[Nevtalathiel]

*****DALE*****

Once Girion and Rubin were out of sight of the palace and safely outof hearing, Girion burst out laughing.

"And I thought I would be in trouble again, how wrong could I have been? There are still many things I hope my father never discovers!" Girion continued to chuckle.

"Then perhaps you should stop doing such things." Rubin suggested, his face perfectly straight and his voice even, but Girion had known him long enough to judge when he teased and a laugh was his only response.

"Perhaps we should celcbrate our journey with a drink, a quick detour to an inn wouldn't slow us down." Girion said slyly. Rubin's only response was a cough which said more than words could have.

"By the time my father knows anything I'll be far away, and by the time we get back, he'll have forgotten. Anyway, nothing will happen." Girion continued with his argument, one which had been heard in different variations many times before.

"Your father still doesn't know about the last fight that didn't happen; you're lucky there were no visible results." Rubin reminded.

"I'll be good, I promise." Girion said pulling a sad face with large puppy-dog eyes and a quavering lip."

Rubin snorted, "Yes, I'm sure you will until you see a girl who turns your head or someone whose opinions differ from your own. Anyway, we must get to Mirkwood as soon as possible to meet with Orodan."

Girion sighed. He was not deaf to the voice reason as some would have it, merely a little hard of hearing.