"Erithain is, as you know, close kinsman to the King. His father, Haladar was brother to the Lady Gilraen. You have heard of Halbarad?"
Nibs nodded. "He was the King's kinsman who fell in the battle. He carried the great standard."
"I can see you have been listening to the tales of the Travellers, Master Nibs. Halbarad was Erithain's older brother, and part of his grief is for his brother's loss. Yet, grievous though that loss was, if that was his only loss he might consider himself more fortunate than some.
"Erithain fell in love with a beautiful woman named Isilwen, and married at a younger age than many of the Dunedain. They had three children - Eldacar, Firiel and Dirhael - and lived in a settlement in the Angle. At one time they lived closer to Bree, on the South Downs, but when Isilwen's mother began ailing, they went to help her with the farm, and take care of her.
"Haladar was killed in an ambush near the Trollshaws, not far from where Aragorn's father was killed twenty years previously, so Erithain well knew the dangers. He was always a careful soldier, a fine commander and a loving husband and father. Following the death of his wife's mother, three years before the War of the Ring, and aware of the increasing incursions of orcs, Angmarians and Dunlendings, he resolved to move as many of those in the settlement who were willing to go, to the Breelands and install his own family in Bree itself. He intended to do this as soon as he returned from his tour of duty. His eldest son was then seventeen, and our Chieftain had arranged training for the younger Rangers and those who were about to join the ranks. I suspect Lord Aragorn knew the conflict was coming and wanted the Dunedain prepared. Eldacar was near Rivendell, being put through his paces by the sons of Lord Elrond."
Tarondor paused and sipped from his tankard. No-one else spoke. It was as though they were held in suspense, experiencing dread in the pit of the stomach although they did not know why. Tarondor set his pipe on the table and continued.
"Dirhael was then about eight or nine years old and Firiel, the only daughter was fourteen, a maid of great sweetness and as forthright as the Lady Eowyn. Hallas was almost twelve and had been living with them as an adopted son since his parents died of the lung sickness when he was seven. They were a very happy family. Aldamir and Halacar here were with Erithain's patrol and can tell you what happened the day they returned."
Aldamir took up the story. "We approached the village at mid-morning. We always liked to call in on our return, because we were tired of pack rations and Isilwen fed us so well. She was a marvellous cook - she said she had lived in the Bree-lands for a time and been taught by hobbits. I think we all realised that something was wrong. There was no sound of children at play, no women singing, nothing. Then I thought I could smell smouldering wood, burnt thatch, and the slightly sweet smell of death. We dismounted and crept into the centre of the village. What we saw was difficult to accept. Everywhere we looked there were bodies - old men and women, children, babies, pregnant women..........No-one had been spared. Many of the houses had been burned to the ground. Near the path from the wood were two friends of Dirhael's, lads who usually accompanied him to the woods with the livestock. Erithain was frantic - there was no sign of Dirhael or Hallas, and no sign of his wife and daughter either. Some of our number went into the woods to search, while the rest of us continued to look in the houses.
"Suddenly I heard a cry. I never wish to hear any creature make such a cry of agony. I found Erithain on his knees by the threshold of his own house, beside the broken body of his daughter.Her clothes were torn and she had been........violated. I tried to pull him away but he pushed me to one side and went into the house. I confess I had a sick feeling in my stomach as I followed him into the kitchen. I wish I had never seen what we found, and it must haunt his nights as it does mine. Isilwen's body was propped against the wall. He skirts were up around her waist and she too had been violated. There was a bloody knife in her hand and the body of a Dunlending lay nearby - she had clearly tried to fight for her honour. Her body was.......headless. I thought this was the worst sight I could possibly see, but I heard him groan and when I turned round he had collapsed and was rocking back and forth. I saw the most terrible sight of all..............his wife's head on a plate on the kitchen table."
Nibs dropped his pipe into his lap and all four hobbits stared at Aldamir in shock.
"They cut her head off?" Fernilac whispered.
Aldamir nodded his assent. "Probably because she fought back and killed one of them." He shivered slightly. "Somehow I managed to drag him out of that accursed place. He went meekly, too shocked to argue. Meanwhile some of the others in our party had gone through the woods, hunting for any survivors." The Ranger nodded at Halacar, who sipped from his tankard and began:
"The pigs were rooting under the trees, chickens scratched in the clearings and the goats were grazing nearby. They had escaped because they must have been in the woods when the attack occurred. Had the livestock been in the village they would have been killed and taken.The animals would not have been alone, and usually it was the youths who went with them. We walked around, looking for signs, and at some point I looked up and saw just a faint shadow in one of the largest trees. I called softly and a pale face peered out through the leaves. It was Hallas. When he saw me he almost fell off the branch in relief. Then the branches parted and I saw young Dirhael. He was clearly in a daze, weak and distressed from lack of food and the horror of half-knowing what had happened. Hallas half-carried, half-pushed him down and the boy fell into my arms. He was rigid with terror and completely unable to utter a word. They had been up that tree for almost two days. The other two lads who had been with them had returned on hearing the commotion, and died before they reached their homes. Hallas told me what had happened, how he practically sat on his friend, physically preventing him from going back. Then he pushed and shoved him up the tree to hide in the thick branches. During the night Hallas had crept down to see what had happened, and was ill when he saw what the Dunlendings had done to his foster mother and sister. He was afraid to allow Dirhael out of his sight in case he went back and saw his family and friends dead.They milked the goats during the day, foraged a little way for a few berries and returned to the tree at night.
"Erithain almost collapsed when he saw his son, but somehow broke the news as gently as he could, although the boy never spoke. He cried - I think we all did, without shame. We knew there was a larger village a few miles away which we passed two hours before. All was well there - it was better defended with a ditch and pallisade, and some men who could use their bows. We decided to take the boys there but Dirhael became hysterical at the thought of leaving the animals, so we put the boys in a cart with the chickens and drove the goats and pigs before us. I promised Dirhael his father would join him as soom as he could."
Aldamir sighed deeply. "It would have taken a much larger force than we had to bury the dead deeply enough - wolves or bears might have disturbed them, or orcs, which would have been worse. We decided to place the dead in one house and burn it, then return next day and bury the ashes. Erithain collected some belongings, a few keepsakes which had not been stolen, and some spare clothing for the boys. In one of the houses we searched we found a baby in its cradle, alive and unharmed. He had been hidden by a screen and was presumably asleep at the time, so going undetected. We gave him some goat's milk and the boys took turns to hold him. When the cart and six of the Rangers had gone we said prayers for the dead, torched the house and rode away.
"The next day our Chieftain arrived with Eldacar, having seen the smoke from the funeral pyre. The sons of Lord Elrond were with him, and they helped to bury the ashes. I have never seen our leader as angry as he was that day, nor do I ever wish to see him so again. He does not shout or utter curses but becomes pale and quiet and deadly."
Ferni nodded. "Frodo is the same. His voice drops and becomes almost a whisper, velvet silk with steel inside.I do not wish to ever be on the wrong side of Frodo Baggins."
"Oft have I heard - and seen with my own eyes - that Frodo and Lord Aragorn are brothers of the spirit. Their Lights of Being are very similar," Tarondor agreed. He nodded to Aldamir. "Will you go on, my friend."
"Dirhael began to emerge from his trance, tearful and frightened and guilty that he had not saved his mother and sister. He accused Hallas of preventing him from helping, which upset the older boy very much, but afterwards he repented of his words and begged forgiveness. Erithain was grateful to Hallas for saving the boy, who would not have survived had he run back.
"After a week, and just as the boys were beginning to show signs of recovery, Erithain collapsed with a fever. Our Chieftain said it was the reaction of an over-wrought mind, and who could blame him? In his delirium he begged for a sword to slay himself. It was terrible to watch. It took the skills of the lords of Rivendell, the gift of Isildur's heir, and the love of his sons to bring him back, but he was never quite the same. His hair and beard began to show a little grey from that time, and he smiled less."
"I'm not surprised," murmured Gil, clearly shaken. "'Tis a wonder the sight didn't strike him stark mad."
Halacar spoke. "When the time came that our Cheiftain called as many of us as he could to go south and aid him in the fight against Sauron, Halbarad, Erithain and many others heard the call. Eldacar went too, the youngest of the Rangers to take the Paths of the Dead. He never flinched or faltered, not even when the dead followed to the Stone of Erech and people bolted their doors in terror. We took the ships at Pelargir, and sailed up the Anduin to the aid of Minas Tirith. Halbarad carried the standard made by the Lady Arwen. None of the orcs of Mordor could abide its sight or touch, so Haradrim and Easterlings were sent to take it. The Standard-bearer is ever a target because to take the standard is to bring grief and loss of heart. He stood beside Aragorn, ever-watchful for danger, always in the heat of battle, when suddenly there was a great commotion. Easterlings poured down upon them and they were separated. The enemy hacked at Halbarad, hewing his shoulder to the bone. Young Eldacar saw what was happening and rode to his uncle's aid. He killed five in that mad, glorious charge, but they struck him down before he reached Halbarad. They fell at almost the same moment, just as the Lord Elrohir grasped the standard and shot the enemy who was trying to take it." Halacar swallowed and paused, deeply moved. His friend carried on the tale.
"They were carried from the battlefield together. Aragorn himself broke the news to Erithain, and saw to it that uncle and nephew were buried together near the banks of the Great River. This visit to Gondor will be the first time he has seen the grave and the place where his son and brother fell since the King's coronation."
The Steward shook his head. "In his place I too would be reluctant to go. He has bravely resisted the urge to over-protect Dirhael, although he must be afraid that he will lose him too. I know he is eager to see the lads again, and this will be their first visit to Gondor. They are as excited as Master Freddy."
"The hour is late, friends," said Halacar. "I hope you will sleep well and not dwell on the details of this story. Erithain would not wish you to lose sleep over it. And please do not pity him - understand him if you will, and continue to treat him as you have been doing. Your sons will do so in their own charming way. They're already proving better than any medicine for a grieving heart."
The four hobbits made their way to bed, with much to ponder upon.