[Tevildo]

Dorran had spent the past two hours helping set up camp and tending to the needs of the horses. He'd fed and groomed each of them, making sure to take the knots out of their manes and tails and to examine their hooves in case they had picked up any rocks or thrown a shoe on the recent journey across the Ash Plain. Even after doing all that, Vror and Carl had still not returned. Dorran paced about the camp while privately berating himself for not having been the first to volunteer.

It wasn't that he doubted the abilities of a hobbit or dwarf. It was just that the two of them, however clever and dedicated, seemed so very, so very.....small, especially when compared with the harsh realities of life in Mordor. He did not want to dishonor his companions and would never have said anything derogatory to their faces. Part of his worry reflected a genuine fear that something might have happened to one or both of them.

Although Dorran would not have liked to admit this, some of these reservations also stemmed from the fact that he was a Man in an age increasingly dominated by men. His attitude was a common one, born of Man's ignorance and pride. All his life, he'd fought and worked with the stouthearted men of Rohan and Gondor. They were very real to him. With the other races, it was different. They seemed more like shadows of ancient legend than real people who could help shape the future fate of Arda. At least in terms of dwarves, he did know of ballads that spoke of their valiant efforts in battle, but hobbits were an utter blank, almost a childhood fancy.

For the tenth time that morning, Dorran chastised himself for not speaking up more quickly. He knew the ways of slaves and slavers and perhaps even of orcs better than anyone in the party. It seemed to make more sense if he had been the one sent out across the plain to spy on the camp and discover the whereabouts of the children.

Noticing that the others had stopped to take a short rest from their labors, Dorran wandered over to where Athwen, Aiwendil, and Rog were resting in the company of the Elf Lindir. Staring northward in frustration, he shook his head, and, speaking to no one in particular, voiced his concern. "It's been long....too long. Do you think they are alright? Should someone go out and see what has happened?"