[Nurumaiel]

A young girl, about nineteen years, flung open the door to the inn and marched in. Her black hair fell loose about her shoulders, and her dark eyes flashed with anger. She was dressed in a well-worn riding suit that was black with silver embroidered onto it.

Marching up to the counter where Cami was standing she demanded, "Have you seen a young man about? He would look a lot like me, about twenty-one. His name is Abonnenharad."

Cami looked thoughtful for a moment, and then shook her head. "No, I have not," she said. "But perhaps I did see him, and I forgot. You may look for him, if you like."

"Thank you," said the woman, her anger seeming to ebb a little at Cami's kind and friendly voice. "If you do see him, don't tell him I'm here. He's trying to escape from me."

"Ah, I see," said Cami with a little smile. She hadn't asked, but the woman told her anyway.

"He's my brother, and he went off to escape from home, but he didn't take me with him because I'm a woman. Isn't that the most foolish thing you've ever heard?"

Cami smiled. "Will you be staying the night?" she asked.

"Yes, I suppose. He'll come here any day now. He said he was going to the Shire."

"Your name?"

"Celebgaladhgwend of Gondor," the woman replied without hesitating. "Maiden of the Silver Tree. I wanted it to be the White Tree but I have an elder sister named that. Most just call me Galadh, though my brother calls me Gwend. Please don't call me Gwend because I think it's ugly. I don't like for people to call me maiden, but tree is all right."

Don had been staring at this woman, fascinated. Now she turned to where Rie was sitting. The only problem was Rie wasn't sitting there anymore. With a little sigh, Don settled back to watch the woman once more. She was interesting, especially when she was angry. It's almost as good as listening to one of Mr. Bilbo's stories, she thought as she fixed her eyes on the fiery girl from Gondor.

[ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]