"Please let me do the talking," begged Elerína as she and Thorongil rode up to the gates of the palace in Annuminas.

Annuminas was bustling with activity as countless workmen repaired the city and the palace in particular. Work on the ancient capital had begun in earnest the previous summer, when the king made it known that he intended to hold formal court in the Palace of Elendil within a year and half. Aragorn knew it would be challenging to repair the broken city, but he had faith in Bergil's leadership and had designated considerable coin from the treasury in Minas Tirith for the project. He also made it known that anyone who wished to repair a house in the lower districts of the city would own it when they finished. This attracted many skilled artisans who could not afford space in Minas Tirith or Dol Amroth. Additionally he sold a number of large and formerly elegant houses to lesser nobles and rich tradesmen of Gondor who hoped to find in the north what eluded them in the south: royal titles, a place in the court, and of course the King's ear.

The palace of Annuminas was nearly finished, though it still lacked a roof. The dwarves of the blue mountains had been contracted to provide this, and they assured Bergil it would be done by the winter solstice. Thus it was raining lightly as Elerína and Thorongil approached the throne.

Much to his annoyance Thorongil has forced to leave Aeglos, which was wrapped in grey cloth, as well as his sword at the door. He swore that death would come to any man who touched either.

The throne was raised up on steps of stone. At the feet of these steps there lay a wooden stool, and on that stool sat an old ranger. Bergil stood to greet them.

"Welcome, friends," he said.

"You will kneel before the throne," commanded the guard who had guided them in.

"Damn," whispered Elerína as she knelt.

Thorongil only bowed his head.

"You will kneel, now," growled the guardsman.

"I did not kneel in Doriath, I do not kneel in Tirion, and I will not kneel here," Thorongil replied sternly.

Before the guard could object further, Bergil decided discretion was the better part of valor.

"Rise," he said approaching them, and Elerína stood up.

"Tell me... Thorongil, isn't it," he continued, "what have I done to earn your disrespect?"

"Bergil, the king's regent in the north" Thorongil replied before Elerína could try to smooth things over. "Son of Beregond. Witnessed the Siege of Minas Tirith, trained as a ranger in Ithilien. Twenty-seven separate engagements including The Battle of Arnor, decorated twelve times, twice with Elendil's Star for exceptional bravery and once with Arathorn's gem for unconventional thinking. I assure you I hold you in the highest respect - but I will not kneel."

Bergil was taken aback by the stranger's knowledge of his background.

"You seem to know all about me," he replied, "so why don't you tell me about yourself?"

"I'm Elerína, and this as you have heard is my husband Thorongil," responded Elerína. "We recently began living in Bree."

"Where are you from?" asked Bergil.

"The Grey Havens," replied Elerína. This was technically true.

"Cirdan's folk have always been our allies," nodded Bergil. "Though they show little interest in the affairs of men. What brought you to Bree?"

"A desire to see the world," answered Elerína. "It has been a very long time, even by the reckoning of Elves, since we last travelled beyond our homeland."

Content with their answers, Bergil dismissed his guards so he could speak with the strangers alone.

"I have heard that you slew a barrow wight in its lair," whispered Bergil. "I am well aware that after an adventure it is common to exaggerate the deeds one has done when telling them at an inn. Indeed, it would be a much less interesting world if every tale was told exactly as it happened! I need to know whether the tale is true in full - I will not tell anyone else, you have my word. I have a problem which requires the attention of someone who can do deeds of that sort, but I do not want to send you to your deaths."

"I assure you the tale is true," replied Thorongil. "And with the weapons I laid at your door I can undertake whatever task you have prepared for me."

"I am glad to hear it," said Bergil. "We are nearly done repairing the palace. Underneath these halls are the tombs of the kings of Arnor. No man who has entered them has returned. I do not know what you will find down there, but it killed ten of my best Rangers two weeks ago. Let me know if you need anything to prepare."

Thorongil wasted no time heading down to the entrance of the tombs. He cast off his green and brown travelling cloths and beneath them was black armor. It appeared quite unnatural: light plates connected by such fine mail that it looked like a liquid surface of black ink. It shimmered in the light, but when shadow was behind it it seemed to melt into the darkness.

He entered the tombs with only his sword. Aeglos would have been too unwieldy in the tight corridors of the tombs, so Thorongil was forced to leave his new weapon behind. Elerína remained at the entrance to the tombs, her hand frequently on the mysterious bladeless sword hilt at her side.

After a few minutes of stalking through the pitch black Thorongil instinctively leapt forward. As he did so he felt the tip of a blade slide across his back. His armor did its job, and he turned to face his foe. His enemy had the shape of a man with bat-like wings: what mortal men called a vampire - a maiar servant of the great enemy. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, fought and died in Morgoth's wars. Few survived into the Second Age of the Sun, let alone the third and fourth.

The fight was difficult but not long. As they rolled and spun through the catacombs, Thorongil's glowing red sword set against the vampire's black steel, Thorongil scored hit after hit. There wasn't a scratch on him when he returned carrying his enemy's sword.

Bergil was standing by Elerína when Thorongil walked triumphantly out of the tombs hardly fifteen minutes after he had entered. They had heard the clashing of weapons.

"It was a vampire," explained Thorongil, handing its black sword to the ranger. "Not a particularly powerful one, but in the stifling darkness of the tombs I can understand how it overwhelmed your men. It's body is ash - your men on the other hand will need to be removed."

Elerína embraced her husband for a moment. "I forgot how much I hate the watching and waiting!"

"You have rendered us a great service," Bergil said. "How can we repay you?"

Neither Thorongil nor Elerína had immediate suggestions.

"We have everything we need at the moment," she replied. "That said, I am sure someday we will need the favor of your king. Thus we ask only that you tell him of our deeds, and that we did it as a favor to him."

"Very well," nodded Bergil. "It shall be as you ask. Also, visit the soldier's mess for free meals while you are here, or supplies for your journey home. If you wish to stay in Annuminas, I am sure we can find lodging for you."

Elerína and Thorongil remained in Annuminas for a day and saw much of the city. Thorongil offered considerable quantities unsolicited advice on the construction of the city's defenses while Elerína made some friends among the young nobility of the fledgling northern capital. In the evening they dined with Bergil and learned much of what was happening in other parts of Middle Earth.

The next morning Elerína and Thorongil set off for Bree. The journey was uneventful, and they arrived at the Pony the next evening. On their journey they discussed at length their plans for the months ahead, and both agreed that it was time to head east. Their time in Bree had acclimated them well to life among mortal-kind in Middle Earth. Soon they would be needed elsewhere to help men face the gathering storm.