SoG Chapter 2

A Journey Begins

The next morning, Avadiel was up and dressed long before the first signs of the sunrise. She put her quiver strap over her head and through her right arm and then grabbed her pack, bow, and sword and headed down towards the stables. When she got there, she saw that many horses were already saddled and ready for their riders, though Avadiel was the first to arrive.

"Good morning, Curunír," Avadiel said when she saw one of the groomsmen lead Glorfindel's horse out of the stable.

He looked at the elleth in surprise, "Good morning, Avadiel. What are you doing here so early?"

"I am riding with Glorfindel today," she replied.

The ellon raised an eyebrow at her, and said, "I will get her ready in just a minute."

"No need, Curunír," Avadiel said as she waved a hand at him, "I will get her. Thanks anyway."

Curunír shrugged his shoulders, tied Asfaloth's reins to a post and went back for a saddle as Avadiel went into the stable and found her way to Sirdail's stall. She opened the door and walked in, then closed it behind her. She pulled a brush off the wall where she kept all her grooming items for Sirdail, and began to brush the mare's neck and side.

"We are going on an adventure, Sirdail," Avadiel told her horse. Sirdail looked back at the elleth and snorted. She worked her way around the horse, talking as she went, and then hung the brush back on the wall. She then pulled the comb down and combed the pieces of hay out of the bay mare's mane, and then moved to her tail. Once the horse was groomed, Avadiel left the stall to gather the saddle, saddle blanket, and bridle. She returned to the stall and found Sirdail standing at the door, patiently waiting for her. She smiled at the mare, and opened the door to put the tack on.

When she was done with that chore, she picked up her travel bag for the floor where she had dropped it, and tied it on the back of the saddle. She placed her sword in the sheath that was tied to the blanket between the blanket and the saddle, and carried her bow as she led Sirdail out of the stable. Outside, she saw many elves had already gathered for the various journeys.

"Good morning, Avadiel," a male voice said.

Avadiel grinned at the speaker as her blue eyes met his grey, "Good morning Elladan."

Elladan took the reins from Avadiel, brushing her hand as he did, and Avadiel blushed. He held the mare so that she could mount, and once up, she smiled down at the handsome ellon.

"Thank you," she said softly, her blush going even darker.

Avadiel and Elladan had been friends for many centuries, but lately Avadiel found herself wondering if there could be something more than friendship between them. However, because he was away from Imladris so often, there had been no way to explore the possibility. Sometimes, she doubted if he or his brother would ever settle down anyways.

"I understand from my father that you will be riding to Mirkwood," Elladan commented.

"Yes," she replied, "Glorfindel and I will be riding together."

"Hmm…" came Elladan's reply as he mounted his stallion.

"What?" Avadiel asked with a tone of irritation.

Elladan grinned at her, amused by her irritation, and she huffed in reply and turned away.

"Poor Avadiel," a mocking voice reached her ears. She turned back to see Elrohir ride up next to his twin. "Elladan does not want you to have to face the terror that lies within the trees of Mirkwood."

Avadiel's eyes flickered to Elladan for confirmation of his concern, and saw his face and ears had gone red.

"That is not true," he protested to Avadiel. "As I tried to tell Adar, Elrohir and I have been to Mirkwood and we know Thranduil. It makes more sense to send us there."

Elrohir leaned forward in his saddle slightly towards Avadiel, "That is not what he told me, my lady."

Avadiel grinned and shook her head, knowing that Elrohir was doing his level best to get under Elladan's skin, and it seemed to be working.

"You are on dangerous ground, brother," Elladan responded.

Avadiel giggled at the twins, but nothing more could be said between them, because Glorfindel interrupted.

"I do not know what you are laughing at. The Great Spiders of Mirkwood are serious business. You will need to be on your guard."

"Yes, Uncle," Avadiel responded, then threw another grin to Elrohir.

"Glorfindel," Elladan turned his attention to the ellon, "why is Father sending Avadiel?"

"It is my test," Avadiel replied before Glorfindel could say anything. Once it was out of her mouth, she remembered that she wasn't supposed to know that, and she pressed her lips together and closed her eyes, hoping that Glorfindel hadn't noticed her words. No such luck though, because when she opened her eyes back up, he was glowering at her. She grinned sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders at him, her face the picture of innocence and he rolled his eyes.

"We will speak of this later," he told her, then muttered, "Impertinent elleth," as he nudged Asfaloth to the front of the group, where Avadiel saw her father and brother.

"What do you mean 'test', Avadiel?" Elladan moved his horse next to hers and asked softly, since he had seen the exchange between the uncle and his niece.

Avadiel shrugged, "I do not know exactly. It was the words of Lord Elrond. I overheard him and Glorfindel."

A look of understanding passed across both twin's faces.

"Overheard? Or was eavesdropping?" Elrohir said, amused.

Avadiel shrugged her shoulders again, a blush gracing her cheeks. The twin brothers snickered.

"It is time to move out," Taurnil said from the front of the group, just as the edge of the sun peeked over the horizon.

~TBC~