Scouting ahead

[Varda]

Fainan:

"I fear you're right that we will have to burn these diseased corpses right away. It will bring the attention of a great deal of local fauna, at least, that we don't want to deal with, so it would be best to be ready to leave once we start the fire.

"I believe the person you are looking for is Auros. Those of us who were between assignments were asked to come escort a Noldo elf and, I assume, any of his companions. We are supposed to keep him safe for some sort of scouting expedition he plans here. Since he comes at the bidding of Lord Elrond, this is both a miltary and diplomatic mission."

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Thinking deeply on what the Dwarf told him, Auros was silent for several minutes.

"I am afraid, Master Haran, " Auros said slowly, "That I have heard nothing of this. My mission was to scout the Forest Path and onwards to Erebor. There were no scouts sent to this path before me, though others have been sent to Mirkwood to speak with Thranduil by the main road. If your tidings are true, then I cannot be the Elf you seek, and yet I saw no others along the journey. Neither do I have knowledge of this third person you speak of."

"And yet," Auros continued, "both spiders and wolves have attacked within but hours of eachother, both more potent than is typical for their kind. It's clear they attacked for a reason. My mission and that of the Mirkwood Elves is evident: I am to go through this forest and they are to take me; perhaps by "man" you mean "mortal?" You and the woman seem to have been called by something other than duty. If so, then perhaps your party is here, whether they knew they were meeting you or not. There seems to be more at work than the realms of Elves, Dwarves, and Men, and something may have sensed this."

[arathorn]

Haran:

Overhearing the words of the Sorceress, he turned from Auros in mid speech thinking to himself... Abscesses!! Aich... worse than I might have imagined. The beasts were now being tortured into submission. That could only mean the enemy was attempting to increase their numbers and felt that immediate attack was necessary. Perhaps the elves had mounted a force that Haran himself was not aware of even after the assembly at Rivendel?

Returning his attention to the elf, he queried softly "I heard nothing of such injuries to the foes we came across in our lands... it would seem that the enemy has grown in stature and has forced these animals to attack at their bidding. I heard nothing at the conference in Rivendel that told of such a massing of evil forces in Mirkwood? Have you any news of an elven force that has gone abroad, perhaps? What else would cause the enemy to go to these lengths to be so aggressive within unknown boundaries?"

Haran looked expectantly at the tall elf hoping he might shed light on their current dire situation.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Before walking away to the clearing, the human and he had spoken, she giving a positive answer to his question, and then asking some more questions of her own. Calion had answered:

"I am Calion, dagger-champion of the court of Thranduil, at your service. You may have sensed my presence in the astral plain, although I would not have thought that my skill of taming through eye-contact had any magical side-effects. I do not have any knowledge of this matter, besides what my eyes have seen some distance in the forest. I just knew I had to save at least on of them from a death they actually did not deserve, in my opinion. Though the wolves may be beasts, built for killing, they should not die for what is not their fault, like any living creature. And this was definitely not their doing, I knew that from the moment the fight started."

"As for the others of this group," he continued, "I have come to trust them, and believe they have no evil in their thoughts. The Dwarf and the Noldo I have not seen before, but they seem to be the reason we are here, the other Elf and I. Your purpose I do not know. She, who has just come back from the guards... I should go over there, to see what they had to say... is one of the most famous archers of the wood, even though she is too modest to admit it."

Meanwhile, the young enchantress had opened up the skin of the wolfleader, and the sight was not pretty. And it was definitely not natural. As the woman had continued to speak to herself, Calion had walked away to the clearing, examining Helvy, and talking to Fainan.

Now, the mortal female stood up, and turned around, and said the bodies had to be burned, and the group would do best by leaving as soon as the fire was started. After Fainan's confirming words, Calion walked back to the pile of bodies and wood, and started to build the pyre, while plans and thoughts for surviving this mission, raced through his head.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

"Of what I know or suspect to be the causes of these attacks, I cannot share more than you have learned. However, with time, you may come to know and learn more yourself, should you continue to travel with me."

Auros rose from the ground, pushing himself up with his good arm.
"What say you, Master Dwarf? Shall you go with me to Erebor? The Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain may be more apt to speak with another Dwarf than a Noldo, though we share the same love of craft."

The Elf stood patiently, awaiting the Dwarf's answer to this offer, as the wind blew softly in the trees.

[arathorn]

Haran:

Not the right Elf? Doubtful. He had seen Auros at Rivendel and his presence here confirmed that at least one was sent to the Mirkwood gate to meet him, although perhaps he had not known who, or what race, at the time of his departure. Either it had been decided that the man in the party was not to go, or he may have fallen on his journey here. In any event, the bonfire was about to be lit, so a decision had to be made.

"Master Elf, it would seem that plans may have been altered since I left. I would ride with you toward Erebor to the King's palace at least. There I may find the answers I seek. We may yet journey further together, if that is how matters turn out. I would indeed like to converse with my brethren of the Lonely Mountain as there is information I need to share with them and hopefully receive in turn. Will you bear me as a burden for that while, until I know more of how my mission is to unfold?"

[Varda]

Fainan:

Not wanting to stay a moment longer than necessary after the great fire was lit, Fainan started gathering the horses at the path so everyone could jump on at once. They seemed willing enough to join Hithceleb.

She smiled sympathetically as the border guard moved higher into his tree and wrapped his cloak around himself, hood ready to pull over his face.

[Elwing]

Twinkle:
From her vantage point, her keen eyes could mark any movements of two- or four-leggers on the ground, yet they would not see her; likely they would be surprised if they could. She was one of the rare elthoron ("star eagles"); a miniature version to the great eagles, full grown she was almost half height of a man. She knew the legend of her origin well: The First Pair was hatched by the White Lady of the Birds (she who was given birdform at will) as comfort for the loss of her previous children. The First Pair stayed with the Lady, but their hatchlings ventured into Arda, nested and bred there after.
Twinkle was on her first true Questing...a search for adventure, a nesting area, and a mate (not necessarily in that order!). She had traveled far since first dawnlight, pausing only for a meal, yet was not tired...the air currents had done a good deal of the work for her. Always cool at that height, it was even more so now in autumn, which she enjoyed...her prey were putting on their fat reserves for winter...Extra flavor!
Her satisfaction was tinged with sadness...as the last hatchling of her aged parents, she had stayed with them longer than usual, until their Calling: when many of her kin came to sing the pair on their final flight back to the Aerie of the White Lady.
Before leaving again, Twinkle's kin had exchanged stories of the world as it was now...darker things were gaining and growing in many places. Maybe not the best time to be adventuring...or perhaps it is. She had decided to scout out the home of Elrond, one of the Lady's First sons, perhaps have the honor of seeing him for herself. Along the way, however, she had some evidences of the tales her kin had told; upon seeing the beauties of Rivendell, much as she would have liked to linger, she felt compelled to continue on. That place was well protected...she would be of no real use to them. Further on was Mirkwood, which her ancestors had known by a friendlier name...she heard rumors of some important activity going on there. I will see what I may see, and perhaps even be of some aid.
Approaching the forest, she winged her way lower over the dense trees, her sight nearly as sharp at night, almost rivaling that of the nightbirds. There seemed to be some commotion around a gate, and...Howlers! Mostly dead ones...and several two-leggers. I wonder who's been hunting who? Surely this needed more investigating!

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

While continuing to construct the pyre from the lumber he had gathered, Calion looked at Fainan, as she led the horses onto the road, preparing to leave as soon as possible. He was glad to see Quessëlómë among them, and even Helvy got up to follow. Sleepily the wolf almost stumbled over a rock.

Helvy:

He woke up. His dreams had been pleasant, no more fear, no more nightmares of the torture he had experienced in the dark tower to the South. He looked up, towards the sky, visible above the clearing. Finally, no more smoke covering the stars, but a clear sky and moonlight in his eyes. Although Helvy had not eaten for a long time, he was not hungry. The long days with little or no food had tought him to last long without a meal. Also, the aggression he possessed was far less than usual for a wolf, but that was probably due to the mental influence of the woodelf. Helvy did not care, that same influence had started the healing process of his wounded soul, and he was glad.

Helvy yawned, looked around him, and saw the horses around him following the female elf. He decided to follow as well, these elves had been good to him, and if Calion's horse trusted the elf, what reason had he to not do the same? So, he stood up, walked at the end of the group, and half asleep, he almost fell over a rock which had escaped his sight. No further hindrance came in the way, and Helvy reached the road, lay down again, and fell asleep once more.

Calion:

He watched Helvy fall asleep once again. He sure hoped the wolf would be able to keep up when they left, the seemed even more tired than Calion had thought earlier. Suddenly a strange noise approached from above, and Calion looked up.

'A bird!' he thought. 'It looks like an eagle, but no... it's too small. Although, it could be one of them. One of those birds of legend, the rare elthoron. What a beautiful sight... they say the elthoron are descendants of Luthien, and their beauty surely supports that story.'

[Varda]

Fainan:

The horses tried to spook. With great effort, Fainan kept them from bolting. A quick glance over her shoulder towards the direction of previous attacks showed a great bird winging towards them. Suspicious timing! Was it controlled as the wolves had been?

Fainan wasn't too worried. The party could probably lose it as soon as they started traveling the narrow path between the trees. And they could do something now to slow it, maybe keep it back. She called to Calion, "Start the fire! It could help keep that thing at bay!" Especially once the Mirkwood specials saw the flames.

Fainan called to Auros and Haran, "Ware! Our horses are coming to you!" She sent Quesselome towards Calion, then she leaped on Hithceleb. With a light dig of the knees and leaning forward, she started Hithceleb quickly towards the two down the path, Auros's horse following.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

"Then it's settled! We shall go to Erebor. The path now lies before our feet. Let us return to the others and take further council."

As Auros began to turn back towards the gate, he heard the shouts of Fainan echo down the path:
"Ware! Our horses are coming to you!"

Leaving the Dwarf to follow, Auros ran with all speed toward to gate, intercepting Fainan.

Mounting his horse, he asked the impending question. "What danger follows now?!"

I can draw my sword or steady myself on the horse. My arm prevents both, unless my horse can hold still, but once the Dwarf mounts I will have no choice but not to draw.

[Varda]

Fainan:

"A great bird comes, like to one of the great eagles. I fear that by its timing it may be corrupted as were the wolves. We can probably escape it in the woods while the fire distracts it, as the path is fairly small and winding. But, perhaps worse, the fire is about to be started and we need to be away."

[Elwing]

Twinkle:
She angled away when she saw the horses spooked...that had not been her intent. She found a perch on the highest gatepost and assessed the strange hunting party of elves, human and dwarf. A successful hunt, apparently...and now they go and fire good meat! A strange custom two-leggers had...she couldn't imagine it possibly tasting better burnt, plus firing removed most of the good natural juices. No doubt why two-leggers always need to drink so much water, and must carry cumbersome containers of it with them everywhere they go! Still, even their strangeness did not usually include firing meat with fur still on it as was happening now. She readied for flight if the smoke should blow her way, but for the moment was safe enough. It reminded her of the other smokecloud she'd seen in the distance, one she instinctively knew to avoid if at all possible. A noxious thing with a will of its own, not relying on the wind to blow it where it may go. I wonder if this party has noticed it? The group was heading into the woods where they surely could not see it if they hadn't already. Her interest piqued, she wished to follow the party, but besides not wanting to further trouble the horses, she was not so comfortable in such confining flight space as the forest would have within. Patrolling above the treeline and keeping watch on the vile...thing...so as to warn if it were to move their way might serve. Now to show she wished to be an ally...they were understandably a bit on the nervous side to approach uncautiously...Perhaps I should concentrate on that fellow with...a domesticated howler?...impressive! She flew in his general direction, not too close and with talons relaxed so not to seem to be attacking, calling as she passed, "Friend Howler Master!"

[Eonwë]

Auros:

A bird like unto the great Eagles?
Auros looked towards the gate, trying to catch a glimpse of this bird. Slowly he walked his horse back toward the gate, but stopped only a few paces off. The bird flew toward the group, calling in a tongue Auros did not understand.

No ill will.

"It is not after us. In old texts I have read of such a creature, but now is not the time for lore. It flies toward us, and calls in an animal tongue not known to me. I think it calls to,.. Calion."

Auros loosed his hand from his hilt and bent low over his horse's head, which was bowed. He spoke softly into its ear in Elvish, and the horse proudly raised its head.

"We are away from the light of the fire, as you wished. We should wait and see what transpires. What say you, Calion?"

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan slid off her dappled gray horse and stood to one side, watching the eagle. "This should be far enough, aye, Auros. And thank you for telling about the great bird. Still, your safety is my charge and I prefer to err on the side of caution. I hope Calion can tell if it is or becomes corrupted." She paused. "It talks?"