[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Morwyn's smile widened as Nahai revealed the sword beneath her cloak. She drew a deep breath to finish her story.

"Everything, turned out well, as it was. As the man leaned over me, he suddenly fell to his knees. I didn't dare move because his dagger was still pointed in my direction, but his face was twisted with pain. A few seconds later he fell with an arrow in his back."

Morwyn shook her head, remembering how silly she must have looked at the time.

"Not knowing where the arrow had come from, I moved as little as possible but reached over for my sword. As soon as I got my fingertips around the hilt I jumped to my feet and cried out to the woods that whoever had killed my captor must show themselves to me. When I jumped, my horse, Leofa, was frightened and ran into the woods. I heard laughter in the trees all around me, and I dropped my head. The trees in front of me parted and out stepped an elf garbed in green and brown."

Morwyn looked to see Nahai's reaction to this, Morwyn was both proud and embarrassed of the incident-- how many women could say they'd been rescued by elves, yet she had looked so foolish! Nahai's face remained rather expressionless.

"They were elves of a wandering company, journeying from the elven havens of Lindon to visit their kin in Rivendell. The leader of the group was called Elendor. He returned Leofa to me, after laughing a bit more and praising his speed. He then warned me of travelling alone, and advised me to practice with the bow. We travelled together as far as Bree even though it was out of their way." Morwyn sighed. "And thus it was I arrived here." She smiled broadly. "As a rule, however, I protect myself better than that." She laughed at herself, suddenly a little weary of the inn and ready for the road again. But she was not yet weary of company.