The shadows danced their secret dance, reaching up and slipping in dark places. Shadows retreated as the flickering flames advanced, and Krystal held out her palms to gather the warmth of the fire closer to her. She kept her eyes on the burning orange and red, but her attention was elsewhere, mainly on the men besides her.

Elladan and his party had not spoken another word to her since she had slid off of her horse and began to follow Annore's orders. They were camped not more then 20 feet away from the men, but it seemed like miles, espically when that was where Krystal longed to be. Taking a feeting glance over towards the elves camp, she could just hear the soft murmur of their conversation and see the soft glow the elves gave off as night quickly darkened. All of them seemed to be in deep discussion. Probably about me, Krystal thought, then immeaditely vetoed the idea. They don't care enough about me to go into that serious of a discussion . Turning back towards her camp, she eyed the man sitting next to her out of the corner of her eyes.

Annore's eyes were narrowed in thought and his legs were crossed, ankle on knee, as he, too, sat warming himself near the fire. Lines of care creased his tanned face, but his eyes were clear and he seemed unworried by the whisper of the trees surrounding them. His hands were crossed behind his head as he leaned back against a large tree trunk, and her eyes dangled from his face down his body. He had become more muscled since she had last seen him, and rightly so - it was harvest time, as summer was drawing to an end and the long months of winter were ahead. He had pulled extra work in anticipation for this journey, making up for time that would be lost. The other two men that he had chosen to come with him, (he left Worti in charge in his place - Luthro had been demoted out of service) were called Riedil and Tharros, and were friendly enough, if very, very wary of her presencese. They did not know her whole backround; for that matter, neither did Annore. But they did know that she was here for the elves, not for them, and treated her as one of them.

Annore had been fairly decent so far, but after the last conversation Krystal had with him in the village before she had fled with the elves, she knew he was a decent man who often went about achieving his ends in the wrong matter, sometimes choosing the road of cruelty because it was quicker and more effective, rather then the righteous road which was slower and yet more noble. The only really negative part was the way Annore continued to boss her around; she had tolerated it thus far, but if he tried to enforce the bedtime he had given her, there would be problems.

A soft chuckle prompted her out of her daydreams, and with a start, she realized she was still staring fixedly at Annore. With a vivid flush rising in her cheek, she tore her gazed away, mortified, but Annore just chuckled. Leaning forward, she aburptly started conversation to hide her discomfort. "So, how long will it take 'till we get to Murkyforest?"

Annore raised his eyebrow, and Krystal smiled, but when no softly reproachful correction of, "It's Mirkwood," came, she felt a surge of disappointment and amended hastily, "Um, I mean Mirkwood."

Annore shrugged slightly, muscles rippling underneath his light tunic. "A week; maybe less."

Krystal raised a brow. "I had expected twice that long," she commented lightly and Annore nodded, his voice deep and low.

"Everyone had. But no one takes into consideration that when I lead an expidetion, men and elves perform feats thought impossible."

Krystal chuckled slightly, a smirk playing at her lips. "Oh, and you're not the least bit conceited about it."

Annore's grin was boyish as he smiled. "Nope."

"But since when are you leading the expidetion? I was under the impression Glorfindel and Elladan were in charge.."

Annore snorted. "Them? Please. Before you showed up today, we were having a discussion about our route over the Misty Mountains. Both of those elves say we should take the longer way, but I think we should go under the mountains, through the mines. But Elladan," Annore made a face, rolling his eyes, "seems to have little faith in Moria's saftey and is trying to get the expedition to follow his wishes, but I will prevail in the end."

The light of the fire caught Krystal's eyes as they turned soft at Elladan's name. "Little faith," she mused dryly. "Yes, he seems to be lacking in that department lately."

Annore sighed. "Ah, yes," he replied resigned, in the voice of one who knew this was coming. "I knew we would have to have this discussion eventually."

Krystal glanced over, surprise in her aqua eyes. "What?"

"You're going to ask me the questions." Annore supplied, a small smile on his thin lips. He leaned back, streching and sighed, waiting. When she said nothing, just stared with her eyes wide and brow furrowed, he raised his brows. "Well? Get on with it!" he prompted, waiting.

She shook her head slightly. "What are you talking about?" she asked slowly, very confused. Annore rolled his eyes, and adjusted his postion so he was laying down, his head and back braced against a tree root, his bedroll underneath him as if he was settled for the night.

"You want to know why I claimed resposobility for you. You also want to know why I think Elladan thinks you can't do it, and why I think you can. You want to know if I think Elladan will ever accpet your presence here and the fact that you went against his wishes, and you want to know if I think you and your friends will make it out of this alive," he dictated, his eyes never leaving hers. "You want to know what exactly you've gotten yourself into, and lastly, you want to know how Faro's doing."

Krystal stared at him, a lock of black hair in her eyes that she didn't bother pushing away. The forest around them created a dense, thick blanket of darkness, and she could see nothing that wasn't lit by either their fire, or the one by Elladan's camp. She shivered slightly as a chill passed through the area, and a log dropped into the flames with a hiss, sending hot orange sparks flying. "How do you know?"

He smiled slightly. "Call it intuition. So, shall I begin?"

She chuckled slightly, but nodding, twirled her hand, prompting him to begin. "Please do."

"I claimed responsobility for you for two reasons. One, I admire your courage. It took a lot for you to come out here and face your friends when all the odds are against you. Two, you are a distraction and a morale booster. Things could get pretty dire out here and the happier the men are, the quicker they move, the faster we get there and the faster we get home." Krystal nodded as he spoke. "Fair enough," she allowed with a small smile. "So there is logic behind your madness."

Annore inclicned his head. "Of course. Shall I continue?"

"Of course."

"Elladan. From what I've observed of him, he's fiercly protective of, well, everyone, espically you. He takes the responsobility of everything on his shoulders. He worries incessantly about you -- espically with me here. Physically, you're not strong enough to be on the mission. Emotionally, he fears my presence may unsettle you. Either way, you end up as a burden. I just happen to figure out that you and I have very little bad blood between us and your emotional strength would make up for your lack of physical strength." "Huh," Krystal said thoughtfully, her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "You should be a physciatrist."

"A what?"

Krystal rolled her eyes at herself, but she was smiling. "Never mind. Okay, I do believe you said I had more questions." Annore nodded. "Indeed. I expect Elladan will begin to accept your prescense simply because he will not want to abandon you completely with just me for company for days on end. He will want you close to him so he can watch you, even though he claims he doesn't want responsobility."

"As for making out of this alive, well," he paused, his face growing more thoughtful, his voice losing its brisk tone and becoming softer. "I hope to Illuvator we all get home safely, but I truly don't know." His eyes flickered into hers as his voice lowered, and he didn't remove his gaze. "I don't know how much you know about what is it were doing, but you should know what you are involved in. We are going into a forest that used to be filled with laughter and life, and is now overrun by shadow and gloom. We are heading to the very heart, to spy on an evil force we believe to be corrupting Mirkwood, and attempt to drive it out. If this force is what we think it is, it is a nightmare -- a living, breathing nightmare. It drinks in misery and pain, glows in dark and filth. It is purely evil and has no mercy, and we need to banish it from Mirkwood's depths, lest the forest be completely consumed." He drew a rough, shaky breath and gave her a weak smile. "And lastly, Faro's doing just fine."

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

Elladan, sitting with his hands crossed, back against a tree, stared stonily into the fire. Elrohir, Legolas and Aragorn were in deep discussion to his left, but Glorfindel and Elladan sat in compatiable silence, quietly contemplating the journey before them and the probelms Krystal presented.

"This is simply ridiculius," Aragorn growled, with a furious glance towards Annore's camp, where they could just hear Krystal's soft giggle. By the light of the fire, Aragorn could see Annore and Krystal were deep in a discussion, and it filled him with unease. "He only wants her here for selfish reasons," Legolas said harshly, and when Elrohir raised his eyebrows, alarmed, Legolas shook his head. "No, not like that," he said annoyed. "Krystal's personality is naturally uplifting -- she will be a morale booster to his men because they do not care what happens to her in the end. Annore has no care for her future, all he cares that is right now, Krystal's presence entertains his men and reminds them of home. When men are in better moods, they work better and faster -- I gaurentee we will arrive at Mirkwood in less the time we expected. Annore's reasons for keeping Krystal with us are selfish, because he does not care what will happen to the girl when we reach the heart of the battle."

Elrohir sighed, pausing. "Then it is up to us that she understands this and is alert when we enter the forest."

Aragorn shook his head, exasperated. "But that presents the same problem we had this afternoon. We cannot fight a battle and protect Krystal at the same time, it undermines our strength!"

Elrohir face was grim. "I do not see another choice."

"What if we simply--" Legolas began, but was suddenly interrupted by a soft voice. "Um, Legolas?"

Everyone in the camp looked up, their eyes widening that she would approach them. Krystal had a large jar in her arms, her face flushed with the effort of carrying it. Water slopped over the sides, onto her hands but she paid no notice. Her hair was pulled back, away from her face, and it was the first good look they had at her. She looked the same, of course, but something about her eyes--

She looks older, Elladan thought, using the mind link he and Elrohir shared to express his thoughts.

Elrohir sighed auidably, but answered silently. But she is not. It is simply the worry of this whole venture that has put the care in her eyes.

It's more then that, Elladan argued. She looks as though..

She's frightened, Elrohir finished. Of what? Elladan argued, all the while staring at Krystal and waiting for her to say something.

Elrohir gave the barest of shrugs. What isn't she afraid of? The whole expidetion, of course, but also, well, us.

Us? Elladan echoed incredulously. No. We've been through this.

No, idiot, Elrohir snapped. Our reactions. She completely disregarded our wishes by staying, and morever, she's staying with someone we don't trust.

Oh, Elladan argeed. That makes sense.

"Is there something...we can..help you with?" Legolas spoke first, though with difficulty and she looked grateful. "Er, yeah. Annore had me get water from one of the streams leading down from the mountain, and I, um, got some for you." When no one said anything, she glanced around uneasily. "Right then," she muttered. "I'll just put that right here." Gently, she leaned down and placed it at their feet. When she had straightened, she glanced at them one last time. "Lovely chatting with you," she told them calmly, a smile playing at her lips though anxiety ruled her eyes. "But I really must get back." Sighing, she turned to walk back to the camp, suddenly feeling like a fool. She was on this stupid mission thing for them and they didn't want her here. If what everyone is saying is true then she probably wouldn't make it out of this alive - a fact she had yet to come to terms with but she would, as soon as she got around to believing it, that is.

"Krystal!" someone called after her, before she had taken five steps. She turned around quickly. "Yeah?"

It was Glorfindel who had spoken, and now he flashed her a tight smile. "Come back here and talk with us."

Krystal's eyes widened, both because of the speaker and because of his choice of words. 'With us' implied that this time, they might actually listen. "Oh--um--alright," she agreed, sounding flustered. She quickly walked back, and pointedly sat several feet away from all of them, who were grouped close together because they were conversing. "So," she began when no one spoke. "Pretty night, isn't it?" Legolas snorted. "Enjoy it now then," he warned ominously. "For it might be one of the last times you see stars. Their light does not penertrate through Mirkwood's depths."

Krystal looked taken aback, but answered swiftly, "Thank you for that very encouraging statement, my prince. I feel much better now."

Legolas rolled his eyes, but had to fight to hide his smile. "My intention is only to warn you, Krystal, you--"

"Do not know what I am getting myself into," Krystal recieted in a monotone. "I do not understand the danger. I am in over my head. I will simply be a nusicance." Elladan stared at her. "At least you are aware," he said finally. She shrugged. "I've heard them enough I know it by heart. Can we talk about something else now?" she asked, her last sentence filled with slight desperation.

Legolas stared at her, shaking his head softly. "What else would you possibly have to say?" he asked finally.

"I don't want to talk anymore," she confessed. "I'd rather listen."

Legolas looked surprised, but quickly amended his statement. "What would you like us to talk about?" She looked thoughtful, and she paused a moment before she began to speak. "I've heard all about Mirkwood, the 'breeding ground of malice'." SHe said thoughtfully. "But i've yet to hear any stories about Mirkwood..the forest."

"You want to hear about my home?" Legolas clarified, clearly surprised. She shrugged. "Why not?"

Legolas looked taken aback, and said nothing for a moment. But when he began, his voice was soft, and easy going -- musical almost. "Mirkwood was not always the horrible place it is today. It was once full of light, and childern ran freely through its forests. It was a land of plenty, lacking in nothing. I was born into this world, into this forest where joy was as plentiful as the leaves..."

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

Legolas's voice rose and fell as he continued speaking late into the night. Both of the camps stayed awake, listening to him talk and remember. When they finally drifted off to sleep, Legolas keeping watch, it was with considerably lighter hearts. Krystal, snuggled into her blankets, fell alseep with the sense of one who has just completed a job well done.