Some time has passed since the ghostwalker rose from his healing rest. He had barely touched the food before him. Looking up at the healer he vanishes. Once again he is faced with the same spirits surrounding him again. He looks to each one and gets the feeling that he knew them at one time. The spirits once again speak with one voice. "You must return to the living, ghostwalker."

"But I have questions. Questions that I believe only you can answer."

"You would be right. We can answer all of your questions. But ask them quickly for your time here must be limited."

"Fine. Who was I?"

"You first lived over 100 years ago as a warrior of honor. Your fate, however, was sealed on the field of battle and your destiny began."

"My destiny?" Jack was slightly confused by this. As their tale continued the memory of that time began to come back to him slowly. He could now remember his battle with the orcs that had ended with him taking a fatal blow to the abdomen.

"Your destiny is to fulfill the prophecy. You are he who walks the line between life and death. You bring justice to those who escape it and compassion to those who suffer. Your time here is up, ghostwalker. Go now before your memory begins to fade."

When they uttered those words it was like a floodgate had been opened. Finally Jack was beginning to understand what had been happening to him. He crossed again only to find himself no longer in the clinic. He was now staring into a stream of crystal clear water.

Galadrial seemed to float and stand behind Brianna, as she stared into the pool. Softly her voice filled Brianna's mind. "You see what your heart desires. Do not let your heart be filled with sorrow, what you see and desire may yet come to be. There are many that must join your quest before the task is done. Stray but a little from the path that is set before and all may yet be lost." Then as with the lifting of a morning mist Galadrial's presence vanished and Brianna once more saw the rippeling of the waters and the Ghost Walker's image appeared in the pool.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Lac, while stil holding Sinjin's hand looked from her face to Tiphereth and spoke. "Yes join us Tephereth, I wish your counsel. I wish to know if you are rested and your strength renewed. For I feel it is time we depart these lands and continue our journey to Oron_D_Narr. I sense the enemy goes stronger and closer with each passing day. Even now there are peoples enslaved and lands falling into darkness. We have stayed long enough amongst these fair folk. I have learned much in council with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadrial. Haldir and his captains have given me much intelligence as to the commings goings along their borders and beyond."

Brianna listened intently to what Galadrial said to her, taking her words to heart for she felt how wise the lady elf was. She looked back down into the pool, looking longingly at the man who held her affections and did not even know it. When she saw the GhostWalker's image, her brows furrowed in confusion.

~Why am I seeing Jack? He is not the one I desire.~

Brianna is now thoroughly confused. Looking up, she sees Jack standing not far from her. Looking back down into the pool, his image is still there in the still waters. She looks back up again, and his corpeal form is still there, not far from the bridge.

Rising, she walks over to him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder as he looks as if he's been through a gauntlet.

"Jack, are you alright? Come, sit down over here." She leads him over to a white sitting bench, next to a crystal clear, small waterfall. "What is it? What is wrong?"

Jack had been lost in thought when Brianna approached him. Somewhere within himself the secrets of his past were locked away. All he had to do was find the key to unlocking those memories. If he was truly as old as the spirits said then there had to be more. What had he done from the time of his last memory and now? Where had he been and why couldn't he remember? Jack jumps a bit as Brianna places her hand on his shoulder but smiles a bit when he realizes that it is her. "Brianna. Good to see you." He follows her to the bench then takes a seat, sighing at her questions. Where should he begin? "I'm not quite sure how to tell you this but according to my spirit guides I am much older than I appear. If that is the case then I have many memories that I cannot account for. There is a very large gap in my mind. Other than that, there is absolutely nothing wrong."

Tiphereth admiring the beautiful scene surrounding the two lovers stood transfixed by the all encompassing romance before him. Then Lac's welcoming voice pulled him from his trance and the Phaerie's demeanor transformed from that of an insecure child to that of a sure an experienced warrior. He skipped along the stones in the pale light, his from reflected beneath him in the shimmering waters as he leapt to the bridge in a series of four graceful bounds.

The Phaerie nodded to Jin then bowed humbly before his Lord, and heard his words.

"I agree, Lac'Nala." Agreed Tiphereth as his black eyes, darkened in the pale light turned and looked to the west. "We have lingered here long enough. What strength, this world allows me to retain yet holds but as I do not know for how long, I too am anxious to resume our trek to your lands. I have seen that we have lost a trusted member and yet with his departure have gained yet another strong Dwarven arm. At your command I shall prepare to depart."

Brianna didn't know what to say to him or how to respond in any way to this information. She sat next to him, thinking on this. Finally she looked to him, smiling.

"Well, I would have to say that eventually you will remember, you will just have to be patient, as hard as that may be. There is nothing else you can do that I can think of. Maybe Gladriel can help you. Have you thought about speaking to her?"

She kept looking at him, wondering why she saw him in the pool of water right after she saw the one who holds her affections. What did it all mean? Maybe she too, should speak to Lady Gladriel.

Smiling, Jin nodded in return to Tiphereth when he joined her and Lac on the bridge. As she listened to them talk of leaving, she knew it was indeed time to go but felt a sense of disappointment they were leaving already. This place had bought her some sense of peace. While there were still many questions she had that still needed answering, she accepted the fact that what ever the future held, she would find it with Lac and the others. If she lived that long. Knowing there was much they needed to prepare to leave, Jin looked to both Tiphereth and Lac.

”There is much we have to do before we leave here. While our hosts have been most generous, we still need to replenish our water skins and food supplies. You should leave at first light of dawn tomorrow. The horde will not be fooled much longer and I fear they already have a feeling they have been fooled and will head back this way again. The more distance we put between them and ourselves, the better. But it is not just the horde we must be wary of. Verin’s power grows stronger each day he is in this Dark Lords presence and I fear I will be like a beacon to his insane evil. I will leave tonight so I no longer pose a threat to these peoples.”

Turning to look at Lac, her eyes gave a longing look to him.

”I would love to travel from here with you, but to stay merely increases the danger. I will meet up with you once you all have well cleared the Golden Woods. I will signal you the way I did at our first encounter with each other. You will know it is me then.”

Once more Jin felt her emotions storming within her. There was something more she wished to say but exactly what, she didn’t know how. Instead, she turned her attention to the clear, flowing water beneath the bridge as she slowly released Lac’s hand, turning her back on him. It was better to remain silent if she didn’t know how to say things. That way she wouldn’t convey the wrong message and risk causing hard feelings with her lack of such knowledge.

Lac grasped Ssinjin's hands and said "Yisevsae wenev wynimlinlir saypalevalkar faeuthayruntayhamethrun orfor tirhileldasorest taehalistinorglinsil. Yidosuthay minuthsirtyn tilarthkaretha curaerilelda orfin yiroruthayrunsataevalayfay, perlirethaartsayeld. Welelda saehinastralorlae moreldeldatin astrityn tarhireld nirossarentaehirestaraenor ethdilguletha othfor Laeortynhillinosraeistaestnay belyil tilhameva rininavalkestaren. Imnar tirwilol delarthyorsar taeisamorelda. ( Translation: Yes we will speak further of these things. You must take care of yourself, please. We shall meet at the northern edge of Lothlorien by the river. In two days time.

Lac then turned to Tiphereth and said "Go and prepare, we leave this day at dusk. Inform the others, please. I must seek council with Galadriel before we part." They then went their seperate ways.

Jin let her fingers curl around Lac’s hands. His words touched her and she nodded once more before reluctantly leaving him once more. Remembering Galadriel’s request, she found an Elf nearby and requested his escort back to her quarters. While he seemed reluctant at first, he nodded and made sure he remained close, but not too close. When she reached her quarters, Jin gave the escort a genuine smile and thanked him for his assistance. To her surprise he smiled in return and inclined his head respectfully.

”It was my pleasure.”

The man turned on his heel and headed back the way he came leaving Jin in her quarters alone once more. Closing the door, she looked around the comfortable sanctuary she’d been given and sighed dejectedly. One day she would be able to enjoy such luxury but for now, she had a mission to complete.

Walking to the bedroom, she changed her clothes and gathered the other clothes that were in the wardrobe. Laying them on the bed folded carefully, she walked to the mirror of the vanity and sat down before it. She had taken the time to unbraid the spider web like design she had braided in her hair and now, she took the time to re-braid some strands of her hair into the spider web design once more. Finishing the process by connecting a thin braid from each side of her hair in a soft loop that made it look like a necklace, she was finally satisfied.

Now all she had to do was wait for the sun to start making its final descent in the sky and she could leave. And waiting was never one of Jin’s strong points.

The sound of the guard coming to attention could be heard from outside Ssinjin’s door. A soft knock followed and the door slowly opened. Galadriel walked softly in, smiled and said .... “Word has come to me that you will be leaving our land soon, before you go I have something for you.” .... Galadriel then gentley took Ssinjin’s hand and raised it, placing an amulet of an Elven leaf of emerald resting on a spider web of fine threaded crystal on a mithrial chain in Ssinjin’s open palm "Please accept this humble gift symbolizing the uniting of our two Elven peoples …….This will give you safe passage throughout Elfindom. Should you ever need our help or a place to stay, do not forget this room is yours. …… Now go in peace Priestess Ssinjin with our hopes and prayers for your safe journey and the peace and happiness you both deserve and crave.” Galadriel then leaned forward and kissed Ssinjin on the forehead giving Ssinjin her blessing. Galadriel then said “Your guard and a company of our warriors will escort you safely to our northern borders. " Galadriel then turned and walked quietly towards the door. She stopped and turned to Ssinjin "Follow and trust your heart" she then turned and walked out of Ssinjin’s room shutting the door behind her.

Sorrelwind had bowed before his Lord and without further words left to do his bidding. He navigated the forest trails, fleetly moving to the home of his host where he gathered the provisions that Nevthera has previously told him that he was welcome to. He would have liked to have bid her a good bye, but alas, she was still away with her mate enjoying the company of one another. He was, however, confident they would meet again, and so he left without word.



Othargren slept soundly, the vehemency of his snoring shaking the timbers of the long Elven bed. His armour was strewn across a nearby chair used as a coat rack and his axe leaned against the bed side table. The road had been long, and with his belly full the Dwarf was dead to the world and did not hear the the stranger as he floated into the room. The intruder's feet, barely touching the floor were noiseless, only the rustling of their garments made a sound but to the Dwarf the sound may have been the wind pushing against the curtains.

"Master Dwarf." Whispered a voice.

The Dwarf was up like a shot, eyes wide and furious, his powerful hand reaching for the intruder's throat but his rocky fingers grasped only air.

Tiphereth had casually stepped back, his blackened eyes observing the Dwarf, a slight, mischievous smile on his dark lips.

Othargren squinted through the darkness at the stranger. "What! You're no Elf!" the Dwarf screamed as he hurled himself off of the bed. He solidly landed and reached for his axe, then holding it before him, menaced the would be assassin.

The Elfin man held up his hands in surrender. "Please. I've only come to tell you that Lord Oradreth, has requested that we prepare to leave at dusk." Then as the Dwarf lowered his axe, though still suspicious, the Phaeirie bowed and introduced himself, "I am Sorrelwind a Phaerie of the lands far to the north and but a humble vassal. I had rapped on your door, but the sound of your snoring seemed to drown my efforts."

"Ah, ye must knock like one of the airy folk, as well." Grumbled the Dwarf as he walked over to where he only just hung his armour and began to dress once more, "Y'know we Dwarves need little sleep, I was digesting my meal." he explained and Sorrelwind humoured him with a believable nod.

The Dwarf introduced himself and told the 'vassal' that he would be ready shortly and to inform his Lord, that he would find him by dusk. Sorrelwind bowed and left the room to relay master Orthagren's message to Lac'Nala.

When Galadriel came to visit Jin, the Drowess bowed respectfully. Twice she was honored by a visit by the Elfess and each time she paid her respects. As the gift was handed to Jin, the Drowess was left speechless. The delicate nature of the amulet was a testimony of fine craftsmanship but it was the symbolic meaning of the amulet that struck Jin the most. Lifting her eyes to look at Galadriel, Jin once more bowed her head.

”Know I shall forever be in your debt for the kindness and hospitality you and your people have shown to me.”

Lifting her head to gaze at the Elfess, Jin spoke again.

”The council you have given me alone was the greatest gift I could have ever received but this amulet has touched my heart and I know what it symbolizes. I shall do all I can to insure our peoples learn to respect one another just as we have learned to respect one another. You shall always have a place to stay should you ever decide to visit my home.”

As Galadriel bid in farewell and told the Drowess to follow her heart, Jin nodded. She would certainly try, that was for sure. When the Lady of the Woods left, the guard and company of warriors Galadriel promised showed up. The guard carried Jin’s cloak and the leather straps she wore crossed over her torso that held all of her daggers on them.

Thanking him for the return of her things, she quickly gathered up some food stuffs as well as replenished her water skin then donned her daggers and cloak. Tucking her spare clothes, food and water skin into a seemingly endless pocket, the Drowess nodded and left her apartment. With a glance back towards where she last saw Lac, Jin quickly disappeared into the woods with the company of the elves.

Brianna rose from the bench where she'd been sitting, talking with Jack, feeling something different in the air. She saw the elves moving around, gathering what looked like foodstuffs and filling water bladders.

~We must be getting ready to leave and continue our journey~, she thinks to herself.

She says as much to Jack and smiling at him, tells him that she's going to go to her room and gather what few belongings she has into her small travel bag.

She will miss this place and it's serenity, but she would be glad as well, to be on their way.