All was calm upon the river that summer afternoon in the year 2995. Whisperings from the trees could be heard as the leaves grazed each other in the light breeze, the sound of water lapped against the barrels, and the low hum of an elf singing softly were enough to lull Aruiniel into the realm of dreams. They were making their fourth and final trip of the summer to Esgaroth, or Lake Town as the mortals called it, to bring wine and other goods to the people that resided there. After a long journey of two weeks the elves looked forward to the reward of a soft bed and good ale that evening. Although their trip had been executed without incident, it was still nice to put one's feet on solid ground and to feel the energy of the land soothe their souls.

A tall woodland elf by the name of Rhov stood at the back of the raft, calmly steering the barrels around fallen trees and large boulders. He lifted his golden head up toward the front of their raft where his sister lay quietly across some barrels. Although his golden green eyes warmed at the sight of her, his mind drifted back to a time when she had been less peaceful. "She has been through so much over the past century" Rhov thought as he shifted his pole to steer the barrels around a floating log.

The sunlight kissed her golden hair and her light green eyes lay open and unseeing as her mind wandered through the realm of dreams. From where he stood Rhov could see the scar that ran down the side of her neck and he shuddered in horror, his eyes bearing the pain his soul felt. Normally she left her hair down but it had shifted in her sleep, leaving it open to the world.

Flashback:

Rhov threw open the door to her home, the sounds of her screams still piercing him to the bone. She was not in the front room but he could smell the blood and the fear that emitted from within. Desperately he threw the door to her bedroom open to be greeted with the pool of blood running across the floor, her legs visible on the other side of the bed... *Flashback end*

"Rhov pay attention!" cried Celuduin into the afternoon air.

Rhov shook himself from his memories to steer them around a large boulder lurking under the dark waters just in time to avoid a wreck. The cry had woke Aruiniel from her nap and now she sat up, her fierce eyes looking at her brother, a smirk upon her lips. "Rhov! I think it is you that needs a nap. You have never been that close to a boulder before in this section of the river. Have you been dipping into the King's stock again? I thought we were passed the days of you needing to be observed." came Aruiniel's low voice as she gracefully sprung to her feet and placed her hands upon her slender hips.

Chuckles erupted from Celuduin and Celon on the barrels behind them and Rhov jokingly scowled at his little sister. "At least I am not sleeping on the job Nenaew. You have slept most of our journey today and I have yet to see you pull your weight! Or are you dreaming for the both of us?" Rhov shot back. Aruiniel rolled her eyes and reached into her leather sack for an apple. Her older brother Rhov always affectionately called her Nenaew after the great waterbirds of the river but she hardly had feathers or wings that would allow her to take flight. "If only I could fly like the great nenaew and be free of my limitations to the ground, trees, and rivers."she thought wistfully.

A splash of water across her back brought her mind back to the present and she chucked her core at Rhov who was watching her with a mischevious look upon his face. He ducked just in time but the core found another target and hit Celdon on the back of the head. "Arghh!" His yell sent the birds flying from the trees and a beaver hiding from it's perch on the riverbank slapped his tail in warning as he dove beneath the surface. Aruiniel's hearty laugh erupted forth and the elves merrily continued the last leg of their journey, ready for an evening of merriment.

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The end of their journey had arrived and the party of four had found quarters in their favorite inn, The Dragon's Den. That night their mood was cheerful as they drank several rounds of the inn's infamous Dragon's Breath Ale.

"Friends, tonight we celebrate the end of our season as rafters! Upon the morrow we will head back up the river to our families and friends to sit back and enjoy the ease of the upcoming winter. We have done exceptionally well this season with little to no casualties. I hope that we find peace and joy and that we may reunite next spring for another successful season." Rhov said solemnly, his tankard raised in respect.

Together they clinked their tankards and drank deeply, happy to be done with their duties for at least a few months. Although there were not as many dangers upon the river as there were throughout the woods surrounding Mirkwood, they always counted themselves fortunate when they returned safely. It was a highly respected job amongst the elves of Mirkwood who felt more at ease beneath the trees then upon the open river full of unseen perils.

"What will you do now that we are done Celon and Celuduin? Are you going to heckle the serving maids in Thranduil's palace?" Aruiniel teased, tracing the rim of her tankard with her forefinger. Although Celuduin now had an elleth to call his own, the pair of friends were notorious for sweet talking any palace servant that came within speaking distance.

"I have certainly been neglecting my duties as chief advisor concerning palace attire but I have come up with some new rules and regulations that I feel most elleth will find easy to adapt to. For starters, I simply think their skirts are too long. They could easily trip and fall as they walk through the halls of Thranduil's palace and then they might be bed-ridden for weeks! However I am also very adept at the arts of healing and then I could be of assistance to them whether it be splinting arms, cleaning cuts, or relaxing their very tense shoulders..." Celon said casually, a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.

Beside him Celuduin smiled, but his eyes were more thoughtful as he contemplated what to do with his free time. "I have a meeting with Lothelad's father at the turning of the leaves but apart from that I have made no significant plans."

Celon choked on his ale and Rhov grinned, laying a hand on Celuduin's shoulder in congratulations. "You mean to wed her then! What wonderful news! Have you told her yet?" Rhov asked, his golden green eyes dancing with joy. Aruiniel smiled softly, her happiness for her friend visible on the surface, but turmoil raging deep within her. She had almost been married once but their engagement had ended in disaster. Shaking her head Aruiniel dismissed the thought and offered her congratulations to Celuduin.

"She is a gentle beauty my friend. I wish you a happy and fruitful marriage." Turning to Celon, who still wore a look of shock upon his face she grinned. "What ever will you do without Celuduin, Celon? Surely now that he is about to become bound with another he will not be assisting you in creating palace scandals?"

Celon shook his head sadly and drained the rest of his tankard. "Aye, Celuduin you have turned to the wrong side. However, if you must run off with this elleth of yours then I will just have to pick up the slack." he said with a wink as he raised his arm to catch the bar maid's attention.

"Your turn Rhov. What do you mean to do when we return home? Surely your lady will be missing you terribly." Celuduin said as the bar maid hastily gathered the empty tankards and bustled away. Although the small group frequented the Dragon's Den they always seemed to fluster the bar maids that served them. Whether it was because they were of elven kind or because Celon always managed to charm them, Aruiniel could never tell.

"Well Lythfain has been rather anxious for our return, so apart from soothing her fears I suppose I will be busy building new furnishings for our home and furthering my training with the sword. It is high time I brush up my close combat skills with all of the new evils lurking around the wood." he said thoughtfully, his eyes far away as he thought of his wife.

Aruiniel nudged her brother under the table and they exchanged a knowing look as Celon snorted and said "Furnishings? But it is only the two of you together! Does she tire of what you have provided already or are your building skills that inadequate?"

"Lythfain is with child, Celon. She is due within two fortnights of our return." Aruiniel said quietly, waiting for the reaction to dawn upon the two sitting across from them. There was a moment of silence around the table as Rhov buried himself in his new tankard of ale and Aruiniel attempted to take interest in a bard that had just picked up his harp.

Instead of an anticipated outburst Celon gravely clasped Rhov's shoulder in congratulations and then downed half his tankard. "You have my sincerest blessings Rhov. If you ever need someone to care for your child so that you and Lythfain may have a night alone just ask. I could teach him how to be a respectable elf within the Mirkwood society!" Celon said with a gleam peeking out from his eyes as he poorly attempted to disguise his thoughts.

"Or you will use their child to lure in elleth throughout the kingdom!" Celuduin proclaimed. Aruiniel chuckled softly, pushed her tankard toward Celon and disappeared up the stairs to her room for the evening.

The door softly clicked behind her and once she had latched it shut she began to remove her boots and leather vest. Clad in only a dark green tunic bearing the emblem of Mirkwood and dark grey leggings she pushed her window open and pulled herself out onto the ledge. Below she could see several people heading to their various destinations, some swaying with the effects of ale, while others simply looked weary. Glancing around and confirming that her neighbors were otherwise occupied by the soft moans eliciting from the open window she reached for the edge of the thatched roof and pulled herself up and over.

"The stars shine with a beauty that cannot bewitnessed within the forests of Mirkwood.' she thought as she settled against the warm chimney to keep from falling. Every time the elves reached Lake Town she often would steal away late into the night to watch the stars move across the horizon. Occasionally her brother would join her and tonight would be no exception.

So when her brother's head appeared a few hours later she silently slid over to make room for him. Rhov also wore the tunic of Mirkwood, it's emblem of a leaf entwined with thorns and a star blazed in gold thread against the dark contrast of the thick fabric.

"The others?" she asked softly, leaning her head against her brother's shoulder for comfort.

"They are well. Celon has taken to flirting with the bar maid and Celuduin has run into the gold smith, Ergor." came his soft reply, wrapping an arm around his sister's shoulders.

This group of elves were certainly an odd sight to the people of Lake Town. Normally they thought of Mirkwood's elves as a solemn folk that kept to themselves. However this small group had slowly won the trust of the people over the past several decades as they continued to bring wine and other goods to this bustling town. Also it was their love of ale that brought them into more personal friendships with some of the town's residents. Never had they seen a man take down more then 4 pints of Dragon's Breath Ale and stay standing until Celon came along. After he had finished off his 7th the men had won respect for him and he was often known as Celon the Parched.

"Tis been a good season Nenaew. Certainly the King will be pleased and we shall receive a fair amount of gold for our service to our kingdom. I am certainly ready for a rest, as is Lythfain. Could you imagine if she had our babe early? She would be most angry with me and then I would be made to sleep in the front room." Rhov said with a low chuckle, his eyes reflecting the stars above.

Aruiniel's lips curved into a half-smile and she turned to watch the sky as it began to lighten in the East. "Yes she would be most unforgiving, however I presume she will be exhausted. You could be her savior as you charge into your home, ready to change the child's nappies and get up in the middle of the evenings."

She could feel his laughter burst forth and he gave her shoulders an affectionate squeeze. "What will you do Nenaew? Are you going to breed Huoriel again? She has been producing fine offspring for you these past several years.:

Aruiniel shrugged and sat up, stretching her arms behind her. "Tis likely dear brother. I have naught much to look forward to these days but see to the sexual desires of my mare. However I might be a lady for a while and delve into the treasures that reside in our library. It has been far too long."

She stood and offered her hand to her brother, pulling him up just as the sun's rays began to bathe the edge of Lake Town. They would part as soon as the sun had emerged above the distant tree line that made up Mirkwood. Then Aruiniel would go into a length of solitude for the winter, re-energizing for the next adventure to come.