Somehow the air became darker and heavier as Fairlain and the lady Gladaewen walked further into Thinglad. Mallorns still stood all around them, but their glory seemed stilled and sleeping. The two walkers stopped just outside the gates of Helethir, its arches echoing the vaulting branches of the trees, and, turning, Gladaewen called out in a voice that was almost singing,
"Isilind, sinome....Tolo nin."
Silence. Then the distant sound of hoofbeats. To their left came the far off sound of a horse's whinny, and upon the rise of the faded woodland path a white horse appeared, shining like the moonlight. Another horse appeared behind the first, slightly smaller and dappled with both silver and gold. Fairlain gave a soft cry and started towards the two animals.
"Daysey!"
The young huntress broke into a run, the grey elf following calmly after.
The mottled mare craned both ears forward, nickering with recognition and trotted quickly up to Fairlain, stopping only to nuzzle the girl's face and hair gently. Fairlain threw her arms about the horse's neck and held her tightly, tears of joy glimmering briefly under her lashes. As Gladaewen approached, she said with a smile
"She has missed you, too."
The Woodlark stepped towards the white horse, who approached her in his turn, bowing his head and reaching out to touch her outstretched hand with his muzzle. Speaking a few words into his ear softly, the elf gathered up a handful of white mane and jumped gracefully onto the horse's back.
"We should ride back to the Vinyards. There is good stable there for our friends without any peril to them or to us."
Fairlain looked up, a confused look passing over her face.
"I...there is no saddle and bridle...."
"You do not need one, child, your steed will listen to you...but you must trust her to find the best paths. She would not let you fall from her back."
Fairlain's cheeks reddened, and still she hesitated.
"I...do not speak elvish. She will not understand."
Gladaewen smiled, "She loves you, young one. Beasts understand much more than you think, it is only that they cannot use the words of men to speak back to us. They have not forgotten the words of the First Song...perhaps that is why they are able to understand the words of the First Born as they do. Try...even if it is not in the tongue of the elves...yet."
Fairlain paused, then giving Daysey a quick kiss on her broad forehead she clambered onto Daysey's back. The little mare bent her head around and gave her girl a reassuring nuzzle on her leg. Gladaewen's smile deepened as she watched them, then turning her glance northward said
"Shall we go then?"
And slowly both pairs of horse and rider began walking once again into the crystal light of Lothlorien.
