Rain dripped down steadily, slapping off of the thick green leaves in their mad rush to reach the ground. Puddles gathered in unseen holes, and the sky overhead was bleak as Krystal raised bright eyes to the heavens. She was immediately rewarded by a fresh, cold, wave of water slapping her in the face, but she couldn't help but shake her head and smile. Refreshing, she thought wryly. Beneath her, Avar's shiny black coat was slick with tiny diamonds of water droplets, but the horse seemed content as she cantered through the thick forest, her hooves making slopping noises whenever she reached a particularly muddy area. Krystal's eyes searched in vain for the sun, but the thick coat of gray fluff hid from her the only way she could tell the time. By the aches in her back and legs, she could guess about four hours. She had yet to catch sight of anything remotely resembling a person, but she knew she was on the right track by the footsteps. It appeared several members of the expedition had opted not to tire out their horses until neceassry, and were leading their horses on foot. Without the rain, she would never be able to tell this -- after all, she wasn't Aragorn. But for once the rain was in her favor, and as a squirrel hopped from a large oak overhead to a branch directly above her, sending a huge wave of ice cold water into her face, she couldn't complain. Well, she couldn't complain much anyway.

"I'm singing in the rain.." Krystal hummed softly to herself. "Singing in the rain..What a glorious feeling...I'm happy again..." Avar cocked an ear back curiously, turning her intelligent head towards Krystal inquiringly, her dark eyes bright. Krystal shrugged. "You have a better song to sing?" She asked, an eyebrow raised. Avar snorted and Krystal nodded promptly. "That's what I thought." She paused, before softly continuing, " Singing in the rain.."

--------------------------------------

Elladan gritted his teeth. "Human, I have walked these forests before your grandfather was born!" he hissed furiously, his gray eyes annoyed. "I know exactly where we are going!" His face was irritated and flushed, and behind him, Elrohir and Aragorn exchanged amused glances. This debate had been going on since they had left Rivendell. The journey hadn't been rough so far, save for the nuciasnce of rain, but the humans, who were not on the stronger elven horses but on their own horses, had decided to walk alongside their beasts. As a result, they tired much more quickly then they usually would, and thus had begged off that they stopped for a quick rest. They hadn't meant to stop for more then 20 minutes to say the least, but Annore had picked up on the debate where Elladan had left it off many miles ago, bickering with the wiser elf. The humans had dismounted, including Aragorn, but the elves stayed on their horses, claiming they were just as comfortable. The debate had been amusing for the most of the time, but now it was beginning to grow tiresome.

Annore, highly unruffled, shrugged. "I don't care where you've walked or how long it took you, elf. All I care about is that we're going the wrong way ." "Listen to me, you--" Elladan began, enraged, but Legolas rolled his eyes. Nudging his horse with his heels, he quickly separated the two, who were leering dangerously at each other before Elladan could finish his sentence. "Enough," Legolas said in the clipped tone of one who is used to being in control. "I have had it with this talk. You are both correct. We are going the right way," he snapped at Annore, while Elladan shot him a glowering look. "But," Legolas continued sharply,"Annore is not wrong. There *is* another way -- not over, but under the Misty Mountains. But the Elrond has councils--" "Elrond?" Annore interrupted, his eyes narrowed. The men behind him gathered closer together to hear the low, seemingly polite tone of Annore, despite the underlying thread of hostility. "I have respect for the Lord of Rivendell with his knowledge. But what does an elf, who has yet to leave his haven for thousands of years, know of the right paths through dangerous lands? The Misty Mountains are perilously dangerous - why not take our chances with the hospitality of the dwarves? Who here has been to Moria?" Legolas's jaw tensed. "I will not enter the mines of Moria unless we have no other choice."

"I asked you a question," Annore persisted. "Have you been there, or have you not?"

"I have not," Legolas answered tightly and the sons of Elrond behind him, shook their heads in the negative. Glorifindel's jaw was tense, and a flash of unease shone in his blue eyes as he regarded the situation quietly. "Then you speak of things you do not know," Annore concluded triumphantly. "We, however," he gestured to the three men behind him, "have been through Moria. And we have been over the Misty Mountains. And as one who has experienced both ways, I choose Moria as our path."

"And what gives you, human, the right to--"

"Hush!" Elrohir snapped suddenly. "Quiet, all of you!" Elven heads snapped up, and even the humans seemed to concentrate all of their senses in the area Elrohir was staring intently in. Aragorn's eyes were narrowed, and Legolas was frowning as they heard a twig crack. They heard several more cracking and snapping sounds, as well as the rustling of leaves. Glorifindel slowly raised his bow, and Aragorn silently took out his sword, the blade gleaming in the weak light of the clouds. "What is it?" Annore asked in a hushed whisper, all traces of animosity gone in the face of danger. Elladan shook his head and answered quietly, "I don't know."
"Hold on..." Legolas said, his brow furrowed as they heard a soft murmur of a voice. A look of dawning realization flashed across his face. "Oh no," he muttered softly, casting his eyes to the heavens. "Oh, no..."
Annore glanced over curiously. "What is it?"
"Listen," Elladan hissed, his eyes trailing over Legolas's tense face in worry. "I hear something..."

"Singing in the rain..."

Aragorn raised a brow. "Is someone singing?"

"In the rain?" Annore clarified, confused. Their voices were still hushed, but pure confusion was etched on their faces. The only one lacking the baffled expression was Legolas, who now closed his eyes and leaned his head back, letting out a soft groan.
"Legolas, what is it?" Aragorn asked impatiently.

"What a glorious feeling..."


"I recognize that voice," Elladan said thoughtfully, his voice slowly returning to normal, dawning horror etching on his face. "Oh, Valar--"

"I'm happy again..."

"Is that--" Elrohir began, dawning comprehension flashing across his face. Annore furrowed his brow. "What?" Aragorn's mouth dropped slightly open, his handsome features twisted into an almost comical sight as he stared into the woodwork. "It can't be--"

"Krystal!"

The dark haired girl looked up, surprised. Her eyes widened as she took in the furious faces of those standing in front of her, those elven faces who suddenly looked raging mad, to the human faces still baffled and confused. Her eyes flickered to Glorifindel's bow, and Aragorn's sword. Nameless expressions flickered in her eyes and a shudder ran through her, partly from the cold and rain, partly from the icy expressions her friends were serving her. Hesitantly, she raised her eyes to Elladan's furious ones. "Um, hi?"