It was an ugly sight, Da's ear dangling by bloody strings off the side of his head and his face pale as stone. Baine was just starting to clean him up when my elf-bride and I caught up with them. Da glared at me through his pain, then searched past me for Winter Mist. One look at her and his jaw dropped open. He tried to speak but only bits of froth flew out. I heard Toad sing out from his tuckaway home in the folds of Winter Mist's leine. I saw Keu's eyes go wide. With Da's mouth working and Toad's singing at the same time, it looked just like Da was a toad-voiced puppet. I burst out laughing.

Then he fell. Baine caught him and 'Daig rushed forward to help.

To make it worse, we all suddenly heard the jingle and hoofbeats of a large number of horses moving fast just on the other side of the thicket of trees. Everyone stood still and held their breath until the noise faded down the road.

"Nion said go to the ranger's old hiding place," Keu advised us.

And here we are, in Faramir's cave. Baine hates this place, all the more now that Faramir is dead. She goes off to find greens for easing Da's poor ear. He's come awake again and is thrashing about, raving of bewitchments and evil toad spells.

This has not been a good introduction to his new daughter-in-law. I give Winter Mist a little shove to send her after Baine. "Don't worry, m'chroi, I'll explain everything to him. When you come back, we'll be one big happy family!" I reassure her with a tiny kiss on her neck. Winter Mist makes a face and looks doubtful. She hugs me anyway and we cling to each other for a sweet long moment before she reluctantly departs.

Keu is hunting the niches of the cave for any treasure the ranger may have left behind. Hadaig has a wineskin pressed to Da's lips. I hope it will calm him down.