<b>Allasea returned the bow, studying the pair, especially Egland, intently before nodding. “I remember you. You were traveling to see the world outside your home. You had many questions about our lands. It's been some time, however.” In the background, they could hear Pegawen talking to Ari, her sing-song voice having attracted Ani as well, who was now trying to climb into her lap next to his mate. Allasea made a clicking sound and both cats jumped down and joined her.</b><br/><br/>“<b>They're a lot friendlier than your last pair.” A breathless Pegawen joined her, peering curiously at Egland an Silindrial as she smoothed back a loose strand of hair.</b><br/><br/>“<b>They know who to be friendly to,” Allasea replied, turning her attentions to Allassiel, who stood silent, her eyes moving from Allasea's face to Pegawen's and back. “I take it Haldir told you then.” <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Yes. Though I still don't understand why you --”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Questions can come later.” Allasea shook her head, cutting off what Allassiel would have said. “For now, there's much to plan and only a short time, if I'm correct?” She turned back to Silindrial. “Is there a place where my animals may rest until it's time to go?”</b><br/><br/><br/><b>Haldir stared down at the bright-eyed pair of hobbits for a long moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. Finally he grinned and crouched down in front of the pair. “Well, and you two must be related to the hobbits that visited my lands long ago. Mae g'ovannen, I am Haldir of Lothlorien.” He reached out, shaking each of their hands in turn.</b><br/><br/>“<b>But … but what are you doing here? Have you come to help? And where are the others?” The questions tumbled from Merry's lips, mirroring those that Pippen had asked.</b><br/><br/>“<b>We've come to bring what aid we can, such as it may be. As for the others, Pegawen is outside with my … companion and I'm sure Allassiel will have found them by now. The rest, I do not know, though they are surely not far. Shall we go find your friends?” He stood, his full height towering over them, and motioned. “While we search, you may tell me how two such as yourselves came to be here. I'm sure you didn't travel this far from the shire on foot.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Oh no!” Merry exclaimed. “It was magic! It's not to say,” he hurriedly added, “that we couldn't have gotten here, if we'd known here was here and we'd been so inclined.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>But we didn't know here was here,” Pippen added, “so we couldn't have wished to come here since we didn't know where here was. Do you have any of that bread my grandfather told us about?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Bread? Ahh, you mean lembas?” Haldir nodded. “I may, perhaps, have some. I know that my companion knows the making of it, as all Lorien elves do. You wish to try some?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>My grandpa said it was the best thing he'd ever tasted. Next to mushrooms that is. He said it made him feel full for hours after too!”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Hours after … he ate four of them. It should have made him full for days. Amazing.” Haldir shook his head, and held open the door for the hobbits to scurry through before following behind. “We'll have to make extra, I think.”</b><br/><br/><b>Together, they went in search of everyone else. </b>