Jalisa could feel Loki’s eyes upon her. She knew he was aware of something but exactly what he had yet to discover. She would have to do something to placate the Dragon and keep him from discovering the truth. If that were even possible. She would have to at least try. Finally, out of self preservation and to keep things from going sour, she rolled over and turned her head to look over at the Dragon.

As Jalisa’s eyes settled on Loki’s golden gaze, she smiled a welcoming smile and gave the slightest nod letting him know she was still making sure the Ranger remained safe as she traveled with him and his companions back to Oron_D_Naar.

Brianna moved swiftly, her sword at the ready when Loki caused the ground to shake. When she saw who it was and the way Lac approached the dragon, she sheathed her sword and sat down once more to eat some of the hare her and Jin had killed. She smiled at the other three warriors, thinking they were comical in their haste to defend themselves as well as the group from the dragon. This dragon, she had a feeling, would cut them all down in a matter of seconds, leaving no opening to even cause him a scratch. Her eyes lighted upon Skajrnir and she studied him beneath lowered lashes. She felt as if she knew this man, but she couldn't place him. She looked around for Augustine and did not see him. Mayhap he was meditating somewhere close. Again, she looked to the warrior and thought that she knew him from somewhere.

Brianna watched as the wolf pup launched itself at Jin who bent down to pick up the cub and she found herself envying the drowess, being able to hold the wolf cub and give it affection as well as be so close to the dragon. But, she wasn't envious to the put that she was jealous of her friend. She had glowed beneath Jin's words of praise in her hunting abilities and was glad that she'd asked her to join her in the hunt. She too, felt that Jin was a great huntress and had been impressed by her stalking abilities. Together, she felt the two of them would definately give the men a run for their money in hunting techniques. This thought had her smiling again and looking to the three warriors whom the oldest one had finally sheathed his sword but was still watching the dragon warily.

Finishing her part of the hare, she walked away from the camp and buried the bones, again thanking the small creature for it's sacrifice so that they could eat. She'd not partaken of the deer that Lac had provided, leaving that to the men as she had been taught to do in her travels when she'd been a slave. Some things were simply difficult to unlearn and this was one of them. The men partook of the hardier foods and she took what she provided for herself. She thought nothing of it, truly she didn't, it had been instilled into her by the man who had been her master for a little over a year before she'd escaped and was on her way back to her village before this group had found her.

Standing where she'd buried the bones of the hare, her thoughts overtook her as she stared into the night sky. She thought about when she'd left her adopted parents to go find herself and where she belonged. The things she'd seen and the things she'd been subjected to. Sometimes, she wished she'd never left the only home she'd ever known, but then she would remember that if she hadn't, she wouldn't be the woman she was now. And this was who she was.....old fears lay just below the surface, but she'd learned over time to overcome most of them and turn the fear into anger or force the fear to feed her courage. She didn't wish what she'd been through as a slave on her worst enemy and even now, occassionally, the night terrors would envade her sleep, but not as often as before. Especially since she'd become of Lac and Jin's group.

For a little while longer, she stood there, pondering on her life and how she had changed from when she first encountered her new friends to now. She heard a rustle in the bushes a few feet from her left and looked towards the sound. Seeing nothing, she turned to head back to camp and the safety of the fire. She hadn't realized that she'd gone further than she'd intended from camp to bury the bones. She saw the blaze of the fire and gave a sigh of relief.

Tiphereth could not sleep. How could he with all the commotion about. Behind his closed eyes his mind teetered on the edge of dream but he was more or less quite conscious. Whispers buzzed past his ears and thoughts poked into his brain, it was a wonder he was able to relax at all but then again the noise itself was soothing.

Since he could remember the Deithir would just know things. The Phaerie were naturally far more sensitive to the emotions of mortals, but he had always been able to read far more that how they felt. Strong, heart-felt emotions carried with them thoughts that were normally unreadable but Tiphereth could know some of them. A natural talent honed by his bardic ability to 'lore', allowing him to know a person's mind should their feelings become intense. An often common state for the dark haired Rohirrim woman. So passionate was she that Tiphereth could not help but to pick up on her thoughts; nothing one could put to pen, but enough to know her mind.

Just before Brianna left to bury the carcass of her meal the sleeping bard spoke. "Why do you not go and greet Loki." he suggested, "I hardly doubt you require an invitation to go and speak with a member of our group, even IF he is a Dragon."

Tiphereth did not stir nor did he open his eyes as he spoke, nor did he consider the fact that what he had 'heard' from the woman he siphoned from her meandering thoughts. Quite often during periods of weariness he did not distinguish 'thought' from 'spoken word', but what he had learned from Brianna was merely inflection. He felt 'longing' while envisioning the Dragon, such was an example of what he perceived from the thoughts of others.

The Deithir yawned and snuggled deeper beneath his cloak in the flickering fire light. His features were serene in the amber glow, a far cry from the sinister face of the woman's dreams although she was sure they could just as easily be one in the same.

Brianna looked over at the Deither and saw his peaceful face as he relaxed even more after speaking to her. She was still leery of him and probably always would be now, knowing within her gut that he could very easily become the being she saw in her dream and she would not have a chance against him. But, for now, she pondered on how he'd known that she longed to meet the dragon. Ignoring him for now, she continued her walk into the woods as her thoughts overtook her.

Later, when she was returning to the camp, she'd heard the rustle in the bushes close by but saw nothing. Breathing a sigh of relief when she saw the campfire, she mentally scolded herself for straying further than she should have from the safety of camp. She was just within the perimeter when again she heard the rustling sound. She was instantly uneasy and unsheathed her sword, walking towards the bushes. She gave a glance at camp and again her eyes lighted on Skajinir. She also looked for Augustine, but still did not see him.

Approaching the bushes, she reached out with a hand to part the branches when she pulled back with a 'OW!!' She saw an angry cut on the top of her hand but had not seen what caused it. Again, the rustling and again she tried to peer into the bush.

Tiphereth's patience with the Huldrafolk had worn thin. He had hoped the mischievous little buggers would lose interest in their party, but the arrival of the Dragon their curious natures had been piqued. To them the presence of a Dragon, meant on thing, and one thing alone — treasure.

As Brianna withdrew her bloodied hand and detected yet again the rustling through the bushes, a greater gust of wind rushed past, tossing her thick dark locks before her face. Flipping them back in one smooth motion and assuming a guarded position she spied the Deithir standing before her in the place where she had received he wound. He had in his hand a small, black-skinned creature, about the size of a child. It squirmed about frantically, but quickly gave in to the much larger Phaerie's tightening grasp about it throat.

The Deithir had moved from his comfortable bed by the fire, to grappling Brianna's unseen attacker in the blink of an eye, but the Dragoness would have seen his trail. A Phaerie trick really done by slipping into his realm temporarily and ever so briefly touching upon what his people referred to as the 'Greyness', that place where times stands still. A frightening realm that none cared to travel in for more than a few blinks. The trick, however, was entering the realm of the Fey. It could not be done while mortal eyes looked upon them and saw them for what they were and so the ability was reliant on not being seen.

The creature held on futilely to the Deithir's arm and stopped it's kicking. His eyes, at least Brianna believed it to be male, were dark and most like a dogs. His hair an unruly mess of black and brown locks and his clothes were a mishmash of earth tones garments obviously stolen from different places and combined into a rather foolish looking ensemble. The Huldra was visible now to the Human's eyes, as Tiphereth had pulled him from the unseen realm and into the material world.

Realizing he was caught the creature just dangled there, his frightened eyes darting about and finally resting on Brianna.

"Atalfa!" Growled the Deithir in a strange tongue that the small Phaerie seemed to react to and understand. "Unig marwolaeth aros, ellulhuldra."

The Huldra stared in the Deithir's black eyes then looked to the woman. "Edifar." Said the fiendish looking creature in a humble tone, "Edifar, trafferthu nad. Trafferthu nad."

The diminutive creature's uncomely features almost looked sincere, but Tiphereth continued to hold him firm. He turned his head toward, Brianna and smiled. "He says that he shall bother you not anymore." he translated.

The creature offered a smile and nodded in agreement to the bard's words.

"You cannot trust a Huldra." he then stated and the small elf-like creature scowled like a bratty child. "Make him swear, to leave us alone, Brianna." Requested Tiphereth, "I cannot do this, but you... a mortal... can."

The Huldra's small brown eyes darted toward, Brianna while licking his lips with a long brown tongue in anticipation of her binding.

Brianna stared at Tiphereth as he held what looked like a small dark elf, only dirty. When he spoke to the creature and then to her, she shivered when the thing's long, brown tongue came out to lick it's lips. She'd almost felt sorry for it when Tiphereth had first grabbed it but now she shivered at the sight of it. Her dark green eyes peered into the Huldra's.

"Swear to me...swear that you will not bother or my companions.....ever."

She turned and walked away from the Deither and the Huldra after making it swear to her. She was still uneasy around the Phaerie, but she had smiled her thanks to him before walking back to camp. Her hand burned where the thing had cut her and she went to her pack to tend to it. She looked once more at Loki and sighed. She wouldn't approach him without an invitation, so instead she made her small pallet and lay down to rest.

Skajrnir observed the dark haired Rohirrim, known as Brianna return from her little excursion with a wound upon her hand. She seemed unnerved, then he saw the black eyed, Fair-one appear out of the woods from the exact same place she had. Something wasn't right and the Rohirrim warrior rashly assumed that, Tiphereth was the cause of the woman's injury.

"You there!" Shouted Skajrnir as he stormed toward the bard, "What is the meaning of this!" he demanded while pointing in the direction of Brianna.

Tiphereth peeked his head around the warrior and noted who he was pointing to, but was confused.

"Look, brother —"

"Don't be callin' me brother." Growled the man.

At that point, Sighere arrived if only to prevent a fight, should one arise. He remained quiet and neutral, placing himself between the two.

Tiphereth only then put two and two together, "Are you accusing me of something?"

"Aye! I am!"

Skajrnir's hand fell to his hilt.

Tiphereth's face was as stone. The situation had escalated quickly, so fast that there seemed far more fueling the man's agitation than just Brianna's injury. He suspected something and suddenly the bard found himself considering whether or not he should take advantage of the man's foolish challenge and be rid of him.

"Now, now, calm yerselves." Said Sighere in an attempt to cool their tempers, holding up a hand to both the Deithir and his lord but neither seemed to heed his words.

Tiphereth did not like being falsely accused. Even though suspicions of him were warranted while he was in control he would never raise his hand to anyone and he resented Skajrnir for considering otherwise.

"Draw your sword and you are a dead man." Warned the bard.

Lac watched as the altercation grew, placing a calming hand on Loki, he stepped forward. With his hand on the hilt of his sword we said loudly "Both of you stay your hands. Have we not enough troubles without fighting amongst ourselves! ....... This is what the Dark Lord and his minions feeds upon. If the alliances that have formed and will be formed again hold true then victory will once again be ours." Lac's eyes were cold and steady, the eyes of a king looked out upon the group from the ranger's face. "Now, Brinana show me your hand."

Briana held her hand out to Lac, as he took it gently in his hand gazing at the wound. "This was wound was not inflicted by a Deithir blade, but by the blade of a Huldra. They are a mischievious small Elvish race. Kin to the Pixies and sea sprites, near as imputant. They lack power, knowledge or the courage to rise above their subserviant standing in the Elvish realm" Lac then repeated in Elvish what he had just told the others "Torhirisasir wenartsil winothuthaenaydae wynartasay nayostae ithnarfinlorisacuratinevday boryor al Dilevithtarhilistarae bellonastradelesta, branuthaytor belyis tayhireth branlorardiletha othfae an Hamuthaylordaerenastra. Tirhiemeldayir artrunev an miristisaycelhamimeldvenimonuthaesar starmirarlinlon Ethlinvaeistsarhil rayarthacireld. Kayistinay tayos tirhineld Piristixayimeldsat artnarda sorethaan satapirrinistitinestasae, nelevalrae arthasay immaepiruthutynalnortor. Torhureldyid lorastricuraykey pirossawilestrun, kalneloswinlayestdaegileva onray tinhiresta curaoruthurelathguleth tinor rayinasileth arthubelorvaeest tarhamethinarae soruthaybearsarevarayvayistiarthunaetil sortayartanirdainanirgol inanir tirhiemeld Ethalirvinimsatahil runestaarlaymay" Lac said as a rusteling of leaves and hisses could be heard around the group. "If they had true courage they would not skulk around and causde mishcief to those who have come to stay the darkness that threatrens us all. They would come stand beside us and fight for their freedom. Instead of cowering to become slaves of Mogoth and his minions." Again lac repeated his words in Elvish "Istifae taehameldyid hamastradil tirrenuthueld calothuthrayarthaglineth tayhurevyor wisosuthlordel nayoltae sorkarnuthaelinkay atharinossauthayneldil annelda cirathauthaysardileth minimsilhilcurimeldfay tinor taehirolsarelda wilhilossa hiemanvireld curayosmoretha toros startayarthya tinhalev dayalrilkelnelestsarsor tarhinastrator tilhalrenevaastratirrineldnirsor uthsae astrilorlin. Taehameldyil welosuthlisday calormineva sirtayartnirdae borethsayisadileva unesata arthunaydel finistigulhurtae faeossarun tarhalevimray forrayestevadaeossamae. Istinirsiltyneldarthadae olfar celonwinetharayinanargul toron bearevacirolmireth sarlonathvoreldasar osfin Mirongololtilhil alneldae hieminasor mayinaniristaosnaysir." then stood silently and waited.

The ranger spoke true. His stalwart words were like a rising storm in the unseen world that cloaked the Huldrafolk, driving them away. The small malicious faeries lacked the courage to stand against one so sure and noble and scattered to the winds before his voice.

The bard and the warrior relaxed and backed away from one another cautiously. Inspiring, though, were the words of their lord, Skajrnir was a master in his own lands and had difficulty yet relinquishing his command to the wayward ranger. He brought their King back to them and stood alongside them in battle but the young lord yet considered him an outsider to their ways.



Skajrnir did not take his eyes off of the Phaerie. Even when he turned away and returned to his bed by the fire did he remain at ready. His kind always had and would be expected to attack when it was least expected, it was the way of the Fair-Ones.

The danger had passed. The presence of the Huldrafolk had been dismissed and the tension they had caused lifted, yet anger and mistrust yet stirred in the heart of the young horse master.

"Ranger." Hailed Skajrnir aside from the others, "A word if you please." The Rohirrim gestured toward the ruins that ran along the river and bade him follow.

The moon was just beginning rise as they strolled through the remains of an ancient garden temple at the feet of the eastward king. The pale rays sifted through the columns and painted soft shadows along the cracked marble floor.

"My lord, I do not trust this Fair-One. Noble as his intentions may seem, deception is the way of their kind." Said Skajrnir with conviction, "This woman — Jalisa — who is she? From where does she hail? She has the look of one of his kind. They are not High Elves such as you, they are not part of our world, why do you tolerate them in our midst? Come morning, we should part company with them."

The Rohirrim lord spoke plainly with this distant king. He appealed to the blood of Men that flowed through his veins for he knew that deep within his heart the ranger knew he was right.

Brianna approached Lac and gave him her hand so that he could see and explain to Skajrnir how she acquired the wound. Once he was finished, she smiled her thanks to her fellow warrior before walking away, back to her pallet. Sitting down once again, she tried to relax when she saw Skajrnir approach Lac. She wondered what that was about and watched. She couldn't hear what was being said but the look on Skajrnir's face told her that he was irritated over something.

Sighing, she stayed there waiting for him to get done so that she could approach him herself and thank him for coming to her defense, even though none was needed.

While Brianna awaited for the Rohirrim lord to finish his conversation with the ranger she was accompanied by the last person she wanted to see.

"Forgive me for failing to take notice of your hand before, lady Brianna." Mentioned Tiphereth as he seemed to appear from out of no where, sitting upon a fallen tree but a few strides away from where she had made her bed.

Although he seemed sincere his unnatural paler and black eyes made him appear quite sinister in the moonlight, but he himself was oblivious of this. In fact to him, Brianna, with her hardened expression and often cold demeanor appeared just as threatening as he did to her.

The Deithir seemed to be in a rather strange mood, or perhaps he was behaving more natural than he ever had before, Brianna could not know. He sprang off the dead tree and moved toward her with alarming speed but he stopped short of her, his inky black eyes staring up at the moon.

"Do you hear that?" He asked her.

There was nothing to be heard, except the sound of crickets and rushing water. Tiphereth was only pretending to detect something.

"Nothing." He answered his own question, "Nothing. The ranger has driven them off. The Huldra will not return this night. You may rest easy."

The Deithir crouched down beside her, balancing on the balls of his feet.

"Your binding of the one, also aided to banishing them all. If you can confront them you can exact your will upon them. You have to catch them first, however, a difficult thing," he added, "but once you have them in your sights, rid yourself of all those emotions that empower them. Fear, apprehension, doubt... fill your heart with confidence and lesser Phaerie will bend."

Tiphereth glanced once more at Brianna's hand. A scratch by his standards, but an injury nonetheless and one that might have been avoided if he had acted sooner. He would not make the same mistake twice and so he decided to plant a seed now so that it would take root in the future when he would require it's fruit. He only hoped he was acting soon enough.

He looked toward the ruins where, the Rohirrim lord and the ranger spoke secretly. He might have heard them, but their wills were too strong and so his Phaerie magic and abilities were countermanded. The bard, however, could guess what the topic was.

"Your lord does not care for my kind much." Mentioned Tiphereth, "Not that I blame him."

Brianna jumped a little as Tiphereth appeared, sitting on the fallen tree next to her. Watching him with his paleness and black eyes, her dream came to the front of her mind. She fidgeted a little and found herself taking a step back as he moved with an unnatural speed to stand before her. She looked around her, desperately wanting to get away from him, but knowing that to do so would cause suspicion and probably anger the Deither, which she didn't want to do at this moment. When he spoke of the Huldra having left, thanks to Lac as well as herself then mentioned about filling her hear with confidence, she almost asked if the same would work on him but stayed her tongue as she stared into his black eyes, her own dark green ones cautious. At the mention of Skajrnir, she looked to the Rohirrim warrior speaking to Lac.

"He is not my lord. I do not even know him, but you have to understand that we do not trust easily and to him you are a stranger in his lands. That means you are a threat until you prove otherwise. It is our way to protect ourselves."

What she really wanted to tell him was that she too no longer cared for him much, but again stayed her tongue. All she wanted was for Tiphereth to give her space. Because of what she suspected as well as the dream, him being this close to her made her uneasy and it showed in her stance, although she was unaware of it.

"If you will forgive me, Tiphereth, I would like to rest. Please, remember that Skajrnir is simply acting cautiously until he knows you better."

Tiphereth nodded to Brianna. "Yes, 'twill be a long day on the morrow." he agreed, knowing all to well that she wanted to be rid of him. He stepped back and at that moment the darkness about them came alive with hundreds of tiny lights blinking in and out of sight. Tiphereth looked up and genuinely smiled at the swarm of fireflies that had chosen to invade the camp. With a movement almost too fast to see the Deithir plucked one the lights out of the air and inspected the small black insect. He seemed disappointed and gently released it.

"Not what I was expecting." He mentioned then bowed, "I shall bid you a good night and thank you for your council."

The bard motioned to return to his place by the fire but before he left looked over his shoulder at the Rohirrim woman. "No." he answered her unsaid question, "No, your will alone would not serve to ward me."

Had he read her mind or was the question just that obvious? In this case it was the latter, but he offered no further explanations. The Deithir just wandered back to his bed.

Brianna shivered with Tiphereth's parting words. She looked over at Skajrnir once more before looking back at the Phaerie as he lay back down in the spot he'd made for himself. She sat down once again, clearly uneasy and trying hard to hide it. Laying down, she struggled to sleep knowing that sleep wouldn't be visiting her that night.

After only a few minutes, she sat up and leaned up against the old log that Tiphereth had previously been sitting on. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she rested her head on them, deep in thought. She knew that she had to tread lightly where Tiphereth was concerned she wasn't sure how to do that.

When Skarnir asked for a word, Lac bowed his head slightly and said "Of course Skajrnir." Lac then listened closely to the Rohirian warriors concerns. When the warrior had finished Lac placed a calming hand on the warriors shoulder and spoke softly, so only Skajrnir would hear his words. "Trust is something elusive and must be earned. You are wise not to give it freely or easily. I ask you Skajrnir, Warrior of Rohan, do you trust me? ....... Both Tiphereth and Jalisa proved their loyalty and earned my trust many times over as have Ssinjin and Othargren, you and your companions." Lac directed Skajrnir's eyes to Loki. "The trust I have in Loki's goes beyond anyothers and has been with me for as long as I can remember.

But, I will confide in your that there is a strange force that I sense about us. It has been with us since Jalisa and Tiphereth returned. I will ask that you remain vigilant yet cunning as you watch. To answer your question regarding Jalisa, there is much more to the woman than we see." Lac glanced over at Jalisa briefly then to Loki lying next to Ssinjin, as the dragon's eyes watched Jalisa. "Yes, much more to the woman Jalisa than would appear. Put your concerns at ease my friend, rest and tomorrow may bring asnswers to many of our questions. I ask that you trust my judgment, we must not give in to fighting amongst ourselves. If we and all who join us remain united we shall see victory. If the forces of Morgath succeed in dividing us ....... a darkness will fall upon the lands, the likeness that has not been seen before." Lac lifted his hand from Skajrnir's shoulder, bowed and returned to Loki and Ssinjin.