We started moving slowly.

I waved a last goodbye to Maglor and Maedhros and then I didn't turn my head back again to look.

The journey had just began.

Aegnor was the leader of the group being in the first line.

"Well continue riding in a straight line through the grasslands till we reach the mountain passage. It won't take longer than a week" Aegnor announced.

"My lord you want from us to search the area?" Ecthelion asked.

"There's no need for now. The king has already send his hunters around the mountains to secure the area. Afters the mountains they'll turn back and leave us to our own"

"As you wish my lord"

"Let's go faster. The weather is clear to do so"Aegnor said and started running.

The morning mist was gone and a proud sun shine on the sky. The wind was chilly bringing the cold of the mountains down to the plains.

Again I was running free but i couldn't go back. It wasn't a simple ride. It was a serious mission that had to be done. The mussion that my future dependent on. Everyone's future.

After a week exactly the time Aegnor told us from the beginning we reached the passage of the mountains. There the hunters came to greet us and then left to return to the camp.

The next day Aegnor suggested to stop by the river to deside our next moves. The journey was not settled by the king ,the head of the group was free to deside from which way to go to the Forest. Aegnor didn't want to carry this burden of the choice he had to make alone.

We tied to horses on the trees and gather in a open area near the bank of the river.

He unfolded the map on the short grass for all of us to see.

"I have a plan in my mind for the path is safest to follow although I wanted your opinion first"

"May I speak my lord?" Glorfindel asked. Aegnor nodded.

"My lord I think in my opinion going south is better. The other group went this way which leads to the Harbour and it will be safe for us to join them at least for a while. But it will take longer to reach the forest"

Glorfindel said sliding his finger in the map downwards pointing at Eglärest.

"Its pointless to seek security against time. Well be late if we go south with the others." Aredhel murmured beside him and crossed her hands.

"Its not that we cant defent ourselves"she added.

"I understand Glorfindel's worry. Morgoth can sent his "eyes" from the passage of Sirion and the Spider moyntains .The locals say they're dangerous to pass by. I agree south is safe even if well be late.. We have three ladies in our company after all..." Ecthelion said trying to avoid the piercing gaze of Aredhel.

"What sister say about it?"Aegnor asked Galadriel.

"I can't see clear... You say south is a safe choice but that doesn't mean it is for sure.Maybe going north is gonna be safer than south...Maybe south is safer than going north... Who knows...We cant predict the future after all can we?" Galadriel responded.

"Is something you saw? Don't speak with riddles"

"I can't see clear. That's the problem. You may felt it too when we left the lake behind us..But it can be just Morgoths "hand " searching blind for us as always, now he can't go out to the sun and nothing more.."

"What lady Alex thinks?" Aegnor asked me looking straight in the eyes.

"Ehm.. Actually i think the shortest way we go is the better option. So I agree with Aredhel to go east and north.." I mumbled. I was used on Maglors and Maedhros gaze but Aegnor eyes was something new.

"So the desisions are half for doutg and half for north, Galadriel didn't answer...and it my turn to deside"

Silence fell for a moment.

"We'll continue our path to the east and north. Thats my desision. Now. The council is over. On your horses.."Aegnor announced and stood up.

"So early my lord? We didn't have a chance for a picnic!" Emyr said recklessly and Glorfindel hit him with his elbow on the side.

"C'mmon cousin lets stay a little longer here! the sun sets in mamy hours from now! we have enough time to continue our journey!" Aredhel said with an innocent face and Galadriel nodded.

"Okay okay if you start grumbling later then we'll stay a little bit more here."Aegnor agreed .

We stayed about an hour more by the river eating and chatting peacefully.

Glorfindel and Ecthelion may looked like mighty lords but the acted like children when fun came in. Well.. Emyr and Idwar acted like children all the time.

Elves are weird creatures to deal with. They can be wise and thoughtful yet cold and strong or playful and quirky. They could change like the seasons of the year but in the same time they didn't change at all . Maybe that's why elves are more like trees. The have their feet in the earth and their heads looking up on the stars.

Weird creatures.

Humans are different...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

We continued our journey east and north following the river. Even if we would reach Brethil earlier ,Aegnor didn't want us to enter the forest .He wanted go straight to the Circle thinking that we may made the locals feel uncomfortable with our presence.

We pass the High Mountains of Echoriath were Gondolin one day would be built and the open plains between Brethil and Dorthonion. We were near Ered Gorgoroth. Of course we wouldn't pass this way but we had reach them in order to enter the circle.

All of this took us three weeks, almost one month on the horses.

A long journey for me who was used to take the aeroplane for two hours for a trip.

It was a whole new world for me I wanted to discover more but I had not the time. We didn't stay in a place longer than a night so i could observe the scenery. Maybe after this journey i was free to go further alone.

And till then everything was going fine. The weather was clear ,the food enough for everyone and Morgoth didn't seem to care about us.

Untill...

To be continued...✳️