WWXLV: The Fellowship of Saruman

[McCaber]

Elrohir rose from where he had been sitting.

"You wish me to be more vocal, when these traitors have taken the life of my brother? Nothing good can come from hasty accusations now.

If only I were more convinced of the orc's guilt, it would make my choices much easier. But for this, I am prepared to set aside my hatred of Uglúk to find the traitors.

But let us wonder why Mithrandir was sent away earlier. Out of the four who voted for him, only Dain gave any long explanation of his choice, and Halbarad said nothing about his reasoning at all. I would think that it was to save himself, but he never explicitly said so.

This, together with the attention he received yesterday, moves Halbarad to first on my list of suspects."

EDIT: crossed with Halbarad

[Gwathagor]

"You are justified, Elrohir, in your wish to hear my reasoning. There was not time yestereve for me to explain my vote, though I expressed my intention of doing so. I will now.

“I believe that Bombadil, myself, Dain, and Gildor were justified in voting for one who spoke too little to be helpful, promised he would not vote and promptly did, and, finally, gave no good reason for his voting. In short, he was obscure, erratic, and inscrutable. As has been said, Gandalf, in the end, condemned himself by his own actions.

“We were wrong, yes. But it was an honest, reasonable mistake, and I expect you would have done the same, had you not voted for one who gave you neither provocation nor offense. I speak, of course, of Ugluk. Perhaps you wish to explain your vote as well? I imagine that I am not the only one who found your vote thoroughly inexplicable."

[Meneltarmacil]

Elrohir, I'd like an explanation from you as to what makes me suspicious. Granted, I'm an Orc, but have I done anything to make you doubt my loyalty to the White Hand? You seem to have voted for me without much reason other than that I'm an Orc. You maintin suspicion of me today. I'd like to know why.

[Meneltarmacil]

Er... wait. I see you've backed off somewhat on your suspicion of me. Good, but I'd still like to know why you find me suspicious.

[THE Ka]

Radagast joined the others slowly back down from the pass, but the heaviness in his somber actions wasn't from defeat at Caradhras, but the loss of Elladan and that of Gandalf. He sat quietly and starred deeply into the distance of his own thoughts and worry, while it felt the literal age of his body was finally coming up on him as if in some cruel joke to his worthiness for such a challenge of the Fellowship.

Of all the ages I've passed, to have Olorin distrusted so by those he had openly embraced is something I have never known. Or the great loss of Elrond's house, such a noble elve has lost too much by this world to be stripped of more kin. I greatly hope he will not loose further meaning to stay in Arda, but after such as this I cannot judge his actions. Nor would I have thought I'd be so lost now, even among a company of great hope. If anything could become worse, may the Valar pity us in our despair.

Thoughts of a darkened sky seemed to creep up on his mind, but quickly he shook himself out of it realizing that if anything, he might carry on the work of the Gandalf he remembered and in honor.
Quietly, but assured he added after listening to the debate on what had passed after Gandalf's departure.

" Our recent days have been ones in loss, as we all are sure. Even though we have lost kin and kif and we are asundered in doubt, I can hold no grudge against you who voted Gandalf's leaving. It would not be in his hope, and what I have known him for, to become revenged in sorrow, but instead to aid what work there is yet to be done. That, if any of you feel shamed in guilt by your choice should remember about him, and should not continue punish yourselves needlessly.
What has happened on the pass I fear is only a taste of what our traitors wish to befall us and any hope in this journey. Though, for what I know Gandalf, and have come to know Elladan of, they would not wish us needlessly to stab blindly in the dark with our fears or hatred. We should act in our reason and hope."

He regained breath before he spoke again,

" I am sorry I may not add anymore thoughts, but I must like most of you, think greatly on this matter that it might not effort in vain."

[Thinlómien]

Gildor had not spoken before, for he had spent the beginning of the day singing a lament for Elladan, his brave kinsman.

"His death is an evil we can not leave unavenged. Who did this foul deed? Everybody saw the footprints. Now, we Elves do not tread that way and leave such marks on snow as we walk. Therefore, I conclude that at least one of the traitors is not an Elf. But with Elladan dead and innocent, that does not actually help me, for I anyway know that there can't be three guilty Elves around, for that would mean that I myself would be guilty, which I'm not." He smiled, and his smile was a sad one. "So after all it does not help us at all that the murderer left footprints. We must find other clues then."

Gildor sighed. "Who of us would kill Elladan? I can not answer that question before musing on what people said in Eregion properly. Maybe some of you has an idea? The only reason that occurs to me right now would be that it would leave no tracks except for the actual footprints."

"Lady Galadriel and Captain Uglúk, you accuse me and Iarwain for accusing Mithrandir and say we should know better. I know he's a wise wizard and can be of great help with his Maiarin intuition, but I also know that when he regards some mission unimportant, he does not bother to commit much time to it. Why would he? He's here to save Middle-Earth, how could he attend every quest with full enthusiasm? Maybe he just didn't regard this quest as very important." Or maybe he did not want to show important because he grudged Curunir of coming back and taking his place. He banished the thought. Old Mithrandir is not like that.

Then Gildor buried himself deeper in thought, swearing to return the words said in Eregion to his mind before opening his mouth again...

[Nogrod]

Tom had accidentally wandered quite far from the others thinking how weird everyone's reason to vote on the first Day had been. After mulling through them for a while he realised they all looked bad... How easy it had been for the traitors not to stand out in there in the middle of those ad hoc statements supporting the votes.

He had to share his thoughts with the others but there was no idea in yelling them from that far. So Tom turned back towards the way from were he could hear the faint occasional voices of the companions. It was to be a long trek to reach them but he was confident he would join them before the sunset.