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Celeborn closed his eyes and thought about the images for a moment, looking for clues in the way they were traveling, the way they were dressed, their methods of working, their weapons ...

"The larger group I would say is ... rather professional," he replied finally, speaking slowly, carefully. "They ... are organized, methodical, well-supplied. The smaller group, however ... if anything, I believe they were just two people traveling together - though why a human and a dwarf would be traveling together normally, I cannot guess - but I believe they ... either came upon an opportunity and took it, or else decided to take some children on spur of the moment, because the children with them lack restraints, and they have far fewer supplies."

He looked at Donovan. "Either way, the smaller group will be far easier to take care of," he nodded. "Perhaps, for Celebor's sake, we should take care of them first, and then go after the second group. For the sake of expediency and safety."

Donovan mused on these choices, either way they looked at it both sets of children were suffering. It was true, it was perhaps better to go after the larger group first, but quite frankly if they were professions it would be better to snipe them off in the first place anyhow. He and Celeborn had dealt with four before so it was not a problem.

In addition should they get into a head on fight, he would have rather Celeborn not deal with professionals as first kill, since he had no idea how the boy (still in Donovan's eyes) would react.

"We would probably end up trying to snipe off the larger group anyways," Donovan mused, "So odds might not be a problem if this is done right. If the smaller group lacks supplies it would be better to go after them, they're probably not equip to handle kids even when they're not planning to take good care of them."

The children didn't eat much with slavers, they'll probably eat less with those two dolts looking after them. He didn't know if that was true or not, but he would rather Celebor's first kill to be among sloppy slavers than among professionals.

"Besides," he added, "Even through sniping something could go wrong, I would rather not have to deal with a smaller group with wounds. Let's make our lives easier and deal with the smaller first. Besides, with spur of the moment slavers.... things could go wrong for those kids."

Celebor had been about to protest when Celeborn had spoken, but after Donovan's explanation of why they should go after the smaller group first, and Celeborn's promise that he wouldn't just be watching, he was satisfied.

He folded his arms across his chest and nodded curtly.

Celeborn nodded and rose to his feet. "Then I shall leave the greater preparations to you," he said graciously, "and I will speak to Elberon and make sure that the horses and cart will be ready. Until then."

He nodded his head in farewell and left as abruptly as he had entered.

"You would imagine?" Donovan inquired as he rose to his feet, "Kara, you have most of the things don't you?"

She began doing that now and sometimes she had just shoved in random things she thought might ease the children as they went along. Though she had also been the one planning the medical kits as well.

Celebor also rose to his feet, stepping away from the table.

"So pretty much everything is already prepared, then?" he asked Donovan. "What else do we have to do today, then?"

He was a little anxious to perhaps get in some archery practice, if he could. After all, he didn't have anywhere back home to practice, so it had been a few weeks since he'd had the opportunity. He had a suspicion that his skills might be needed this time around (though he knew Celeborn was an excellent archer, by reputation), and he wanted to practice.

He also wanted to see if the runes Sir Valdemar had put on his bow worked as well here as they had in the Southland.

"We're pretty much free for the day," Donovan replied, "Well, you are anyways. I should be checking in with people and see how they're doing..."

He probably should head to the gardens... or the fields whichever it was that was being worked in at the moment.. .the stables... even though he really didn't want to face any possible barge of questions that might be slung his way...

"I owe Halmir and Arthael a visit...."

Who else... who else... probably anyone else he happened to come across as he usually did. So many people and he probably didn't even know all of them.

"Do you want some company?" Ulrich offered to Donovan. "I can't promise that I'll be able to save you from a barrage of questions, depending on who you're planning on visiting ..."

His eyes glinted mischievously. He knew how long it had been since Donovan had talked to Elberon.

"But on the other hand, I can answer questions that you might have that others may not be able to answer."