<b>The next morning came quicker than Pegawen expected, as if the sun itself was more eager to rise over the lands here. The night's cool breeze gave way to warmth and everyone began to rise. There wasn't time to dally. They needed to get moving and find the dwarf – or the stone. <br/>
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As she headed towards the banked fire, she pulled her robes away from her skin. Even these didn't seem to protect against the heat and were already sticking against her legs. “It'll have to do,” she said to no one in particular.</b><br/><br/>“<b>What was that?” Allasea joined her, followed by the hobbits who were busy wiping the slep from their eyes.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Nothing. We should get something to eat before our journey continues.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I heard the captain order a some of his men to go out and gather from the trees outside. Something about ...” Allasea paused, her face scrunched as she tried to recall the strange word she'd heard him use. “Well, something. He does seem to know the area and has good sense about him.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>He's an elf.” Pegawen shrugged and passed by the fire, heading to where Allassiel lay with Thorgan. “Mae govannen dears. Wake up.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>We're awake.” Allassiel stared up at Pegawen before holding her hand out. <br/>
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Pegawen helped her to her feet. “Did you sleep last night?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>No. Well, I don't think so.” Allassiel shook out her robes.</b><br/><br/>“<b>I know I wasn't asleep and yet I dreamed.” Allasea moved towards the walls to look for Ellyah's men. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>I did too.” Pegawen followed and motioned for Allassiel. “I wonder if everyone else did as well.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>The hobbits haven't said anything, if they did. But their first thought was breakfast.” Allasea watched as the men moved about, Haldir stooping to wake the dwarf and Thorgan and Lotharn stretching. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>The voices were strange. Not like any tongue I'd ever heard and yet I seemed to understand their words. What manner of creature is able to do this?” Allassiel brushed a hand down her braid and lifted it for examination.<br/>
</b><br/>“<b>It'll hold another couple of days, but then we should rebraid it.” Pegawen reached over to take the braid and started coiling it around Allassiel's head. “For now, let me put it up out of the way so you don't get it tangled on anything. These woods are thick, even more than the Greenwood. Allasea, did you ask Ellyah about the strange dreams?”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I thought to but he was busy already and I didn't wish to interrupt him for something so minor.” Allasea shook her head and started braiding her own hair. “I think it's not as I first perceived it.”</b><br/>“<b>We can ask him as soon as we sit to eat.” Allassiel reached up to test the circlet Pegawen had created with her braid. “It'll hold. Hannon le.”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen smiled and headed back to where the hobbits stood. As she approached them, she could hear them arguing. “What's all this?” she asked, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.</b><br/>“<b>I was telling Merry that there is no such thing as friendly ghosts.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Are too. I heard them last night and so did you. You said yourself.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I didn't say anything of the sort. I said the trees sounded like they were talking. Were nothing but a dream though.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Do you remember what they said?” Pegawen smiled down at Merry as she gently pushed the two away from each other.</b><br/><br/>“<b>I … no. It was like a whispering. Almost sounded like a hissing or rustling of leaves.” Merry stared up at her and tilted his head. “You heard it too?”</b><br/><br/><b>She nodded. “I did, as did others. So your wind, your ghost, may not have been so ghostly. We'll ask Ellyah when he's returned with his men and breakfast.”</b>