The dark elf turned to the young elf-maiden. He frowned slightly at the sound he had heard in her voice. It sounded too eager, as one would her from an inexperienced, and perhaps over-enthusiastic child.
Rûdhchamion suppressed a groan and sighed. “I do not mean anything by it, but is this the first time you will have gone beyond the confines of Greenwood, Anarya?”
That of course earned him a frown and a glare which could have had sent any stouthearted man cringing. “And I suppose that would make me the hapless lass under your protection then.”
“I was only asking and as I said, meant nothing by it. He averted his eyes from her sharp gaze and stood up. “Come then, let us begin tracking the mortal.”
He looked towards the south. “Your Prince is right, the man means to join others. Perhaps to his superior, to report of the encounter with the Elvenking. But to whom? The Beornings are northwest of this place, that is the only abode of men in this area, and they have the friendship of your people.” The elf looked southwestward. “ He would have no reason to go towards Leog Ningloron, and the woods of Lorinand.”
“Lorinand?” Anarya asked as she too looked towards the southwest. They began their trailing of Micanar.
“The Goldenwoods near Silverlode. You perhaps know it or have heard of it as Lothlorien.” He smiled at the her. “The uninvited cannot pass the realm of the Lady of the Woods. Be he man or elf.”
“Was not Leog Ningloron near your peoples’ abode?”
“Yes,” he answered, “ and continuing southwards is Dol Goldur.”
The way he had said it made her look at Rûdhchamion closer. He seemed to suddenly look inwards, in himself, in deep thought. Perhaps because of the memories, she thought to herself. She could have not known it was more from dread of things to come. Dol Goldur was the abandoned abode of the Necromancer. But even after his defeat, no elf would go near the boundaries of that dark place.
They continued tracking the man called Micanar. The dark elf showing his woodland ways to the young elf maid. Gathering nuts, roots and herbs along the way. Stopping at streams to rest and refill their waterskins.
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