Title: Courage
Characters: Beleg, Mablung, Túrin, mentions of Thingol and Melian
Prompt: 033. your bones are sore and weak, but your will is as strong as concrete
Summary: Beleg has doubts about the newest march-warden, but they are proved unfounded.
Author's Notes: All belongs to Tolkien. Beleg and Mablung are both identified as march-wardens in Unfinished Tales. Túrin was seventeen when he first joined them, although it says in UT 'while yet scarcely out of his boyhood his strength and courage were proved; and remembering the wrongs of his kin he was ever forward in deeds of daring'.
'I still think you're overreacting,' said Mablung, watching Beleg pace around the room.
Beleg halted in midstep to glare at his friend before beginning to pace again. 'I'm not overreacting. All I said was that I thought it was a bad idea. Honestly, what wise person would approve of this?'
'Their majesties, for a start.' Mablung was trying not to have too much fun at Beleg's expense, but it wasn't often that he saw his friend so flustered. 'I saw him before I left Menegroth. He looks like a promising lad, and he's trained with the guards.' A memory suddenly stirred. 'I don't know why I'm telling this to you, anyway. You were the one who brought him into Doriath.'
'Yes. I did.' And that was precisely why Beleg did not like the idea. The sight of two old men and a boy, hungry and half frozen, had been a stark reminder that eventually, all men died. Beleg sighed. 'I don't doubt his courage or his skill, but he's too young for this. Besides, I don't like to think of what King Thingol would do to me if the boy got himself killed.'
'He's seventeen, and Men grow faster than Elves. He's almost as tall as you now. Personally, I think he should do well, as long as he remembers to wear thick armour.'
Beleg gave up. 'Alright. But if I end up in one of the dungeons because of him, I'll be telling the king that you convinced me it was a good idea.'
'Convinced you? No. All I did was make sure that you won't turn the lad away as soon as he arrives.' Mablung's grin was as wide as Beleriand. 'He's on his way now. We left Menegroth at the same time, but I run faster than him, and I thought you deserved some warning.'
Túrin and several other march-wardens entered the cabin before Beleg could respond, which Mablung later decided was probably a good thing.
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Spring had come early to Doriath, so Mablung and several others had gone hunting, looking forward to meat after winter's plain fare. They had found a deer, and chased it for several miles through thick forest before Túrin managed to fire an arrow into the animal's side. When they returned in triumph to the lodge, Mablung gave his friend a look that clearly said I told you so, but Beleg, who had come forward to join the others in praising Túrin, did not notice.