[Nogrod]

"So tell me, please my old friend, what is it that makes this a place the king himself is worried about? I know something's wrong, can you tell me what is it?" lord Athanar asked the old man and bent slightly towards him.

The old man's eyes shined but his talk was stammering.

"L...llet's cut the p..p..pcrab, 'thanar." He looked at Athanar to the eye looking for any signs of scorn from the eorl because of his sorry state. "Ittt's.... jussst, that I'm-mm-m no-o-t..." He had to pause for concentration.

Lord Athanar leaned towards the old man and smiled encouragingly looking him back into the eye passionately. "Don't you worry Friduhelm, I know who and what you are... just tell me what is going on..." he looked at the old man and frowned. "I think I know what's going on, but I can't prove anything... and I'm afraid I don't know all I'd need to know to carry this further." He hesitated a moment and then added just to make sure Friduhelm understood the situation clear enough. "King Eomer is worried, he wouldn't have sent me to take the eorlship that fast after Eodwine were he not concerned enough."

Friduhelm nodded with understanding and tried to cool himself down to be able to speak. Faramund hadn't heard the words between the two but saw his father now struggling. "Let my father be!" he yelled and made it towards the two in anger. Athanar sprang up and his hand was already reaching for the hilt of his sword when old Friduhelm put all his willpower into a loud call of halt, like he was a commander once again in front of his troops. Both men froze in the middle of their move and the soldiers by the door held their breath.

"S-stopp it!" he bellowed, now more energetic than in years. All the eyes inside the hall were fixed on the old man.

And he rose up. He was wawering.

Both Athanar and Friduhelm sprang to hold him up - "Lord!" Stedfast yelled as he ran to his aid as well from the door.

Friduhelm smiled feeling comfortably carried by the the two lords and wawed his hand to Stedfast approvingly showing him to stay away at the same time. He gathered his breath slowly while Athanar and Faramund followed half him and half the other's reaction being in readiness all the time for any unforeseen trick by the other one.

"My ss-son..." Friduhelm said turning his head to face him.

"You have rr-reallly dis-a pp-ointed me." he managed to utter.

Faramund took a step backwards in rage letting go of his father. "How dare you say that! I'm your son and the legitimate heir to this place!" he yelled while Athanar struggled to keep lord Friduhelm in balance. Stedfast ran to his aid and took the old man from the other arm.

It looked the old man got clearer with every bit of anger that was aroused in him.

"I was caught by the b-bb-blessed disease... b-brainbleed, you know? I'm only recovering now and it could go a-a-anyway. No one knows if I recovver 'ully."

Athanar glanced at Faramund but his face was of stone. But with the words of his father they would change totally.

"Youv've brought such a shame on me and our f-family! Shame on you!" The old man would have collapsed with his anger but the two men managed to hold him up. Faramund looked pale.

"It was not me father! It was Tancred... and Alboin! They forced me to this!"

You didn't seem too eager to object to that, now did you Faramund? Athanar thought to himself while looking at the young lord breaking before his father. There were tears in Faramund's eyes. Lord Athanar tried to remain calm between conflicting emotions; a spoiled kid, like my own, repenting for good, or a cynical youngster trying to save what there is to save? He was bent on the latter interpretation.

The old man glanced at his two carriers and then said firmly, without stammering. "Take me to the stairway my friends, I wish to speak to the men."

Stedfast turned to Athanar to see what he thought about it. Lord Athanar nodded in confirmation and glanced to the door indicating they should open the doors. The two started helping lord Friduhelm to the main doors while Faramund looked by. There was no natural way for him to take his father's other shoulder now and it would mean a lot if he was not one of those who supported his father out.

Faramund rushed to the door showing the soldiers to back away and jerked the doors wide open taking the steps outside before the old man and his helpers.

"Listen everyone! Lord Friduhelm will speak to you all! Cease any hostilities!"

The yard went silent and slowly the people could see the figure of the old man emerge from the doorway aided by lord Athanar and Stedfast. Faramund took a step aside to let them enter the top of the steps.