As Jack Rose leaned his head back against the wall in an attempt to steady himself, the Phaerie was suddenly kneeling at his side offering a supporting hand.

"I perceive the world very differently from the others, Master Rose, but I can only see that part of the Grey World that touches upon the Material. I dare not look beyond into the realm of the dead, that from which you come." Tiphereth informed Jack, narrowing his darkened eyes, still black in the dim light of the early morning, thinking that the ghost walker had no idea how similar the two of them actually were, both of them servants to a higher power.

"Life had left your body. Why has it returned?" He asked quietly with a strange curiosity.

"Death still has no claim on me. The one that has given me this gift, or curse depending on how you look at it, is not yet finished with me." He looks up at Tiphereth. "It is probably best that you not look into the land of the dead. It is a very dark and sometimes scary place and Death can be a very unforgiving lord sometimes. If you can see me when I cross then I'm guessing you have also seen the form I take."

Tiphereth studied Jack's features glowing with a ghostly paler as stark as, if not whiter than his own complexion. "I have seen the 'grey shrouds' before, the forms of those who can walk in both this world and the next." The Phaerie explained, his expression cold and full of regret at the memories of that vile place. "You are not meant to walk this place, this much I know and were we in the lands from which I hail from, you would be hunted." Tiphereth gravely admitted, staring at the ground as if ashamed, then he looked up his eyes blazing in a beam of dawn's light, "But I harbor you no ill will, Jack. I know that your kind does not walk the land of the living without purpose and yours bears a true course, unlike the dark one that seeks you."

Tiphereth smoothly rose and stood above the ghost-walker. "This other," he remarked, "he is like you but darkness enshrouds him. Will he ever stop hunting you? Should we all fear this man and call him enemy?"

Lac had risen, when Jin awakened him and told himof her plan. Standing looking out to the east
across the lands they must transverse he said to her "Isti dilos naeossatin lirisakalelda torhamistisata curayoluthurensileth onfor arthacuratinisaothnir yorolune hamalviretha ciruhamothsayevnay, borunetil istitir imsay weninsateth. Isa welossauthaelonday belest uthnaywiliststarest naeossatir tiros hamestandae yorothuthrae venanlayuthaearborlinev athdayvenistasilest athanaydel saeesteld tilhalesta wynistsatadaeothmor istinar imtor. Belelda sataanfaeetha minyor tarrinuthsatatynevadae fayrayinevnaeday artnaedae rayevatayunerelnay toron miryil sayisadayeth. ( Translation: I do not like this course of action you have chosen, but it is wise. I would be unwise not to hed your valuable advise and see the wisdom in it. Be safe my trusted friend and return to my side. "

Lac looked down at his hand and the medalion Jin had given him. He placed the medalion around his neck and said softly "Ith armin hiemossanelothrinevadil tarossa arthcuraecurestapertor tarhinithsor nironborlaeeth gulinfaytor astranayda winestarthrel inatyn panrinoluthaydillaeyid, branothtarhir athrenothuthunayda moryor neleldacurukel astrinordil ithnor mayyis halestaarrintir. Ista hinuthminbellaeethayis taehurarthunarkel yidothuthay." ( Translation: I am honored to accept this noble gift and wer it proudly, both around my neck and in my heart. I humbley thank you.) Lac then watched as Jin melted into the dawn shadows of the west.

Lac then turned his gaze once more to the east as he listened to the words of Tiphereth and The Ghost Walker. He too had stood before those held captive in the shadow world betwen life and death. A ghostly King and his armies calling them to the land of the living to finally do battle with the Dark Lord and his armies. To finally fullfill their oath of alliagance and lift the curse that held them between worlds. *Was this Ghost Walker an agent sent to once more guide Lac and his companions to a vast army of enslaved souls? To once more have them rise up against evil and free their souls?* These were the thoughts that crossed Lac's mind as he looked out over the wild.

The ranger had risen with the dawn. He came into view and stood with his back to Tiphereth and the Ghost-Walker looking toward the east, trying to predict the perils that would be set before them this day.

Turning away from Jack, Tiphereth silently fell to the side of the slumbering Dwarf but even as he bent close to rouse him Beldegir stirred and looked up. "Silent as ye be, yer betrayed by that stench o' wild flowers that follows you every where ye walk, Master Sorrelwind." he growled.

Tiphereth stood up, surprised. He had never considered that the fragrance of lilacs, clover and mint that seemed to permeate the flesh of his kind might betray his presence, but then he seldom walked such barren lands. As the Dwarf sat up and stretched he took note of the Elfling's worry and offered his own brand of consolation. "Perhaps if ye rolled about in the earth ye may not smell like a strumpet." he told him.

Moving away from the groggy, Dwarf who was apparently quite ill tempered in the morning, Tiphereth drew closer to Lac'Nal. He scanned the camp site for the Drowess who never seemed to stay very far from the ranger but he could not see nor feel her presence.

"Ranger. Where has the Dark Elf gone?" Tiphereth inquired.

Lac looked over at Tiphereth and then retuned his gaze to the east "The Drowess Ssinjin has fallen back to cover our backs. Her eyes will watch for any pursuers and she will lay spells and encantaions to hinder the approach of any from our rear." Lac said softly. "We must make the Watchtower of Driumril by nightfall and tomorrow the Forest of Lorien."

Lac then looked behind him an said "See the others are awake and refreshed we must make haste."

'Lothlorien?' Thought Tiphereth, 'Why turn south?' Far be it from him, an outlander to question a ranger, but he could make no sense of this course. Heading back he cast a spell, stirring the wind about Brianna's hair to awaken her while he knelt close to Beldegir and within ear shot of Jack.

"Southward to Lorien the ranger means to take us." he whispered to them.

Tiphereth was apprehensive of this decision. Though he was a stranger to these lands, his gods had imbued him with a common knowledge to help guide him. Lorien was a place he was to avoid and the concerned look of the Dwarf only seemed punctuate the Deithir's fears.

From his spot against the wall Jack noticed the look on Tiphereth's face and then the one on the Dwarf's. He pushes himself up and makes his way over to them, still leaning on his sword. His memories of the land were sketchy at best. Ocassionally he would find something that seemed familiar to him but nothing truly concrete. "What is about Lorien that makes you apprehesive?"

Beldegir stood up and approached Jack Rose. "'Tis a cursed place, Master Ghost-Walker. An Elven forest ruled by an evil Queen that can peer into your very soul!" He told him, the Dwarves eyes wild with apprehension.



Tiphereth nodded. "Aye, 'tis a place I am meant to avoid and avoid it we should." he agreed, "The Elves may not look kindly upon me. Better it would be to press eastward than enter that place." The Deithir added holding his spear high in defiance.

"I see. Have you told the ranger of your concerns. Perhaps he has a plan for when we reach this forest." As they described Lorien something stirred within him and a memory surfaced. One of the same warrior from his dreams standing outside of a dark forest. The memory ends with the warrior stepping bravely within the forbidden wood.

Lac glanced back at his companions, then looked forward. "We are going to see the Elve's my friends. We need the counsel of Galadrial and I must inform them of this new threat from Master Ghost Walker's world. The dark Lord has grown stronger than I first thought, and his reach has extended." Lac said flatly as he quickly lead the unlikely group of allies forward.

The companions made their way southward, toward Lothlorien, the Golden Wood, guided by the ranger Lac'Nala down paths seldom trodden. The morning was calm, a gentle breeze flowing from the west carrying the fragrance of flowers growing in the meadows beyond the barren valley.



As the winds gently tossed the Deithir's long golden orange locks to the side, his delicately pointed ears were exposed. By the dimness of dawn the fire in his eyes settled to a radiant violet hue and he appeared most like an Elf. Only the strange markings upon his skin betrayed the illusion, but to Elfin eyes his differences were far more distinct. Even if he were able to conceal his noticeable differences they would know him to be different and with every step closer to Lorien the Deithir grew more troubled.

Tiphereth smiled and looked down at Brianna, as he strode alongside of her. He did not believe his worries to be so great that they outwardly effected his mood, but if the Dunedain woman could see it in his face then no doubt the others were aware of it as well. "It can nigh be eased, but thank you." he replied and humbly bowed his head. "We are bound for a city called Caras Galadhon within the Golden Wood, a place I am told by my gods, is peaceful unless one brings evil with them. We walk in the shadow of the Dark Lord, Brianna and I fear that our presence may not be seen as fortuitous."

After speaking his half-truth the Deithir lifted his head into the sunlight, closing his eyes momentarily to the brightness and when they reopened they blazed with a violet fire. Tiphereth had only revealed part of what troubled him, for he also feared that the Elves may shun him or worse since while he was so like them physically they were worlds apart in essence.