[piosenniel]

The four companions halted in the inner hallway. Volondil whispered he felt a breeze ruffle his hair, and Holly’s brow was furrowed as she heard some sort of buzz in her head but could not make out any words. Olo looked on perplexed, oblivious to anything going on about him other than the presence of his three other companions.

It was Bird, drawing her small frame up indignantly, who spoke to the presence in the hallway. ‘Get away from him, you little git!’ She scowled at a place just beyond Volondil’s right shoulder. Volondil turned sharply and looked behind him, but could see nothing.

Holly, too, peered into the darkness behind them. ‘What is it, Bird?’ she asked, coming to stand by her friend.

‘It’s that red-haired girl. The one all moony over that nasty Elf. The castle’s done something to her.’ ‘Do you think Maladil killed her.’ whispered Olo, his eyes gone wide as he stared into the shadows and saw nothing. Bird snorted at this remark. ‘Wouldn’t have hurt anything if he did, now. Would it?’

Holly nudged Bird out of the way and spoke into the darkness. ‘I can’t hear or see you, Andreth. But obviously Bird can. We’ve already had to fight off a horrid creature trying to kill us. Can you help us out? There are some doors up ahead. One is to the left a little ways from us and then there is one on the right, and at the end of the hallway we can make out another door where the hallway stops. Is there anyway you can let us know what lurks beyond the doors? We’re looking for the deed to the Castle . . . for Gandalf.’

Bird pulled Holly near, one eye on the ghostly girl. ‘Now what did you tell her that for?’ she whispered into the Hobbit’s ear. ‘’Because,’ whispered Holly back to her, ‘I don’t think telling her we’re looking for gold and saleable small items would enlist her to our cause.’

Holly smiled into the darkness, a restraining hand clenched firmly onto Bird’s arm. ‘So, what do you say, can you give us a hand?’