"What do you see Glorfindel?" Gil-Galad asked, thinking to test the elfling's skills in observation, Glorfindel was fostering with him for the ten years prior to his majority and Gil-Galad took his role as mentor and teacher seriously.
Glorfindel chewed upon his bottom lip as he surveyed the scene, he did not want to miss anything, well aware that he was being tested. "There has been a fire here since the last snowfall... yet it is strange, for it is too large to be a camp fire, and is oddly shaped". The area of ground that Glorfindel was referring to was almost rectangular in shape.
"Why do you think it is not a camp fire?" Gil-Galad replied
"It would comfortably sit ten or fifteen men about it, yet there are no marks to show that anyone has rested here"
"Very good" Gil-Galad said with what Glorfindel thought was a rather sad smile. "Look for tracks"
Glorfindel stepped into the scorched area of ground and began to look about.
"Look for tracks made by an elf or elves"
Glorfindel looked at the Elf Lord in surprise, "What makes you think an elf was responsible for this fire?"
"Because generally only the elves burn their dead, Glorfindel" Gil-Galad replied sadly.
Glorfindel, suddenly aware of where he was standing jumped to the very edge of the fire scorched ground and looked at Gil-Galad questioningly.
"Look at the trees, young one, a fire this big would cast clues about it as to what was burnt here, see there are the remains of burnt material caught in the branches of the bushes and trees, and this" Gil-Galad held out a piece of fabric, burnt around the edges "is an elven weave, used often in cloaks"
"There are tracks, My Lord" Glorfindel stated, pointing to the ground to the south, "but the elf that made them is faltering I think, the tracks here are visible as no fit elf's tracks would be"
"What is the nature of the elf's injury?" Gil-Galad asked as he strolled over to stand beside Glorfindel to look at the tracks as well.
"She has hurt her right leg I think, My Lord, for she weighs down heavily upon her left foot, but see how she stumbles with her left foot also, she is weak I think." Glorfindel looked to Gil-Galad to see his reaction to his observations, but he seemed not to notice him, his brows knit in concentration.
"Why do you say she?"
"These footprints are too small to belong to a male"
"Perhaps" Gil-Galad replied thoughtfully, "We must hurry, this elf can not have travelled far, and may be in need of our assistance" Gil-Galad punctuated his words with a shrill whistle, and obediently Alagos (Storm) trotted to his side.
Glorfindel followed suit and whistled to bring Asfaloth to his side, Asfaloth raised his head, snorted indignantly and returned to trying to tease the bark from a nearby tree.
Despite the worrying thoughts coursing through his head, Gil-Galad could not help smiling at the scowl on the elfling's face as he stomped to his horse and taking him by the reigns, guided the protesting animal back to him.
They followed the tracks swiftly on foot, the horses following behind. The tracks entered a small clearing and it appeared to the Elf Lord and his companion that the elf had fallen, and risen once more, the tracks were confusing, like someone stumbling around in drunken confusion.
"Where did you go my friend?" Gil-Galad whispered to the wind.
"Over here My Lord!" Glorfindel called from the far side of the clearing, as he crouched upon the ground.
Gil-Galad was at his side in a heartbeat. They crouched before what looked like a pile of discarded rags. Gil-Galad was the first to move, gently rolling the figure over, he gasped at the sight that greeted him.
Glorfindel moved closer and he too was shocked to see the state of the elf, "I hadn't considered this, the feet were to small for a male but not an elfling" he mused in shock, frozen in place.
"Glorfindel move! He needs our help" Gil-Galad's tone was harsher than he intended but he made no apology.
"Is he alive?" Glorfindel whispered, afraid of what the answer might be.
"Aye, he lives, but barely, Glorfindel check his injuries"
Glorfindel now moved closer and parted the sodden cloak revealing a dirt-stained tunic and leggings. He also noted that the elfling's skin was as pale as the snow lying about them, his hair almost black, darker even than Gil Galad's' and his eyes, though vacant from his unconsciousness were as dark as a starless night and lifeless, but at least, he mused thankfully, they are not closed.
Gil-Galad was also preoccupied with thoughts of this darkling elf; he checked for head injury and made his way slowly down the elfling's body, looking for injuries and clues as he went.
((Aiya! Young one, what happened to you? Why are you travelling alone? You are too young to be doing so. Where have you come from? Where were you going too? And why are you travelling without even a knife for protection? ))
"My Lord" Glorfindel's words broke his musings and he raised his eyes to look at the golden haired elf, "he has an injury to his right leg, it is like a bite mark, but large, like he was bitten by a bear!"
"Perhaps he was" Gil-Galad mused softly, dropping his eyes once again to his task and not noticing Glorfindel's startled look. Glorfindel had never seen the Elf Lord so effected and it worried him, not wanting to bother him again he set about binding the wound as best he could, glad now to have his saddlebag with him and the medical supplies it contained.
Gil-Galad hissed sharply, causing Glorfindel to look up from his work. "He is naught but skin and bones Glorfindel! We must get him back to Balar as quickly as possible so he can be treated properly by the healers"
Gil-Galad removed his hands from the elfling's ribs and removed a flask from his cloak. "Glorfindel help me, we must make him drink before we can move him, hold his head"
Glorfindel moved quickly behind the elf and tilted the elfling's head back against his chest as the Elf Lord eased the contents of the flask down the injured elf's throat.
His face grim, Gil-Galad checked the bindings Glorfindel had covered the leg wound with and sighed. "We must go now" as he spoke Gil-Galad lifted the injured elf carefully and made his way over to where the horses stood waiting.
"Take him while I mount and hand him to me carefully"
Glorfindel accepted the injured elfling into his arms, surprised that he weighed so little and took a moment to study the elfling's face. ((Aiya! You are beautiful)) he mused ((you are too thin, your features sunken and harsh, but I still think you beautiful, mysterious one))
"Now Glorfindel!" The harsh tone of Gil-Galad's voice betrayed his impatience and he received the darkling elf from Glorfindel and settled him before him on Alagos, carefully wrapping his cloak about him.
"We must ride fast, try to keep up and head for the cove if we become separated"
Glorfindel nodded in reply but Alagos (Storm) was already on the move and Glorfindel urged Asfaloth into a canter to follow.
