Lósengriol

An exhausted Arradril lies at Tham Send as Lady Manadhlaer gathers her healing equipment and rushes to the Last Homely House to treat Arradril's wound. Neither Glorfingwë nor the fretful, devoted Branalph will leave her side until then -- and likely after then. The incident leaves Branalph ready to pointedly question the wisdom of the expedition, but Glorfingwë counsels patience -- it may be that Lirisseya was right and the flower is a good omen of something, although that is hard for Branalph to see at the moment.

The party manages to get Arradril back to Vindurhal, where Ulvoin offers the group the use of his home. However, he himself assisted with removing the living plant from the frozen ground and placing it in Glorfingwë's pack, and Arradril insists that this mission be completed -- if a live plant is not returned to Imladris as the Lady requested, her injury has no meaning. Therefore, much against the misgivings of her friends, it is decided that as soon as she can mount her horse, the Elves will ride hard for Imladris.

The group circles a wide area north of Vindurhal, based on Melumatyar's memories. Branalph discovers a flower exactly like the one Melumatyar described, next to a huge rock -- but the discovery seizes Arradril's attention for a split second too long. As Branalph summons Melumatyar, a goblin patrol sights the lone nis and tags her in the thigh with an arrow.

Ulvoin of Vindurhal meets the Elves from Imladris. Melumatyar explains what he saw in the snow on the return from Hrimbarg the last time a group rode out in this direction, and what the current task is: not only to find the strange flower again, but to bring one back to Lady Manadhlaer alive and intact, so it can grow and be observed and tested.

Manadhlaer opens a bottle of white wine. She, Lirisseya, and Glorfingwë listen to Melumatyar discuss the flowers -- which he describes as rather camellia-like, and like camellias, ranging from white to deep pink -- that he found growing in the foothills of the Hithaeglir, amid an eerie silence broken only by howling. 

What could the two nissi have been talking about with such animation and depth for so long, as if picking up a conversation set down only yesterday?

It is not too cold for two brave Noldor to sit on the grass in the Vale and enjoy a bit of afternoon sun as they contemplate what their newly joined future may hold.

To Arradril's utter shock, Branalph is done with the charade, and kneels to beg her hand in marriage. Out come the betrothal rings carefully smithed by Glorfingwë, and in front of all the crafters of the Forges, a troth is plighted.