[Imladris]

Maethor watched the elf maid with the fair hair depart to bring the stew and he noticed with some concern that the other three rangers opposite him watched her closely as she wended her way towards the kitchen. Puckering his brow slightly, he wondered if she was Naiore herself for he had heard of the beauty of the Ravennor. No it could not be, he said to himself sharply. He had neither seen nor felt malice in her mien. Maybe she was kin.

He jumped slightly at the mention of Kaldir...the man who had turned to bounty hunting. "Yes, Kaldir does hunt bounty," Maethor said softly, answering Hanasian's trailed sentence. "It is grievous that, though he has kept his life, he has turned to such distasteful ways." He sighed, but visibly brightened when Vanwe brought the stew. Nodding gently at her, he dipped his spoon and played with the chunks of meat that bobbed enticingly upon the surface.

Glancing at each ranger in turn, Maethor said, "I felt a presence in the woods tonight...as if the forest were holding its breath or as if something tainted the air."