<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pile o' Bones
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At the Barrow
Galenwen had her own weapons for combatting Wights. She was comforted by the weight of her lyre, still slung at her back. She knew the power of a song-spell, and tried to recall all of the tales she had heard of the Eldest, Iarwain Ben-adar, who was said to hold sway over what was left of the Old Forest. Indeed, such songs were one of the ways the Wights' spells were broken, if the stories were true. Galenwen was glad also of the white stone hidden away in her pouch, next to Mithrandir's letter. That letter! She pondered how she had gotten mixed up in all this. She had some choice words for the old wizard at their next meeting!
It was almost noon when they reached a large barrow near the center of the Downs. The great, green mound cast no shadow, for the sun was directly overhead, but a chill draft wafted over them from a dark doorway of ancient stonework. Tom Ferny shivered.
"Having second thoughts, Ferny?" Galenwen asked.
Ferny scowled, "No, Lady, not I. But can't you feel that cold dank wind? It's eerie, like, that wind, the day being bright and warm, that's all."
"Indeed, the fell winds of Angmar are enough to bring a chill even to my bones, Ferny," Galenwen replied, "but I fear not the shades of Men. Petty spirits bewailing the loss of their brief kingdoms, jealously guarding their stolen hoards. No, I don't fear them. But I would not be unhappy, even so, if we abandoned this quest. What say the rest of you? If the others are determined to go in, I will accompany you."
At that Beregond spoke up. "I for one will go in!" he said. "I like not the thought of my ancestors' bones being profaned by Barrow Wights."
Talondin, Menel, and the Beorning were in agreement. Armiel made no comment. Galenwen and Calimir shrugged at each other. "Well," Calimir laughed in a low voice meant only for Galenwen and Armiel to hear, "it seems that we must tag along, if only to save them from themselves."
Galenwen laughed as well. "Maybe that was Mithrandir's purpose in sending me that message. In any case, we must urge the others to make all speed, if we are really going to do this, before the Sun climbs much higher in the sky."
Ferny noticed the Elven maids laughing quietly together, and frowned. There was nothing funny about this whole thing that he could see!
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