Last night, there was much talk in the Hall of a band of Men encamped outside the Gate of the Valley, and some thought they were refugees, fleeing the darkness, and others thought them a group of roving bandits, and some thought they might be supplicants, messengers sent to ask for aid from Lord Elrond: arms, or stores of food, though I thought this year’s harvest a bountiful one, as there was plenty of rain and sunshine, in proper amounts. And then Sogadan told me what was afoot, and warned me to be on my guard, if I rode out of the Valley; these men were forbidden to enter by Lord Khalis, because they had insulted the Lady Elisbeth.
At once I turned to Lord Tindir, and said, Let us go therefore to their camp, and look upon the Men; I will not suffer them to long continue there, if they have evil purpose. And Lord Tindir agreed, and his wife Himwen, not wishing to see her husband go alone, or being content to remain at the gate by the sentries, accompanied us over the hills and out into the wild moor. Not only is Himwen brave and fond of her husband, but she is also quick-witted, and high-minded, and very dear to the Household by reason of her kindness and good-temper.
Coming up in stealth, we saw a small group of figures beside a mean fire. They were quarrelling – and Tianne was among them! When Himwen saw her, she seemed to forget the risk of the men, and her first concern was to rush up and greet her friend with joy, so that Lord Tindir and I were forced to chase after her, and burst into the camp quite suddenly. But the men seemed tired, and were not much surprised nor alarmed at seeing more Elves so close to the border of the Valley. Their faces were very sad and gloomy, and far from the rest, in the shadows, sat one man. Introducing myself, I asked for their purpose. Why did they sit there arguing? Then one of the men came forth, and giving us a false name, said he was part of the company, but not their kin. And pointing at one of their number, the man in the shadows, he blamed his fellow for their current predicament. This man declared the utmost regard for Elves, and claimed to have ties within the Valley. And when proofs were presented, and he told his us real name, and his story verified by Tianne, Sigfread asked to speak with Lord Khalis, so that he might beg pardon for his rude actions, and for those of the one named Lucifen, and plead that they permit one of their party to enter the Valley. Sigfread was persistent in his complaint, and seemed not to be at all lost for arguments that had some plausibility, to the effect that he showed himself to be a better man than I suspected, and wished in particular that one of his companions could enter the Valley, because his friends were there, and not because of any nefarious intent.
Then another man stepped forth, Vendrith he called himself, and he told a heavy tale of woe, a wicked deed of how his people being oppressed, were cut down before his very eyes – by whom, I am not entirely certain, but perhaps it was a neighboring group of barbarians. Such things are all too common amongst that people.
They told us of their woes, and the reasons for them, placing and laying them all at the feet of the young man Lucifen, and made him seem like the wickedest of Men. Why do you not cast him out? I asked them. Far from their evil companion these men sat. I decided to put them to a test, and see how eager and earnest they were in their declarations of hatred and contempt of their fellow’s misdeeds, and to see if the threat of punishment would temper their anger with mercy. It was evident that this man was blamed for all their predicaments, and he was said to have been insolent to Lord Khalis, as well as the Lady Elisbeth. With Lord Tindir standing by, I suggested that the man be put to the sword, if they would not drive him out of their camp. That his acts were foolish, there is no doubt, but perhaps not deserving of death, unless these Men were poor judges; and walking over to Lucifen, I looked into his face, and told him of the contempt of his fellows, and that not one of them had said anything of good on his behalf. The man only looked at me, and did not seem to mind very much. Inured to ill-usage he seemed, and it had made him strangely prideful. I could not prevail on justice, or it may be that their laws are different. Yet I did not strike him down – it is not my place to seek justice for Men.
Then a woman came crawling out of one of the tents, Taala daughter of Hardoleth she named herself. Ruddy was her hair, as red as copper on the hearth. Small were her hands, and slender her face, neither pale nor red. I remarked how she glared at the hateful Lucifen, but when she saw us, her eyes grew large, and seemed to pine for more. This woman seemed unusually sensible for her kind, and not completely deficient in political wisdom, but the common misfortunes of her people had brought her to a bad state. Little by little, as we listened to the men talk, I felt my resolve to drive them off softening, and finally I yielded, and decided to let them remain there. It occurred to me that it was not wise to permit people to starve outside the Gate. Though I would not meddle in the Warband’s business, I pledged that we would send supplies, as theirs were almost depleted.
And so we left them, fenced off from the cold winds of the North, huddled in front of their little campfire. No wine shall these men taste, but they shall have milk, and loaves of good brown bread, and this might bring these wretched men some relief, so that they may have a better tale to recount.
