Jalisa watched as the Pharie faded out of sight. Something told her, deep down, it would be the last time she laid eyes on him. At least in this life. He was a being from another world and she wished him well and hoped he was returning to that mysterious place just beyond the veil. For a few more moments, she stood looking in the direction she saw him last but even her other senses could not feel his presence any longer. With a soft, audible sigh, she turned and started making her way back towards the others as the camp was nearly ready to move out.

Without so much as a word to the others, she prepped her mount for the days ride ahead. When the others questioned the Pharie’s presence she would let them know then. Until that time, she would keep his leaving to herself. After all, no need to bring the mood down or cause troubled thoughts as to why he left.

Walking the horse to line up with the others in the group, she slowly mounted up and waited for everyone to be ready. If she were mad, it didn’t show. In all honesty, she was not mad. At least this way Verin couldn’t manipulate them against each other and with only one puppet in the group, it would be better in the end when the ultimate confrontation took place. When ever that would be.

Finally, she took another deep breath and let it out slowly as she waited for all the others to be ready to leave. She would miss the elusive Bard and she felt a sadness slip into her soul. She wanted to find out more about him and his world. Not for her own manipulative purposes but because the knowledge he held within him was a wealth she would never get the opportunity to explore.

As Lac saddled his horse , he looked around, making a mental note of those that were for the days journey. He smiled faintly has he heard the grumblings of the dwarft. As he watched Jalisa preparing, he took note of the absence of Tiphereth and asked "Has anyone seen Tiphereth this morning?"

“He is gone.”

Jalisa delivered the words without emotion and stated it plainly enough so there was no mistaking her words.

Jin ceased what she was doing and glanced at the dark haired woman.

“Gone?”

Jalisa nodded.

“Yes. Gone.”

Jin didn’t care for this woman’s games and she was quickly growing irritated by her flippant ways.

“What do you mean by ‘gone’?”

Jalisa sighed annoyingly then glanced down at Jin as she sat on her h orse waiting for he others to join her. By now the rest of the group has ceased what they were doing and looked at Jalisa with baited breath to find out what she meant by her statement the Pharie was gone.

“Gone as in he won’t be back.”

Jin felt her stomach fall to her knees.

“What? Why? Did he say anything to you?”

Jalisa shook her head then.

“No. He just drifted downstream and faded away. I suppose he isn’t the sort that is good at goodbye’s so he did what he thought was best for all of us. He slipped away so he wouldn’t have to deal with the emotions his departure would surely cause.”

Jin curled her hands into tight fists as she listened to Jalisa.

“And how do YOU know all of this?”

Jalisa turned her head to level her gaze on the Drowess and the slightest hint of a smirk slipped across her face.

“Green is not a color that suits you, Drowess. Besides, you already have someone warming your bed. What would you need with another? If I’m not mistaken you are a changed woman who has forsaken her previous perfidiousness. Or have you?”

Jin snarled and lunged for the woman from where she stood but before Jin could make two steps Jalisa had dismounted and stood with her arms by her side, her head slightly bowed and her eyes trained on the Drowess. The slightest tint of red slipped into her eyes and Jin felt an ominous presence suddenly drift about the area and she stopped moving forward.

“If you insist on this right here, right now, I will gladly indulge your need for violence.”

Jin saw something different in Jalisa at that moment and something deep inside of her told the Drowess this was not something she needed to pursue. At least, not now. Thankfully it was at that moment Lac stepped between the two women, giving them both harsh looks. Jin glared at Jalisa then glanced at Lac before turning and heading back to her own horse. Jalisa slowly raised her head and when she blinked, her eyes were that blue color they had all seen in the past. She saw the look Lac gave her and then turned to climb back into the saddle once more and ready herself for another day of travel.

Lac had stepped between the two women and said softly .... "We have grandure enemies before us, fighting amongst ourselves only weakens us and strengthen those we oppose." Lac then turned towards the others and spoke. "All of you are free to abandon the path that I have set upon. This journey must be taken freely and you alone must determine either to become slaves of the darkness that threatens us all or fight for the freedom of self determination. To ensure the blessings of a free and prosperous life for your people. I for one chose freedom for my peoples, their heirs and all creatures. If it requires my life be forfeited then so be it." With that said he turned, mounted his horse and started off towards the mountain pass, silently.

His thoughts though were filling his brain with questions of why Tiphereth had indeed left without counsel. He prayed that the fey and he once again would fight side by side. Tiphereth's lance would sorely be missed in the future, of that Lac was certain.

Lac, mounted Lightning, gentely laid the left hand rein against the horse's neck and turned him around one hundred and eight degrees. He whisperd softly to him "Cirosmaeeva maeya forrunisaeldanaydel, oruthaeren deleldsartaeistnelyis anwenathaisttirsil unesor. Loresttil uthusat sarevetha wenhamantir arwinastriintynsae uthusir. Layethtae uthusil runevtaeunerennor ornorcureld mayothraeeld taeol ossaunerae halossamayelda." {Translation: Come my friend, our destiny awaits us. Let us see what awaits us. Let us return once more to our home.}

His eyes active and scanning his surrounding. Lac led what remained of his companions, up the winding path and into the mountains. He could not shake the feeling that the party was being watched. He sensed the eyes were not near but they were there none the less. Shape and his companions, trotted up beside Lac as he rode. Lac looked down and made a small motin of his hand. Shape and his comanions ran ahead Shape taking the point, his fellow wolves splitting up to climb narrow trails along the walls of the mountain. Searching the skies, Lac could see above the peaks that towered ahead the shadowed outline of Loki's wings and body, as he circled a distant peak.

Lac and the remainer of the party continued to climd the mountain pass in silence. All could feel the tension, the unexpected departure of Tiphereth had brought. Along with the unnatural sense that they were being watched. Lac led them along the trail, around a bend and suddenly pulled up Lightning to a halt. Before him were the ruins of a watchtower, at the edge of a gorge, overlooking a valley. "The watchtower of Rhun." Lac said as he dismounted, walked to the edge of a large flat stone patio with two stone winged horses and looked out across the mist covered valley. Then up at the sky, as a dark cloud appeared to be swallowing the sun and white clouds and steel blue skies above. In the distance along the mountain ridges, lightling flashed. Lac's expression turned solem and a fridgid hand seemed to clutch his heart, as his eyes scanned the horizon.

The group was somber, to say the least, now that Tiphereth had exited. And Jalisa felt as though she’d been abandoned to carry on the role of Verin’s puppet alone. If she could have gotten her hands around the Pharie’s throat, she would have tried to choke the living breath from his body. But he was gone and there was no need in stewing over it now. She’d have to deal with Verin the best way she could and when the time was right, she’d make him very, very sorry he’d ever crossed her path.

Jin sat huddled in the folds of her cloak. She dind’t like the bright sun beating down on her face. It still hurt her eyes. While she’d spent quite a bit of time on the surface, most of her life had been spent below ground and her eyes were still, for the most part, more used to nocturnal places.

As the structure came into sight, Jin sat up a little better on her horse. She was curious as to where this was going to lead all of them. How were they going to deal with a common threat when they still seemed to be divided amongst themselves.

She glanced back at the others then ahead at Lac’Nala. When he stopped close to the structure and dismounted, Jin followed and stood next to him as he looked out over the land. Something ominous hung in the air as she, like Lac, looked out over the rolling hills and swaying grass. It was as though she felt she were looking at it for the last time and that frightened her more than anything.

Glancing up at Lac as he looked out over the horizon, she slowly slipped her gloved hand into his and curled her fingers around his palm. When he looked down at her, she smiled at him from beneath the folds of her hood.

”I believe you once told me that as long as we have each other, there is nothing we cannot face. Heed your own words, Ranger. They were never more true than now.”

Lac tightened his grip gently on Jin's gloved hand, tooked at her and smiled faintly. "Yorestasay tinhaleth winothraedasae Isti hiemartavalkesta saypalorkarnevanar braneldfayosraeeth taeol yinothuth, startilistalonlon hinossalayday tarhureldistaren tayreluthaytynhir , arsata diloth yinoruthaerelsir." (TRANSLATION: Yes the words I have spoken before to you, still hold their truth , as do yours. ) He then looked over his shoulder at the others. "We have traveld far and hard this day and our hearts are heavy from the loss of Tiphereth. We will rest here for tonight, tommorrow we desend into the valley. Move into the shelter of the watch tower. The horses need feed and rest as well."

Jin nodded and reluctantly released Lac’s hand before turning and walking back to her horse. She looked at the others and let them know they were resting here for the night and to bring the horses so they could be tended to as well. As she led her and Lac’s horse further into the structure and out of the wide open, she found a place where the horses could be gathered together. As the others were bringing their steeds around, she glanced at Jalisa and furrowed her brows. There was something about her that simply wasn’t normal. After the near confrontation she had with the dark haired woman that much was even more obvious.

Quickly tending to their horses, Jin walked to the tower and glanced inside. In the waning light of day, she couldn’t see anything but she knew she couldn’t get a good look unless she stepped fully inside. With a glance over her shoulder, Jin stepped inside and cautiously walked further back into the tower’s base. She’d made it in a few feet when she heard a small noise behind her. Turning quickly she suddenly found herself engulfed in total darkness that even her eyes couldn’t see in. A presence lurked nearby but she couldn’t see it. Withdrawing one of her short, curved blades, she waited, straining to hear something. Anything that would let her know what way the attack was coming from. When the voice spoke to her, it wasn’t an audible sound in her ears but in her mind. And it wasn’t pleasant at all.

~You will soon understand why your plight is futile, Drowess. You are trying to fight against forces that have been around much longer than you or any of your band of would be heroes. Return to your own kind and forget about what happens above the surface. Perhaps you’ll even find your House in order. But should you choose to stay, I assure you those you travel with will perish, as will you. One. By. One. And it will be most excruciating. For all.~

The pain in Jin’s head was so bad that she dropped to her knees, dropping her blade onto the hard surface causing a metal clang to fill the air. She was trying to fight against the pain but it was useless. Placing her hands on either side of her head, she fell over as the pain reached a level she could no longer tolerate. She saw the angry, open maw of a dragon outlined in heat coming for her and she screamed as the pain intensified.

The darkness lifted and she heard feet rushing all around her seeing Augustine and the Rohirrian people coming in with weapons drawn. Blinking her eyes several times she felt disoriented and each time she tried to move she felt as though she were falling to one side or the other. Her hands reached out, grasping for something to steady herself with but she couldn’t gain her balance long enough to reach for offered hands.

What the hell was wrong with her? Why was she here in this tower? What was she doing here? Why was she having such a hard time getting to her feet any why was her head smarting so badly?

Standing behind all the others near the doorway, Jalisa looked on curiously, peering over the shoulders of those trying to help the Drowess. Her brows furrowed as she showed her concern for the woman. Or, at least she hoped it looked like concern.

Lac was just entering the watch tower, when he heard a muffled scream and the sound of steel striking stone. Looking around, he did not see Jin. Drawing his sword, he rushed deeper into the gloom of the tower a mear step ahead of the others. There he saw Jin holding her head struggeling to rise. Reaching her he knelt, he reached for her hand as it flailed and she fell into his arms. As the others approached closer, Lac spoke softly to Jin, just above a whisper, "Jal zhah al, ussta ssinssrigg , Usstan lu' dosst abbilen ph' ghil. Nau jivviim shlu'ta doer ulu dos. Tesso uns'aa vel'bol zhah ol nindel zhah xusst?" (TRANSLATION: All is well , my love , I and your comrades are here. No harm can come to you. Tell me what is it that is wrong ?)

Brianna was exhausted as was her steed. They'd all ridden hard that day and she too felt the absence of the Phaerie. Although he'd begun to act strangely, she still had liked the man. She sighed, looking around her at the others her eyes resting on Jalisa and then looking away. Something wasn't right there, but she couldn't put her finger upon it.

As they reached the ruins, she smiled, thankful that they would rest as could their horses. She'd spoken little on their journey, staying more to herself deep in thought, not even speaking much to Augustine. He too had seemed distant and it bothered her. She watched as Lac dismounted and walked to the flat rock, wondering what he was doing but not interfering. Jinn followed and she gave a small grin, thinking what an odd pair they were, but the love there was strong.....anyone could see that.

She dismounted as Jinn walked into the dark tower, looking around her and moving slower than the others, falling behind. She didn't like the dark and felt uneasy, but hid it from the others, holding the reins to Charda in her hand as the mare followed behind her. She wondered how far in they were going to go and realized now that she brought up the rear having fallen behind, when she saw everyone moving swiftly further into the tower.

She peered through small opening within the tight group and saw Jinn struggling to get to her feet and Lac at her side. Her brows furrowed together as she thought about what could have brought the strong Drowess to her knees.

”I….I do not know.”

When Jin felt Lac grab her hand she wrapped her fingers around it then reached for it with her other hand as well. She trembled slightly from both the pain that still lingered and the fear she felt from being attacked so easily. It reminded her just how vulnerable she really was and she detested that feeling. Jin saw the confused look on Lac’s face and she tried to explain. Her voice was laced with the pain she felt making her sound more like a child than a grown woman.

”My head pains me terribly. Perhaps I am travel weary more than I realized. A few hours of rest should be all I need.”

She didn’t want to tell him she couldn’t remember what happened. She knew SOMETHING did but what evaded her. It was as though it were just on the outer reaches of her memory and she couldn’t fully grasp it. Whatever it was left her shaken to the very core and the pain caused her to be very disoriented.

As she looked around at the faces of the others that had gathered she saw the look of concern on all of their faces. Even the Riders from Rohan that normally kept their emotions tucked away let some creep onto their features. Finally her eyes rested on Jalisa as the dark haired woman stood near the doorway. For a moment Jin’s eyes met hers and she had the sensation she should know something but she couldn’t recall it. With Lac’s help she rose to her feet and moved towards the doorway of the tower.







Jalisa watched Lac help the Drowess to her feet and move towards the door. For a minute she was certain the Drowess was going to say something when their eyes met but Jalisa’s magic was strong and even the Drowess couldn’t recall what happened.

As the others filed out, Jalisa stayed behind and began preparing the inside of the tower for sleeping quarters. She went about gathering some old twigs and wood that had been collected over the years inside the place and piled them up in the center of the room then circled them with stones. Going through the motions of making it look as though she has a flint stone, she let her eyes glance around and when no one was paying attention she leaned down closer to the twigs and blew gently. The twigs began to smolder then flicker to life with fire. Sitting back up she quickly added some more material to the fire to get it going.

AS soon as the fire was good to go, she found a few torches that could still be used. Setting them ablaze, she positioned them in the brackets on the walls to make sure the place was well lit. She felt eyes on her and turning slowly, she saw Brianna in the doorway watching her. There was suspicion in the woman’s eyes and Jalisa could only smile at her.

”Finally come to help out, did you? Good….we need to get some of these stones out of the way so there’s room to spread out the bed rolls. And put that dwarf someplace in the corner so his snoring doesn’t keep us all awake all night.”

Brianna said nothing to Jalisa, but she did move in to help move the rocks out of the way. She didn't trust the 'woman' and it showed. Something was different about her....something that wasn't good. She cast a glance over to where Jinn was every now and then, wanting to make sure that her friend was okay, but saw that Lac was with her and didn't want to intrude. Looking around her as she moved rocks, she saw the others, some of the men moving rocks themselves while others were checking things out in the ruins.

Brianna was deep in thought as she moved rocks, finally having finished. She walked over to Lac and Jinn, smiling at them. "I am going to go hunt for some meat. I will stay close to the ruins." She then looked at Jinn, laying a hand on her shoulder, "I do not know what happened to you, my friend, but rest. I will return shortly." Brianna turned, holding the short bow one of the Rohirran men allowed her to borrow, walking away from them and heading to the east to search for prey.