finish the bow and maybe even something with which to make a quiver for your arrows." she told him.

Taurëwen and Gilbereth talked together for sometime, he told her tales from the courts and she spoke of the simple pleasures of the woods surrounding their home, others joining the conversation when they had something to add or to object.

[ August 05, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]