Grimbeorn stalked through the hall. He came to a long table near the front and pointed at them.

"Sit. We shall have food while you tell me of your journey and your purpose."

The group obliged. All seven elves, or half elves, sat upon the mahogany benches that were surprisingly comfortable after a day of riding. Glorfindel sat on one side of the head of the table where Grimbeorn positioned himself. As the eldest Lord there, he was in charge despite the Twins being Elrond's sons.

"Brin! Bring us dinner!" Grimbeorn called to a woman in an adjacent cooking area. "Enough for eight!"

He turned back to the elves. Looking intently at each of their faces, he finally turned to Glorfindel.

"Why are you traveling the High Pass?" he asked in his distinctively deep voice.

"We need to cross the Misty Mountains," Glorfindel began with the obvious excuse before elaborating slightly when he saw Grimbeorn was not satisfied. "We bring important news to the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien regarding the Enemy."

"If it is news worthy of a delegation of elves of such high esteem as yourselves, then surely it is important. What is it?" Grimbeorn leaned in.

Glorfindel hesitated. Grimbeorn leaned in further. Suddenly, he was interrupted by several women carrying plates of spiced meats and cooked vegetables. They placed the food before the elves and the chief Beorning.

"We shall discuss this after we eat," Grimbeorn decided.

Glorfindel nodded and the elves dug into the food. The enjoyed the meal heartily. They knew it would be one of the last well prepared meals they were to have until Lothlorien so they savoured it.

Mostly they ate in silence as music was played by young Beornings elsewhere in the Great Hall. Miril caught sight of a young girl playing a flute and smiled at her. The girl smiled shyly back and kept up her music.

Miril looked around the Great Hall. She looked at the wood carvings and tried to decipher them. Many confused her. Giant beehives the size of a man, dogs standing upright and serving food, a giant rock amidst a stream. A giant bear. She wondered what the story was.

"I see you looking at our carvings," Grimbeorn interrupted the silence. "They tell our history."

"They are beautiful," Miril smiled. "But I do not understand them."

Grimbeorn nodded. "Perhaps before you leave you shall understand."

The great man turned back to Glorfindel. "Now. What is the news you bear. I understand you cannot tell me all, but surely safe passage is worth something more than the gold you have paid as a tax."

Glorfindel nodded slowly. "Indeed. All that matters to you and your people is this: The Enemy is returning in full force, and he seeks the Shire. He has already crossed the River. He has crossed the Mountains. He is returning."

Grimbeorn sighed. "Grave news you bring, Glorfindel. Grave news indeed."

"We do not bear this news lightly either. We have seen first hand the Enemy," Glorfindel continued. "Miril here has been attacked by the Enemy's minions already while bringing these tidings to Rivendell."

Miril showed Grimbeorn the ugly, scarring cut on her cheek from where the Ringwraith had struck her. She felt it with her fingers and noted that, actually, the scar was beginning to settle into a less puffed out appearance for which she was thankful.

"I see. No doubt the goblins will become a bigger problem henceforth, " Grimbeorn nodded. "Once you have delivered your message, do you plan on returning this same way?"

"Yes. Though we will likely be in two separate groups by then. The Sons of Lord Elrond might stay longer in Lothlorien," Glorfindel revealed, not desiring to explain that they weren't all, in fact, going to Lothlorien.

"I will accompany you through the Pass." Grimbeorn decided soon enough on this course of action. "I need to return to my settlement by the Carrock and alert my men along the way to this increasing threat."

"We would certainly value your company." Glorfindel bowed his head in respect.

"For now," Grimbeorn said after a few minutes more of music, "I suggest you retire to rest. I know elves do not require sleep like men, but we do despite our uniqueness."

"Of course. Where shall we sleep?" Glorfindel rose from the table and the others followed suit.

"There is a guest house next to the Great Hall. I shall show you it."

The group followed Grimbeorn out of the Hall and into the frigid outdoors. The night was actually quite well lit from the moon and stars, as well as the great fiery torch lamps of the Beornings. They were led to a small wooden guest house and shown inside. They found their packs were already there beside beds that had been made for them.

"We are indebted to you, Grimbeorn. You do us great service," Glorfindel nodded. "This is something the elves will not forget."

"Rest now. We ride in the morning." Grimbeorn left them be.

"He's correct." Glorfindel turned to his company. "We must rest."

Miril tossed and turned all night until at last she could deal with it no longer. She rose from her bed which fortunately was not far from the door. Slipping on her boots and cloak, she slid silently out of the cabin. But apparently she was not silent enough.

As she walked forward into the night, she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. Whipping around, she was surprised to find Elladan behind her.

"What are you doing up?" she hissed through the cold.

Elladan smiled. "Thought you were the only one who couldn't sleep? Or did you think you were the only one crazy enough to leave the cabin."

Miril shrugged. "Both."

"Why are you out here," Elladan asked in amusement a few moments later as they both stared out into the night.

"Needed air," she muttered. "Sleep often eludes me lately."

"So my brother has told me."

Miril looked at him in surprise before shrugging. "I didn't know he told you."

"We tell each other everything," he explained. "We have spent too much time together growing up not to."

"True." She nodded.

The wind gusted particularly strongly then and they shied away from the open air. The Beorning on guard watched them with amusement before turning back to his post. Elladan muttered something about 'blasted wind' but Miril didn't catch it all.

"Sometimes these days I feel like the Sea is calling me. Not like for elves to pass over, but to find something." She sighed. "I don't even know what I am saying, Elladan. It makes no sense."

"You really should speak to my grandmother when we reach Lothlorien," he encouraged her.

Miril nodded. "I plan to. Maybe Lady Galadriel can help."

"If there is anyone in Arda who can help, it is she." He spoke with confidence that reassured her. "She can unravel your mystery, this I am sure of."

"In that case, we should probably head back inside so we are able to travel in the morning," Miril joked.

Elladan laughed. "Indeed."