Triwathon and Cínir set off towards Oak as swiftly as they could. Cínir tried several times to get started on his tale, but after his first three faltering attempts, Triwathon halted and shook his head.

'Just tell me,' he said. 'Use any words you can. And then I'll ask questions if I need to. Come on, it can't be that bad…'

'Oh, Commander, it can, it…' Cínir took a breath and blurted out a stream of words. 'Elder… Elder Gomben climbed up into the tree where Lumormen and I were… I was helping him with a Galadhrim tree-healing ritual, and the Elder grabbed hold of a branch due for cutting and it collapsed and he fell out of the tree and… and…' Cínir shrugged and blushed fiercely. 'I was taking my meal break, Commander; it wasn't as if I was on duty…'

'Or in uniform either, I expect.'

'Well, I… Mostly, sir.'

'I think I've heard of the ritual you mean… well…' Triwathon shook his head. 'Was the fellow badly hurt?'

'I do not know for certain. He was unconscious when I left to seek you… His leg was oddly twisted, it could be broken, but, oh, sir, I'm sorry, I love my posting here, I really do, and I have tried to work hard and if I… Captain Narunir might not understand, the elder is important and…'

'Elder Gomben shouldn't have been within half a league of Oak Village,' Triwathon said, clasping the worried elf's shoulder for a moment. 'Hear me. You were off duty, you've done nothing wrong.'

Cínir exhaled in a sigh. 'I'm grateful, Commander, but it looks bad, I know, and…'

'Let's get moving again. Now, I don't quite understand why the tree would let him fall?'

'Oh, that… that is because… it was the really damaged tree, we were up on the talan, and could see that where the trunk forked, one side would have to come out and all the branches on it. They weren't supporting boughs, but they were structural, if that makes sense…?'

'I know the talan you mean.' The branches of that tree, Triwathon recalled, forked just above the level of the main platform with the main growth going off to the side and to which had formerly been attached a woven panel. 'I seem to remember it's just where you'd put your hand out to support yourself...'

'Exactly. What happened was, I was… the first I was aware of was the tree shaking as someone climbed up – Lumormen had sung the tree into sleep so it wouldn't hurt when the limb was sawn off – and I heard a shout, the talan shook and a shadow loomed over, and then a crack and crash and yell and…'

'And the tree didn't try to help because it was… asleep…?'

'And because the big branch was coming off, Lumormen had told the tree to bring all its energies in and cut itself off from the bough to be excised. So the branch was numb, and there was no strength in it either. I think Elder Gomben had rushed towards where we were… working, and used the bough for leverage…'

'I see.' The commander halted again, frowning. Ai…! If he'd just allowed the rumours to continue, then Cínir wouldn't have introduced himself to Lumormen… if Lumormen had kept his mind on his real healing talents… No. This was nobody's fault but Elder Gomben's; had he not broken the curfew…

'Commander, I am so sorry, I…'

'No, don't blame yourself.' Triwathon bit back a sigh. 'Do you think he recognised you? Gomben, that is?'

'I don't see how… I wasn't… really visible, I…'

'Well, that's something… no, I don't mean it harshly, believe me; quite the opposite. I want you to go back to Elm, ask Hannith to find you work for the afternoon on my request. Leave this to me, Cínir.'

'But, sir, I…'

'No, it's really not your fault, none of this is. I'll explain to Captain Narunir for you; after all, I'm meant to be overseeing the work with the Galadhrim. Now go, and don't worry.' He gave the youngster a rueful grin. 'That's my job, too.'

'Sir, thank you, I…'

Triwathon shook his head, still smiling.

'Dismissed,' he said, and breaking into a lope, headed towards Oak Village.

He got there to a quiet sort of clamour as elves from the work crew hurried up to tell their part of the story, to ask questions and to express their dismay. Triwathon caught sight of Lumormen pushing his way forward and raised his hands to quieten the voices.

'I'll talk to you all presently,' he said. 'Lumormen, will you take me to where the elder is?'

'This way, Commander.' Lumormen bowed gracefully and paused until they'd crossed the former Heart Glade, leaving the group of elves behind. 'This event has been most unfortunate, but I should assure you, it was not the young warrior's doing…'

'I didn't think it was, to be fair.'

'How is he? He seemed most concerned for the safety of… Elder Gomben, I think he said?'

'I've set him to work elsewhere this afternoon. He was a little shaken.'

'I am truly sorry to have embroiled him in this; had I known we might be interrupted I would not have begun the healing rituals…'

'The rituals. Yes, you know, I'm not sure how helpful these rituals of yours really are…'

'Oh, come now, Triwathon! I did offer to show you…

'On present evidence I'd say your rituals are doing more harm than good. At present we seem to have an injured tree as well as injured elf on our hands and another who's rather worried for his future in the guard; I'm not sure this is the time for levity, even for elves.'

'Forgive me. Come, the place is just here.'

Lumormen led the way around the side of a badly damaged tree. In the lee of the tall trunk Triwathon saw a recumbent form on the ground, a small cluster of elves in attendance and off to one side a long, thick broken bough with many smaller branches attached or snapped off around. He spared a second to wonder how much bigger the broken timber looked than when it had been in its proper place attached to the tree before lifting questioning eyes to the gathered elves.

'Is the day captain here?'

'Yes, Commander.' Captain Durdes lifted her hand and came to his side.

'Report, please, Captain. Has anyone sent for a healer yet?'

'We have, Commander. When we sent word to you, another was dispatched to the palace for help.' The day captain gestured towards the figure. 'We have tried to make Elder Gomben more comfortable. Amar here has field training, he has straightened the injured leg and splinted it so that worse damage cannot occur should the elder wake and try to move.'

'Good, well done, Amar. And he's remained unconscious since the fall?'

'He woke and swore at us all, Commander,' Amar volunteered. 'And said some unkind things about the elves he thought he saw. If you know of the Námo special, I used that to make him more comfortable while I worked his injury.'

'I know it. Probably a good idea.'

Triwathon crossed to kneel beside Elder Gomben. A glance upwards showed the raw, ragged face of the broken branch – more of a second trunk, almost – directly overhead at some height.

'The detail of the accident had been told to me,' Triwathon said. 'But as to how Gomben came to be on the talan in the first instance…?'

'We were not expecting anyone,' Durdes said. 'Least of all an elder of the village. He claimed to have spoken to Master Parvon this morning; and since the perimeter guards seem to have let him pass, I had no argument he would accept to send him away. He said he wished to examine his former home but when he was told it was unsafe he raged at us that the tree would not let him fall. We were none of us at work stations, having gathered for the meal, except for our Galadhrim friend and his assigned assistant who, it seems, had willingly given up his free time to assist with a ritual to enhance the tree's recovery. Before we could offer an escort or give warning that a work was taking place, he had ascended and then came a shout and a crash and the poor tree split in two…'

'Lumormen? Has any real harm come to the tree?'

The Galadhrim had been keeping back while Triwathon talked to the work crew, but now came forward with a tilt of his head.

'In fact, the tree had drawn all its strength out from that particular branch since it was damaged beyond regrowth. Its sentience too had been withdrawn, so the tree felt nothing and has assured me it already feels better for releasing the burden of damaged wood.'

'Oh, that is a relief!' Captain Durdes said.

'Commander? Captain?' Amar spoke up. 'He's waking.'

'Let's clear the area.' Captain Durdes nodded to the interested elves who had filtered after Triwathon and tried to merge with the scenery. 'Amar, you stay. Everyone else – back to work. No, you weren't working this side of the glade, go back across…'

Of course Durdes herself stayed. 'As a witness, Commander, for he was making terrible accusations…'

Gomben woke with a murmur and a jolt and tried to prop himself up on his elbows.

'What happened? What have you done to me? My leg!'

'Sir, you were injured in the fall,' Amar said in formal tones. 'I have done my best to stabilise the broken bone and the healers have been alerted…'

'Broken…? Ah, I remember. There was… And… there he is! Triwathon! Well, I don't know what you think you were doing in my home, Commander, nor what right you think you had to…'

'Elder Gomben, you've had an unfortunate fall and are probably confused as a result.' Triwathon said, calmly enough. 'Help is on its way. Meanwhile, perhaps you can explain what you were doing here?'

'I wanted something from my home and then I found you and that… that… Galadhrim…'

'But, sir,' Captain Durdes said, easing herself into the elder's eyeline. 'Commander Triwathon has only just arrived.'

'What? Nonsense, I know what I saw…'

'I have been working at another village today, in fact,' Triwathon said. 'I was with Captain Hannith's crew until word came there'd been an accident here.'

'I don't believe it! And by the time I finish telling his majesty what you were doing…'

'Perhaps you'd better rest quietly,' the commander added, turning away. 'And take a moment to consider which of us has disregarded the express order of the king and which following his instructions.'

He walked back across the glade and found a sound tree to lean his back against, closing his eyes and trying not to think about the horrors Gomben's stories could unleash on the reputation of the garrison company, the harm it could do to young Cínir if the truth got out, and the realisation that the best course of action would be to let Gomben's accusations pass without too much argument; since everyone knew about the friendship between the self-appointed leader of the Galadhrim and the Garrison Commander, nobody would doubt it, and the rumours would flare again…

'Sir? Commander? I know it wasn't you, sir, and as to the person it may have been, well, he's young and these Galadhrim are a lot of temptation…'

Captain Durdes had followed him. He opened his eyes and slid his gaze across to her.

'Gomben can do nothing except bluster and posture,' he said. 'I know from a conversation in the Palace Office that he was told only this morning not to come here. So if it comes to it, he's the one at fault. If we can keep the identity of Lumormen's… assistant… private, so much the better.'

'As to that, sir, there are many witnesses who saw you arrive after the Elder's fall. But it's good of you, sir; I know the youngster was worried.'

'Let Gomben say it was me, if he must accuse someone; my shoulders are broad enough and the people who matter won't believe it.'

At least, he hoped so.

By the time he'd got back to the palace, seen Gomben installed in the healer's rooms, and suffered through a terse, tense interview with Thranduil whose dispassionate, chilled acceptance of the news was far more worrying than any censure could have been, Triwathon realised the list of those who wouldn't believe the story was likely to pitifully few.

Feeling unable to face the formality of the feasting hall and the weight of all the unspoken accusations and assumptions, he headed back towards the garrison, his head aching, and shut his door on the rest of the palace before pouring himself a cup of winter wine and trying not to think too much about the repercussions of the day's events.

A familiar knocking an hour or so later stirred him from a well of morose reflections. Rather than call out, he rose and opened the door. Parvon stood there, a meal trolley at his side.

'I didn't have an appetite tonight either,' he said. 'I thought we could not-eat together, if you liked. I know we said tomorrow, but, well, the king has sent word I am likely to be busy tomorrow… Triw, if you don't feel like company, it's fine, I can go away…'

'Have you heard what happened today?'

'Some of it, the improbable stuff. Gomben ignored everything I said to him and fell out of a tree, then tried to say you were in the tree at the time with a Galadhrim companion, even though you were at Elm.' Parvon shrugged. 'The report says he's broken a leg and suffered a concussion. And I gather Thranduil's already asked him if he thinks a nice, long sea voyage would do him good… People will start talking again, I suppose, but only to take their minds off the rest of the awfulness; it'll blow over, soon enough. I'll speak the truth for you, whenever you need it, and the Palace Office will formally counter Gomben's claims as necessary.'

Triwathon felt his headache easing and realised something oddly freeing…

He didn't care what anyone else thought.

Really, the opinion of the entire woodland realm could be against him, and it was nothing; as long as Parvon believed him, then it didn't matter. He felt himself smiling, saw Parvon smile shyly in return, and his own smile became a laugh.

'Well, Parvon, as long as I don't find myself suddenly encumbered with dozens of new latrine attendants, I think I can live with a bit of gossip,' he said.