"What are you doing alone child? You ought not to be away from your parents, these are dangerous times." - Gilraen.

1st August/ Urui, T.A 3004 Duincar

The next morning, the village was a hive of activity as many prepared to visit the travelling market on the Great East Road. Anberenien wolfed down her porridge, grabbed a couple of apples from the fruit bowl and went outside. Sitting on the bench by the door, she munched her apple and watched her grandmother performing her morning blade drills. Gruinith had been one of the last female rangers before the old Chieftain decided women could no longer be spared for the wilds. That is what she had told Anberenien.

But every morning she still trained and drilled with her weapons, almost as if she expected an Orc attack at any moment. They were two blades that were neither long nor short, which she wore on her belt at all times. They were family heirlooms that would be passed to Anberenien one day. But for now, she had to learn to use them by training with her sticks. "Good morning, Grandmother," she called.

Gruinith turned towards Anberenien with a frown. "And where's my apple, Little Sparrow?"

Anberenien grinned as she threw the remaining apple. Gruinith caught it nimbly and took a bite, giving her granddaughter a smirk. "Are you looking forward to the market?"

"Yes Grandmother, I am very excited. I have always wanted to see the big wide world."

Gruinith chuckled. "We are only going as far as the Great East Road, not travelling over the Misty Mountains."

Anberenien heard her father's voice calling for her. She turned to see him exiting the Great Hall with his arm around her mother. "Pappa! Pappa! You are here!" Anberenien jumped up and ran over to him.

Beren dropped to his knees and held out his arms as she ran into his embrace. He then picked her up and swung her around. "Happy Birthday, Little Sparrow. I have missed you so much." He placed her back on the ground again and turned to Naerien. "She has grown again. I fear that by the next time I come home, she will have grown up." Rodon brought the horses out, then helped his father to couple one to a nearby cart that was loaded with goods for trade.

Gruinith helped Anberenien on board, then took up the reins. She waited until Beren and Naerien had mounted their horses before commanding the horse to canter. They rode the short distance through the woods to the Great East Road Market. Where a collection of ramshackle carts with stalls in front of them from which the traders sold their wares. Beren spied a horse trader and headed off in that direction. While Gruinith went to a nearby Dwarven blacksmith.

The Dwarves were a lot shorter than men, but a lot sturdier with very long beards. Anberenien had not seen many men with beards before and certainly, no one in her family grew one. Her father had told her it was because men with Elven blood do not grow beards and that was how you could tell. When she had asked why, he had simply told her that that was how it was.

At first, Anberenien remained beside her mother as she traded goods and met with friends. But soon grew bored with their talk of refugees, spies and money. Entranced by the unusual sights, sounds and smells of the various stalls and traders. She had never seen so many strange and interesting people and things in her life. Each unfamiliar sight drew Anberenien further away from her family, who were so busy, they had not noticed she was gone. Suddenly, Anberenien noticed a woman watching her from the far end of the Market. The woman was wearing a hooded black cloak, which was strange as it was a hot day. She was very beautiful and exotic looking with soft bronze skin, long dark hair and dark eyes.

Curious, Anberenien smiled at the woman, who smiled back and beckoned to her to approach. Cautiously, she drew nearer. "Hello sweeting, aren't you a dear little thing? Are you lost?" the woman asked. She spoke in an accent Anberenien had never heard before.

Anberenien shook her head. "No, my parents are just over....." But when she turned, Anberenien realised she could no longer see them. The woman glanced about her before returning her gaze to Anberenien.

"You have very beautiful eyes, child. What is your name?"

"I am Anberenien, daughter of Beren, Lord of Duincar."

The woman's eyes lit up as if she had just come across a pouch of gold, her smile growing wider. "You look hungry child, I have some honey cakes in my caravan just over there." She pointed to a small cart covered in black cloth. "Why not come and enjoy them with me? We will look for your family together afterwards."

Anberenien loved honey cakes, and the lady was friendly, even though she was strangely dressed. But she did not know her and on closer inspection, there was something strange about the cloak. It was made of a fabric that looked light but also very dense as if it was absorbing all the light around it. "Aren't you hot wearing that?"

The woman chuckled and softly stepped towards her. "What this cloak? Why, it is magical. It keeps me cool in the heat and warm in the cold." She held up her arm so that Anberenien could see the underside. "You may touch the fabric if you like, Sweeting."

"Anberenien! Anberenien!" Anberenien jumped as a stern voice called out her name. She turned to see a tall, severe-looking man standing nearby. Her father's cousin Aragorn. He stood with his Mother Lady Gilraen. A slim, grey-haired woman and another of her father's kinsmen, Halbarad. Aragorn was the head of her family and the chieftain of her people. He marched straight up to her. "Who were you just talking to, child? Has not your Lord Father and Lady Mother told you never to speak with strangers?"

Anberenien gave a quick half bow as her mother had taught her. "Just this lady here, my Lord." But when she turned back, the woman had gone.

Lady Gilraen joined her son. "What are you doing alone, child? You ought not to be away from your parents. These are dangerous times. What were your parents thinking of bringing you out of the safety of the village?"

Halbarad looked across the sea of people. "I can see Naerien near the Dwarven traders," he called.

Without a word, Aragorn picked Anberenien up under his arm, carried her through the crowds and dumped her in front of Naerien. "You should keep a better eye on the child. We found her talking with strange folk. I shudder to think what may have happened had Mother not noticed her."

Naerien bowed slightly and her face went pale. "I am sorry Aragorn. I thought she was with her grandmother. Anberenien, what were you doing wandering off from your grandmother?" Anberenien tried to reply, but her mother had already turned her attention back to Gilraen. "Thank you, I will be more vigilant in future."

Gilraen gave Naerien the same stern expression as her son. "See that you do, Naerien. Children are precious, especially when they are your one and only." Anberenien noticed that her mother looked hurt by her words. Beren approached them with a broad smile on his face at seeing his kinsfolk. "Aragorn! Halbarad! You are here at last. Lady Gilraen, what a pleasant surprise. Will you be joining us for the celebrations?"

"Alas Lord Beren, I do not have patience for children these days. But if it were not for my son, your celebration would not be taking place." Aragorn explained what had taken place and Beren's face was ashen. He scolded Naerien, and they began to quarrel. Anberenien had never seen her parents argue in such a way, and she felt ashamed for what she had done. But when she tried to speak up, the surrounding adults paid no heed.

Gruinith appeared from the crowd, having heard the commotion. When she heard what happened, she scooped Anberenien into her arms and scolded her parents for frightening her. She then comforted her granddaughter. "What have you been up to, Little Sparrow? You are not quite old enough for adventures yet." Beren composed himself and decided it was time they returned to Duincar, even though it was still early in the day and they had sold not all their goods.

------------------------------------

There was a subdued atmosphere as the party returned to Duincar. Anberenien wrapped herself in her grandmother's cloak and sat miserably beside her as the cart trundled along. Her parents rode in front of them, barely looking at each other. "They are angry with me, aren't they, Grandmother?"

Gruinith gave her a knowing wink. "No, Little sparrow, they are angry with themselves. It will all blow over, though. They never quarrel long."

Anberenien noticed her father was looking about him nervously as if he suspected they were being followed. He breathed a sigh of relief as Aragorn and Halbarad caught up with them, having earlier escorted Lady Gilraen back to her dwelling. She had once lived in Duincar after leaving Rivendell to spend her last years among her people. But had decided to live alone in a hidden house shortly after Anberenien's birth.

As the party arrived at Duincar, the watchmen hailed Beren and opened the gates for them all to pass. Anberenien's mood soon brightened when she saw all the flower garlands and lanterns that had been hung for their return. While they had been away, Labes, Tolben, and the remaining villagers had transformed Duincar into a riot of colour and light. They had brought benches and tables outside and prepared a feast of Anberenien's favourite dishes. As soon as the cart came to a halt, she threw off the cloak and jumped off to look at the delicious spread before her. Thanking the servants as she did so. "Oh, Labes, this is beautiful."

Labes bowed low before her, smiling. "Only the best for my young lady." She then produced a small flower crown and placed it on Anberenien's head. "There, our queen, for the day. Now come and see your throne." They had decorated a chair at the top of the table with flowers. Anberenien had by now forgotten all the earlier troubles as she sat surrounded by her family to enjoy the vittles set before them. Everyone was enjoying themselves, even her mother and father were smiling again.

As villagers meandered back from the market, they joined the feast and soon everyone was enjoying themselves. Even Borion, who was now sporting a purple bruise in his nose that was spreading under his right eye. Some of the older boys brought out homemade flutes or other instruments in their possession. As they played, the girls, of which there were only a handful, got up and danced together. Anberenien watched with interest as their laughter echoed around the village. "May I join them, Pappa?"

Beren glanced toward the lowering sun. "Not just yet, Little Sparrow. I would have you walk with me in the woods for a time." He whispered in her ear that he wished to pick some flowers for her mother. Delighted, Anberenien jumped up and took him by the hand, waving to her kinfolk as he led her from the festivities.

They walked until they were out of sight from the main gate. Anberenien spied her mother's favourite flowers. They were star-shaped with blue and white petals. After picking a large bunch, she turned to see her father looking about as if expecting someone. "We should go back now, Pappa. These will wilt without water."

"Not yet, Little Sparrow. Let us wait a little longer." Beren was sitting by a large oak tree. He held his arms out to her, and she ran into his embrace. Anberenien felt safe and warm as she nestled in his arms. But when she looked up at her father, he had tears in his eyes.

"Pappa, what is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Little Sparrow. You are the most precious thing to me and I love you with all my heart. But sometimes when you love someone, you will do anything to protect them, even if it means you must send them away."

Anberenien found his words strange, and she grew uneasy.

"The sun will soon set Pappa. Can we go back now?"

"We will, Little Sparrow. Let's just stay a little longer."

Suddenly, she saw movement a little way off. Shadows slowly moving towards them through the trees. Beren told her not to be afraid, and they slowly got to their feet. Anberenien clutched her father's hand tightly as two figures approached them in the half-light. One on horseback and the other driving a small pony and cart. The rider was tall, with long, flowing hair of a similar shade to her father's. But Anberenien was far more interested in who was driving the cart. "Oh look, Pappa, it's Gandalf!"