The Findings

The Last Bridge

The Mitheithel runs between the three great stone arches of this ancient bridge. To the west the road climbs a steep grade into the barren plains that lie to the south and west. Only the weather hills break the horizon in that direction. Forest girds the eastern banks of this river as it runs from the north. The road continues eastward between these tree covered hills. It is clear that the river is the only reason these forests have not spread westward, for they grow quite thickly.

Contents:

IMPORTENT-Signpost

Obvious exits:

West and East

Giliath has been very quiet for a little while, if anyone has noticed - perhaps these humans whom he does not know well, ranger or no, have not. But as the sun falls on this day, he begins to walk around the camp - almost aimlessly. But his eyes are searching though it seems he finds not what he seeks. It has been hot and cloudless, and even now it is warm, though dusk comes up and a little breeze begins to rustle the long grass and shake the trees.

From the river comes one of the Rangers, clad in grey, and at a distance his form is barley discernible from the lands behind him. Yet quick eyes as those of the Firstborn will not be deceived by this. The Ranger is tall, a mane of raven hair streaming down to his shoulder blades, a bit unkempt, and a pair of keen grey eyes sit atop a somewhat aquiline nose. This Ranger is known to Giliath, for they 5have met before in Imladris, for it is no other than Henleg. As the Ranger approaches, he rises a hand in salute to the Elf, as he makes his way towards him.

Giliath\'s gaze goes across Henleg as he approaches, this is not who he seeks, then returns. And the elf turns his steps, lifting his hand as well. \"The night is quiet,\" he comments as he comes near enough to speak. \"Have you seen ought else stirring?\"

\"Nay, nothing is near this camp\", the tall Man replies, \"or at least, nothing my eyes could catch. How fare you, Giliath?\", he asks then, as he sits beside the Elf.

Giliath settles himself on the ground. \"I am... well,\" he says, slowly. \"Though sick at heart.\" His face is like chiseled marble in the growing darkness, and he is quiet for some minutes, gathering words and thoughts. \"I have... spent some time with the man. Rhifaroth.\"

At the mention of Rhifaroth\'s name, heneg\'s own face hardens, yet his tone is still friendly and measured. \"Ah... I see\", he says. \"I wonder what he has to say for himself\".

\"He says nothing at all,\" Giliath says. He turns from regarding the evening to look Henleg full in the face. \"I do not wish to tell you how to deal with your own. But I would not have you judge without knowledge I could give you.\"

\"I would like to know what you have to say about that, mellon\", comes Henleg\'s reply, as he sits cross-legged in front of the Elf and looks at him. \"That man seems a bit... strange yet I\'d like to know if there\'s anything to condone his actions with the prisoner\", he adds.

Giliath is quiet a moment longer. \"He is unaware of much of what is happening,\" he says finally. \"The ...\" The elf stops, his mouth twisting as if he tastes something vile. Then he takes a breath and lets it out in an inaudible sigh. \"What was done to him has caused him to flee inside of himself.\" He pauses again, and when he goes on, his voice is leached of all emotion. \"His memories, those I could find, were of strangling and pain, and endless nightmares.\" How to put into words the wordless images Giliath had gleaned? \"What was done to him was not only physical pain - it has broken his mind.\"

\"I... see\", henleg replies, and his face loses some of it\'s hard features, replaced by worry now. \"You mean to say he... might be unaware of what has happened? Of what he did?\", he adds, and there is now pity in his eyes, and his voice is now worried, losing the harshness it used to have when speaking of Rhifaroth.

Giliath nods. \"Sometimes, he is aware - I felt great shame and despair. More, he is not. He..\" The elf turns a hand palm up. \"It is hard for me to say,\" he says quietly. \"His ... spirit is confused and lost.\" He lifts his eyes to Henleg\'s. \"I would not say this is the truth, I do not know. But I think that as he slew the man, he felt himself attacked caught still in the ... horror.\"

Henleg\'s face loses all it\'s harshness now, and there is no more anger, only pity for Rhifaroth. \"Aragorn should know this at once, then, he says after a moment of consideration, for if there’s any way we can help him out, we should... if his spirit and mind are broken, then he should not be accountable for his actions”. The tall Ranger grows silent for a moment, and then adds, Perhaps in Imladris there will be a cure for him... I know not of any other place to heal his spirit and mind.\"

Giliath nods. \"Perhaps,\" he says. \"I do not know. I am no healer, though I tried to give him what peace I could. I sought him long and far he was wandering in a memory of childhood, and indeed, I fear he could not have found his way back alone.\" There is grief now, open on his face for his friend - one of few humans thus named. \"Perhaps in Elrond\'s house, he could find healing.\"

Henleg nods to the Elf, as he stands. I shall seek Aragorn then, and see what he has to say on this matter. He’s also skilled in the arts of healing, yet if Rhifaroth is so ill, I deem that Imladris indeed would be where we have to go. I bid you fare well, Giliath... and thank you”, he adds, bwoing low to the Elf. Henleg then turns on heels and leaves the Firstborn, seeking for the Chieftain of the Dunedain, the one some call Strider.

Giliath rises also, standing for some time and looking out in to the night. Then he turns away also, going to find his wife. They will leave in the morning.