[Thinlómien]

Gildor had not spoken before, for he had spent the beginning of the day singing a lament for Elladan, his brave kinsman.

"His death is an evil we can not leave unavenged. Who did this foul deed? Everybody saw the footprints. Now, we Elves do not tread that way and leave such marks on snow as we walk. Therefore, I conclude that at least one of the traitors is not an Elf. But with Elladan dead and innocent, that does not actually help me, for I anyway know that there can't be three guilty Elves around, for that would mean that I myself would be guilty, which I'm not." He smiled, and his smile was a sad one. "So after all it does not help us at all that the murderer left footprints. We must find other clues then."

Gildor sighed. "Who of us would kill Elladan? I can not answer that question before musing on what people said in Eregion properly. Maybe some of you has an idea? The only reason that occurs to me right now would be that it would leave no tracks except for the actual footprints."

"Lady Galadriel and Captain Uglúk, you accuse me and Iarwain for accusing Mithrandir and say we should know better. I know he's a wise wizard and can be of great help with his Maiarin intuition, but I also know that when he regards some mission unimportant, he does not bother to commit much time to it. Why would he? He's here to save Middle-Earth, how could he attend every quest with full enthusiasm? Maybe he just didn't regard this quest as very important." Or maybe he did not want to show important because he grudged Curunir of coming back and taking his place. He banished the thought. Old Mithrandir is not like that.

Then Gildor buried himself deeper in thought, swearing to return the words said in Eregion to his mind before opening his mouth again...