Charged silence lengthened. Šuraš's heart raced; her sister fumbled her hand. But then Father laughed wryly.
“'Fear to slight a wife more than your enemy',” he said. “By my own shame cuckolded, I've now other men's sons!”
Varendur was silent, his men, also. Finally, though: “So be it!”
“You knew,” Ba-a-šuvon accused Šuraš later.
“I helped save our honor,” she answered, proudly. “And since you love Gondor, rejoice to have such brothers!”