[Belin]

*****Rivendell*****

Elladan was humming softly as the wide gates opened to let them out. How could anyone help but be merry as they rode out into the sunlight on a journey that he suddenly felt could only be for the best? Carelessly, he fit a few words to the tune in his mind.

"The sun was bright, the moon was pale, as we rode forth from the vale," he sang.

He'd be sworn to it that even that Mikhelm looked a little cheerier, now that he was riding beyond the walls of the Elven city. The idea that any residue of the dwarf's displeasure was certain to be turned toward any song-inspired dweller of Rivendell was one he was in a mood to shrug off. Serin was his friend, or would be, and the hobbits were delightful, after the way of their kind, and certainly all would be well, as why indeed shouldn't it? He grinned merrily at the eldest of the hobbits, whose scowl was at the moment more a matter of stubbornness than of any true irritation. Brando had even joined into Elladan's song.

So, they were off. The mysterious Thule, late as usual (an unfortunate trait in a guide, but one Elladan supposed he could do nothing about)rode up behind them just as they left the city.

"Stop!" she cried.

They turned and looked at her. Elrohir, less flighty than his brother and therefore in a less bouyant mood (for which reason Elladan's survey of the company had more or less ignored him), raised a questioning eyebrow at her. Elladan, whose eye caught a tiny, lonely figure looking outward from the city, gave a soft sigh and continued to hum meditatively as the guide began, longwindedly, to introduce herself. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a trace of Fanelen's movement, more restless than that of her horse...