[Envinyatar]

News of the Dwarves and the Lorinand discussed

It was difficult to maintain a position where they would be free of prying eyes. Lord Elrond had counseled Ondomirë and the other captains that they must bring their troops as close as they might to the city and with a minimum of noise. It meant that the Elves had been broken into smaller groups, each of them moving at a slow, quiet pace toward Elrond’s pre-determined vantage point. They had kept in touch through osanwë.

No fires warmed their nights; no hot food for their bellies. No talking at all. And the horses had been kept close by to each rider, so that they might be reassured and kept silent as needed. And there were innumerable sentries, hidden within their grey cloaks, keeping watch behind bush and rock for the approach of any enemy.

It was one such sentry who had corralled a small group of Dwarves he’d found creeping through the area. They had put down their weapons, not wanting to kill him if it came to that. But by their words convinced him that the Dwarves had not gone to the aid of Sauron, but were indeed assisting the Elves of Eregion. They had been taken to Lord Elrond.

-^-^-^-^-^-

Ondomirë sat, his back against a most uncomfortable rock. ‘By the One, Ondo!’ hissed Geldion. ‘If you don’t quit fidgeting about, the whole of Eregion will know just how disgruntled you are by that rock! Get up and move about if you need. Or try this wine,’ he said, throwing the skin to Ondomirë. Geldion watched in the pale moon light as his companion unstoppered the skin and took a long draw. ‘Have you heard about the Dwarves?’ he asked, changing the subject in hopes of drawing Ondomirë’s mind from his seating arrangements.

‘I have,’ returned Ondomirë, giving the skin back to Geldion. He’d crossed his legs and sat away from the rock’s face. The wine in his belly mellowed out his temper. ‘And I have it by Elrond’s aide’s good graces that the Dwarves have agreed to help bring a troupe of the Lorinand to swell our ranks. Led by Celeborn, he said.’ He tapped his finger to the side of his nose in a knowing gesture. ‘That’s why we’ve had to tell the sentries not to shoot the Dwarves when they see them skulking about.’

A short discussion on the dependability and credibility of the Naugrim ensued, in which both Elves laid out their prejudices for examination. It was decided, with the aid of a few more mouthfuls of wine, that the Dwarves of Khazad-dum could be trusted . . . for now . . . to deliver on what they’d promised.

‘Celeborn, you say?’ Ondomirë went on. He’d drawn his cloak more tightly about him, the night breeze having got more chill. ‘Now that is an interesting choice for the Dwarves to have to conduct to Elrond. Hates them, you know. Never got over the fact that some of them killed Thingol for that necklace.’ Ondomirë was warming to his subject. ‘And you must have seen his wife. Yes? Gorgeous lady . . . but a bit too overbearing for my taste.’ He chuckled low. ‘Of course, mayhap that’s why they chose each other. She likes to make the decisions . . . and he . . . well, let’s just say he certainly looks good standing next to her . . .’

Thereon followed a long and rambling whispered discussion on the plusses and minuses of wedding one of the old Noldor . . . best left for the night’s breeze to carry away into oblivion . . .