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Imladris :: Elrond's Study

Laurewyn nods and walks to the arched doorway. "Farewell, Lord Elrond," she says, "And if I could do you a favor of a returned message, I shall be here till dusk."

Imladris::Courtyard

Laurewyn gazed at the ever-surrounding beauty of Imladris as she walked past fountains and the amazingly intricate architecture. Taking a deep breath, she smiled and let the warm feeling of being home sink in.
"My Lady," said a voice behind her.
Laurewyn turned around and greeted the elf, "Vedui."
"Lord Elrond calls for your service," he said.
"My service which will be gladly given," Laurewyn adds with a smile. The elf then led her back to the study.

Imladris::Elrond's Study

Laurewyn once again stepped through the arched doorway. "You have my service Lord Elrond," she said with a bow.

Imladris~ Surrounding Countryside

As the last rays of the setting sun fanned out from behind the Misty Mountains in a dazzling crown of crimson and purple, a silence fell upon the land. Nimirien reined her horse in and sat still, contentedly listening to the serenity that befell Elven lands when the sun set. Behind her, she could faintly descry the twinkling of the first lights in Imladris, though the fair city was hidden to mortal eyes. Nimirien grinned. Her eyes may be mortal, but she had a friendship with both Elves and Men, and walked often in the fountain-strewn plazas of Rivendell and the musty forest shade of the Greenwood. Some Elves still upheld friendship with Dúnedain.

From far off a haunting elvish tune lifted up and floated about the night on a fair breeze. Nimirien sighed softly and strained to hear the words. She could not hear enough to understand the song, but she was not this far out of Imladris to listen to elusive melodies. Drawing her attention back to the moment, she spurred her horse on again, cantering silently through the scattered trees and over rolling hills on the east side of the Misty Mountains. There was rumor of troubles in the new kingdom of Gondor, but Nimirien didn’t have many facts as to what it was. She and her small party of Dúnedain friends were scouting, if not for any purpose but to pacify their restless nature, and she was seeking both tidings and friends.

Suddenly beneath her the horse shifted nervously, stepping back and fighting at the reins. Nimirien held on, whispering soothing words in Sindarin to her mount, and peered into the deepening shade of the night. Everything seemed to grow silent with her vigil, and the wind whirred softly past her long blonde hair. Then over a small rise a figure appeared, hurrying, cloaked in a garment so massive it seemed to be only a bundle of cloth atop a dark horse. Nimirien backed her horse silently into a patch of deeper shade to allow time to discern whether this newcomer be friend or foe.

The horseman seemed to be in haste at any rate, and the sound of his horse’s hooves thudded softly but rhythmically against the lush turf. As the rider drew closer it’s looming cloaked form seemed to diminish, so that it was only a lean figure with regal posture with a cloak pulled close to keep out the cool fingers of the wind, and his longish brown hair rustling. Nimirien grinned and silently spurred her mount forward, hailing the rider suddenly as she came out of the shadows.

‘ Arthoron, your mind must be troubled now indeed, for you nigh passed me by without so much as a glance thither!’

((It's all good. wink People need to have lives.))

Imladris::Elrond's Study

"I will send give your praises to my captain, Lord Elrond," Laurewyn says taking the parcel. She begins exiting the room, but then stops and turns around. "It is always a joy to rest a while in your kingdom. Vanya Suilie." With that, Laurewyn walks noiselessly down the hallway and to the courtyard. "Nimran!" she calls and a silvery-white steed gallops to her. After walking him across the bridge, Laurewyn mounts the stallion gracefully and rides off, becoming no more than a ghostly white glimmer on the horizon of the valley.

Imladris~Surrounding Countryside

Nimirien awoke in the night to a scarcely-veiled rustling within the camp. Quickly she snapped her eyes open but did not move anything else. The fire had died, but she could make out the silhouette of two cloaked figures leading wearied horses westward, toward Rivendell. Slowly she slid her hand sideways until she touched the worn leather of her scabbard. Feigning a twisting of position in slumber, she rolled over and curled her legs beneath her so as to jump up quickly. She waited for the footfall of a horse’s hoof and sprang up adroitly, sword singing out of its sheath and held threatening in her hand. She stood, fully dressed save for boots and cloak, and faced the intruders. Carnim snored and Limcu flopped over, oblivious to the danger in their camp. Nimirien glared at the newcomers, pointing her sword in their direction.

‘ Halt! Halt I say! Identify yourself or be woeful for not. Speak! Who art thou?’

‘ Thorbeleg Odunë am I, and I have here with me Turbarad Dwimorwine.’

‘ Thorbeleg! Turbarad! Nimirien hastily lowered her sword and shuffled forward, stepping lightly over the sleeping form of Limcu. ‘What have you both been doing? Arthoron reported you heading for Rivendell, master Odunë, and Carnim reported you slipped off with only a secretive, ‘ I’ll be back,’ friend Dwimorwine. What have you to say?’ She stepped softly, for the ground was rough and her boots were beside her cloak and sheath. Standing before her fellow Rangers, she stopped with a hand on her hip and her sword at her side. ‘ Report!’

‘ We have gone and returned, my lady.’ Thorbeleg answered steadily. Nimirien waited patiently for elaboration. ‘ Gondor is in an hour of need. Almost a week ago I left to scout, and just this evening Turbarad joined me on the way, and we returned with all haste. Isildur and Gil-Galad have been injured, my lady, but they recover in Minas Ithil. The safety of those near Mordor is reportable, but not for long. In the shadows of night, not two days ago, I saw an Ulairi. It reeled round Minas Ithil, and Osgiliath, but far enough away to be hard-seen. It was searching, my lady, as if for a weakness and a point to attack. If my warrior instincts serve me well, captain, I would say that Mordor is launching an attack. The Citadel of the Stars will be surrounded in two days at the most.’

Imladris~Coming into City

As Nimirien urged her horse westward over the mountain pass, she thought of the news of Gondor, and the Ulairi, and the battle. Yes, the attack on Osgiliath would probably be rather small, but doubtless it was only a test of the strength of Gondor. Sauron's real might would fall on the city later, and it would be a hard strike. To herself Nimirien feared that the Gondorians could not hold their own against all the might of Mordor, and she desperately hoped she could intelligently speak with the Lord Elrond and mayhap convince him to perhaps send aid to the men. She did not know, but she would go to Osgiliath alone if she had to. She had the feeling of the beginning of a great tale unfolding, and she wanted to be in it. Arien drove the vessel of the sun over the horizon as she drew closer to Rivendell, and by the time she reined Narbeleth to a halt in a calm, tree-encompassed courtyard, complete with a melodious fountain, the sun marked the hour was a decent one in the fair morning. She had made good time, her steed exhausted, but it had not been too far.

As she walked purposefully to find Elrond, she rolled what she would say over in her mind, but it seemed she simply could not find the right words when addressing an elven lord. Respectfulness was a must, as he was an elven lord and she a lowly Ranger captain. But she must present the facts, and perhaps throw in her timid opinion, and leave the rest to him. She hoped she could pull it off as easily as she had finally made it sound. She dwelt on this technicality until she came to Lord Elrond's study. Taking a breath to clear her mind, she hoped for the best as she knocked quietly.

Imladris~ Elrond’s Study

Nimirien bowed politely as she stepped into the room. ‘ My thanks, Lord Elrond. Forgive me for interrupting you. Worry not about the mess, my own home is worse. ’ She grinned, and sat down at his command. Taking a silent breath she continued, ‘ I am Nimirien Kalinardu. I have a small band of Dúnedain nearby. If I may be so bold, I have received news from one of my Rangers of trouble in Gondor. I would be loth to disturb you, my lord, but I thought it did seem somewhat…ominous. My Ranger reports the recovery of the Lords Isildur and Gil-Galad, for which my heart is glad, but he also reported the presence of an Ulair. He suspects that an attack on Osgiliath will come swiftly. If I may, my lord, I would say that the threat to Osgiliath is not overmuch, but it may well be but a test of the Gondorians, and where there are Ulairi involved…I fear for the Gondorians, Lord Elrond. It may be a fool’s fear, but I supposed I should at least inform you. My own counsel has helped me not, and I thought that ever you had wise words.’ She reported. She shivered as she mentioned the Ulairi, Ringwraiths. Too much did she know of them, and that was not much. ‘ What think you, my lord? Again, I am sorry for disturbing your study. I hope I did not do wrong.’ She took a small breath again, and waited patiently for Elrond's response.