And its getting too long again

Happy New Year to all

Meetings 2 - Difficult questions

There was still an hour or more to sundown when the guard captain came and told him that she could be released from duty if he would see her then.

For a moment he hesitated wondering if he should wait until the following day when there would be no other calls upon his time, but to do so would leave her knowing of his presence and his wish to speak with her but with no knowledge of why, and in such circumstances that felt unkind. There were other considerations too, for if there were questions still hanging over her after they had spoken then he might want to seek more information from Bard and a family dinner would be a good time to do so without attracting much comment.

Therefore after a moment or two he nodded and asked that she brought to him.

While he waited he smoked a pipe and marshalled his thoughts, wondering how best to make the approach. Thranduil had not been of much help in the matter for it had been clear the Elvenking had not wanted to believe that the darkness had caught her, though why that was the case was less clear, even hard to understand given her insults to him. The king knew, none better, that her behaviour passed all reason and excuse; he knew too that everything she had done could be explained easily if one just assumed that the shadow had taken her, and yet he resisted the idea. Why was that? Some residual parental feeling seemed the most likely explanation; what else could it be? It was clear that he had been something of an indulgent parent to her, perhaps too indulgent. Thranduil was a wise lord and careful in ensuring fair treatment for all was given, and seen to be given, and yet he had apparently allowed her preferment above that which her experience, her ability even now seemed to justify. To Gandalf recalling the battle before the mountain it seemed that while she was no doubt a a competent enough warrior when in the forest her skills as demonstrated by the events in Dale and on Ravenhill could not be considered exceptional in any way.

He sighed, that an elvish captain of the guard had required the assistance of a juvenile dwarf to stay alive must irk Thranduil terribly, though he had said nothing of it. Dain would make capital of that for the next two hundred years if the chance arose!

He pushed the thought away as there came a soft knock upon the door and he called out for the visitor to come in.

She came quietly, still in armour but without her bow and knife, and crossed the room to where he sat. She stood beside him in silence, unmoving, until he looked at her over the bowl of his pipe, and then she bowed and yet still said nothing. He gazed at her in silent consideration for a moment, and he found himself wondering why Thranduil was taking such pains over her when there was nothing exceptional or unusual about her. She was fair, as was to be expected, but not particularly so for an elf; in fact she seemed almost nondescript to eyes that had looked upon Arwen and Galadrial. Nor was she tall or more than usually graceful for one of her kind. The only unusual thing about her appearance was the red of her hair, a shade that was than brighter than was was common in elves. A shade that had in the past been associated with those amongst Elvenkind who had committed most sin. He clamped his teeth around his pipe and smothered a sigh, he would need to be careful not to let that observation sway his assessment of her.

Finally he noticed the growing tension within in her and he somewhat belatedly returned her bow with an inclination of his head
"You are Tauriel I gather." He said kindly and with a slight smile
She raised her eyes and briefly met his without an answering smile before dropping her gaze again staring at a point to the front of his feet. She replied without any expression on her face or in her voice.
"I am my lord and I am told that you wish to speak to to me."
He suppressed another sigh realising that he had not begun this matter well, but there was nothing he could do to mend it now, He puffed on his pipe for a moment then blew out a ring of smoke, as the circle rose between them he waved towards the chair opposite him.
"That I do, I have some questions I would ask you and it may be that it takes some time to ask them all so please draw up a chair and pour yourself a drink, for I assume that you have come straight from duty."
She inclined her head again but made no move to sit as she replied.
"If you wish it my lord, though I am at a loss as to how I might help you."
She paused for a moment looking back up and into his face and then she cast down her eyes once again and said softly,
"I hope all is well with the forest and within our Realm, there has been nothing to suggest otherwise."
Gandalf flicked his hand to dispel the suggestion.
"Be easy on that, all is well. But as I said, sit and drink for I am sure I have drawn you from your meal."

For a moment she made no move, and then with a sudden turn she grasped the flagon and poured a cup of wine before sinking onto the chair in front of him. Her face was pale, paler than usual he judged, and her eyes were wide with some emotion he could not read for the moment. She took a mouthful of the wine then clasped the cup between her hands as if she feared it would run away, she swallowed hard and looked down at the floor again and it seemed to the wizard that she spoke with some difficulty and with a hint of something close to desperation in her voice.
"Did the king send you? If he did then I hope I have not displeased him for I have done what he asked of me in every way. If I have caused offence to him or any other it is not by any intent I swear."

Gandalf felt an unexpected surge of sympathy for it seemed that a sudden sorrow had decended upon her when she mentioned the forest, a sorrow that had deepened when she spoke of the king. But the sorrow, and he was not sure of its cause, was not alone, it was accompanied by a look of shame that took him by surprise and that struck a chord within him, for at that moment she seemed lost. Perhaps it was as Thranduil had hoped, that her past misdeeds were recognised by her and regretted. But that might not be the case, it may be simply regret for what she no longer had, for she had cut herself adrift from all she had supposedly loved and valued for something that could never be and that, perhaps, she did not understand. At least she had done so if she was honest and for the moment he must still assume that she was, and so he strove to put a note of reassurance into his voice as he answered her.

"I have spoken much with him of late and he has mentioned no such offence to me, and though he has made it possible for me to speak with you it is not at his behest that I have come. It is true that the matters I would speak of are of much interest and concern to him but I must make it clear before we begin that it is I who have asked to speak with you, he has not sent me."
He looked for a sign or greater ease in her but found none, which suggested it was more than further punishment from Thranduil that she feared. He continued kindly,
"But sit a while and take some more refreshment before we broach my questions for the streets are dusty and the wind blows chill off the lake."
She inclined her head without raising her eyes and once again lifted the cup to her lips, her hand was steady enough as she did so and she appeared calm but the air of being adrift still hung around her. As she sipped the wine he watched her closely noting with a sense of frustration that there was nothing at all about her that was familiar at all, not even the worrying colour of her hair.

He recalled that there had been a female elf with Legolas when he arrived in that unexpected manner from Gundebad, and yet if he had been asked to say with certainty if this was the one he could not have done so. Nor did he recall her being present when he had accosted Thranduil to beg elves to be sent to Ravenhill, which was another odd thing now he came to think of it. He sucked harder on his pipe as he recalled that time, he had not seen her threats to the king but Thranduil had told him where she had accosted him and how she had challenged him on his 'turning away' as she had put it. That being the case, and he had no reason to doubt the Elvenkings recollections, she must have been close by as his own request had been refused. For her comments as reported to him were clearly aimed at gaining assistance for those few on Ravenhill, indeed it seemed that she had shown scant regard for anyone or anything else.

He watched her through the pipe smoke as he reviewed his conversation with Thranduil on the matter. Yes, now he thought about it that was indeed odd, for the point at which she had assailed her king had been some way from where he had turned away from Gandalf's request, how then had she overheard that exchange and yet still got ahead of Thranduil to block his path? Had it been some form of sorcery?

Gandalf carefully avoided allowing his thoughts to appear on his face but within himself he was frowning, for it seemed there might be more cause for concern than even he had suspected when he had travelled the road here. Yet he would not allow that concern to shape his approach to her as yet, he would go carefully for it was clear that she was wounded and yet he was not sure what form those wounds took. Nor must he forget that the Elvenking, the most affected by her spite, had suggested there might be other reasons than evil for her actions. So as the silence stretched he watched her sip her wine and waited for her to be ready to speak, and all the time his mind reached out and tried to fathom the shape of the feeling that tormented her.

After a while she lowered the cup to her lap and looked back up at him, a hint of colour returned to her face. Seeing it he smiled at her again in encouragement.
"What do you wish to ask me my lord?" she said softly.
Gandalf looked at her closely for despite the calm words the aura of being lost was still there, that and a weariness he could not decipher and so he strove for a gentle tone despite the hard nature of his words.
"Before I ask anything of you I must impress upon you how important it is that you answer me truthfully and as fully as you can. Though my questions may seem strange, even unimportant, to you I assure you they are not. I would not have sought you out in this manner it it were otherwise."

That brought a frown to her face for it was clear that she had not expected such vehemance. She moved forward in her seat with a look of entreaty on her face.
"I will answer anything you ask my lord, and tell all that I know. But you say nothing is wrong in the forest or with the king, is it then the prince? I know that he left after the battle but I thought he had now returned home, please do not say that some harm has come to him!"
Her agitation took him by surprise, for she had shown little concern for Legolas in the days after he departed, or so Thranduil had said, and he hurried to reassure her.
"I have told you all is well in the forest and with the king, that could not be so if the prince were harmed, now could it? But if you wish me to state it more plainly then I will. He is indeed well and has returned home. Be easy on that score."

She relaxed a little then and he was silent for a while as she recovered herself. Then he began again.
"As I have said all is well in the forest for the moment, the creatures of the darkness have withdrawn or perished when the necromancer's spell was removed, and the shadow is lifting from the trees. Orcs no longer haunt the mountains or the wild land as once they did and a form of peace reigns. But it can only be for a while, for though the dark lord has fled the fortress in the forest he is not dead nor is he banished from the world. That I regret was not found to be possible, and being so there can be no doubt that he will rise again and we must all be prepared. In that preparation even the most trivial detail may be vital."
She stared at him, her eyes widening slightly at his serious tone and sombre look. There was confusion in her face and uncertainty in her voice as she replied.
"I have said that I will answer all that you ask my lord, but I know nothing that can be use to you in that matter for I know nothing of Sauron."

He looked at her closely but there seemed to be nothing but surprise in her look and voice, but then he had not expected otherwise for the most menial of Sauron's servants were practiced deceivers. But he must not see deceit where there might not be any he reminded himself, for her answer might be honest. He smiled softly at her.
"Are you sure of that? That is the question that I need to answer. For the shadow can be subtle and trap the unwary almost without their knowing."
The surprise in her became alarm.
"My Lord! I must ask that you speak plainly, am I accused of doing so?"
"Is there cause for any to do so?" he responded with a searching look.
She moved forward again to sit on the edge of the chair and desperation was now clearly written in her face.
"No!" Tears shone on her eyes and the hands about the cup gripped tight enough to break something more delicate. "I know that I have not acted wisely, that I have behaved as no elf of any honour or conscience should, and I have done things that cause me much shame to think on, but am I now charged with more than that? Does the king think that? For if he does how am I to defend myself when I have already sacrificed both his regard and his trust. I have no friends remaining nor even the respect of most I once fought beside, all of this I know I lost by my own actions and I will bear that loss as well as I can. But this greater thing you hint at, how would I bear that? Who would speak for me now should I be so charged?"

Gandalf sighed and shook his head.
"As I have said there are no charges, but there are questions to be asked and that must be answered,"#He could feel the fear in her now, wrapped tight around her like a winters cloak, and something more, a feeling such as woodland deer might feel when facing a giant spider, the desire to flee but the sense that it is already too late. She swallowed hard, the panic written clear in her wide eyes, but she held on to her dignity and her voice was steady enough as she spoke.
"Ask them then and I will answer, though if you will not believe me I do not know how I will convince you."

XXX

Thranduil entered the room whilst Legolas was busy restringing his favourite bow. The sight of him at such a mundane task filled his father with satisfaction and he sent up another prayer of thanks that the storms of that terrible winter seemed to be blown out.
"Mithrandir has reached Dale in safety." He said as he passed by his son on his way to the table,
Legolas looked up with a smile.
"That is good. Does he plan to remain there long?"
"A day or so he told me, and nothing has occurred to alter that on the road; long enough for him to speak with Bard and reacquaint himself with his family at least.
"Long enough to speak with Tauriel too," Legolas added with another smile.

His father reached out for a particularly tempting looking apple, its skin barely withered by the months stored in a barrel, and spoke without looking round.
"Yes, I would think he will seek to do that as soon as he may."
Legolas turned his eyes back to his bow.
"Then we might look to receive his letter soon.
"Let us hope so, for I confess I would wish to know as soon as may be of his view upon her innocence."

At that Legolas looked up again and gave his father a long considering look.
"Yet you do think she is innocent?"
Thranduil stared at the apple in his hand and his face was washed of all expression as he replied.
"Innocent of being a servant of the dark one? I would wish to believe it for I would not think that any of our people remain open to his words." There was the hint of sigh in his voice.
"Yet you are not sure?
'How many times must I ask him this?' Legolas thought as he heard his own words, 'how many times must I hear him excuse her. Make him excuse her, before I allow myself to believe myself excused for my part in her treachery.'

The king seemed unaware of the implications of the question and continued to stare at the apple in his hand with a slight frown. When he spoke there was no sign he referred to anything more than the elf guard, though he knew only too well the possible effect of his words upon his son.
"Less sure now than once I was, but distance can make one see things in a different light Then, in the days after the battle in Dale, the hurt was such that I could not see past it, for her hatred seemed so personal, directed at me and nothing else. Even once I returned to the forest I remembered little more of the matter than the hiss of hatred in her voice and the desire to hurt that had been written so clearly in her face."
He bit into the apple.

Legolas said nothing and after one hurried glance at his father's face he turned his eyes back to the bow, though his hands were still. Thranduil didn't seem to notice and swallowing the mouthful of fruit he continued to speak in a calm and meditative voice.
" But later other things came back to me, things that she had done and said that bore many interpretations, some simply foolish others open to a more sinister view, only then did I come to think that a greater evil might be at the base of it. Yet until you returned the doubts remained unformed for there was too much I could not be sure of.
Legolas nodded thoughtfully recalling his father's careful questioning on his return home."Now, what is your thought now?"
The king took the chair beside the table carefully inspecting the apple in his hand as he responded, but he felt a passing sorrow that even now his son must return to such a well worn track.
"On balance I still think her reasons for her actions were much as I suspected then, and that the dark one was not their cause. But as the wizard says in such times as this we cannot take such things lightly, and the opinion of one not so close to the matter is of value."
"True, and Gandalf is well skilled in detecting those who have fallen for the lures of Sauron.
"Perhaps, though sometime I wonder if he is as good at that as he thinks himself to be."
Legolas smiled softly.
"Certainly he has much faith in his own wisdom."

Thranduil gave a soft huff of laughter, too soft for Legolas to be sure of its meaning, and nodded.
"In the past I have thought he has perhaps too much faith in that. But he has never truly failed us when he was needed and so I hope that if the future is as dark as I fear it may yet be that his faith in himself is fully justified."
He took another bite of the apple and sank into silence. Legolas returned to his ministrations to his bow, his deft fingers making good the damage wrought by recent practice sessions as his thoughts drifted across past and present. Eventually he raised his eyes and seeing his father was on the point of discarding the apple core he risked another question.
"When he has seen her, if he finds her wanting, what will you do?"

The king sighed, for they had had this conversation, or one much like it, before. It seemed that his son still needed to pick at the healing wound. With that in mind he answered as if it was the first time the question had been asked.
"I am hoping most earnestly that he does not find her wanting for I am not sure what I can do, yet act I must in such circumstances. But even Mithrandir's opinion is just that, opinion not proof, and therefore to bring her back here for a period of undetermined confinement seems to be unwise. Yet there is no other choice, I cannot leave her free to endanger the men of the lake or our own Realm nor can I banish her without the risk of greater mischief from her at some point in the future. I cannot send her to the west, not if the darkness is upon her, at least not without long and wide consulatations with other elven communities."
He gave a deep and bitter sigh.
"As for the most direct and obvious course…. ", he waived a hand as if to push the thought away, "I would find it hard to justify by the laws of our people and it would cause me much pain even if I could. Yet if he is certain and can marshall enough evidence to convince our law givers, and if she is unable to refute his arguments, then the crown may yet demand it of me."

Legolas cast his eyes down, unwilling to see the trouble in his father's face. He had always been aware that his sire's crown was a thing of terrible weight, just as he had always known that in the nature of things its weight might fall upon his own head if the Dark Lord prospered and the days of battle continued. But at that moment he seemed to feel it bearing down upon him even though his father still wore it. He fixed his eyes upon his bow but his mind was a long way from its string, back in the past where he had hoped to find a bonding with Tauriel, to face the future, even that future possibility of the crown, together and in harmony. Yet events had shown that she could not bear even the weight of her own freely made oaths and vows when they were set in opposition to a sudden fancy, how then would she have borne the shadow of the crown? It seemed that she could not have done so and that he should be glad that neither he nor she, nor his father and his people come to that, had been put to the grief of her trying. For he no longer doubted that she would have failed.

With that realisation a little bit more of the remaining grief for his dreams of the past stuttered like the flame of a failing candle and died, replaced by a small and faint sense of relief. Yet the feeling soon faded for he knew where his father's words led and would not wish so cruel a fate upon her, not even with the knowledge that she would have killed her king with little compunction and even less justification.

"Could it come to that?" he asked slowly.
The king stared at the wall with a frown, for they had discussed this before too.
"I hope not. Had I thought there was such evidence at the time I would never have left her in Dale, but as I have said the times were singular and my judgement perhaps not as clear as it should have been. I did what I thought was required of me but nothing more. Perhaps I feared being swayed by my own hurt. Perhaps the memories of the past petitioned for mercy for her, I no longer know. Now I must trust to a wizard's sight to make sure I was not in error. I do not find it comfortable but so must it be."
Legolas nodded silently, sending up a small prayer that the wizard found in her favour.
"Well we should know soon enough," he said softly, "it cannot be more than another day or two. Perhaps Lord Elrond would have some suggestions to make as to what to do with her if any doubt of her alliegance is thought to remain. At least if it is decided that he will come?"
Thranduil nodded.
"It is decided. I replied bidding him come and his messenger was gone before sunrise. He cannot be here much before the last spring feast, and it seems that he has some weigthy concerns of his own to discuss, and so I would not hold out much hope of help on Tauriel's count from that quarter."
"No perhaps not. You still have no information as what those weightly matters are then?"

Thranduil shot his son a sharp look but Legolas's eyes were fixed on his bow again. He knew that he would need to broach the matter of the identity of Elrond's ward before they arrived, the details of his parentage had not arisen whilst Legolas had been visiting Imladris but it seemed unlikely that it could be avoided entirely during their visit to Mirkwood, certainly not if Legolas was to spend any time with the youth. Nor would Legolas have forgotten that the Strider he had been sent to seek out on Ravenhill had been the son of Arathorn, that there were two such son's was not likely to be accepted as an answer when he discovered that this strippling was the son of the same man But Thranduil knew that would not lie to his son on the matter even if he had thought it might be, better Legolas learned the truth of his fruitless quest now. If only he was not still so preoccupied with Tauriel there might be less cause for concern on the matter. But his constant return to her guilt or otherwise, and the shadow of anxiety in his eyes, showed that he clearly was still much concerned about that and there was nothing that could be done about it for the moment. He pushed the thought away for the moment and contented himself with a nod.
"No, other than his desire to have us know his ward, as I told you, he has given little information. I know what they are unlikely to be, but nothing more than that."

Legolas smiled and returned his attention to his bow.
"Then it seems that we shall have several calls upon our patience, as well that we are elves then, and so can stand such delays as required."
The king rose and crossed the room, dropping his hand onto his son's shoulder as he passed.
"Indeed it is. Imagine how irritiating it would be if we were mortal men, or worse still dwarfs!" he said.
Legolas gave a soft chuckle.
"I think I would rather not."
The hand patted his shoulder briefly then was removed. He heard the swish of a long robe as his father left to be about other business.

He stared at the bow beneath his fingers with a frown. Whatever and however Gandalf found he feared that the matter of Tauriel would remain unresolved, at least in some part, and now it seemed that other concerns were to be brought to them. Elrond had been a poor ally in the years of darkness, hidden in his protected valley guarded by towering peaks and narrow passes, yet it seemed that he felt that his concerns should be also those of the king of the Woodland Realm. Legolas sighed, it seemed that their scant years of respite might not be as peaceful as they deserved.

XXXX

"Ask them then and I will answer, though if you will not believe me I do not know how I will convince you."

Gandalf sat back and looked at her with a calm yet watchful expression, noting that, for the moment at least, there seemed to be no hesitation in her. He nodded.
"Very well. As I told you many of them may seem trivial to you but answer them as well as you can."
She nodded in her turn, apparently eager enough to hear what he had to say, and he smiled as he began.

"Think back to the time before Thorin and his company came into the forest to your duties and concerns within the forest. Was there any time when the king sent you, or any other of his people, south beyond his borders? Towards the Mirkwood Mountains perhaps? Or even further maybe, south and west towards the fortress at Dol Guldor?"
She shook her head.
"No my Lord, the king was most emphatic on the matter, none were sent beyond our borders except a few scouts perhaps, and certainly none were sent so far south, not to the mountains nor to the fortress you name."
Her voice was bell clear and certain.

He nodded his acceptance of her report and continued.
"Then did the prince ever ask you to make such a journey or ask you to accompany him on such travels?"
She looked shocked at his question
"No my lord, the king's prohibition extended to his son and the prince made no attempt to disobey him, of that I am sure."
"Can you be sure of that?"
"Yes! Even were he willing to disobey his father so grievously it could not have been done unnoticed, for the journey to the mountains is a long one, a march of close on a moon cycle even in good weather, and one requiring much preparation and supply. All of the king's house, as well as the Council and his guard, would have known long before any could set off and none would have left the King uninformed of such a plan."
Gandalf considered her for a while in silence then he inclined his head.
As I would have expected." He said softly. "So the next question must follow as day follows night. Did you make such a journey on your own without permission? If you did then how was it that no one missed you?"

This time she hesitated and her look changed, now she regarded him warily as if a first whiff of danger in the questions had occurred to her.
"No my lord, I made no such journey. Nor could I have done so undiscovered. I had my duties to perform and I would have been missed had I been gone more than a sunrise or two. Had I been caught in such a deed the king would have told you, for I am sure you know full well of the events around my desertion."
The wizard was silent for a moment watching her closely, he got no feeling of evasion from her nor was there any sign that she understood the reasons for his questions. Finally he inclined his head.
"Very well. Then in the time before Thorin's company entered the forest had you ever met anyone who had travelled to the south of the forest or to that fortress?"

She drew a deep breath and seemed to give the matter due thought, then she shook her head but the wary look remained.
"No my Lord. At least none who told me of it, nor who I heard speak of it."
"You are sure of that?"|
"Yes my lord I would not have forgotten such a thing.
"Then did the prince meet anyone who had been there and did he tell you of it?"
She shook her head again.
"Again my lord I must answer no."
"So you and Legolas never spoke of the fortress?"
Now a shadown of unease moved across her face.
"I….." she paused as if seeking the right word, "recall that we spoke of it at times."
"Spoke of it. But neither of you ever went there, or met with any one who had been there?"
Again there was some hesitation before she answered as if it had occurred to her to wonder at his direction. Finally she replied.
"That is so my lord."

Gandalf watched her with an expression still kindly if serious. Her unease was now more obvious but he still felt no sense of evasion or deceit, no hint of guilt or desire to hide. Yet she had cut much of the ground from beneath her own feet, for how could she now answer the questions still to come
"Then we are left with a difficult question are we not?"
Now she looked uncomfortable, her eyes not quite meeting his.
"What question is that my lord?"
"Why you told the king that the spiders were spawning at Dol Guldor? If you have not been there, and you had spoken to none who had, how could you claim such knowledge?"

His voice was gentle enough but at that question all colour left her face and a stricken look entered her eyes. Now her distress was obvious, she gripped her hand yet more tightly about the cup and looked down into it as if she had never seen it before. For a moment she was silent and then she drew a shuddering breath.
"I told you the truth my lord, I have not been there nor spoken with any who has."
"So, how then did you know, for the king tells me your claim of knowledge was direct and your eagerness to travel there, to have him mount an assault there, was unmistakable. For you pressed it beyond the right of your rank."
The meaning of his questions seemed to suddenly occur to her and her eyes were wide and frightened and awash with tears.
"He thinks that I had some dealing with the dark one," her voice was little more than a whisper but hoarse with fear, "that it was at that ones bidding I would have led him there. That seems to be what you suggest my lord. Is that truly the case, for I am lost if it is. Does he now believe that, do you believe the same?"

When Gandalf did not reply she looked down at her hands again and a tear ran the length of her cheek. She bowed her head.
"Perhaps I can see why he might suspect such a thing given what followed afterwards, what reason does he have to think well of me after all, but I swear to you that is not so. But I do not see how I can defend myself against such a charge if you and he are willing to believe it. I only wonder why he has not charged me with this before."
Gandalf replied slowly and quietly.
"Because until his son returned home he could not be sure that there was not some innocent reason that you might believe it, something the prince had known or said that you misunderstood. But the prince is returned and he says that is not so, as you have just confirmed. That being the case the question must be answered, and he felt that you might find the question more bearable coming from me than from him given what had already passed between you."
She nodded but did not raise her eyes.

Gandalf was silent for a while until t became obvious she did not intend to explain unless pressed further.
"So why then did you make such a claim?"#He saw the muscles of her throat tighten as she swallowed hard and it was clear that she was reluctant to speak, yet in the end she did reply though her voice still low and pained.
"I did not know my lord, not in that I had seen or had been told. But they appeared to come from the south and knowing the fortress to be a place of dark magic it seemed obvious to me that the place would be where they would breed."
Gandalf sat back in his chair and regarded her with narrowed eyes, for he considered the explanation more than a little thin.
"You thought that even the spawn of the Ugolaint would venture so close to the sorcerer's domain? You thought that the necromancer would permit such a thing of such creatures?"
Now she raised her eyes and they were still bright with unshed tears and desperation.
" I do not think I thought of it that way my lord. Merely that it seemed so clear to me that it was there we would find their spawning ground. But I assure you there was no more to it than that."

He continued to stare at her and she met his gaze steadily as if by doing so she could convince him. In the end he spoke again, some softness in his voice but also a sternness that caused her to pale still further
"You spoke as if you did not think the King knew, so he reported,why would you think that you, a member of the guard, would know something that your king did not, unless you had some good reason to do so? Nor were you backward in pressing your desire for action, it seems that you were so sure in that belief that you would have had the king divide his forces, which were already stretched as well you must have known, had him leave some of his lands and his people unprotected, just to enable such a venture? Or did you think to go alone and if you did why were you so sure that you could succeed?"
She stared at him in wide eyed shock.
"You think that was my purpose? That is why you ask these questions? You think that I sought to prevail upon the king to act in such a manner so as to weaken my people's defences for some dark purpose? It is not so I swear it!"
Gandalf looked at her sternly.
"Yet the question must be asked, even more so now for you have just shown that you understand the implications of your request. Was that then the purpose, to weaken your people's fight against the shadow, to leave your king's halls unprotected? The king was clear that you were mightily disappointed when he refused your request to journey to Dol Guldar."

Horror was now written beside the shock in her face.
"Only because I feared that the crearures of evil might spread beyond the forest!"
Gandalf sat forward, his hands planted upon his knee and his eyes raked her face with dark fire.
"Or perhaps they would not, for they never have done so yet, and there is nothing to suggest that will change. What did you know of their reasons or intentions? Did you correspond with other lands on the matter? Did you sit in Council with the King and his advisors and debate it? Did you have spies and informants that told you of what was happening in the south forest?"
Her face was picture of misery and yet he gave no quarter.
"Well did you do any of those things? Did you have any solid knowledge of the matter at all?"
"No." the word was a shiver on the air between them.
He sighed.
"No. Yet you would have gad the king wage war upon the sorcerer's castle,despite the dread consequences such a pointless act might bring. You would have had him lead your comrades there, on the whim of maybe, even as your people struggled to keep their lands fair and free on a daily basis with no help from others or hope of it! Why was that? What innocent purpose could there have been for such demands!"
She remained silent her eyes locked on his with an expression of hopelessness.

He sighed again but his voice didn't soften.
"When you failed to manage that, failed to divide the Kings forces, when he thwarted your ambitions, was it then that you first decided that he, the king, must die. Or had that always been your intention?"