They had made their way back to the banks of the Baranduin. Odofur had insisted rowing his boat across the river on his own while the Aravir and Aragorn eased their horses through the channels and shoals of the river.
They reached the west bank well before Odofur. Waiting patiently, they watched him huff and puff, digging the oars into the current, slogging along.
After a while he reached shore. He leapt out of the boat with a splash and dragged it up the bank, grunting with effort.
“Well, there! A nice afternoon for a boat ride. And good to meet an old friend at a time of need. Now I’d like to tie the boat off on that low ledge there”
Odofur pointed to a rock outcrop next to the path up the riverbank. Not that far of a climb, but well above high water. Odofur tied a section of rope to the bow then chugged up the hill. At the ledge he dragged the craft to the flat rock and tied the rope to a tree. He tied a second rope section to the stern and secured it to another tree.
“There! Away from the water yet close enough if another trip is warranted. Now, let’s head up the bank, through the fields to the house. Delfina will be excited to see you. My sons were just boys the last time you were here. We will set a feast to celebrate this reunion!”
They made their way up the rest of the riverbank path, emerging from the shady riverside forest to a bright sun warming carefully tilled fields. Odofur led the way on a narrow track between fields of potatoes and corn. In the distance they could see his house, and to the side a fenced pasture where sheep roamed.
“You thrive Master Odofur. Such bounty in the fields and lamb on the hoof. Market day will welcome you indeed.”
“The soil is good, Aravir. We all work hard. And the concerns of the rest of the world seem to have forgotten us. Let it continue to be so.”
Aragorn reached out to lightly touch Aravir’s arm, then pointed ahead to something past Odofur’s house in the distance.
“It may not continue long, my friend. It seems the outside world may soon be at your doorstep. You have guests.”
“Guests? I’m not expecting anyone. It’s not my cousin Primadoc again is it? On ruse of sharing important news but angling for dinner no doubt”
Aravir squinted, trying to make out some detail.
“No, two of the big folk as you call them. What business can they have with you?”
“None that I can think of. Good you are here once more! Help me get to the bottom of this.”
They continued at a measured pace, steadily closing the gap to the two intruders whose form and countenances were not yet clear. Aravir and Aragorn loosened their swords in their scabbards.