Disclaimer: standard.

Author Note: Long chapter with romance. Finally. Have fun!

~Raven "Sirens Muse"

Chapter Five: The Words on the Sword

The next morning, the eagles allowed the company to ride on their backs between their wings. Verity held on a bit tight, much to the protesting of the eagle that carried her. She shut her eyes and wished for the ground. Presently, the eagles set them upon solid ground and with the proper farewells from both the company and the eagles, the eagles were soon gone. "Well," began Gandalf, "I have seen you this far, but now pressing business calls me elsewhere."

There was a round of protests for the dwarves and Bilbo. "I am not leaving you yet. I will see you to somewhere where you can fill your bellies and rest in peace. But you must be careful, he is quite temperamental."

"Beorn." realized Verity aloud. "The skin-changer."

Gandalf glanced sharply at her. "Yes." he said with much suspicion.

Verity didn't defend herself this time and they were split into a line of two-by-two. Verity was alone in the back. They reached a tall, broad, wooden gate and Gandalf warned Verity and the dwarves to stay back. He took Bilbo and they went forward to the great house. Verity and the dwarves waited and suddenly there was a shrill whistle sort of call. Thorin and Dori hurried off for the great house. There was another whistle and Nori and Ori left. Balin and Dwalin were next. Several minutes later, Oin and Gloin departed. Bifur and Bofur left with Bombur on their heels. Behind came Verity, walking slowly. When Verity arrived, the other three had just finished bowing. "Sixteen? But I only see fifteen." a large bearded man, with wild black hair was saying in his deep, booming voice.

"Then please meet the sixteenth." said Verity loudly.

Beorn turned around sharply and Verity curtsied/bowed. "Verity Andrews at your service."

"A woman!" exclaimed Beorn. "Tell me, Lady Verity, how did you come to be in this company of dwarves, a hobbit, and a wizard?"

Verity frowned slightly. "In truth, Beorn, sir, I don't really know how exactly I came to be with them. You see, I am not from Middle Earth."

"Well this is strange indeed, Lady. But however you came to be with them, you are with them all the same and have sustained yourself admirably. Twas a great tale and you all deserve at least some dinner for it."

The dwarves and Bilbo thanked him profusely. Soon, Beorn's animals were serving them a fantastic dinner in a great room. Beorn told stories, the dwarves sang in their pleasant bass and tenors. And all became sleepy. Even Verity, who slapped herself lightly to stay awake. Beorn had left...probably to deal with the goblins, if she remembered right. They found their comfortable beds in the next room, and in a small adjacent room was Verity's bed. She grinned and silently thanked Beorn. Verity didn't sleep. She heard Beorn outside with the animals, but that wasn't what kept her awake. She didn't need sleep anymore, despite her exhaustion both mentally and physically. She kept wake by writing yet another letter.

My Dear Friend, Arwen,

The journey has been perilous indeed. But Bilbo and the company of dwarves are faring quite well. Perhaps when I see you again, I can tell you of our adventures. On an different subject, I miss you terribly! Although there is a greater ache in my heart.

Verity sighed, thinking the sentence sounded cheesy, but she didn't change it. It was better to admit it.

Soon we will reach Mirkwood and maybe I can send my letter to you. You'd have no way of reaching me, but at least you would hear something.

Verity sighed again. For all her friendship with Arwen, it wasn't quite the same as writing Calen or maybe even Glorfindel. She slipped the discarded letter into her pack and took out the ring. She stared at it's golden beauty for the rest of the night.

Two days they stayed in Beorn's home and four days passed without rest for Verity. Surprisingly, her nerves were not worn thin and she was as in a rather good mood. Upon the second morning and fourth sleepless night, Beorn awoke the rest of the company and showed them the dead goblin's head. They breakfasted and he gave them wonderful horses. And out they started again after a bit of advice from Beorn about the unfriendliness of Mirkwood. Verity herself shuddered, remembering the next trial that was to overtake them. And she vowed to let this one have it's way.

They reached Mirkwood and let the horse go and Gandalf left them as well. "Don't leave the path!" was his watchword and theirs.

The company was in a dire mood as they started their journey through the woods and a few minutes later, Verity decided if she herself was going to get captured that she might as well give Bilbo the ring to use and save them. "Bilbo!" she hissed, pulling him aside. "I found this ring under the mountains, it's what I really used to trick Gollum. It makes the wearer invisible. I'm giving it to you to hold for me for a little while. You are smaller and more quick than I am and should we come into trouble, you will be able to use this better than I will."

She forced herself to drop the ring into a surprised and thankful Bilbo's palm. Her heart ached greatly at giving it up, but her mind rationalized and soon her heart was at rest. She would get it back after he used it.

They found the boat in the river and made good use of it, Verity tried to stop Bombur from falling in, but he was too heavy for her and tumbled into the enchanted water anyway. "He's drowning!" were the cries of the company.

"Get the rope!" someone (Filli?) called.

Out snaked the rope and the dwarf grabbed it and was pulled to shore and he fell fast asleep. "Enchanted." Verity told Thorin. "Don't let anyone go near it or we'll all be fast asleep with no defense."

Thorin nodded solemnly. "Thank you, for the advice."

They tried to hunt, but used up all the arrows in vain and began dragging along Bombur as they marched deeper into the forest. They traveled on Verity getting annoyed by the monotony of the trip. They heard laughter and sweet singing and Verity grinned for the first time in many days. "Elves." said she to her companions.

The hearing of Elf songs brought back the time in Rivendell and Verity missed her Elven friends even more. They ate the last bit of food and even Verity's pack contained nothing more. So growing ever more hungry, weary, and downhearted, they journeyed on. At some point, Bombur woke up with his dream of Elven feasts. They plunged through the forest and saw them. Elves! And a large, wonderful smelling feast. They all wanted to rush forward, but Verity stopped them. "Shhh, they'll disappear. Let me try."

She crept cautiously toward the fire and stepped out calling, "Hello? Please, help me and my companions. We're lost in your woods and I really don't want to be caught by the spiders."

One of the elves walked up to her. He was tall, tall with golden hair and a face she recognized. "Please!" she begged, finding tears running down her cheeks at the sight of him.

The elf crossed over to her in three long strides, his hand reached out...the dwarves and Bilbo chose that moment to rush in, demanding food. Everything disappeared. Verity fell to her knees in the leaves. Tears falling in earnest down her pale, hollowed cheeks. "Stupid!" she yelled to them. "They wouldn't have left if you hadn't come running in."

They all seemed confused as to why she was crying, but Verity didn't tell them. She felt rather stupid about it herself. But the face was held in her mind and she longed to see it again.

They found a second feast...or was it the first? They elected Verity and Bilbo to both go. Verity stumbled into the light. Faces were all around her, but the lights went out and all went black.

She dreamed. She was seeing the face again. She was safe in the comfort of the light. The ring was gone, destroyed. She didn't have to fear and love it. She didn't have use it. But it called to her still. A sickly sweet scent wafted through the breeze. She was standing upon a mountain looking down. Elves, Dwarves, Men, and a few hobbits fought down below. She was laughing and the scent of the dead rose like an incense up to her. "Yes, my preciousssssssssss." she said aloud.

She watched Calen fall, dead by her hand and heard the wailing, but closed her ears to it. She was the Lord--Lady of the Rings.

Evidentially, the spiders didn't feel like waiting until they found a third Elven-fire. Verity and Bilbo didn't wake and soon the rest of the company was asleep as well.

Verity's dreams grew worse. And she saw the ring in every one of them. It's power called to her as Bilbo used it to fight the spiders. Suddenly she heard a great, riiiiiiiiiiip. She was awake! She fell to the ground rather hard. Around her spiders prowled and hissed and ran from Sting. She shuddered, she always hated spiders. Verity had somehow managed to keep her pack and sword. She drew the Elvish blade and began hacking at the spiders. It was gross work. Terrible business. Several spiders charged Verity and she swung the sword with a giant, quick arch, chopping through legs and bodies. Bilbo disappeared and began singing his "Insulting Spiders Song.". And they all began running toward the rings where the elf-fires had been. The spiders, thankfully, did not follow. Panting and puffing, they all sat in the green grass. Verity rubbed the stinky, black spider blood from her sword, grimly and slipped it back into it's sheath. They all began to ask Bilbo how it was that he disappeared. "Well," said the hobbit, "it is all due to Verity, for she loaned me the ring."

All eyes turned to Verity. "I found it under the Misty mountains." she explained. "I used it to trick Gollum into letting me go and escaping the goblin guards at the gate."

So she told the entire story again, including the ring in it. They all praised her quick thinking in loaning Bilbo the ring. And Bilbo's wonderful plan and his bravery in fighting the spiders. Suddenly the dwarves and Bilbo fell asleep. A deep, magical sleep. Verity felt it overtaking her and she kept her wits about her and called into the forest, "Please! Please don't do this! I am Lady Verity Andrews, we are friends of the Elves of Rivendell! None of us mean you any harm! Don't take Thorin or any of us! Please!"

Quietly, a warrior, dressed in green strode up to her, his bow was nocked with an arrow, he was definitely a wood-elf. "Lady Verity, you say?"

"Yes! Friend to Elrond, Half-Elven, Lady Arwen Undominel, and the Elvenlord Glorfindel."

Stand and come with me."

"But my companions." she gestured to the sleeping company.

"They will be taken and if we find we believe you, they will be released."

Verity nodded and made to follow him. As she passed Bilbo, she pulled the ring from his pocket and slipped it into her own.

King Thranduil of the Silvan Elves was king of Greenwood the Great, as the Elves called it, know as Mirkwood by everyone else. He was currently sitting upon his throne in his great chamber his hands folded under his chin in deep thought. Silvan elves were a bit suspicious. Perhaps because of all the dangers they faced in the untamed wood-lands in which they lived. The company of dwarves, a hobbit, and a woman, greatly intrigued him and he was at a loss of what to do with them. "King Thranduil?" called a voice.

Thranduil looked down to see on of his best warriors, Thalion, standing, with his bow slung over his shoulder. "The Lady still claims to be on a quest for the Lonely Mountain. Apparently trying to free the treasure of the King Under the Mountain back from the dragon."

"There is no King Under the Mountain. He is long dead." the king argued.

"I have told her that, but she insists that he companion, Thorin Oakenshield, is the heir of the treasure under the mountain." Thalion shifted slightly, his hand running over his bow nervously.

"Are our guests from Rivendell still here?"

"Aye, Sire."

"Bring the Lady in with you and fetch the guests." Thranduil ordered.

Thalion bowed swiftly and hurried to find the Lady Verity.

Verity was pacing the small room she was confined to. It was 21 paces long. "Like that information will really help me." she muttered darkly.

There was a knock. "Milady?"

"Come in." she called.

Thalion, the guard that had captured her, appeared in the doorway. "You are to come with me."

She sighed, glanced down at her ripped, muddy, and generally travel-worn clothes. "Fine. Lead on."

The great hall was indeed great. Made of dark oak wood it almost seemed to be a part of the forest around. Deep earthly tones cause her to relax a bit. But only a bit. She saw the King Thranduil sitting upon his throne, he looked quite impressive and quite annoyed. "Well, my Lord Glorfindel? Do you recognize her?"

Verity's head shot up. Standing next to the throne was a tall, golden haired Elvenlord with those blue-grey eyes. Glorfindel! She wanted to cry out, but instead, she couldn't speak. Glorfindel cross from the throne to where she stood in five long strides. "Well met, Lady Verity."

"My Lord Glorfindel!" she said finally, tears of relief coming to her eyes.

She grimace at the tears. "I am still the same foolish woman who left Rivendell." she said softly.

Glorfindel smiled gently and took her arm, he turned to face the Elven-king. "King Thranduil, it is my greatest pleasure to introduce Lady Verity Andrews."

Somewhere between the apologies and release of her company, Verity felt the insane desire to sleep overtake her. She dropped off to sleep during the last bit of introductions.

Verity yawned and stretched. It was terribly nice to sleep in a warm, soft bed. She promised herself to be more thankful in the future. A young servant girl bustled in suddenly and grinned at her. "Ye're awake! Cum hurry, have to gets ye ready!"

Verity smiled. "And who might you be?"

The girl looked surprised. "Why mights ye be wantin tur know whom I be?"

"Well, I suppose it's because you seem like such a nice young lady."

The girl bristled with pride. "I be Teleri, daughter of Andras of Rohan and I be twelve summers!"

"Rohan? How'd you get to be here?"

The girl's face dropped. "Me ma and pa died."

"I am very sorry."

"Ters no needs tur be. It's terrible nice here. Even if I does wish me ma and pa mights still be a-livin. Now, we bests get ye ready. Ye've been sleepin fur three days!"

"Three days? Are my companions awake?"

"Ye means them dwarves and that lil' one?"

"Yes."
"Aye, they be awake. Now, cum on. I've gots a hot bath all ready fur ye."

The bath was wonderful on her sore and weary muscles. Teleri left a fresh dress of emerald green, and some sweet smelling soap to wash with. After cleaning weeks of dust away and dressing into the simple, but comfortable dress, Verity felt a good deal better. Unfortunately, her extra-long hair was quite a mess and try as she might, she was having trouble combing it out. She sat on the bed, clutching her brush like a sword, yanking it through the dark, stubborn tresses. "M'lady!" exclaimed Teleri, who had suddenly come in with new blankets for the bed. "What be the matter?"

"My hair." Verity said with a frown. "I think I'll have to cut it. Where's my sword?"

"No! Ye can'ts do that! Let me help ye!"

So with Teleri's help, they worked the brush through the hair, Teleri exclaiming all the while about the beauty of her mistress's hair and how she'd be crazy to think of cutting it. Two hours later, Verity felt human again. She let her hair hang down her back, at the insistence of Teleri and was lacing up a clean pair of boots, since she flatly refused to wear any other type of footwear. "Well, I guess I best go down now. I've sequestered myself for long enough."

"Why be ye hesitant to go on down?"

"Well...I don't exactly know. I feel different somehow. I wonder what...he--they'll think of me now. After seeing me covered in dirt and blood."

"Prolly that ye's beautiful and brave."

Verity grinned and hugged the young girl. "You're probably right! They won't think a thing about it."

Teleri smiled secretively and pushed her mistress out the door.

Verity walked the oaken hallways of the king's house in the Greenwood, hardly knowing where she was going. As luck would have it she ran into a familiar face. Literally, of course! "Oh! Terribly sorry--" she glanced up into the smile of her former swordsmaster. "Calen!" she cried joyfully.

"Why Lady Verity! I heard you were here, but I did not think I would find you this way!"

Verity smiled and stepped back. "I was lost in thought, sorry."

"Not much has changed then, has it?"

"Well, things have been lonelier, I haven't been shooting off my big mouth very much."

Calen laughed a wonderful ringing laugh. "You are indeed right, things have changed, I do not think I have ever heard you make light of anything before."

"Well, when you have been through enough dangers you start scoffing at them all."

"And still just was arrogant, Milady! What has this journey turned you into?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"A better Verity, maybe? Or maybe a worse one. I haven't figured that out yet."

He smiled down at her, his brown eyes reflecting the light and giving off a faint sparkle. "You know," she said thoughtfully, finally aware of his arm. "I wrote you a letter."

"I am honored."

"I missed everyone. It was awful leaving."

"I missed you greatly as well, My dear Lady." he said, his light mood becoming serious.

Verity tried to keep the frown from her lips. "I must ask, what brings you here?"

"Business." he said evasively.

Now Verity did frown. "Business, eh?"

"Aye, a swordsman has to do more than just make his swords and train his students." he smiled softly. "But your presence makes the trip even more worthwhile."

"I have yet to figure out what you wrote on my sword." she said, changing the subject.

His mood didn't change...much to Verity's discomfort. "I would tell you myself, bit I would rather you read it yourself. Or have someone else translate it for you."

"It really is a good sword. Saved my life in the goblin caves and with the spiders."

"I am glad it did then, I do not know what I would do if you had died."

Verity tried not to look up at him. What in the world had happened to Calen? Where was her friend, willing to listen to her every word and always with a smile and joke on his lips. She seemed to be not the only one who was changed in the weeks she had been gone. "Well, dear friend, it has warmed my heart talking to you, but I haven't eaten in three days and I'm a bit hungry."

Calen was looking into her eyes and simply nodded. "Calen?" she asked again, not wanting to be rude.

Calen leaned forward and kissed her gently. A kiss from an elf was unlike anything Verity had ever experienced. Granted it was her first ever kiss, but she had to admit that there was something decidedly different about it. Maybe it was the warmth that filled her making it seem like the room was glowing with a soft light. Calen himself was glowing. Warmth, safety. Years of the immortal and the wisdom of ages passed around her. She would have liked to stay there forever, but her rational mind took over and she pulled away from his arms. "Good day to you, Lord Calen." she said quickly, hurrying off and trying not to look back at him as she beat a hasty retreat.

Verity suddenly didn't feel much like facing anyone. So she tried to get back to her room. Thankfully she found some servants before she got too lost and they escorted her back to the door. Verity hurried in, shut the door and sank to the ground in front of it in a cloud of green skirts. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." she said loudly. "How could you? How could he? Ack! I'd go fight the spiders again if it meant I didn't have to see him!"

She glanced around the room, her eyes falling on her sword that lay at the foot of her bed. The sword he'd given her. She suddenly was curious and worried about what he'd written on it. She wanted to go find someone to read it for her, but in the same breath she didn't want to ever know what it meant. "I'm a fool." she said slowly. "A blind, old fool. A blind, old, foolish, spinster who needs to get her head out of the clouds. Besides, this isn't even my world! I want to go home! I want to see the coffee shop! I want to smell the coffee beans again! I want to go back to my one bedroom house with my one-chaired table and my simple life! I want it all back again! Do you here me God? Or Valar? Who whoever the heck is up there playing with my life! I want to go home!"

She gasped for breath and tried to calm herself. "And I don't want to be kissed...however wonderful is was--" she paused and felt like ramming her head into a wall.

She didn't ram her head into the wall, of course, someone would hear and coming running to ask if anything was wrong. "A kiss, eh, M'lady?" came an amused voice.

The voice gave Verity a start and she sprang up and looked about for the owner. Teleri was leaning against the door to the bathroom with towels in her arms. Grinning, she set them down and hurried over to Verity. "Tell me!" she begged.

Verity frowned and sat on her bed, Teleri jumped up beside her. "I met Lord Calen in the halls. I knew him when I was in Rivendell, he taught me everything I know about fighting. He was acting strangely...kissed me."

Teleri "ooh"-ed. "I has saw him. When I served dinner. 'E's half-elven, right?"

"Yes."

"'E's handsome."

"Yes...yes he is." Verity said absentmindedly, her mind going back again and again to the kiss.

She closed her eyes only to snap them open again and stand quickly. "It's insane, is what it is! I should have slapped him. No, he would have laughed, or stopped my hand. He's too fast for me to slap him."

"Were it nice?"

"What?"

"'E's kiss?"

"Yes--no! No, it was very rude--stupid really. To ruin our wonderful friendship--or has he? Do elves flirt? I'm thinking they don't--" she stopped. "Do you read Elvish, Teleri?"

The girl nodded. "Marica the head of the servants taughts it tur me."

Verity snatched up her sword and held it out to the girl. "What does it say?" she asked, turning around and looking out the window. "Silwen ve silme. Thalionesse dagnir. Dagnireva Edhil." read Teleri in the beautiful language.

"And that means?"

"Silver white shining maiden like the starlight." Teleri read slowly, trying to get the grammar right. "Litera'y means Maiden who shines like the starlight. Thalionesse dagnir...Dauntless in battle. That last part there means Bane of the Elves. Purty odd words tur put on that sword. Sounds tur me like 'e's either in love with ye or 'e hates ye."

"No, Bane of the Elves was...a nickname of sorts."

"'E's in love with ye. It's the only answer."

Verity frowned. "Throw the sword out the window."

"M'lady!?"

"Ack...never mind. I'm going to eat. I'm starving and Calen or no Calen...I can hold my head high anyway."

Teleri grinned as Verity stomped out of the room.

Verity found the dwarves and Bilbo in one of the great halls, this one was the one with the giant table in it. They greeted her with shouts of praise. "Wonderful, quick thinking, Verity!" Thorin said with a bow.

"It was only chance, Thorin Oakenshield. I hated to see you being dragged away sitting in chains in a tiny cell." she gave him a beautiful curtsy. "And Bilbo!" she cried hugging the hobbit. "Wise, brave Bilbo! You saved us from the spiders!"

Bilbo turned beet red, with a smile that covered his entire face. "Truly a company of honor." agreed a voice from behind.

Verity turned and saw Lord Glorfindel coming toward them. "My Lord Glorfindel, it is indeed a great relief to see you here. I would have mention it before...but." she smiled guiltily.

"No need, you were exhausted." he turned to the rest of the company. "You have come far. But there is still farther to go."

Thorin nodded. "We know, Master Elf, but we will endure it."

"I have no doubt of that." he turned to Verity, King Thranduil would like to speak with you."

"Of course." Verity agreed and took the arm her offered.

They exited the hall and walked down several long corridors in silence. Verity wanted to speak, but she found she couldn't think of anything to say. Finally she asked, "What brings you here anyway? Did you know we were coming?"

"Business." he said, as evasively as Calen had.

Verity frowned deeply. "Is that all anyone will ever tell me?" she asked suddenly.

Glorfindel was leading her out into a outside corridor when she said this, at her words he stopped and spun around. "That is all you need to know."

Had she been the same person she used to be, she might have left it at that. But she wasn't the same as before. "That is not all I want to know. Many things are happening around me and I think I should be privy to at least some of them."

Glorfindel sighed. "You see more than show."

"Yes. I see too many people running around with secret errands."

"The world is changing. Even now I can feel it. A heaviness upon my heart. The time of the Elves is shorter than any of us will admit. Soon our hope will lie with others. I fear what may happen."

The look of anguish in his eyes was so great that Verity wanted to cry for him. "Don't." she said softly. "Don't fear. It will all turn out in the end. Good will triumph over evil."

"My dear Lady Seer. A vision or a truth?"

"A truth. Trust me."

"I do. You have proved yourself to be as wise as you are beautiful."

Verity glanced up at him. "Should I thank you for that?"

"If you would like to. It was but a simple observation."

"I will treasure your words, Lord Glorfindel. For you are much wiser than I." she said with a smile.

"You would to well to smile more often." Glorfindel remarked.

Verity smiled even more. "What? And ruin my reputation as cold Bane of the Elves?"

"Beauty was not made to be hidden, even in one who thinks she is a stone." he said seriously.

"I am sorry, my Lord Glorfindel, I find it much more safe to be stone than to be clay." she said and went ahead, walking into Thranduil's hall.

"Ah, but clay is much easier to love." he said quietly to himself.

"So, it is true that you escaped the goblins with your life, unharmed?" Thranduil asked in awe.

"Well, not exactly unharmed. The whips of the goblins are wicked indeed."

"Whips?" asked Thalion, who stood off to the side.

"Yes. They sang a song about whipping and killing and such things as goblins take joy in and took even more joy in actually doing the whipping. But do not think I was completely staunch and brave, we--I--we all thought we were going to die. And I didn't do much, but get lost. Bilbo and Thorin are the true heroes. Thorin is my superior with the sword and Bilbo's is wondrously brave. He saved us from the spiders with some quick thinking and wonderful singing."

"Indeed." mused Thranduil. "Well, Lady Verity, feel free to stay as long as you desire in these halls. You and your companions."

"You have our thanks, Majesty." she said with a low, sweeping curtsy.

"You may be dismissed." Thranduil waved her off.

Verity was quite glad. She had spent the great part of the afternoon explaining their adventures to the king. She was a bit more than tired and very hungry.

Verity dined in her chambers with Teleri who protested all the while that servants didn't dine with guests. Verity finally had to order the girl to dine with her, but even after, Teleri, who was very thankful, still complained a good deal. "Well, Teleri," Verity mused as she ate. "I'm still not sure why I'm here, or with Thorin's company. And it keeps getting even more confusing by the hour. Lord Glorfindel practically told me that something awful was brewing. And even he was worried! And everyone keeps saying that they're here on some mysterious "business" and they won't tell me what. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Aye, purty strange happenings goings around here. Don't blame ye fur wonderin. I oft'n do myself."

"Well, I'd best get some rest. Thorin doesn't want to dally here. Bilbo told me that he plans to leave in two days."

Teleri's features read sadness, but Verity didn't notice. "Good nigh, M'lady." she said softly as she gathered the dinner things and left the room.

Verity dressed for bed and curled up onto her bed and began braiding her hair. Suddenly she got the urge to explore. Perhaps to spy on someone. Find out something about all this mysterious "business" that everyone seemed to be having. She slipped a cloak around her shoulders and slipped on the ring. In the cover of the ring she hurried down the long corridors. All was quiet, much to her dismay. She sighed, but continued walking. Outside, she saw a few of the guards, alert, but gazing at the stars. She had forgotten that the Wood-elves loved the stars even more than their High-cousins did. She planted herself on a rock at the edge of the woods and stared at the stars until she fell asleep.