[Nerindel]

"I'll go with the lad." Mara spoke up, thinking on Arato's uneasiness in the woods the night before, but she let little of her concern show on her face as she rose.

"That is unless of course you feel a mans company would offer more reassurance?" she grinned, a light of mild amusement reaching her bright eyes as she spoke, noting the lad glace uncertainly from her to the table's of strong looking men seated around the inn.

"Ai you needn't worry lad," Arato laughed, slapping the lad jovially on the shoulder. "Trained by elves that one, silent as a shadow and as fierce as a bear, no better woods woman this side of the iron mountains, I'll wager. She'll see you right lad." he grinned in a kindly assuring manner.

Mara nodded humbly at her friends kind praise, then turning back to the lad she patiently awaited his decision as to weather or not he would accept her offer of accompaniment and help in the task set him on this bitter chill afternoon.