[Pippin Pondlily]

Haven left the inn as soon as she could, leaving the group with a promise of her hasty return with six strong mounts. She rode quickly over the dark, pebble-strewn road that led to the expansive grounds of the horse-farm Rillis Wheed ran and entered through the massive wood doors that opened onto the property. In the stillness of the night the grounds seemed even larger and unwelcoming. There was no wind and the silence surrounding her seemed to press in on her ears and mouth as if to suffocate her. Her short black curls bounced over the tops of her shoulders as her horse trotted up to the stable and entered into the long hallway towards which the majority of the stalls faced. She dismounted and looped the lead rope of her horse's bridal through one of the hooks on the wall by the tack room before scouting out which horses would be most appropriate for the use of Sandrina and her friends.

As she inspected the various mares and stallions Haven deliberated about the situation she had found herself in. She could remember hearing of Sandrina's disappearance and assumed death and the naturally horrible impact it had had on her parents. When they moved, leaving the estate and family business to Harold and his two sons, Haven hadn't thought much of it except that Wheed's business had lost two of his most congenial customers. What Haven overheard tonight came to her suddenly as somewhat of a shock but as she had looked at the faces of the others with the lost Lightheart girl and measured their story up against the nature and capabilities of the current occupants of the Lightheart Estate, Haven was easily persuaded.

Haven respected what those others, the two rangers, the merchant woman from Gondor and the tall Rohirrim were doing to aid the girl. Their passionate dedication, however, to achieve justice for Sandrina's sake was unnaturally valiant. To have no alternate motive towards personal gain or self advancement in this endeavor seemed unrealistic to Haven and her curiosity to see the unfurling of this plot was making her dizzy.

One of the side doors to the barn swung open and slammed up against the wall sending a handful of owls that were resting on the rafters screeching through the vents under the roof's various alcoves. A lantern floated out into the hallway and illuminated the dirt floor followed by a pair of thick, black leather boots and then a gloved hand holding onto the large staff from which the light was hung. As the person turned the corner, Haven could make out the impossibly tall and lean figure of Rillis Wheed. His thick red hair was pulled back into a ponytail that reached just between his shoulder blades and a short beard covered his jaw from ear to ear and surrounded his mouth. His black eyes seemed to burn a hole down the middle of the hallway as he searched for the culprit who had broken into his stables in the middle of the night.

When he caught sight of Haven his expression relaxed into one of familiar recognition and he lifted the lantern above his head as he walked down the aisle to meet her. "I didn't think you were coming back," he said, his voice betraying his relief. Haven avoided his gaze and lifted a bridle off the wall next to one fine black horse's stall and let herself in. Rillis Wheed lifted his brows. "What are you about?" She slipped the tack over the horse's nose and behind his ears, securing the metal bit behind his back teeth before leading him out into the hallway. Then she faced her employer over the back of the mount as she brushed down the horse's coat before sliding on its blanket and saddle.

"I'm going to borrow six of your horses, Rillis."

He blinked. "Oh? Might I inquire as to the reason and length of time?"

"You may," she replied, turning to hoist the thick wool blanket up onto the horse's back, "but I'm afraid I can't answer to either query."

"Then what makes you think I'll consent to this madness?" He had slipped the lantern into a slot in the wall and now leaned up against the stall door, his arms folded across his chest.

Haven matched his steady gaze unwaveringly and in an icy, firm tone said: "Rillis, I haven't asked your permission because I have no defense to give you that would thus enable you to grant it to me. If you want to stop me, Rillis, go ahead."

"You would fight me?"

"Would you fight me?" For a moment the two just stood looking at each other evenly over the back of the black stallion.

"I've never trusted your judgment, Haven, and I have no reason to do so now. But an attempt to overpower you physically would destroy much between us and I can think of nothing that would give good cause to such a loss." He took a step forwards and leaned on the back of the horse, extended a hand and gently brushed a loose curl dangling in her eyes behind her ear. "You are like a daughter to me." Haven grimaced humorously and pushed away his hand. They both laughed.

"What a wretched thought," Haven muttered audibly. Rillis took up his lantern and walked around to the other side of the horse. He looked tenderly down into Haven's eyes, his own expression full of concern and a forbidden emotion that pained them both.

"Don't think on it. Take what you need and do what you think you have to do. I hope someday you'll come back and work for me again, once the pain of what happened today is past." He paused and Haven closed her eyes against the painful beat of her heart. He made a slight move to advance but caught himself suddenly. "Be safe." Any other words they might have spoken were lost in the single tear that ran down Haven's cheek. "Goodbye," the horse master whispered. Haven watched, her expression stone, as the man retreated down the hall and disappeared through the side door leaving her in the dark with only the light from the moon that seeped in through the ceiling vents to guide her work.



It was an half hour before sunrise when she finally set out from the horse farm leading five strong, fresh horses, two mares and three stallions all fully equipped with bags buckled onto the saddle for storage of the company's things and sheath loops wrapped around the horns. She sat astride a tall brown stallion sure in his strides and of a confident, well behaved nature. A bag of a few of her own necessities and a rolled up blanket was buckled on behind where she sat and her sword hung by her left knee. She had decided to go along with the company to watch over the horses. She remembered, too, the woman saying something about giving money rewards in exchange for their services, though some had refused that offer, Haven reasoned that if their expedition did prove successful, there was no reason why the horse trainer should not reap some sort of award for her services.

The black of the sky was just beginning to lift as she led the mounts into the inn's stable-yard. She entered the inn, pulling the hood of her cloak away from her face. Seated at the bar counter were the two rangers called Raen and Braedon. She leaned against the counter beside them, took off her gloves and ordered a tumbler of coffee.

"I've got six strong, confident horses ready in the yard for our uses," she informed them, avoiding any awkward formality. "So as soon as it is seen fit, we can leave." She paused and smiled at their amused expressions. "Oh yes," she said, lifting the steaming coffee to her lips, "I'm coming too."