[Annunfuiniel]

Vráin watched as Elentari and Lenwe vanished into the starlit night. A dwarf that looks like me? Could it be…? he mused and turned to look for Farin.

Farin had gone to the ponies and presently Vráin saw her lead their sturdy steeds to a small mountain spring rippling nearby. She seemed to have grown curiously fond of the beasts. Vráin slipped beside her. Once again not sure how to open the conversation he absent-mindedly patted his pony’s flank. They watched as the ponies drank. Vráin crouched and took a sip too. Finally he spoke.

"Lenwe says he saw a dwarf…one of the captives; up there," Vráin gestured towards the mountain top, now like a black hollow in the midnight blue sky; "before the opening to the cave." He could sense how Farin became strained. Her eyes sought his face feverishly. "Does your brother…does he look like me?"

Farin opened her mouth to exclaim 'No!' but then she quickly snapped it shut. She took a second look at Vráin and for the first time she noted the similarities: greyish brown beard and hair, tall and slender figure for a dwarf. Yes, to a stranger they probably looked identical!

"To me you look different like day and night. But yes, I can see why others may think otherwise." Then she trembled; "Why do you ask? Did Lenwe see…" her voice failed and she couldn’t finish the sentence.

"Yes! Now I’m sure that he saw Perin. He’s alive!"

Farin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry so she did both. "He’s alive! What are we waiting for? We need to get to him, save him and the others. Why isn’t everyone ready?" Farin gasped for breath and Vráin utilized the break in her flood of speech.

"Lenwe and Elentari went to take another closer look. But I deem that’s rather useless; Elentari should have sent a scout instead to contact Perin. There seems to be a great crack in the roof of the dragon’s lair, from which billows a column of smoke. That gap might be our way in – if the fire was quenched."

"Of course! That must be done immediately!" Farin exclaimed and turned towards the looming peak leaving the ponies to manage on their own. Vráin gaped but then recovered quickly.

"Where do you think you’re goin’?" he asked, gripping her from the sleeve of her coat.

"I will go to my brother. So if you’ll excuse me…" Farin said and tried to leave again. But Vráin’s grasp held and he pulled her back.

"Don’t be a fool, that’s too dangerous. I won’t let you risk your life like that! You stay here - and I will go."

Farin’s eyes flashed at the word 'fool' and she swung round to aim a flaming gaze at Vráin. "Let go of me." Her voice was low, commanding; but she had to struggle to keep it that way as rage swelling inside of her made her want to scream. "He’s my brother and not yours: I will go."

"No." Vráin said though he let his hand fall. His voice rose menacingly; "You won’t go anywhere. For even if you could get to the top what could you do to help your brother? If the dragon should come? I’m the one to go and that’s final! If you try to leave I’ll tell everyone you’re a woman. Who’ll let you go then?"

Even through her fury Farin could see that further words were of no use and deeds would aid her no better. Their wills were equally strong but Farin had to give in in front of physical superiority. Abasement made her wrath burn hot and she no longer gave any heed to the words that she spit out.

"Fine, go then! And I hope the dragon likes his prey stupid, stubborn and uptight! Go to him and get yourself killed! Who’s the fool then?!" She took the ponies by their reins and began to drag them off, away from the camp.

"Fine!" shouted Vráin after her and turned on his heels to go back to the camp. Farin's final "Fine!" saw off his steps.