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[gondolin_noble]

The air is sweet in the clearing Glorfindel had been using as a campsite, and the birds are singing a bright morning chorus. Asfaloth, grazing peaceably nearby, nickers a greeting as Glorfindel leads Sunshine through the treebranch doorway he'd found by accident.

There is no sign of habitation, human or otherwise - Glorfindel could have dropped them on an empty planet.

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[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine steps into the new world with more curious delight than trepidation. The city girl's first thought is that it's so quiet, with no one around, but hard on the heels of that thought is the realization that it isn't true. It's the human noises she's wondering at the lack of, while the song of birds and hum of grasshoppers fill the air.

Even the sunlight feels different. Younger, stronger.

"At the risk of asking a stupid question, where are we?" she asks, looking around.

[gondolin_noble]

"In the remnant of the wood now known as 'Chetwood' those who live near. Bree, the closest major township, lies to the south - the North-South road which leads to Lake Evendim, lies to the west - but we shall be travelling east, to Imladris." He explains in rambling fashion, as he retrieves his gear from its place high in a nearby tree. "And then onward, of course, but it would be best to obtain supplies along the way."

[sunbaked_baker]

In all that, there's a name she recognizes. "Imladris... that's Elrond's home, right?"

[gondolin_noble]

"In the past age, yes. It was." Asfaloth stands to have his tack strapped on, the bells jangling cheerfully. "Celeborn is now lord of that land, though I would not tell that to Erestor. No one save he has truly ruled Imladris since its inception."

[sunbaked_baker]

Talk of lords and rulers and such is kind of intimidating to the 20-something Independencian. She supposes she'll have to get over it soon enough, but for now, it's kind of a lot to think about.

"Will we be meeting these people?" And by 'we' she means 'I'. Glorfindel already knows them.

[gondolin_noble]

"If you wish." He straps his pack on behind the saddle, "You may wander through the last haven for any who can find it, take time to study its treasures, get lost in its kitchens." Glorfindel grins, "Though there is no true need - there are supplies enough at the patrol guard way stations."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Well, I don't want to delay us very long, but... I'd like to see Imladris, if possible."

Rae can't help but be curious to see Rivendell, after what she's heard about it. And when would she be likely to get another chance?

She doesn't know anything about working with horses, but she doesn't want to be useless. "Anything I can do to help?"

[gondolin_noble]

"If you would, dismantle the fire ring? Just because the roads are safer does not mean one should abandon caution." He waves a hand at the ring of stones, higher at one end to block the prevailing winds. "And so Imladris you will see - I have no schedule to keep, Aragorn has the means and mind to keep track of his brothers for once."

[sunbaked_baker]

"No problem," Sunshine nods, and sets about taking up the ring of stones and scattering them among other groups of rocks, trying to make them look as though they belong there and haven't been moved.

Though this trip is a new and unusual experience for her, she is determined not to be useless.

[gondolin_noble]

By the time she has re-arranged the rocks to her satisfaction, he has finished re-tacking Asfaloth.

"If you wish to begin by riding you may, though we have many miles to cover and it is a very pleasant morning - walking would do as well, for a time." And would let her get warmed up, and used to the horse, and while Glorfindel is known for cackling evilly at the newer members of the patrol the first time they ride over long distances, he isn't actually evil.

No one particularly enjoys riding all the way from Bree to Imladris without a few walks in between.

[sunbaked_baker]

Not actually evil. Just a brat. Sunshine has learned that already.

"I'll walk first, I think."

It is a beautiful morning, and she'd like to breathe it in.

[gondolin_noble]

He nods and, with a quick word of command to Asfaloth, sets off through the trees. While the pace he sets is not beyond her skill, he certainly isn't strolling. There are indeed many miles to cover until their next warm bed.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine keeps up without complaint, though when they are going up one of the many hills she can't help but puff a bit until they reach the top and her heart-rate slows down. Walking, she can do for hours without any trouble. Running, she can manage for a good while. In-between, keeping up with the horse, it's a bit less easy to find a good rhythm.

A sizable percentage of Rae's mind is wondering what in the lurid, multicolored hells she thinks she's doing, gadding about a strange world with an elf whose name she still doesn't know (somehow, this part of her mind sounds a lot like Balthazar when he's being disapproving) - but the rest of her is all cheerful excitement, soaking in the light of another sun, shining down on a green world she has the privilege of getting to visit.

She even tries to keep her questions to a minimum, for her host's sake.

[gondolin_noble]

He long-ago became accustomed to answering questions, being hounded first by Elrond's twin sons, and then the precocious Evenstar. Rae's questions, in comparison, are almost non-existent. He is, however, conscious of her effort in keeping up.

The road is... an ill-defined thing, in comparison to what her world probably has. The grass is a little shorter over the road's span, but definitely growing thick in the spring sunlight. Glorfindel turns to her with a grin, signalling Asfaloth to stop.

"And now it is time to fly."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine slows to a stop beside him, not too far away from the horse but also not so very close by.

"Fly?" she asks with an undaunted grin in between breaths. Her breathing is still quick, but is gradually slowing. "Won't our arms get tired?"

[gondolin_noble]

"Alas, but you have the wrong elf for that." He smiles, and crouches to offer a leg up. "Have no fear, he will not let fall any burden I ask him to bear."

[sunbaked_baker]

"There's a right elf for that?" she asks, only slightly incredulous as she moves to mount the horse.

Having visited Milliways for a few years leaves one with a very small capacity for incredulity.

However, visiting Milliways has done little to improve her experience with horses. She mounts with all the grace of someone who has been on a horse all of twice in here life. That is to say, not much.

[gondolin_noble]

Asfaloth (long-suffering horse that he is) doesn't even bother huffing at the girl sitting on him like a convenient sack of potatoes, merely standing until Glorfindel mounts (with that somewhat insufferable elven grace) in front of her.

"Hold on to me, and Asfaloth will teach you the meaning of speed." He instructs gleefully.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine almost - almost - replies that she knows the meaning of speed.

But she isn't stupid. And that gleeful look on his face is kind of worrisome.

She holds on.

[gondolin_noble]

Glorfindel calls out to his horse, joyfully , and the stallion eagerly lunges forward. The gems studded in his headstall flicker and flash with movement, almost ablaze in the morning light. The tiny bells sewn to his tack jingle merrily in time with the rapid clipity-clipity-clip of his hooves against the ground. In front of her Glorfindel is a solid as a rock, as comfortable as if he were on the couch in front of the fire at Milliways. Around them the world opens up - first to the cultivated fields of the men who live in these parts, then to wild lands beyond, untamed and free.

[sunbaked_baker]

Later, if necessary, Sunshine will steadfastly deny any sort of high-pitched eep! that might escape her as the horse leaps into a gallop. As it is, she's quite thankful for Glorfindel's solidity. He's reassuringly wall-like. Steadying, for the girl feeling very high off the ground to be going so fast.

The view does a lot to get her to relax. It's a beautiful countryside, the leaves and grasses still wearing the almost impossibly bright green of springtime.

She laughs as she recognizes one of the crops growing in the cultivated fields. "It gets everywhere, I see," Sunshine grins, having seen very similar fields outside of New Arcadia.

[gondolin_noble]

"The hobbits adore it, and the Men become uncommonly cross when it runs low on patrol." Glorfindel calls back, laughing. "Wargs are better company in such a case."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I believe it!" she calls in reply, grinning. "I remember when my boyfriend decided to stop smoking. We put up warning signs around the coffeehouse."

Mel found it a lot less amusing than all his coworkers did.

[gondolin_noble]

The signs of civilization become farther and fewer between as Asfaloth churns through the miles, alternating between a smooth canter and an unavoidably rougher trot (and Glorfindel only laughs a little, honest, at Sunshine's riding when Asfaloth slows). As lunchtime nears, he lets Asfaloth slow to an ambling walk and shifts to eye her over his shoulder.

"Would you care to walk for a time?"

[sunbaked_baker]

Her riding is... a sad thing. Horses have always been things standing or wandering in wide open pastures. She's only been near a horse a handful of times, and only ridden one twice before, each for a relatively short interval. Sunshine has her doubts about her ability to stand without wavering, at this point. Her rear is numb.

"I think I could manage it," she replies, wry. "Though it might not be in a straight line for a while."