Patrol... (Open to All)

[Elbereth]

Anwariel moved silently along the edges of the forest that defined Mirkwood's borders, having requested border patrol the previous evening. She needed time to think, away from the others, and so she had ridden out, carefully concealed Limheryn within the trees, and gone off to walk a different section. Moreover, she had heard tell of a stranger approaching their borders and, though she trusted the others implicitly, she alone knew of the full extent of Thranduil's enemies. Granted, by now they numbered few, but some still waited for their chance, and she had not been elevated to the Captain of the Royal Guard for carelessness.

She had left her second with careful instructions the previous night and departed early that morning, knowing that the royal family - or rather, what was left of it - would be well-protected.

And so she waited, watching from her vantage point in the trees, thinking of the previous afternoon's events.

[Lady Adara]

The Crown Prince of Mirkwood quietly left the royal palace - indeed, he had had enough of the stuffy air of ongoing councils for a bit, and the fact that he wasn't needed at the current one was all the incentive needed to push him out.

He saddled his mount and rode out, well aware of the fact that riding out alone was not a particularly intelligent idea, but subsequently deciding to forego intelligence for the moment. As he urged his horse down the path, an eye always on his surroundings and ready to draw his bow if need dictated, he suddenly heard a soft whicker, and he knew[i/] that this had nto come from his own mount. With a puzzled frown, he carefully strung his bow and used his legs to guide his horse backwards and sideways. With a start, he recognized Anwariel's Limheryn, hidden in the trees. Had he not known his Captain's style, he would never have found the horse. He put his Naurhathel in with her and moved out silently amongst the trees.

He searched for the Lady Anwariel - he knew she was nearby - and almost bypassed the tree she was in entirely. He smiled slightly - it was rare to find the Captain of the Royal Guard caught off-guard, and he was going to take advantage of it. He sung lightly into the tree and settled himself behind her.

"Quel amrun, 'Riel," he murmured.

[Mithwen Delbaeth]

Mithwen saddled her stallion Alweo. He pranced excitedly. Mithwen wondered if her visit to her elven relatives in the north was really a good idea, but she was restless just staying here in Snowborne. She had been there since she was 5 and had not left. She had not been to Mirkwood since her mother had died and had greatly missed companions she had had then.

She swung up onto his back and heeled him out of the small stable where her adopted family's three horses lived. Her adopted sister who she had come to love as if she were her own sister came up.

"Are you sure about this Mithwen?" Seawynn asked.

"Of course," Mithwen said, "I won't be gone too long. Perhaps a month at most. I have not made the journey to Mirkwood in a long time. I remember it being about a week's journey. Two weeks on journey, a few days there, unless I am caught up. I may be back in less than a month."

"But it's the road I am worried about, as well as mother," Seawynn frowned, "Maybe I should go with you, if just to perhaps keep you out of trouble. You've always been rather reckless."

"A fine, you can come along," Mithwen rolled her eyes and twidled her thumbs as Seawynn ran off to tell mother.