[Amanaduial the archer]

Aenara was waiting outside for Fin when he came out. She had done some trading of her own that day, trading with some of the women of the town with jewellery made by the servants in the palace in their spare time. Not a past time the elf guard herself particularly participated in, but she was pleased that she had been able to haggle with the women amiably, and it was satisfying to see the human women marvelling over the elegant carving of the beads and bands, perfected over the ages by the Mirkwood elves. The spirit in this place was not the calm elegance and quiet splendour of the palace of Mirkwood or Imladris, but it had its own life, bright and loud, wanting to tell everyone it was there. The indomitable nature of the place could be seen everywhere and made Aenara smile. Maybe the elves could even yet learn from the race of man.

As Fin came out of the door, Aenara jabbed him under the ribs, making the cocky elf jump, a trick she herself had learned from Youlielle. She grinned as he turned, then checked herself. Was the spirit of the laketown getting to her? Where was the sober, solemn Aenara? As Fin smiled back at her though, her minds protests were knocked aside. She slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow.

"Good day?"

Fin sighed loudly and melodramatically, throwing a hand to his forehead. "Oh well, you know, I may survive. With the help of a beautiful elven guard, I think-" he grinned slyly. Aenara arched an eyebrow, but smiled back.

"Come on, we'd better get back to the inn."

"Aye. Come on, my dear, lets go."

As they set of into the crowds, Aenaras mind was filled with those two words. my dear, he said my dear! She couldnt remember feeling like this and wondered at the same time where the annoying and presumptuous Findorfin had gone. Probably the same place as the stern Aenara. In that place, they would no doubt fight forever more, but in this place...in this place, Aenara walked through the crowds, her arm hooked into Fins, and she was truly happy.