Caladur

Gildor's POV

east of the Hithaeglir between Lorien and the High Pass, TA 2907

I watched my companions wrap and tie their packs, getting ready to start their slow travel back to Imladris.

"So when do you plan to start?" I asked, slipping off Faire's back.

Narandil squinted up at me in the darkness "At dawn. We don't want to blunder through this land at night"

"You would be the only one blundering" Glinael said tartly, setting down a neatly tied pack beside the wild array of wrapped possessions and strings that was Narandil's pack.

"Can't you keep him here, Gildor?" Narandil sighed "He'll make this trip hell with so much Eldarin perfection"

I grinned "Look who's talking, rat-friend. I'm sure I can see the traces of their teeth still on that thing you call pack"

Narandil assumed a pained expression "I truly regret I did not extent the spell to my dear companions. Do you see exactly how hungry a starved colony of rats can be?"

"I remember" Glinael said darkly "But I mostly know how hungry their friends are. You could take the first hunt tomorrow, don't you think? I will even carry your 'pack'" he added pointedly.

"You see?" Narandil asked me, turning "He's already warming up"

"Take Faenross hunting with you" I suggested sweetly "Just to make it worthwhile"

Glinael smothered a snicker "What do you know of such things, my friend?"

"Coming from you," I told him "I won't kill you for that"

"Indeed, that would be a pity. He's the only one we can set on edge just looking at Narandil's pack" Faenross joined in, dropping a load of firewood he had just gathered "We need him, if just for the fun of it. Are you sure you want to travel like a homeless wood-elf all this year? You'll have some hard time crossing the pass so late in the year" he added as I rubbed Faire's nose in farewell. She was going to forage for the night.

"They are less homeless than I am" I said testily "And I have crossed worse passes than the Caradhras"

Glinael blinked "You know he did not mean it that way"

"No. I'm sorry. Look, I have to go tell Caladur what you plan. I think he will move east right away then tomorrow"

"Gildor" Glinael called me back "They follow no one but their leader. They have refused any alliance to either Celeborn or Thranduil"

I sighed "And still they are Silvan. I fear no treachery from them"

"I was not speaking of treachery" Glinael said softly "They have no one's protection and no one will stand by their side if they are attacked. You will be caught in that"

"They have allies among the Avari" I said after a moment "I am taking less risk going with their clan than travelling alone with you bunch, don't you think?"

He laughed "Probably. Well, go reporting"

I found the leader of the Silvan Elves beside his small fire.

"Caladur? May I speak to you?"

"Gildor! Of course. Have you eaten tonight?"

"Er-" I sat down opposite him "I think you don't have to start worrying about my welfare right away"

"Bah" he said "I will ask differently. Are you hungry? I can offer you bread, fruit and some cold meat. Help yourself"

"Thank you" The bread was still warm. It was dark and had tiny seeds baked into it. They tasted nut-like, but I did not know them.

"My companions intend to leave at dawn tomorrow" I said "I thought you might want to know. Esgalmith said something you were late going east this year…"

Caladur nodded "We are. Usually we try to intercept the deer when they leave the valleys in spring and wander back into the forest. Hunting will be a bit harder this time. Well, then we can start out right away tomorrow. I will tell the others to prepare for the move tonight. You at least will stay with us, yes?"

"If your offer still stands, yes of course. But…you see my companions meant no disrespect in declining?" I asked cautiously.

Caladur stared into the fire for a moment "I think they were wise. They would not have liked the way this clan functions. There would have been conflicts sooner or later. I mean no disrespect either when I say your people know how to talk very well. The Avari say those words are like ivy: gentle, but they will bind you without you noticing, and if you are a fool they might strangle you. I cannot talk ivy, so I will speak bluntly. We are a mixed clan. Some have left because the king of the Greenwood offered us allegiance. Some have married Avari and left, and some Avari have married into the clan. We still call ourselves Silvan, but we know we are not. And we do not want to be. There are expectations attached to that, nowadays. Your coming here dug that all up. Some are relieved many of your group leave. Do you see what I mean?"

"I do" I said with a small smile "Though you manage a fair amount of ivy still. Caladur, I am on my own. My companions and I are one of what my people call Wandering Companies. We drift around because the year is too good to waste in one place. None of us would be happy staying in Imladris all the year round. But we do not travel – there are no intentions to what we do, at least none of a political sort"

"You have mighty enemies" Caladur agreed carefully "My clan does not wish to be asked to stand up against them. We have our hands full with the orcs that spawn themselves from the eastern caves"

"I know. You need not suspect greater intentions behind my presence than the taking of an opportunity to spend a year in this land under the protection of someone who knows it well. Because I don't. I know the north and the southwest, but not the east"

"You know the west" Caladur returned my gaze calmly.

"I remember" I said "But I no longer know. And it is shut"

"You speak my language well" he said abruptly "Few of your people bother to learn it, ever"

I shrugged "I have been with the rhevain. You will find every language there, and always someone willing to teach it"

"Ah, but it takes someone willing to learn it, too. But what was your business with the wild ones?"

I hesitated. I did not know Caladur's view of them "I have friends among them" I said "Close friends. I have spent many years with them, but their life is hard, and often cruel. I know I am not for that for ever. So I take times out. A luxury, you see, none of them can afford. But I am always welcome among them"

There was a subtle challenge which Caladur recognized and met "I have neither knowledge nor intention to judge any of the rhevain or their friends, and I won't. We pass each other by, if ever we meet. It is my business to keep this clan out of what trouble we can avoid, so that is what I will do. And our wariness is not towards the rhevain. I invited you to stay before. I formally extend our hospitality to you now. You are welcome to stay, and there are no conditions on it except those I think we can call self-understood"

I returned his smile "Whoever attested you inability to talk ivy should have heard you now. But it is not my intention to rest on your hospitality except if my hunting-luck leaves me completely"

Caladur nodded "There are enough who will be pleased to show you the whereabouts, and they speak Sindarin better than I. You won't have to fumble with our words all the time"

"As long as they are patient when I tell them I want a bone and mean a bucket that won't be the problem"

Caladur grinned "If it is not hospitality you are looking for, what is it then? Company perhaps? Are you lonely?"

It was a curious question, and one I knew no Elda would ever have asked me. I could not say what he intended with it. He did not strike me as the nosy sort.

"Perhaps" I said "Sometimes"

He nodded, once, and again abruptly shifted the topic "But what about your horse? Is there something we have to provide for her?"

"No" I said after a moment's thought "Faire knows how to keep herself fed. If you know patches of grass that we pass near, you could tell her that. Grass feeds better than forest-shrubs and foliage"

Caladur looked at me curiously "Tell her?"

"Yes. I mind-speak her, but she has quite a good grasp of spoken Quenya or Sindarin words as well. 'Grass' is a charm that always works on her, even if you just point the direction"

"That sound…spooky. If your horse knows everything you say-"

I laughed "You get used to it. I hardly think of her as a horse. That is something you should keep in mind when treating her. She can be a bitchy lady"

And so the time went by. I took leave of the rest of my company next day, and though it felt strange remaining behind I also felt relieved. Bearclaw's group was too far south, together with Feather's, Silverleaf's and Darkstone's. I could not join them there except without completely ignoring Elrond's asking me to stay in touch. Still, I regretted not being able to stay with them. Excepting Glinael and Glorfindel those four wild elves were the only close friends I could name.

Caladur's clan was far from a rhevain group, but less different from them than from my own people. It was a relief to forget about Imladris, the Rings and the great shadows of trouble lengthening for a while. Though of course only in a different way. As Caladur had said, the Noldor had made mighty enemies, of the sort that haunted all elves in Middle-earth. Trouble was never far, and the ways to deal with it not different from what I knew in Imladris. Each night the clan set watches, and scouts were a firm institution. Esgalmith, leader of the scouts, and Baran, the chief hunter quickly befriended me. They both spoke Sindarin, but we quickly returned to their native Silvan dialect because I wanted to learn it better. There were also Avari, and I learned some more Avarin, though I could find no real grasp of the language. Caladur's clan had one institution that was new – their gatherers were separate from the hunters, and most individuals with healing skills had drifted into the gathering-group. Caladur said he did not care who hunted as long as they brought meat back, but the matter had somehow solved itself over a few years. The healers realized they could not afford the slightest weakening or blunting of their skills if the small clan was to survive, and so the separation had evolved of its own accord. The leader of the foodstuff gatherers was an Avar called Hallfaron, and I enjoyed her company especially. For one, Esgalmith was her mate since last winter and neither of us would be mistaken for flirting when we teased and bantered on our hunts for roots, nuts and mushrooms. And she had a way that made me feel at home at once, though we could only talk in a mixture of Silvan and Avarin. It took me a while to realize exactly of whom she reminded me with her tart and straightforward mentality. Faire.

I grinned and did not tell her.

As we moved from one camp-site to the next, Hallfaron and I constructed a sledge-like contraption that Faire pulled, loaded with supplies and the light shelters the Silvan elves carried with them. The remainder of spring, summer and autumn passed in a flurry of days, and I had to think about crossing the pass before the hard snows set in. Caladur's course had led the clan first to the Hithaeglir's feet, where my company had met him, then south through rich forest and down to the wide meadows and the Anduin. From there we had returned in a north-western bend back to the mountains. My plans for leaving were interrupted by Esgalmith's dark announcement that his scouts had spotted orc-traces and those that had made them. It was a small encampment of orcs, very well hidden, and obviously often used. Esgalmith's mood was black, because they had so often passed by an orcs-nest right under their nose.

"They are not so many" he said angrily "Still we will have a hard fight. They are large. I have seen their armour. It is new. I left scouts to shadow them"

"How many orcs?"

"Fifty" he said dolefully.

"Oh" I said "Maybe Caladur should think on avoiding them and passing the winter further south in the vales"

"Not Caladur" Esgalmith shook his head "And this is our land. Further south are other clans. We would be tolerated, but it would be harder life. Deer only grow so fast and there is less forest there where we can find roots. Caladur's already called in a vote. Only a handful were against attacking, and they would join us when outnumbered"

"And you?" I asked carefully.

Esgalmith heaved a small sigh "I have no choice. We want to stay here, and I am scout-leader. I should not dispirit my own troops, hm?"

"No. Probably not" I smiled a little "Would it comfort you to know that you can command my sword as well?"

I had meant it as a joke, but his face lit up "You will fight with us? Really?"

"Er-" I said "of course? I wouldn't miss the chance to get bossed around by you in earnest"

"Am I so bad?" Esgalmith seemed genuinely concerned "Baran always tells me to stop having a go at you-"

I laughed "My, you are easy to fop! - I have my own grudge against the Mordor-maggots, Esgalmith. I look forward to fight for your clan"

°Now look where your fancy for 'homeless wood-dwellers' has got you° Faire said, unconsciously paraphrasing Hallfaron's words of this morning.

"You're in this with me, mylady" I said, rubbing her neck as we stood listening to Caladur's calm orders to pack the supplies securely, distribute them between the gatherers, and have the scouts and hunters ready for battle. He gave the separate groups their shifts and then turned to me "You must outrun the snows. Leave, before we get caught up in a stealth-and-track thing"

I blinked "Caladur, I won't leave at the eve of battle. I have lived with your clan all year, I won't slink off now"

"I know, that is why I order you. My people do not fight your wars. You need not fight our battles"

"Then I will flatly disobey your order. I am familiar with fighting in deep woodland"

"I suppose" Caladur stared at me for a while "I would be a bad leader to send an ally away. But a worse fool to tell a friend to go. If you are adamant to stay, you are welcome. Though I don't want to have your blood on my conscience, Elda"

I grinned "You underestimate my sword-skill, wood-elf. I cannot do fancy whirling with your scimitars but I can use a bow as much as a blade"

"Well then – add yourself to whatever group you choose. I recommend Hallfaron's though. They will use mostly blades"

"Hallfaron's?" I echoed, and he grinned "She leads the gatherers yes. But she is better with a sword than at healing. We will need every blade or spear we have. And I suppose you have never seen her fight?-"

"No"

"Well, don't worry. She commands the swords, Baran leads the archers and Esgalmith the spears. Though I daresay that may change yet. Depends on what the orcs do. What's that?"

I followed his glance towards the small commotion curiously "I think you have one more trouble"

Caladur growled and made for the far group just as someone called his name.

I was about to find Hallfaron a little later when someone came running after me "Gildor, Caladur wants you! He is at the great oak. They need a translator"

"A what?"

"Translator. They caught a spy. Or scout. I don't know. Now be quick"

There was a small gathering at the great oak as I approached, mystified. What fancy language could they want a translator for? For what reason?

I thought of rhevain as soon as I saw what – no, who – they had 'caught', as the messenger had said. A miserable, skinny elf, covered in mud that did not hide several serious wounds on his legs and belly. His hair was shoulder-length and unevenly cut. I was not sure about the colour, because mud and dust covered it with a greyish-brown layer. Where the mud was thinner or had been rubbed off I could see the winding lines of tattoos, though the whole pattern remained invisible. He was naked except for a ragged, dirty loincloth and frightened half to death. He did not look near as terrified as he was, though. Pride and a very strong will must have kept him from struggling, so instead he warily watched what was happening. He did not understand what was said, that much was also clear. Baran had just finished reporting to Caladur where they had found him, creeping around near the orc-camp on a trail the Silvan scouts had not yet picked out because it was well hidden under thick, waist-high greenery.

Empathy gave me an idea what to expect from their prisoner, but I was neither trained to use it nor did I relish the sensation. Reaching for his mind only gave me blank presence, and without touching him I could not say what the reason was for that. Very tight shielding, or something worse? I had once encountered slaves from Angband, and they had not been so fortunate as Darkstone to have escaped on their own, and by their own will, essentially free of all bonds the Shadow could have laid on them. I shivered involuntarily, but kept watching the stranger, trying to guess his origin. He was elf, so much was sure, though he was at least a head shorter than any of us. But he was neither Silvan nor rhevain. He would have recognized my pendant otherwise. I would have guessed Avar, but Hallfaron was here, and he did not speak her language nor had there been any other recognition. Neither could I guess his age, except 'young' in general. Then he looked at me, and for a moment our eyes met. His were dark grey, and there was something in them that made me catch my breath. Dangerous I thought, but amended it to strange a moment later. There was no threat in his gaze. At least the sensation of shock was two-sided. He dropped his eyes and would have backed away had he been able to. I watched him as he cast a haunted glance around at the Silvan Elves, and was surprised when he finally looked at me again. I could not say if that was what I had seen in his eyes before, but I spent most of my time with dark elves so that I had garnered an idea what they meant when they said they recognized one of my folk by our eyes.

"Do you speak this language?" I asked on a hunch, addressing him directly over the talk in Quenya. He gave a small nod "I speak" he said softly, somehow managing to make a hiss out of a word that did not contain a single 's'. Caladur had obviously not noticed me joining them and spun around "Gildor, when did you pop up?"

"Long enough ago to know what's happened"

"Well, ask him what-"

"Let him go first" I asked "They terrify him pinning him like this"

"Just because he speaks your language doesn't mean he won't betray us" Caladur snapped impatiently.

"They will let you go if you give your word not to try and run" I said to the stranger "There are archers up the trees who would shoot you before you took ten paces"

I saw a flash of anger in his eyes "I don't run"

Caladur gave his grudging assent. I thought they needed not fear any bolt from this elf. He could barely stand on his own without swaying at the moment.

"My name is Gildor" I said "I am guest of this clan. This is Caladur, who leads the Silvan elves here"

The stranger blinked, unguarded in surprise for a moment "You should not have done that. Your name, I mean-"

"That is my name" I said, suddenly understanding "I am called by my name" I could have asked what he was called now, but decided to test him "Tell us your name"

He hesitated "Raven"

That was the mannish word he used. The Silvan elves looked at each other in bafflement.

"That is not an elven name" I said.

Again he hesitated "That is what I am called. My name is…my own"

I nodded slowly "Where are your people? What are you doing here?"

"My people are…southeast. Far. The mountains…in your language they are called Orocarni. I am here…alone. I hunt orcs"

The Orocarni. I blinked in surprise. That was weeks and weeks of travel. A whole land of open plain and rolling woodland lay in between. I knew no one who had gone there, except Aragorn. And we had never talked about the lands there. I knew next to nothing of them, except book-lore. And so far, I had never heard or read of elves living there.

"What are they called?"

"We have no name in your language" he hesitated, and I waited if he would go on "We are…the mountain where we live we call Dark Mountain. It spouts smoke, sometimes. That would be the name…Dark Mountain-…tribe"

He met my eyes as he spoke, never for long, but enough that I could tell he was not lying. Perhaps he was not telling all the truth, but all that he knew how to say. Tribe was a strange way of referring to his people, but maybe he just did not know another word. His command of Quenya appeared limited more in speaking it than in actually understanding what I said. He was not listening hard to my words, but fighting to form his own. I could sense no shadow of fear or darkness on him, but I would have to touch him to be sure. The great terror I had sensed from him while the guards still held him was gone. If he was frightened of touch, I would have a hard time assuring Caladur and myself that this stranger was wholesome. He continued without us having to prompt him "I left my clan to hunt orcs. They raid on us sometimes, and we do on them. I followed them far. I did not intend to…enter their territory" he made a small gesture at Caladur.

"Do you now of the rhevain? The wild elves? You are…painted as one of them"

"I know them. We trade, sometimes. Not often. But their…paintings are different from…my people's"

"Tell me about the orcs"

He grew wary immediately "I hunt them" That was not enough to satisfy anyone, and he knew it. I could see him groping for words "I tracked them over the mountains. The western ones – Hith…aeglir, yes? For two…two hands of days"

He meant ten, holding up both hands. I nodded, and so he continued "They came down a…ravine. From there, they went into this forest. Here is…one of their camps. They have paths. I watched them. The paths. Then they caught me"

I summarized all this to Caladur, who shook his head darkly "He has not killed a single one. If he was the orc-hunter he wants to make us believe he should know you cannot kill a band like that all on your own"

"How do you came here, Raven, into the wood?" I asked instead "You eluded the Silvan scouts and crept as near the orc-camp proper as any sane man would dare. Caladur fears treason – what have you to unfound his doubts?" It was perhaps an unfair thing to ask from someone who fought with speaking the language so much, but he understood me well.

"I have nothing" he snapped, tension and anger mingling "I tell how I came here – from ravine down from mountains. I followed scent, orc-scent. They use hidden paths. They speak. I wait for their scouts to go out. I follow, and when one is alone, I kill him. I killed three. You find them west of here. There is…mud in a dell. Beech-forest. There I hid them. Go look" He paused "I don't know about treason. I kill them wolf-way. When they are alone. I cut them off. But I will fight with you, if you wish to attack them. I scout with you. Show you paths"

I repeated to Caladur once more, who frowned "There are more paths he says my scouts missed out so far?"

"That's what he says"

Caladur was silent for a moment "I have sent Esgalmith to scout with the stealthiest ones of the clan. He speaks some of your Quenya. When he returns, Raven will go with him and show those paths he speaks of. Esgalmith has authority to rearrange our order according to what they find. I want some archers following them up in the trees" The last two were orders. The people in question nodded.

"I will sent four with them when they go" Baran said, hearing the unspoken rest of Caladur's order as well. He did not send the archers only for Esgalmith's cover. If Raven turned out playing false, they would have him.

"Tell him Duath here will show him a place to stay until tonight" Caladur told me "I don't want him wandering around. And see that he gets something decent to eat before he starves before our eyes. But stay here, I need you a moment longer"

Once more, I relayed to Raven, who took the orders with equanimity, nodding mutely. Duath led him off, and I remained behind with Caladur.

"What do you say?" he asked gruffly, watching me beadily. I shook my head "He does not say all by any means, but he does not lie. It is…if he happened to betray us, it would not be by malice on his part but rather because he…would not see we thought it treason"

Caladur blinked "I wish you would speak plainly. The scouts would have shot him outright had he not happened to drop some Sindarin words as they challenged him. I take it he made no resistance to being captured, but mostly because they were within breathing distance of an orc-sentinel"

I hesitated "I cannot read his mind by force, Caladur. I can only say that I sense no immediate ill intentions towards us, nor any touch of the Shadow on him. He hides a lot, but it concerns…him alone. Though it was not his choice to be here now. He is angry to be captured, but most of it is fear. More I cannot say for sure"

Caladur had led me to the rough trunk of the great oak. He picked up a sword in a heavily worn sheath and a roughly cut bow that nevertheless showed great skill in the making. A quiver made of the whole fur of an otter went with it, filled with a number of arrows that had either a whittled tip or sharp flint-heads. This was neither rhevain nor Avarin work. It looked rough and simple, but as I held one of the arrows I saw that it was as straight as it could be and well balanced. The fletching of the tipped arrows was black, and heavy enough to balance the weight of the flint-head. The plain wooden arrows were lighter fletched, and would be of use only for short-distance shooting. The bow was of medium length, but harder to draw than it actually looked. It would shoot considerable distance. I returned the arrows to the quiver carefully and set it and the bow down again. Caladur held the sword out to me wordlessly. I took it, but did not draw the blade. It was a foreign sword, and I would respect that. Everyone else had held to that as well, I realized. The strange knot holding the patched sheath to the parry-hilt was untouched. The hilt and crosspiece were wrapped with rawhide, partly covered, but... "It is a Noldorin blade" I said in surprise "I have never seen the design, but I recognize the make"

"And how do you explain that?"

"Well, wouldn't he understand Quenya so well and speak it only a little less good I would say he killed the owner or scavenged on a battle-field" I said with a grin "But I don't think he did. Caladur, I will find out, but I need time, alright?"

He sighed "Yes, I know. It's just our time is precious short right now. Well, see what you can find out before I have to send him with Esgalmith. Fifty orcs are not what I want to have attack us at unawares"

"We are not at unawares" I said mildly "We know very well where they are"

Caladur smiled "Make off before you bust my control today"

Duath directed me where to find Raven, and I went to bring a bowl of hot stew and some fresh bread to him. Raven had used the opportunity of the small stream to wash, and then retreated to a safe space away from the water. Now that the mud was gone I could see his hair was actually black, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves cast bluish highlights on it. So that explained the curious name of Raven. It made some sense if you did not think of reeking battlefields and smoking ruins whenever you saw ravens. The lines tattooed on his arms, chest and back were black, not blue as I had thought. They resembled nothing I had seen among the designs of rhevain.

Raven twisted around into a half-crouch when he heard me approach. The motion somehow reminded me of Faire when she was startled. Without thinking I reacted as I would do then - I stopped short. Raven stared at me for a moment, and sat back down.

"Sorry for startling you" I held the bowl out to him and he took it slowly. He seemed uncertain, but also relieved that someone remembered he was there.

"Thank you. Never mind" he mumbled.

"When you go with the scouts tonight it will be a group of five, including you" I informed him, crouching down beside him. It felt odd talking Quenya to him, when even Glinael and I used Sindarin.

"You are sure you can find them the orc-trails you mentioned quickly?"

Raven nodded "But why tonight? If you hunt orcs, you should do so by day. They do not love the light. It is easier to surprise them"

"Esgalmith is supposed to lead the scouts" I said "He knows a bit of Quenya. But he is not back yet, so it will be after dark before you can set out"

I watched Raven virtually inhale the bowl of stew and offered to fetch some more.

"It is enough. Thank you" He smiled shyly "That was more than I had the whole last days"

"What happened?" I pointed at the deep scratches "I can give you some salve for that"

"No" Raven said uncomfortably "It's fine. I fell into a tree"

"What!" I asked, thinking I had not heard him right. The inquiry seemed to startle him "I fell into a tree" he repeated uncertainly "A dead tree. In a swamp"

"What the hell did you do in a swamp? I mean, you certainly looked like you have been there…"

"Hunting. I was clumsy. But the…mud was intention. It helps against flies. No, midges you say. It keeps them off"

"Oh" I watched him thoughtfully. That certainly made sense, but I had never seen that method in practice. And I was used to a lot, I kept thinking. One moon with Darkstone was worth a year with Bearclaw if one wanted weird things. "That is nothing I have ever heard of used by any elf"

Raven did not seem offended, only even more puzzled. "I am not an E-" he started out and broke off, blinking "What do you want?" he asked suspiciously, unwilling to say what he meant "I know you thought I was a…mól, yes? But I cannot prove that I am not"

I frowned. Now that was a curious statement. Could he read my thoughts? I had not been particularly well guarded against that sort of thing, knowing almost no one of Caladur's clan could mind-speak over a distance.

"You are fighting orcs" I said.

Raven glanced at me briefly "Of course"

"You know that would not be possible if you were…under the Dark One's spell"

"No" Raven looked aside "Maybe. I think not"

"Why are you killing them?" Not that it always needed a reason. It was enough the foul filth slowly took over everything that was Elven land once.

"That is my business, isn't it?" Raven asked, but without malice.

"Generally yes" I agreed "But right now not necessarily so"

"Revenge" he said after a moment.

"Revenge?"

"They killed…someone I knew very well"

"Hm. You popped up right under their best scout's nose. I can understand they are suspicious" I ventured.

Raven immediately got a closed look "I can't help when they are inattentive"

I raised an eyebrow "You ran into each other, didn't you?"

"Maybe. I used to be a better hunter" He glanced at me once more "Why do you not lead the scouts? You speak Quenya as well"

"I am only a visitor here. I will take my orders as Caladur gives them" I said "And he says Esgalmith leads. When they start the main battle I will take my part"

Raven did not appear convinced but remained silent.

"You can prove you are not one of the thralls other than fighting orcs" I said.

"I won't let you read my mind"

I looked at Raven for a while, puzzled he would come to that conclusion right away. Finally he looked up and met my eyes.

"So you know what I am talking about" I said "I do not want to 'read your mind'. How is it that you speak Quenya? And why do you carry a noldorin blade?"

Raven took a deep breath "There are…ancestors of your people in my…how do you call it? Line?"

I nodded.

"The sword was handed down. Now I have it. And so was the language"

He was speaking the truth, but again not the whole thing. He knew it, and he knew I knew it. Well, that was better than nothing. The thralls under the Shadow's dominion were not even aware of lying.

"Why is your name not Quenya?"

He shifted uncomfortably. I could sense I had touched a sore spot, some private pain.

"Why are you so brave to give others your own name?" he returned "Gildor?"

He pronounced it Kil'tor', and when I looked at him he asked "Do you know what that means in my own language? Desert Lion. I would ask what you are doing far from whatever place you belong, if I knew that was your name. But I do not know"

I digested that curious statement for a moment. I had talked to so many elves, and some stranger than the other, but never with someone like Raven. I knew he understood my words perfectly, and often read implications that required knowledge of those who first spoke this language. But then he foundered with simple question as that concerning the tree, and could not see when I meant something as a joke. When he answered or spoke of his own accord it was always as if he had to carefully place one word after the other, groping after them.

Had he meant to tell me to mind my own business, or had he just admitted that he was alone and frightened here? But then, he had given me another titbit of information which he obviously considered private. A word of his language.

"I have never seen the deserts" I said finally "But the lands I come from and which I know well are to the west of these mountains. And the place I would call home because I often stay there is there as well. It is a valley called Imladris. I have come here with six others, but they did not want to stay with Caladur's clan for the summer, and so they went back across the mountains before me"

"I have…I have heard talk of that place. Once, when I traded with some of your people" Raven said slowly. "My name is not Quenya because I chose it when with my tribe" he added abruptly "Scree means raven in my language, and now it is Raven in westron because I trade with humans and Avari mostly, and they understand those words easier than Quenya or Sindarin"

I hid my surprise quickly. I had not expected him to react to my question at all anymore "So all names have a meaning in your language?" I ventured.

"Yes" he said slowly "Don't they have in yours?"

"Most have a meaning" I said "But many are just chosen for their sound"

He blinked, but I did not know if it was surprise or non-understanding "Oh" A little later "Does your name have a meaning?"

Now I hesitated "Yes" I said then, uncomfortably "It means something like 'mighty light'"

He seemed unaccountably startled. I felt suddenly self-conscious and added "Though I daresay I like the 'desert lion' better"

Once more, he glanced at me but then dropped his eyes again "Take that as your name then" he suggested "Your name is your own"

"My use-name you mean?"

"Yes…Your…your people have names given to them at birth as well, don't they?"

I nodded, and he added "You can't change those, that is right. But you need not give them to others to bind you"

For a moment there seemed to be very little distance between us. It was strange, because we knew nothing whatsoever about the other, and all we tried to find out was what potential danger the one might pose for the other. For the time being though mistrust seemed suspended. I seized the opportunity "I cannot read your mind if you do not let me in. I need only to touch you briefly to be able to say to Caladur that you intend no harm"

With a snap, his wariness was back. He suppressed a shiver, but I saw it nevertheless. I extended a thread of empathy towards him once more, as thin as I could make it because I had the feeling he would sense it and not appreciate it. There was an incomprehensible fear and black despair, but a second later it was gone. Still, he held out his hand. I could feel his shields quiver with the force he kept them up towards me as I laid my hand lightly in his palm. But I was not concerned with shields. I did not want to touch his mind, but to feel his presence. No, I had been right, no sign of the Shadow, none of the flinching that would come with hidden ill intentions. He was even unaware of the brief touch of Searching. He guarded against something I did not intent at all.

I lowered my hand. He was tensed as a bowstring, and I had the feeling he would bolt away from me if I made one tiny motion towards him.

"Thank you for your trust" I said quietly.

He glanced at me, and then nodded once, dropping his gaze hurriedly. He wanted to be alone, and I decided to be polite and absent myself after making sure he had everything he needed.

Esgalmith returned near dark. I told him what had happened, and while he gathered the scouts he was to lead in the middle of the camp, I went to fetch Raven. I took his weapons with me and gave them back to him. The archers were already in place, I knew. At least I had been able to assure Caladur with more than just 'a feeling' to go by that Raven was not going to get us into trouble. I hoped his archers had enough sense to act on that. With Caladur, I waited for the group to return.

They were not gone as long as we had expected. It was hardly past midnight when they returned. Esgalmith came to our fire, bringing an exhausted looking Raven with him. While they ate, Esgalmith reported "We found the orcs he had killed right away. He picked out three trails they use regularly, Caladur. We would never have found them. It is all crawling on your belly through ditches and brooks. We left the archers behind as we crawled nearer the camp. We startled a sentinel and had to kill it. Raven did it, just with a knife. I swear he kills without a sound. But there is more. We heard them talking, and Raven says they are waiting for a group to join them in a few days time. We should attack as soon as we can if we don't want to have more on our hands than we can handle"

"Raven says? How does he know?" Caladur frowned.

"He can understand some of what they say. I admit we have only his word yet that there are more – but you could send far-scouts. He says they are expected to come from the western edge as well. Baran knows the trails now. If you send him and Duath…"

Caladur shook his head "They would not be back before we attacked anyway"

"I could go" I said "Let Duath show me the trail, and with Faire I can outrun them easily when I have found them. Before they see me, of course" I added "I cannot follow the small trails with Faire, but if Raven gives me a few landmarks, I will find the orcs just as well"

Caladur mulled that over for a while. It was not the fact that we were making suggestions what he should do that had him hesitating, but that he was still uneasy with Raven's presence.

"I would be here" Raven said softly "If you go, and something turns out foul with what I say, he could kill me. That is what you are talking about, isn't it?"

"Not exactly. But I daresay he might consider that" I said bluntly, turning to him "What about it, Caladur? Raven stays here. I go and check on the reinforcement"

"That seems the wisest thing" Caladur said unwillingly "Alright, take Duath and go with your lady. Be careful, and as quick as you can. You may fight the battle under way if you return later. Raven, you will fight with us when we attack? Or are attacked?"

Esgalmith translated this time. Raven nodded "Of course. I would have picked them off one by one. But if you attack, it might wipe out the whole nest" he said hopefully.

When I got up, he glanced at me uncertainly "There is one more thing. I only thought of it now. There are Avari near. Maybe three days, northeast. I traded with them a little while ago, before they...caught me, here. They know of the orcs. They would join you…us, I think"

Esgalmith and I exchanged a look. Obviously the near Avari were news to him.

"Names?" I asked Raven, but he shook his head "I traded only foodstuff. We did not mention orcs. And no names"

"Tell Esgalmith their location" I switched to Silvan again "Caladur, can you send swift messages? There are Avari about three days from here, northeast, Raven says. Maybe they would help us. Esgalmith can translate where exactly they would be"

Caladur nodded, overriding his own surprise at the news "Get yourself gone. We will use all we have. I suppose we have no other choice"

I had my share of orc-speech. Grimacing, I hid near the groups reeking camp and forced myself to listen and translate their foul sounds. Raven had assumed they would join the ones in the forest. Now there had been a change of orders. I knew it had not been Raven's fault, because I had seen the messenger come into camp and now heard them opening the order-scroll and discussing it.

They were going to pass the group in the forest by, but both groups were supposed to meet up with a larger one east of the Anduin. That meant our group would leave the forest, and join the group coming down from the mountains. If we were quick, with the Avari to help we could intercept our orcs before they got out of the forest. They would never meet the mountain-group, and if these decided to come looking, come into the forest, we could kill them, too.

Faire carried me back to Caladur's clan with a speed that had me clinging to her back like a tick, burying my face against her neck to avoid the trees and branches slashing past. I dropped off her back stiff and weary and stumbled to find Caladur. Who I found first was Raven, whisking out of the shadows and startling both Faire and me silly.

"Our orcs will leave" I croaked, fumbling for my water-bag and trying to calm my racing heart "The ones from the mountains have orders to meet them beyond the forest, and all of them are to cross the Anduin"

He stared at me, visibly paling "I didn't-"

"I know you didn't lie" I interrupted "I saw their messenger arrive and heard them argue about the orders. We must be quick. Where is Caladur?"

"Come" he led me through the camp "The Avari are here. They have just arrived. They were closer than I thought"

He stayed by my side as I reported quickly to Caladur, making it clear that the new orders had been issued after Raven's overhearing the orcs here. A few orcs had already fallen to arrows of the scouts that had been placed along the new paths Raven had discovered. They knew now that they were watched, but obviously had not yet moved. Caladur immediately set to organize the battle-arrangements proper. There was no time to lay nasty traps, and so he positioned archers and scouts with slings in hiding both up in the trees as well as on the ground. Esgalmith went off to organize his spear-fighters to start the attack on the ground, after the archers had played out their surprise-effect. He took the Avarin leader with him, because many of the Avari wielded axes and wanted to be in the front attack as well. They were well equipped, I saw with relief, wearing good armour that would withstand the blows that would inevitably fall most heavy on the first attackers. The rest of us, sword- and knife-fighters, were supposed to come in as second wave of attack.

"And pair up" Caladur added "The Avari fight in pairs already. See that you have a back-guard. We cannot spare other fighters on foot to come in as that. Raven, you too. This was your idea after all"

The gathering dispersed busily. I swung round to face Raven "You heard him. We are the only one wielding heavy blades here"

Raven crossed his bare arms over his chest. "I'd rather fight on my own"

"Don't be silly" I snapped.

Esgalmith had overheard us "Not you be silly, right. You make suggestion, you go along" he said in heavily accented Quenya, then chuckled "You two had better spar a while, it will not do if he lops your head off. That is, if he fights as weird as he looks"

Raven cast an uncomfortable glance at Esgalmith and then at me.

"You want to fight, you pair up. Caladur won't have anyone going into this without back-guard" Esgalmith added briskly.

"So?" I demanded.

Raven dropped his eyes, but it was a long moment before he nodded unwillingly.

As always before a planned attack I felt tied up and short-tempered so to some degree I could understand Raven. What did I knew what memories the strange elf carried with him. For a long time afterSilmarusse's death I had found myself living through nightmares whenever I knew I would have to fight then and there and thus. It was far easier to hunt and kill orcs in an unplanned way than having to suffer scheming and planning before.

I was not happy knowing Fairё would have to keep out of the fight, but to fight on horseback would have been impossible in this forest, and the ground was too treacherous that I would have her stomping on orcs here. But no, that was notwhat troubled me. There as a subtle thing about the dark elf which I could not place at all. It had nothing to do with me not knowing Raven at all, or with the approaching battle. I was not particular wrought up at the prospect of fighting right now. Rather it seemed to concern myself - my reaction to him.

So I waited, and tried to piece my reasoning together. My chosen companion was not forthcoming and extremely short-spoken right now, so I kept my distance and silence.

Raven did not speak. Neither did he look at anybody. Never really. All he did was glancing at people. That was it. I could not read him. All I could say about him only seemed to be such and so. I would have expected the Avarin warriors to be some of a puzzle, maybe a threat, but none of them was as closed as Raven. The Avari did not speak Sindarin well, but that did not keep them from talking. They laughed among themselves and even extended their jokes and their banter to us.

Can he laugh at all, I wondered sourly. So far he had kept a face like a stone cliff. Well, there would be time enough to find out when this was over.

Chapter Notes:

Silvan elves:

Baran – (S) "yellow-brown"

Hallfaron – (S) "veiled hunter"

Duath – (S) "shadow"

Caladur – (S) "dark light"

Esgalmith – (S) "mist-veil" ?

Sirlim – (S) "swift river"

Gildor's company:

Narandil – (S) "rat-friend"

Faenross – (S) "bright rain" ?

Glinael – (S) "sea-shimmer"

Rhiwlos – (S) "snow-storm"

mól – (Q) slave in Angband

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