Jin let an audible sigh of relief slip past her lips when she heard Adam was safe and doing well. Often she thought of the Druid and his magical son and hoped they were safe and that Verin was unable to harm them. But now, hearing where Adam was and who he was in the company of, Jin knew her brother wouldn’t dare try to combat the nymph.

When Augustine lowered his hood, Jin actually took a small step back. While she was not afraid of him, he was much taller than she was and she wanted to get a better look at his face. She’d almost forgotten how handsome he was but now, he seemed even more so. Like he was a little younger than the last time she saw him. How was that possible? He still sounded the same….but his features…they were certainly more…youthful for the lack of a better word.

As the trees and plants began to move and rustle, Jin’s eyes glanced around. She had forgotten just how powerful the Druid really was and as the plants surrounding them seemed to speak, she was reminded of his power and how much of an asset he was to their cause. As he raised his hand to calm the plants, Jin smiled slightly as the quiet enshrouded the two like a sheer veil shrouds a brides face.

With the mention of her brother, Jin said something in her native language then spat on the ground. The softness of her features changed instantly and that same hardness Augustine had seen of her in the past quickly resurfaced. There was no doubt exactly how she felt about Verin. Still.

”No brother of mine would do the things he has done. At least, not any brother I would dare claim as my own. Much has happened since last we talked, my friend.”

Knowing she and Augustine were safe, Jin told him about everything that happened since they last saw each other. How they met with young wizard apprentice Alrick, who had the unfortunate curse upon him that kept turning him into a pig only to be changed back to human again with a kiss. How they lost him in the depths of the Mines. Their encounter with the Dwarf that led them through the high passes to begin with and eventually through the mines. The arrival of the Pharie, Tiphereth, from the other plane and the young human woman Brianna. The arrival at Golden Woods and everything that had transpired with the elves as well as the rare amulet Galadriel had bestowed her with.

Jin left out the parts where her emotions were surfacing and how she felt about Lac’Nala. For starters, she didn’t know how to talk about them. She did, however, mention how she had traveled another direction to thwart the massive group of beasts tracking them. Omitting the part about the hell hound, of course. She didn’t need anyone knowing she had grown too tired to remember they always traveled in pairs. As she finished up with how she got to be where she was when he arrived, the night sky twinkled with stars over head.

”So you see, my friend….we have come a long way but there is still a long way to go. Lac’Nala and the others should be arriving shortly. I cannot wait to see his face when he sees you standing here with me. He will be very happy to see you again. Just as I was. Although, I have to say, hearing you had a vision of us passing this way, makes concerned these visions may not be bearing good news.”

Lac led his companions east, through the southeastern edge of Lothlorien, staying hidden in the trees, towards the great river Arun. Once they reached the eastern corner of the wood they would cross the river Anduin, then northeast across the Brown lands towards Rohan.

Lac remained silent as they travled, he sensed a familiar presence growing closer as the trees, shrubs and plants themselves seemed to be watching, as darkness deepened and the night sky filled with stars. Lac stopped and dismounted, motioning for the rest to do the same, taking Lighting's reins in hand, he on slowly onward. Lightning pulled back, planted his hooves and stopped, his ears twitching, he snorted softly. ....... Ahead and to Lac's right on a small rise, Shape appeared to materialized, lifted his nose towards the full moon and howled. Shortly two more howls could be heard, one to Lac's left and another behind them. Lac smiled "We have an escort my friends." Lac said quietly and they continued......Lac sensed another presence as well, but kept the feeling to himself and his eyes watched to forest.

Augustine listened as Jin laid out the tale for him, she spoke of the wizard, the dwarf, the fairykin and the woman. He now realized that his old friends had been through as much as he had in their months apart. Coming to look for Ssinjin and Lac'nala now seemed like the right choice, there was safety in numbers and the druid had missed his companions.

Augustine made himself comfortable, sitting at the base of some of the great trees. The stars blinked overhead spilling a dim light onto him and the Drowess.

It is a strange thing my friend, ever since the lady of the lake cured my burns I feel very different. The druid looked away from Ssinjin and at the ground.

I feel weightless..no, I feel like I am walking through a dream sometimes..I..
Augustine's words trailed off, he searched his mind for the right ones, they were not coming to him.

Sometimes I hear her, I hear her speaking to me. She wanted very much for me and Adam to stay with her, but she accepted my choice.
Augustine looked up to the stars, he looked tired in the starlight.

Brianna was enjoying being on the back of a horse again as she followed her companions through the woods. Hearing the wolves howl, she smiled and smiled even bigger when Lac mentioned that they had an escort.

"I love to hear them sing. It is so beautiful. And, I am happy that they are with us."

She smiled to Lac, wondering why SinJinn wasn't with them, but not wanting to seem rude by asking. She figured if Lac wanted them to know then he would tell them.

Tiphereth Sorrelwind followed closely behind his lord, his Phaerie eyes looking beyond the veil of the physical world and into that ancient realm that the old trees touched upon and knew well. Suddenly then, he felt a presence; a stirring in the essence of the forest, the ripples emanating from far away. 'What manner of creature could move the tree's so?', he pondered but said nothing of it to his companions for nothing evil surrounded this force, only the purest neutrality.



"What is it lad?" Inquired Othargren, who's black ram pranced lightly alongside the Phaerie's gifted mount.

Sorrelwind turned and gazed into the Dwarf's curious scowl, surprised that he could interpret his expressionless face, but then he must have betrayed some emotion. "I am only thinking of our trek to Rohan and what we shall find there." he misguidedly answered then looked back to Brianna. "Your heart is yet heavy with our return to your home, but it is pleasing to see you delighting in the ride and good company. Nature has a way of healing all wounds Brianna Red Fox."

The Phaerie then returned his gaze to the woods considering the nature around them once more. Once he had felt such an aura before and the one who cast it was a Man of the Oak. Powerful was their magic of the wood and so much were they like the plants they nurtured so, neutral as the trees they worshipped and nurtured. A neutrality that did not set Man, Elf or Phaerie before the great forests making them the perfect instruments to uphold the Will of the Aelaeydium within his world. Here in the realm of Middle Earth, however, Sorrelwind feared to be deemed disrespectful of those laws that governed him. Had this guardian been sent to punish him? Only time would tell. Remaining silent, the Phaeire followed the lead of Lac'Nala his eyes focused on the ranger's back, while his other senses spread out into the woods, ever watchful.

At the mention of returning to Rohan, Brianna lost her smile, but it soon returned as she turned her dark green gaze onto the Phaerie.

"Thank you, Tiphereth. I will enjoy showing you my home, I simply wish my adopted parents could be there as well. It will be a bittersweet return, indeed."

She turned her attention back to her beautiful mount, a light buckskin colored horse with a black mane and tale. She couldn't help but wonder if the mare was chosen for her because of her coloring.

Jin sat down across from the Druid when he sat to get comfortable as well. When Augustine lifted his face to look up at the stars dancing overhead, Jin saw the weariness on his handsome features. It was never easy leaving loved ones behind. While she knew Augustine was doing what he knew he had to do, it still weighed heavy on his heart and mind that he left his miracle child behind. And the Lady.

”She will no doubt be delighted to see you when you return. As will Adam. Is he still as curious about life as he was when last I saw him?”

Hearing the wolf howls in the distance, Jin stood up and grew silent and listened intently, turning to face the direction the howls came from. A smile slowly eased its way onto her features. Looking back over at the Druid, she sat back down.

”Lac draws near. Once we meet up with the rest of the group, I have no doubt he will take a moments rest to greet you then we will be ready to move out once more. The faster we move at night, the more time we make up between us and the dark forces. And now that we are leaving the protective borders of Lothlorien, I suspect we will have our work cut out for us trying to stay ahead of them.”

Lac slowly rode forward, he sensed Ssinjin was close, but there was another close to her. A familar presence, though he could not put his mind around the strangers identity. It was is a voice he did not readily recognize from days long past drifted across his mind. Lac tensed as his thoughts turned to Verin for a moment. But why did this presence not feel evil, had Verin conjured a spell powerful enough to mask who he truely was?

The wolves were coming closer, but Augustine did not fear, there was a man who rode with them on occasion, and this man was no threat, in fact he was a friend. Augustine closed his eyes, the trees rustled softly, they whispered to one another in their secret silent language, their whispers traveled from tree to tree in a wide circle. Although Augustine did not fear the approach of the wolves and whomever traveled behind them he wanted to be sure, the enemy that stalked him could easily disguise his approach and appear to be friendly. Was it a trick? Was the druid giving in to paranoia?

The trees were watching in their own way and they would soon sense the approaching group and Augustine would know whether he could expect an old friend or prepare to defend himself. The druid kept his eyes closed tight, he drew in a deep breath and tried to clear his mind.

Ssinjin stood up as the wolves came very near, she was relaxed as they sounded very close. This put the druid at ease somewhat, she was a very sensitive creature and if she sensed no danger it must be so. The druid wondered briefly what it would take to surprise her, to fool the razor sharp senses of the dark elf woman.

Lac held his hand up, singling a halt to those who followed, then he rode ahead slowly, leading the horse Ssinjin had rode into the mines so long ago, into a grove of trees. Thru the darkening gloom the form of Ssinjin's image slowly materialized, standing beside her was a figure cloaked in the faded maroon cloak of a monk, his hood hiding the strangers features. Slowly Lac spoke "Satsaeisanaejarlinnar Panraeistaeldsortorestasaysat osfar tynhineva Darunoswis Hiemothuthsaeeva olfor Key'Naryisartnay athanorda tayrinunesiltoreldaday falrelinestanirdil imtil daolethasay mayyir hinevastrareltar gilossaothdel taeoth sateldest yorothuth othnircuraeva arthgularthistanae. Yiloluthayrin cirothmaypalarniristornay finestaevalissata foranmoristilisimastriril tiroth maeeld. Im sileldanaesataeld naror evavaeisalay innir hurimmae. Isa perrayalyir yaolune hamartavalketha norothtil bearevestnir halanraymirevadil inanae alnaryor wilartayin. Istifar taehirinsat sirtinrinarthnelgolethren hurastrisar hilartharaemayevadil yaoruthay ithnay annaryid wynaryin Hileva welistalorlay sorlirevaeldapan tinhalimsat nelimgolhiltyn ithnae tayhilelda astrabearyissatsor.” (Translation: Ssinjin Priestess of the Drow House of K'Nyan and trusted friend it does my heart good to see you once again. Your companion feels familiar to me. I sense no evil in him. I pray you have not been harmed in any way. If this stranger has harmed you in any way He will sleep this night in the abyss.) He then dismounted and walked over closer to he and smiled. His attention then turned to the cloaked man. He then bowed his head slightly, while his hand rested on the pummel of his sword. "You sir feel familiar to me, if we have not met before, allow me to introduce myself. I am, Lac'Nala a Ranger from the lands of Oron_D_Naar. Your cloak is as one of the order of a long lost friend, who traveled with a small boy. Are you of this same order or know of this man?"

Augustine was standing near Ssinjin, he had gotten to his feet when she had. As the Ranger awaited an answer the druid lowered his hood and spoke.
Yes, I know of this man, he has traveled a long way to meet with old friends.

Augustine smiled and extended his hand to Lac'Nala, the druid was aware that the others that Ssinjin had spoken of were most likely nearby. Lac'Nala had no doubt had them remain out of sight, ever the cautious ranger.

Hello again old friend.
The druid looked at the half elf, pleased to see his friend in one piece.

Lac smiled broadly , took the Druids hand and embraced him tightly. "I am so pleased to see you again, my old friend. It fills my heart with joy to see you are safe." Lac then relaeased his old friend and looked around for Adam. Not seeing him, his face grew concerned. "Please tell me that Adam is safe and unharmed." Lac said.

The leaves rustled in the wind, only it was no normal wind. Only the eyes of the Phaerie could see this. Ancient whispers of an unintelligible language came to his ears; the trees were speaking their ancient language traveling upon what was perceived by Men as a gentle breeze and perhaps on some level of reality it was, but not to the Deithir.

Moving away from the Dwarf and Rohirrim woman, Sorrelwind had settled his mount and quietly surveyed the meeting from the low ridge. Rendered virtually invisible by his Phaerie glamour, his ability to envelope himself with the hues of the forest transfered to his horse, painting them both into the forest scene around them.

The trees watched. Did they see him? He existed partially in their realm and his magics would render him invisible to even those of his kind, but the trees, were old... very old. They saw and knew everything that occurred in the world about them and Sorrelwind knew that they spoke of him as well, but they did not judge. In his own world trees were protected by the Aelaeydium, and their Will forbid the taking of any green limbs for fuel. Dead fall and the magical wood created in the mills was what they were allowed and nothing else. They were revered by Aethiad and Phaerie alike.

Looking upon the cloak man, Sorrel knew that he was indeed a Man of the Oak, a protector of the forest. For what reason did he feel it necessary to meddle in the affairs of men?

Jin smiled at Lac when she heard him greet her. Knowing the Ranger meant every word he spoke, she turned to look at Augustine with a twinkle in her eyes and a grin on her lips. As Augustine stepped forward and lowered his hood, Jin knew Lac wouldn’t recognize the face right away but the voice was unmistakable. As the recognition showed on Lac’s face and he smiled at Augustine, the Drowess knew things were settled quickly. It was then Jin noticed the horse Lac was riding. Blinking, she wasn’t sure she’d seen correctly but as she approached, Lightning nodded his head at her familiar scent. Jin reached her hand out to the horse and stroked his velvety snout.

Looking into the darkness, Jin’s darksight saw the outline of the others as they waited nearby anxiously. Signaling for them to approach, she notice the rider less horse as well and instantly gasped recognizing Walnut, or Wally, as Alrick called him. Approaching the gelding slowly, the Drowess reached her hand out and stroked his snout in the same way she had Lightnings.

When she turned to see Lac smiling at her, she gave him a pleasantly surprised look. He explained the horses had arrived just before the group in the Golden Woods and Galadriel had kept them safe and sound. To say the least, the Drowess was very pleased.

As the introductions were made, Jin walked over to Lac as he stood next to Lightning.

”If your steed does not mind an extra rider, I will ride with you and let Augustine take Walnut.”

Brianna rode forward upon Jinn's signal to approach, watching the hooded monk warily. She knew not who he was and although Lac and Jinn appeared to be relaxed around him, she herself was not. She was somewhat at ease with the fact that Lac and Jinn knew him, but she was quickly learning that everything could be something other than what it seemed. So she watched, she was polite, but she watched.