Wandering Earth

Having delivered the second package to the guards at Hrimbarg, with a second copy of the instructions for use of the poison-antidote, the friends realize it is wiser to wait out the night before striking out on the long journey back to Imladris. Filegris has a skin of wine; Menelamdir has a fable about a helpful woodpecker; and Glorfingwë, rather unusually, has a fully strung musical instrument wrapped in his pack. He plays a bit but shortly turns it over to Filegris, who has spent many a long night before in company who required morale.

The Elves of Imladris pause for a moment in the courtyard of Hrimbarg, feeling safer within the confines of its courtyard. Even the stabled beasts are a welcome sight. 

Upon discovering that the seed-oil of the mystery flower eases Melumatyar's burns -- with Lirisseya still neck-deep in books in Elrond's library, looking for any clues to the greater meaning of this discovery -- the friends are delighted, although they realize that this is only the first step in truly putting the hardy little shrub to work. But why was Arradril compelled to look at it, to her detriment? Is it truly the omen of some greater good to come, and if so, what?

Melumatyar limped into the hall suffering from burns on his arm and leg: in the aftermath of Arradril's injury, he went chasing the goblins of the region and unexpectedly ran into some armed with fire-pots. Manadhlaer interrupts the discussion in progress to bathe his burns with infinite tenderness, and then coat them in a remedy she hastily snatched from a nearby table. As Glorfingwë lights a fire to warm Melumatyar, those assembled are pleased, if astonished, to watch the blistered red skin dry up and hurt less within half an hour's time.

The party manages to get Arradril back to Vindurhal, where Ulvoin offers the group the use of his home. However, he himself assisted with removing the living plant from the frozen ground and placing it in Glorfingwë's pack, and Arradril insists that this mission be completed -- if a live plant is not returned to Imladris as the Lady requested, her injury has no meaning. Therefore, much against the misgivings of her friends, it is decided that as soon as she can mount her horse, the Elves will ride hard for Imladris.

The group circles a wide area north of Vindurhal, based on Melumatyar's memories. Branalph discovers a flower exactly like the one Melumatyar described, next to a huge rock -- but the discovery seizes Arradril's attention for a split second too long. As Branalph summons Melumatyar, a goblin patrol sights the lone nis and tags her in the thigh with an arrow.

Ulvoin of Vindurhal meets the Elves from Imladris. Melumatyar explains what he saw in the snow on the return from Hrimbarg the last time a group rode out in this direction, and what the current task is: not only to find the strange flower again, but to bring one back to Lady Manadhlaer alive and intact, so it can grow and be observed and tested.

Lord Glinthir leads a company of Elves from Imladris -- Melumatyar carrying healing supplies, and Hamadmachor carrying wool cloth and furs, with Olriandis and Arradril to scout the northern pass -- to resupply Vindurhal. Ulvoin, the master of the small chambers beneath the outpost (oddly well stocked with reading material and a cat, to the Elves' delight), offers some assistance in return -- aid of a more linguistic nature.

Krimruk never suspected that the very fine Roper's Twist he was offered by the "merchants" was adulterated with a few other things. The strength to babble nonsense quickly leaves him, and he willingly walks out with his captors, only to pass out in the snow. As Arradril binds the captive, Branalph slips back into the fortress to retrieve the adulterated pipeweed, lest their deception be discovered, and finds the heirloom axe. 

Glorfingwë's handpicked team accompanies him to the fortress where Krimruk. the Dwarf who held a deadly grudge, lords over his gang of petty criminals. The group waits tensely as Glorfingwë exerts his considerable powers of persuasion. Will the slightly altered pipeweed have the euphoric and addling effects the Lady promised it would? Thanks to that -- and a bit of improvised acting by Arradril, who praises Krimruk's red hair and pretends to be Glorfingwë's spoiled daughter -- things take an interesting turn.