[Amanaduial the archer]

Kane stared at the elves incredulously. They were all attempting to give up their lives and so, really, was Jerika. He still held the bow tight, but he was beginning to wonder what he was going to actually do for it. Findorak wouldnt have helped....

No! That wasnt the way to be thinking! Findorak was of his race, one of his people, a soldier of the same order as him...yet those who he had loved most were not easterlings....his mother was not an easterling...neither was Rhana...

He could sense everyone holding their breath and closed his eyes for a second and, with a sigh, lowered the bow slightly, but still so he was able to fire in a few seconds if need be. The elves seemed to let out a breath but knew that the danger hadnt passed yet. When Kane spoke, his voice was quiet.

"What are we all doing here?" No reply, so he pressed on, turning to one of the elves who has spoken before, one who had offered himself, his arm still bleeding profusely. "You said you wished for no grudge between our people, Maer..Maeral..." Kane gave up on the elfs name, not having heard it properly before. "Yet if any one man of my kind was to come to the door of Lorien, would be be recieved as another elf might be? Nay, I think not."

"Easterlings have caused much trouble for us in the past-" One elf started, but Kane whirled around to speak to him.

"Aye, and elves for us! It is not of much consequence to you, you elves live for thousands of years longer than I can ever expect to. I will be dead with in a few decades anyway. But everything Ive been taught tells me that I should raise this bow now and take down as many of you with me as I can." Another silent intake of breath could be felt as Kane began to slowly raise the bow, but he paused before it was high enough for him to sight down, the arrow still pointing downwards. He knew what he should do, by the traditions of his people, to go down fighting, but where was the honour or splendour in that, when they had thrown down their weapons and when one of them was so badly injured? He spoke again, his brown eyes searching the elves.

"And can any one among you tell me why I should not?"