"Well, I do hope so. Sounds like quite a bunch of them - it wouldn't take much to take down three little Hobbits, I'm afraid." Adelard replied quite cheerfully - but quietly - to Cassinia, chewing on his pipe stem as he spoke, gaze directed towards the clearing where Ted had entered. Normally, Adelard would have asked Cassi to keep her voice down permanently before they'd even entered the forest, but caution had momentarily slipped his mind. Too much excitement... at least between Adelard and Cassi, that is. As for Ted, he was taking a far more practical approach, but that was simply who he was as a Hobbit. Ted wasn't that much younger than Adelard, but he certainly made up for it in his maturity over the Took. Typical to his family's legacy, Adelard had a streak of childish giddiness when it came to things like travelling; or ancient forests, or a daring rescue mission. Unfortunately for poor Ted, all three of those things were occurring at once, and the heir to the Thainedom was acting particularly immature.

"Ah, there we go! Knew our Ted would be alright." Giving both of his travelling companions a bright smile, the Hobbit listened to Ted's report of what he had discovered, and was rather pleased to find out that nothing evil lay ahead. The trio retraced Ted's steps, and re-entered the clearing, where it would seem yet another Elf had appeared.

Despite his excitement (And lack of caution), Adelard felt a rush of relief upon discovering a group of fellow travellers; Dwarves, Men, and Elves, no less. The presence of the Fair Folk was a calming one, because as wild as this forest was, it was the Elves alone who could claim any ownership or even entitlement to walking upon it's ground. Not to mention that they would be less inclined to be common highwaymen like a human could, or less likely to abandon them should trouble arise, like a Dwarf could.

[i]"Although a Hobbit could do any of those things, I suppose - not right to judge a book by it's cover."[/i] Adelard chided himself silently, taking in the appearance of the others in the clearing. They didn't look shady at all, which was a relief. Stepping forward with a smile, Adelard removed his pipe from his mouth with a flourish.

"My name is Adelard Took, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance!" He left it at that, as there was no point in asking them all what they were doing in Mirkwood. It was hardly the place for a multi-specie picnic, so they were clearly here for the same goal as himself and his Hobbit fellows. To find Dôr-min-Taur, and their lost friends.