[Mithadan]

The morning found Elladan sitting with his back to an oak tree while he worked at the blade of his sword with a whetstone. He sharpened the edge methodically with a grim look on his face. After some time, the edge was again keen and more or less straight. Satisfied, he looked up at his companions as they ate a light breakfast and prepared to break camp.

Angóre drew his own blade and tested its edge. He frowned and looked up at Elladan who tossed him the stone. As he sharpened his edge, Angóre spoke to Elladan. "Once we reach Moria, how do you propose we find Celebrian?"

Elladan looked troubled. "The truth be known, I have no idea," he responded. "Vanimorén visited Moria an age and more ago when Eregion yet existed. He, at least, may be able to guide us through the main ways. But I fear that Celebrian is held in some deep, dark place, far from Moria's main halls. It may be that we will be forced to seek out a 'guide', willing or no."

Angóre's eyebrows rose at the thought. "An Orc?" he asked. Elladan nodded. "Perhaps. We cannot merely blunder about, wandering the halls and stairs of the place. But there may be other ways to find my Mother..."

Angóre tossed the whetstone back to Elladan with a word of thanks. Then they rose and joined the others who were preparing to mount their horses.

They rode long and hard that day and as the sun began to duck behind the peaks of the mountains to the west, they slowed looking for a likely place to camp. Suddenly, Elladan halted his steed and leapt down to examine the ground. Elrohir joined him. Fingil approached the twins attempting to see what they were probing with their fingers. He crouched down between them and saw a pawprint in the soft earth. "A wolf?" he asked.

"More than one," answered Elrohir, pointing to a second print a few feet away. Fingil squinted at the prints, but other than identifying the animal that made them, the marks told him little. Torfithien moved forward to examine the prints. She tested the soil with her fingers and traced the outlines of the marks. Then she stood and faced the others. "A day old and no more," she said with certainty. "They will not be far." Elladan nodded his agreement. "We will seek out a hillock or some place in the open and we shall build a fire," he said.

Tintallë shuddered. "Why not seek the shelter of a forest?" he asked. Torfithien smiled at the healer. "We do not wish to be taken by surprise," she answered. "Trees will not hide us from the noses of wolves, but they would allow them to creep up on us unseen."

[ April 01, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]