It was a five-day journey to the Halls of the Elven-King.  On the evening of the third day they reached the black waters of the Enchanted River.  As they climbed the farther bank they heard the call of a sparrow from the trees to their left.  Smiling, Legolas pursed his lips and mimicked the call, and a moment later two Elves materialized among the tree's branches.  Both had fair faces, with dark blue eyes and long, silvery hair.  They quickly dropped to the ground and came forward, bowing to Legolas and casting curious glances in Nori's direction.

"Welcome home, my Prince," said the taller Elf.  "It is very good to see you, and you as well, Glamren."

"It is good to see you also, Faunryn.  Is that your brother Westryn behind you?"

"Yes, my Prince," answered Faunryn, as the other Elf bowed again.  "He came of age two years ago, and has since been in the King's service."

"I am glad to hear it.  But I am forgetting myself.  Norusell," said Legolas, turning to Nori, "these are my old friends Faunryn and Westryn.  I would like you both to meet Norusell, daughter of Feredin of Dol Amroth."

The brothers bowed once more, and Nori politely returned the gesture.

"My King sends words of welcome, Lady Norusell," said Faunryn, wondering why his words made Nori blush.  "He bids me hasten your journey as well as I am able.  It has been many years since a mortal traveled to his halls, and he wishes you may have as much time as possible to enjoy his hospitality."

As he finished, Faunryn cast a meaningful look at Legolas.  The Prince seemed to understand what the look meant, but Nori had no idea of it meaning, and stood in confused silence.

"It will be dark soon, but I think we can go a little farther tonight," Legolas said.  "Nori, it will be best if you ride with Glamren and lead your horse behind.  The darkness of Mirkwood can at times be difficult even for Elves."

They set off, Legolas and Faunryn riding in front and talking quietly amongst themselves.  They went on for several hours, and by the time they stopped Nori could see nothing beyond the back of Glamren's head.  This might have been nothing more than tiresome, but for the growing conviction that they were being watched by something that knew the darkness of Mirkwood well, better even than the Elves.  But finally they reached a place the Mirkwood Elves used often, a flet high among the branches of an oak.  After they climbed up and made themselves comfortable, Legolas sat beside Nori and addressed her quietly.

"I hope Faunryn did not made you uncomfortable earlier."

"It's quite alright.  I suppose strangers must be treated with caution, even if they are the friends of the Prince."

"It was not distrust of you that motivated Faunryn, he was only doing as my father wished.  But I will now tell you what he told me.  A large group of spiders, the large monstrosities that have plagued us for so long, has been spotted not far from here.  They have eluded our hunters, and I daresay will cause us no trouble.  But my father wishes us to err on the side of caution and complete our journey as quickly as possible."

"Is that what has been watching us these past two hours?"

"I believe so.  That is most likely all they will do, for the evil in Mirkwood has lost much of its potency since the destruction of Mordor.  I only told you so that you would be able to give a name to the thing in the dark, and understand why we are hurrying you."



The next morning they left early and rode quickly, and the feeling of watchfulness grew as they went.  Nori saw no spiders, though many thick cobwebs hung in the branches of the trees.  Knowing the skill of Legolas and his brethren with bow, she loosened her sword in its sheath.  'King Thranduil is not the only one who would err on the side of caution,' she thought, eyeing the trees around her.

As the day wore on the horses began to tire.  None of them savored the notion of stopping for long, so they tied the horses together and walked on, Westryn in the rear leading the horses.  The forest seemed to be waiting, and the only thing that broke the silence was the occasional scuttle of black squirrels.  No one spoke, for the tension was wearisome, and all were busy listening for the sound of approaching enemies.

Suddenly Faunryn, who was leading, came to a halt and peered into the trees ahead.  Legolas moved to stand beside him, following his gaze.  After a moment, they glanced at each other, then at the others behind, and together put arrow to string.  Glamren and Westryn did the same, and Nori drew her sword and the knife from her boot.

The attack came quickly, and if not for the keen senses of Elves may have turned out quite different.  Two spiders dropped from the tree at which Faunryn and Legolas had been looking.  They had only just reached the forest floor when the two Elves aimed and released, killing their targets easily.  At the same moment, three more dropped from above, two on one side of the path and one on the other, and moved toward Glamren and Westryn.  These were killed as quickly as the first two, but not before six more followed. The four Elves spread out and moved forward to meet them.

Nori had moved to the side and slightly behind her companions, in order to give them better access with their bows.  Now sensing something behind, she glanced quickly over her should and inhaled sharply.  A female spider, larger than the others and dragging what Nori guessed to be an egg sack, was moving quickly toward the forest floor, heading toward the horses with two other spiders in tow.  Realizing at one that the horses were still tied together and could not get away, Nori turned and moved to intercept the attack.

She first used her knife, piercing the eye of one with a single throw.  In two movements, she used her sword to finish it, then retrieved her knife.  The second of the smaller spiders moved in, and with a backward swing, Nori severed three of its legs.  It overbalanced, allowing her to thrust her sword into the area where its head joined its body.  It gave a horrible, high-pitched scream and lay still.

Upon hearing the sound the Elves, who had quickly disposed of the other spiders, turned to help Nori.  What they saw made their blood freeze.  In killing the second spider, Nori had turned her back on the great female.  Now, as she struggled to retrieve her weapon, this last and largest of the attackers moved toward her with deadly speed, and pierced her with its stinger.  Nori gave a breathless scream and fell forward.

The great spider turned, but before it could retreat it was struck by three arrows.  Legolas had not bothered with his bow, instead drawing the knife from his belt and racing forward.  He met the spider with a yell, thrusting the knife to the hilt into its egg sack.  It turned to try and fight him off, throwing its weight onto its rear legs.  Dropping to one knee, Legolas ducked the stinger and brought his knife up in a hard arc.  Black blood splashed his arm and face as the spider fell dead, its stomach ripped open.

Wiping the blood from his face and hands, Legolas crawled to where his friend lay.  He carefully examined the wound, a small puncture just below her right shoulder blade, then gently turned her over.  Her face was pale and her skin cool to the touch.  Her eyes were wide and glazed, and her breathing was so indiscernible that for a moment Legolas thought she was dead.

Glamren knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Do not worry, Legolas.  The poison is not meant to kill, only to paralyze."

"Yes, I know."

Legolas paused and took a deep breath.  The air smelled of coming rain.

"She will recover, but more quickly in a warm bed than here among the trees.  Let us untie the horse and ride the remaining distance, and in haste!  The horses may rest when we are safely in my father's Halls."

In a moment, the horses were untied and mounted.  Legolas set Nori before him and curled one arm tightly around her waist.  With a call to his horse he set off at a gallop, the others following close behind.