Ulvoin

The party manages to get Arradril back to Vindurhal, where Ulvoin offers the group the use of his home. However, he himself assisted with removing the living plant from the frozen ground and placing it in Glorfingwë's pack, and Arradril insists that this mission be completed -- if a live plant is not returned to Imladris as the Lady requested, her injury has no meaning. Therefore, much against the misgivings of her friends, it is decided that as soon as she can mount her horse, the Elves will ride hard for Imladris.

The group circles a wide area north of Vindurhal, based on Melumatyar's memories. Branalph discovers a flower exactly like the one Melumatyar described, next to a huge rock -- but the discovery seizes Arradril's attention for a split second too long. As Branalph summons Melumatyar, a goblin patrol sights the lone nis and tags her in the thigh with an arrow.

Ulvoin of Vindurhal meets the Elves from Imladris. Melumatyar explains what he saw in the snow on the return from Hrimbarg the last time a group rode out in this direction, and what the current task is: not only to find the strange flower again, but to bring one back to Lady Manadhlaer alive and intact, so it can grow and be observed and tested.

The Dwarves grimly march their traitorous prisoner into the tower, in order to interrogate him in their own tongue away from the pointy ears of the Elves of Lósengriol. But although he is clever enough to deduce that Hrundis is related to the slain Vigfús in some fashion, this proves to be a rare moment of lucidity for him; he keeps lapsing into strange babble -- notably talking of a "huge ingot" and stating repeatedly that "In gold we are all one." His motive for slaying Vigfús also makes no sense, as Hrundis points out.

Flanked by Harnack -- most recently of Hrimbarg -- on her left, and Ulvoin of Vindurhal on her right, Hrundis, sister of the slain Vigfús, enters the Lósengriol halls and meets Branalph, Glorfingwë, Melumatyar -- and her brother's murderer, Krimruk Dourhand.  Harnack, who cared deeply about his slain friend, has a simple question: if Krimruk is kept more or less intact for the journey back to Erebor to stand trial, is it acceptable to cause some "cosmetic damage"?

Lord Glinthir leads a company of Elves from Imladris -- Melumatyar carrying healing supplies, and Hamadmachor carrying wool cloth and furs, with Olriandis and Arradril to scout the northern pass -- to resupply Vindurhal. Ulvoin, the master of the small chambers beneath the outpost (oddly well stocked with reading material and a cat, to the Elves' delight), offers some assistance in return -- aid of a more linguistic nature.

Two nights after the discussion with Harnack, the House once again gathers to talk over the Dwarves of the Hithaeglir, but for a different reason. Manadhlaer has received a letter from Ulvoin, a member of the garrison at Vindurhal, requesting medical supplies. These are in abundance and easily spared, but what ohtari will protect the delivery with blade and shield, and what ettirnor will scout the way and possibly overturn answers to some of the questions that yet remain?