The Adventures of Elladan's Outriders -- Episode 22.2

The Island of Tinnudir

Sterday, 23rd of Afteryule, Year 1418 Shire-reckoning
The Island of Tinnudir, Evendim

Lake Nenuial

This morning dawned overcast and chilly. I shivered as I lay on the ground under every blanket I had, but nothing seemed to keep the wind from prodding me. The fire had gone out from the constant gusts which had made sleep elusive for most of the Company. Lagodir was stoic but clearly uncomfortable while Drodie slept like a log despite everything. I wondered if any weather of the world had the power to disturb his stone-like repose. Nephyn and I were both downright miserable.

Alone among us, Gaelira appeared undeterred by the trials of yesterday as well as the sour turn in clime. I could see her at the edge of the hill upon which we had our little camp in counsel with Torogethir the Ranger. They were both staring westward, which I knew was the direction in which we would be continuing our journey. Since sleep was impossible anyway, I got up, wrapped a blanket tightly around me, and walked to join these two as they looked out over the plains of Parth Aduial.

I saw firs and pines swaying in the harsh winds while leaves and twigs bounded across the landscape. The expanse below us looked empty and quiet, but it seemed to me more the quiet of expectancy rather than peace. It felt as though there were unseen enemies lurking behind every crumbled tower, fallen ruin, and clump of foliage I could see before me.

"If all goes well we should reach Tinnudir by sunset," I heard Gaelira saying to the Ranger. Torogethir nodded, then pointed away to the northwest.

"Yonder lies Ost Forod. It is something of a settlement, but it is peopled mainly by ruffians and tomb-robbers now; a most unsavory folk. If you have need of a waypoint betwixt here and the island you may stop there and recover yourselves, but I would do so only at need; for the inhabitants do not trust outsiders. Moreover, that place lies high up in the rocks. The going there is difficult, and it lies well to the north of your intended road."

Following Torogethir's arm, I could see a cluster of ruins nestled on the side of a tall hill -- or what one might almost describe as a low mountain. In the dim morning light, I thought I could see the distant glow of multiple campfires.

"Thank you, my friend," Gaelira said to him, "But we should not have need to turn aside from the path unless we require shelter from this weather." As if in answer to her words, a terrific spurt of wind suddenly struck us and very nearly bowled me over. Gaelira shot out an arm and saved me from tumbling into the gravel.

"There is some gale forming away to the far North, in Forochel," said Torogethir as he looked that direction. "Lothrandir, my kinsman, has journeyed there for many years, but I have never been."

"Nor I," came Gaelira's reply, "And I hope to never do so -- 'tis said to be a barren and frozen waste, the last vestiges of Dark Enemy's realm of long, long ago." I shivered, but I was glad we would not be going that way!

"And yet 'tis also said the Snow-folk, the Lossoth, have learned to thrive in that land, after a fashion," said Torogethir. "It may sound strange, but those tales give me hope. For, if the children of Men are able to subdue, in some measure, such a wild and untamed country, can there be any region of Middle-earth which cannot be conquered?"

"I know not what the children of Men may eventually do or not do," Gaelira answered. "For my part, I would see less of conquest and more habitation. Still, if this Third Age of the World is not first secured, then it may well be that your question shall have no need of an answer." Torogethir was silent.

I think the others were as depressed by the foul weather as I was because we packed up and moved out in short order. We said farewell to Torogethir with promises to deliver his report to Calenglad, then made our way slowly down the side of the hill. Everyone remained quiet as we struck the road and continued our westward journey. The path was paved, but it was heavily intruded upon by weeds and grasses, and in many places the once-well laid masonry was cracked and broken. Ever and anon the wind would kick up again, and then we would hear howls and whistles as it played mournfully among the stones. More than once we heard the crack of falling rock or some brick would be shaken loose from its perch, but aside from these sounds our trek was as uneventful as it was uncomfortable.

After several hours we came to a meeting-way of four roads. At the very centre there rose a towering figure of stone: a dour and ancient king with a greatsword between his knees. The mighty king stared southward, to our left, where the road ran up a slope amidst several ruined structures while to the right it wound up into the hills toward Ost Forod. But we followed the way ahead of us, which led to the west and gently fell down, down, down toward a rocky shoreline. Then I looked up and gasped.

At the end of the road I saw a massive bridge of stone which ran out to a large island, that could only be Tinnudir. There were many ruins on the island, and even from this distance I could see Men going to and fro on it, consumed with their business. On the far end rose a huge building of stone: it must have been two hundred feet high. It was white and majestic; in its own time and under the light of a full Sun it must have once glimmered with radiant beauty. On this day its alabaster walls were dimmed due to the heavy cloud cover, but it was still an impressive sight. But it was the lake itself which took my breath away: Even under the grey skies it covered nearly all of my field of vision, though I could see mountains encircling the lake in the far distance. It was truly a magnificent view, one could even call it an inland sea! I longed for the Sun to reveal herself so that I could see her light playing on the gentle waters below me. Nearby, the others also stood staring in admiration.

"Alas that Vasa is shrouded behind this pall," said Gaelira, "Otherwise our eyes would be dazzled by the brilliance of Lake Nenuial. Perhaps tomorrow we will be more fortunate."

"I can see why the Kings of Men would raise the seat of their reign in such a place," Lagodir said with reverence. "It even rivals the beauty of Ithilien, Garden of Gondor, and I know no higher praise to give." Nephyn said nothing, but I could see in her eyes she was greatly impressed. Drodie did not seem to care one way or the other.

We descended by way of the road and soon crossed the bridge which led out to Tinnudir. The arches of the bridge were fallen so that only the bottom portions of the pillars remained; these jutted upward like the jagged teeth in the jaw of some enormous fish of prey. But the walkway itself was solid and strong -- there were no signs of crumbling that I could see anywhere. Perhaps it had been well maintained by the Rangers which made their chief camp on the far side, but this bridge struck me as almost a symbol for the rest of the land here: clear signs of decay and ancientry, but with a lingering dignity and majesty that was not yet completely extinguished.

Once across the bridge, we found ourselves welcomed by the Rangers who were eager to hear the tale of our travels from Esteldin. Not only did they wish to hear of their kinsmen and their ongoing struggle in the North Downs, but they marvelled at the swiftness of our journey: it was now just approaching dusk of the second day since we set out from the Valley of Hope yet we had covered one hundred and twenty miles in that time. As if in response to that reminder, my feet began to ache and smart with a vengeance. I think it was the greatest sustained physical exertion of my entire life up to that point.

Yet we were not permitted to rest: we were led quickly to Calenglad to deliver our reports from Halbarad and Torogethir. The Ranger-captain listened intently to our tales and thanked us many times for them. He was a grim-faced fellow, this Calenglad, and struck me as one who had known much sorrow and trial. I supposed that leading a desperate resistance comprised of the dwindling people from a ruined kingdom against the ever-advancing armies of a tyrant would have that effect on a Man. He was bald and his beard was short, but everywhere his face was creased with worry; his brow was heavy and wrinkled.

"Glad am I to meet you all, and my distant kinsman from the South not least," he said to us in a voice that was both soft and strong, but deep as the Sea. "And it lifts my heart to hear that the battles against the forces encamped at Dol Dinen go well, for if my people had failed there, then little hope would have remained for all the North. You have my gratitude for the part your Company has played in that as well. But the Enemy is relentless: even now my scouts report that an army of dark Men out of Angmar are flooding into the ruins of Annuminas -- the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Arnor -- and that with them are trolls and other creatures more foul. My Rangers cannot hold them out of the city and already we have been reduced to a small and shrinking patch of land there. It may not be long before the entire city is captured, and once that happens it will only be a matter of time before they find us here. This island could be defended well and long against many, but we have not the numbers to do so. I am not certain what will become of us if the Enemy gains the city."

We listened to Calenglad's many worries, but there was little we could do to aid him against an army from Carn Dum and we had our own mission at hand to consider. Regarding this, the Ranger had more hopeful news.

"You say you seek an Elf? That is most curious, for several arrived here just this morning asking for quarter from which to conduct their business. They were an odd sort: my people have dealings with the Eldar folk from time to time, but I have never seen anything like these Elves. All in armour, as if headed to war, they were, and their leader was very tall with a head of gold and peculiar garments. I granted them their boon, permitting that they establish their camp within the Tinnudir Keep, there, within the tower." Here, Calenglad pointed to the enormous structure on the far side of the island. "They said they had come to learn of the invasion of Annuminas and to lend us what aid they could, which certainly sounded hopeful, but they were a small troop, so I am not sure what they meant. I have neither seen nor heard from them since then in any case, but you are free to hold counsel with them if that is your wish. Aragorn, my chieftain, has always instructed us to deal well with their kind and that they mean us no harm, so I hope I have not done ill."

After Gaelira assured him that the Elves were indeed there to help, we thanked Calenglad for his welcome and made our way to the Tinnudir Keep. The huge iron doors creaked loudly as Lagodir and Drodie swung them back on their hinges. Inside it was dim and dusty, with piles of fallen stone everywhere. On the floor I could see carpets of red and gold which must have been fair and luxurious years ago, but now they were faded and caked in mud or dirt. A bit further inside we came to another door, but this one was guarded by an Elf in grey armour. He carried a spear, a shield, and had a long sword at his belt, all of curious make. Nary a word did he speak, but upon our approach he immediately seized the door-handle and opened it for us. We stepped inside and the door clanged into place behind me.

The only light in this room came from large, stately fireplace at the far end and the six candles lit upon a long table of dark wood before us. Seated at this table was an Elf. As we entered, he looked up and rose in greeting. He was quite tall and his hair was long and golden -- so golden it seemed nearly white -- and his raiment was strange indeed. He was dressed all in black robes, but they were embellished everywhere with minute and fine designs of vines and flowers in blossom. He wore armoured pauldrons of some black metal on his shoulders and forearms, and there was a cord of crimson about his waist. But it was his eyes which gave me pause: his eyes were very different from the carefree faces of most Elves I had known, nor did they carry the tint of mourning I had always come to find there. Rather, the eyes of this Elf were hard like an icy, blue steel and they seemed to penetrate everything they looked upon. When he spoke his voice was also very unlike any other Elf I had met, for it was piercingly clear (though not loud) and smooth as silk. Yet it was also much deeper than I expected. It was the voice of a visionary: the kind of being who could sway the hearts of others to doing great -- or terrible -- things.

"Welcome to you, who call yourselves Elladan's Outriders," he said as he bowed his head slightly toward us. "I am Mallacai."

The Adventures of Elladan's Outriders -- Episode 22.1

The Road to Evendim

Highday, 22nd of Afteryule, Year 1418 Shire-Reckoning
The Evendim Gate, on the Edges of Parth Aduial

The Fields of Fornost

It seemed that no sooner had I closed my eyes than I was being shaken into wakefulness. I shooed the offender away and hauled the blanket over my head, but the assault continued.

"Up with you, Master Sluggard," came Lagodir's voice. "If I, who am wounded, can suffer to be roused at this hour, then surely you shall bear my pain with me."

I groaned and struggled to compose myself. It was still dark, but there before me were the rest of my companions; all gathered around the campfire which had been well-tended during the late watches, assumedly by Gaelira. The she-Elf stood before us while the others were seated, as if she had something to say. After all of the excitement and revelations of the previous evening, I expected she would have rather a lot to say.

And so she did. Gaelira bared her heart to us all, but I will not record here every detail of that confession. Everything she had told me last night was laid out to the full Company, and there was much surprise and some confusion over a great many things. The others frequently asked her to clarify her story, or someone would go back to a previous point and probe the matter further. Dawn was fully in the sky before all were satisfied. I myself kept very quiet throughout the proceedings and busied my hands with my pipe. I must say I had gotten through a great deal of my pipe-weed before the matter was finally concluded.

In the end, things didn't really come off as cleanly as I had hoped: Lagodir seemed very suspicious of Gaelira's account while Nephyn was just short of being openly hostile. As for Drodie, he acted as though his distrust of Elves had only been further vindicated and said next to nothing, except to grunt his displeasure. I felt a surge of nervousness in the pit of my stomach as I realized that Gaelira's deception, which always carried the risk of damaging trust within the Company, was actually dangerously close to dissolving it altogether. I even found myself timidly piping up in Gaelira's defence more than once, much to my own surprise. I had intended to let the others make up their own minds about the matter but, after all we had been through together, I confess I had expected them to give her the benefit of the doubt. I was learning now just how very fragile a thing trust is, and that it remained to be seen whether the Company would survive Gaelira's toying with it. To her credit, the she-Elf openly answered everything that was asked of her and (to me) seemed genuinely repentant.

"Many Elves are not known for being humble, as I'm sure Drodie would agree," she said at one point. "But for all of you remaining in the Company and joining me on this most dangerous mission, I am truly humbled in your presence. Whether hobbit, dwarf, or man; for me race has disappeared into my friends -- Nephyn, Drodie, Padryc and Lagodir -- above and beyond any labeling. I will labour in every way I know how to regain the trust I have shamefully squandered with you all. I have never felt so chastised as when I felt I needed to deceive you in order to secure your assistance. I will convey in both word and deed that I am true to my word. And so I say to you: Guren Glassui. In the Common Tongue, Thank you from my heart. As long as I have breath you will have a true friend."

You can't say fairer than that, I thought to myself. But, when it comes right down to it, each of the others is going to have to decide for themselves what to make of it.

As time passed, however, everyone expressed their desire to continue on our path together. Then began a debate about the next leg of our journey. Lagodir and Drodie were both much better after being tended by the Rangers during the night, but both were still in no condition for any fighting or hard labour. All of us had become concerned about the state of our equipment and the lowly nature of our gear, and the conversation turned to what should be done about this. Among the entire Company, only Nephyn bore any weaponry of skilled craftsmanship in the Sword of Ringdor, save Drodie's stout (but now somewhat damaged) corslet of Dwarf-made armour. Not for the last time I looked at my own little hammer, which had seen close to nothing of battle since the beginning of the year. We even asked Halbarad whether the Rangers could assist us in any way, but his answer was not encouraging.

"My people have next to nothing to spare you, I am afraid," the Ranger-captain said ruefully, "And what we have is only what we can rescue from our foes or craft with our own hands -- hardly any better than that which you bear now. Moreover, our tactics are to be light and swift: to strike the Enemy then melt into the shadows before they can counter-strike. Perhaps the huntress, Nephyn, will find one of our longbows to be of superior make to her own. You are welcome to whatever we have in our stores, of course, but I do not think you will find anything there to grant you a serious advantage on the battlefield."

When she heard the offer Nephyn politely refused it, saying her own bow was like a natural extension of her arm and to replace it would be akin to losing part of herself. Halbarad smiled at her.

"I expected no other answer," he said. "So would any marksman among my folk say, in a like situation. May your arrows fly forever true! But what now shall be the path of your Company?"

"In the dead of night I learned from Hremm the raven that we may find an ally encamped on the island of Tinnudir," said Gaelira. "He will be able to assist us in our cause."

"In Evendim?" Halbarad asked. "Ah, then your dealings with my people are not yet ended, for the Dunedain hold that island, or at least it was so when last I heard from Calenglad, who is captain of the Rangers in that place. If you are going thither, I would ask that you extend my greetings to him. He is a valiant Man, though he can be grim and stubborn at times. I would ask also that you give him tidings of the battle at Dol Dinen, and how things go well for us there, for it will lighten his heart and grant courage to his men."

We assured Halbarad we would do this and we thanked him many times for his aid and hospitality. The Ranger-captain then bade us farewell and went about his business, but I sidled up to Gaelira.

"The ally you spoke of, would that be this Mallacai fellow?" I asked her.

"Yes," she whispered back. "Like many of us under his leadership, he is eagerly sought by the Enemy, and so rumour of his comings and goings is not one for casual dissemination. Not even among friends, if it can be helped."

"Hum!" I said, impressed. I wondered what the leader of Gaelira's covert organization, the Seekers of the Seven Stars, might be up to that would warrant such secrecy.

It was the second hour from dawn when we were finally ready to depart. Our preparations were fulfilled in a silence which made me very nervous, for the tension within the Company was thicker than clotted cream. Then Gaelira told us that the island of Tinnudir was roughly forty leagues from where we now stood. She said it would take two days' hard marching to reach it and that the road led right through the middle of the Fields of Fornost! My heart sank straight down into my hairy toes; I was so upset that I nearly forgot my second breakfast!

At long last everything was ready. We made our way out the west-gate and through the hills down toward the cross-roads where last night I had begun my search that ended in the discovery of Luean's fateful message to me. As we crested the last hill, Lagodir turned and raised his hand in token of farewell to Esteldin.

"Happy am I to see that the spirit of ancient Numenor lives on, here in the North as well as in my homeland," he said. "Despite much hardship, here my distant kinsmen continue their valiant fight against the rising shadows of Angmar."

"Here and in other places," said Gaelira. "But I should not speak nor gesture so openly -- Esteldin's safety is maintained as much by its secrecy as its strength of arms."

"Ture, but there are no falsehoods to be found within the secret fastnesses of these Men," came Lagodir's retort. Gaelira did not look round nor respond to him. I felt my stomach lurch: the discontent within the Company could become a festering sore that may worsen the longer it lay untreated, and there was a long, long road ahead of us.

I would count this day the most miserable one of all my time in the Company so far. The weather was fine and the light was broad, but it was as if in mockery of the creeping vexation and darkened hearts among the five of us. No one spoke as the miles rolled beneath our feet. We came to the bridge which we had crossed twice before and still no one had said a word to anyone else. I began to feel that this was somehow all my fault. I licked my lips and decided it would be up to me to do something about it. Even though we were walking, we were going at what seemed to me to be a terrific speed. I was obliged more than once to jog alongside my companions in order to keep up with their gait so, as the occasion presented itself, I trotted up alongside Nephyn and proceeded to have a private chat with her.

"I think Gaelira walks faster than any of us," I said, trying to sound lighthearted. "That was some uncomfortable business back there in Esteldin, right enough. But I think she's telling the truth now, don't you?" I was obviously fishing, but I couldn't think of any gentler way to broach the subject. Nephyn looked down at me and sighed as she walked.

"Yes, I do believe her. Now," she said, "But what if she is hiding something else from us?"

"I understand," I said. "I suppose we should all keep our eyes peeled for a while."

"No, I don't think you do understand, my friend," said Nephyn, but her tone was sad. "I do not fear any danger from her. But my entire life I have never had cause to trust anyone, save of course Saerdan and old Butterbur. You have no idea what it is like to be an outcast in your own homeland. Then I grant my trust to this Company and its mission only to find it has all been a lie? I can forgive Gaelira for her little games, but coming to trust her again? I do not know."

"You still have the rest of us, though," I replied. "We've all been through some scrapes, but so far we have always overcome whatever we faced. After everything we've done together, would you have Elladan's Outriders fall victim to its own internal strife?"

"Can we even call ourselves that any longer?" Nephyn countered. "It feels to me as though we are presenting ourselves under false pretenses. You may use the name if you like, but I do not think I shall. It has lost its meaning for me."

I had to let the conversation go at that. The situation was looking like it might be even worse than I had feared. I decided to tackle Lagodir next, and drew close to him so the others would not overhear us.

"I say," I said casually, "It was awfully brave of Gaelira to lay everything out the way she did, don't you think?" I imagine my question sounded just as awkward as I felt.

"That may be so," the Gondorian answered, "But the bravery would not have been needed were it not for the deceptions." The tall Man's eyes never left the road ahead of him as he spoke.

"Fair point," I conceded, but I wasn't going to let him get off that easily. "Still," I continued, "One can understand her desire to protect herself if the Enemy has been after her as she claims. Being a hunted individual might make one distrustful of others after a time, wouldn't you agree?"

Lagodir's eyes darted toward me for an instant, but returned quickly to the road. I knew my gamble had worked: the Man's continual obfuscation regarding his own past had always left me with the impression that he was running from something. Now I knew my guess was at least partially correct.

"Perhaps," came his reply. We walked on in silence for a few moments. After a while I managed to pipe up again.

"For my part, I think she is telling the truth," I said, letting my words hang on the air.

"I believe she is as well," the Gondorian answered. "The Men of Gondor do not lie, and therefore we are able to detect when others do so, and better than most, I daresay. It is what may remain unsaid by her that concerns me."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"If stealing this palantir was her true goal," Lagodir replied, "Then why agree to Saerdan's suggestion that we attack the Enemy's forces to draw his attention to ourselves? Would not stealth have served her purposes better? Until that question is resolved for me, I will continue to suspect she has not truly told us everything she knows."

I couldn't argue with Lagodir's reasoning. It was emerging that most of the Company was willing to forgive Gaelira for what she had done, but were less willing to grant her their trust a second time. I went to Drodie last, for I suspected the Dwarf would have little to say to me. Nor did he, but there was one question I wanted to ask him.

"Drodie, how did you know that Hremm was not to be trusted?" I asked him.

"It wasn't that I didn't trust the bird," he replied. "It was that I didn't trust the Elf which brought us the bird. Never. Trust. An. Elf." There didn't seem to be much else to say, so I left Drodie to himself. I wondered what it was that had happened to him to have such a thorough distrust of the Eldar people.

We continued to follow the road westward toward Mincham's camp; hours passed and the day was beginning to grow old by the time we reached it. The Ranger was not there, and only the faintest traces of a scattered campfire belied his former presence. We rested briefly, but we resumed our march much sooner than I would have liked. My feet were killing me: we had covered more than ten leagues already, but Gaelira had warned us against being caught in the Fields of Fornost by night.

As we followed the path north, I heard several mournful howls carried on the wind, but no matter how many times I looked to the sides and behind me I was never able to see their source. The dry, dead leaves of the decaying trees rattled ominously as a chill breeze swept the hills. After a time, we found the west-leading track that the treasure-hunters had taken two days earlier when we had left Fornost with them. This path, so we were told, would eventually lead us through the Evendim Gate and into the green plains of the Parth Aduial beyond. From there it was another day's journey to the Ranger-camp on the island of Tinnudir. Gaelira's description of the rolling hills of Evendim filled me with a sense of hope, but for the time being we had to navigate the deathly Fields of Fornost.

Nephyn led us from the front and I could see her head turning to the left and right as she tried to keep us on the path. At some point in the distant past it may have been well-used, but now it was overgrown and so faded that staying on it was difficult. On multiple occasions we would wander away from it and discover it again several yards off to one side. In this manner, we covered several more miles while the Sun was still in the sky, but soon dusk was in the air and the mountains which marked the end of the Fields were still some ways off. I began to get frightened and even fancied I saw the pale visage of ghosts peering at us from the tops of the hills around us. I wondered how much farther we could go before darkness fell, and what would happen to us if it did before we managed to find our way out of this hellish region.

Suddenly Nephyn signaled to us to stop, and we obliged. The huntress veered off the track and disappeared down a slope. A few minutes later her masked head re-emerged, and there was alarm in her eyes.

"We must keep moving," she said in a breathless whisper. "We must find the Evendim Gate before nightfall."

Immediately we moved on, but I took a moment to peek over the lip of the hill. The light was failing fast, but I could see the tracks of many booted feet in the soft earth which led down the slope. They ended, as far as I could see, at the edge of a sickly and stagnant pool at the bottom of a dell. There, at the edge of the pool, lay several crates, boxes, and hand-barrows. With a thrill I realized that these must be all that was left of the treasure-hunter party we had travelled with as we left Fornost two days ago. There was no sign of any bodies. I scarpered back to the group with a sick feeling in my stomach.

Nephyn was bent almost double as she struggled to keep us on the road. We all stayed close and went on nearly at a run. The track gradually began to climb upward and I could see we had drawn closer to the mountains than I had first realized, for the mountains were low in this place, though they were still virtually impassable. A gap in the mountain wall began to emerge, and I figured this must be the Evendim Gate.

Shortly thereafter a hideous visage loomed up on our left: it was the ruins of what appeared to be an ancient Arnorian city, but it was dimly lit with pale lights of purple and green. An eerie wail seemed to come from that place, and we all stood there, as if frozen to the spot. It was Gaelira who roused us to action.

"Come!" she cried, "We cannot stay here! Up the path and through the gate, now!"

We all followed her lead, though Nephyn seemed to have gone numb as she stared at the dead city. We were forced to seize the Woman and drag her with us, but once we turned the corner and were out of sight of the ruins she appeared to recover. I looked up at the sky: it seemed as though the Sun had suddenly flickered out. Darkness covered us as we ran.

The road went on at a steady rise. I began to think we were all in a nightmarish dream together that would never end. Would we keep running like this forever or until whatever evil dwelt in the city came out to hunt us down? Just then, I saw a break in the mountains ahead with a patch of sky between them. The Evendim Gate!

The Company gathered its strength for a final spurt and we passed through a gate of stone into the Parth Aduial. I collapsed, gasping for air as though I hadn't breathed in hours. Once through the gate, it felt as though a heavy weight had been removed from us -- even the air felt lighter and carried a faint scent of thistles.

Although none of us spoke, we all took great comfort in each other as we collected ourselves. I don't know about the rest, but I felt a great weariness come over me at that time. I looked out into the plains of Evendim to take in the sight. The Moon was rising and cast her light on an interesting landscape: from our current vantage point I could see gently rolling plains covered in a grass of deep green. There were also rocky outcroppings in several places, but it was the ruins which dominated everything else. I could see them at several points: large buildings of stone, some built remarkably high, dotted the fields and here and there were clumps of trees. On the whole, it looked a fairly peaceful place, but I knew I could not judge the land based on what I saw. As I looked, I suddenly became aware of a thin spiral of smoke coming from somewhere above us and to our right. Following its trail, I saw the glow of a campfire playing against some ruins atop a small hill.

"Look!" I said as I pointed. "A camp!"

We all made our way toward the light. After a short time, we came to the summit and stepped into a clearing in the midst of the ruins. We encountered there a Ranger named Torogethir who identified himself as a Man under Calenglad's command. He was very interested in our tale and, upon learning that we were bound for Tinnudir, asked that we deliver a report from him to Calenglad concerning the lands here which were under his watch. We agreed to do this and hastily made camp. We had covered an immense distance in one day, but it was only half the distance toward our goal. I rubbed my aching feet gingerly and wondered how I could ever manage to travel the same distance a second day in a row.

Torogethir offered to keep the watch and Gaelira joined him. The rest of us swiftly fell asleep, but I took some time to make this record of today's activities. The first day since Gaelira revealed her true mission to us had passed and the Company has survived, but I feel it is in more danger now than at any time since its founding. This time, however, the danger is not from Orcs, Wargs, trolls, or even wraiths or wights, but from within itself.

The Adventures of Elladan's Outriders -- Episode 21.3

Gaelira

Highday, 22nd of Afteryule, Year 1418 Shire-reckoning
The Ranger-camp of Esteldin, Somewhere in the North Downs

Gaelira

Neither of us spoke. My heart laboured, but I strained to conceal my nervousness. I had seen Gaelira's abilities on the battlefield and knew I wouldn't last long if she decided to attack. Halbarad was just outside waiting for my call, but it was questionable if even he would be fast enough. The Elf eyed me with great interest.

"Why this way?" she asked, sounding genuinely curious. "Why alone?"

"Because I have no idea if any of the others have been playing along with whatever scheme of yours this is," I answered. "Also, I can see Luean held you in high regard, and it seemed he would have afforded you the opportunity to explain yourself without ruining your reputation, if possible. I decided to extend you that courtesy."

"The others know nothing," she said, but her head drooped and her proud eyes were downcast. "I suppose you want answers from me?"

"That would do nicely, for a start," I said as I crossed my arms.

"Very well. You have all earned an explanation, and perhaps you most of all. I am not proud of what I have done, but I will tell you what I know and leave it to you to decide what should happen next."

"It is true that neither Elrond nor either of his sons knew anything about my mission," she began. "I invented that premise in the hopes it would inspire others to join me, since it would be impossible for me to accomplish what I intended on my own. After convincing Luean to join me, I headed to Bree, met you all, and formed the Company."

"You're not telling me anything I don't already know," I cut in.

"Yes, I will tell you about my mission," she said. "My goal is to infiltrate Carn Dum, the Witch-king's ancient fortress in the wastes of Angmar, and recover... well, an artifact from there."

"What sort of artifact?" I probed. Gaelira paused for a moment.

"It is the palantir of Amon Sul," she said quietly. "An orb of crystal which can be used to see things far away. It is a very precious relic made by the Elves and gifted to certain Men in ages past, but in the right hands it could turn the tide of the coming war with Mordor. I am privy to certain sources of information which have determined that Angmar has captured this palantir and that it is being held within the fastness of Carn Dum."

"And why not simply tell us this? Why the deception?"

"If you understood the power of the palantiri you would not need to ask that question," she replied. "Knowledge means great power, and the knowledge granted by the seeing-stones represents immense power. Think of what the Free Peoples could do with such power if it were used against our foes? But now it sits in the hands of great evil, and that power is not lying idle."

"And is this seeing-stone the manner by which the Enemy learned of you and this Company?" I asked.

"No."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I am the reason the Enemy knows about us," she said. I gasped.

"It is not what you are thinking, however," she continued. I tried to relax and hear her out. Gaelira continued.

"I belong to an organization called the Seekers of the Seven Stars. Our objective, in part, is to resist the Enemy in any way we can, and capturing this palantir would be a major blow in our favour. But who would join a lone Elf on a mad quest to invade Angmar and steal something right out from under the nose of the Dark Lord's steward?"

"Who, indeed?" I proffered. "But what why not simply enlist others from this organization of yours?"

"I could find no one willing to join me," came her answer. "Even our leader, a wise Elf named Mallacai, would not endorse my plan, although he did see the immense value if such a gambit could somehow be accomplished. It was for that reason I dictated a message to my contact in Rivendell upon leaving there advising Mallacai that my plan was in motion. It was that message we intercepted in the Chetwood."

"Half a moment," I cried in disbelief. "Are you telling me that message, the one written in the Black Speech that I pinched off those brigands that night, was from you?"

"To the leader of my organization, yes," Gaelira said. "I had given it to my contact in Imladris by word of mouth and he sent it on in written form from there."

"So the two brigands in the Chetwood carrying the message were known to you?"

"Of course not: I do not personally know every letter-carrier and courier between Rivendell and Bree! When we encountered them I assumed they were Blackwold ruffians just as we all did. It wasn't until later when you showed the message to Saerdan that I realized what had happened."

"But the message was written in the Black Speech!" I said. "So you lied about that too? About being able to read it?"

"Yes," she answered with remorse in her eyes. "I had hoped we would not chance to encounter anyone who could translate those words. It is not uncommon for the Seekers of the Seven Stars to use the Black Speech when transmitting important messages for few folk can read that abominable tongue and it confuses even those who can, as you yourself have seen. Our organization is an ancient one and our knowledge of many secrets runs very deep. I myself am not the eldest of its members, though I am not the least wise among them."

"Hm. I may not be as wise as all that," I said with a frown, "But Handsome is as handsome does, as we say in the Shire. It would seem to me you could do with a bit less wisdom and a bit more honesty. What sort of folk are these Seekers, then, that they are willing to go around deceiving people while calling them comrades to their faces? And how am I supposed to know you're not simply making all this up to placate me, or throw me onto another false trail?"

"I have certainly earned your distrust, and for that I am heartily sorry," she said. "I have known that this moment or something like it was inevitable, and I have been dreading it for weeks. I am willing to bring you to the leader of the Seekers of the Seven Stars and let you -- and the others -- judge for yourselves. Only this can I claim in my defence: the Enemy has laid traps for me before now. It was important for my safety and the safety of my quest that I test you before I could come to fully trust you, but that time is now past. The Company has proven itself beyond any doubt in my mind, both in trust and in skill-at-arms. I am willing to lay bare to you every secret I hold in order to earn your trust in return."

"Wait, wait," I said again. "I still do not understand some things. How did we arrive in the Bree-land before the message you sent out ahead of yourself?"

"The Wild is a dangerous place," Gaelira said with a shrug. "Any number of things could have delayed the couriers."

"And what did you mean when you said that you were the reason the Enemy's forces knew about us?"

"You might remember that when we intercepted the letter-carriers in the Chetwood Drodie slew one, but the other I merely rendered unconscious. It stands to reason that this second courier, who beheld us that night, was later captured by the forces of Angmar. I have no doubt he was tortured until he told all that he knew. They would have learned of his errand and the contents of the message he bore, as well as about us: our name, our number, and the type of each of us."

"And that's where Hremm eventually figured in?" I asked, finally fitting her raven-friend into the picture.

"Correct. After the disaster with the message, I resorted to a much more secure manner of keeping my superiors informed of our progress." Her use of that word ignited a spark in my memory.

"Superiors?" I echoed. "You know Umarth -- the Elf we encountered in the Fornost keep -- don't you?" I recalled the way the strange Elf had kept his eyes on Gaelira when we first met him and now I perceived that Umarth was testing through Gaelira's expression how much or how little to tell us about why he was really there.

"Yes. He is also a member of the Seekers of the Seven Stars. As many of us do, he was scouring ancient ruins in search of relics which might be of use to our cause."

"At least he told us as much. That makes him more trustworthy than you then, I suppose," I said accusatorily, but my anger with the she-Elf was actually beginning to subside. It seemed I had somehow become entangled in a very mysterious errand -- one much more secretive and important than I had originally understood. I really wanted to trust Gaelira and to believe that this quest of ours truly was of immense value, but trust, once lost, is very difficult to regain.

"You have every right to be angry with me," Gaelira said. "I swear to you I did this only out of concern for the secrecy of my mission as well as my own safety. I am ready to reveal all of this to the others as well. If they choose to turn aside from this quest then they are free to do so. But I sincerely hope you -- all of you -- will think on your decisions long and carefully. Consider what we have accomplished in service to the Free Peoples of the North ere even the first month of our fellowship has passed! If we succeed -- if we somehow manage to capture the palantir -- we will have truly made a difference in this Age of the world; we would be the stuff of legends."

"I don't care for all that," I said, dismissively, "And I'm not sure I understand all this about seeing-stones and secret societies. But if you are prepared to lay it all out for the Company to hear and decide on together, as ought to have been the case from the start, then I will go where it goes. I've stuck to this Company through thick and thin and I'll continue to stick to it. I'm not sure there's any path for me which leads back to my old life now in any case."

"I cannot tell you how much that means to me," the Elf said, and I thought I caught a hint of tenderness in her voice. "I believe now I understand what Luean meant in the Comb and Wattle Inn when he agreed with you to go on the hunt after some of our companions turned up missing. It is not enough, sometimes, to merely be fellow travellers; even when there is a common purpose. For a mission as terrible and dangerous as what I have in mind something more is required, and that thing is love."

I looked at her. Tall and strong she towered over me and appeared to the eye as resolute and imposing as ever she was since I first came to know her. And yet now, through some method of perception other than sight, I sensed that she had changed. For an instant I tried to form these jumbled thoughts into a coherent statement, but it was all too complicated for me. Instead, I just sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

"Well, that bit's settled then," I said in plain hobbit-fashion. "We can hold council with the others in the morning, assuming Lagodir and Drodie are fit for it. But what happens next?"

"Although our fellowship's cohesion and skill have advanced wonderfully, our equipment has not," she said. "We will decide our next course of action together, but I will recommend that we seek some way to gain access to more advanced gear."

"That makes sense to me, although I'm not entirely certain how that might be accomplished," I said. The Company was not wealthy and all of the bounties, gifts of gratitude, and spoils of battle we had thus far collected amounted to precious little.

"Mallacai, my leader, may be able to direct us with regards to that," Gaelira said. "While I have been keeping him apprised of our efforts through Hremm the raven, I've learned that he is encamped fairly nearby. If we can reach him, I have no doubt his wisdom would be of great value to us."

"And it would serve to resolve any suspicions that the rest of the Company might have as to your intentions," I said, finishing her thought for her. "Seems logical enough. Though I don't mind saying I'll have my eye on you until then." I gave her a wink and a broad grin. I really didn't doubt Gaelira's story now that I had heard it from her own lips. It sounded plausible enough (despite its extraordinary nature), but I was concerned how the others might take it.

"Fair enough," Gaelira said with a laugh. The tension between us was melting faster than an April snow in the Southfarthing. "Again, I cannot blame you for harbouring some doubt after everything that has happened. I swear to you I will not steer you wrong. Soon, we will stand before the leader of the Seekers of the Seven Stars, and many strange and wondrous things will be revealed to you."

"Far too strange and wondrous for my little head, I'll warrant," I said. "Which reminds me of one other thing I don't understand: your message to this Mallacai chap said you would be leading a company called The Outriders of Elladan. How could you have known that when I'm the one who came up with the name Elladan's Outriders many days later?"

"Because I had thought up that same name for the Company before I ever left Rivendell," Gaelira said with a smile. "It was pure coincidence. Even in these days of darkness and doubt, sometimes things really are nothing more than what they first appear to be."

"Well, thank goodness for that!" I chuckled. "It's nice to know there aren't shadows and intrigue lurking behind every little thing I've encountered with this bunch."

We left Halbarad's quarters together. Seeing that everything was in order, the captain of the Rangers bade us goodnight and retired. Gaelira and I returned to our little campsite where we saw Nephyn had not budged an inch -- she was deep in much-needed slumber. A wave of sleepiness crashed over me like a tide from the deeps of the Sea. I wondered what time of the night (or morning?) it must now be. I flopped down, contemplating how I was going to stay awake, but Gaelira seemed to read my mind.

"Go to sleep, Padryc," she said in a gentle voice. "I promise you have nothing to fear from me."

"I was hoping you'd say that," I said as I let out an enormous yawn. "This has been a night as long as years -- all of that scrambling up and down hills and clawing among stones has quite worn me out; to say nothing of my terror of you." If the Elf had any ill-intentions, I was simply going to have to trust to chance this night, for my eyelids would not keep themselves open. Gaelira looked at me with a strange mixture of wonder and admiration.

"You are to be commended for putting yourself in such danger by meeting with me alone the way you did," she said. "Once again the courage of your small kind and your consideration for the feelings of others continues to surprise me. Not so much in that you possess these qualities, but rather in how they manifest themselves. May the Shire live forever unwithered!"

"Oh, well, it seemed the right thing to do, you know," I said, eager to stop talking about me and (especially) to get some shut-eye. "And, not to seem rude about it, but just now the right thing for me to do is to rest. It sounds like the five of us will have a great deal to discuss in the morning. Good night!"

"Good night," said Gaelira as she sat down across from me. It didn't take more than a few moments for me to drop off, but in those moments I could see the she-Elf sitting there in the glow of our little campfire. All I saw was her back since she was facing the other way, but I got the distinct impression that she was on guard, watching protectively over Nephyn and me.

The Adventures of Elladan's Outriders -- Episode 21.2

Luean's Riddle Solved

Highday, 22nd of Afteryule, Year 1418 Shire-reckoning

The Ranger-camp of Esteldin, Somewhere in the North Downs

Finally! Luean's hiding-place!

The moment had come and I could barely contain my excitement: I had finally reasoned out the starting point of Luean's riddle! Moreover, luck was with me for Gaelira was off in council with Halbarad, Lagodir and Drodie were being tended in the Rangers' infirmary, and Nephyn was sound asleep in front of me -- now was my chance.

After taking a couple of minutes to steel my nerves for what I was about to do, I wrapped my cloak about me and stole away into the night. Using more than hobbit care, I managed to sneak past the Ranger sentries, out the west-gate, and into the plains of the North Downs. Fate must truly have been with me for the Moon was high and bright that night, and so I would have plenty of light with which to hunt for Luean's elusive message.

Excitedly, I whipped out his letter and read once again the cryptic phrases.

Begin where three rivers meet.
Aure entuluva!
Mount the steed before you
And turn it about.
Behold the bones;
Three high and six across,
Just south of the crescent moon.

I couldn't believe I didn't have it memorized by now, but I started at the top.

Begin where three rivers meet. Old Mad Baggins was credited as saying once that the Road is like a river and every door is its tributary. I felt positive the "three rivers" were the three roads I now saw before me: one running away south to Lin Giliath, the second heading north to Othrikar, and the third flowing westward toward the Greenway. I trotted merrily across the grass, quite content with myself for finally solving the first and most crucial bit of the riddle.

Once I reached the crossroads I looked at the letter again. I remembered that Aure entuluva meant The day shall come again, and must be some sort of instruction on where to go next. I looked around but nothing suggested itself. Then I started to talk quietly to myself, the better to help myself think.

"'The day shall come again,'" I mused. "Well, the Sun rises in the East, so perhaps I should go that way?" I turned that way, but that way led back to Esteldin. I frowned and looked down at the parchment again. Did Luean hide something inside of Esteldin? That didn't make sense: why lead me out here then? Besides, if he had been inside the Rangers' camp we surely would have heard about it from the Rangers themselves. My head jerked up with recognition: if the day will come again, then wouldn't the Sun still be in the sky? The setting Sun, perhaps? Besides, Luean had known the Company was making for Esteldin, so he had left me directions heading due west from there. I set my jaw and started walking on the road leading west, confident I had made the right choice.

I continued in this direction for a bit, all the while looking to my left and right to spy anything unusual, but all I saw were the dreary, abandoned farmhouses and their empty fields. Despite the bright Moon, they looked ghostly and foreboding in the darkness. I fumbled with the letter and searched for the next phrase to distract myself from my fears.

Mount the steed before you. I looked ahead, but the road just ran on. Was I about to find a pony tied up and waiting for me? I certainly hoped not, but something told me that wasn't what the line meant. Just as I was thinking this, the small hill I had passed two days earlier as the Company made its way toward the Fields of Fornost loomed up in front of me. I halted and gasped: of course! I broke into a dead run toward the hill and scaled it breathlessly. I could feel this mystery was finally coming to a close.

Turn it about. I turned around and looked in every direction, but I saw nothing of interest. I turned around again, but this time, down in an obscure little hollow just to the northeast I saw a dell. In the dark of night, I could just make out the form of ancient ruins; walls and archways of some Arnorian building, long since fallen.

Behold the bones! That's it! The ruins! I scampered down the hill. I was so excited I fell and cut my knees, but I picked myself up and ran on. My body seemed to not even need air but to be functioning solely off the thrill of the chase. I reached the ruins at last, and my courage shriveled inside me: the pale, grey walls and yawning, broken arches had looked so much smaller -- almost toy-like -- from atop the hill. Here, among them and in the dead of night, they had a haunted and nightmarish feel. I gulped and my hands shook, but I forced myself to carry on. Soon, so soon I would have the answers I craved!

Three high and six across, just south of the crescent moon. What could this mean? I looked around me, studying the ruins. The walls were built of solid stone, well laid and stacked upon each other. Free from fear and with something to concentrate on, my mind realized that three high and six across could very well refer to a particular stone that Luean wanted me to find. I was getting so close!

But which stone was it? The combination in the riddle could point to any number of stones in this place. I read the text again. Just south of the crescent moon. I looked up at the Moon. She seemed to be watching me patiently. I looked down again. No, that couldn't possibly be what Luean meant. What was his crescent moon? Then I noticed the arches, which looked very much like upside-down crescent moons. My eyes darted wildly, and then I saw it: there was only one wall which ran north-south, and there in its very center was a perfectly formed archway. My eyes and my feet sprinted to the stones on the section of wall just to the south of this arch. I felt with my hands, which were sweating with fatigue and excitement. My breath smoked on the cold night air as I felt and felt at the stones, but nothing happened. I started to get frustrated, but I forced myself to calm down and think.

Three high and six across. I stepped back from the wall and counted the stones, three up from the ground and six across from the far end. My eyes locked like darts onto their target. I reached out my hands, using my fingernails to probe the edges of the stone. I held my breath.

The stone moved! I seized it with my fingertips and pulled with all my might. The stone grated as it came free, and I tumbled backward onto the ground as it fell. Lying there on my back I stared up at a square recess in the wall. As if in recognition of my victory, the Moon cast her light into that hole, and there I saw it: an envelope.

I flew at the secret compartment and grabbed it. There, on the outer cover, was written one word:

Padryc.

I had done it.

Luean's riddle was solved and his message to me was revealed at last! I tore open the envelope and proceeded to read these words:

Dear Padryc,

If you have found this then you must have solved my riddle. Well done! I do apologize for any confusion or inconvenience it may have caused. As you will see, it was my only available course of action. In this letter I will explain much, but it will be up to you to decide what to do with the knowledge I now impart to you. I write here my story, so far as it has gone, and may it grant you wisdom.

I first met Gaelira near the end of this last autumn (Year 1417 by Shire-reckoning), though I had known her for many years before that by reputation. Her exploits against the forces of the Enemy have a long and storied history, and few, I deem, know the full reach of her adventures in the cause of the Free Peoples. Imagine my surprise when this same she-Elf invited -- nay, begged! -- me to join her on a quest of dire importance. A quest which had the blessing of no less than Elladan, son of Lord Elrond himself! Moreover, our mission would take us by paths seldom trod and into ruins plumbed by few; it was an offer no true scholar could refuse.

And so I joined her without question. We left very shortly thereafter for Bree where, she told me, we would assemble the remainder of our Company and our quest would have its true beginning. Elladan's instruction to us, she said, was to disrupt the Enemy's plans and sow confusion among the servants of evil. This seemed a worthy cause to me, and to others, for you know how our Company was formed that fateful day in the Prancing Pony. A shadow fell upon my heart then, though I knew no reason for it. I spent the nights toiling in thought, trying to work out what it was that gnawed relentlessly at my conscience. 

The adventures we had together you know about already, of course, but then we arrived in Lin Giliath where we met someone neither Gaelira nor I ever expected: Gildor Inglorion, just come from the valley of Rivendell! I know you saw the contention between our she-Elf and Gildor, but I happen to know its origins. Those two have ever been at odds over whether to remain in Middle-earth and resist the spreading of the Shadow or to forsake the mortal lands and sail into the Uttermost West, leaving the war against Sauron to others. Gildor believed flight to be the wiser course while Gaelira held to the former argument. They never did reconcile their differences and bitter words have been spoken between them throughout many harsh winters.

None of this was news to me, and yet, as you know, I left the Company the very next morning after we met Gildor. It was what he told me in the night that caused me to do so. As I mentioned, Gildor had just arrived from Rivendell on a mission from Elrond to study the reports of corruption spreading in the Northern lands, but when I told him Lord Elrond himself had sanctioned our quest as well, Gildor looked at me with confusion.

"How can that be," he said to me, "When not two weeks ago he told me he wondered greatly why Gaelira had taken you with her into the Wild, unannounced and with no explanation?"

I felt a wild rush of amazement: this was what had me unsettled about our Company and our quest from the start! Gaelira had lied about our mission being commissioned by Elladan all along! She must have chosen Elrond's son because he is often afield (as, indeed, he was when I set out with her toward Bree), and would not be available to question about the matter!

"Why? Why would she do such a thing?" I finally managed to ask Gildor, but he only shook his head.

"I cannot say," he replied, "But anything begun with a falsehood will not end well."

"That is often seen," I said. "And yet the Company's mission is a noble one with a high purpose; already we have brought much destruction to the servants of the Enemy, and we grow stronger by the day."

"I doubt it not, since you say it is so," Gildor said to me. "And yet, what is to be Gaelira's ultimate purpose? Does she drive these Free Folk with her lies to certain death in Angmar? For it is clear to me her goal is to reach that dark place, although I cannot imagine why. I suspect it is some personal errand she has long harboured in her heart. You know as well as I this rag-tag band of would-be heroes has no hope to prevail against the hordes of Carn Dum! Least of all that Halfling -- I think it is beyond cruel to include the little one in her elaborate deceptions, no matter how well-meaning they might be."

I had no answer for him. Although I always had (and still have) a great deal of faith in you and the others, I remembered how narrow were our victories in the Old Forest and the Great Barrow. My heart faltered and I hung my head.

"You must decide what is to be done about this, Luean," Gildor continued. "And this is not all: loathe am I to reveal this to you in light of the burden you now bear, but I am duty-bound to do so."

Gildor proceeded to explain to me that, as he led his fellows out from Rivendell, he visited with some of the few people who still make their homes in that wooded land west of Imladris most know as the Trollshaws. He did this to inquire as to the state of the land and he learned much that was of value to him on his quest to understand and help heal its hurts. One day, he happened across a fisherman named Gabert and his wife who live along the banks of the Bruinen. These two both swore that, just days earlier, they had seen an ancient, gnarled old woman emerge from the ruins on the far side of the river. Gildor spoke words of calm to them, but his heart was greatly alarmed. Those ruins are known as Delossad and they cannot be entered from without, for powerful spells of concealment lie upon them. It is a sad place which is associated with a long, sad tale I cannot recount to you here, but it has to do with Angmar and the fall of the North Kingdom of Arnor in the Year 1974 of the Third Age (374 by Shire-reckoning). There was an old woman in that story called Sara Oakheart, but she was of mortal kind and must have passed from this world many, many years ago. Her sudden re-emergence seemed impossible, but the fisherman and his wife were certain of what they had seen. Gildor was not free to investigate the matter further, for he had his own task to see to and it was not known whither the old woman had gone. 

"This I must entrust to you, Luean," Gildor finally said to me. "There is not time to send word back to Elrond, nor do I think he would have any of his own house to spare on such a wild goose chase. Yet this is a matter of the gravest import, for no mortal could possibly have lived this long: there is something evil afoot in it for certain, and it is crucial that we discover what."

"I understand," I said, remorsefully. "I will do your will, my lord, and whatever I learn will reach your ears or the ears of Lord Elrond only, by whatever means I can contrive."

So ended my council with Gildor, but I was greatly conflicted in my mind. There was no question that Gaelira was now proven to be false, but what was her true intent? Why would she weave such contorted webs of deceit? Were I to remain with the Company, perhaps I could eventually divine her purposes, but now I was being called away to look into the apparent resurrection of Sara Oakheart, as ridiculous as that sounded. Since I did not wish to falsely accuse Gaelira but I could not remain with the Company, I decided to put my trust in the most trustworthy member of Elladan's Outriders: you.

I knew I had to explain everything to you, but I could not do so in confidence as I was called to leave you all immediately. Nor could I risk placing this message in your pack on the chance that someone else might happen to find it. Therefore, I dreamed up that riddle as quickly as I could and slipped it into your pack when we said our goodbyes as the morning rain fell on Lin Giliath. I was worried Nephyn might happen to find it first and solve it, but the likelihood seemed remote to me. Of the Dwarf and Gondorian I had no fear, for (let us face the facts!) neither of them have the patience or capacity to go riddle-solving. Gaelira certainly had the ability to understand my words, but I saw no reason for her to go through your pack since it is full of herbs and balms and she is of immortal kind. No, I had total confidence that you would find the riddle, solve it, and locate this message. I hope you managed to do so with haste -- I chose a spot that was near enough for you to reach quickly yet obscure enough to be an effective hiding-place. I am sorry that I was forced to warn you to trust no one in the Company, but I am not certain whether Gaelira has recruited any of the others to her cause. I do not even know what it is she is planning but, as Gildor said, when the basis for anything is a deception then nothing good will come of it. I have no idea how deep her lies run. I think now about how she claimed there were no signs Nephyn had been taken captive and dragged into the Blackwold Headquarters in the Chetwood, and yet clearly she had been. I think about how she was always driving us to make for Angmar by the swiftest way. I think too about how the Enemy somehow learned of us and our movements with such ease. Perhaps she was using the raven Hremm to communicate with some agent of darkness? I have never known any raven to be ignoble, but they can be deceived like anyone else. The swamp of Gaelira's falsehoods is deep and murky, my friend, and I regret more than anything that I cannot be there to help you through this.

And so I must entrust my confidence to you, dear Padryc: find out what you can about Gaelira's plans by whatever means you think best. You may be able to play along with her until her true purposes are revealed, but will that be in time? You may attempt to confront her with what you now know, but I cannot say how she might react, and it could be dangerous for you. I must leave this to your good judgment, little Shire-hobbit, but I have faith that you will make the best choice.

I am heartily sorry to lay this upon you and even more so that I cannot be there for you. I hope very much that our paths may cross again. If this business with Sara Oakheart turns out to have any truth in it, that may very well happen. Until then, Padryc, may the stars shine upon your path!

Namarie,

Luean

As I finished reading, I realized my mouth was hanging open, soundlessly. I shut it then read the whole thing again. Gaelira had lied to us! A hot flame had been kindled behind my eyes that was starting to grow into a raging fire. All of us had left our lives and our homes, and for what? To follow this false Elf on some unfathomable mission of death? What was she using us for?

Then I started to calm down a bit. What indeed? According to this message, neither Luean nor Gildor knew what Gaelira was planning and they had even left open the possibility that she might have good intentions. Since Luean was entrusting me with this mystery, I thought, it seemed fitting that I should act as he would if he were here, and vengeance didn't seem to fit into that mould. Still, whatever the she-Elf might have up her sleeve she was deceiving us all and we had a right to know why.

About this time, I decided I should return to Esteldin: I didn't want to run the risk of being missed. I carefully folded Luean's letter back up and stowed it securely in my pocket as I began the trek back to camp. As I walked, I thought about what to do next. Luean was right: this was a thorny dilemma and no mistake! Despite the distance, I was no nearer a decision when I saw the entrance to Esteldin loom up in front of me.

I snuck carefully back into the encampment and returned to my blanket. My companions had not stirred and Gaelira had not returned. Though it felt like an eternity, in truth only a little while had passed. I wrapped myself up and lay down, exhausted, yet in no mood for sleep. How would this end? Would she attack me if I confronted her with her lies? She didn't seem capable of murder, but Luean had hinted that exposing her could prove dangerous. Should I tell the others? But what if one of them was on her side? They might tip her off ahead of me, and that could prove ruinous. I worried my little head for what seemed hours, until suddenly someone sat down beside me at the campfire.

It was Gaelira! Instinctively, I jumped and shrank away from her. The she-Elf looked at me.

"Padryc!" she said, but she smiled and her eyes were kindly. "I hope I did not wake you. Or were you visited by one of Nephyn's ominous dreams?"

I found no words to say. The little flame behind my eyes returned and I could feel the blood pounding in my ears. I had trusted her, followed her, through darkling woods and evil barrows, into orc-infested camps and haunted cities -- all for a lie. We all had.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I thought you were talking to Halbarad." I tried to sound normal, but I'm certain there was a cold edge to my voice, for Gaelira gave me a curious look.

"She was," said Halbarad quietly as he walked up to join us. "But while the Elves may have no need of sleep, my old bones do. As do, it would seem, those of your companions. Is there no sleep in you tonight, Master Hobbit?"

"No," I said simply, and my eyes never left Gaelira. I felt a nauseating churn in my stomach: this could not go on. Suddenly, I had an inspiration; a way to get what I needed without involving the others, at least not yet. It would require putting myself in some danger, but out of necessity I had hatched a simple yet effective plan.

"Halbarad," I asked, turning to the Ranger, "Do you think I could use your quarters for a private conversation with Gaelira? It is dreadfully important and should not take long at all."

"Most certainly," the Ranger replied. "I was eager to sleep, but your Company has earned much more than a few lost winks on my account. I will lead you thither."

I had never seen Gaelira confused before, but the look on her face couldn't have been anything else. She and I followed Halbarad back to his small room where we had first met the Dunedain captain. I looked carefully as we approached and it was obvious there was only the one door in and out of that space.

"It is not well lit at night, I am afraid," Halbarad said as we reached his quarters. "Pray, take as much time as you need."

"I do not think this will take long," I said casually. Then I bowed to Gaelira.

"After you."

The she-Elf raised her eyebrows at me, but shrugged her shoulders and went inside. Immediately, I turned to Halbarad.

"Listen here, my friend," I said in a quiet whisper, "Make sure no one comes in until we come out. And if I call for help, please, in the name of all blazes, come in and save me!"

Halbarad looked at me in surprise, but he was a grisled old war-veteran who now understood his assignment. He nodded briskly, then I went into his rooms and closed the door behind me.

The space was dimly lit, as Halbarad had warned us, but from the light of the two torches on the walls I could see well enough. There was Gaelira, her arms crossed, staring at me, but a smirk was playing on her lips. I swallowed hard.

"Well?" she asked, but she was grinning with amusement. I reached into my pocket, pulled out Luean's letter, and handed it to her. She took it from me, opened it, and read the contents. Her smile vanished. She looked at me with something akin to wonder, then continued reading the letter. When she had reached the end she folded it up again, but she did not hand it back to me. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment I felt as though I was a mouse trapped in the deadly stare of a swamp adder. Seconds passed like ages. My throat was parched. I was ready at any instant to cry to Halbarad for aid. Slowly, Gaelira's lips parted. The only sound was the soft crackling of the torches in the half-light.

"I see," she said.

The Adventures of Elladan's Outriders -- Episode 21.1

Of Wyrms and Rivers

Mersday, 21st of Afteryule, Year 1418 Shire-reckoning
The Ranger-camp of Esteldin, Somewhere in the North Downs

Bleakwind the Drake

I opened my eyes and saw the morning sky overhead. For an instant I thought I was back in the Shire, lying lazily in a field of flowers while staring up at the dawn. Had one of Farmer Sandson's roosters started crowing I would have hardly been surprised. I drew a deep breath of the cool air and wondered whether I wanted bacon and eggs for breakfast.

That's when I heard the harsh voices of the other occupants within this ramshackle camp outside Fornost, and reality intruded upon me. I sighed as I continued to lay on my back, wishing I could have enjoyed the view a bit longer, but I knew the treasure-hunters were preparing to leave this place and it would be well if our Company did the same. It occurred to me then that the sky, which had been dark and foreboding the day before, was now clear. Whatever storm had been brewing there previously seemed to have moved on, which was certainly welcome news for us. I considered for a moment whether this had anything to do with our Company's victory within the city yesterday, but of course it couldn't be anything more than a coincidence.

Slowly I got to my feet. I was stiff from the chill morning air and another night on the hard ground, and I wasn't I looking forward to today's inevitable task. We were bound now to return to Esteldin and report our findings to Halbarad and the Rangers, and that journey would be long and dull. I stretched and yawned. The rest of the camp was collecting its belongings and I saw Nephyn, Drodie, Lagodir, and Gaelira doing the same. I meandered over to my pack and started checking through my gear, even though there was no reason to think anything was out of place. I watched my companions at their work. Nephyn was bartering with one of the nomads for some traps and other equipment, Lagodir and Drodie were arguing about who among us could be trusted to carry the food stores, and Gaelira, as usual, was talking with Maedhrusc the Ranger.

I stopped what I was doing for a moment and watched the four of them. I thought about everything we had been through in such a short period of time and all that we had accomplished. Maybe it was my own naivete, but it really seemed impossible to me that one (or more) of them could be false as Luean's letter to me had suggested. Was I reading too much into his message? If only I could solve his confounded riddle and put all of this doubt and intrigue behind me! I resolved to myself that I would bend my mind entirely to that task as we undertook the long hike to Esteldin; it would be the perfect opportunity for such a mental exercise.

Before much more time had passed, we had packed up and were accompanying the treasure-hunters as they left Fornost. We met no resistance at the main gate -- the Orcs must have been withdrawn inside the city in response to our attack. We walked with the others largely in silence as they seemed to regard us with a certain level of awe. For our part, Nephyn and Lagodir appeared to believe they were nothing better than tomb- and grave-robbers while Gaelira, Drodie, and I simply kept to ourselves. After a time, the treasure-hunters took their leave of us and turned west off the Greenway, saying they intended to reach a land they called Evendim. Gaelira told me that place lies some distance north of the Shire-settlement of Oatbarton, which gave me some frame of reference. With the departure of the others, our Company continued southward, but the silence remained. I used the time to rack my brain further over Luean's riddle, but I had made precisely no progress when we began to draw near to Mincham's camp on the edge of the Fields of Fornost.

Mincham was very pleased to see us and marvelled at our tale. He was particularly fascinated by our telling of the terrible wraith, the Morgul-hilt, and Amarthiel.

"I cannot tell you much more about Amarthiel aside from what you clearly know already," he said. "But she was a fearsome champion. If she has indeed returned then all the North may be in great danger. All the more now do I urge you to return at once to Esteldin, for my captain must know of this discovery."

We still had a long way to go, so we did not remain with Mincham long. Just before we left, however, the Ranger pulled me aside and asked whether we had learned anything else about the strange Black Speech message he had translated for us earlier. I told him we had not, and how the Enemy could possibly have known about our Company -- even to include its name -- before any of us had met remained a mystery. Mincham's face remained grave and he lowered his voice to me.

"Have a care then, young hobbit. I can't pretend to understand this enigma any better than you do, but it is clear to me there is something about this Company which remains in darkness. I can think of no other way to explain it. I would advise you to keep both eyes open." It was as if Luean's message of trust no one was reverberating inside my very head over and over again.

I nodded, thanked him quietly, then moved to join the others. Just then, a loud croak sounded from behind me. I turned around and there, perched on the edge of a crumbled archway on the perimeter of Mincham's camp, was Hremm! The raven was watching me as he fluttered his wings and cawed.

"Hremm!" I said. "There you are! We are just about to head back to Esteldin. Our little escapade into Fornost was quite the success, you know. Will you be joining us?"

Hremm croaked loudly at me again, then launched himself into the air and flew off into the east. I shrugged and joined the others.

"What was that, Padryc?" Nephyn asked me.

"Hremm," I answered. "He popped up again out of nowhere. I told him we were headed back to Esteldin and he flew off in that direction. I wonder if the bird really can understand me." Drodie rolled his eyes but said nothing.

"If Esteldin is indeed where Hremm is going then he will arrive there long before we do I am afraid," Gaelira said. "You all remember the journey from Othrikar to this place, and the journey back is nearly as long. It should be roughly the fourth hour from noon before we see the Valley of Hope for the third time."

We set out just as the Sun began her climb toward midday. Before long we came to the crossing of the Greenway and took the eastward track. I was trying to make good on my promise to myself and work out Luean's riddle, but the Company had become quite chatty now that the loathsome Fields of Fornost were finally behind us.

"Your skill with the bow is something quite special, Mistress Nephyn," Lagodir said as we all strolled confidently in what was turning out to be a fine day indeed. Birds were singing in the trees, the sky was clear, a slight breeze was blowing, and the wolves and crebain hid themselves at our approach.

"Your sword-arm is a wonder to behold as well, my Gondorian friend," replied Nephyn. "And the same could be said of our Dwarf, too. I'd wager there are more Orcs within Fornost which have felt the bite of your blades than not after yesterday."

"And yet you must admit that our victory in the end came down to little more than luck," Lagodir responded.

"But victory it was, nonetheless," said Gaelira, in an unusually optimistic manner. "Part of being a successful adventurer is adapting to the circumstances in which you find yourself. This Company has demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome the challenges it has faced."

"And what is next for the Company?" I asked. "We will return to Halbarad with our report, but what then?"

"I suspect his people may have more need of us," said Nephyn.

"Or perhaps he can direct us toward Angmar," said Gaelira. "There are no roads leading thither that I can recall, but I am certain Halbarad knows the way."

"The road of this Company has been a strange one, and no mistake," I said.

"Indeed!" Nephyn agreed. "I never thought I would find myself confronting undead wights in the Bree-land, to say nothing of hunting Orcs inside Deadman's Dike."

"Don't forget battling evil trees inside the Old Forest!" I chimed in. "No, it can be hard to say where the Road will take you if you let it -- it flows on and on to all manner of strange places. Why, look at this path we're on now: it leads to Esteldin, which is a remarkable place in its own right, but it also forks and runs to the beautiful Lin Giliath as well as the hard, cold mountains in which Othrikar is nestled. And we've been to all three places, each as unique as they can be. You know, it reminds me of something Old Mad Baggins was once rumoured to have said: the Road is like a river and every door is its tributary. Odd sort of remark, and just like something Mad Baggins would say. Anyway, he might have had a bit of wisdom, you know, having been the most well-travelled hobbit in the history of the Shire, or at least the famousest--"

I stopped speaking and moving as abruptly as if I had just walked into a brick wall. My head finally caught up to my mouth -- Of course! Begin where three rivers meet! Luean would have known that I would know Old Bilbo's saying and was counting on it! I clapped my hand to my forehead in shock. Idiot! Luean's line about the "three rivers" was referring to roads, not waterways!

I suddenly became aware that my friends had turned around and were all staring at me with confused expressions.

"Padryc, are you alright?" Nephyn was asking. I swallowed and licked my lips.

"Oh yes!" I said, trying a little too hard to conceal my excitement. "Yes, yes, of course I am fine. I just... thought I saw a periwinkle again! You know how much I love periwinkles." Four sets of eyebrows shot skyward at once. I trotted off the road and made a show of looking around for some flowers.

"Nope, no periwinkles here!" I said as I returned to the group. "Must have been a mistake. Well, on we go!" I felt like a complete ass and my companions were looking at me as if I had just transformed into one.

"Yeeessss," said Nephyn slowly. "I do remember you mentioning that before; in Othrikar, I think it was. Well, if you are satisfied there are no periwinkles here for us to enjoy, then we really should resume our journey."

I nodded and kept silent. My mind was racing with possibilities. But of course Luean meant roads! How could I have missed it? But the important thing now was to decide which roads he was referencing and how to reach them while not being accompanied by the others. The conversation among the Company had wandered off into the realm of battle tactics and strategies, but I scarcely listened; I was furiously thinking about places where three roads meet. Then I remembered that Luean would had to have picked a spot that I could reasonably reach by myself and I had my answer! It could only be the three-way crossing of the very road I had just described: where the paths connecting Esteldin, Lin Giliath, and Othrikar all met! That spot was close enough to Esteldin, where the Company was headed when Luean had left us, and Lin Giliath, where he had remained. We were headed that way now and would reach it today just before returning to Esteldin. My heart was a-twitter with elation: finally I knew where to begin my search for Luean's true message to me!

But there was still a good ways to go first. We climbed up into the hills and avoided the ruins there by sticking to the road. Then we passed by some ravaged farmsteads with fallen fences and a few pathetic scarecrows still poking up from the untended fields. Wolves roamed those lands, but they didn't dare approach us. Soon we began to descend toward the river which divides the North Downs in half. We crossed the bridge, but just as we set foot onto the far side we heard someone hailing us. Following the direction of the sound, we could see a Man in the distance amidst some ruins and waving his arms at us. We waved back and made our way toward him.

He was a Ranger, of course, and his name was Orthonn. The ruins he called Ost Lagoros, and it was a lonesome place. His task, so he told us, was to keep watch over the river for signs of the Enemy's forces attempting to cross it and also to help keep the Warg population under control. We decided to take a rest from our trek since we were halfway to Esteldin and in any case it was high time for lunch. I settled myself down next to Orthonn's campfire which was comfortably set among the ruins atop what looked to have once been a section of the structure's outer wall. As the others talked I munched on some dried meats and fruits while looking around us. There were a good number of evergreen trees which kept the campsite hidden from sight of the road and one also had a commanding view of the river and its far banks from that point. I was impressed with the woodcraft of these Rangers and wondered how they learned such skill. I decided to listen to the conversation going on around me and gain what wisdom I could.

"We had long feared that some dreadful menace had made its den there in Fornost," Orthonn was saying, "But never in my worst moments could I have imagined this horrible wraith you describe. And you bested it? You are warriors deserving of great renown!"

"We did what needed to be done, though luck certainly played a role as well," Lagodir said modestly.

"Such would be the words of any true hero, I suspect," Orthonn replied with a smile. "You are a Gondorian, yes? I am proud to share even that distant kinship with you, my brother, for you are very valiant! Have you ever faced such a terrible apparition before? We get little news from the South, but word has reached my ears that there are more of these ghosts in the land of Gondor."

"There are whispers, only whispers," said Lagodir quietly. His eyes seemed to see things far away, but his voice did not waver. "Yet I, unhappily, know something about such creatures. My family was once regarded highly among the lords who commanded Minas Ithil, many long years ago. The House of Turma was respected throughout the land, but perhaps our arrogance grew with our fame. For the fortress was taken by the servants of the Dark Lord, more than a thousand years ago it was, and now no one can foresee that valley being inhabited ever again by Men. My ancestors and their descendants bear the shame of that failure, for it was our vigilance which faltered in Gondor's hour of need."

"The fall of fair Minas Ithil is a tale well known to the Dunedain, for it concerns us closely," Orthonn said solemnly. "There it was the Witch-king established his stronghold; that same foe which laid waste to our ancestral homelands here in the North. It was by his hand that beautiful Annuminas was cast down in ruin and that, finally, Fornost fell beneath the shadows of Angmar."

"That same hand it was which ended the line of the Kings of Gondor," nodded Lagodir, "For Earnur, Last-king, rode in pride and great wrath beyond the gates of Minas Ithil -- which had become foul and renamed Minas Morgul. He never returned, and Gondor has been ruled by the Stewards even unto this day."

There was a silence. I contemplated a moment on the histories of these two Men. Despite the leagues upon leagues which separated their respective homes, they were very much akin. Yet it was not pity that I felt, not for Lagodir at any rate. Despite this small insight into his past, he was still much more a closed book than an open one -- a great deal about this Man still remained unexplained.

Having taken our ease for a short time, we bade Orthonn farewell and resumed our journey toward Esteldin. I felt my heart pitter-pattering away as we approached the cross-roads, but I dared not give away what I knew to the others; Luean's warning that I trust no one in the Company meant I would have to find some other way of testing my theories. How that was to be contrived I had no idea just now -- all I could do was wait and watch.

We arrived at Esteldin without incident and just a tick after the fourth hour from noon. We immediately went in search of Halbarad, who was both amazed and horrified by our tales regarding Fornost. He praised our skill greatly, but then his countenance fell and his voice became grave once more.

"You have done much -- more, indeed, than many of the most skilled among us," he said, "Yet I must once again enlist your aid, if you are willing. You may recall that we had spoken before about the presence of worms in the Ram Duath -- the mountain range north of here which separates the North Downs from the land of Angmar? My scouts tell me that a mighty drake has emerged from there and threatens all the lands about. We are not certain if the thing can fly, but if it were to espy this refuge from the air, it could spell the doom of us all."

We agreed to do what we could about this wyrm -- Bleakwind, the Rangers had named it -- but I was so scared I could hardly think. What on earth was I going to do in a fight with a drake?! I looked again with dismay at my little Bounders-hammer.

The others resolved to find Bleakwind before we lost the light, and so we set out quickly. Going by the eastward path, we travelled up into the hills and out into the Eastern Nan Amlug plains before striking northward, toward the wyrm's last known location. We conversed in hushed voices as we walked while I constantly scanned the horizon and the skies above us for any sign of the beast.

"Why are you so skittish?" Nephyn asked me with a grin. "Weren't you the one who was saying just days ago that there was no such thing as dragons? Or perhaps you would be willing to make another wager until we are sure?"

"No, thank you!" I said. "I've seen enough unbelievable things since joining this little walking-party to know better from now on. I should just like to know what exactly it is I'm supposed to do in such a fight, aside from hide in the grass!"

"How do you fight a drake?" Nephyn asked the others. "Any ideas?" Lagodir shook his head while Gaelira shrugged.

"Well, for one thing, you want to have some advanced weaponry and armour," said Drodie in a matter-of-fact way. "But, since we've got neither, we'll have to rely on our wits instead."

"I would find that suggestion quite reassuring, if it came from someone other than a Dwarf," said Gaelira. "Pray, enlighten us with your strategies." Drodie made a rumbling noise in his throat that sounded very much like a dog growling at an unknown visitor.

"First of all," he said, none to kindly, "You want to create a distraction. Since none of you lot have any armour that could stand up to anything sharper than a tent-stake, I shall take that task upon myself. While I have the beast's attention, you'll want to wound it in the eyes or the neck. Or, if you can manage it, under the arm; but you would normally only try that if you had a lance handy, which we do not. Nephyn, I doubt your arrows will be able to pierce its hide, but if you can somehow lodge a shaft into an eye, that will make our job much easier. The one advantage we have against a wyrm is that they cannot effectively maul more than one opponent at a time. If you are the target, that is everyone else's chance to get in and do some damage, so the trick is to not die once the wyrm decides you're the one it wants to maul."

The others all expressed their thanks and seemed more hopeful, but I was feeling neither hopeful nor brave. The Sun was beginning to cast long shadows as the darkening day reflected my own waning morale quite accurately. We marched on for a ways further and climbed a low hill to get a better look of the land. The mountains of the Ram Duath loomed ahead of us to the north; they looked like a black and impassable wall silhouetted against the dimming skyline.

"Do you think it has moved on?" Nephyn asked, somewhat hopefully it sounded to me. There was no answer except the grass rustling in a mild breeze.

Suddenly there was a crash behind us! We all whipped around and there we saw Bleakwind! I stood there gaping at the monster. It was actually not as large as I had imagined it to be, but it was large enough; it had four clawed feet and two wings, each with a claw at their tips. Its skin was a peculiar mixture of pink and green, but it glared at us out of its bloodshot eyes. Then it let out a roar which blasted the hat straight off my head, very nearly knocking me over.

"Spread out!" bellowed Drodie as he gave me a hard shove. I fell into the grass while the others ran in all directions. I had fallen face-first into the turf, but I could hear the Dwarf banging his sword on his shield as he tried to draw the attention of the wyrm. Picking myself up, I saw my companions working to surround it.

"Come with me, Padryc," said Nephyn as she seized me by the shoulder. The huntress drug me off to the right and into a thicket of trees. From there, we had a good view of Bleakwind's head, and Nephyn quickly strung her bow. I saw Drodie engaging the jaws while Lagodir and Gaelira took up positions along its flanks. Then, the drake snapped toward Drodie who managed to duck and stab back with his sword. The drake recoiled and lunged again, but this time it caught the Dwarf fully in its jaws! I gasped as Bleakwind flung him what must have been a hundred yards to the east.
Drodie's cry faded into the distance and I couldn't even hear when he landed.

"There goes our distraction," Nephyn said grimly. I was certain the brave Dwarf must be dead, if not crushed by the drake's massive jaws then broken to pieces where he landed.

While I was thinking this, I saw Gaelira run in front of the drake wielding her quarterstaff. She spun it around several times in a confusing fashion, while the drake seemed undeterred as it snapped repeatedly at her. But the she-Elf was too quick: she dodged this way and that, making one miraculous escape after another before suddenly landing a stinging blow with her staff on Bleakwind's snout. The drake roared its agitation, but it was clearly not done any harm. That's when I heard Nephyn's bow twang, but the arrow passed over the monster's head. Lagodir hacked with his broadsword at the its forepaw, but it seemed to do no damage. The leg and claws swiped at the Gondorian, who cried out and fell back. Instinctively, I rushed out toward him despite Nephyn's protestations. I heard her bow sing again, but the arrow simply pinged off the drake's armoured hide.

"The eyes!" I shouted at her over my shoulder as I reached Lagodir. "Shoot the eyes!"

"Yes, I'm trying to shoot the eyes!" came Nephyn's irritable response as she ran out to me. "It's a little easier said than done when aiming at such a small, moving target, you know!"

Lagodir was lying in the grass and clutching at his side. When I removed his hand I could see a nasty wound and blood was everywhere. I steeled my nerves and worked quickly to apply bandages from my pack while I heard Nephyn draw her sword as she advanced on the drake. Gaelira had resumed her dance around the animal, but I wondered how much longer we could continue this battle with two of our number incapacitated (or worse) and me being of little help.

Suddenly, I felt something rush past me. I looked, but all I saw was a silver blur. Then, an animal leapt out of the grass and full onto the head of the drake! It was a lynx, of all things, and it was clawing viciously at Bleakwind's eyes. The monster roared and flung its head back to dislodge the pesky creature, but the cat jumped lightly back to the earth again and disappeared into the brush. But, while Bleakwind's head was thrown upward, Nephyn ran in a delivered a powerful upward thrusting stab with the Sword of Ringdor, full into the neck, then yanked the blade out again as she fled out of the drake's reach. Blood gushed from the wound and Bleakwind gave a gurgling scream of pain and terror. It began lashing out in every direction, but Gaelira and Nephyn split up and kept their distance. The drake began to retreat, keeping its head facing us but backing away toward the Ram Duath. It maintained its footing, but it was clearly defeated and wanted no more of this fight. I continued to lay low in the grass, covering Lagodir who was beginning to breathe heavily. I could see the beast take to the air and fly away northward, but it seemed to me its flight was quite unsteady. I wondered if perhaps we had dealt the thing a mortal wound and whether it would survive the night. Things didn't look good for Bleakwind.

Truth be told, things didn't look good for us either. Lagodir's wounds were terrible to see, but Gaelira said she thought they were not as serious as they appeared. His armour -- poor quality though it was -- had absorbed some of the shock, but the drake's claws had driven sharp portions of the plates into the flesh at two points. I cleaned the puncture sites with some water and applied more bandages. The bleeding was slowing, mercifully, but he needed rest and better care. While I was tending him, Nephyn came and sat nearby.

"Yet another near miss," she said. "And what became our Dwarf? I fear the worst for him, Gaelira!"
The Elf looked in the direction Drodie had been thrown, but said nothing for several moments.

"I can see him!" she said at last. "He is coming this way. I will go and fetch him."

It was rather a long time before Gaelira finally reappeared with Drodie in tow, and the Dwarf was looking worse for the wear. He had twigs and branches in his beard, his face was scratched, and he walked with a marked limp. Despite this, he refused to accept Gaelira's offers to lean on her for support.

"Drodie!" I said, relieved. "Am I glad to see you on your own feet! I seriously thought I was going to have to remember you as the bravest and the dead-est Dwarf I had ever known."

"I have the pleasure of denying you that, my hobbit," he said as he lowered himself gingerly to the ground. "Although I feel as if I've been caught between a hammer and an anvil." His voice sounded raspier than usual.

"However did you survive?" asked Nephyn in awe. Drodie patted his breastplate in response. I saw several teeth-marks which had dented it, but in no place had the armour been penetrated.

"Dwarf-armour!" he said proudly. "Didn't I tell you? This is hardly the best stuff, of course, but still a good sight better than any of you can show. As I said before the battle, if I recall."

We heaped praise on the Dwarf's courage and continued to express our amazement that he was alive at all. It turned out that the worst injury he suffered was when he landed, for he had fallen into a knot of bushes -- which had almost certainly saved his life -- but he had also twisted his ankle painfully as he came down.

We prepared to return to camp. Lagodir and Drodie were wounded, but they were able to walk. Lagodir accepted Nephyn's offer of assistance, but Drodie still refused to lean on anyone and continued to limp his way along behind us. Gaelira retrieved my hat from a tussock where it had fallen and we began our return journey, but I still had unanswered questions about the battle.

"Why on earth did that lynx attack the wyrm?" I asked to no one in particular. "It doesn't seem a natural thing for an animal to do, that."

"It is not a natural thing," said Gaelira, "The lynx did it because she was asked to help us. That was Tihe, a good friend of mine, who has helped me out of many tight spots in the past. I had seen her from the road earlier today and I asked her to follow us, though I suppose none of you noticed."

It seemed there was no end to the Elf's resourcefulness, and that was clearly to our benefit. I started to wonder what was the extent of Gaelira's silent menagerie and whether we were being followed even now by all manner of intelligent beasts. But there was still much to be done: between the injuries suffered by Drodie and Lagodir our going was very slow as we proceeded back to Esteldin. Although I looked for her, we did not encounter Tihe again on the way.

The Rangers were astounded at our tale of the battle and were able to render exceptional aid to my friends. They took Lagodir and Drodie away to their infirmary where other Rangers were convalescing from their struggles against the Enemy. Nephyn, Gaelira, and I cobbled together a campfire and settled down to ourselves in the deepening night.

"Do you think they'll be alright?" I asked as I nibbled at some cram. Although I had eaten nothing since lunch back at Ost Lagoros with Orthonn, my appetite wasn't what it normally would be.

"Yes, I am certain they will," said Gaelira. "The Company has proven itself to be resilient, powerful, and highly adaptive, even against the deadliest of enemies." She was seated, cross-legged, and staring intently at the fire, as if she saw something there that Nephyn and I could not.

"Well, I certainly hope all of this running around is worth it," I said. "For one thing, it's exhausting. I'm beginning to think it's about time we got a sight of this Angmar place and know what it is we're in for."

"You speak the truth, friend Padryc," said Gaelira as she rose. "I wish to speak with Halbarad. I suggest the two of you get some sleep." She immediately strode off into the darkness.

"What do you make of that?" I asked Nephyn, but the huntress only shook her head at me.

"I'm no good at deciphering the actions or the moods of Elves," she said wearily. "I feel the need for sleep in a way I never thought possible. I hope you do not think me rude if I nod off right here? There is no talk in me tonight, my friend."

"Of course!" I said, genuinely sympathetic. "Dear me, after everything you have done today, to say nothing of the others, you deserve all the sleep you can get! Don't mind me: I will just do my daily scribblings and nod off myself eventually, right here beside you."

Nephyn thanked me and was sound asleep within minutes. I did bring out my journal and begin writing, but in truth I was waiting. Once I was convinced Nephyn was very deeply in slumber, I stole over to her pack and found her maps. I selected the map of the North Downs and opened it. There, staring back at me from the parchment, was the cross-roads of the path just outside of Esteldin.

Begin where three roads meet.

I knew I had found the starting point to Luean's riddle, and now all I needed was the opportunity to slip outside of the valley alone to pursue it. With Nephyn asleep, Gaelira closeted with Halbarad, and the other two in the care of the Rangers I had the perfect chance! I put the map back and quietly prepared to do my very best burglar impression. Tonight, everything was going to change.