Two elves walk into the Prancing Pony and settle down with glasses of wine. The women are wearing the same chainmail common to the guards of Rivendell.

"It is nice to relax," Thoroniel says.

"How long has it been since you've been able to sleep?" Rochwen says.

"I've slept for a few minutes at a time through the nights. It's hard to sleep longer when you jump at any movement."

"I wouldn't be able to sleep at all in the camp you set up."

"I can't imagine you'd ever get close enough to spiders to set up a camp," Thoroniel says. "One the way here you just started running when you saw a bush you thought was a spider."

"Oh shut up."

Thoroniel laughs at her companion, "Don't worry I'm sure we won't find any spiders in the uttermost west."

"I hope not. I can't imagine our final home being infested with the horrible things."

"If you think about it there was a famous spider problem in the undying lands at one point."

"Don't make me think of things like that," Rochwen says. "It's bad enough my camp was so close to spiders on two sides."

"You didn't need to worry about the Lone Lands. I mean the spiders I watched over are a lot bigger and faster."

"I think I've decided I hate talking to you."

Thoroniel laughs and says, "You don't need to worry about them as much. Many have been killed, their queen is dead and I've collected many fangs."

"What did you want their fangs for?"

"I use the poisons in them to make antidotes."

"So you not only kill a giant spider but you have to touch it after?" Rochwen says. "That's disgusting."

"I don't need to touch them for long. I just pull the fang out and cut it off."

"I still don't like the idea of being that close to a spider of any size."

"See I can understand that feeling," Thoroniel says. "I feel the same way about snakes. Seeing them just sliding across the ground drives me nuts."

"Can we stop talking about spiders now?"

"I also had to deal with cave claws and corrupted creatures of nature. Unless they make your skin crawl too."

Rochwen gives her a dirty look and says, "What do you mean creatures of nature?"

"The poison of the spiders has corrupted the forest and the lurkers and hourns have become violent."

"Can we do anything to save them?"

"Probably not," Thoroniel says "our only choice seems to be to destroy the poisoned creatures and keep the spiders from poisoning more."

"Well that's a good job for you."