Ella pulled her cloak tight around her shoulders, as the unrelenting chill of the wind attempted to penetrate the many layers she wore. She was much more prepared this time around, her thoughts briefly returning to the last time she was in the mountains with Adiwen.
As the party made their way up into the mountains, the atmosphere was quite tense. As predicted, the journey so far had not been without difficulty. She was very much an outsider on this journey, not exactly knowing the history that had gone before, though she was happy to lend any support that she could. When it came down to it, it was a family that longed to be reunited – and that was indeed something that she could relate to.
Ella watched Thinthil as he interacted with the group. She could see that he was itching to move ahead, to scout alone, but was also attempting to fight such reckless actions in order to stay and protect the group. She sighed to herself quietly “He is trying. I will give him that.” She thought.
The group came to a pause in a clearing as they happened across two Dwarves, one of whom was injured. As those heading up the party were discussing what would happen next, and how, if at all we were able to assist, Ella noticed Thinthil making a break from the group and heading towards the trees. “Oh for the love of… Where is he off to” she thought, a slight anxious feeling rising in her chest, wondering how long she should leave it before she followed him.
It then became apparent that he intended to climb the tree, most likely to get a better look of the surrounding area. This did not seem such a foolhardy action, so she began to relax once more, and waited to hear what he could see from a higher vantage point.
Unfortunately for Thinthil, things did not exactly go to plan. The bark was icy as he climbed, using his daggers to assist him getting a hold. It was his foot locating one particularly icy patch that began a chain of events, unfolding before the group in slow motion, and resulted in Thinthil’s plunge and subsequent disappearance from view into a rather deep snow drift at the base of the tree.
Ella, who of course had been watching this unfold in its entirety, let out a little laugh that was possibly louder than It should have been. She regained her composure quickly and moved to having more of a concerned expression, though by the obvious and frustrated outburst that was coming from the Thinthil shaped hole in the snow, she had no fears that he was injured too badly.
The decision was made to split the group, so that the injured dwarf could be taken to Rivendell to be treated. Ella waited to see where Thinthil was heading before she made any decision on her part.
He would soon understand that thanks to Baralinion, he had acquired a new shadow that had no plans to let him leave her sight.
