[Durelin]

Calenvása waited, but there was only silence. All three of his comrades stared at him. They all waited for their Captain to say something, and expected him to come up with a solution to all their problems: a logical plan of action. They expected so much from him, and they had a right to. Calenvása did forget that he was their Captain at times but this was not at all one of those times. He stared at the ground for a moment, and he avoided everyone's stare. He did not feel the Captain, a leader, standing before them. Nor did he even feel as if he was one of these skilled scouts. And he felt that he had reasons to doubt that he was. Though his min was sure that the incapacities were all his, it angered him to know that they expected so much. All the words had to come from him, with silence surrounding him. The silence was growing heavy, its weight tripled by responsibility.

"We are to follow the army, and arrive at Lorien before it, unless anyone wishes to, and is able to, grace us with another route."

Lómarandil was of course the first to speak. He made sure that all could see that he was unhappy with this choice of action, and he spoke with fervor. He really was a rather rash young elf, though it was to be expected, and the ideas he stated displayed this. "Follow the army? How do we serve our King by following the army to Lorien? We must warn the King of this, as he has a right to know what goes on in his realm. And it is beyond us to decide what should be done to face this threat. The king and his counsels must know of this."

Silence fell again, and Calenvása saw Targil shaking his head. Thorvel simply stared at the young elf, showing little emotion, except in his eyes. Calenvása knew he must be looking at the elf in the same way, and he wished he did not. It was too late to draw his eyes away, though, and to hide the exasperation and disappointment. Lómarandil's eyes fell to to the ground as Targil openly showed his impatience with him, bordering on disgust. Calenvása knew it was his duty to save the young elf from this abuse. Though he had grown weary with his rashness, Calenvása understood Lómarandil's nature. He would never trust the young elf to make a decision, but he knew that good intentions were there.

"I see your thinking, Lómarandil, but you need to re-order the priorities in your mind according to their importance. The army is not attacking Mirkwood; it is attacking Lorien. It is the elves of Lorien that will be dying when the army comes upon them. And as Targil has brought up, it seems that there is more to this attack than a frontol assault," Calenvása turned his gaze from Lómarandil's frowning face and spoke to both Targil and Throvel, as well. "It is apparent that they plan to surprise out brothers in some way. We can move more quickly than a full-scale force of orcs and men, squabbling along the way, but not if we make a three, four day detour. What can the King do? You are well aware, Lómarandil, that we do not have much in the way of defenses that can stand up to the Enemy. Neither does Lorien. Mirkwood has not an army to aid, and Lorien has need of any aid it can receive." He paused, glancing around him. He saw Targil nodding in agreement - Calenvása was fairly sure that was agreement - and Thorvel stared at the ground. Calenvása would take that as agreement, as well. It was the closest to it that he would receive; he was sure.

"Do you still object, Lómarandil? If you have another plan that is more logical, please tell us of it."

Anger flashed through the young elf's eyes for a moment, and Calenvása stared at him, startled and confused by what he saw. How had he managed to anger the elf? "No," Lómarandil said gruffly, "Your logic is more than enough for me."

Calenvása sighed, but said nothing, knowing that anything he said was likely to make things worse. He knew not how to handle situations such as this, with hostilities brewing among the troop. He was not a leader, it was clear, if he could not even hold his elves together. But Calenvása knew he was not, and though he felt guilt and anger, he felt that he could do nothing.

"Spread out. I trust the wisdom and the skills of all of you, so my orders are only to find a position in which you can stay and observe the army until it begins its march. Then we will meet back in this clearing once again."

This time Targil spoke up. "Should we not follow immediately? What will meeting back in this clearing do but waste time?"

"We are not wolves, Targil," Calenvása replied, "and so we cannot communicate across the land as we run after our prey."

Targil smiled at this comparison, "A very observant deduction of you, Captain. We will meet back here, and we shall communicate." He seemed ready to laugh at this.

"I understand your concern, Targil, but communication is everything for us, and for Lorien."