[Rimbaud]

They wrested his sword from his nerveless grasp without injury. Dwarin had no knowledge of what ailed the man, but helped him to put on his mail and sighed as he saw the state of the sword. There would be lessons ahead for the cowardly Rider, he could tell.

Dwarin cajoled and pushed them into order and they slowly made their way northward as best they could. The horses could not carry two for much longer, so Dwarin instructed Haleth and Kalohern to remain horsed and walked alongside, next to the dazed Guthrin, who appeared to be talking to himself under his breath. The horses seemed uncomfortable and uneasy and it took all of Haleth's horsemanship to keep them calm. Kalohern rode easly, belying the tension in his mount and what must have been great tiredness.

Dwarin longed to find Thenamir and Taradan and others of their party.

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Elwood remained behind the party for now, seeing that the Dwarf had them moving aright, and that his presence might throw off the good leadership being displayed. He studied the trouble Guthrin most intently. The man did not seem capable of fleeing but Elwood did not know how best to deal with him.

He was amazed, nay, stunned at Guthrin's survival. How had he fought like that? A man possessed... The odds had seemed insurmountable, but from the brief glimpses he had seen through the fiery chaos last night, Guthrin had been unstoppable and untouchable.

Well, he mused, not entirely untouched...Guthrin walked tentatively, and the Elf saw the pain cloud on his face with each uneven footstep. Elwood's brow furrowed. Guthrin had always moved smoothly, even at the height of his cowardice. Elwood sensed great pain - yet Guthrin had never appeared the stoic sort. The mystery deepened for Elwood. The man needed a rude awakening, he decided. Perhaps that ill-tongued Dwarf could be of use in this matter...

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The day lengthened and no sight of friends did Elwood or the party he trailed make; enemies they saw and avoided on three occasions. Once, two Dunlendings, disoriented from the night's walk came across them, but Kalohern brazenly trampled down the first one with a showy charge of his mount, and Dwarin, in a more subdued manner, removed the other.

Elwood knew not of Leoden and Gurthden's whereabouts, nor those of Thenamir and Taradan. From his eavesdropping last night he had some idea where the new Dunlendings commander was leading his men...

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Guthrin walked blindly, trusting in his hand upon the bridle of Haleth's mount Mim. His sword was strapped across Dwarin's back, a few paces ahead of him, but he seemed not to notice.

The noonday sun trickled between the thick branches of the forest...a forest become green again as they departed the last night's battlefields. The forest floor was thickly carpeted with moss and shrubbery and Dwarin the Dwarf guided them carefully, afraid of attracting unwanted attention.

[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: Rimbaud ]