Deawen heard a twig snap she held her breath and stayed low to the brush. it was time to go now Deawen thought. she crept backwards over the hill and slipped away into the trees.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Niniën quietly waited for Deawen in the shadows of the trees. She was glad that the sky was clouded; the moonlight wouldn't betray their presence. "Well..?" she wispered as her friend approached. "Are they close?" She waved her blond hair impatiently from her face as they retreated deeper in the forest to report what they had seen.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Wilwarin perked up her ears as she heard the horn of Elogost. Fearan didn't even have to tell her to head back to the caravan; she knew through pertition what to do. Despite her small size, the honey colored mare moved quickly through the forest and to the caravan. He was in the scouts meeting place (right up front) and was waitng for the others to arrive.

(not to ruin the suspence and all but...Is that forshadowing? are you asking for the northerns to attack or something or was that just a false statement?)
Deawen grinned at her friend " they travel well armed it will be a challenge since there is many of them and few of us.. " Deawen replied still grining. the horn sounded and Deawen spun around the look of fear rushed as her countance she waited and listened. had they seen her? no they couldn't have why react so late? Deawen eager for adventure dashed out of the woods with a small wave to her friend. at the hills Crest she dropped to the ground and watched the caravan near the river... she waved Niniën over. " I have an Idea..."

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Denathies joined Deawen and Niniën. "Be discreet, my friends. These Gondorians grow more bold with each day. We shall teach them their place if they refuse to learn it." she said sinisterly. "Do they approach?"

(question: is the time night or day? and why on earth would we be travelling at night? taking it as given that it's day ...)

Rothana was startled out of her reverie by the sounding of a horn, fifteen carts ahead. That would be where the vanguard was riding ... or what they had of a vanguard. As far as she could tell, it was a small detachment of Gondorian guards, coupled with several scouts. Even though they had been journeying for several weeks, she hadn't come into contact with them much, save for one or two times when one of their horses had thrown a shoe. As the only smith for leagues around, she'd had the ubiquitous privilege of re-shoeing the caravan's horses and mending the metal rims on the cartwheels, as well as other sundry tasks. The journey was rigorous, to say the least.

And if they were about to ford the river, she saw more work in the very near future. Ah, well. At least she had a livelihood.

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Deawen turned to Denathies with no expression " gondorains are always bold they can't help it..." Deawen said with a small laugh.
" no they aren't moving they have stopped. " Deawen said softly inside her mind she pondered the best way to approach their target.
"when they cross the river we will attack there is very few of us so they best way to attack is through swift attacks a few arrows here and there move out of that spot to a new spot make it look like we have more numbers. Now I can't use a bow worth a shot but I'll work on the carts weakening a wheel or two forcing them to stop when they do thats when we will attack...sound like a plan?" Deawen asked

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

"I am proficient with a bow, but that is one thus far. I hardly believe I can kill all of their protection myself without someone gaining a notion that we would be hidden here." Denathies said softly, her eyes rivetted to the caravan.

Anardil twisted around slowly as the clarion call of Elegost's horn rang out. Slowly, because he was trying not to rouse the attention of the cougar that was perched in a tree nearby, upwind from him. It wouldn't be catching his scent, and it wouldn't be catching him. He would kill it if it got too close, but he really did not want to do that--it had done nothing against him yet, and he did not want to do anything against it.

Working himself slowly out of the stand of trees where he had been, he headed off at a fast walk towards the caravan, going slowly enough that he attracted little to no notice, and yet fast enough that he would not take too long to report back.

Elegost's horn was an interesting--and annoying--thing. A better way of announcing their location to the world, Anardil could not think of. Of course, it still was the most practical option. It would be ridiculous to send others out to meet the scouts and send them back. Besides of which, it would be far too time-consuming trying to find them anyways. They were all roughly as skilled as Anardil, and he left signs of his passage few and far between.

With a derisive snort at the thought of caravan drivers non-sensical enough to do something like that, Anardil vanished into the forest, heading back towards the caravan.

_________________

Denathies cursed beneath her breath upon hearing the horn. "That's the last thing we need right now..." she murmered.

Beren skidded the last few steps down the almost sheer hillside, brown cloak blending handily with the dry dirt and brush. The caravan was beyond, by the river, he assumed. Taking one last glance about the silent bluffs and tufts of brown grass he set off at a trot to catch up, running through a list in his head of possible useful things to report.

The list was still rather measly when Beren rounded a bend and caught up abruptly. Brushing bits of twig from his cloak he advanced and spotted his captain on horseback, saluting as he passed.

"We fording, sir?" he enquired, squinting into the dubious sunlight, and took the preparation at the riverside for an aye. He'd have to make sure his sword stayed dry, he reminded himself as he passed carts in various stages of busyness.

_________________

That does prove a problem.." Deawen said " fine a silent attack slip in and damage the carts somehow The sooner the better" Deawen said " oh no the horn is perfect...it allows us free passage.." Deawen grinned she got up slowly and didn't wait for the others. she crept down the hill onto the road she scooped some dry dirt into her hands and smeared the dust onto her face making her skin look olive like the gondorians. she lowered her hood revealing her copper hair. and Into the caravan she walked openly and smiled at anyone who looked at her. She passed for the most part unoticed thinking she had to be a scout returning. As she went she noted all the weakness in the carts from cracked spokes to a bent axial. When no one was looking Deawen rolled under the largest cart she used a dagger and began un screwing the main axial. soon it was loose and Deawen slipped out from under the cart and continued walking to the front. ' they won't know what happened until it's too late' Deawen thought to herself as she smiled at someone. Deawen neared the Front she stopped suddenly it was too risky to damage the cart they were next to but it was the most important cart it held most of the tools and supplies. it was too hard to pass up.. she slipped close to the cart then under it. Deawen began working her wonders destroying the carts support silently. but suddenly the cart made a groaning noise Deawen looked up just as the cart caved down on her! Deawen yelped and lunged out from under. but her foot caught in a wheel spoke she yelped again this time in pain then realised her true danger.. she was in the caravan still.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Denathies cursed as she watched her fellow tribesman's folly. Repeating the action, she rushed over. Grinning at the others, she helped Deawen to her feet, supporting her weight. "Don't ever do that again." she hissed. "You could have got us both killed!" she sighed. "Now what? They'll realize something's amiss."

( I plan to have a small unit later on but not until you get to the north. )
She let her Friend help her up " Im sorry I couldn't not help it " Deawen whispered but her foot still caught in the wheel Deawen hissed and sat back down just as Elegost appraoched. Deawen sat still, avioding attention now, " Run for it...first chance I'll be alright I put you in charge until i return" Deawen whispered to Denathies. " better me than you..' Deawen said just as Elegost drew his sword. She sat calmly but nudged Deanthies silently urging her to run she stood a better chance now than later.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Niniën bit her lip at the tactless behaviour of Deawen and Deanthies as she followed their actions still in the shadows of the trees on the hill. Eventhough she knew they could come up with a convincing story, their captain wouldn't let them go easily. She thought of another group of their tribe who went out to scout to the north, but Niniën was sure it would take her too much time to find them and bring them here. She decided to wait and follow the caravan, as long as her friends played the game along with the Gondorians, she would be able to get the rest of their unit.

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

Kolth nearly screamed with fustration when he saw Denathies and Deawen in front of the caravan, prancing like foals. He stayed in the tree line, waiting for the return of his trimesmen. They should have waited for thier comanding officer he thought to himself. I'd have knocked some sence into them and given them a plan that would get results