(Is this roleplay still active?)

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(I'm still here )

Rhavaniel sat quietly watching her companions. She could hardly believe Ruscien was dead- Gone from the world for ever. He had been such a vibrant soul. They would never meet again. She felt cold in the evening air, and pulled his cloak tighter around her. He had taken her's and washed it in the river after she had moaned about it being soaked with orc-blood- She had taken his with a grin, saying he shouldn't have mocked her. He had laughed and laid hers out to dry.
She sighed and and brushed the stray strands of hair out of her face; He could not have been a traitor.

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Naerwen glanced at Rhavaniel, she could see the pain written all over her face. "From what I can tell, Ruscien was a good man. Who knows what could have happened. There are some talented wizards in this realm." She passed her flask over to Rhavaniel. "Try not to dwell on it...I know it is difficult, but running it over and over in your mind will surely drive you mad..." she frowned deeply.

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Rhavaniel looked at her blankly then gave a small bark of laughter "It is a wonder I have not gone mad before now," she took the flask and took a couple of large gulps "Eru knows I have only lived to protect. But such is the way of the world," she sobered up and reached into her pouch to draw out a small pack of lembas "From Lorien," she offered a piece "I have had the taste of the stuff."

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Naerwen snickered faintly. "It is a wonder we haven't all gone mad...The shifts I have done the past four weeks have been crazy enough.." she took the lembas, nodding her head in thanks.

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"Now the war is over I considered myself free of he oaths I swore. I was prepared to go to the Havens, but alas," she winked, the burning elf wine numbing the pain of the day's events "Duty called. And I could not very well leave Ithilien's borders unsecured no2, could I?" She giggled, then looked guilty and tucked her pouch back into her belt.

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

"Is the war really over? Sure Sauron is dead, but I think it is safe to say he is not forgotten. I fear someone is still following his ways..." Naerwen smiled at the mention of the Havens. She would have loved to retire to there in peace. Alas that would have to wait. "It is both brave and honourable that you stayed." She smiled warmly at Rhavaniel.

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Rhavaniel returned the smile, dropping her guard more and more:"As did you. Perhaps it is worse now that they have no leader- They are harder to find and I fear they will always find dark corners of the world to hide in. Someone will try and united them over and over again until they are an organized force."
The elf looked to the sky "In Mirkwood there were rumours of elves being taken from the Old Road- Taken, and changed. We gathered that Dol Guldur was being used by Sauron's servants to try and create a new breed of Uruks." She sighed "My husband and I were caught in a scuffle. Goblins. He disappeared with them, this was long before the war- He came back to me after many years- But not out of love. He blamed me for the torture he was put through."

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Naerwen's sharp green eyes sadened at Rhavaniel's story. "I am so sorry to hear that...Life can be so cruel." she glared up at the sky momentarily before glancing back at Rhavaniel, she offered a reassuring smile. "I hear it can only get better though.." she trailed off disbelievingly.

After a few moments of silence Naerwen spoke again. "I chose to stay for a loved one who did not return my feelings. He was one of the first to suspect that the war was not entirely over. He too feared that someone would unite those of Sauron's army that had been left behind. I followed him everywhere doing his bidding. Then one day he disappeared and I have never found him. I stay to find him..."

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"If the God's are willing we may yet find peace in this world- And if not, the next,"she sniffed again"After Locien left me I thought I would never smile again. I threw myself into this war hoping for the cool respite of death- And yet I survived, and I survive, blessed by having known love once more," the elf turned to her newfound companion with a hard glint in her eye "I hope we can find your love; perchance he wanders these lands still and we may yet teach him the meaning of gratitude."
She splayed out her fingers on her thighs and smiled down at them grimly "Tomorrow we must decide what to tell of Ruscien when we return to Minas Tirith."

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

"I don't hold out much hope for him. I fear he too has been taken and turned into something unrecognisable...He was a good friend indeed..." She smiled back at Rhavaniel, her eyes shining brightly. She was glad of a friend. "I joined King Aragorn's guard to stop me going mad. Mad with hurt, mad with guilt, mad with loneliness..." Her eyes sharpened at Rhavaniel's last comment. "Yes what to tell of him. I think it best to tell the truth, but advise of our suspicions and theories too. We may not know how right we are. Only time will tell."

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(After a two-day absence to write fanfic, I return to you now... )

Nostariel listened to the two elves as they spoke quietly across the fire from her. Despite her earlier statement of not being tired, her head started lowering to her chest, jerking a couple of times, she finally gave up and spread her blanket near the edge of the fire and curled up to sleep.

(sorry this is so small, but i will get a bit longer after a while. )

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Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

Naerwen looked around her and spotted Nostariel sleeping. Silently she stood, pulled a second blanket from her pack and laid it lightly over Nostariel. Naerwen went to return to her seat when out of the corner of her eye she spotted movement. Narrowing her eyes she pulled out her bow and arrow. Crouching low to the ground, her eyes darted around looking for further movement.

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It was a dream. Ruscien stood before her, arms outstretched and she ran to him, but the minute his hands closed on her, he turned into a balrog. Screaming, Nostariel tried to flee, but Ruscien's claws dug into her flesh, burning as they tore her body. With a jerk, she sat up, panting heavily and wishing she had never laid down to sleep.

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Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

Naerwen jumped as Nostariel shot up into a sitting position. She turned round to face her. "Are you alright?" she asked quietly her eyes darting back to peer into the distance. Perhaps it was just an animal, she thought to herself.

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For a while Nostariel sat there, staring at nothing, then Naerwen's words registered in her brain and she ran her hand through her messy braid.
"I am fine. It was...nothing." Grimacing at how lame her reply sounded, she thrust her hand into her pocket and was surprised to find cold metal there.
Ruscien's signet ring!
Looking up, she noticed that Naerwen was as taut as a bowstring. Wanting desperately to ask her what was wrong, Nostariel clamped her mouth shut, knowing she had made more than enough noise already.

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Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]