Though his heart ached for the loss of Allorah, his beautiful companion and his Human queen, Elmir slowly became accustomed to traveling alone. The rolling hills of the Shire country were beautiful, especially in late spring when the flowers were coming to full bloom. Though he traveled alone and slept under the stars night after night, Elmir did not miss too keenly the companionship of which the trip through the Downs had earlier deprived him.
Or so he believed, until early one evening as he lay upon his mat, looking up at the darkening sky, he heard faintly the sound of soft voices. Having kept mostly to the country, seldom even passing within sight of towns or villages, Elmir had not heard other human voices for weeks. The sound evoked within him a sudden sense of longing, and he sat u
