At The High King's Bridge

They crossed the huge bridge, saying 'Farewell' to all the lands either of them had known. The far side was a mystery. They had both heard a few tales of the lands of the grave robbers, Evendim was not a very wholesome place. Yet the strange Ranger folk kept watch. Neither of them needed telling that though sometimes harsh, those Rangers wanted the best for folk.

Tolbold spoke to one on the bridge, Bruilos he gave as his name, and he warned them very strongly, "This is not a place for your folk to be travelling in. There are no settlements, and trade is out of the question. I have always taken Shire Folk to be sensible folk. Now do as I bid, and return home."

Lithea was sure he meant well, but his words would not stop her, or Tolbold. Her travelling companion sat as tall in his saddle as he could.

"Thank yer kindly fer the warning, but if yer don't mind, we will take our chances. We have a couple o friends out there yer see. Them wouldn't let us down, we can't do that ter them."

She had nodded firmly and shown her dagger to Bruilos. He had sighed. 

"If your friends are out in the wilds, they will be in more danger than either of you can handle. There are wolves (Lithea froze momentarily) and Wargs and Robbers and undead things that none should rightly come across. I am sure you are both brave, but your mission is foolhardy. We cannot spare men to escort you. I can pass word to keep an eye open for them though."

She had looked at Tolbold. That was as good as they were likely to get. She nodded.

"Very well. We both thank yer, and understand yer worries, us only bein' small an that. But friends is friends." Tolbold said. "We will go on, and hope we come across some friendly travellers."

With a sigh the tall Ranger uncrossed his arm and spoke bluntly.

"They likely passed this way around two days ago. I cannot be certain, but a group of around twenty men, and a red haired she-Elf passed over the bridge, heading for Valar know where. Three of their horses seemd heavily laden. Goods, or pehaps folk. We only realised what may have happened when those three Elves kept riding back and forth."

"Three Elves?" piped up Lithea.

"Aye, a she elf with long black hair and a bow, one who said he was a Captain, long red-gold hair and a stern manner, and..."

"One both tall and broad of shoulder, with wild black hair?" Lithea added.

"Aye," The Ranger almost grinned. "They did a lot of damage to the Men camped in the ruins of the old City."

"Why didn't yer tell us that ter start with?" Tolbold looked more than a little cross.

"I wanted to put you off throwing your lives away. But as your minds are made up, I may as well hold nothing back. The Men are many in number, but quite a motley looking crew. They have two well equipped Southrons with them. The Elves, as you likely know, are a force to be reckoned with. But they are most unlikely to harm either of you. If you catch up with them, they may even help. There now. I can add no more, save my hopes that you find who you are looking for."

Both Hobbits bowed as best anyone could while riding.

"Thank yer kindly." And they were away.