The next morning Legolas led me to the base of the great tree that concealed the city above. When we reached the bottom I saw Astaldo standing by a gray horse. I stared in amazement at the beast; I had never seen a horse so beautiful. Legolas drew my attention away from the animal.

"I must take my leave of you Katy, may God watch over you, namarie."

"Good bye," I said as I watched him go for once unafraid. I then looked at Astaldo and asked the question that burned in my mind. "What is the horse's name?" Astaldo laughed as he answered,

"Linte-tal, it means swift foot. Come and meet him." I moved closer to the beast and held out my hand. The horse ambled over and pressed his head into my open palm.

"He likes you." Astaldo commented.

"And I like him," I smiled as I looked from horse to rider.

"Come, the sun is already high, let us depart." Astaldo helped me mount the horse and then he got up to. As soon as he was settled, he spoke to the horse,

"To Rivendell Linte-tal." At once the horse began moving. I watched in awe as the animal picked its own path through the forest. It was then I noticed the horse wore no bridle.

"How does he know where to go?" I asked looking back to see Alstaldo. He had wanted me to sit in front of him. I think it somehow provided protection for me, I also noticed Alstaldo had a bow slung across his back. In any way I felt safe.

"Have you never met a horse? I thought that even children of men know about horses, they are very clever, and most understand our speech, right Linte-tal?" As I looked back at the horse I saw it was nodding its head.

"That is so cool!" I said smiling,

"Cool? I don't understand it feels pleasantly warm to me." Now it was my turn to laugh as I responded.

"Where I am from cool can mean something is neat or awesome."

"I see, but does it still mean how it feels outside?"

"Yes Alstaldo it does." I replied still smiling,

"Hmm, you use words in strange ways Katy."

"Yes, I have noticed that myself on occasion." For a moment a comfortable silence fell between us. I watched the land as we ambled through it. By now the trees had thinned out, it seemed as though we had entered a small valley. "How far is it to Rivendell?" I asked after some time.

"It is three days on horseback; I hope to get as far as the Gidden River by nightfall. As of now we are in the Drimrill Dale."

"So it sounds as if we are going to do some camping of our own then?" Astaldo laughed as he answered.

"Yes even our swift footed friend needs his rest." I watched in amazement as again the horse nodded.

As the sun began it's descent we could see the thin ribbon of the Gidden River. And as the sun disappeared into the mountains we came upon it. Astaldo dismounted first and then helped me down. I quickly helped Astaldo set up our camp, as soon as we were done Astaldo said,

"Katy, I will go and get us firewood, you stay by Linte-tal while I am gone."

"All right" I replied as I walked over to the horse's side. Astaldo then left and it seemed as if the silence of the night would smother the horse and I. So I put my hand on the great creature's neck more for comfort than anything else. I then looked up and what I saw took my breath away. "Would you look at that Linte-tal," I said in amazement, "The Stars here are even more beautiful than where I am from." I gazed upon the shimmering gems above and found myself thinking of my ring, and how it glittered as it dwindled into the night when it had fallen from my neck so long ago.

"Katy I have fond enough wood, would you help me start a fire?" Astaldo asked drawing me from my thoughts.

"Sure!" I replied, and I set to work helping Astaldo create a fire. Soon after we watched the fire blaze cheerily.

"This is for you," Astaldo said handing me a small package, I opened it to find a slice of way bread. "That is lembas bread; one small bite is like a meal." He explained as I took a small bite. It tasted like a sugar cookie. And I soon felt as if I had eaten a whole meal. It was really cool. "You should rest, we still have far to go and we will leave with the sun."

"Alright" I answered laying down, "Good night Astaldo."

"Good night." I turned my face away from the flames and let myself drift off.

The next morning I awoke to the sun in my face, I smiled as I stood and stretched the sleep out of my body. As I looked around I saw Linte-tal grazing on the dew covered grass, and Astaldo was cooking fish for breakfast. I looked to the west and admired the mountains as the morning sun danced upon them. Suddenly I noticed something glittering not too far away from where I stood, so I went over to investigate. As I came closer to the object I saw that it was my ring! I quickly picked it up and put it back around my neck as the chain was still attached.

"And what did you find?" Astaldo asked, as I turned and walked back to him. As he handed me my breakfast I answered.

"My ring, I had lost it when I was captured by orcs, I thought I would never see it again." I took it back off and let Astaldo examine it while I gave thanks to God for the

Food I was just about ready to eat. As I ate I watched Astaldo, when he read the inside of the band his eyes went wide, he looked back up at me and said,

"It can't be."

"What is it?"

"Come we must get to Rivendell, my father needs to look at this." Astaldo said giving me back my ring; I put it on and then mounted Linte-Tal. Astaldo mounted and said,

"Noro lim, Linte-tal, Noro lim!" (Ride fast, Linte-tal, ride fast.) The horse took off like a rocket, we seemed to fly through the countryside. When the sun was high in the sky we came upon a mountain pass. Linte-tal thundered into it and did not bother to slow down.

"Ahh we're going to crash!" I yelled,

"Be at ease Katy, Linte-tal knows these paths." As we began to head down we slowed down. Soon we came to an entrance to a valley. "Behold Rivendell."

Manwathiel Pure