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"Oh," Arwen giggled. "I get it. Silly me."

Still, it almost made her want to try see if she could figure out how to get to where Lin lived. It sounded like such a wonderful place, it would be so much fun ...

"Anyways we should keep going," she added, sobering a bit. "Lots more to see, and time is of the essence, as Mama likes to remind me."

"Sir Boudwin should be returning any second," Arthael replied, "as well as Lord Aragost."

She of course didn't know about who he was, but Elros always referred to him that way and it was a habit she had just picked up automatically.

"Other than that I'm not sure," she added.

Arwen nodded. "That sounds about right," she agreed. "Come on, I bet we can catch them both on their way in!"

"Can I go with?" Timaeus asked his parents eagerly.

Halmir laughed, but shook his head. "Another time, little man," he grinned, putting one hand firmly on his son's head. "They're in a bit of a hurry this time."

Timaeus grinned at Lin. "That's a promise, don't forget!" he told her, folding his arms across his chest to make his point.

Beren chuckled and followed after the two girls. "Well, it was nice seeing you two again," he said warmly to Halmir and Arthael, "and I look forward to working alongside you."

Arwen waved at them all. "Bye!" she called chipperly, and skipped out the door.

Once they were in the dark hallway again, Arwen once again began the Wishsong, lighting their way back to the door that led outside. But as she reached her hand forward to open the door, it opened before them, and Aragost appeared silhouetted in the doorway in front of them.

The tall dark man stopped where he was, nothing more than a shadow against the sunlight - and while normally he would give off his cold terrorizing aura when he met someone new, for some reason he did nothing at all.

"Er ... hello?" Beren tried a bit awkwardly.

Aragost remained true to his character and said nothing at all, though he did step aside so that they could all leave the barracks without having to push past him.

Arwen smiled up at Beren. "Don't mind him, he's always like that with grown-ups," she reassured him. "He doesn't talk much."

Beren nodded thoughtfully and bowed his head respectfully to Aragost, despite the man's silence. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," he said formally, "and I look forward to working alongside you."

Aragost remained unresponsive, seemingly ignoring all of them.

The only sign that Aragost had heard was a curt dip of his cowl, the smallest nod of his head, but as soon as the others were past him, he swept back into the doorway and vanished into the blackness of the barracks corridor.

Arwen smiled, but it was faint; and then she darted forward and latched once more onto Beren's arm.

"Don't mind him," she grinned at him. "He's just ..."

But what he was, she couldn't think.

Beren looked started at their semi-explanation.

"He's very mysterious," he murmured thoughtfully. "Though I suppose that he must have his reasons for it ..."

Arwen looked up and spotted Sir Boudwin approaching them, and waved her arm to flag him down. "Oh, here's Sir Boudwin!" she smiled at Beren. "He's not like Aragost, he's a lot friendier!"

If more formal.

As Sir Boudwin changed direction to come and see them, Beren looked down at Lin, his expression doubtful. "If you say so," he murmured with a faint smile, and then he looked up to look at Sir Boudwin.

Arwen greeted the old bodyguard cheerfully. "Sir Boudwin! We have someone new here! This is-"

But before she could say another word, Sir Boudwin's eyes grew wide and he dropped everything that was in his hands and knelt to one knee and bowed his head low.

"My Lord," he said reverently in High Elven, "it is an honour ... a great honour ... to see you once more ..."

Beren's face was filled with amazement. "Me?" he asked in confusion. "What?"