Soriel was walking along a forest path, quite alone. She was travelling from Lothlórien to Imladris, or Rivendell as it is known to Men, to visit her friend, Arwen Undómiel. She was distracted for a moment by a charming flower on the side of the path. As an Elf, she felt no hurry to reach her destination. The grace of her people afforded her all the time in the world to make a journey. So she took the time to admire the foliage, and tried to recall the name of this particular flower that had caught her eye. In the midst of her admiration, since her focus was on identifying the blossom, she took no notice of a horse coming full speed in her direction. She narrowly avoided a ghastly collision.

She considered herself to be in plain sight, and found it rather rude that the rider had not done the avoiding instead of her. Raising herself up to her full height, she shouted indignantly at him.

"Pardon me, sir! Perhaps you ought not to be on a horse if you cannot control it!"

Immediately, she regretted the harshness of her tone. She shrunk a little and prayed that he was too far gone to hear her. Unfortunately that was not so. He had heard her and now was himself offended. Slowly this time, he approached her. He glowered at her from his seat atop his steed.

"How dare you speak in such a manner to a captain of Gondor," he spat.

Now that she could see him plainly, the tree of Gondor was clear upon his chest. She would not have guessed that he was a captain, however. She regretted her shouting even more now. She was an Elf with no real standing, and she had spoken so awfully to him. She bowed her head.

"I apologize, my lord, I did not know," she explained. "In my fear, I spoke out of turn."

"Your fear?" he questioned.

"My lord, you came very close to riding right over me," she continued.

He shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. "Well. You would do well to make yourself seen next time you are travelling alone."

Surprised by his stubbornness, she looked up at him, really taking in his appearance. He was handsome, with soft brown hair that reached his broad shoulders. His eyes were fierce and strong. He carried a sword and shield. He looked like a real warrior.

She almost smirked. "Yes, my good lord, I will do well to remember such things. You see, my kind like to admire the beauty of the forest, and I was attracted by this flower here." She indicated it with her index finger. "You can imagine how I got carried away."

He followed her finger with his gaze. He seemed unfazed by the flower, but did not say so. He merely nodded.

"Certainly," he said. "Well, you have made your apologies, and I accept them. I will be on my way now."

"Safe travels to you," she replied, with a small curtsy.

He nodded again before urging his horse back down the path. She watched him go, and even as she was looking at his back, she could not forget his eyes. Those were the eyes of a solider. She had never met a captain of Gondor before, and she would certainly not forget this one.

She started on her way again, which was the same direction as the Man. She thought about him some more and found that she wondered about his name. He was obviously from nobility judging by his posture and tone. She mused that a captain of Gondor was probably a position bestowed on him by his family. After a few more hours of travelling, her thoughts of him faded. She began to sing to occupy herself for the rest of the way.

As the sun began to sink down over the horizon, Soriel continued to walk. She did not much fear the dark since she knew this path well and danger was unlikely so close to Imladris. She would not stop for shelter, she decided. She would continue on her way. But, along the path, she came upon a horse and rider. It was the very same from the morning, the captain of Gondor. He did not see her, though.

"Captain," she greeted calmly so not to startle him.

He whipped around. He had a sense of urgency about him now, and he did not frighten her as he did earlier. She felt a little sorry for him. He was clearly lost.

"Oh, you," he said and only relaxed a little.

He had dismounted from his horse, which added to her not being scared. He was more earnest looking when he was almost on eye level with her. He was actually about a head taller than she, but something about both being on the ground made her feel like they were more equals than before.

"I do hope you have forgiven me from our previous meeting," she said.

"I have," he told her.

"Are you alright?" she wondered. "Where are you going, my lord? Perhaps I can aid you."

"I am going to Rivendell," he answered. "I have urgent business to discuss with Lord Elrond."

"I am also going to Rivendell," she told him. "I have been many times. Are you familiar with this part of the land?"

He shook his head. "I am not."

"Please, allow me to help in order to make up for my behavior," she said. "I would gladly guide you there."

He hesitated as he thought this over. He did not seem eager to take her up on her offer, but it appeared he had little choice.

"Yes, alright," he agreed. "If my need were not great, I would not allow it. As it is, though, I will accept your guidance."

"You are gracious, my lord," she said. "And now that we are to be travel companions, it would be proper for me to know your name."

"Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor," he said. "And who are you?"

"My name is Soriel," she told him. "I am from Lothlórien. It is an honor to meet you, Boromir of Gondor."

She held out her hand to him. He only took it for a moment before he released it. Then he knelt on the road and patted his thigh with his hand.

"Come," he said. "We have no time to waste."

She used his leg to mount the horse. He mounted in front of her and allowed her to put her arms round his waist to stay up. He flicked the reins and they were off together.