[Saurreg]

Meanwhile back at the camp

Belegorn stared at the wide openness before him, taking into view the wide expanse of snow-covered plains and the endless sky. He was lingering by the perimeter of the camp where he saw off the small detachment of guardsmen sent to support the elves and the teenager – the bold and confident one he spoke to during the journey. The veteran soldier sighed softly to himself, turned his head towards the cluster of drab grey tents behind him before turning back to continuing gazing at the natural landscape.

He had just managed to accost the troop of riders before the set off for their mission and spoke hastily to their commanding officer – a young sergeant who was recently promoted for his conduct and valor during the exodus from Fornost. The advice and command Belegorn urgently gave whilst grabbing the young man’s wrist still resounded in his mind,

Keep a sharp lookout at all times. Be prudent in your judgement, do not simply charge at the enemy when the signal is given by the boy. Be your own judge; assess the strength of the target before taking action. Remain downwind when approaching orcs and always remember to remain mounted at all times. Should the strength of the enemy be too much to bear, turn head and fly like the wind. Care not for the elves or the boy then, they are the masters of their own fates. Scatter your men in different directions, each to make his way towards Ered Luin individually. In no way must you all ride back together towards the camp.

Good luck! And may Oromë keep you safe!

As the intrepid little band thundered off into the horizon, Belegorn felt a sickening thud in his gut, the feeling one acquired when ill-fortune foreboded. He instinctively felt that the brave young sergeant and his equally youthful subordinates were heading towards their own doom. Belegron felt that they were sent to their death by their beloved captain, discarded like worthless pawns on a chessboard.

Hírvegil had bypassed the chain of command by approaching the men directly and giving them their marching orders for the mission. Belegorn had known that Hírvegil had been won over by Mitharan’s “carefree” comments and was determine to aid the elves on their foolhardy and very suspicious “rescue” mission and he was not convinced by Hírvegil’s reasoning. But to do so behind his immediate subordinate’s back was surprising. Indeed Belegorn would have been kept in the dark had not one of the militia burst into the tent when he was questioning his assembled sergeants, to tell him that a group of mounted horsemen were making their way to the perimeter of their camp.

Hírvegil had changed both in body and mood since the day they left Fornost. He was colder and more isolated than before. It would seem that the captain had fermented distrust in his first lieutenant; for what reason Belegorn knew not. Had he not been faithful in carrying out his duties? Or was it due to his undying devotion to king and country? Belegorn remembered how Hírvegil’s countenance changed when the former reminded him of their duty to the king and his orders.

And what if the day came when Belegorn was made to choose between duty to King and friendship to Hírvegil? Which path would he take?

The first lieutenant searched the dark recesses of his mind and an answer surfaced, in the form of the first three lines of the soldier’s pledge he made when he entered the regiment of the king, decades ago.

We, soldiers of the Royal Arthedain Army
Do solemnly and sincerely pledge
Our true faith and allegiance to King and Country…

Belegorn’s mind was made up as he reentered the camp. If subversion of any sorts arises, he would suppress it. Or die trying.