To those readers that have been following this story and waiting ever so patiently. As you may or may not know, the dear Lady Akyrial has passed to Valinor, and I was held in trust for her stories. I have decided to continue this one, as it was one of my favorites. Thank you for your appreciative comments for her, I will try to continue in her style.
The wardens watched the man as he rode into the outer boundary of the woods. His horse was slowly picking its way between the great Mallorns. It was odd that a man would willingly venture this far into the wood unless he wanted something.
The horse seemed tired, its proud head drooping slightly and its ears not perked the way such a magnificent animal should have held them. This horse was of Rohan, its blood lines easily showing through in the wide chest and strongly muscled flanks. It was no mere transport or work horse, it was a war horse – probably distantly related to the Mearas.
The head warden of the third watch, Findoron, surveyed the scene quietly for a few more minutes. His grayish blue eyes narrowed slightly when he beheld the man's passenger, a child, who was almost obscured by the man's cloak. 'This is interesting,' he reflected. 'Why does a man travel with a child, alone, in these perilous times?' Watching closely, he waited until the man was nearly below him, and then he softly spoke a command for the horse to stop. Jumping quietly to the ground, he stood about ten yards in front of the horse.
"Daro," he commanded. He watched as the man started slightly, then relaxed at the sight of the elves surrounding him. 'How odd,' he mused. 'Men usually become apprehensive when surrounded by the guard.' "What business do you have in the Golden Wood?" he challenged.
Theman glanced at the small company of elves surrounding his horse. It was strangely unnerving to see twenty or so arrows nocked and aimed at him. "I come seeking three Elves. Brothers. Do you know of the ones called Rumil, Orophin, and Haldir?"
Findoron glared at the man, trying to sense any form of deceit. Sensing none, and seeing this man's courage returned in an unwavering gaze, he continued his challenge. "What business would you have with these elves?"
"My Lord, I have no quarrel with the Elves of Lothlorien, but my message is private. I would ask that you give us sanctuary until they can be summoned – for we have traveled long and hard to come here. May we rest under these trees until they come?"
Findoron covered the distance to the horse in ten paces. He peered at the man and waited with an unspoken order until the man opened his cloak. He could not tell whether the sleeping child, who was bundled up in a cloak, was a girl or a boy.
The man, anticipating more questions, tried to answer them without offering too much. "This is my brother's child. My brother and his wife were killed when the orcs destroyed the farms in their valley. Please, would you let us rest here?"
"You will wait here," Findoron responded. He backed away and motioned for one of the lesser guards to approach him. "Erebdhel, you will ride into the city and summon the march-warden and his brothers. Apprise them of the situation and ask them what they wish me to do. I will hold these two here until you or they return."
Returning to the newcomers, Findoron addressed the man, "By what name are you known?"
The man stared quietly for a moment, trying to ascertain their fate. "I am Tobin, son of Adric, horse breeder of Rohan," he responded quietly.
Findoron nodded slightly, approving of the man's humility. "Tobin, son of Adric, I am Findoron, head warden of the third watch. By my leave, you and the child will be allowed to make camp here until someone returns. You may rest quietly among us, but may not make any fire in the wood. You must also yield your weapons. Do you agree to these terms?"
"Aye, sir, they are fair enough. My sword is at my right hip. I give you leave to take it, as I hold the child," Tobin offered respectfully.
Findoron nodded and another warden approached and removed the weapon quickly. When the wardens relaxed their postures and guard, the man visibly relaxed. Swinging his leg over the back of his horse, he dismounted smoothly with the sleeping child. A different warden prepared a bedroll on the ground by the base of a large tree and Tobin understood that the roll was for the child. He thanked the Elf, who nodded politely, and then placed the child gently on the bedding, removed his cloak and covered the sleeping bundle.
"You care greatly for this child, Tobin," Findoron stated. He could see the concern the man had, but noted that he was awkward with children. He was also curious as to the child's welfare. Long had it been since a child or elfling had been in the woods, and as such it was a curious joy to behold one so young.
Tobin looked at the elf and tried to understand the tone that he had used. "This isthe only child of my brother. Both he and his wife were killed, not even a week past. I do not have children, nor do I understand them; but I could not shirk this duty of kinship."
Findoron nodded. Kinship was important to the Firstborn. Sensing the man's discomfort with this topic, he changed the subject. "Does the child fare well? It is rare to see one sleep so soundly."
Tobin glanced sharply at the elf, sensing the disquieted and unasked questions. "Aye, the child sleeps soundly," he agreed. "A healer gave me a medicine to keep the child asleep until we reached the forest. The child has been through a great shock and the healer thought it best for the child to sleep on the journey. I can see that you have questions, sir, but I can not answer many of them as I was estranged from my brother and his wife. I did not know this child existed until last week, when the town's magistrate contacted me about my brother's death."
Accepting this truth from the man, Findoron nodded and then reached into his pocket and withdrew a leaf-covered bundle. "I will leave you to your rest. Here is some lembas if you or the child becomes hungry. Chew it slowly, as a mouthful will suffice for a meal. If you have need for anything, merely ask, and it will be provided." When the man thanked him, Findoron moved away and assigned two of the senior guards to watch over them.
'Curious,' he thought. 'A man seeking the march-warden and his brothers – carrying a child, no less. Was the child a male or female?' Findoron though that it was strange to see the man's discomfort with the child; although his explanation was truthful, it was still strange…as if he were purposefully detached. It was almost as if he resented the child, but resigned to accept it, due to the brother's death. As he pondered, he knew that the truth would surface on the morrow.