“We must fall back the Poros is lost, but its people are not our duty is now to them!” Astalder pressed, but Anhelm was no longer listening, his gaze fixed on the battle surrounding them and his mind stubbornly made up. He shook his head in anger and frustration, then ripping the cloth of his shirt he tightly bound the young captains wound in an effort to staunch the bleeding, then remembering the small dark bottle that the healer had given him he scrambled for his pouch, relieved to see that is was still intact. Pulling the stopper he quickly pressed the bottle to his captain’s lips. As he did so several Gondorian soldier’s seeing their stricken captain formed a protective ring about them.
“Will he live?” one of the soldiers asked as he fought to keep the Haradrim from their captain and the Roquen officer tending him, Astalder recognising the deep voice looked up to see the tall opposing figure of the innkeeper of the Poros Crossing, but no longer was he the hearty Inn keeper with the warm and welcoming smile, He’s features stolid and cold like stone, several minor wounds marked his face and arms, but none enough to slow his fierce attack. Slowly looking around he saw that four men in all encircled them, to this left though heavily stained with blood and grim, he made out the uniform of a Roquen and as the young knight turned to deflect his attacker blow he saw that it was Khalad, his once innocent face now twisted in deep concentration as he battled to protect his captain, the other two men wore uniforms of the Poros Guards and one looked no older that sixteen, his eyes wide with fear but fighting on determinedly.
“Astalder, will he live!” the innkeeper asked again through clenched teeth.
Shaking himself Astalder answered, “Yes, but I will need help moving him.” Quickly finishing off his opponent Talfas came and took the weight of the captain upon his broad shoulders.
“We will fall back to the rear gate!” Astalder ordered the others.
“No!” came a defiant groan from the semi-conscious captain, the others hesitated looking at him questioningly, gently holding his captains chin he forced him to look at the burning building and the dying men.
“Look around you my friend the Poros is loss; we defend not but rubble and burning timbers. Listen to me during my stay with our enemy I was given the distinct impression that this attack was only a small part of a much larger plot, something darker and more sinister, think about it! Minas Ithil falls, Orcs infest the northern borders of Rohan and now the Haradrim grow bolder, something is stirring and Gondor must be prepared. What purpose will it serve if we die here, without warning the Steward of the approaching storm?”
Anhelm stared at him not believing what he was hearing, Astalder features softened and he sighed wearily “I swear to you that justice will be sought, but not here and not now. I promise you that when the Steward sends his army to drive the Haradrim back I will be there at your side and will die with you if that is Eru’s plan for us, but I will not stand here and allow what we have learned to die here with us, our duty is to the people of Gondor and they must know of this threat! So court marshal me if you wish but I am ordering the retreat!” with that Astalder took his captains other arm and ordered the retreat.
Reaching the rear gate they found that horses had been left, with Talfas he helped Anhelm on to one and mounted behind him, supporting his captain as he slouched heavily forwards. Looking about at the glum faces of the retreating soldiers he realised the severity of their losses, he counted but thirty of the one hundred and eighty men now remained and it was with a heavy heart that he lead them from the rear gates of the settlement, Talfas to his left and Khalad to his right and without so much as a backwards glance he hurried the company forwards.
The Poros was lost but he was determined that Gondor would be ready, looking down at the silver chain that hung from his neck he realise with irony that to convince the steward and his council of this new threat he would have to accept the title he was born into, a lord with no lands and no real title, but it would have to do, it was all he had…. That was if he was not court marshalled first?
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