A/N: Don't forget that this is the second chapter I've published today. Make sure you've read the previous one!

The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself.

- Eddie Vedder

We must leave soon," Glorfindel addressed the company. "Take twenty minutes to pack and then be ready to leave."

They were in for a long trek down the Anduin. They hoped to reach the Gladden Fields within three days' time. From there, Elladan, Elrohir, and Miril would continue South another nine or ten days to Lothlorien.

Food was stocked up from what Grimbeorn was willing to part with. They gathered their belongings and saddled their horses. Grimbeorn was there to see them off.

"I wish you luck. Be sure to slay many orcs along your way." He waved to them for a moment as they rode off.

"Thank you, again, for your hospitality, son of Beorn. We could not have done this without your help." Glorfindel bowed to him before mounting Asfaloth and riding after the others.

Reaching the river soon enough, they turned right to head south. Much of the trip was spent in relative silence, with only the sound of the rushing water beside them. That sound reminded Miril of the Sea in her dreams.

She had been to the Grey Havens a few times in her life so she had seen the ocean. The ship of her dreams resembled the ships that Cirdan and his folk built, but wasn't exactly the same. It had a more defined swan-shape. Almost like the stories she'd heard about the swan ships of Alqualondë from long, long ago.

But why was she dreaming of a red Sea and sky? It was almost as if the sea was stained with blood. Ominous, indeed. She was curious as to how this related to the other important part of her dreams, the shining jewel.

It was always about the size of her palm, diamond like but iridescent. It seemed to produce its own light from within. It was pure, unadulterated, beautiful white light, untouched by the red of the Sea. She got the sense that it was very old and very special.

"We'll stop here and give our horses a break. Be sure to eat something," Glorfindel said, snapping Miril out of her ruminations.

They did as instructed, allowing their horses to graze and drink from the river Anduin while they hid from prying eyes beneath some trees.

"I can't wait until we reach the Gladden river. It is slow enough to bathe in," Miril muttered to herself as she sat down, looking at the perfectly good water of the Anduin that was moving just a little too fast to be safe for wading.

"At least we can refill our water daily. The Anduin is good for that at least," Elladan reminded her as he sat down beside her against a tree trunk, a piece of bread and an apple in hand.

She nodded. "I suppose."

She took a bite of the pear she had grabbed from her food bag. The fresh fruit tasted wonderful to her starving stomach. Grimbeorn certainly had been a generous host, if a bit abrasive and brash sometimes. However she certainly had not been sorry to say goodbye to the beehives he maintained.

"I am glad to finally be heading South," said Elrohir as he came over to sit as well. "Each step is a step closer to Lothlorien."

"And hopefully a step closer to answers," Miril murmured quietly.

"Answers will come, Miril, but you must be patient." Elladan placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure you will find what you are looking for soon enough."

It wasn't long at all before Glorfindel had them up and riding once more. He led the way atop his magnificent white steed, Asfaloth. As strong as any horse but the legendary Mearas, Asfaloth dutifully carried the great elven Lord everywhere.

Miril pat Daeroch on the neck. She whispered something in his ear and flicked the reins so that he cantered up in between the Twins.

"This silence is tiring," she complained.

Elrohir smiled. "Well what would you propose we talk about?"

She shrugged. "Do not ask me. Talking seems to be your expertise, between the two of you that is."

They spoke together, the three half elves, for some time until the sun began to sink beneath the horizon and Glorfindel called for a halt.

"We will rest the horses here tonight," he said, pointing to a clump of trees about a hundred feet from the water's edge.

Dismounting, the group led their horses to drink before bringing them back to the campsite. Miril got out her pack to use as a pillow and took off her cloak so it could become a blanket. She was actually quite tired that night. She supposed the hours of restless wakefulness over the past week had worn her out.

"Elladan, Elrohir, " Glorfindel said. "Take first watch."

The rest of the company lay down and, as was the way of elves as they slept, blended living night with deep dream. Miril was soundly asleep before long.

Elladan rose from his seat facing East and walked around to where his brother sat facing West. He nudged Elrohir who stood and went to where Elladan had been on watch. This way they grew not bored or sleepy.

Nothing especially interesting occurred on their watch, and before long they woke Mirmegil and Garavon for their turn at watch. The Twins went to sleep for a couple hours.

It took two and a half more days of boring travel before they reached the Gladden Fields. The company set up camp for the day in a thicket not far from the Gladden River, on the eastern edge of the marshland.

That night, Miril went to take a bath in the river when Glorfindel grabbed her arm.

"Something is wrong about this place, Miril. Take one of the Twins with you and don't stray too far." Glorfindel gestured to where Elladan and Elrohir were busy laughing and eating the last scraps of their dinner.

Miril sighed but nodded. She walked over to the Twins and put her hands on her hips.

"Glorfindel insists I take one, or both, of you to watch my back while I bathe. Says it's too dangerous for anyone to go alone."

"Alright. Come on, brother." Elladan nodded. "Duty calls."

The three friends walked ten minutes down the river until they found a suitably hidden location for both Miril's privacy and all their safety.

"If either of you peek," she warned, "I will kill you."

They didn't doubt her for a second. They turned and watched the horizon as she undressed and took a small cloth into the river. Scrubbing the dirt and grime from her body took some time. The fight with the goblins had sprayed her with their blood and it was difficult to get off without soap.

Eventually satisfied with the state of her body, she dunked her head into the water and scrubbed her scalp. She felt much cleaner as she wrung her hair out and waded onto the side where her clothes were. Drying off with her cloak, she slipped into her Ranger gear and lastly strapped on her boots.

"You're alright now," she told them.

The Twins also took turns washing in the Gladden river. Miril carefully brushed her hair as she looked out into the surrounding areas for potential threats. By the end, nothing had been spotted and they were merrily making their way back to camp when suddenly they heard a howl.

Mirl knew that howl.

"Wargs," she hissed.

They broke into a run trying to reach camp. As they did so, they found Glorfindel and the others busy looking out into the distance, weapons drawn.

"We heard them too," Elrohir nodded to their leader.

"Tonight we must be ready." Glorfindel peered into the darkness. "They may not no we are here, but we cannot be sure."

"Let them come," Miril said, bristling with rage. "Let them try."

For fifteen years, Miril had hunted the wargs of Middle Earth. For fifteen years, she had led expedition after expedition West of the Mountains to eradicate the beasts that had stolen her brother from her. It was time that the wargs East of the Misty Mountains tasted her fury, too.