[Thenamir]

Thenamir rubbed his hands together in grim but glad anticipation. "Another good idea, master Dwarf. It is some comfort to know that Taradan and I can rely on the brains of others when ours fail us! Now if we just knew how long the Rohirrim were going to take in udging Guthrin."

At that moment the men surrounding Guthrin, who was still tied securely to his tree, stepped a few steps away from the tree, still facing it. Taradan approached the knot of people where Thenamir was still seated on the ground with the map.

"Thenamir," said Taradan deferentially, "the circle is undecided. Some think Guthrin should be killed for his cowardice, others think he should be given the fhiornach, a chance to redeem himself by accomplishing a great deed."

Thenamir answered, "Why do you tell me this?" Taradan smiled in reply, "more than one of the circle would have your opinion before deciding."

Thenamir frowned, then a light dawned across his face. He jumped up so suddenly that the others over him barely had time to dodge. He walked briskly over to the circle of the men of Rohan watching to see what he would do. "Men of Rohan!" he began, "Last night you vindicated my interim judgement on Guthrin, and now you would have my counsel. Very well. I shall give it to you."

Thenamir removed the long leather gauntlet from one hand, and holding it so that the metal-beaded side would not injure, reared back and slapped the bound Guthrin full in the face with it.

He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. "I am not one to shed blood hastily outside of clean battle. Some among you have counselled his death, and were the situation not so dire, I would agree. And yet, we may have need of just the kind of avoidance of battle Guthrin so aptly has demonstrated."

Thenamir bent down and cut the bonds from Guthrin's hands, and then stood straight with his hand on the hilt of Aranbold. "Guthrin, it is my judgement that you be given the opportunity to redeem your cowardice by the fhiornach! If the rest of the circle are agreed, you will accompany Leoden and Flandhere, where your skill at avoiding the enemy and climbing trees silently will be put to good use. You are to scout out the location and direction of the Dunlendings, get in front of them, and set fire to the forest in their path, and thus slow them, that we may get ahead of them."

Here Thenamir leaned into the face of Guthrin and said, "Although I am not of Rohan, and have no claim to judge your offenses to Rohan, yet these of Rohan are my honorable friends and allies. And so I charge you now: if you leave them, betray them, or demonstrate such craven behavior toward them as you have thus far exhibited on our journey, *I* will be the one to shed your blood if we ever meet again...not for Rohan, but for myself. What say you, O Circle of the Rohirrim?" There was a shout of assent.

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The Rangers of the North examined the livery of the great horse which had come into their midst so unexpectedly. One of them recognized it as a saddle and gear from the stables of Rohan, which amazed them even more, for Rohan was many leagues indeed from where they stood. Though the beast had obviousl just run a long distance, it seemed ready to take off again, anxious to go somewhere.

Before Telefax could run off, one of the men, knowing the love of the steeds of Rohan for their masters, packed a rough leather sack with such food and medical supplies as they could spare, along with a packet of athelas leaves, and a map of the area showing their location, and tied it securely to the saddle of the horse before they released it again. It looked at each one in turn, as though trying to remember them to recognize them should they meet again. Then with a mighty neighing, it reared, turned, and galloped off again the way it came...

[ April 07, 2002: Message edited by: Thenamir ]