<b>The next couple of days passed quickly, the group making good time through the unfamiliar forest. Pegawen and Allassiel took turns telling the hobbits stories they remembered about their grandfathers, much to everyone's delight, with Lotharn adding in details they missed or simply didn't know. When they stopped to camp, Pegawen usually took over feeding everyone with the supplies and small game that Lotharn managed to hunt, while Allassiel took it upon herself to keep watch over Pippen and Merry. <br/>
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They'd just stopped in what appeared to be a good clearing, everyone glad to be on the ground, when Merry yet out a yelp and stumbled onto a large rock. Pegawen dropped the bag she was sorting through as the earth tremored and opened to reveal an underground entrance of some sort. <br/>
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Pegawen and Allassiel waited while Thorgan lit a torch and, joining the rest of the company, they wedged themselves between the men - Allassiel staying within range of the hobbits and Pegawen staying near Lotharn. Allassiel was relieved when they finally came to a halt, though she could swear she heard the stone groan above them. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>This must once been safe place?” Allassiel scratched her head, peering over the hobbits to stare at the mummified form sitting on some sort of throne. At Lotharn's observation that this might be one of the mysterious creatures, both women peered closely. Pegawen spoke up. “If this was a leader of some sort, where are the others? There should be more of them than -” She let out a yelp, jumping as the daggers clattered to the ground. Allassiel's hand went for her dagger, stepping between Pegawen and pulling the hobbits behind her as the men drew closer to the throne. <br/>
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The group waited, but nothing else seemed to happen and Allassiel joined the men, her eyes following the ground. “There are no marks of passing, but ours,” she stated, pointing out the layer of dust on the floor, undisturbed except for the group's footprints and the marks left by the two small swords. Taking her hand from her own dagger, she reached down to pick up one of the blades.</b>