This is a little fic I'm co-writing with my friend, Zoe.

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Beriadanwen whipped round. Her eyes were wide and alert, her long pointed ears quivering at every sound in the dense forest, luminous white hair and dark green cloak billowing in the wind. At the sound of a snapping twig she whirled round, blade at the ready. Her sword was met with another and the clang echoed through the undergrowth.

Beriadanwen was tense and ready to fight… but then she looked down into the eyes of her enemy. Instead of the wicked goblin or slavering orc she'd expected she found herself regarding the face of Celandine Puddifoot, her little hobbit friend. The she hobbit's usually sullen mouth was pulled into a mischievous smirk and her eyes glinted. Her startling red hair was tousled and knotted from the rough journeying and her skirt and loose hanging tunic were muddied and torn. But there was no sign of weariness in her face. "Somethin' got yur tense dar Bee?" Celandine drawled in her blunt Shire twang.

Beriadanwen smiled in relief and sheathed her blade. Celandine did so also

"It's just this forest. It's so dark and dank" Bee said, answering Celandine's earlier question.

"Taught ya liked da dirkness"

"Not this kind of darkness. This dark is thick with evil. Something or someone is brooding, as if preparing to plunge the world into war."

Celandine snorted derisively "You sound just like all dem pompous pracks yew meant to leave bahind. Stop it yur doing me head een"

"Sorry, sorry" the she-elf spoke no more of her unease but it did not release it's hold on her. Suddenly Celandine's nose was in the air and her eyes went wide.

"What is it?" Beriadanwen's hand instinctively went to her blade.

"Surmeburdy's cookin' a stew!" Celandine announced gleefully and tore off into the trees. Rolling her eyes Beriadanwen made to follow.

"Is your mind ever on anything but food?"

"Why? Wa 'else is dere?" Celandine replied cheekily. She stopped unexpectedly, causing Beriadanwen to smack into her on the rapid down hill descent. "Yee!" Beriadanwen cried, loosing her balance. They both sprawled forward tumbling to the ground. "Mankoi lle uma tanya? Naa lle dole lost?" Beriadanwen bellowed crossly, slipping into her native tongue as she often did when angry or overemotional. She got to her feet hurriedly, grimacing as she dusted herself off.

"Don yew go blamin' me! Yur da one who ran inta meh!" Celandine retorted

"Well if you hadn't stopped so suddenly..."

"Shhh!" Celandine interrupted.

Beriadanwen, annoyed at being shushed, opened her mouth to protest but Celandine gave her a hard look. Both of them fell silent, crept forward, kept low and listened earnestly. Voices floated in through the trees. They were not alone in the forest.