Cole kept his head low while he was escorted into the courtyard, partly because he wanted to shield his eyes from the downpour, but mostly because of the growing feeling of shame. The two guards holding him firmly by the arms said nothing as they shoved him in front of Leofric, who seemed to be in an even worse mood than before. 

“Both of you follow me.” 

The Bree-lander didn’t have much choice in the matter, as the silent duo forcefully pushed him onward. Cole couldn’t help but glance up at the other newcomer and had to stop himself from gasping. A stately man walked next to him, clad in gleaming chain and a blue surcoat bearing a white swan. Wings flared out from the sides of his helm, giving him an imposing appearance. Needless to say, Cole was dumbstruck. He thought that Eorl’s folk inspired awe, but this man came straight from the legends! 

There was something familiar about the knight’s armour, but he couldn’t quite remember from where – he’d certainly never seen another living Man or Dwarf wearing such fine gear. Cole didn’t linger on that thought for long, however, as his eyes were drawn to the wonders of the king’s hall. Tapestries lined the walls, along with spoils of war – spears and bows and swords of kinds he’d never seen, not to mention all the foreign banners. For the first time in his journey Cole began to comprehend the vastness of it all. Did each of these flags represent a town? A kingdom? A people? How many cities and holds and lords’ halls must be out there! 

Leofric’s gravelly voice whispered in his ear: 

“Stand straight and do not flinch, you are in the presence of the Lord of the Riddermark!” 

Cole looked up and this time he couldn’t stop himself from gasping like a hobbit who’d seen his first man-sized pint at the Prancing Pony! Atop an unassuming chair [i]the[/i] King was seated. There was no doubt as to who this man was, Eorl’s presence seemed to fill up the entire hall and it wasn’t owed to his mountainous figure. No, there was something else. A quiet, unshakable authority which seemed to radiate from the man. The kind that only a great ruler possessed – that’s what Cole had read in his scrolls at least. 

His surprise wasn’t reserved only for the king, but for the man Eorl had his eyes fixed on. Yet another thing he witnessed for the first time today, as he had never seen a man with such dusky skin before. Eorl and his men were fair of skin and hair, while this stranger was the exact opposite – everything about him was dark. Was he another prisoner, like Cole? He certainly looked the part, surrounded as he was by the king’s men. 

This left a sour taste in Cole’s mouth. This outlandish man, a great warrior perhaps, warranted an entire contingent of guards, who even now had their strange, bow-like contraptions aimed at him. So many people for just one man! Meanwhile, Cole had his two dour guards and the ever-cheerful Leofric. They didn’t even reach for their weapons as they let go of Cole, considering him no threat at all. 

[i]And to think I believed that I could be useful on this quest…Cole, you fool, what madness possessed you to come here?![/i]

While he was self-pitying himself, the knight he had walked besides introduced himself as a Man of Gondor, confirming Cole’s suspicions. So it was real! Nobody at home had believed him, but he always knew in his heart that these faraway places were not mere stories. 

He felt foolish standing there, but decided not speak unless addressed. After all, he doubted that the king had any interest in him.