Faorie makes her way to the Last Homely House where a rather large gathering of elves were to be expected. The memory of her patrol through the Trollshaws the night before was still fresh and the feeling sensed in the air in the Northern region was...
Faorie shakes her head, attempting to clear her mind. She rushes her steed to Lord Elrond's home and dismounts once arrived. She ties the reigns of her white steed around a young tree nearby and pets his neck appreciatively. “I won't be too long,” she whispers. Her horse turns away, leaving Faorie a bit bemused as to why he has been so distant to her recently. But there is no time to worry about that now.
Passing by several other elves, Faorie makes her way up the slope towards the doors to the Homely House. Upon entering, a notable amount of elves are seen walking about or standing by familiars holding casual discussions all varying in subjects. She pays them no attention, no one minding anyway considering that they all seem to be distracted with their own business.
The Hall of Fire is as socially busy as it was just outside its doors. Walking up to Elisbeth and Khalis, she notes a dwarf not seen before in Imladris holding a conversation with a circle of company. In that circle of company was the Warband leader, Elisbeth, whose audience she needed more than anyone's. However, due to their involvement in the Hall, Faorie knew it would be best to wait for a more appropriate time to call for Elisbeth's attention.
A few introductions were made, most notably by the dwarf. Faorie smiled politely and often bowed her head in greeting to those around, though she did not speak much at first. It had been some time since she had last spent time in the Hall of Fire. The lighting was soft, the warmth of the hall welcoming, and the social atmosphere was relaxing compared to the busy days she's seen recently.
Then Khalis surprised her with a glass of wine. She turned towards him to see him reaching out the cup towards her. Faorie smiled and gratefully accepted the offer. She watched him and Osilivren share drinks with others as well, and although she enjoyed the scent of the wine, she found herself looking about the hall in silent thought more than enjoying her drink.
Some time had passed, discussions continued, and eventually the circle broke apart towards the other end of the room. It was then that she noticed Osilivren walking out of the hall without a word. She turned in the direction he departed from, and was left wondering where he had gone to. She was even tempted to follow, but she knew she would need to speak to Elisbeth soon, so she remained. Elisbeth had noted his sudden leave as well, and even gave a questioning glance towards Faorie, to which she responded with a shrug.
Almost as suddenly, Faorie noticed Khalis also leave the group, though not to leave the hall but rather to speak to a mysteriously hooded figure standing by the main fire. Elisbeth watched Khalis alongside her. “Always one to walk up to strangers,” she said. Faorie and her began to discuss various things in small detail until the subject of Ebbephant and the group of Forostel and Nelnardis had arisen. Faorie was just about to bring up the subject in greater detail when at that moment she heard a familiar tune. The dwarf she had met earlier had pulled out his instrument and had begun to play a song – Faorie's song, the melody played to her as a child by her mother long before she had sailed West.
It shocked her so much that she couldn't help but to pull away from Elisbeth for a moment to ask the dwarf where he had heard the tune. He had mentioned it to be rather easy to find, but the sound of the tune was enough to bring Faorie to wander through her memories. All the family Faorie had either sailed West, like her grandfather and mother, or had found their demise in Middle Earth, as she presumes to have happened to her father... the song ended, for it was not a long melody and she clapped for the dwarf with an expression of both wonder and sorrow.
The group that was once standing on the other side of the hall from them had all gathered around the dwarf to join in his musical presentation which had conspicuously caused Elisbeth great discomfort. Faorie chuckled lightly at Elisbeth's reaction and took the opportunity to come before her to request her audience. Politely, Elisbeth agreed and together they walked out of the Hall of Fire.
They stood just outside the doors under one of the archways used in the building's architecture and in low voices they began to speak of Faorie's concerns...
Not long after leaving Forostel the evening prior to their planned day of departure, Faorie thought it beneficial to patrol the Trollshaws once more before retiring. All was well until she came across a disturbingly heavy atmosphere in the Northern area of the region. There was a darkness that she sensed rolling from the nearby caves, and her concern for Imladris' safety was too grand for her to leave after experiencing such an unnerving encounter. She knew she had to stay in the vale.
Elisbeth was familiar with the findings, though she was convinced that she and Khalis had removed the threat last they travelled there. It was clear that whatever it was still lingered in the region and Faorie noted that she was sure that it was spreading ever closer to the valley. This news caused Elisbeth great concern and had decided that it was something that would need to be brought to everyone's attention at the next meeting with the other members of the Warband.
A few more details were gone over before Faorie bowed in farewell to Elisbeth and excused herself from the Homely House. Untying her steed from the tree, she noticed markings of struggle on its bark. There was something wrong, but she did not understand what... she mounted her horse with an air of question, as if expecting him not to allow her the privilege.
Once settled, she signaled her horse to walk over the bridge to the mailbox... there was a letter to write. To Ebbephant.
