[Arry]

‘Now what do you suppose the Captain means by that request?’ Andtuariel had voiced the question the three male Elves had been mulling over themselves. Elwë shrugged his shoulders as she spoke. Most of his time had been spent in Andtuariel’s cabin, seeing to her comfort. Between the cool cloths for her ankle and the book he had taken up to read to her, he had not been out and about much – save to bring food to share with her or when he retired to his own cabin to rest at night. He turned to the two brothers, inviting them to share what they knew.

Annû was as perplexed as the two of them. He’d seen nothing strange on the ship, if that’s what the Captain meant. ‘You know, though,’ he said, tapping his brother on the arm. ‘You never did get to speak to the Captain, did you, about our suspicions of that rockslide that hemmed us in the cavern.’ Carandû shook his head. ‘He wasn’t there when I went to see him. And we haven’t had time today.’

‘What’s this about the rockslide and “suspicions”,’ interrupted Elwë. Annû filled him in on their thoughts about how the rockslide just didn’t seem as if it happened ‘naturally’. Why would the rocks fall down so conveniently in front of the cave entrance? No one in the cave had felt any tremors occurring that would have shaken the rocks loose.

‘The Captain’s probably already thought along these lines himself,’ added Carandû. ‘But we wanted to share our suspicions about it anyway.’

‘Well, then,’ said Andtuariel, motioning for Elwë to take her arm and help her up. ‘Perhaps this is your opportunity to tell him now.’ Annû offered his arm on her other side, assisting her, along with Elwë, to the door. ‘You’re probably right,’ said Carandû, as she hobbled along. He held open the door as they ushered her through, then followed along behind the other three. ‘We’ll just see you to your cabin,’ he continued. ‘Then, Annû and I can pay a visit to the Captain’s quarters.’