[Orofaniel]

The two elves followed little Rodhal into the cabin. Galhardir looked at them, smiling warmly. "Thank you so much for coming," he said quietly. "We were hoping to visit you as soon as possible," Annû said holding his mug high in the air. "We've brought tea," Carandû said and smiled; “And nutbread. We thought you might be thirsty and hungry..” he added immediately. "Oh, how very kind of you," Galhardir said, sitting up in his bed. The elves found two chairs and seated as well.

Galhardir then thanked his nephew for bringing the two elves to him. "I'm going to climb the look out post again if I'm allowed," Rodhal then said. "I am getting much better," he then continued seeming a bit proud over his achievement. "I see. Well, hurry up then, and be careful," Galhardir said and waved. “When I’m fully recovered I’ll come and watch you,” he then muttered after him.

Now the three of them were alone and free to talk. Annû started to pour some tea into Galhardir cup. Holding the warm cup of tea, he too felt warm. "How are you then?" Annû said, sipping his own tea. ”Feeling much better, thanks. I still have a bit of a fever, but I expect it to be over very soon," Galhardir said. Carandû nodded.

"After what I've heard you stayed for quite some time in that icy water," he said, looking a bit worried. "Indeed, too long, but at least I'm alive," Galhardir joked. It was good to hear Carandû's merry laughter again.

"The reason why I wanted Rodhal to bring you here is that I wanted to thank you. Both of you," Galhardir then said humbly. "I don't remember much from the battle, as I fainted a couple of times. But I do know that one of you saved me from one of the Corsairs, who would have killed me if you hadn't been there. I was too weak to fight him on my own," Galhardir said with gratitude, because that was what he felt - gratitude.

The two brothers looked at each other. Annû blused a little, as he didn't know what to say. "It's what companions and friends do," Carandû said eventually. "We help each other when we're in danger," Annû added. "Well, thank you," Galhardir then said again, taking a sip from his tea, which had almost gotten cold within these few minutes.

"Who pulled me up from the water?" Galhardir then asked. The two brothers shook their heads. "Hm...I can't say, really..." Annû said.

There was some silence. None of them spoke much, just drank their tea and ate their nut bread. Galhardir ate and drank eagerly as he was quite hungry. It seemed like a merry atmosphere, but at the same time it was affected by something that Galhardir couldn't put words on.

"Do you know how you got lost on the Ice, Galhardir?" Annû then asked. Galhardir did remember some of it. In fact he had cleared almost everything. "Yes, I do remember that the rope had suddenly been cut. I don't know if it was by accident...or.." he didn't complete his sentence before Carandû continued;" We don't think it was by accident," Carandû as did, his eyebrows closing up, making his face look grave and morbid.

"What?" Galhardir asked. He was confused; of course the thought had hit him, but he never imagined it to actually be the truth. "We know that it was cut by a...spy," Annû said. "A spy?" Galhardir exclaimed.

"Please do explain, because I don't understand," Galhardir said, confused and feeling utterly lost. "Luindal hasn't been here, has he?" Annû then asked. "No, not yet. I think he still thinks I'm asleep. He wanted me to rest for as long as I could," Galhardir then explained.

"Well," Carandû started. "There happened something odd," Carandû then said. "I still don't believe it's true," he added. "Luindal found shreads from the rope you had around your waist on Alahseey's axe blade," Annû told Galhardir. Galhardir gasphed, like he was out of air. Holding his hands over his mouth he was horrified by the ill news.

"Say it isn’t so!" he exclaimed yet again. He almost drop his cup as horrified as he was. "I heard it was Hilde who suspected Alahseey to be some sort of spy...I think she reported it to Luindal and took the matters into his own hands, checking Alahseey's axe," Annû continued. Galhardir did believe it. He couldn't. It had been, after all, Alahseey's and Hilde's job to keep the ropes safe on the bay. How could she have done it?

"I don't believe it was her," Carandû then said. "There was something....I can't express it, but I feel there is something here. It's not right..." he then said. His voice told them that he felt a bit frustrated over himself as he didn't manage to fully express himself the way he wanted too. "I can't believe it either.." Galhardir muttered. He was still in shock.

“I think there will be some sort of a hearing,” Carandû said. “Luindal mentioned it, and said I could come…I think everyone who wants to come may do so,” Carandû said.

“Maybe you should go,” Annû suggested. “I mean, since it was your rope that was cut. Maybe you’ll manage to remember something that can clear this up. It may not be Alahseey after all…we don’t know yet.”

Galhardir thought about this. Maybe he had seen something on the ice, but didn’t remember it after his fall. How could he make himself remember it if this really was the case?