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Valadhiel held her sword up in a defensive posture as she wandered through the Southern Barrow-Downs, pausing when she heard the whispers of dark creatures, though she saw none just yet. It was dark and foggy, and despite being able to see fine in the dark, the soupy fog did blind her.

She turned her head when she heard a sound to her left, then when she heard one to her right. She strained her ears so she could attempt to figure out what was real and what was simply her mind playing tricks on her.

Once she'd ruled out her right side, she strained her ears to listen to all sounds on her left. Some of it could simply be the tree leaves rustling in the cool night breeze. After she had decided it was just the leaves, her senses went berserk, and her very being screamed at her to turn around. She did just that, swinging her sword as she whirled around, and her sword made contact with some sort of creature. When she looked down at where it had fallen to her sword, she saw what the creature had been. A Barrow-Wight.

She searched the body of the wight with the tip of her sword, and she found a chain necklace around its neck. It looked as though it had been there before this wight had become a wight. She took the necklace into her hands, smelled it, then breathed out a small sigh. Shoving the necklace into her pocket, she turned around and made her way back up the hill that had led into the Southern Barrow-Downs so she could make her way into the Northern Barrow-Downs. After this quest, she could finally leave these haunted barrows. She had two options: she could exit into Bree, or she could exit into The Old Forest, then make her way into Bree. At the moment, she would rather get out of there as quickly as she could. Besides, Old Man Willow had been in an especially grumpy mood lately.

After fighting a couple of rats, barghests, and another wight, she made it to the top, then across. She continued on down the other side of the hill, back down into the soupy mist. After managing to find a way around a couple of wights, she turned to her right. This way was the exit into Bree, and it was where a small group of people were waiting. At the thought of the people, Valadhiel's stomach twisted into a big knot.

She was snapped out of thought when something to her left lunged at her. She whirled around quickly and swung her blade just in time to block the sword of another wight, this one a little larger than the others had been. She clenched her teeth and shoved it back with her sword, then she grabbed another sword that she had sheathed across her back, along with her quiver of arrows, and swung it at the wight's head, slicing it clean off. She kicked it with the toe of her boot to be sure it was dead, then sheathed her extra sword before she proceeded along a worn out path. Within only a few minutes, she neared the small group of people.

"Mother, look!" One of the young lads called out, pointing to the woman who neared them. "The she elf has returned!"

A woman, probably in her early fifties, looked up when her son said that the elf had returned, then looked in the direction he had pointed to. She watched with hopeful eyes as the red haired elf walked over to her, though worry was written across her forehead.

Valadhiel walked over to the woman, sheathing her sword once she had reached the group, then looked at her with a grieved expression before she pulled the necklace out of her pocket and gently placed it in the woman's hand. "I'm sorry." She whispered softly.

The woman brought a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. After several moments, she reached a trembling hand out and took the necklace from the elven maid. "Then my husband is truly dead..." She said in a trembling voice. After she swallowed hard and took a deep breath, she looked up at Valadhiel. "There has to be something we could give you for your trouble."

Valadhiel, watery-eyed, shook her head. "No. The only thing I wish for in return is for you to leave this place and go back to Bree. Never return to the Barrow-Downs for as long as darkness dwells here." It was foolish of them to have come here, and they had to learn that the difficult way, unfortunately.

"Of course." The woman replied with a small nod. "After all that has happened here, we will gladly return to Bree, and never return to this place." Once she'd made sure her children and the others were ready, they all made their way down the path that led into Bree.

Valadhiel watched them leave, then she gave a small smile of sorts. They would be better off. May Eru be with them, and bless them from this day forth. She turned her gaze away from them after a moment and shuddered when a chill swept across her skin, raising goosebumps. She would very much like to get out of here herself, and quickly, though she felt drawn to The Old Forest for some reason. Despite not wanting to go through the Barrow-Downs again, she set off so she could make her way there. At least the exit into The Old Forest wasn't too far from the exit to Bree. Besides, she found Tom Bombadil and his wife to be very pleasant people.

After what seemed to be forever, Valadhiel managed to get down into the path that led back to the forest. Now she was truly safe- unless the plants and trees decided to attack her. She quickened her pace and soon made it to a narrow path, trees and weeds on each side. Some of the roots stuck up out of the ground, a few of them waving as if alive, watching her. Soon, she came across a beautiful little cabin; Tom Bombadil's cabin.

When she reached the door of the cabin, she knocked before she stepped back. When a familiar woman answered the door, the red-haired elleth* smiled. "Suilad, Goldberry. I hope I'm not intruding, but I was coming back from the Barrow-Downs and decided to visit you two one more time before I move on." [1]

"Oh, you're not intruding at all, Dear Vala! You needn't speak as if you're any trouble when you've been staying with us a month now, after all!" Goldberry exclaimed with a welcoming grin as she stepped aside. "Please, do come in. Tom and I were actually just talking to someone who has been looking for you- someone we all know very well. What a coincidence that you should stop by just as he was about to leave to find you!"

Valadhiel stepped inside, then looked at the River Maiden curiously. "Who is searching for me?" She asked her, then she looked over when she noticed someone walk into the room. Just seeing who it was answered her question, and upon finding out who it was, she gave a respectful bow of her head and smiled. "Mithrandir."

The old Maia smiled at the elven maid when she greeted him and bowed his head in return. "Valadhiel, it has been a long time since we last met. May I speak with you outside?"

"Oh, Gandalf, will you be back in? Goldberry was just going to put the kettle on for a pot of tea, and you have come quite a ways." Tom Bombadil said cheerily after he came into the room, now standing by Goldberry's side.

"I fear I won't be back until later on tonight, and Valadhiel will be accompanying me, along with another very special guest." Gandalf replied, looking over at the two of them, earning a curious and confused look from the elven maid that stood nearby. "If you will have us, that is."

Goldberry smiled brightly, the only bright thing in The Old Forest these days. "Of course; we would be honored to have both you and your friend here." She replied, then she gestured for Tom to come with her as she left the room, knowing that Gandalf wished to speak privately with Valadhiel.

Once they had left, Gandalf opened the door and gestured for Valadhiel to step out. Once she had stepped out, he followed her onto the porch and was silent a moment, contemplating on how he should word this so that the young elf would agree to come with him.

Valadhiel watched Gandalf a moment, and when he remained silent, she spoke up. "What is it you wish to speak with me about, Gandalf? It must be important if you traveled so far just to find me- near the Barrow-Downs of all places."

Gandalf looked over at her after having been staring out at a moving tree root. "I've heard of you deeds around Bree, and around a few other places. I know that you like to help people to keep yourself busy..." he trailed off almost dramatically before he continued. "I have someone that you can help."

"Who is it?" Valadhiel asked, watching the wizard curiously, yet also suspiciously. Sometimes, when Gandalf was all secretive such as this, it meant something was up. Of course, he never put her in danger. Granted, there were times of danger in missions he found for her, but he never forced her to do something dangerous, and the old wizard always knew what he was doing.

"Come to The Prancing Pony tonight." Gandalf replied before he began walking down an overgrown path. He then turned left and walked down the hill that was next to the path, then he continued on until he was out of sight.

"Must you always be so mysterious, Mithrandir?" She called out after him, watching him until he disappeared. However, he made no reply; he may have already been out of earshot, for all she knew. Yes, apparently, mysteriousness was in his very being. She still didn't know how Gandalf knew so much about her. One day, many years ago, the old wizard simply appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Since that day, he revealed little by little just how much he knew about her, even though she had never breathed a word of any of her secrets to anyone at all. This was why she was convinced that he was one of the Maiar, though she had no solid proof of it.

The elven maid then stared out at the last place she'd seen the top of Gandalf's hat for a little while before she began walking down the path. If whoever this was needed help, then she might as well help them. Perhaps this one would take her somewhere new once again, such as the "haunted" inn down the road, or perhaps it would take her to familiar places, such as to Rivendell. It had been some time since she had been there, and she would gladly accept any quest to any place, except for Mordor, of course. And except for Mirkwood.

She shook the thought of the former Greenwood from her mind before she continued on down the path. When a large wolf came trotting by, she quickly hid behind a tree and strained her ears to listen to each and every footstep it made. Once she could no longer hear it, she peeked around the tree. Seeing nothing there, she made her way back onto the path and continued walking out of the forest. She needed to be sure not to lose her sense of direction, or else the trees might try to trick her by shifting about and moving the path elsewhere.

Soon, after being careful to stay on the right path, Valadhiel walked out of the forest, across a worn path, then onto a dirt road. She turned to her right and walked along the road, then over a bridge, then she stopped when she reached two large wooden doors: the entrance to Bree. After speaking to one of the guards and being let in, she walked on the ground of cobblestone, going up a hill, then going to the left side of the road. Soon, she reached The Prancing Pony.

She pulled the wooden door open, walked through, then let the door close behind her. Once inside, she stepped out of the way and stood off to the side against a wall before she scanned the room for Gandalf. She finally spotted him, and she noticed that he'd joined someone else at a table. Her eyes widened when she recognized the man to be not a man, but a dwarf: Thorin Oakenshield.

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*An elleth is a female elf.
[1]: 'Suilad' means 'greetings' in Elvish.