[Arien]

"We're looking for two elves here Ihwesta who probably aren't very accomplished swimmers not to mention one is less a hand." Ceros explained exasperatedly to the tracker and the others. This wasn’t looking good and why on earth did Reyn jump in? To save Gilbereth yes; but to condemn himself also to death? He must have acted before thinking the situation through. That was the only reasonable explanation. The Elves ran down the bank of the river, their eyes searching hoping to catch a glimpse of their companions, but to no avail.

“Reyn!” cried Taurëwen, who was looking ahead up the river. The others turned as she rushed to him, wrapping a warm blanket around his frozen body. He shivered as a soft breeze rustled past the trees; he stared into the trees for a moment then looked to the others.

“There is something there,” he whispered hoarsely to them.

“We know,” replied Ihwesta, her eyes shifted nervously towards the trees and then back to Reyn.

“Gilbereth?” asked Ceros anxiously, coming face to face with Reyn. He shook his head, and Ceros’ heart fell. How could this be? Certainly not another companion lost, he would find Gil…..alive.

“The current was too strong, he was washed away and I couldn’t reach him,” he shook his head again and hung it, “It didn’t look too good.”

“Well we can not give up.......” whispered Eruwen from behind Ceros.

“Nobody was suggesting that, but we will keep looking,” ordered Ceros, “Reyn can you continue?” He nodded and so they went ahead. Ceros and Ihwesta fell behind the others.

“Ceros we cannot go on looking for him! No matter how much I want to look, we just cannot,” she sighed, “something is drawing closer to us, or we to them and we cannot risk looking for him. We have to….”

“We have to continue,” He finished, “ I agree and hope the rest will too.”

“Ceros!” came a voice from up ahead, “the bank ends here, there is no where else to go!” It was Arië. She stared flatly at the end of the bank that now went into the rushing water. There was nowhere else for them to go, the water rushed passed. It was too dangerous for them to go in, they would risk being carried away like Gilbereth. Ceros stood beside Arië on the edge. The roots of the trees fell into the water and there was nowhere to climb.

“We can not go on any longer, we must..” Ceros faltered as he looked to the others.

“No…” gasped Arië.

“I am sorry, if he makes it he will catch up,” he lowered his voice, “But there is something out there and we must press on, if any one protests….” The group looked dull but they did not object. Ceros was glad at this, although it did not make abandoning Gilbereth any easier. “Let us carry on, but be wary….draw your weapons. Something waits for us….” And with that they drew their arms and crept slowly into the dim of the forests shadow.

[ September 05, 2003: Message edited by: Arien ]