7: Dúnælfenedale

Thengel gave his spymaster a piercing look. "Well, Cousin, have you an explanation that will satisfy me? I gave not my leave for the queen to depart from Aldburg. Why then has she defied me and why did you not stop her?"

If Erkenbard was discomfited by the king’s tone, he gave no sign. "You gave Éolind into my keeping, Thengel," the man said quietly. "You wished to know what she was up to. Well, the only way that was going to happen was to let her think she was unfettered."

Thengel frowned. "I do not recall..."

"Allow me to refresh your memory, then," Erkenbard said somewhat shortly. Aragorn raised an eyebrow at the man’s tone and he noticed that Grammund had stiffened and was giving the spymaster a sour look. Thengel, for his part, merely sat there waiting for the explanation he had demanded.

Erkenbard took a deep breath, as if to recollect himself and when he spoke again it was in a milder tone, though the longer he spoke the angrier he became. "Your exact words, Thengel King, were, ‘Give her enough rope whereby she may hang herself’. I took that as an approbation that I was to do whatever necessary to see that the conspiracy against you that we both believe exists was quelled. I can only do that if I know if there is indeed a conspiracy, who leads it and what they plan. Your lady mother is at the heart of all this. Keeping her imprisoned in Aldburg does me or you no good. When Éolind declared that she wished to travel, I gave her my blessing and made bloody sure that half her escort was in my pay."

Thengel raised an eyebrow and one side of his mouth quirked in amusement. "Only half?"

"It’s been a lean month," Erkenbard quipped, his expression sour.

Thengel laughed outright at that and the tension in the air lightened. He stood up and clapped a hand on Erkenbard’s shoulder. "You are, of course, correct, my friend, and I apologize. So, tell me, why Dúnælfenedale? That place has been deserted for over a hundred years, since the days of my great-grandsire, Folca."

"A convenient place for a meeting of conspirators, though," Erkenbard said with a slight shrug.

"And who does she go to meet, heh?" Thengel asked with a sigh. "Her missive to me was rather intriguing, which is why I came here."

Now Erkenbard smiled. "Rather, it was my missive to you, Thengel King."

"Yours?" Thengel gave the spymaster a surprised look. Erkenbard nodded.

"A rather clever forgery, don’t you think? I do so enjoy my work."

Aragorn let out a surprised snort at the man’s tone and the other three men looked at him with various degrees of amusement. The Dúnadan raised a hand in apology. "Forgive me, Thengel King, but your... spymaster is very amusing."

"Yes, he is," Thengel said, giving them a deep smile. "and I vacillated between making him my spymaster or my jester when I first came to the throne." There were chuckles all around and Erkenbard reddened with embarrassment, though he was mollified when Thengel gave him a brief hug.

"May I ask, my lord," Aragorn said to Erkenbard, "why you felt it necessary to forge a letter purported to have been from the queen to her son?"

Erkenbard nodded. "It was the only way I knew to get my royal cousin out of Edoras."

"Well, you succeeded," Thengel said, taking a pull from the flagon as he sat again. "Now what do you want me to do?"

Erkenbard stared at Thengel for a moment then straightened and gave his king a respectful bow. "Forgive me, Thengel King, I meant no disrespect. The last time I attempted to bring you here, your response was to go to the Westfold for an extended visit. I feared the only way to lure you to Aldburg was through that missive I sent you purporting to be from your mother."

Now it was Thengel’s turn to look chagrined. "I, too, apologize, Cousin. I have put you in an untenable position and I reward you by ignoring you. Forgive me. Tell me what you hope I can do here that I could not do in Edoras?"

"You can frighten the conspirators into making their move too soon and too quickly," Erkenbard replied. "Your presence here in Aldburg will hopefully do that. This farce has been going on for too long for my taste. I for one would like to see this done. I miss my family, you know."

Thengel rose and took Erkenbard by the shoulders and gave him a hug and then kissed him on the cheeks, liege lord to liegeman. "You are a good man and, even more, a good vassal, Erkenbard son of Erkenwulf."

Aragorn stirred. "Have you something in mind, Lord Erkenbard?"

Erkenbard gave the Dúnadan an appraising look. "Why, my Lord Thorongil? Do you have a thought to share with us?"

Thengel turned to Aragorn with an approving look. "Speak son of Beren that we may know your thoughts, for I deem you have a plan that might be of benefit to us."

Aragorn nodded reluctantly. "It is only a glimmer of an idea, but I wonder if we cannot take advantage of that tale you told me. I wonder if the Elves might not lend us a hand."

Now all three men stared at the young Ranger and Aragorn reddened somewhat under their regard, but otherwise held his ground. Finally, Thengel spoke.

"Say on, Thorongil. Let us hear your thoughts."

****

"You should be able to reach the steading before the sun sets if you leave now," Erkenbard said later after they had listened to Aragorn’s plan and had approved it with modifications. "Are you sure about this?"

Aragorn gave the older man a smile. "Not really, but I did spend much of my youth in Imladris and learned much of the ways of the Elves. I do not look elvish, true, but like many of my people, the blood of the Firstborn runs through my veins. It might just be enough."

Thengel clapped him on the shoulder. "We will pray to Lord Béma that it is, son. Go now and here is Wídfara, who will lead you hence." The king motioned for one of the men of his éored to come forward. Wídfara was a year or two younger than Aragorn and they were already friends. The young Rohir bowed to Thengel and gave Aragorn a cheery smile, which the Dúnadan returned.

"You know well the way to Dúnælfensdale, Wídfara?" Aragorn asked.

"Indeed, Lord Earntungol," the young man replied. "For I grew up in one of the neighboring dales and know well the area in which we travel."

"That is well, my friend," Aragorn said. "Let us hence, for I would fain arrive ere Arien returns to the Mansions of the Night."

The young Rohir gave his Ranger friend a strange look at his words, but otherwise made no comment. Instead, he nodded, gave Thengel another bow, and leapt upon his horse while Aragorn did the same with Mithfaron.

As they were leaving, Erkenbard stayed Aragorn for a moment. "The moon will be full tonight, a most propitious sign, I deem. Take care you are not discovered in its light. I would not wish to have to retrieve your body, or that of young Wídfara."

Aragorn nodded and then he and Wídfara were outside the walls of Aldburg, making their way to an Elf-haunted dale.

****

They rode swiftly, but not at the expense of their horses, yet it was well before the sunset when they arrived at the head of the dale. Wídfara turned to his companion as they slowed the horses to a walk.

"The steading, itself, is another league up the valley. It is in ruins and nothing has been built. I do not know where the queen and her entourage will have camped, but I suspect that it will be in the clearing where stood the steading. It’s really the only flat piece of land in the entire dale."

"How can we get around them to reach the spring unseen?" Aragorn asked.

Wídfara took a moment to think. "About half a league up we can leave the horses in a small dell that is hidden from the road here. There is a shallow stream that runs through it and plenty of vegetation so our horses will not lack for anything while we are gone. There is a sheep track that I can take you on that will lead up into the hills surrounding us and thereby I can bring you back down behind the spring. We might even be able to see their encampment at some point for we will be high enough to see down into the dale."

Aragorn nodded. "Lead on then good Wídfara. Let us reach this spring before Tilion sails forth and Ithil rises."

"You speak strangely, Earntungol," Wídfara said as they continued on their way. "Who are Tilion and Ithil?"

Aragorn smiled. "Tilion is the Maia who steers the moon, which the Elves call Ithil, just as Arien is the Maia who governs the sun, which they call Anor."

"What strange notions they have about the sun and moon," the younger man said with a smile, but Aragorn did not return his smile this time. Instead he gave the Rohir a steady glance.

"I have met some who dwell in the house of Elrond in Imladris who remember when Ithil first rose in the sky, who remember a time when Middle-earth was illumined only by the stars, when neither sun nor moon bathed these mortal lands with their light."

Wídfara stared at Aragorn, his eyes wide with wonder. "Forgive me. I meant no disrespect," he said contritely.

Aragorn nodded his acceptance of the lad’s apology but otherwise did not speak. Soon the two of them were making their way off the track that was the only road into the dale, and finding themselves in a hidden dell, well screened by alder and pine, where a rill ran through it. Aragorn looked about and grinned. "A good place for the horses. You have done well, Wídfara."

The younger man looked pleased at the Dúnadan’s praise, never thinking it odd that this stranger who was the very newest member of the éored would speak to him as a commander to his lieutenant. They secured the horses and soon were taking the sheep track up through the hills. By now the sun was nearly gone and the way was dark under the trees but they dared not light any torches.

"I have walked these hills since I was a child, lord," Wídfara whispered at one point. "Stay close and I will not lead you astray."

Nor did he. At one point they reached a spot where the trees fell away and they found themselves on a cliff looking down into the valley. All was dark save for a single pinpoint of light flickering in the middle distance. Wídfara pointed and whispered, "There. That’s about where the steading once stood."

"You guessed correctly, then," Aragorn whispered back. "Come. Ithil rises soon and we must needs reach the spring before that."

So they went on. Wídfara had not the woodscraft that Aragorn possessed, yet he had the advantage of familiarity with the land and so he did well enough. The Rohir was amazed at how silently the Ranger moved through the bracken and at times lost track of him in the dark. Soon, though, he led them downwards out of the hills to the valley. Aragorn heard the sound of the spring bubbling before he saw it. Now the campfire was visible to them and they could see the movement of men, shadows against the flickering light.

"Here is the spring, lord," Wídfara whispered. "What do you plan?"

"Get you back into the trees and remain hid," Aragorn said, taking a pack off his back that he had brought with him. In it was all that he hoped he would need to pull off the ruse he had planned with Thengel and Erkenbard. "Take this pack with you."

"Is there nothing I can do to help, lord?" the younger man asked sadly.

"You have helped more than you realize, my friend. Thengel King will be well pleased with you when I tell him how diligently you led me here. Now go and be ready to flee if it goes ill with me. Make your way back to Aldburg and warn Thengel."

"But..."

"Nay, my friend, do not dispute me in this," Aragorn countered. "I will not have you die on my account and it is Thengel’s wish that one of us lives to return with news."

Wídfara reluctantly nodded and Aragorn clapped him on the shoulder before sending him back into the trees to wait and watch. Aragorn, meantime, took the paraphernalia that he had removed from the pack and laid them out. They had had a time finding some of the objects, but he was sure he could make it work. Hopefully the people around the campfire would be awed enough not to try to come any closer and so see that all was a sham.

The moon was rising and the light bathed the dale with its silvery glow. Aragorn stole a look at the fabled spring, marveling at its beauty under moonlight, the peace and serenity it held for him and wondered at the dark history that stained its waters. Without conscious thought Aragorn began singing softly one of the many hymns to Elbereth that he had heard all his life as he continued with his preparations. Then he heard voices coming near and quietly melted away into the brush to hide and wait. He needed the moon to be higher in the sky before he could effect his plan. Three people approached the spring; two of them were men. The third was an old woman walking with a cane, her hand on the elbow of one of the men.

"Here, my lords," the woman said, sounding somewhat breathless. "Here we may take our ease away from the eyes and ears of our retainers. I trust not the men who rode with me, for I fear my seneschal may have set spies amongst them."

"Then may I suggest, dear lady," said one of the men gruffly, "that you rid yourself of your seneschal and find someone else to fill that role, someone more amenable to your will."

The woman (Aragorn could only assume this was the old king’s widow, Éolind) snorted in an unladylike fashion and made to sit on a spur of rock. "Easier said than done, my lord, seeing as how Erkenbard is in my son’s pay. But enough of my domestic problems... we are here to plot treason. Let us get on with it."

The two men shuffled nervously at the queen’s words before one of them spoke. "A harsh word. I prefer to think we are placing the right man on the throne of Rohan. Thengel should never have been allowed back from Gondor."

"In that we are agreed," Éolind said coldly. "Son though he be, I ever thought him weak and unfit for rule, especially when he fled to Turgon’s court like some child playing truant from the schoolroom. Fréawine should have been king instead."

"Fréawine should have been blind," the second man said with a sound of disgust. "Why would you have him on the throne before your own son, my queen?"

"I cannot control my son," was all Éolind would say. The two men remained silent for a time.

Aragorn, listening not far away, glanced upward at the moon, judging its height and wondering if he should carry out his plan now or wait a bit to hear more. He wondered about Fréawine. Thengel had seemed sure of the man’s loyalty, yet here was Éolind thinking that she could manipulate the lord of Brandingsdale to her cause. He strained to hear what else was being said but at that moment something entirely unexpected happened.

Aragorn never heard the person approach. The first thing he knew a hand was on his shoulder and then another was covering his mouth and he was being dragged silently back. His initial shock and surprise was followed by absolute wonder and he stilled his struggles as he was pulled upright, so that he was leaning against his attacker’s chest and the voice that whispered in his ear was low and melodious, speaking in Sindarin.

"Make no sound, Mortal, and you will suffer no harm." Aragorn nodded and the Elf, for so he was, released his hand over Aragorn’s mouth but retained his hold on the young man so that he was still in the Elf’s embrace. The Elf brushed his hand through Aragorn’s hair, the intimacy of the gesture surprising the Dúnadan. "Now, Estel, suppose you tell me what you do here in the Ered Nimrais instead of being safely ensconced in Imladris where you belong."

"Th-thandir?" Aragorn said in a breathless whisper, knowing the Elf would hear him. He felt, rather than heard, a soft chuckle come from the Elf and then another whisper in his ear.

"Walk quietly backwards. Do not fear. I will guide you." With that Thandir, still keeping his hold on the Mortal, began walking backwards and Aragorn followed, not having any choice in the matter. He did however step as quietly as possible. Soon they were away from the spring and the three conspirators sitting oblivious to all around them. When they were completely out of sight from the spring Thandir let go his hold on Aragorn and turned him around. Aragorn saw the immortal standing there with a huge grin on his face.

"Thandir, what are you doing here?" Aragorn asked, still whispering.

The Elf shook his head and put a finger to his lips and then without further comment calmly lifted Aragorn up into the trees where other hands grabbed him and helped him onto a branch and then he was standing on a talan surrounded by several Elves, some of whom he recognized from Imladris, though others were unknown to him. By their dress he could see that they were Wood Elves. Thandir joined him shortly and gave the Mortal a fierce hug.

"What do you here Estel? Has Lord Elrond finally released you from his leading strings to let the fledgling go?" The Elf smiled and many of the others chuckled in amusement.

"I’ve been let go these six years, Thandir," Aragorn said somewhat shortly, not pleased at being teased. "I have been the Chieftain of the Dúnedain since I turned twenty and now I live among the Rohirrim with my cousin, Gilhael, to learn the ways of other Men whom I may someday have to meet as King of Gondor."

There was an uncomfortable silence and Thandir stared at the young Man in surprise, then he bowed and said somewhat contritely, "Forgive me, Isildurchil. When last I saw you, you were still pestering your brothers to take you on patrol."

Aragorn smiled thinly. "And I’ve been on patrol with my brothers since I turned fifteen, Thandir. I am no longer a child, even by your standards, I would hope. Now, what have you done with my companion?"

"You mean the Rohir child who even now sleeps in another talan?" Thandir asked, amusement back in his voice. "Fear not. No harm has come to him."

"I’m glad to hear that. Now do me a favor and wake him and bring him to me."

For a long moment Thandir merely stared at Aragorn, surprised at the tone of command that he heard. Then he recollected himself and with a soft word sent two of his people away. There was silence in the talan while everyone waited. The Wood Elves stood frowning at the Mortal who apparently had no respect for his elders, especially when they were the Firstborn. The other Elves stood about seemingly calm and unconcerned, though Aragorn knew better. Before things became too uncomfortable there was a rustle of movement and then Wídfara was being lifted into the talan, his eyes wide with fear and wonder, his face white. Aragorn could see he was trembling and not with cold and went to him, speaking quietly in Rohirric.

"Fear not, son of Eorl! These are friends and will not harm you. Come. Sit and let us discover the meaning of this. It seems that Dúnælfenedale is living up to its name in surprising ways."

Aragorn took the younger man’s hand and led him to the middle of the talan where he introduced him, speaking in Westron. "This is Wídfara son of Éonoth of the Rohirrim, cousin-kin to Thengel King. Wídfara, this is Thandir, once of Beleriand that now lies under the Sea, now a scout for my Lord Elrond of Imladris... and my friend."

Wídfara gulped and stared at the Elves standing about him and then gathered his courage to himself and bowed. "Westu, Thandir Ælfhláford, hál!"

The other Elves laughed lightly, causing Wídfara some confusion, wondering what he had said that so amused them. Thandir merely smiled. "No Elf-lord am I, child, but I thank you for your greeting. You may just call me Thandir. Come. let us sit and be at ease. I see there are many tales for the telling."

"Tales that must needs be brief, for we are on a mission for Thengel King and your presence jeopardizes it, and us," Aragorn said as he motioned Wídfara to sit beside him in the center of the talan. Thandir joined him and one of the Wood Elves, who was introduced as Haldir of Lothlórien. The other Elves ranged themselves around the edge of the talan on guard. As they sat, Aragorn spoke to Thandir in Sindarin. "Speak not my true name, my friend, for Wídfara knows me as Thorongil, though he prefers to render it into his own tongue. I will explain later."

Thandir did not change his expression, but merely nodded, then turned to the Rohir, his eyes shining in the moonlight. "Thorongil tells me that your king has taken him and his cousin into his service."

"Th-that is true, lord," Wídfara said, his eyes still wide and his face paler than was its wont. "Earntungol and Tungolfród came to Thengel King in the early summer. Tungolfród rides now with the king’s sister-son, Lord Hilderic, in the Westfold."

"And why are you not riding with your cousin, youngling?" Thandir asked, his curiosity aroused.

"A long story, Thandir," Aragorn sighed. "It is not important. What is is that our quarry slips away from us and our mission for the king fails before it was properly begun."

"Tell me," Thandir said and the force of his words, softly spoken though they were, left no doubt in either Mortal’s mind who was now in charge.

Casting an apologetic glance at Wídfara, Aragorn spoke rapidly in Sindarin, explaining everything and his own plans which he had been about to put into motion before being so rudely interrupted. Thandir laughed lightly at that and even Haldir smiled.

"I think we can do better than that," Thandir said, switching to Westron for Wídfara’s sake. "Show me what you brought." It turned out that the Elves had retrieved all the paraphernalia that Aragorn had brought without the three Mortals by the spring any the wiser. Thandir looked it over as Aragorn explained his intent and was quite impressed, though he refused to let either Mortal see.

"An interesting plan," he said when Aragorn finished. "But it might not have worked. However, I see no difficulty in my playing the role."

"Why you, Thandir of Imladris?" Haldir asked. There was no beligerence in the Wood Elf’s tone, merely curiosity.

Thandir turned to Haldir with a thin smile. "Because I remember the Light of the Two Trees, my friend. I fled Aman under Finrod’s banner and have seen the destruction of Doriath, Nargothrond and all of Beleriand, never mind the depredations of the Second Age under Sauron. In Aman my family is mighty in the counsels of the Aran Golodhrim, but I eschewed all that for the pleasure of sleeping in a talan under the stars of Ennorath."

Wídfara stared at the Elf with a mixture of awe and confusion while the other Elves, Haldir especially, grinned and even Aragorn had a small smile on his face. Never in his life had Wídfara thought to see an Elf. Indeed he believed them to be but tales fit for the nursery. Yet, here he was standing in the trees surrounded by them and his friend Earntungol spoke to them familiarly in their own language. It took some getting used to.

Haldir said something in Sindarin and Thandir replied before turning to Aragorn and speaking in Westron for the Rohir’s benefit. "The moon is nearly at zenith, so it will be best that we do this now. My people tell me your conspirators are yet at the spring. I will do this for you Thorongil. Haldir will lead you to a spot where you and your companion may watch in safety and enjoy the entertainment."

So saying they all left the talan, Wídfara and Aragorn being led by Haldir to a spot not far from where Wídfara had originally secreted himself. They could see Éolind and her two companions but could no longer hear what they said. Clouds suddenly moved before the moon and its light was dimmed, then they moved away and the night became bright again.

Then it suddenly became that much brighter when Thandir, now wrapped in the silvery cloak that Aragorn had brought, stepped silently out from under the trees and moved towards the conspirators, who suddenly realized they were no longer alone. The two men leapt up and drew their swords, which Thandir dismissed with a cold sneer. He stopped a few feet away, his hood thrown back so that his face was visible under the moonlight and there was a silvery glow about him as well. The Mortals looked upon him with awe.

"What do ye here, Mortals? Why trespass ye upon sacred ground?"

"Who are you?" one of the men asked belligerently, though there was a hint of fear in his voice.

Thandir stared at the Man and stepped forward a few more feet. "Have a care Isenbert of Isenbrandingsdale. The Firstborn care little for you and your people. We will not hesitate to destroy you all for this trespass."

Lord Isenbert started at the Elf’s use of his name. Wídfara had recognized both men and had named them and their titles to Thandir, describing them to the Elf so he would know who was who. The other two mortals also gasped at the Elf’s words. Before they could respond any further though, Thandir spoke again, allowing his voice to become as ice, distant and disdainful of the Mortals before him.

"You play a dangerous game, Éolind Éoric’s daughter, wife of Fengel King that was. Remember what happened at this spring and the prophecy of doom cast upon your husband."

"And what would you know of any prophecy, Lord Elf?" Éolind asked querulously.

Thandir took another step forward and smiled. It was all the more frightening as it was not a pleasant smile and the three Mortals quailed somewhat when they saw it. "I was there, child, when Grimhild drank from this spring and went into premature labor. I was there and it was I who spoke the words of doom upon her and her unborn child. You plot treason against your king. A dangerous game."

"What care you what games we Mortals play?" Isenbert snorted.

"When you play them in my presence, I care very much," Thandir said. "Get ye hence, for I will not allow ye to remain. Take ye your men and leave this dale tonight or suffer the consequences. As it is, I have a mind to send unto Thengel King word of this meeting between ye three, Éolind, Isenbert and Léodward of Alorharadsdale. I am sure he will find it quite amusing."

"You are but one Elf and not even armed," Léodward proclaimed with a sneer. "Why should we be the ones to leave?"

Thandir did not appear to give any signal but suddenly elven arrows flew unerringly in the night to land near the three Mortals. Thandir’s smile merely deepened at their reactions of dismay and fear. "Foolish children. You all belong back in the nursery," he said with cold contempt. "Thengel shall hear of this outrage to our peace for it was he who granted us this dale for our own use, though I remember a time when none lived in any of the dales of Rohan and Eorl the Young had yet to build his house in Aldburg."

The three Mortals stared at the Elf with a mixture of dismay and horror and began to back away. "You have until an hour before dawn to remove yourselves from our presence," Thandir said, "or none will live to see the sun rise."

The absolute certainty of his tone and the cool stare of contempt unnerved them as nothing else had and they fled as quickly as they could, calling upon their men to break camp immediately. Had they looked back and if they could have seen it, they would have been surprised at the broad smile on the Elf’s face.

"They have gone, my friends," Thandir said quietly, assured that his people at least would hear him. "Come out and join me by this lovely spring."

Soon Aragorn and Wídfara followed Haldir and some of the other Elves to where Thandir now sat beside the spring idly dipping his hand in its cold waters. He looked up as Aragorn approached. "How was my performance? Do you think it was convincing enough?"

"It convinced me," Aragorn said with a smile. "Did Thengel really give you leave to live here?"

Thandir gave a merry laugh that was nonetheless quiet, though in truth the mortals who were even now breaking camp were making too much noise to hear it. "We are here by no one’s leave, least of all a Mortal king of a rude people who are little better than barbarians."

Wídfara bristled at the Elf’s words and tone, but Aragorn put a warning hand on his arm, never taking his eyes off of the Imladris scout. "They are kin to the Edain who fought and died in the Dagor Nirnaeth Arnediad, who gave their life’s blood that you might survive to insult their descendants. Rude they may be, but they are still Eruhîn and worthy of your respect."

Every Elf within hearing gasped at Aragorn’s words. Thandir stared at the Dúnadan who stood revealed to them as a Lord of Men, puissant and wise, with the Light of Stars in his eyes. He noticed suddenly the ring that Aragorn wore and recognized it. With great reverence he stood and gave this child of Lúthien and Beren, of Eärendil and Elwing, a deep bow, hand on his heart. "Your pardon Isildurchil. I crave your forgiveness for impugning the honor of the people of Rohan. I fear I have allowed my arrogance to get the better of me."

"It is not my pardon you should seek, Thandir of Imladris," Aragorn said formally, "but I will accept it upon their behalf. Let us speak no more of it."

Thandir nodded and gave Wídfara a bow, and while it was less deep, it was no less respectful. "I apologize young Wídfara. It has been many centuries since I have last had dealings with the Secondborn."

Wídfara was unsure what he should do and looked to his friend Earntungol who suddenly was more than he seemed to the younger man’s eyes. Aragorn nodded encouragingly and Wídfara turned to the Elf and gave his own bow. "The Standlendings sneer at our rough ways too, my lord. I can hardly fault you for doing likewise, for you are as far above them as they are above us who roam the steppes of the Riddermark."

"Above, perhaps," Thandir remarked with a smile, "but not necessarily better."

"So what exactly are you doing here, my friend?" Aragorn asked, changing the topic of conversation.

"Let us return to the talan," Thandir suggested, "and I will tell you our tale. It will take some time for these Mortals to move out of the dale so you cannot leave just yet. Stay the night and in the morning you may go in safety."

"Our horses..." Wídfara protested.

"Tell us where you left them," Thandir said. "I will send some of my people to watch over them until you are ready to leave."

Wídfara described the dell which, it turned out, was known to the Elves. Thandir sent two of them to see to the horses while he and the other Elves accompanied the two Mortals back to the talan.

****

All words and phrases are Rohirric (Anglo-Saxon) unless otherwise noted.

Béma: The Rohirric name for the Vala Oromë. The Rohirrim believe that the Mearas were a gift to their ancestors from Oromë, hence their devotion to this particular Vala.

Talan: (Sindarin) A wooden platform in a tree.

Isildurchil: (Sindarin) Isildur’s Heir.

Ælfhláford: Elf-lord.

Aran Golodhrim: (Sindarin) King of the Noldor, who, at this time, is Arafinwë, known also as Finarfin.

Dagor Nirnaeth Arnediad: (Sindarin) Battle of Unnumbered Tears. The Edain, led by Húrin, held the rearguard, thereby allowing Turgon, King of Gondolin and now High King of the Noldor-in-Exile with the death of Fingon, to escape with the remnant of the elven army. Of the Mortals who fought beside the Elves at this battle, only Húrin survived, taken prisoner by Morgoth.

Eruhîn: (Sindarin) Children of Eru.