When Legolas and Inunyen caught up with the rest of the company it was just starting to get dark and Aragorn was setting up a fire with Atalar's help. As soon as he heard horses approaching he rose back on his feet and scanned the surrounding area until his eyes caught what he had been hoping for.
"There comes Legolas," he informed the others with a relieved tone in his voice, "But he is not alone."
Atalar looked up and then jumped to his feet when he recognized the woman who was riding with the elf. He quickly followed Aragorn who was walking towards the approaching horses, but before he could explain to Aragorn who she was, Legolas and Inunyen reached him and dismounted. The tall woman immediately caught Aragorn's interest in such a strong way that he even forgot to greet Legolas and only fixed on her intriguing face that had, for a female, uncommonly severe features. If she noticed that he stared at her she didn't show it, her gaze was focused on Atalar only when she walked towards them.
"Greetings to you, Lord Atalar," the woman said and bowed her head to show her allegiance.
"Get up, Inunyen," he replied, "Did my father send you?"
"Yes, my Lord," Inunyen said and straightened up again.
"So it is true? She is a messenger?" Legolas asked, still distrustful.
"Yes, she has proven her loyalty towards my father's empire for many years," Atalar explained.
"If you are a messenger, brave lady, don't you want to tell us what news you have to bring?" Aragorn asked, watching the red-haired woman with penetrating eyes. She shifted her proud and strong gaze from Atalar's face to Aragorn's, returning his stare.
"I will join you from now on," she stated.
"You? Join us?" Aragorn asked and couldn't help smiling.
"May I ask why you are laughing?" she asked with a sharp voice that made Aragorn turn serious again.
"I wish to see a proof of the truth of your words," Aragorn said, "I am sure Steward Ribensis gave you something with you on your way to show us that you are forwarding his orders only."
"No, he did not," she simply replied without batting an eyelid.
"No?" Aragorn echoed, frowning slightly. "Every trustworthy messenger carries some kind of attestation with him... or her. How can we be sure that it was really Steward Ribensis who sent you? How do we know these words that come from your mouth were spoken by him?"
"I am her attestation," Atalar said, "I know her well. I swear to you, she is trustworthy."
"Why should your father send this woman to join our team? I see no sense in that!" Aragorn responded.
"Maybe because he wants somebody he confides in to guard his son so he does not get murdered by people of Gondor like his daughter was!" Inunyen hissed before Atalar could answer himself.
"What did you just say?!" Atalar pressed forward the words, grabbing Inunyen's shoulder with a strong hand. Nervous fear was written all across his young and beautiful face.
"My Lord, I regret to tell you that I bring sad news," she said calmly and lowered her gaze so she did not have to look him in the eyes.
"Now speak!" Atalar demanded inpatient, his voice getting shaky, "What happened?!"
"The injury caused by the assassins could not be healed. Your sister, the Lady Aerilyn, is dead."
Terrible silence came down over them, and everything that could be heard was the crackling of the fire. After a few seconds that seemed like ages Aragorn was the first one to find his tongue.
"I want to see a proof," he said.
"Stop demanding evidence for everything!" Atalar yelled at him, "We do not have any evidence! I trust Inunyen without a stupid proof! I trust her a lot more than I will ever trust one of you! My sister is dead, let us accept it! And Inunyen will join us, whether you like it or not! You three are all hand-in-glove with each other whereas I am all on my own! I need her support for I do not want to get slaughtered by Ghorid when I am asleep!"
"He will not kill you!" Aragorn replied.
"The same way Boromir did not kill Aerilyn, right?!" Atalar responded sarcastically.
"Yes, exactly!"
"I wish my father never would have agreed to this alliance with Gondor, for it brings only death and pain to my family! I damn Gondor and each of its citizen! And I damn you because you are friends with these ill-minded people!"
"Atalar, I beg you, your words do not make any sense," Aragorn tried to calm him down, but it did not work at all.
"My words do not make sense you say?! Let me tell you what makes no sense, Aragorn! It makes no sense that my sweet sister had to die! It makes no sense that she, with the purest heart of all people, was murdered mercilessly at such a young age! Never did she do anything that deserved such a bloody stroke of fate in return! She was genuine, fair, gentle; A treasure to everybody who ever had the pleasure to make her acquaintance. She was...she..."
Atalar's voice faded and he brought a hand up to his face when he felt tears starting to flow.
"We share your sorrow and..." Aragorn started but was quickly interrupted by Atalar again.
"You do not!" Atalar screamed, fighting with his overwhelming emotions, "And I never would want you to do so! I don't need people like you to share my sorrow! With your feigned sympathy you are only disgracing the remembrance of my beloved sister!"
He stared at Aragorn for a few moments, his eyes filled with pain and hatred, the sides of his nose trembling slightly while bitter tears wetted his blushed face. Then he turned around abruptly and retreated, not looking back once.
"Perhaps we should better go after him," Legolas said worried.
"He needs to be alone for a while," Inunyen replied, "Lord Atalar is very introverted and he must not be disturbed when he mourns."
When she felt Aragorn's sharp gaze on her face she turned her head towards him and stared back, holding his glance.
"Do you want a proof of that too?" she asked ironically and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't jest about me if you want my confidence!" Aragorn responded harshly and turned away to get back to the campfire.
"Does he not have any manners?" Inunyen asked Legolas once Aragorn was out of hearing, "He did not even introduce himself."
"I would say he does not have less manners than you do," Legolas replied calmly. Inunyen glared at him for a few seconds and then closed her eyes with a low sigh. She wiped a strand of hair from her face and tried to think of something she could respond to Legolas' statement, but when she opened her eyes again she found herself standing by the horses alone. Legolas had gone after Aragorn back to the campfire.
"You think we can trust in her?" Aragorn asked in a low voice and sat down on the ground with a small sigh.
"I am not sure. But after all it is thanks to her that I am here with you again," Legolas said and sank down next to Aragorn. He wanted to say something else about Inunyen, but his words were lost when his eyes caught Ghorid who was lying on the ground with his back to the fire, not moving at all.
"What is the matter with Ghorid?" Legolas asked concerned, sensing that he was not only sleeping.
"I am afraid he got infected with some kind of illness when he was bitten by one of the wolves," Aragorn said, Legolas' worry reflecting in his own voice.
"He must return to Minas Tirith then," Legolas said.
"I told him so already, but he will not listen. He is determined to rescue Boromir."
"Did he at least allow you to see the wound?"
Aragorn nodded slowly.
"It is not the wound itself that feeds my concern though, for it is not serious enough to kill him. But I fear that he will get weaker with every day due to the infection until..."
"Could you please stop talking about my death?! I can hear you, you fools!" Ghorid's angry voice came from the other side of the campfire.
"You should go back to Minas Tirith so your wounds can be treated properly," Legolas said, "It is very unwise to carry on with a body that will be taken over by a serious disease soon."
"I feel well, I only need to rest a bit," Ghorid replied.
"But Aragorn says..."
"Aragorn talks too much!" Boromir's cousin hissed, interrupting the elf's words. When Legolas opened his mouth to respond, Aragorn put his hand on his friend's forearm and softly shook his head.
"Let him sleep," he whispered. Legolas nodded, shifted his gaze to the small flames that were crackling in front of them and started to think about Inunyen again. He was intrigued by her as there was something about her he could not grasp. There were not many people who could confuse Legolas, but she was definitely one of the few who managed to build up a wall around herself his elven senses could not break through. He just had no idea what to think of her, but he would have plenty of time to tear down her walls as she was going to travel with them from now on, making them a company of five.
