Chapter Three- Riding with the Gothwin

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. They are from the great mind of Tolkien, and I-wait! I DO own them! Go me!

Crystal checked Fortanya over one last time. She didn't need the saddle, but they would need many supplies which the horses needed to carry so she volunteered to take one. She slid her fingers under the girth, then checked the saddlebags slung over the pommel of the saddle.

Satisfied, she checked what was inside the bags again. There was water, food, and the sword. She had not wanted to take it, because she didn't want to be responsible should it break, but the others elves coming- the gothwin, Ralinde, Alaeo, and a few household servants- had insisted she did.

She heard someone clearing their throat and looked up to see Alaeo, holding his chestnut gelding Sparks close to him. He had also decided to take a saddle.

"Hey Crystal... the gothwin want to speak to you. I'm not sure who." He said.

Crystal nodded. Turning his head, Alaeo called for the warriors to come then led his gelding away.

She saw it was Gilraen and Lalaith, another elf from the Lonely mountain. They held their spears and shields, their makeup applied to their eyes and arms.

Looking at them more closely then she had, she realized they were quite lovely. Gilraen had long, black hair pulled into a ponytail, while Lalaith had dark reddish brown hair she let hang down her back. She also had blue eyes, but Gilraen had brown ones.

"Hello, Crystal. We've come to see if there is anything you need." Lalaith spoke in her odd accent, pleasant to listen to but strange to the ears.

"I'm fine. What about you two? Where are your horses?" Crystal asked.

The two laughed- Crystal could see immediately why Lalaith had been named as she did, Lalaith meaning laughter. Her laugh was high, tinkling, like windchimes in a breeze. Gilraen's was lower, but it floated like a musical melody.

"We don't ride horses! I prefer my feet over the hooves of a horse any day." Gilraen said. "My sister does too."

Crystal started again. "Lalaith's your sister? You don't look anything alike!" She exclaimed.

Lalaith looked at Crystal curiously. "She and I are not related by blood, if that's what you mean. We decided to become second sisters."

Crystal frowned. "How can you be second sisters? I thought you had to be born into the same relations."

Lalaith considered, then shook her head. "If two gothwin want to become second sisters, they go to the Circle of Elders and go through a ceremony. It is very long, and complicated, because its an ancient ritual." She finished.

"Now," Gilraen continued, "it is almost impossible to get us apart. We've never tried, because we have no wish to. I don't even think it IS possible."

Crystal considered that for a moment, then nodded. She gave Fortanya a pat, then led him out of the stall. She mounted up, and walked the horse along side the two gothwin. They met up with the others, and Crystal was amused to see that all the gothwin walked.

Alaeo tried to make his horse Sparks alongside the jogging gothwin, who of course noticed. They started laughing, and told Alaeo the same thing- they could beat their horses over any distance. They started running faster, to prove it.

While Crystal was riding, she was introduced to all the gothwin again. There was Gilraen, Lalaith, and Lindelle, all of the Lonely Mountain, then Halia, Elena, and Indo of the Misty Mountains. There were a few who didn't have a particular place they were from- basically, they traveled everywhere, to be the elvish equivilent of gypsies. Of those, there was Gilgalad, Lira, and Tinil-Galia. Those from the same place looked similar to others who had come with them. Gilraen, Lalaith, and Lindelle all had the same basic facial structure, long straight hair, and were tall. Halia, Elena, and Indo were shorter, with long wavy hair and weren't quite so long-legged. Gilgalad, Lira, and Tinil-Galia were quite thin, but rather short. They had shorter hair than the others, but it was also rather curly. All were very lovely, but in a threatening way. The way they handled their daggers, shields, spears, and sickles suggested to Crystal they had been using them for a while.

Strangely enough, however, Crystal noticed that while they were perfectly friendly to Crystal, they also appeared to be rather timid towards her....as if she might unleash something painful on them at any moment.

Crystal sighed. She didn't know if she would ever feel quite as she had again, when everyone was expecting her to be something different.

A/N: Well, friends, there we go. It'll get better in the next chapters, believe me.