A/N: Third revision, spacing issues and choppiness. 2-22-06.

Did mortal women usually wander the wilds? He didn't think so.

He remembered courtesy. "You are welcome to share my fire and what provisions I have, Lady Kentarre." Maybe she was lost. But lost people usually didn't have longbows. "Are you lost?"

She seated herself by the fire and smiled. "I thank you for your hospitality, though I have provisions of my own. I am not lost, Lord Celegorm, though I may look it. I wander through the wilds."

He slowly sat. She wandered the wilds? "Are you a Ranger, then, Lady?"

Kentarre shook her head. "No, my lord Celegorm, there are no women Rangers. But this is my home nonetheless." She hesitated. "And I am not nobility. Please, my lord, call me Kentarre."

"If you stop calling me 'my lord'."

"But you are an elf."

"And you are a woman," he said with a hint of a smile.

Kentarre smiled-- no, grinned. "Alright, then."

Celegorm tended the fire, watching his guest. Her hair was a light brown, hacked off at her cheekbones-- probably with the long-bladed knife at her belt. Her eyes appeared blue in the firelight. Standing, she had been almost as tall as a man. Her tunic, pants and cloak were all dark. The longbow Kentarre carried was plain but strong-looking. She kept it close. A quiver and a satchel rested next to her.

She was speaking. "I'm sorry, my- I'm sorry, Kentarre?"

"What brings an elf so far from Rivendell, if I may so ask?"

Celegorm decided he could trust her with his mission. He'd already trusted her with his life. "I'm looking for a Ranger. His name is Halgalfin." Did she know something of the Rangers? "Have you seen him?"

"What does he look like?"

Celegorm repeated Elrond's description. "Tall, with golden hair and a silver sword with a black hilt."

Kentarre thought. "I've never met a Ranger answering that description. Golden hair isn't that common among Rangers, either."

Celegorm had never known that. He wondered if he should leave Imladris more often. "Do you meet many Rangers?"

"Some. I try to avoid them. They think I'm a maiden in distress. It's hard to convince them otherwise."

"Even armed as you are?"

Kentarre gave him a shocked look. "I would never fight a Ranger!"

"No, no, neither would I," Celegorm said hastily, "but when they see you're carrying weapons don't they realize you're-- you're a..." What?

"You have a point." She looked at the fire. "Perhaps it would be even harder if I didn't have my bow."

Celegorm realized he was hungry, and opened the mare's saddlebag and rummaged through it. A loaf of bread, some apples, some cheese... that should be enough. He split the loaf of bread and gave half to Kentarre, with some of the apples and the cheese. She inclined her head in thanks. "Again, I thank you for your hospitality."

They ate in silence. Kentarre stared into the night. Celegorm listened for anyone approaching. He was still curious about Kentarre. Why did she wander the wilds? Didn't she have a home? "This is my home," she had said.

He belatedly realized that Kentarre was speaking again. "Do you set a watch?"

"No. The fire will keep away the animals," he said, glad he knew at least that much woodcraft. "Orcs do not come here, this close to Imladris."

She nodded. "I have had many chances to be grateful for the valour of the elves."

"You've had encounters with the orcs?"

"Not lately. They've been quiet. But these are the wilds, and we are in the shadow of the mountains." She paused. "Have any... rumors... reached Rivendell?"

"What kind of rumors?"

"Of orcs. Something is going on. They are moving, in huge numbers."

"So it has begun," Celegorm murmured. "Do you know where they are moving?"

"They march north."

"Elrond should hear of this," he said to himself.

"He does not already know?"

"No. The Ranger I was sent to find sent word that he had news of orcs, but he

never arrived at Imladris. He may have been waylaid."

Kentarre seemed to be deep in thought for long moments. Celegorm thought too. Were the orcs massing for a war? There was a shadow returning... evil things were emerging once more. The Necromancer--

Kentarre's voice broke his chain of thought. "May I accompany you on your journey?"