Lord Elrond stood upon the bridge deep in thought. The water below was now a gentle stream greatly reduced from the torrent of melt water that had signalled the arrival of spring. Eventually it would become a trickle and then remain dry until next year’s winter snows melted once more. Pacing back and forth he contemplated the news that he had just received. The news came from a patrol of his guards that had found one of the gardeners in a state of great distress. After some time he had regained some sense and managed to recount his story to the patrol leader.
The gardener had been tending to one of the gardens at the western edge of the valley when he saw a large Raven sat upon the gabled roof of a building. Although there was nothing particularly odd about the bird in general the gardener had the overwhelming sense that the bird was watching him. He had attempted to scare the bird away but his attempts were unsuccessful, indeed it only seemed to increase the bird’s curiosity. Eventually his nerves got the better of him and the gardener turned to leave only to come face to face with an Elven woman. At first he apologised to her for his clumsiness but received no reply to his apology. The woman who was garbed in robes of black stood motionless. Her face was covered by shadow cast by the hood that that she wore. His requests for a name were ignored and suddenly an overwhelming feeling of sorrow overcame him and he fled from the scene. The gardener was then found by the passing patrol. The area was searched but no sign of anyone’s passing, except for that of the gardener could be found.
What puzzled Elrond the most was the Elven woman’s description. He had received from a visit from one of Lothloriens messengers a few weeks earlier. The messenger narrated a tale that involved an Elven woman whose description matched perfectly to the one the gardener gave. The Elves of Lothlorien called her Mordonis and the messenger had retold at great length the events of her first appearance in the Golden Woods. Old tales concerning the old legend of Erynien were retold and it was believed that this mysterious woman was Erynien in either spirit or in person. Although her actions in the Golden Wood at the time had resulted in the rescue of the city’s Sentinels and their charges they were still suspicious of this apparition. Patrols travelled with unease and children who used to play without care in the glades now barely went beyond the sight of their homes.
Elrond decided the best cause of action was to send messages to the other havens, warbands and to those that travelled and guarded the secret paths in the hope that someone would be able to make contact with the mysterious woman and discover more about her and her motives.
