[ElentariGreenleaf]

“Tanroth,” said Imthôlion. “You push us too hard. Remember that we are not as young as we once were, and Time has caught up with us. Yes, we can still travel further in one day than a mortal can, but we tire easier now. Let us rest. We will travel further if we regain our strength from a break, even a short one!”

“My mind is unchanged, Imthôlion,” was the severe, yet civil, reply. “We travel for six hours yet.” Tanroth new he had made things clear to the elf, and walked over to Firiel.

Imthôlion, who was surprised at Tanroth’s decision, took a seat next to Erfalas and Duinare. The two elves looked angry, so Imthôlion tried to calm them down.

“Friends,” he said. “Tanroth must have a good reason for this. Let us not be angry with him.”

“If he is to push us so hard,” began Duinare, “then I shall not recognise him as leader!”

“Fie for shame, Duinare!” said Imthôlion sternly. “The Lady Galadriel appointed him as leader, as so he shall stay! Would you split the group over such a small thing? You act on impulse and in doing so you risk confrontation in the group.”

“Hush,” said Erfalas. “Keep your words quiet, or the others may hear.”

Arilewen, who had overheard the mutinous conversation despite Erfalas’ attempts to hush the words, walked over to the three elves.

“What you speak of does, as Imthôlion has said, risk confrontation.” Arilewen felt awkward being the only female in the small group. “But I feel that Tanroth is the one acting on impulse, not any one of us. He does not want to arrive late at the Havens, so he pushes us all too hard to gain extra time.” She brushed some of her dark hair away from her stormy grey eyes.

“What if we were to refuse to travel?” said Erfalas. “What would he do then? Surely he would have to stop.”

“I fear that would not happen,” said Duinare. “He would go on without us, knowing we would have to change our minds and follow.”

The group sat in silence, contemplating Duinare’s wise words. There was little they could do, because Tanroth was a leader appointed by one whose decision is always final.

“But why does he fear to spend more than one night in the mountains?” asked Erfalas.

Imthôlion sighed. “These times are troubled, Erfalas. Orcs patrol the mountains, and Tanroth most likely fears they could attack if we are on the mountain too long. An injury to a member of this company could slow us down immensely.”

“But you know of healing, do you not?” questioned Arilewen.

“Yes,” replied Imthôlion. “But my knowledge is limited to minor injuries.”

There was nothing left to say, for now, so the group parted again. Imthôlion stayed close to Erfalas, talking to him of his travels, so that Erfalas’ mind would not wander back to the subject of the six-hour walk. Imthôlion took it upon himself to keep an eye on Erfalas and Duinare, for neither seemed too pleased with Tanroth at the moment. Imthôlion could not predict what their next move would be, but he would stay with them whatever they did, for the fog was thick meaning anything could happen.