[Child of the 7th Age]

Those behind on shore watched and waited as Luindal gingerly led the searchers onto the ice. Alahseey had coiled the end of the rope firmly around her arm and shoulder and was staring at the distant spot where Luindal and the others were searching. Hilde had done the same for Galhardir. Both ropes lay slack on top of the ice, snaking in and out of snow banks and continuing down to the frozen Bay; there was still a considerable length of line that could be unfurled if the companions wanted to continue their search further out on the Bay.

Each of the Elves and Lossoth with Luindal bore a long, pointed prod to steady their balance and help search for evidence of the missing Stones. Every few paces, someone halted and poked a prod into a hidden crevice or fissure to look for any sign of the Palantiri. One time, Galhardir yelled a warning to the others to avoid a particularly dangerous stretch of new ice that still looked to be unsteady.

Another contingent of Elves and Lossoth paraded along the outer perimeter of the beach with their weapons drawn and eyes alert: Luindal had alerted them to stand guard against a possible Corsair attack. Suddenly, out of the stillness, an urgent cry was heard from one of the search parties. The youngest pair of Elves, who had lagged too far behind, now found themselves stranded on a chunk of ice that had broken off and was drifting out towards the entrance to the Bay.

"Grab the lines! Hold tight!" Alahseey urged, her weapon slipping from her grasp as she ran forward and approached the ice floe as close as she could get.

Several Lossoth among the guards immediately surged forward to steady the ropes of the marooned Elves. Adroitly, the two leapt to safety, and the moment of danger passed.

Alahseey trudged back, bending down to retrieve her axe from the spot where she thought she'd left it. But the axe was nowhere to be seen; Hiilde also was gone. She had apparently joined the other Lossoth who'd run off to help the stranded searchers: two other Elves had taken her place at the end of Galhardir's rope. Alahseey quickly surveyed the adjoining shore and was surprised to notice her fallen axe lying some ways off towards the side, perched atop a knoll closer to the Bay. She ran over, picked it up, and slowly stood up....