Veryacano looks at something in the distance in complete awe: 'I.. saw this place before.'
Naergon follows his glance surprised : 'We did?' The young elf tries to place the town on the map in his mind and judge the possibilities for it to have been seen from the other side of the Ford. But the answer of the Lord of the Hammer rapidly changes his geographical explanation:
'No, I did. I dreamt about this place.. it wasnt destroyed then.I was passing through the town.. There were many people. Rohirrim banners were on the walls.There was a rush though. All the people were trying to get somewhere.'
The gift of foresigth of the Noldor,one that seemed to touch all the Turs of Vanimar even in this age, worked in strange ways. Naergon, a young Sinda, never understood much of it, but only the hint at it placed him in that state of admiration and gratefullness to be part of such a story, to place his life in the service of a lord who saw such times and shines of their greatness. For a moment he forgot all dissapointment he felt at Nirhen's and Estarfin's blindness to reason in that day in Dunland -and they were equally old and awesome. He looked at Veryacano with renewed hope,hope that some higher force would guide them to finding the Lord Anglachelm. What did the dream mean and how they could use it best? It seemed clear the dream spoke of a future they missed. A future where they passed the Ford before the White Hand took it and its Yrch marched into Marton. But maybe something was yet to be gained from the ashes of Marton, a clue on why was it important enough for the Noldo Lord to dream of it. Anglachelm was for sure there since his captors took him across the Ford and Marton was the first town of the Rohirrim on that road. Was Anglachelm still there at the time of the attack or was he long gone? Did he or his captors leave anything of use behind, something the elves would find in the ashes?
Veryacano unrolled his map on the ground and everyone looked. There were many ways Anglachelm's captors could take and if no clue was found here in Rohan to point to one path to take. The elves would choose one blindly and then march on it towards darkness with even less chance to catch up the group they followed. The delay Grimbold caused them by not allowing them to pass the Ford was already showing its bitter results, and their weapons and armor was starting to need mending. More of the group were wounded and not even the elves recover that fast in such conditions as the Vanimarians were facing. They needed badly some change of luck.
Naergon decided to speak, his longuest speech by his own will since he broke the secret of Nirhen and Estarfin:
'If I may, it seems we are blind at this point. Maybe the delay caused by the Rohirrim forbidding us to pass the Ford made us miss the timing of your dream and we were not where we should have been. But if so maybe fate is merciful to leave us something to go on with. Like the shield. Let's search the ashes while we regroup. Nirhen is still to return and others seems spread too.'
Telpenaro also stepped forward: 'Well, I can also volunteer for that.'
Veryacano nodded 'You have a point Naergon.Veryacano says, 'This is an important crossroad for us.If you would search the town for any clues.But I dont like this place much. We should find a place to spend the night.'
Naergon looked briefly at Telpenaro to see if he is ready as well: "Rigth. I will find you again if you find a better camp.' and both of them vanished silently in the direction of the former town of Marton.
