[Nogrod]

Most of the fellowship seemed to be coming and going so there seemed to be no permanent group anywhere to be found but after seeing that the others were within the range of his deep and echoing voice Tom bursted to sing. It seemed he was irrevocably back to his good moods now that he could wander under the sunny sky amidst the flowers, trees, butterflies and birds.

"Hey dol! Merry dol! Tom is fine!
Hey dol! Merry dol! Now some wine!
For two of you
I believe are true
and from three just one
needs to be gone!

Sing along, hop along!
Rum - dum - tum!
Jump along, ding-a-dong!
Hey - ho - hum!"


Tom sat down under a giant birch but didn't stop his singing.

"This much my mind has noted:
the way the traitors have voted
lord Elrohir from Elrond's house
his innocence sems to announce.
It seems Halbarad was after him
with fervor, not with lights dimmed
and even Radagast trying to be so kind
did him the most suspicious find.
For he sure seemed to be an easy prey
for those on the darker shade of grey.

Also fair Galadriel your mistake
looks more genuine than a fake:
confusing points made by the eorling
to suspect a fellow already himself defending
looks both risky and so unbelievable
that I'll trust the conspiracy to be a fable.
Even if Halbarad went to and fro in the end with thee
I'd hold you first and foremost from my suspicions free."

Even if he might have been seen intoxicated to an outside observer he had indeed held his wineskin closed all day. Now he uncorked it and took a long draught to help him think the matters over for good.