Truths of a fallen Man - Dead or Alive



Chapter seventeen: Dead or Alive

 

“Thank you all for coming to this event. Everything that has led to this point had been very… Overwhelming.” Faorie said.
Several members of the Warband of Imladris had gathered in Imlad Gelair. They all looked towards her as she spoke.
“It is a sad indication of the time, Faorie.” Khalis Imieran, Captain of the Warband, took a step forward.
“But as I said before out on the ice, he was alone.” He paused. “We should never ride into the unknown or danger alone. More so the sons and daughters of Men.”
“That is very true, my friend.” Said Virthalion, nodding solemnly.
“He was a tragic spirit. The darkness that plagued his heart consumed him and he had no way of stopping it. It is because of his choices to follow these paths alone that led him to his end…” Faorie continued, and looked down. “I want you to know, to everyone who stands here below the beauty of the light of day and the clarity of mind to understand that he was not our enemy. I know our enemies, I know my own… And with all my confidence I can say that he was not one of them.”
“We stand here as warriors, unique in history and origin…” She continued. “Each of us having stood against great trails. Experienced darkness at its rawest, most fearsome states. We have overcome many challenges, and as a family of warriors we respect and honour the memory of Thendryt.”
Virthalion looked up and turned his head towards Faorie.
“I for one do not believe he was our enemy, Faorie.”
Faorie looked at him, with a sad expression.
“His actions had led me to believe at one point that perhaps he was just that…” Faorie looked down and with a low voice finished the sentence. “And for that I feel guilt.”
“You should let that guilt go. It will do you no good.” Virthalion replied, straightening himself. The group went quiet.

Khalis started placing candles in the ground, around a spear. The others watches in silence as he lit them. When he was finished he stood back and looked out over the tiny flames.
“Five candles for the five of us here today.” Khalis began. “As we all know we are here today, not so much to say goodbye to one of our strongest Maethor, but to make sure we do not forget his name in the future.”
“His actions, his deeds, will live on in all our memories.” Khalis paused for a moment before continuing. “We will not dwell on the reasons that Thendryt is no longer with us. Today we hall mark his passing into that which lies beyond our lives. It is time to bring this fallen warrior’s spirit home, to our home.”
“His spirit shall remain forever in the Vale.” Elisbeth said, quietly.
“Together we shall attend him on this journey.” Khalis looked up on the group. “Maethor, cast your eyes downwards to his spear which is represented before us.”

As all of them looked down at the spear, they had a sad look in their eyes. Thendryt couldn’t hold it in anymore. He coughed, violently. He had been trying to hold it in, hoping the urge would go away as he got closer, but he failed. Khalis looked up.
“Elisbeth…” He whispered.
Elisbeth looked up, her eyes wide. Virthalion frowned in utter confusion. Khalis looked at the spear, then at Thendryt, and at the spear again. Faorie looked at him with empty eyes.
“How… I don’t understand…” She uttered.
“Thendryt?” Elisbeth exclaimed. “What kind of trickery is this?”
“Is it the man or the spirit that comes before us?” Khalis uttered, with a look of disbelief on his face.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” Thendryt said, plainly.
“This is your memorial… You can’t be late, simply… Dead…” Elisbeth said, scrutinizing him.  She shook her head, trying to hide the small smile on her lips.
“Strong were some spirits of Men, in the olden days…” Osilivren said, walking up to Thendryt. “It is not in our power to command this spirit, Captain.”
Osilivren punched Thendryt in the face. Thendryt didn’t make a sound, simply looked at Elisbeth.
“Osilivren!” Elisbeth exclaimed.
Thendryt turned his gaze towards Osilivren. The Elf was rubbing his knuckles.
“Solid.” Osilivren said.
“Really?” Elisbeth raised an eyebrow.
Thendryt punched Osilivren, making the Elf take a step back.
“Soft.” Thendryt said, with a smile on his face.
“It is ended.” Osilivren said. “This is no spirit.”
“I don’t understand, how can you be here?" Faorie whispered, her eyes still wide. “I saw you. I saw you fall. Into icy waters, blood in the snow... You were gone, how is this possible?”
Thendryt turned to face her.
“Ah, I suppose that needs an explanation.”
“You ‘suppose’?” Virthalion replied, raising an eyebrow.
“Indeed it does.” Elisbeth said.
“I was dragged out by an acquaintance that happened to be nearby.” Thendryt explained.
“Who?” Faorie asked.
“Odak. I believe you’ve met him, Faorie.”
“How was it someone you knew happened to be close at hand?” Elisbeth asked.
“He was the one I was going to see. He was camped nearby and heard the fighting.” Thendryt answered. “I was traveling to his camp, that was my purpose in the mountains.”
“Aah.” Elisbeth put her hand on her hip. “It would seem fortune favoured you that day Thendryt.”
“Well…” Thendryt replied. “Now I owe him for saving my life.”
Elisbeth nodded. “Is that a debt to be paid soon?”
“I’m sure he’ll remind me in the future.”
“A true test of your resilience then, Morson” Khalis said. “Sadly a good indication also of you failing to follow the simplest of instructions.”
“Failing?” Thendryt asked.
“Yes.”
“Which instruction did I fail, Captain?”
“You went into battle alone!”
“I was ambushed!”
“Yes, ALONE”
Thendryt looked over at Faorie. “Help me out here?”
“Your might comes from being part of a company of Maethor” Khalis said sharply.
Faorie opened her mouth to speak but Elisbeth held her hand up before her, stopping her before she could say anything.
“Help you in what, Morson?” Khalis said.
“Nothing Captain, nothing at all.” Thendryt said. “Do continue.”
“The Misty Mountains. Orcs, Giants, and countless other creatures dying to send you into the spirit world.” Khalis crossed his arms. “Yet the mighty Morson go alone...and gets ambushed.”
I think, perhaps, we need some new guidelines drawn up.” Elisbeth said.
“Well I hardly need a caretaker for patrolling the Misty Moutains.” Thendryt replied. Faorie gave him an angry look.
“If I may.” Osilivren said, as he rubbed his jaw. “Even if it wasn’t a patrol on the Warband’s orders, I have ventured into the mountains on my own at times.
“Our numbers are not so great that we can risk even one of our lives, if it need not be risked” Elisbeth said. “Let us be thankful this memorial has turned out the way it has. Surely we can all agree on that?”
“I could not agree more, my lady.” Virthalion replied, as the others nodded. Khalis looked like he had more on his mind, but bit his tongue.
“With all due respect, any of us can get ambushed while outside the Vale.” Thendryt said.
“True, but if we are travelling with our companions we would be less vulnerable” Elisbeth replied. “That is what our captain is saying.”
“I would've returned sooner, but the dagger was quite sharp.” Thendryt said, looking over at Faorie. He gave her a smile. “Not that I blame you.”
Faorie seemed appalled by his words.
“Thendryt.” She started. “Do you not understand the burden your thought death had brought? Do you not see what had been going on here moments before you arrived? And you speak in such a casual tone, as if this was not a shock to see you again! Your actions do not just affect you anymore, understand that.”
“Faorie, trust me when I say that I came back as soon as I could.” Thendryt said, breaking eye-contact. “I just returned and have honestly no idea what has been happening in the Vale and within the Warband during my recovery.”
“We are thankful for that Thendryt, truly, but we thought we had lost one of our Maethor.” Elisbeth said.

The group went silent for a moment.
“Well, since this memorial isn’t really needed…” Khalis began. “We might as well have our meeting with Adanmiel.”
Khalis looked over at Thendryt.
“That’s a new recruit.” He said. “You’re coming along.”
Khalis started leading the group out of Imlad Gelair.
“I literally just got back Captain!” Thendryt exclaimed.
“Move it, Morson!”