They returned to the house to change out of their wet clothes before Beregond called. Frodo decided that it was a good time to visit the treasure-house and talk to Carathir's secretary. Merry declined to go with them, although he said he might come up to the citadel later.
The treasure-house was at the very back of the citadel, behind the guest hall and near the closed gates and the passage that led to the Houses of the Dead, the tombs where Kings, Stewards, and members of the great noble families had been laid to rest for generations. A pair of guards stood on duty outside the treasure-house doors, with no regard for the rain; they saluted their captain as he and Frodo went inside.
Standing just within the doorway, shaking droplets of rain from his dripping cloak, Frodo looked up and around. The treasure-house itself was not an impressive-looking place. He stood in a small and austere, windowless room of plain, pale stone, with shelves full of large and dusty books lining one wall. A large, iron-banded strong-box sat beneath. Opposite the entrance was another doorway, blocked from floor to ceiling with an ironwork gate, shut and presumably locked; beyond, an unlit tunnel disappeared into darkness--Frodo thought it must reach into the thick, city wall, perhaps even into the rock of the mountain itself. There were doors at intervals along the tunnel's length, going back as far as he could see. These were also shut and Frodo assumed locked.
Between the entrance and the tunnel gateway sat a desk and at it sat a Man, pale and dusty-looking as the room around him, with limp, fair hair that was thinning at the temples. He had been writing in another large book, open on the desk before him, but as Beregond and Frodo came in, he set his quill down and rose from his chair.
"Good morrow to you, Captain," he said with a slight bow, and regarded Beregond's small companion with interest.
"And to you, Gathin," Beregond replied. "This is Frodo, son of Drogo, the King's Special Investigator who has come to find out who murdered your master and his son."
"Yes, I'd heard of such a one. It's all anyone can talk about lately--'the little investigator'." Gathin bowed to Frodo. "They say you are extremely clever, Frodo. I hope you are. I will be glad to know Lord Carathir has seen justice. How can I help you?"
"I only want to ask a few questions about yours and Carathir's work here," said Frodo. "I understand that Lord Carathir was keeper of the treasury for more than fifty years."
"Yes, that's so. And I assisted him for almost twenty."
"Are all those rooms filled with gold?" Frodo pointed to the tunnel beyond the iron gate.
"They are," answered Gathin, "Gold and gemstones and many other precious objects. The wealth and treasures of the city. For many years, the crown of Gondor's Kings was kept here, awaiting the day when the last king should return. It was brought out for King Elessar's coronation. A most glorious day, and I was proud to be there to witness it."
"So was I," Frodo agreed, remembering that day. "Do you have the keys to all the doors, Gathin?"
"I keep them, but I have not unlocked the gate since my lord's death. There is sufficient gold in the strong-box to pay the guards' and servants' salaries, and the citadel accounts, for some months to come. I make a record of each payment that goes out of here." He gestured to the book he had been writing in.
"Will you continue to keep the books now that Carathir is dead?" asked Frodo. "Will you become the next treasurer?"
"No," said Gathin. "The King will appoint a new keeper of the treasury from among the Council. If it is my new lord's will, I will continue to serve. I think I will be asked to stay," he added with a note of pride. "No one knows the business of the treasure-house as well as I."
"Can I ask you about Carathir's preparations for the defense of the city, against Lord Denethor's wishes? The King's told me a little, and Captain Beregond more, but I expect you can tell me quite a lot. You aided him, didn't you?"
"Yes, I knew all about it," Gathin answered. "It was a conspiracy between those of the great noble families who loved the city and did not wish to stand by and see it fall without a struggle. I was proud to serve in such a cause."
"Did you and Lord Carathir use the treasury money to further your cause?"
"No, certainly not! My master and all who worked with him paid for the city's defense from their private funds--to do anything else would be a grotesque breach of the trust we are given. King Elessar offered to recompense them for the expense, but my master refused. He said his money was well spent."
"Who were the others in this conspiracy, exactly? Did his son and nephew give their help?"
"No," Beregond answered this question. "Both Caradan and Cirandil were far away in Ithilien, serving with Captain Faramir, as he was then. If they knew of Carathir's work, they were in no position to give more aid than their service in battle."
"It was my lord Carathir," said Gathin, "Larengar, Grangirtan, and Arethur, who was killed during the siege. It was they who saw to the reparation and reinforcement of walls and gates, created secret stores of food and other provisions against a long siege. Dame Thressildis devised a path that the women and children might use to escape through the mountains in hope of finding safety if all else failed."
"Dame Thressildis?" said Frodo, surprised that she had had a part in this.
"Yes, and why not? Women do not serve on the Council, but she is the last of a noble line, ancient as the city itself," Gathin replied. "Hilabar, though he was not yet a member of the Council, and his Lady were also involved."
"What about Imatibin?"
"No, not he," said Gathin. "He wasn't in the Council yet either, and didn't hear of the conspiracy until after the city was safe."
"You said that the King will choose the new keeper of the treasury. Who will it be?" asked Frodo. "Do you know?"
"King Elessar hasn't yet announced his choice. I've heard around the citadel that Councilor Hilabar desires the position. He's been here, asking questions about the city's riches and how they are spent. But I think the King will choose another, older and more fiscally responsible."
This was an intriguing piece of information. "Is Hilabar irresponsible then?"
Gathin smiled. "It's only what I've heard. Gossip. Hilabar and his lady live beyond their means, and live upon the generosity of her family. His seat in the Council and the lady's place as Mistress of the Queen's Wardrobe are said to be granted through the favor of others, but it is not enough. A prestigious court appointment such as this would be most welcome."
When he left the treasure-house, Frodo intended to go up to the royal chambers to report his progress to the King. As he and Beregond walked toward the back entrance to the great hall, Cirandil approached them. "Your pardon, Captain. I wish to speak to the investigator--I've something I must say to him."
Beregond, demonstrating his trust in Cirandil, retreated.
"I wanted to apologize. I was angry yesterday--all these suspicions wear on a Man's mind. But I've since spoken to Tharya, and she seems to think you will help us. At least, we no longer need to hide our love from you."
"It was silly to try," Frodo told him. "Keeping secrets and sneaking around only makes things look worse. I will tell you just what I told Lady Tharya: if you are not guilty of these crimes, you have nothing to fear from me." He repeated what Gandalf had said about the young pair. "I understand that love is not proof of guilt, and I haven't got as far as asking the King to arrest anybody."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"I only wanted to ask you a few questions," Frodo replied. "Specifically, about Caradan and a pair of bracelets. I found one his quarters. Do you know where the other is? He didn't give it to Lady Tharya--I've asked her. Who did he give it to?"
The corner of Cirandil's mouth turned down. "I think you know that as well as I do, little one. You've been to the Steward's Arms, haven't you? She wears it for all to see, though few may understand its meaning."
"Yes, I've seen it, on the barmaid Ilsethe's wrist," Frodo admitted. "I guessed that Caradan gave it to her. I thought you were protecting Tharya when you wouldn't tell me who your cousin had given the other two--as if I wouldn't learn of her betrothal to him through ordinary gossip soon enough! I wanted to find out if you knew about it."
"I learned of my cousin's dalliance before I last left the city," said Cirandil.
"After he became betrothed to Tharya?"
"Soon after. One visit to the Arms told me all. Caradan was too handsome and persuasive for his own good. He won maidens' hearts easily."
"Not Lady Tharya's."
"No," the young man agreed. "Tharya cared no more for Caradan than he did for her. The match was made by their fathers, who desired it since they were children. You must know by now that my uncle and Lord Larengar were the greatest friends. When I asked Caradan, he acknowledged that he'd given the bracelet to her. He knew he would never be able to wed his barmaid, but he said his heart would be hers even if Tharya must be his wife in name." Cirandil's face flushed and he looked furious at the thought of it.
"After that, you went away?" Frodo asked incredulously. "You'd let the girl you love marry someone else under such circumstances?"
"I was powerless to stop it!" Cirandil snapped. "Such marriages are made every day. Tharya said she would break the betrothal for my sake, but I knew it would bring disgrace upon her to defy her father's wishes and come to me instead. I thought that if I left the city and did not return for many months, Tharya would cease to think of me... and I wouldn't think of her."
"You didn't tell her about the barmaid? She doesn't know?"
"No! Do you think I would, and spoil her last chance at happiness?"
Frodo thought Cirandil had already managed that by going away and leaving Tharya to a mutually indifferent marriage to his cousin when a little common sense all around would have settled things nicely for the two of them as well as for Caradan and Ilsethe. If it was intended as a noble and self-sacrificing gesture, it was also a foolish one. If Cirandil had gone away from Minas Tirith so that he wouldn't be suspected when Caradan and Carathir were murdered at his order, so that he could have Tharya, then it was even more foolish. Why resort to such brutal extremes? She'd said she would break her betrothal for him, and Frodo saw no reason to think that was a lie. Surely being frank with Caradan and standing up to his uncle and Tharya's father was easier than committing murder?
"What about Lord Larengar," Frodo asked. "Did you say anything to him?"
Cirandil looked puzzled. "About my love for Tharya? Certainly not!"
"No, about your cousin and the barmaid." He could see by the young Man's expression that the thought of it had never occurred to him. "It might've put an end to the betrothal and set Tharya free."
"Not Lord Larengar," Cirandil answered with a small, bitter laugh. "He was set on the match. If he'd known, he would have insisted that Caradan give the girl up and be true to his promised wife. He would see to it that Caradan did as he was told."
"Would he indeed?" said Frodo, and wondered if it was time to ask Larengar about his quarrel with Caradan's father and find out if he'd tried to do just that.
Beregond escorted Frodo up to the royal chambers and left him at the door. Arwen, taking note of Frodo's dripping wet condition, invited him to sit by the fire, then she discreetly exited so he could speak with Aragorn alone.
Frodo told Aragorn all he'd learned so far, omitting nothing, even his encounters with Cirandil and conversation with Tharya.
"Do you think she has a part in these poisonings?" Aragorn asked when Frodo had finished.
"I don't know." Frodo laughed. "It was easier to believe in her guilt when she was a mysterious, black-draped figure who fled at the sight of me! Now that I've spoken to her, I'm not so sure. All I am certain of is that she loves Cirandil and hopes to protect him. I believe she spoke the plain truth when she said she feared for him more than for herself."
"She hopes to protect him," Aragorn repeated. "Does she believe him guilty?"
"Perhaps... although she won't admit it even to herself. I wonder if Cirandil is the one we're looking for," Frodo admitted. "I realize I haven't seen him at his best--he's frightened and feels as if he's set upon on all sides, and that naturally makes him snappish, even if he isn't guilty. He seems to me to be a hot-headed, blustering ass, but he must have his finer points to inspire the loyalty he does in the people who know him well."
"Lady Tharya, you mean, and Faramir."
"Yes, and Captain Beregond too. He will hear no talk against Cirandil from the guardsmen under his command. It speaks in Cirandil's favor that such honorable Men stand by him. Another point in his favor is that he has been away from the city for most of this past year."
"But you said yourself that another person must have delivered the poison."
"Yes, but that's just it. Unless he or Tharya gathered the nightshade and laurel and brewed the poison themselves, they must have gotten it from the herbalist Bregilde. But Cirandil had little time to make plans with her before his uncle's death. When did they meet? How? Where? How long had they known each other?" If Bregilde had provided the poison, and perhaps even dispensed it to the victims by her own hand, she must have had some reason to act on his behalf. Had she received money for her work, or was there some more personal reason?
According to Hilabar, Bregilde had delivered many children born to the noble families; she might very well have delivered Cirandil, 27 years ago. Nursemaids, wet-nurses, and foster mothers often held a strong affection for the children they cared for, even into the child's adult life. Would a midwife do the same? Had she remembered him so fondly after so much time that she would agree to help him commit two murders?
Frodo shook his head. No, that was too implausible.
Aragorn smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You've done remarkable work in such a short time," he said encouragingly. "I am most impressed, and have no doubt I've chosen the best investigator to find who is responsible for these murders. You will find them in the end, Frodo, and it will all make sense."
The praise was heartening. "I hope so," Frodo rejoined, "but right now it's all very confusing and frustrating. May I ask, Strider, if you've decided upon a new treasurer to take Carathir's place?"
"I will not announce my choice until after this matter of the murders is settled, but I've decided to offer the place to Grangirtan--unless you tell me he is the poisoner."
This made Frodo laugh. "I've found nothing against him yet. Did you consider Hilabar for the treasury?"
"No, even before I heard your court gossip about him. Who would have thought the secretary of the treasure-house should hear so much that I do not! Hilabar's name was put before me, but he is new to the Council and has enough responsibility for the present. If you suspect he killed Carathir in hopes of having his place, then he will be disappointed."
Site Info
We are the home of 1292 authors from among our 2552 members. There have been 2904 reviews written about our 3820 stories consisting of 10734 chapters and 29400445 words. A special welcome to our newest member, Rosamundeb.Categories
Skin Change
Donate
Help us keep one of the oldest running LotR archives available to all. Even the smallest donation helps!
Many thanks to our previous donors!
Many thanks to our previous donors!
