Ok ok! It's hard to co-ordinate what with holidays and all!
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The King leads you to some of his private chambers behind his throne room.
"Vardalain knew all too well about the problems of playing catch-up. The battle he fought in to save the life of my daughter should never have happened. Just as at Baranar, the Orcs needed very precise information and timing to have mounted that attack- and deep within our own borders, too."
"Traitors happen. The doom of Arnor was born out of base treachery between the three split Kingdoms. Had they worked together, the Witch-King would nmever have succeeded.
"But the nature of this treachery is extreme, because there are very few who could have possibly known all of these factors in order to inform the enemy. It would have to be someone on the Council itself."
"It has always been the fate of Man to be undone by his own desires- much as it was once the fate of your own race to be undone by pride. It is near to unthinkable that a Dunadan, a descendant of Isildur and Elendil, related to Elrond himself, would betray us to the Witch-King. So unthinkable that many would ascribe these matters instead to the dark powers of our enemy.
"I know that you wonder about such powers yourself, asking questions of what happened to the Barrow Downs. The plague at Baranar was another such power. Yet if the Witch-King could see and know all we did, then Man would have ceased to exist long ago. No, wisdom must see past such fear and superstition, and look to the most likely answer. For power, money, hatred, or even madness, one of my most trusted Dunadan Lords has betrayed us in some manner.
"To investigate myself was difficult. My resources are those of the Realm I rule, and are inevitably influenced by the Council, and I do not know which ones I can trust. Any agents truly independant of the authority are not skilled enough. I have had to look to outside help- yet what outside help could I trust?"
"They say Elves have wisdom and insight. I can be utterly sure that no Elf on Middle Earth has come under the sway of the darkness- even in Sauron's time, such a thing was considered impossible. But I needed someone that the Council would not greatly object to the presence of. No-one on the Council can be told of my investigation, of course, lest the traitor flee, and because such accusation will cause outrage and panic. But it is not normal for people to simply approach my Lords and spesk with them. Vardalain, one of the saviours of my daughter, an official emissary from Rivendell and one of those who fought at Baranar had earned enough respect to do so so inconspicuously. Now there is none other like him, but I have decided to put my trust in you."
"None at all, except that you may wish to speak with the Horse Master Argentis. He knows of the situation as well. I can give you no official powers, only advice. And there must be something to discover, else Vardalain would not have disappeared- and clearly our enemy had to act in a hurry, else a less suspicious disappearance may have been arranged."
"Perhaps. Remember also that crucial strategic decisions about this nation's future are being made at this time, following our recent disaster. If the traitor knows we are on to him, he may only be staying right now in order to find our new strategic dispositions. So time is of the essence- for two reasons we must find the traitor before the Council's strategic deliberations are complete. First, because they will be of rgeat use to our enemy. Secondly, the traitor will then most likely flee, and we lose our chance of catching him and finding out what our enemies know."
Originally posted by Ushgarak
Elendur makes a bow in front of you, Ellothiel."My Lady, the Elf speaks fair, and for one of your experience you gave a most creditable display. Do you plan to enter the Tournament?"
"I do plan to indeed, your highness. My archery skills are superior to my swordplay, but I intend to compete in both."
"Then the quality of this Tournament has bene improved at a stroke!" speaks the Prince. With a smile, he takes your hand and kisses it. "I shall look forwards to your participation.
"Darvan, I believe my father wishes to speak with you. Why do you not take your new acquaintence with you?"
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"Then you have my thanks, Elf of Lorien," says Arvedui. "I am taking in as many of your colleagues in battle as are still here. Other than that, only Lord Gorlim knows of your quest; his movements are such that one of the betrayed pieces of information was not known to him to betray. The same is true of Lord Farael, but as my Chancellor it was more appropriate to involve Gorlim. He can provide you any information you require on the state of things."