[Daniel Telcontar]

Elendil looked up from the table filled with maps, and when he saw it was Arthain with his squire, whose name he could not remember, he sent Arthain, who was kneeling, a quick smile and asked him to rise.

The captain did so, and lifted his head to meet the gaze of his king.
"Well met, captain. I see you and your squire are both in one piece! I trust things were without events?"

Arthain swallowed, and prepared for the explanation; after Melost, the last person he wished to reveal the truth to was the king. But he had no choice.

"In truth, milord, we were ambushed by a few orcs, though we took care of them without casualties. But, something else happened that caused the loss of the elven lord who was leading us."

"This elf was your friend, right? But if you did not lose any when the orcs attacked, how did you lose him?" Elendil's face expressed concern, and it was difficult for Arthain not to laugh out loud of the irony. Indeed, though the elf was perhaps alive, he was no longer Arthain's friend.
"Indeed he was my friend, sire. But he left us, out of madness; he could no longer bear to remain with us."

Behind him, Arthain could feel Dorlas' eyes burning on his neck, and he knew that he had to explain the truth, if not for Elendil's sake, then at least to prove to Dorlas that he would be honest about his failure.

And so, he explained it all to Elendil. How he had betrayed his friend, and the consequences of it. He did not reveal Anwanelme's name, and he tried to avoid the details on how and what had happened.

When he was done, Elendil looked at him, with a face Arthain could not decipher. The king was in doubt; he wished he could forgive the captain, but this had endangered the Alliance, since Melost was a kinsman of Gil-galad. And Elendil knew men like Arthain; if they did not feel punished, they would not forgive themselves. He had to make Arthain feel the punishment of his actions, or else the insanity growing within the captain would burst out instead of diminishing.

"You have acted wrong, captain. Not only to your friend, but towards our allies and your king. Of this moment, I am suspending you, relieving you of all duties, and I will consider if you must leave the army with dishonour. I am done; leave my tent."

Arthain spoke not, merely bowed as it was fitting and left the tent. Nor did the squire speak, or do anything; he quietly followed his lord out of the tent.

Elendil sighed; though he had a war ahead of him with many battles, and much death, such a personal tragedy was what weighed most heavily on his mind.