Angelnarth wiped the drops of sweat on his forehead as he faced the sun, feeling the hot rays on his face. He removed his metallic visor and turned to Tetheril who was riding just behind him without slowing his horse down at all in the meantime. His voice came out loud and winded "To the west lies Echad Mirobel, settlement of the Eldar. We follow the old path to the north until dusk, then we rest in Pembar! Two days ride ahead until the Trollshaws!", he said and turned to his front, riding further ahead at the full speed of his mount.
Tetheril nodded firmly to his words and followed in closely as their horses were galloping through the wasteland of Eregion. The elf looked at the ruins they were riding through, memorials of her people's ancient civilization in this inhospitable in the present day lands. She formed an expression of melancholy, thinking that even the Valar may have forsaken these places. Trying to keep her mind occupied on something else, she turned her gaze upon her escort's back. It has been days since she saw him getting any sleep. "Mortal men need to rest..", she thought to herself, "Has he been straining himself too much?".
And it was true, Angelnarth was exhausted. He was missing enough sleep to make a common man unable to travel or even think straight, and his body was aching from the nonstop traveling. But that was how it worked for the mortal knight, to be on a mission meant for him to be both true and swift. A full night's sleep was out of the question most of the time, until the deed was done. They rode without stopping until the sun was finally starting to hide behind the tall hills.
The Dunadan guided her through a dried out river and into a block of elven ruins, built in ages long before this one. Tetheril's face lightened up as she saw trees growing among the ruins and even soft, green grass on the ground. Maybe this place still held a glimpse of the Eldar's grace that was once bestowed on it, she thought. They both dismounted and Tetheril took care of the horses, binding them to a tree.
Angelnarth approached another tall tree nearby and utterly let his body fall on the fresh grass as he rested his back upon the tree's trunk. The maiden kneeled next to him and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder and a warm smile on her face. "Enough for today hir Angelnarth", she said trying to take some of his burden away, "If we keep going that way, even I will not be able to keep up. You need some rest, for you own good." She spoke in such a warm, companionable tone. Not lecturing him even in the slightest of ways, but rather, she was caring for him.
The mortal felt the tone of her voice and returned the smile, struggling to keep his eyes open meanwhile.
-"Only until the sun is back on the sky above us.", he said, "I only wish I could remove this armor, it grows so heavy on me right now...I could swear it was made out of stones and rocks."
-"Then do it! I will guard you, nothing gets close without me knowing." , she said with eagerness.
-"A knight never loses his arms when in foreign territory, hirril. Amor included. But i thank you for your kindness.", he answered with a soft voice, halfway asleep already.
At this point Tetheril stopped talking, trying not to keep him awake a moment longer. She gazed to the starry sky as she relaxed her gracefully thin back down on the soft grass. Angelnarth did not make a sound. He was already in the embrace of Irmo and Este. Tetheril then raised her head from the ground and used her elbows to slightly lift her upper body. Her eyes fell upon the sleeping Dunadan, studying his face a little. He seemed serene, perhaps somewhat different than his usual self, as if he was not fighting anymore. Rather, he seemed to be in peace. She quietly smirked to herself and crawled over to him, covering his motionless body with her green cloak.
Some time passed, when suddenly Tetheril heard something. She swiftly got up on her feet, crouching to Angelnarth and gently touching him on the face in an attempt for a peaceful awakening of the mortal. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Tetheril somewhat in shock, maintaining a strong grip to his sheathed sword's hilt. The maiden offered him a calm glance while placing a finger in front of her lips, instructing him to remain silent. She then pointed towards the north, where the noise was coming from. It was a sound well known to both of them, seasoned warriors as they were. The threat of battle was imminent.
Angelnarth stood quickly and by losing no time, he drew his swords. He then adjusted his hood and metallic visor upon his face, completely obscuring his identity. "I am not running. Find the horses, I will meet you up north to the river by midday. Go now, Tetheril!". Tetheril mounted her horse and brought Angelnarth's along. She then approached him, as he was standing in between Tetheril's position and the upcoming enemy with a sword in each hand, resting on his sides.
She faced the way of escape, mumbling words of exasperation from behind her teeth. She threw a punch in the air in front of her and quickly turned her horse back to her companion's side, forming an expression of stubbornness all over her face as the enemy's marching could be heard approaching them.
