<b>The next days passed and the group fell into a simple routine of taking their meals on deck while the sailors traded stories with them, or pointed out various creatures in the ocean for them. The hobbits devoured the tales as much as they did the food onboard and at one point Pegawen overheard the cook muttering that he was glad they'd stocked extra for such a short trip. She kept her expression neutral until she got down to the rooms, but burst into laughter as she recounted it to Lotharn later. <br/>
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And though there were times that Pegawen turned pale, she managed to stay on deck more often than not, until Allassiel, Allasea, or Lotharn noticed and shooed her back down below. The last thing they wanted was one of their own being ill. <br/>
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Thorgan and Allassiel spent much of their time with Ellyah, as he told them stories from the old days and described more of what he knew about the land and people the would encounter there. To Allassiel, the land sounded much like the wilds of Enedwaith and Dunland, a mixture of small villages set to the backdrop of glorious ruins from a long gone era. The people there hadn't been very friendly either, shunning most visitors and openly hostile to those of rohirrim blood. It was only to be expected, as the two people had a long and bitter feud over the lands of Rohan. <br/>
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Between the talks, she'd watch the waves, sometimes bringing a bit of lembas or bread with her to nibble on. Depending on where the sun was, the waters were either a vivid blue or purple or a dark grey that was almost black. It was quite the sight and brought back memories from when she was a child of her mother describing the trip from Valinor to the lands of Arda. <br/>
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And when Thorgan would join her to watch the water, between his own conversations with Lotharn and Timberlane, she'd answer his questions about her home and people. <br/>
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Flagdon, after having sampled the ship's food and ale, decided the best use of his time was sleep. The dwarf could often be found in his shared rooms, lain across a bunk as snores rattled the walls around him. When the noise was pointed out to him, he merely shrugged. “Bed's too soft. Makes it hard to get properly comfortable.” <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Maybe the floor will be harder?” Merry once offered, only to have Flagdon snort his ale in laughter. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Lad, I'd not sleep a goat on that, much less myself. Be like to wake up with a beard full of splinters.” And that was the end of that suggestion.</b><br/><br/><b>So the hobbits learned to wait until he was gone above then race to the room so they could be asleep by the time he returned.</b><br/><br/><b>Everyone was gathered in the galley for dinner, Pegawen tuning an old lute one of the sailors had dug out, when a cry came down from the crow's nest. “Land ho!” Ellyah excused himself and went outside. </b>