Maladil narrowed his eyes slightly, for the tall grey figure's speech had been easier to understand than the Elf-warrior's. Still, only a few words were missing here or there. He took a step forward to advance closer to Poppy and the protector who held a hand on her shoulder, but was brought up short by an impenetrable invisible barrier that kept him inside the Castle doorway, unable to join his ghostly companions outside on the surrounding grounds. He gasped as though physically hurt.
Nardol heard these words: "Keep … sword … you, warrior. … none … fear … sword, … they brought … fear … themselves. … then … escort … flower … to … ground. That … given … small … task … large … her … on … you, … let … tallest come, … naught … accomplished … your … folly … attempt. … I … accept … offering … Lord … gold, … once … allies … battle, … he … think … honorable. But … offering … is, not … payment! … Adela … price … Castle!"
Maladil turned, still firmly gripping his sword, and strode through the Castle into the middle of the Great Hall, waiting. Tiroedrath, Halblung, and Guilin remained out front standing guard. The Butler became a thin mist and vanished. Daerohil ran through the grasses, racing the night wind, glancing at the strange visitors with candles and lanterns. Lasrain drifted back around the corner on his way to the herb garden for a moonlit walk. The human ghost Cirgon who'd once served as a cook still clutched his spent sparkler as he stood near Hinura, looking beyond the minstrel and the sparkler, to look at nothing at all.
Gandalf meanwhile provided the full translation of Maladil's words for Nardol and Poppy: "Keep your sword as you wish, warrior. For none here now fear the sword, unless they have brought such fear upon themselves. Come then to escort this Poppy-flower low to the ground. That you've given the small Ambassador a task too large for her reflects on all of you, for let the tallest come as well, and naught shall be accomplished but your own folly in the attempt. Still, I will accept this mad offering of Lord Elrond's gold, for once we were allies in battle, and he must think it honorable. But an offering it is, not a payment! For Adela is the price of this Castle!"
"A lantern!" Gandalf added to Poppy and Nardol. "Bring one in with you." Then the wizard crept unobtrusively to the back of the group. To Andreth as he passed her, he coached, "The Book! Careful whom you trust with it." Gandalf smiled and bowed appreciation towards Estelarion, Hinura, and Menelduliniel as he passed. "Fine music!" To Alearindu, "May your scouting skills stand us in good stead for what lies ahead." To Aislan, "Holly's taken Peri, then? I see you've got Midnight, who might have a mind to follow me in through a Castle door now that I've freed him from armor, saddle, and bit. Good luck!"
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