A Rustle In The Leaves
Aladreil arose fairly early the next morning with a start. Her body stiffened, attuning herself alertly to her surroundings with caution. Had she heard something? Aladreil waited but another moment, yet finding nothing, relaxed herself. Pushing the thought aside, she stretched with a blossoming smile, utterly refreshed. The weary lines had faded from her face, and she was wide awake within moments. Once again, Aladreil stopped to listen. She had definitely heard something. A rustle amongst the leaves, yes. Something that even her keen eyes could not perceive seemed to be about her, watching her. Aladreil felt the stranger's gaze upon her for a moment, then it fled suddenly. She flicked her long golden hair over her shoulder and stood slowly, eyes narrowed. What in the name... She pondered silently within her mind. Her lucid blue eyes darted to and fro, searching, but she could see no one. Not a broken twig nor pressed, crinkled leaves were to be found from where she had heard the disturbance. She took her cloak and slipped it on, carefully tying the silver string about her neck, cautiously. Opening her pack and removing a water skin, Aladreil drank just enough water to dampen her now dry mouth, then hoisted the pack up onto her back and walked forward. Despite her being slightly weary of spirit as she pondered about the long journey ahead of her, she still stepped on as lightly as ever, finding rest in the presence of the calm though perilous wood. Once again, she felt the strange eyes watching her, but, shaking her head, she advanced through the forest quickly along winding paths that seemed to change with the wispy breeze. Although the unrecognized gaze of the peering eyes came and went, Aladreil ignored it as she threaded her way through the confusing paths that revealed themselves before her.
After two day's walk, Aladreil found herself deep within the forest; or so it apparently seemed. Once along the path, she spotted an odd- looking bush with dark plum-colored berries growing in clusters upon its thick, sturdy branches. She halted for but a moment to examine the attractive bush with its green, proudly-plumed leaves though limp berries, wondering if they were good to eat. Slowly, she plucked one berry. Juice trickled forth from it, and she gazed upon it in surprise, astonished. They were rather plump and quite luscious despite their limp look upon their branches. Raising it to her mouth, she allowed a small droplet fall to her tongue. She recognized the sweet taste from somewhere past as she savored the berry, but she could not remember even seeing such strange fruits ever before. Aladreil ate one more berry, then quickly plucked a few clusters and wrapped them in a cloth, placing them gently in her pack. And so she went onward till the sun disappeared from the western skies and faded into darkness once again. Settling beneath a broad-trunked, towering tree, the maiden realized exactly how hungered she truly was. Aladreil had been far too occupied with her thinking and fearful admiration of the forest, and pondering of where the Elves might dwell within the vast expanse, she hadn't realized how famished she actually was. Aladreil silently consumed a small meal of leavened bread, berries and water with a few vegetables. As she ate, Aladreil began to ponder doubtful thoughts as she reviewed and assessed her journey; would she ever find her way through the mighty Galahad? None had been capable of such, unharmed, in the past from the tales she'd heard from passing travelers through her village, back when she was but a youngling and full of passionate ambitions that were indeed impossibilities. And would her supplies last if she did? A faint frown became evident upon her fine-featured face, creasing her gentle brow, and with a sigh she gazed off distantly. Aladreil suddenly caught herself; to think such things! Her eyes widened as she shook her head at herself in shame; she would not allow herself to be intimidated. Despite her struggle, both mentally and physically, Aladreil removed her frowning expression, a gleam of determination announcing its place within her vibrant eyes. As the maiden returned to her meal, Aladreil paused as she thought she heard enchanting lulls of music and soft chimes, and joyous voices singing together in unison dancing to her ears from a distance; and then the eyes carefully watching her every move. Aladreil wanted to rise, to go off and inspect the odd occurrences, but suddenly she found herself far too exhausted to think; for some odd, unbeknownst reason. To feel so fatigued was a thing that she rarely felt, and puzzled, she fought it with what energy that remained. Yet something had simply drained her, and despite opposition, Aladreil found herself slipping off into a deep sleep, eyelids heavy with weariness, and all at once she was compelled into welcoming chance to rest.
Aladreil arose fairly early the next morning with a start. Her body stiffened, attuning herself alertly to her surroundings with caution. Had she heard something? Aladreil waited but another moment, yet finding nothing, relaxed herself. Pushing the thought aside, she stretched with a blossoming smile, utterly refreshed. The weary lines had faded from her face, and she was wide awake within moments. Once again, Aladreil stopped to listen. She had definitely heard something. A rustle amongst the leaves, yes. Something that even her keen eyes could not perceive seemed to be about her, watching her. Aladreil felt the stranger's gaze upon her for a moment, then it fled suddenly. She flicked her long golden hair over her shoulder and stood slowly, eyes narrowed. What in the name... She pondered silently within her mind. Her lucid blue eyes darted to and fro, searching, but she could see no one. Not a broken twig nor pressed, crinkled leaves were to be found from where she had heard the disturbance. She took her cloak and slipped it on, carefully tying the silver string about her neck, cautiously. Opening her pack and removing a water skin, Aladreil drank just enough water to dampen her now dry mouth, then hoisted the pack up onto her back and walked forward. Despite her being slightly weary of spirit as she pondered about the long journey ahead of her, she still stepped on as lightly as ever, finding rest in the presence of the calm though perilous wood. Once again, she felt the strange eyes watching her, but, shaking her head, she advanced through the forest quickly along winding paths that seemed to change with the wispy breeze. Although the unrecognized gaze of the peering eyes came and went, Aladreil ignored it as she threaded her way through the confusing paths that revealed themselves before her.
After two day's walk, Aladreil found herself deep within the forest; or so it apparently seemed. Once along the path, she spotted an odd- looking bush with dark plum-colored berries growing in clusters upon its thick, sturdy branches. She halted for but a moment to examine the attractive bush with its green, proudly-plumed leaves though limp berries, wondering if they were good to eat. Slowly, she plucked one berry. Juice trickled forth from it, and she gazed upon it in surprise, astonished. They were rather plump and quite luscious despite their limp look upon their branches. Raising it to her mouth, she allowed a small droplet fall to her tongue. She recognized the sweet taste from somewhere past as she savored the berry, but she could not remember even seeing such strange fruits ever before. Aladreil ate one more berry, then quickly plucked a few clusters and wrapped them in a cloth, placing them gently in her pack. And so she went onward till the sun disappeared from the western skies and faded into darkness once again. Settling beneath a broad-trunked, towering tree, the maiden realized exactly how hungered she truly was. Aladreil had been far too occupied with her thinking and fearful admiration of the forest, and pondering of where the Elves might dwell within the vast expanse, she hadn't realized how famished she actually was. Aladreil silently consumed a small meal of leavened bread, berries and water with a few vegetables. As she ate, Aladreil began to ponder doubtful thoughts as she reviewed and assessed her journey; would she ever find her way through the mighty Galahad? None had been capable of such, unharmed, in the past from the tales she'd heard from passing travelers through her village, back when she was but a youngling and full of passionate ambitions that were indeed impossibilities. And would her supplies last if she did? A faint frown became evident upon her fine-featured face, creasing her gentle brow, and with a sigh she gazed off distantly. Aladreil suddenly caught herself; to think such things! Her eyes widened as she shook her head at herself in shame; she would not allow herself to be intimidated. Despite her struggle, both mentally and physically, Aladreil removed her frowning expression, a gleam of determination announcing its place within her vibrant eyes. As the maiden returned to her meal, Aladreil paused as she thought she heard enchanting lulls of music and soft chimes, and joyous voices singing together in unison dancing to her ears from a distance; and then the eyes carefully watching her every move. Aladreil wanted to rise, to go off and inspect the odd occurrences, but suddenly she found herself far too exhausted to think; for some odd, unbeknownst reason. To feel so fatigued was a thing that she rarely felt, and puzzled, she fought it with what energy that remained. Yet something had simply drained her, and despite opposition, Aladreil found herself slipping off into a deep sleep, eyelids heavy with weariness, and all at once she was compelled into welcoming chance to rest.