On the Edge of Fangorn
You stand on the border between forest and plain. To the south lies Fangorn Forest with all it's legends and mystery. You can't help but wonder if the legends about Fangorn are true. The trees seem to be examining you as you examine them. Turning towards the north you see streched before you a vast grassy plain...seemingly with no end in sight.
The mid day sun does little to warm the party of Galadhrim still camped by the edge of Fangorn, though it is not merely the cool Autumn wind that cuts through cloaks and thick boots to numb hands, toes and noses. Nay, there is an almost palpable feeling in the air, a tension measured out in furtive glances sent from Squire to Squire, the hurried steps of a Bachelor as he rushes from patrol duty to one of the empty tents, and the Banneret, now adjusting the belts and buckles of her horse's tack. The wind picks up her hair from her face, blowing it back so that she is given a clear view of the main tent in the camp, and with a mounting sense of dread she drops her hands and begins the first of several hesitant steps towards the doorway.
Even as Mia approaches the tent though, she does not get the chance to reach the doorway before it is thrown aside. There framed in the entrance to the tent is the Commander, his face concealed by the cowl he wears. Slight illumination comes from his elf-stones upon his brow, but even still, much of his face is dark under the heavy cowl. It is clear that his gaze rests upon the Banneret, as he ignores the salutes of the guards near the door. Walking out with measured strides, Terridan looks down towards Mia, his voice calm and emotionless, "Report to me, Banneret. What is the nature of our search?"
The sight of Terridan causes a change in Mia. She snaps her heels together and raises her hand to her shoulder in salute, her head held high and looking not at the Commander, but at a spot just over his shoulder. It is intentional that she avoid his gaze, for no sooner are his eyes on her than she begins to tremble, if only slightly. "Aye, sir, and the news is... good. The children are back in the camp, now fed and clothed and resting." Her eyes flit to him involuntarily, and what she sees simply makes her flinch. "But... there is more...." She sighs and looks at him, this time not as if he is her superior, but with a friendliness in her tone. "Terridan, please... let us not talk here in front of everyone. We need not go into your tent, but away from the center of attention might be best."
Although he still holds a foul mood, Terridan still has a sense of discretion. His eyes widen just a touch at her words, but he nods his head once, even as he reaches up to pull his cowl from off his helm, "Very well then." He turns to walk towards the edge of the encampment, pausing only to look back towards the other guards, "Make word that preperations to leave will begin immediately. I wish to be within Lothlorien as soon as it is possible." With that, he looks back over towards the Banneret once they have traveled out of the central camp, "Now then, Mia, tell me what it is that you wish to discuss with me."
Her hand resting on his elbow, Mia looks at Terridan with her lips pressed firmly together. "I cannot tell you how I hate to give this news to you, but it was not one of the members of the order who found the runaways. Erinstar, the Lady's Herald, was led to them by... one of the ents, if what the children say is true. I have spoken to the children already..." She glances back to the camp where not hide nor hair of the little ones can be seen, then back to the Commander. "Well, that's not entirely true. I was quite harsh with my tongue lashing and I fear I may have been a bit heavy handed, but I think that the enormity of the situation needed to be expressed." She pauses, her throat working as she struggles with something else to say, finally ending with a question. "What... what was HE doing here, Terridan? This was Order business, and the Lady was at no time directly involved. Actions need to be taken! We've looked like fools enough already, but now a damned diplomat comes in and finds these children where trained guards fail?"
For several minutes, Terridan says nothing. Instead his hands clench tightly into fists, letting the mithril of his gauntlets screech as metal is rubbed against metal. He does not look towards Mia, instead his eyes focus out upon the horizon. When he speaks, his voice is like ice, and his elfstones begin to flare brightly, "I too had heard that the Herald was here. Nor do I know why his presense would be here save for one reason... and that would be that the Lady has lost her trust within the Order." His head falls down low, and then he shakes his head, "But I will talk with her about such matters directly. If it is the case, then I must find a way to atone."
And now, he turns ot face his Banneret, his eyes alight with fire, "A bit heavy handed sounds a bit to soft. They have acted utterly foolishly, and placed countless elves within danger. I will speak to them myself when I see them, for this will NOT happen again." He turns away though, his cloak flowing out behind him like a dark cloud, "Now then... you are right. The Order looks incompetent due to these matters. Find those responsible. Bring them to me."
Not far from the Commander and the Banneret stands Vinyarod with head down and posture unremarkable as if attempting to avoid notice. He and all other members of the Order had failed miserably and although the children were safely in their presence it was an unrecoverable embarrassment as to how they had arrived. From the corner of his eyes he catches sight of Terridan and the Knight quickly diverts his gaze. He did not want to be noticed.
The Knight winces slightly at the sound of the Commanders voice and he took a step back to further disappear. Indeed the Order did look incompetent and when the guilty party or parties was found it would not be a pretty sight. Glancing up slightly, Vinyarod looks around the camp to see how others of the Order were holding up in the midst of this embarrassment. One brow rose slightly as he noted that none were in sight.
Mia rises up onto her toes as she turns to follow the Commander, and she walks just behind him taking two strides to his every one. "Nay, do not speak of such things Terridan! To say that the Lady has lost her trust... why, that just couldn't be! And it is not the way of the Lady to be so... underhanded! She would have sent word at least, and were you thinking clearly you would realize that!" She stops dead in her tracks, her hand flying to her mouth as if she can take back what was just said... no, for she did not merely say it as the eyes of many of their companions turn to look at them. She blushes, and her voice emerges somewhat breathlessly, as near to silence as a whisper can get. "Forgive me... Terridan, I... I overstepped my bounds. But I speak the truth." She winces, her head shakin from side to side as she glances down. "Those responsible will be found, Sir. I... I have a good idea already who is to blame in this matter."
Terridan pauses now, and then slowly and deliberately turns to face Mia. His eyebrows are raised slightly in question, and then he turns to face her fully, his features remarkably calm, "Truly now? Do you claim to know all the ways of the Lady? I have no idea what her methods are, even having served her for almost a millenia. It is possible that she sent her Herald to keep watch over us... another type of test if you would." Now he begins to walk forward, his steps slow and deliberate, "However, she would have the tact to keep such matters quiet. Rather than blurting them out loudly across an encampment." His eyes narrow further, and he looks down towards her, his voice a cold whisper, "You seem to think my vision clouded. Fine. We will discuss it later. But never question me in front of my guards again, Banneret. Friends we are, but I cannot have them doubting me at any time, on the field or off." He raises up, and takes his tone a little louder now, "Now then, who is it that you feel is responsible?"
Hearing the Banneret's words, Vinyarod involuntarily gasps as his head snaps up and turns towards the two seniors. Never had he seen or heard Mia speak or act as such! A breath holds in his chest as his eyes fill with concern, concern not only for the wrath that would surely pass over the Banneret, but concern that her words are that of truth. The children's escape from the Golden Wood and their subsequent discovery by the Royal Herald had wounded the Order. Was this outburst a sign of how deep that would is? With eyes filled with concern, the Knight carefully watches the drama play out.
When the Banneret and Commander move, Vinyarod lowers his eyes to give them some privacy, though he could hear most of the words they say. His expression hardens and he scans over the camp, looking at the faces present. He resolves himself to speak with them privately to prevent word of this argument from going any further than this small area.
Mia's response is quiet, her head bowed slightly when she first begins to speak, then growing in strength as she tilts her head up to look at him. "Never would I wish to cast doubt on you or your command, and it was a grevious error that I should speak to you thus. I cannot fathom all that the Lady thinks, or where her immediate concerns may lie. But I cannot allow myself to believe that she would send the Herald out to keep an eye on us. There are less dangerous ways to test us, Terridan." When she finishes, she is looking him in the eye, and without pause she continues, "It is not one person, Terridan, but a few. We have one with us here though I have not confronted him yet. But I know, Commander... based on his words and actions. And a bit of, uhm, incriminating evidence." She reaches into a pocket and draws out a folded slip of paper, slowly handing it to the Commander.
Taking the peice of paper, Terridan looks over the lines upon it for several moments, before he glances back up towards Mia with a hint of curiousity in his eyes, "Where was this found?" The Commander grows silent as he begins to study the map again, "Regardless of the Lady's Herald, I will speak with her when we return to the woods. This is more interesting though... who is it that has caught your suspicions?"
Taking a breath, Mia leans towards the paper and points along the center. "As you can see, they planned to take the river south as far as possible before it veers in the wrong direction. This leaves a fairly plain path through Lothlorien, written in the hand of the very children who were bound to escape, which when compared to the logs of who was on patrol..." She looks up at him and shrugs, "Leading to the people in the vacinity that night. By my count there are fifteen that are most at fault here, with another thirty or so that may possibly have been near enough to have heard something." She points to the crude raft drawn in and raises her eyebrow, "We found the remains of their raft downstream, but had they been able to continue..." She shakes her head and sighs. "Who knows if they would have been seen, and I don't know how they were not even on foot. But the map came from one of their friends who got left behind. Poor child had the misfortune of wandering into the Naith and being spied by Vinyarod." She looks up and sees the Knight a good distance away, far enough that he is not included into their immediate conversation but his eyes and attention are on them and she smiles at this knowledge.
As Anor's rays grow evermore dim, until finally setting below the horizon, a shadow moves quickly and silently towards the edge of camp. A glimpse of bright elfstone upon her brow does quickly dismiss any fear or uneasiness in the elven guards that watch, for it is but one of their own. A nod does she recieve from a passing edhel as she enters a camouflaged tent, pausing in her haste at it's entrance. Lifting the door, she secures it open with a small pebble kept nearby.
Sifting through a basket of collected leaves and roots of various types does the healeress Caristia first catch ear of the conversation ensuing beyond her quarters. Tuning her senses to that episode quietly, a brow raises at the topic being spoken of. Piles of leaves continue to grow larger as the elleth listens quietly; to all outside eyes intent upon her work of sorting the herbal components.
Terridan too glances towards Vinyarod, but then he hands the paper back towards Mia, "Very well then. Make no mention of this until we return towards Lothlorien. I will deal with them at that point and no sooner. Let us get these children back into the safety of Lothlorien first. Only then will I deal with those that failed their task." Taking another heavy breath, the Commander begins to shake his head wearily, "Tell me though, why was there a forester with this group as well?"
Catching sight of a glance from both the Banneret and the Commander, Vinyarod takes his bow from his back and carefully inspects the string. Once completed with the task, he slips a hand in to a pouch and withdraws an oil cloth. Curiosity is clearly written upon his face as he begins to rub the cloth over the yew wood of his bow. Upon hearing that they know the names of the guilty parties he frowns and pauses his works. His eyes catch Caristia's movement and he tilts his head slightly as he watches her.
"The aunt of one of the children," Mia explains, her tone conveying her understanding of his inquiry. "And tirelessly has she lent her aid. She requested the right to come and I could honestly give her no definate reason why she should not." She quirks an eyebrow at the Commander, her mouth pulling at the corner as she begins to smile... but it does nothing to lend her a joyful air. Instead she appears impish, almost devious. "I do have one other thing to point out, Terridan. Were the Lady to send her Herald as a spy, would she also send a lowly counselor in her service? It sees to me that I might wonder more at the presence of Galindrion than Hyarodel." She takes the paper with a quick motion and slides it back into her pocket.
"Very well then. And as I said, I will talk with the Lady upon our return." Terridan's tone makes it clear he is done with that particular matter, and he crosses his arms over his chest now, tilting his head just a bit, "I do wonder at their presense, but at least Hyardoel seems to have a reason. But enough talk. We waste time here. Send the call out, we return to the woods as soon as the camp is prepared." With that, Terridan gives Mia a faint smile, and then motions her off, "Now let us off. I despise being away from my home for so long."
Mia says, "You and me both, Terridan. No sooner home than swept away, out wandering paths for another day." She grins and makes a short bow to the Commander, her heels once more touching. "We will be off immediately, and not a moment too soon. I shall rest in my talan by week's end if I must carry everyone home on my back." With that, she turns and begins briskly caling out orders to those gathered, her hand raising as she signals the Knight Vinyarod to join her."
Overhearing word that they are soon to leave, Vinyarod pauses once more at his task and a brief smile appears upon his face. At the first order issued, the Knight lifts his head and turns towards his seniors, anxiously awaiting his own call to task. As Mia signals him, he tucks the oil cloth into his pouch and places his bow upon his back as he beings to move forwards. Within a few steps of both Mia and Terridan, he stops and issues a salute to acknowledge her summons. "You have orders Banneret?" he asks softly.
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