In the end it was the horse that alerted Arandur to Maenel's presence. Following the muted neigh he found them, Maenel sitting motionless on the halted, and worried, horse. He sensed that something was wrong, for Maenel was looking out into the gray distance, oblivious to the chill rain that ran freely down her face.
"Easy there," Arandur spoke softly to the horse, who nickered at his approach. Unfastening his own cloak he threw around Maenel's soaking shoulders, and then took the reigns from her slack grip, ignoring the water that now dampened his hair. He would have to find shelter as soon as possible; she had been out in the rain for several hours at least before he started his search, and she badly needed to get warmed and dried, before she caught a deadly chill from the exposure. If she hadn't already.

The place he found might have been a barrow at one point. One end had collapsed long ago, but the remaining half-arched roof set in the hill was out of the weather and provided ample shelter. There was even enough dry branches littering the floor for a fire, which Arandur swiftly gathered and lit. Once it was going, he helped Maenel dismount and then sit by it to warm. He doubted she was even aware of her surroundings as he took the two sodden cloaks and laid them out on fallen stones to dry.

After unsaddling the horse and leading it to the back of the cave, he returned to find that Maenel had fallen asleep by the fire.
Probably the best thing, Arandur thought, then settled himself opposite her, his back against a hollowed stone and feet stretched towards the fire to dry soaking boots and leggings. He took his pipe and lighted it, humming softly to himself as he prepared to wait.

-Talking to Deawen before he left-

Arandur regarded Deawen steadily for a moment before a slight smile tugged and one corner of his mouth. She hadn't realized he was a Dunedain, it seemed.
"And you are a Native?" He made his tone deliberately skeptical. Perhaps she could be lured into dropping something, if she hated Gondorians and their stone walls so much.

Deawen tensed at Arandur's words, but it didn't keep her from back sassing him. " yes," she stated simply but left it hanging she didn't feel inclined to elaborate. Yet she did " I am native born a raised here.." she mentioned a small village ( can't come up with a name) only a few miles away to the north and suddenly stopped she had revelaed too much. She scowled and withdrew back into the tent cursing her mouth.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Arandur chuckled to himself as he left. It was something, to be sure.

Deawen sulked and gave up on escape she was too tired and ill prepared. She simply went to sleep ignoring the urge to follow Arandur. Be unpredictable as possible was her last thought before sleep took her.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Maenel awoke to the smell of pipesmoke, simultaneously acrid and sweet. Before she opened her eyes, she tried to get a sense of where she was. She was warm, a fire next to her. She heard it crackling, and heard wing and the occasional sizzle. It's raining, she thought to herself absently. She could smell the smoke from the fire and the pipe, and also the smell of wet soil. This broke the illusion that she was home, safe in her father's house. She finally opened her eyes to the flickering image of Arandur. She brought her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes. "Where are we?" she asked groggily.

_________________
Reasons I love England #217:
I saw "whilst" on a traffic sign

"Out of the rain," Arandur said with a smile, "but as for location, somewhere in the Downs."

He stood and stretched, glancing down at her. "How are you feeling?"

( can't do anything till you two get back...*sigh* I'll just stall)
Deawen woke an hour later from pain in her mouth. It was dull and very potent, she felt around her mouth and found the source of pain. A wisdom tooth was attempting to grow and was pushing through her gum. It was hurting enough for Deawen to be distracted. Deawen lay back trying not to concentrate on the pain.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

"As well as can be expected, considering the embarassment that accompanies panic and rescue." She smiled wryly. "I should thank you though. I don't know what happened." She sat up against the wall now that she was awake and pulled the leather thong from her hair, letting it fall. "When will we head back to the rest?" she asked as she remade the tight bun she usually wore.

_________________
Reasons I love England #217:
I saw "whilst" on a traffic sign

He shrugged off her embarrassment.

"We can leave now, if you think you are up to it." He glanced out at the still clouded sky.
"The rain is easing now, I expect it will clear up shortly."
Gathering up the cloaks in on hand, he offered her the other to help her to her feet.

"I think it would be best to get back with the others." She took his proffered hand and stood. Sh etooke her cloak as well and clasped it under her throat. She looked out from the doorway and saw that the rain was indeed lessening. "Well, shall we?" she asked.

_________________
Reasons I love England #217:
I saw "whilst" on a traffic sign

Deawen paced deciding what to do, when she finally reached a plan she almost forgot her pain. Deawen crouched in a corner of her tent and studied the wrapping, it could easily be unwound and then the flap pushed outward or inward. Once she had done this she stepped outside into the rain.
At first she didn't move fearing someone would see her but the shadows were enough to hide her. She moved quietly and stopping only in shadows. A sentry stood just ahead but he seemed drowsy. Deawen found a rock and tossed it to the side, it made a loud crack as it hit a bush. The sentry now alert turned to the noise. Deawen grabbed another rock and snuck up behind the sentry and hit him over the head with the rock he slumped forward and Deawen eased him to the ground with much difficulty. Then she dashed into the woods, she was nervous and giddy. She made her way through the woods and stopped in a small clearing. Leaves littered the ground and made walking silently almost impossible. Deawen confident that her footsteps could not be heard crossed a dense leaf accumilation. She got to the middle and stepped on something that creaked and went down slightly, the next thing Deawen knew was iron jaws snapped over Deawen's left foot, causing her to yelp in surprise and pain. Deawen cursed in panic and tried to pull away but the trap was chained to the ground. Deawen nearly started crying from fear more than pain.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

((Oh man! I remember this RP! I'm flippin ecstatic that its alive!))

Fearan sat in the safety of his tent. Outside the weather was extreme: the rian was cold, the wind was blowing furiously. Thunder and lightening ripped the sky into pieces. That was why Fearan found it so strange when a figure creeped by his tent. Anyone out in this storm would be at a full fledge run, not creeping around like they didn't want to be seen. Poking his head out of the flap, he saw a familiar figure sneak by. "Deawen" he murmured to himself. Of course. Who else would it be? He slipped out of his tent to follow her, doing his best to ignore the cold, pounding rain and fierce wind. In this wether it was hard to follow her. He thought he had lost her until he heard a scream. Fearing the worst, he raced to the sorce. There he saw Deawen with her leg trapped in a bear snare. Inwardly he sighed. Maybe with a hobbled leg she wouldn't try so many insane escapes, but he doubted it. Fearan just hoped the bear trap wasn't rusted. Rust in the blood could cause serious sickness that was difficult, and sometimes impossible to treat.
"Hold on, Deawen, I'll get you free." He said, searching for a sturdy branch.

Deawen whipped around at Fearan's voice and tensed. "It would be better if you didn't, I'll kill you as soon as I am free..." Deawen lied, she was slightly panting from trying to get the trap undone with little sucess, infact she had more luck causing more pain for herself. " I'm not going back, so if you think I will submit and be thankful to you and go back willingly, you are sadly wrong." Deawen said between clenched teeth.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

(Welcome back, Rochnur! Glad you made it.)

Arandur nodded, then went about saddling Maenel's horse. Once he was done he motioned for her to mount, and then started out into the diminishing drizzle, leading the way.

The fog set in shortly after, but Arandur continued on, guided through the shifting, swirling grayness by some uncanny sense of direction. Night crept on, and for a time the moonlight gave an eerie blue tinge to the eddying fog, but then clouds rolled in once again, obscuring even that light. The faint sounds of night were heard around them, accompanied only by the horse's muted hoof beats.
Arandur Suddenly broke the silence with a muffled oath. From across the downs they heard a rumble, which slowly swelled as it came nearer. The torrent of rain that suddenly broke over them was drenching, as sheet after sheet huge drops stung their faces and soaked their cloths. Arandur shouted something above the roar of storm but his words were lost. A moment latter he was beside the horse, swinging himself up behind Maenel. Putting his arms around her he took the reins, kicking the horse into a canter as he did so. They narrowly missed being caught by a flash flood as they splashed across and gravely stream bed, and saw flashes of lightening dancing on distant moors.

They would have missed the camp if Arandur hadn't caught the faint glimpse of torchlight through the rain as a tent flap was opened. He saw that all the bonfires had been extinguished by the deluge as they rode in, and wondered how he could have forgotten that they would be.
Arandur was suddenly tired with a weariness that seemed to touch his bones. The adrenalin of their near escape and the long day drained from him with a suddenness that left him shaking. He sagged briefly against the horse's side after swinging down, but then pushed himself resolutely upright to take the reins for Maenel to dismount also, managing what he hoped was a reassuring smile for her.

( Morwen is currently out of town, she won't be back until aug. 2 she said to continue without her and that she will catch up. )

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home