Anuion's elfen ears had caught up on the conversation and the part of Telpeheled saying that he was going to leave drew his attention. He walked slower and ran alongside Telpeheled for a while.
"You are leaving after this is over yes?" Anuion asked.
"Yes I am. I want to see the world, but I do think I will miss my home. Why did you leave?" Telpeheled asked surprised.
"I lived a thousand years in Mirkwood. I grew tired of the elves there. I wanted to see the other Kin's. The Dwarves, humans, Wizards and Hobbits. I never have regretted my decision one moment." Anuion said back." But that is not why I am talking to you. Going on a journey on your own is much more dangerous than you can imagine. Bordarigorn over there almost got himself killed by that. Why don't you tag along with us for a while, so you can grasp the fine arts of the outdoors?"
Telpeheled nodded, but did not answer. He had to think this over for a while. The group continued the up march and pitched camp in a rugged terrain with some grass. They where closing in on Lothlorien, but still no sign of any survivors. Anuion had first watch and Bordarigorn laid himself resting on a tree root. It was only seconds later that he received a kick from Telpeheled and a shout to wake up. The survivors came and their number was not small. Bordarigorn stood up and took out his weapons, but for the first time, with grief. He remembered the Easterlings on the hill and had trouble fighting these here now. He decided not too. He assembled the elves in a small circle.
"You saw those Easterlings on the hill. These are no more different. Just victims of war trying to escape. I say we don't fight, take the lives that we have and bring them save to Lorelindorenan." Bordarigorn suggested.
"But we had orders of the great king himself. Are you going to deny them?" Anuion asked.
"Yes I am. I have no king. The only king I have is the king of Gondor. And he is not yet in possession of his crown. But my father said that he would some day and I don't think that day is far off. But until that day, no I don't have a king. I'm going to hide from these men, although it is not my style. So you either fight or you don't, but those who fight will not do it under my command."
And with these words, Bordarigorn wrapped his elven cloak around him and laid still in under the roots. Soon Anuion accompanied him and the others did not wait as well. And so it happened that the Easterlings passed them by, gazing at the shadows, but not bothering to go see. And it was the next morning that commander Gabrielle found the human under a tree root fast asleep.
With a kick in his side Bordarigorn jumped up. He struck his head against the root and landed on the earth.
"You have some nerve missy. Who do you think you are? Didn't you see I was sleeping!" Bordarigorn snapped at the woman.
"You foolish Mortal. You let them get away. Your weak body could not spy those Easterlings and now they are out of our reach!" Gabrielle yelled.
"I might be a mortal, but I am human enough not to kill unarmed fleeing soldiers. They have homes just as you do and there is no reason to kill them. By the time that they reach their homeland, everybody will be gone and they will never join into Sauron's army again. I maybe do not life as long as you do, but you have a lot to learn about warfare. Now leave me be. Me and My companions will go to the Golden Wood when we thing the time is ripe and then head back to the cave to bury Durelin the brave." Bordarigorn said rubbing on his head.
And with these words, the two parted. The group headed out again and went to the Golden Wood, where a welcome party including the Lord and Lady where awaiting them.
"Why didn't you kill the survivors Bordarigorn?" Galadriel asked.
"It was not my duty to kill unarmed. And it never will be." Bordarigorn replied.
"You have passed the test good. To fight with bravery is good, but to show mercy is even more powerful. I shall grant you that. You are indeed a wise man. You are planning to bury Durelin the brave is it not" Galadriel asked.
"Yes m'lady." Anuion said.
"Then go."
The group went to the quarters that had been readied and took a good rest before heading out together one last time. Durelin had been moved and it took hem some time to find the corpse, but when they found and buried it, a burden fell of their shoulders. The elves chanted all day and night and Bordarigorn listened without missing a word. It was then that Telpeheled asked Anuion if he could come along. Of course this was approved and the three of them parted at the cave from the others. Bordarigorn gave them his blessing and headed out south to Rohan, followed by two fondly talking elves.
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Honda Cbx