[Novnarwen]

Tanroth

A last cry from an orc, who fell dead on the ground, was heard as Tanorth found Firiel, Rostion, Erkaliel and Solondil. Together they had faced the attack coming from the western side. "The others?" Tnaroth asked, while looking into the fog. Firiel shook her head. "When we were attacked, the attack came from two sides. I believe the others went in the other direction. But I am not sure." Tanroth stood unsympathetic to Firiel's reply, though he had to realise that they wouldn't be able to find the others now, the fog was still too thick.

"What are we to do?" Solondil asked after a while. Rostion looked up. This was surly a good question. If they weren't able to find the others now, then what? And what if something had happened to them? What if they were hurt.. or.. Dead. Tanroth shuddered, making a grimace. This was up to him; making a decision would be hard though. He shared his thoughts with the others, standing around him. But he left the part about him, being worried about someone being hurt or dead, out. "It would be dangerous to stay in the mountains now," he said. "We won't know how many orcs there are."

"And what if there aren't any more orcs?" Erkaliel asked. Her voice was shaking, either with fear or something else which was bothering her. Tanroth shook his head, showing them his worries. "We cannot simply take that risk. Can we?" Yet again there was silence. Tanroth didn't know what to think. Did they agree, or what? He made his way towards one of the bodies, taking his weapon. "We will need anything we can find if we stay," Tanroth announced in a determined voice. Firiel took a grip of his arm. "The others will be okay, right?" she said, sounding like she was assuring herself, meanwhile really caring about whether the others would and had made it.

"We don't know anything, unless someone saw anything, or heard anything for that matter," Tanroth said and sighed. The others nodded, but confirmed to him that none of them had been witnesses to any of the events concerning the others. "We'll have to decide quickly. We have little provisions and little time, if there are more orcs, they will know about this soon enough." After turn they all gave their acceptance; Tanroth would lead them on, without the others, and without trying to find the camp first. The Elves hoped the others would reach the camp, and bring along their belongings. Unless the other group would find their way back to the camp and meet up with Tanroth's group, they would have even bigger difficulties coming to Tharbad, and get their horses, than expected.

"We should be down by sunrise, if we hurry and walk in a great speed. I hope for all our sakes, that Arilewen, Erfalas, Dunaire and Imthôlion are okay, and that our roads will cross. Now let us leave this battlefield, before it will get even more filled with blood."

Solondil and Tanroth went in the front, talking silently to each other. Firiel, Rostion and Erkaliel seemed still to be in doubt whether this was the best thing to do. Even Tanroth wondered about this, but a decision was made, and couldn't be withdrawn. Not now.

[ November 10, 2003: Message edited by: Novnarwen ]