[Mithalwen]

Elfride paused at Mayonette's words " It might be as well to wait for the General to arrive before we make any final decisions - he knows this land better than any of us I am sure and has been a soldier ...... " she stifled the longer than most of you have been alive .... " in many difficult situations. I am sure his counsel will be worth a little wait. We will not leave til first light now. Please eat and drink - Cordelia and Garnae are here and I am sure Hama will not be far behind"

She resumed her progress to the entrance hall and the main door. Those beyond were too engrossed to hear her soft footfalls on the flagstones, her hand opening the latch. The doors hinges were too new to squeak. Cordelia and Garnae only became aware of her presence when they were bathed in the light from her lantern. They stared at her wide eyed and Cordelia seemed to suppress a giggle.

"I wondered what was keeping you" said Elfride drily. "I don't suppose you noticed if General Hama was behind you? " she enquired, very much doubting they would have noticed if the hosts or Mordor were behind them. "No? Well you had better take your horses to the stables and join us inside directly. Plans are afoot" . Elfride turned masking a giggle of her own with her sternest expression, the one she used for telling off her son for some minor disdemeanour. Really it seemed that half of them had drunk some love potion rather than mead at the White Horse. Or maybe she was just getting old.