At the beginning of morning shift Oropher was approached by soldier who informed him that Mablung awaited his presence. Oropher was more than sure that he did nothing to earn anger of his commander and reported everything that happened on the latest Council meeting, so he made his was to the wooden building with ease. And as soon as he met Haerdin near the stairs, and then Egnaspen on his way to Mablung even the slightest Oropher's doubts disappeared immediately.

Mablung had new orders for them and without further ado he went straight to the point.

'The Council sends soldiers to farest settlements in our forests. Three companies, one from each Banner. At least three divisions in one.' Mablung said. 'Choose a leader for each party and help them gather soldiers for this duty.'

'How soon they are leaving?' Haerdin asked, but Oropher glanced at the tip of his eye at Egnaspen. The old general was still in quite foul mood though it was hard to guess why it was so. And Mablung too seemed to not be on his best side this day.

'Their duty starts with the first constellation of a middle-spring, so there is still a bit of time. Take care of it efficiently.' he said. 'Haedin, inform Ciryion that he is leaving to the Tower. Celeborn said he wishes to leave quite soon, let them discuss the exact time.'

Oropher sighted quietly. He knew Ciryion quite well – he was a close friend to Aenor since Oropher remembered. But unlike Aenor, Ciryion never shared hostility towards Oropher, but there was no friendship between them as well. Ciryion was extremly intelligent elf and found the rivalry of Oropher and Aenor utterly pointless if not foolish. He neverr bothered to pry them away from their conflict and he never let himself be dragged in any fight. It was their fight and their problem - that's what Ciryion always used to say and he stayed away from it. Right now, Ciryion was an officer in one of the regiments of Cougar Banner and he was considered as a senior officer, just as Aenor, and Oropher knew he could trust him in getting Celeborn to the Tower and then back safely to Menegroth.

With no further comments or discussion they left their commander. Egnaspen left as first and with no hurry walked straight to his office. Nothing indicated that something was out of order and yet Oropher, and also Haerdin, had a feeling that something gnawed Egnaspen deeply.

'Do you know who you will choose?' he asked Haerdin with whom he walked out of the building and down the stairs.

'Aenor, probably. Or maybe I will give a chance to a younger captain.' Haerdin said. 'You?'

'I think I will send Bressil.' Oropher said. The elleth was a captain in Alagos's ranks and he heard a lot of good about her. Many siad she will make a great commander one day.

'Bressil?' Haerdin repeated. 'A good choice. Maybe you are right, maybe I should as well assign younger officer for this.'

'It's good to get them started.' Oropher said and in a moment they parted ways with Haerdin the older general was taken somewhere by his soldier.

Oropher went deeper into the fields, maybe he will be in luck to meet Alagos and he will get the matter with Bressil done immediately. But usually, he met Alagos when he didn't want to and when there was a need to speak with him, Alagos was nowhere to be seen. Knowing Alagos, he was doing that on purpose.

Instead, he stumbled upon curious happening on one of the larger fields. There was a quite large crowd there and many elves were sparring together, often having four of five swordsmen in a group and everyone fought against each other. Good training for flexibility and attention.

Oropher recognised few young soldiers of his Banner who belonged to the regiment of heavy cavalry and no wonder that Rawoneth was there as well. She was sitting on the wooden fence and it was no one other but Arvellon next to her. They were sitting as close to each other as they could and they were holding hands, sometimes they turned to each other to say a nice word. And seeing it Oropher couldn't prevent a smile that entered his face. He wished to see them together for long centuries and maybe in distant future they will get married and have their own family. Who knows what the future will bring.

Oropher noticed his young soldiers passing by on the other side of the paddock carrying their saddles and they shouted something to gathered elves. Quite long ago Oropher learned that Halloth, Tinnu and Amrun were in friendship with Arvellon and his division. Oropher knew they shouldn't be all too familiar with foot soldiers as the future officers and a member of his own division, but Oropher couldn't forbade them to make friend among young soldiers who were their age. As much as they got along with olders warrior in their team, Amrun, Halloth and Tinnu also needed different company.

There was Bressil among sparring soldiers and she seemed to live her life. She was always said to be eager for any fight and she was greatly skilled in any aspect of fighting. Also her looks made many ellons turning their attention on her and those who preferred warrior-elleths over Ladies were more than pleased to admire her on the training fields.

And where was Bressil there was Helegon – a young wolf as Alagos always liked to call him. Helegon, a captain of a Wolf Banner, was truly determined to win Bressil's heart and he did all he could to make the elleth open up to him. Oropher didn't know if something was happening between the two. Truth be told, he only knew about this because Alagos was telling him all the hearsays and rumors. Nothing Oropher asked about himself.

To his surprise there was also Aglaron there – supposedly a rival for death to Arvellon and seeing them both on the same field, around the same space was surprising. Oropher chose to not think about that all too long – he found Bressil, so now he had to localize this fox Alagos.

Oropher left them behind them, glad that young soldiers more than often chose to train together and share their experience more than rival with each other. They will get far – those new young warriors were their future.

Then he snorted and shook his head at his own nostalgia. Oropher will remain general till next long centuries and nothing indicated that Egnaspen or Haerdin will resign from their duty and there were many old soldiers and officers who will still remain in their ranks. There was no reason for thoughts that just crossed Oropher's mind.

But he didn't manage to walk far when he saw a soldier clearly making his way towards him, so he stopped his tracks and waited the elf to approach him.

'Sir, there is a Lady waiting for you in the building. She doesn't seem well.' he said. 'She is all shivery and she asked about you and officer Taranir.'

Oropher frowned immediately and dread of concern struck his heart. After he said his thanks to the soldier he quickly made his way towards the building full of worry and he was almost sure who was waiting for him.

The elleth was no one other but Linel. She stood on the corridor lost in unknown environment, but when she heard someone entering she turned to the entrance. Her big brown eyes were shining and all of her told Oropher that she was in great distress.

'Forgive me, I don't want to bother you, but I-I had nowhere else to go.' Linel said and Oropher embraced her with arm leading inside his office and he closed the door behind them.

'The soldier told me you are all shook up. What happened?'

'I saw him today on the market. He was following me.' Linel said with weak voice and she covered her mouth and indeed only then Oropher noticed a wooden basket in her hands with few green sticking out of it.

Then he grimaced a bit thinking about what his father told him earlier – it was still too early for Eregon to leave the custody.

'He should be still under arrest.'

'No, I am sure it was him.' she said as she shook her head and sobbed weakly. 'My mother and Taranir...they are so brave, they are doing what they can. But I am just scared of him.'

Oropher embraced her briefly and caressed her back. Quickly arranging his plan he led Linel to armchair in the corner of the room and tried to bite down his anger.

'Sit here and don't go anywhere. He wont dare to come here and I will get Taranir to you as soon as I can.' he said and after she nodded, Oropher took off from his office and closed the door.

Swiftly he jumped down the stairs and made his way to the stable. He took Húro and not bothering to saddle the horse, he galloped out towards the city, but before he reached the main road he turned to less crowded corridor to the heart of command of the Royal Guards.

He stopped on a marble courtyard and jumped off his horse. He immediately went inside the white painted building and barged into the office of Sealon.

'Why you let him go?!' he called immediately with no words of greeting and Saelon inside the room got up from his chair slowly and watched Oropher from the other side of the desk.

'Charges you presented were not backed up by anything or anyone.'

'He should have stayed till at least next sunset!' Oropher shouted and Saelon's eyes darkened, his face clearly showing that he had enough of this dispute.

'Let me remind you that I decide who remains in my cells and who is released.' he said with low voice. 'And I don't answer to you.'

Oropher growled angered, pile of curses and insults going up his throat, but arguing with the Chef of the Guards would be fruitless, so Oropher just turned back and left Saelon's office. The horse stood on the courtyard as he was left and Oropher jumped on Húro leading the horse back to the fields. He barely got there to proceed with further steps of his plan, when ominous aura on the fields stated that a commotion was just about to start. A peace before the storm.

From the back of his horse, Oropher saw the fields more clearly. Here was Taranir, supervising manouvers of a cavalry divisions. He stood at small platform to observe the soldiers more closely with arms crossed on chest.

And here was the marchwarden, walking towards Taranir keeping low and gaining no attention as a true hunter should. He had sizable knife in hand and Oropher didn't want to even imagine what he wanted to do with it.

Pure accident and pure luck that Oropher was on time to see it. And that he even noticed.

With eyes fixed on single purpose, he pushed his horse to gallop down the road, much faster than it was wise and even allowed. He didn't pay attention to the elves jumping out of his way. Right now he had only one objective – stop Eregon at all cost. Nothing else mattered. Even his own safety.

He could dock Eregon powerfully to send him unconcious, but such thing could end in serious injuries and Oropher didn't need even more problems. Trampling the elf to the ground was not even an option, so instead he hastened his horse to cross Eregon's way, so he won't be anywhere near Taranir. And Eregon was getting so threateningly closer that Oropher for a moment thought he was dreaming a nightmare.

Oropher was ready to risk his own health. He even pushed out of his mind that Eregon had a knife in hand. He would have grabbed the marchwarden so confidently as if he didn't have a weapon. But Oropher was not ready to risk anyone else's life.

He was close enough to even hear what Faron was saying. He cought Eregon by uniform and pulled him to stop as confidently as Oropher would have done.

'Hey! What do you think you are doing?!' Faron's voice was harsh and he expected immediate answer and Oropher shouted to him almost at the same moment, but he was too late with words of warning.

'Faron, don't-!'

Eregon turned swiftly and Oropher saw this bolt that went through Faron's body. He brought his hands to chest and Oropher dismounted before the horse even fully stopped. It all was happening in a blink of an eye and yet he felt as if this moment scretched impossibly in time. He got hold on the handle of the knife that was driven into Faron's chest, so it won't be pulled out, and then he forced Eregon to let go by hitting his face with elbow.

Oropher cought his friend tightly and at this point he was still able to stand on his own legs. Faron was dizzy and as Oropher observed him it was clear that he didn't fully know what was happening. And for Oropher all the sounds around seemed dimmed down and there was only loud pounding of his own heart.

He didn't see Eregon straightening up from his strike, but dreadful shadow that appeared made him look up. Orthon fell upon Eregon and fight that began looked more like a wolf biting down small fox. Orthon didn't need a reason other than seeing Oropher pushing Eregon away.

What this elf had done? This lone question bounced in his mind and then a realisation that it happened made Oropher's heart pound so forcefully that it was almost painful. Eregon didn't think straight, he couldn't, he probably didn't know what he was doing or saying. Oropher was right about this desperation – it was dangerous and unpredictable.

He called out to Faron few times, but without a response. Someone already run to the infirmary, other more sober soldiers immediately tried to clean the area by dispersing not needed crowd, and in a moment Taranir was beside Oropher pressing coat around knife in Faron's body.

'It passed by heart?'

'I think so, yes.' Oropher said, actually glad that the coat covered wide stain of blood on Faron's uniform. 'Faron? Do you hear me? Hey!'

Faron blinked, still not fully aware what was happening around him. Dizzy and in shock, he probably didn't feel so much pain, but under this fog he most likely already felt pounding of his heart that even doubled the pressure and spasming muscles squezzed steel that was driven into his body. Soon he will have troubles with breathing and loose of conciousness from blood loss will probably seal everything.

'Yes, I-' Faron said, but his voice was strangely away. He rised his hand that holded handle of a knife not that long ago and it was dripping with his own blood. As if at the sight of this, Faron lost even more of his strength and when his muscles loosened he leaned heavily on Oropher who cought him preventing his friend from falling.

'Hold on, just hold on, Faron, please.' Oropher started to say desperately as he lowered Faron to the ground and kneeled close to him, holding tightly. Taranir followed, but both of them knew that the coat around the blade was doing nothing to stop the bleeding. Oropher rised up head shouting furiously to the crowd. 'Where is this damn healer?!'

A shiver went through Faron's body and Oropher felt an invicible hand tighten on his throat making it hard to swallow thoughts that started to cross his mind.

Orthon long ago let go of beating up Eregon even more and now he stood aside watching the situation, but he was far from calm. He looked more like a predator in a cage, but he was helpless in this situation. He could do nothing more – no more elves were needed beside Faron and the less were directly beside him the better.

Nelledir joined Orthon's side glancing from him to Oropher and Taranir who held Faron tightly, but Oropher was too overwhelmed by everything around to see them holding hands in silent support.

Here were Alagos and Saida pulling away their young soldiers, despite themselves protecting them from the sight in front of them. Tinnu let himself be taken away, Amrun and Halloth balked where they were and they was staring with wide eyes at the scene.

And Faron's light was fading. This thought broke through all others and bumped from one corner of mind to another only to come back with double strength. Though still concious, Faron was slowly loosing awareness and Oropher looked at Taranir in silent need that he will deny this. But he only saw this same painful desperation and fright in brown eyes of his friend.

Oropher held more tightly to Faron and his hands were actually shivering from stress and pressure. He could feel Faron slip away from this world. He was only half concious and he no longer responded to any of their calls. Not really knowing what he was doing, Oropher held a hand close to Faron's heart and he recalled ancient words of old east where Lenwë tought first trees to sing. He tried hard to reach for them and with all his power he tried to repeat Denethor's words – a single spell hidden in song that he tought Oropher so long ago.

'Let the splash of water bright me up, single sparrow will sing with me and I will widely smile.' Oropher whispered words and even to him it sounded so foreign, yet so powerful that he didn't stop. It was not even the language of the Green Elves nor Quenya the Golodhrim knew so well. Those were old worlds which only the ancient remembered, and even some of them already forgotten. 'We will dance with silver light, under golden beams we will gather stars. Run with wolves, watch the eagles fly, winds will carry me over waves and grass.'

Oropher breathed out and swallowed heavily. Weird sensation of reaching his soul was overwhelming, as if those words came from within him and Oropher almost felt himself being turned over the other side. He closed eyes at pulsing power of his words and he continued, only deepening the feeling of being somewhere far.

'Gold and jewels I will give to him, wreaths of flowers will adorn my head, shells and rocks I will shape like stars-'

Oropher came back to conciousness when he was pushed aside so powerfully that he fell on the sand a bit away from where he was. He wanted to rise himself immediately, but as soon as he moved his vision darkened for a moment and still dizzy he only managed to lean on his elbow. He remained like this, feeling his stomach buzzling powerfully and he focused on preventing himself from throwing up.

Oropher managed to look up at someone who treated him so. It was no one other but Egnaspen who took his place near Faron and he was whispering some foreign words that Oropher could not hear nor truly understand. And Egnaspen was spilling the words so fast that it was impossible to catch even a single one.

But Egnaspen breathed a bit of life into Faron. He seemed to regain his strength, he still breathed heavily and surely knife in his body pained horrendously, but he gained more colors and more life. Nothing else mattered.

At the same time Elhador barged into the scene with three assistants at side. They dropped their equipment around already preparing some thin knives, smudges and small polished stones, some large leaves, one of them had brew with strong herbs in hand.

'Move!' Elhador shouted at Taranir who obediently crawled away. Elhador kneeled near Faron and cut his uniform open to reveal the wound fully and in this time Egnaspen finished whatever he was doing.

The older general moved aside letting Elhador's assistant take his place and get hold on Faron. Their job here was done, now all was in the hands of the healers.

Oropher felt cold shivers all over his body, but at least his stomach didn't buzzle so much anymore. And he registered that Egnaspen was near him only when the old general kneeled beside him.

'You saved him.' it was all Oropher managed to say, but Egnaspen reached out and grabbed him, helping him to rise and sit.

'Careful. Sit still for few moments.' Egnaspen said and Oropher felt his blue eyes peering into him. He didn't struggle when Egnaspen rised his chin to look into his eyes. 'I'm surprised...that you know such powerful spell.'

'Denethor tought me...long ago.' Oropher managed to say and Egnaspen nodded at his words in thought.

'I'm surprised Denethor knew it.' he muttered still looking intently at Oropher. 'You will be fine' he finally said. 'But don't ever use it so recklessly. You have no skills that would allow you to make this spell work. Yes, it's powerful and it can make a difference between life and death...but with no skills on your own it will drain you.' he paused for a moment. 'You could have even died had you finished it.'

'But you...you made it.'

'Because I was trained in it.' Egnaspen said and patted his arm. 'You will feel weakened, so don't strain yourself. And the worst is over, Faron should be fine. Knife passed by heart and have not caused such great bleeding as it may seem.'

'How can you know it?' Oropher asked looking all over the older general. His blue eyes were like summer sky and contrasted with dark skin. It was always a wonder to many as no other elf in Doriath shared such looks.

'My kin is known for their skills in arts of healing.' Egnaspen said quietly and then he rised his head. 'It seems they are taking Faron to infirmary.'

At those words Oropher wanted to jump on his legs, but instead he scrambled non-graciously from the ground and Egnaspen had to help him in the end. The older general was right – he could feel his knees weaken at first steps.

Oropher cought up Taranir who was still sitting on the sand and impassively watched as assistants rised Faron up, having their hands tangled and carefully placed to not cause even more damage and then they slowly started to take him away.

He helped Taranir get up and pushed him delicately walk. When he approached Nelledir and Orthon who stood nearby, Oropher briefly embraced Nelledir and then patted Orthon's arm also silently bidding him to move.

'Come, let's go.' he said and his soldiers followed him as they always did.

He approached Algaos and Saida who were enough space away to not see what was happening to Faron. Halloth, Amrun and Tinnu were sitting silently on the fence, lost in their own thoughts. He embraced Saida and bid her to join others and then it was Alagos who embraced him tightly. For a brief moment Oropher closed his eyes in quick respite, but as they let go Oropher looked at his young soldiers.

'We will wait near the infirmary.' he said calmly and they scrambled down from the fence. When they passed by him, Oropher patted their shoulders in support.

He gathered his soldiers and quietly they all moved towards the infirmary near the wooden building. Driven by hunch Oropher looked to the side and away from all of this stood Arvellon watching him intently. Bressil was at his side and Aglaron was also there, behind them stood their horses cropping a bit of grass.

Leaving his friends, Arvellon cought up to him and when Arvellon embraced him Oropher felt well known waves of warmth that Arradis also emanated. She had such caring spirit that she passed it on to Arvellon and Oropher immediately breathed out in relief.

'Try to not think about it and get to your duties. It's the best you can do.' Oropher said and Arvellon pulled away looking all over him.

'How can I?' he asked incredulously. 'Faron almost died, in here, in Menegroth! How? Why? It wasn't an accident!'

Oropher patted Arvellon's arm to calm him. There was no point in lying and Arvellon needed only confirmation.

'You are right, it was no accident.' he said quietly. 'And that it happened in here...it was...probably what terrified me as well.'

And also who did it. Briefly Oropher wondered where Eregon now was, but since Orthon beat him up so bad he was probably not able to go anywhere on his own. Most likely he was taken to the custody where he belonged and where Oropher hoped he will remain. Till the end of his days, if needed.

Arvellon patted his arm and Oropher focused up once more. He had to go back to his soldiers. Also, rumors spread far and quick, he needed to immediately speak with his father. Egnaspen will probably take care of Mablung.

'Could you go...and...find my father.' Oropher said, but he couldn't focus well enough as his mind wandered somewhere and as he spoke more he remained distracted. 'I need to speak with him. I am sure he knows by now.'

'Yes, of course.' Arvellon said keeping eyes on him and Oropher glanced at his leaving soldiers.

'Thank you, I...will be near infirmary.'

He left Arvellon's side and followed his division who slowly scrambled towards infirmary where Faron was taken. It was so long when they were so somber, but it this silence they gave strength to each other. All of them knew that it would be pointless to try and convience themselves that it would be alright. It was not alright - their friend nearly died and for the next centuries Oropher will think if he could do something more to prevent it. Not speaking about Taranir - his own father almost killed his friend, another elf.

Oropher glanced at Taranir, but he seemed to be calm, probably lost in his own thoughts. And Oropher was not sure how Taranir will react when he will discover the real reason why Eregon came to the fields this day. And if he should ever discover this reason.