Three days had now passed since Celesil's departure from what used to be Rivendell. Having mourned the loss of her friends already, she rode on solemnly. Not knowing much about the blessings of nourishment nature offered to its travelers, the maid relied heavily on the small snack she had made when she left Hodoer that beautiful day - a small loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, and a half-filled waterskin, and an apple for Ruinwen. Obviously, her supply of food was severely dwindling after three days, so she pulled in Ruinwen's reigns to a halt and jumped off. Leading her mare by the bridle, she wandered off the road, searching for some type of berry bush or fruit tree. At long last she did find a mulberry bush, and, having let her mare eat, quickly ran her hands over the branches, stripping it of it's berries. Celesil then filled her saddle bags with as much as then could hold.

Noticing the glimmering of water, she stepped a few meters over to a small and shallow pond. The Elf-maid let the water splash into her face and through her hair. It felt so wonderful to cleanse her grimy and tear-stained face and hair. When she bent down and cupped her hands for water, though, the corner of her eye caught the reflection of a dark shape behind her aways. Keeping her cool, she continued to quench her thirst and fill her waterskin. Then, mounting the mare, she cautiously slipped away.

The dark shape was Tauren. He had left on the same day and near the same time from near the same place as Celesil. Curious, he had peered through the bushes towards the bathing maid. When she left, he sat down for a moment, mind filling with questions and decisions to make.

'Hm...Rauko would want me to kill her, as she may be a survivor from Rivendell. But, didn't we burn down the entire place and take all the horses?..No, she must just be a wanderer. I don't remember seeing her horse in the stables. Her clothes do match the inhabitants of Riven-'

He was cut off. As sword-point pricked his back, a harsh, feminine voice ordered him. "Don't move. Who are you?"

'Ai! How could I have been so negligent?' Instead of showing his suprise, he put on a sauve attitude, as the Ethir are able to do superbly. Casually standing up and turning around, before his eyes stood the young maid, pointing a trembling sword towards his chin. "Put your sword away, my dear maiden," the charmer spake as he brushed the blade from him. "You could hurt someone with that."

Surprised, but determined, Celesil shot the blade back up to the stranger's neck again, this time pointing it right below his voice box. "You didn't answer my first question. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Still carelessly casual, he said, "Well, in answer to your first question, I am called Nuavar by the few who know me. As for your second, just traveling through."

"Spying on me, though?"

"Not spying, my dear. I was only curious to know who the beautiful lady riding through the woods was."

She lowered the sword, but still gripped it tightly. "So I see. I am sorry for disturbing you."

Innerly relieved, Tauren spoke. "No apology needed, arwen [lady]. Perhaps you would like to walk with me down the road? It seems we are moving in the same direction"

Celesil blushed, embarassed, not expecting such graciousness right after her own hostility, and accepted his offer. Leading her white Andalusian mare beside Tauren's rare black Finnhorse, she conversed shyly with the Elf. But she soon grew more fond and trusting of the stranger. Still...she didn't reveal her true identity, and neither did he. Her name she passed off as Luinfalasien [Maiden of the blue coast], and he as Nuavar. Luinfalasien was a Sea Elf from a small city near the sea running away from home, and coming to Gondor to her uncle. Nuavar was a wanderer, hoping to stop by Gondor to restock his saddlebags.