Small clearing
You stand in a small clearing in the middle of dense and dark forest. Tall mellyrns and sprawling shrubs block your view wherever you look. You guess that the hilltop of Cerin Amroth must be somewhere to the South. The ground is covered with lush grass of vibrant green, reaching up to you knees. It is slightly moist, and drops of dew tremble at the ends of the leaves. The air is still and filled with scents of meadows and flowers. You look around, and indeed here they are, beautiful flowers of many colors, carefully planted along the edges of the clearing. The whole place just breathes onto you the aura of peace and tranquility. Even the usual forest noises are quieter here. And, in the middle of the clearing, you see a small pool with the spring:
A small pool is surrounded by the lush green grass, which seems to strive to reach the water and dip its leaves into it. Close to the side of the pool, the water surface raises, as if an unseen stream from the bottom makes this small water hill, and the circular waves spread around from it, softly beating into the grassy edges. The pool is not very deep, and filled with crystal-clear water.
The moon is above the horizon and in its waning crescent phase.

Contents:
Charmat
Petra
Small pool with the spring

Petra looks up. "Mae govannen, Glendor!"

The branches behind you tremble slightly, and then all becomes quiet again.

Charmat is busy collecting strewn material, and various objects laying about the area. Upon hearing Petra's exclamation, she straightens and calls her own greeting, "Mae govannen, Sir.."

Glendor spreads the dense shrubs with his hands, and peers into the clearing from the thickets. Seeing that his presence is discovered, he slips through, and walks toward the Elves. Few green leaves, torn from the bushes while he was crashing through the thickets, are stuck to his cloak. He waves his hand in the air, "Mae govannen, mellyn"

Petra says, "You just missed the excitement."

Charmat flashes Petra a look, her eyes flicking to her mentor to see if he asks of what his lady friend is talking.

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Glendor looks at the things scattered in the grass, then at the Elves, and shakes his head, "Uh-oh.. And, what was that?"

Charmat quietly prepares her various bags, rearanging the small sacks of herbs to place them on top of the charming purple and blue cloth. Her eyes go now and again to Petra to see what the maiden might be speaking of.

A shadow falls on you, momentarily, and then it is gone.

You hear someone walking along the path from the Southeast. In a moment...
Wolfe appears just few steps away from you.
Wolfe has arrived.

Petra notices Charmat's quietude. "We were washing up, getting this pollen out of the cloths there." She grins. "I told you it was exciting."

Petra busies herself with helping Charmat arrange the herbs.

Charmat sighs with relief as Petra shortens their story a bit, and goes back to packing, her attention fully on the job at hand. Meanwhile the pool, and area seems to be covered with splotchy pollen.

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Stretching his longbow out, Wolfe parts the thick shrubs in front of him, then peers in to the clearing, satisfying his curiousity to all the noise coming from the small area.

Petra notices Wolfe out of the corner of her eye and flashes him a lovely smile.

Glendor looks at the two Elf maidens, and the stained grass around them, "What were you two doing? Pollinating the flwoers with your cloaks? You must have thought the bees are slacking in their job"

The branches behind you tremble slightly, and then all becomes quiet again.

Charmat erupts with a quiet chuckle as she listens to Glendor, while her hands work on the organization of her satchel. Delicate herbs on top, stout on the bottom. She dosn't notices Wolfe since her back is to him.

Petra giggles, and continues bringing little bags of herbs over to Charmat so that she can pack them.

Turning a slight shade of red at having been spot, Wolfe steps out into the clearing, grinning at Petra. He nods in greeting to her and then looks curiousily at the stained grass before him.

Pollen swirls in an interesting patern within the pool, some collecting on the banks, catching in the grasses.

Petra nods back at Wolfe, then turns her attention back to Charmat. "These look like roots of some kind. They can probably fit down in there."

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Glendor looks over his shoulder, and nods to Wolfe, "Mae govannen, Wolfe". He turns back, and a trace of curiosity is evident on his face as he asks Petra, "since when did you become interested in herbs, dear?"

Charmat nods to Petra, snatching the roots to shove them in the depths of her large satchel. She glances around for more sacks, and notices her job is finished. With a flourish, she spins, chiming, "Done!" as she does. Just then her eyes alight on Wolfe and her eyes widen in surprise having not known he was there.

Petra laughs. "You're beginning to rub off on me, Glendor." She sets down a small bag of dried leaves.

The branches behind you tremble slightly, and then all becomes quiet again.

Stepping over towards the small pool, Wolfe looks disappointed as he peers down at the curious matter floating in the pool. Hearing Glendor's words, he turns and smiles back. "Good evening, mellon." He then gazes down at the pool again, saying "Seems something has been dumped into the spring?"

Glendor grins, "No, thank you. You're all covered in that pollen. I'll have to wash your cloak before rubbing anywhere near you" He follows Wolfe's gaze, "Speaking of washing..." He glances back at Petra.

An owl takes off a mallorn branch above your head, and flies away with a deep HU-HUU.

Petra pouts, and looks down at her cloak. "It's not that bad. I was very careful." She picks some pollen off the hem.

Charmat seems frozen for a moment, but quickly animates, moving to the heavily pollenated pool muttering appologies, "Alenaldar was just trying to help me.." Bending to a knee, she tries to scoop out as much of the yellow as she can, pausing once to offer a belatedly greeting to the guard, "Mae Govennen, Wolfe.."

Wolfe smiles back to Charmat, saying, "Good evening to you." He then crouches down near the spring, and touches the surface of the water, trying to decide whether to brave it.

A shadow falls on you, momentarily, and then it is gone.

Charmat glances sideways to look at Wolfe, and offers, "The water is very pleasant when the pollen isn't there.." She glances around at the pool, and smiles, "The spring already seems to be washing out the most of the pollen, you shoulda seen it a bit before.."

Glendor looks at Petra with a smile as she tries to pick the pollen out of her cloak, then glances at Charmat trying to clean up the spring, "You did not say where di you get so dirty in the first place?"

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Sitting down next to the pool, Wolfe nods back to Charmat, "Then perhaps I shall wait a bit before stepping in." He again leans towards the pool and extends his hand towards the water. "Certainly warmer than the Celebrant."

Glendor raises his brow at Wolfe's words, "You did not try to bathe in Celebrant, mellon?"

Charmat settles next to the pool as she tries to exlain the long and slightly complicated story to Glendor, all the while her eyes casting back and forth between each occupant of the area, "Alenaldar had brought me some material because I wanted to make some working clothes.." she glances down at her white dress, "This doesn't make for very practical.. And she layed the cloth out on a tree that was heavily pollenating, which covered the cloth with pollen as well as me.." She looks embarassed at the next, " I started with a sneezing fit and we ran here to wash it off me.. While I was washing she washed the pollen from the cloth which filled the pool.. The rest I'd rather not relay considering it was most embarassing.." Charmat gives Glendor a weak smile.

The branches behind you tremble slightly, and then all becomes quiet again.

Petra smiles, and sits down beside Charmat.

Glendor nods to Charmat, then turns to Petra, "And you must have offered to rub the polled off her with your own cloak?"

Wolfe shakes his head, "Nay, Glendor. One of your apprentices told me the spring here was warmer and better for my wounds." Unclipping his dark grey at a small pin near his neck, Wolfe lays the garment to the side and then chuckles at Charmat's words.

Petra rolls her eyes. "Nay." She swirls her cloak about her. "Where is all this pollen you are talking about?"

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

Glendor steps closer to Petra and almost whispers in her ear, "I am sure I could find some upon closer examination"

Charmat turns to give Wolfe an embarassed smile when she hears his words.. Remembering before when she asked him questions about their trip, she decides it's better not to ask, and goes back to scooping pollen.

Petra looks at Glendor patiently. "I am sure you could."

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Petra walks over to the shore of the spring, rolls up the sleeves of her blouse, and lends her hands to the effort.

Petra motions with her head for Glendor to join her.

Glendor nods to Wolfe, "I would not be surprised if the Celebrant waters were much colder than this pool, but I am sure it will do you more good to dip into the spring. It heals all wounds, all and new"

Laying his sheathed longsword next to his cloak crumpled on the ground, Wolfe puts his bare feet into the pool, and uses his hands to shoo away any of the pollen that nears him. He smiles back at Glendor, "If that is so, and I have no reason to doubt your words, mellon, then I may need to make this my new home." He ends with a laugh.

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

Petra looks over at Wolfe, smiling. "This would be a great location for a Talan."

Glendor chuckles, "I thought about that. In the morning, taking a dive right from my talan, and into the pool"

Petra looks up at Glendor, and laughs.

Charmat contemplates their words as she looks around the area, a pleasant smile lighting her face at the thought. Absently now, her hand continues to scoop pollen and placing it in a single spot along side the bank.

Tiny bounds out from the depths of Charmat's white hair, and scampers up a tree where he cheerfully greets another squirrel.

An owl takes off a mallorn branch above your head, and flies away with a deep HU-HUU.

Wolfe nods, "Aye, but there's nothing quite like jumping into the chilly waters of the Celebrant to refreshen yourself ..." He stops, and grins, "Of course, you shake like a falling leaf for nearly half a day."

Petra chuckles. "I'll take your word for it, mellon Wolfe."

Glendor nods, "For the second half a day. The first half is spent as other Elves are fishing you out of the swift waters"

Charmat flashes Wolfe a grin at his words, giving an involuntary shiver at the thought of swimming in that water in the chilly hours of the morning.

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

Wolfe laughs at Glendor's words, saying, "But that is the refreshening part!"

Charmat chuckles at Glendor, "But that is how Wolfe gets his Squire's to bathe.."

Wolfe puts a finger up to his lips as he peers at Charmat. He whispers loud enough for all to hear as he leans towards her, "Don't be giving out all my secrets ..."

Glendor nods, then looks as if he's considering something important for a moment, "Squires, you say? Hmmm... I wonder if I should make this an initiation rite for the apprentices..." He shakes his head, "Nah, I'll toss this idea to Althea, to do it to the Aides"

Petra giggles.

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Petra hmphs. "You just want to see me in a wet blouse."

Charmat chuckles at them both, shaking her head as she says, "I'm just glad I passed that apprentice period before you started getting all these ideas.." With one last disgusted look at the water, she gives up and climbs to her feet, moving over to her satchel and checking it once again.

Wolfe arches a brow and replies to Glendor, "Initation rite for a diplomat?" He shakes his head, before remarking with a grin, "Then it must be done at the first light, when the air will not warm them too quickly."

Glendor shrugs, and tries to keep his face as innocent as possible, "Well,if that was the end of my plan, I could do it right away. There's plenty of water in this pool"

Petra shakes her head at the two males.

A shadow falls on you, momentarily, and then it is gone.

Wolfe's eyes dart quickly towards Glendor ...

Glendor winks back to Wolfe.

Petra scowls at the pool. "This is an endless task." She rises.

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

A soft, innocent tune suddenly comes from Wolfe, who whistles innocently as Petra rises. His gaze then dartd to Glendor.

Glendor shakes his head, "With your hands, perhaps." He quickly walks away from the spring and disappears in the thickets.

NorthWest

You follow the path back into the middle of the sprawling thickets. The tangled shrubs form dense walls on both sides, and the gurgling sound of the spring fades away.

Thickets

Everywhere you look, the thickets surround you. You can barely see the sky and the treetops above. Even the usual forest noises are quieter here, as if the dense growth does not let the sound pass. The darkness lays heavy here, as even the brightest sun cannot reach through the layers and layers of leaves and branches. The air around you is moist and still, and you can almost feel it giving way as you move. A narrow path is cut through the thickets here, going nearly straight to the Southeast, in the direction of Cerin Amroth. This is just as well, because when you try to peek through the bushes on both sides of the path, you just cannot see any way at all. The sprawling of tangled shrubs makes any path equally difficult. You can try to leave the path and scramble through the thickets in any direction, perhaps, and just hope that one of them leads you to some place you can find your way from.
Your keen elven eyes spot a slight gap in the green walls of the thickets, the tangled branches look just a bit sparser there. As one of the Galadhrim, you remember that the 'Field Hospital' is set up somewhere here, and guess that this might be the entrance of the hidden path which leads there. The entrance is so well hidden that those not of the Galadhrim would have a hard time finding it, but you can 'show' it to them if you wish.

SouthEast

You follow the path through the shrubs for some time. The path keeps going in the southeasterly direction. After a while the thickets on both sides suddenly give way, and you find yourself standing at the edge of a...

Small clearing

Glendor quickly returns, in his hand he carries a modest-sized metal bucket.

Charmat chuckles at Petra, as she turns to look back at the pool, "Yes, give up on that and let the spring clear it.." She picks a small sack out of her satchel and moves back towards the pool, though keeping a decent distance from the pollen filled water.

Petra looks startled as Glendor leaves suddenly. She looks at Wolfe, somewhat crossly. "What is going on here?" She looks at the returned Glendor and the bucket. "What...?"

Wolfe's whistling suddenly ceases and his eyes widen as Glendor reappears. He suddenly slides further into the pool, closer to Petra.

Petra backs off, wide-eyed.

Charmat watches Glendor return with a bucket and chuckles, "Good idea, and that is why you are the HerbMaster.." Her hand dips into the sack and pulls out some freshly washed roots which she holds up in offering to the others, "Anyone want a sweetroot?"

An owl takes off a mallorn branch above your head, and flies away with a deep HU-HUU.

Petra looks over to Charmat. "I'd love one, thanks." She takes one, and chews on it, watching the two males carefully.

Still in the shallows of the pool, Wolfe calls to Glendor, "Ah! Splendid idea, mellon. Hand me the bucket and I can take some of this awful pollen off the top of the pool."

Glendor walks to the edge of the pool, and scoops some pollen and water from the surface. He empties the bucket, splashing the grass, then reaches to scoop more pollen again... "Wolfe, you're already in there, you'll have easier time reaching all that pollen" He offers Wolfe the bucket

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Petra looks visibly relieved.

Standing in the shallows, Wolfe takes the bucket and skims the surface of the pool, until the bucket is about three-quarters full. He then hands back it towards Glendor and tries to suppress a smile.

Charmat watches Wolfe closely as she nibbles on the root. After a moment of watching him and Glendor, she starts to scoot /away/ from Petra, mumbling something about needing some herbs for the root.

The branches behind you tremble slightly, and then all becomes quiet again.

Petra wraps her cloak about her. "I am no longer of any help here, and I am needed back at the Hall. Namarie!" She makes haste for the gap in the thickets around the clearing, trying to look calm.

Glendor smiles widely, glancing at Petra and Charmat, but quickly says, "That's much better, Wolfe. One more pass and the .... WAAAAAH!!!" His foot gets caught in a bunch of grass, and he quickly spins around, the bucket still in his hand. WHOOOSHH! The water flies from the bucket, drenching all around him!

You hear someone walking along the path from the Southeast. In a moment...
Talanaitha appears just few steps away from you.
Talanaitha has arrived.

Petra leaps into the thickets, but still gets a generous helping of the pollen-soaked water. "Glendor!!! You .... you ..." She removes her cloak, scowling, and leaves in a huff.
Petra follows the narrow path through the thickets away from you. Few branches bend down behind her, and you no longer see her. Her steps fade away in the distance.
Petra has left.

Wolfe bellows in laughter as the water from the bucket drenches all around. He stands in the spring's shallows and his laugh seems to echo throughout the clearing.

The grass waves, perhaps moved by a slight wind you can barely feels, and it looks as if it is trying to reach you with its long leaves.

Charmat didn't get far enough away apparently, and winces just as the pillar of water makes it her way. She sits there, soaked /again/, and shaking her head while she laughs at Glendor.

Glendor falls on the wet grass, laughing.

Talanaitha laughs at the scene "Rather early for a bath isn't it my friends?"

Making his way out of the pool, Wolfe's laughter increases again as he gazes at the soaked Charmat.

Charmat grins at Talanaitha, offering a greeting as she gets up and heads towards the pool to wash off some pollen that has collected on her now wet feet, "Mae govennen.." As she reaches the pool and realizes Wolfe is laughing at her, Charmat sticks her foot in the water, scooping water with the top of her foot, and flings it at laughing Guard.

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

Talanaitha greets his kindred and smiles, but keeps a safe distance from the pool

Glendor stands up, the now empty bucket in his hand. He laughs again, seeing the water-fight about to start in the pool.

Wolfe turns away as the water splashes up towards his face. He smirks at Charmat again, before picking up his cloak and sword on the ground near the pool. He walks towards the clearing open, waves towards Glendor and then says, "Stay dry, my friends. Namarie."

A shadow falls on you, momentarily, and then it is gone.

Glendor chuckles, "I'll try... I am not sure for how long. Namarie, mellon"

Wolfe follows the narrow path through the thickets away from you. Few branches bend down behind him, and you no longer see him. His steps fade away in the distance.
Wolfe has left.

Talanaitha moves cautiously to the edge of the pool and bathes his face in the clear, cool water

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

Charmat watches Wolfe go with a funny look on her face before she settles once again beside the pool, her feet soaking in the cool water.

An owl takes off a mallorn branch above your head, and flies away with a deep HU-HUU.

You notice that Talanaitha is looking at you.

The spring bubbles up, suddenly, and the waves distort the images of the trees reflecting in the water.

Talanaitha moves to the edge of the spring and removes his boots to let his feet dangle in the cool, moving water. He closes his eyes and enjoys the water gently tickling his toes

The sun rises over the trees, flashing on the golden leaves of the Mallyrn.

The branches behind you tremble slightly, and then all becomes quiet again.

Talanaitha looks suspiciously at the shrubs for a moment, and then goes back to enjoying the spring

Glendor drops the bucket near the pool, and stands straight. "Well, enjoy the waters, mellyn. I'll be on my way" He smirks, "while I'm still dry. Namarie"

Talanaitha says, "Namarie"

You follow the path back into the middle of the sprawling thickets. The tangled shrubs form dense walls on both sides, and the gurgling sound of the spring fades away.