Trouble is never comfortable. It was bad enough that tragedy had struck the little village of Arrowhaven, with the burning of the Inn and the loss of at least one life, but Lindovor now learned that the little huntress Fairlain was deemed missing, beyond sight and sound of any of the Lady's "messengers".
He stopped at the top of the hill and looked down upon the little stream that ran through the village. On the far side of the bank stood the burned out hulk of the Warhorse Inn, the walls that remained standing blackened and stained with soot and smoke. Murmuring Lyfrid's name, he made a motion of blessing over the scene, as much to erase it from his sight as to wish her spirit peace. He turned and headed down the cobbled path with a sigh.
On the bank of the stream, standing by the small, stone bridge, he saw the strange elf, Galadhad. It seemed that all of this had somehow begun at his behest. Putting his darker thoughts aside, Lindovor approached the elf and gave him greeting:
"Le suilon!"
Galadhad turned and regarded the grey haired man gravely, giving him a slight nod of his head.
"Le fael... Pedil edhellen?"
" Pedin edhellen...." Lindovor paused, seeing the Elf smile a little as he spoke. "Your pardon, my accent was never the best, though it is better than it was at my beginnings."
"You do me honour to try, nonetheless...I thank you for it."
Lindovor paused, "You are the father of Fairlain?"
" Iellig FaerLhain...I do not know this for certain, but from all I have been told, I believe she is my daughter."
"Then Hiril Alkawen has told you that we have had no word of her...that she is missing?"
Galadhad's brows knit as a pained expression crosses his eyes, "Yes, the Hiril has told me this...She has also told me that the last reports of her came from the southern lands of Rohan, far from here."
"It may comfort you to know that Sir Turgur and I will set out at daybreak to search for her. It may be that she is only delayed...as you have said, it is far and many things may happen on such a road."
Galadhad's eyes flashed, and he took a step closer to the man of Gondor.
"But I should come with you...if she should be hurt, or...."
Lindovor lifted his hand and bowed his head humbly.
"Hir Galadhad, you are a healer, are you not?"
"Yes."
"This place here has taken great hurt. I implore you, please remain here and help bring the light of healing to those who have been injured. It is not right that all of this should fall upon our Lady."
Lindovor lowered his voice, and glanced around him carefully.
"There are some of us who think that these things may have come of someone trying to bring harm to Lady Alkawen. If she is freed from having to minister to the hurt so openly, it would make it possible to keep her in greater safety."
Galadhad considered the words carefully, then sighed.
"Yes, if it is as you say....I will stay and help as I can. But you cannot know a father's heart in this."
A pained look crossed Lindovor's face.
"But I can, Hir Galadhad. Though my daughter never lived that I could look into her eyes, I will give my life to see that you are able to do just that."
Galadhad became very still for a moment, then said,
" Guren níniatha n'i lû n'i a-govenitham...May the Valar watch over you."
"Le Hannon."
With that, Lindovor turned and walked up the hill once again. There were preparations to make and dawn would come soon.
