[Earendil Halfelven]

He gazed around at the group of warriors. It wasn’t a bad group: a few elves, some dwarves, and other warriors of Men. But then there was the girl. He wasn’t so sure whether this was wise to allow a young girl to travel with them. He didn’t know much about her but what he had heard was that she had traveled a long way from Rohan, and she had been through many hardships. If the rest of the group was allowing her to come, than he wouldn’t try to stop her. Besides, hadn’t a female of the Rohirrim defeated the Lord of the Nazgûl during the War of the Ring at the battle for Minas Tirith? This girl was also of the Rohirrim, so maybe there was more to her than he could see.

As he listened to Bali, he considered the options. Caradhras was more dangerous but faster. If they went through the Gap of Rohan, they would be safer but they would take longer. Arlómë had been over Caradhras once before, but he had no desire to travel it again. He hated the cold. Being one of the Dúnedain, he could possibly get them over Caradhras. “Let me introduce myself. I am Arlómë of the Dúnedain. I’ve been through Caradhras before. It’s not easy,” he said. “The mountain has a mind of its own. If you make it through, its because it let you. But it would be faster than going through the Gap of Rohan. Unless we are forced to find another way, we’ll have to hope that the dwarves of Erebor have the strength to resist an attack. I’d say the Gap of Rohan would be better, but for the sake of Erebor, we should take Caradhras.” He looked around at the reactions of the others. Would they trust one of the Dúnedain? Or would they decide another way. After all, there was another way if both Caradhras and the Gap of Rohan proved to be ill. He waited for their replies.