Sunlight had at last conquered the sky as the morning was well underway, illuminating the transformed Low Pass. Thranduil decided that they could wait until noon before moving on from the site of destruction. Aurados and Maluven busied themselves with feeding, watering, and packing the remaining horses, singing softly to them all the while. Lostor and another soldier set to building a frame they would drape with a blanket for carrying Harthadon, who was lying against the rock wall under Berenil's supervision. Elluin and Anarrima saw to the remaining injuries, mostly minor scratches. Lady Ninniach gathered her composure and the Elves on the ledge made their way down the base of the slope.
Elluin and Turiel collaborated to make everyone a calming tea and a small breakfast. After sending out a pair of scouts and setting some soldiers on watch, Telior sat down to eat beside Thranduil.
After a small bite, he began cautiously, "Sire, I would be grateful if the king would make it easier to keep him safe."
Berenil, anticipating Thranduil's annoyance, signaled for Elluin to take his place by Harthadon and moved to sit by the king.
Thranduil managed to keep his voice level, not feeling in the mood for a scolding. "I prioritize the safety of my soldiers above the gratitude of my captains," he answered simply.
"Captain," Berenil said smoothly, "you can expect a good king to be willing to make sacrifices for his people."
"True," Telior conceded. "And I hope to serve our good king for all the many years of his reign," he said pointedly.
"Very well, Telior," Thranduil said with a resigned sigh, "you have made your point. The next time that saving one of my people would incur a risk to my person, I shall order Sulros to go in my stead." The king's eyes glinted with amusement and the tension among the Elves dissipated.
Sulros looked up from his meal with mock indignation. "For you, sire, I would give my life, and I would also consider doing so for the sake of a lady." He flashed a smile at where Anarrima and Ninniach were sitting. "But my poor hide is worth more than any soldier's. Just look at how dusty their boots are."
Chuckling was heard throughout the camp. "Sulros," Lady Ninniach said mirthfully, "you are even dustier than they are."
"Perhaps now, my lady." He said proudly, "Normally, I am the very picture of cleanliness."
Laughter rang through the air. Sulros laughed along — everyone knew his duties to the king regularly obligated him to be soiled by all manner of dust, oils, powders, earth, and water. Amid the joyful sound, Thranduil briefly put a hand on his servant's shoulder. Though it was a very small expression of gratitude for staying by his king's side, Sulros felt once more that Thranduil recognized and appreciated his faithfulness. Such a king was worthy to serve.
By noon, Harthadon had recovered enough to sit up on his own. As Elluin predicted, he was in pain but had no regrets after seeing that most of the horses had been saved. He grudgingly allowed two soldiers to carry him on the makeshift stretcher for the rest of the day's march. The group was forced to move slowly; despite the sure-footedness of the Elves, the rocky terrain made smooth travel difficult, and they had no wish to aggravate Harthadon's injuries.
They had come nearly halfway down the western side of the mountain by the end of the day's march and made camp in a small cluster of trees. The wood-Elves delighted at having leaves overhead once more. Since the threat on the captain's mind had vanished, Turiel had a cooking fire to make some broth. Led by a spicy-sweet scent on the cool breeze, Elluin found some herbs growing between some boulders to add to the pot.
Aurados was one of the soldiers next on watch. He was the last one Elluin served so she sat beside him to eat. "Aurados, your ears and eyes are keen. I would ask a favor of you," she started.
"Ask," he said simply, somewhat distracted by the enticingly aromatic broth.
"We have only been partially successful at patting off all the dust from the rock slide," she said, "and some of the injuries, though not serious, would be significantly relieved if soaked. Are you willing to scout for a stream suitable for bathing?"
His eyes scanned the mountainside downward with the knowledge of centuries of woodcraft. "I already have an idea of where to look. I will ask the captain for permission." He smiled at her. "But this is no favor. I myself have dust in places I would not care to mention."
Shortly after breakfast the next morning, they arrived at the pool Aurados found. The company took it as a matter of course that the visit would be brief. They were all eager to move on soon, not least in order to spare Harthadon the pain of jolting his injuries on horseback for longer than necessary before reaching the famed healing rooms of Rivendell. The iciness of the pool's water also discouraged lingering.
Lady Anarrima directed those with injuries to bathe first and had Elluin help her redress the wounds that still required attention.
It was decided that the ladies would bathe next. Despite the desire for a quick departure, Elluin made a point of taking her time with Lady Ninniach. While Turiel helped Anarima to finish dressing, Elluin gently combed the tangles out of Ninniach's wet hair. She said softly, "I venture to guess that the rock slide was my lady's first experience with the more volatile aspect of nature."
"Yes," the young elleth admitted. "Our mountains do not rage like that."
"No, the frost does not bite as keenly on the peaks of the Dark Mountains of Greenwood as it does on the Misty Mountains. I know my lady to be appreciative of the smaller, tamer parts of nature," Elluin said, recalling Ninniach's fascination with the flowers and animals of Greenwood. "I would remind my lady that beauty persists, despite the destruction. And sometimes because of it."
Elluin paused her work to point to the fissure from which the icy water flowed in a tinkling cascade into the pool where they had bathed. "Perhaps the melted snows persistently chipped away at that rock to make this stream," she said. "Perhaps it split suddenly from the ice, as we saw at the peak above the Low Pass. Perhaps a rock giant split the stone in a tantrum." She smiled at Ninniach's chuckle.
"Regardless," Elluin concluded lightly, "it is the will of the Valar that Arda continues to be shaped. And I am thankful that that rock was broken to give us the chance to bathe."
Ninniach smiled. "Very well. I shall forgive the mountain and the ice, for though it is their fault that I was covered in dust, I owe this lovely bath to them, as well!"
On their way back to the group, Elluin picked a small handful of bright yellow kingcup blossoms she found boldly declaring the new season on a sunny slope nearby. Leaving Turiel to handle the ladies' wet garments, she quickly wove them into the mane of the king's mount.
"You bear the king to the house of a great lord, and we would do well to make a good impression," she whispered to the patient horse affectionately. "You are already proud and beautiful. This crown of flowers will make you royal, as well, so you will be just like your master."