Hello everyone! Here comes the second chapter of Glamdring. I hope you will enjoy it.
As usual, the parts in italics are excerpts from the book. As the story goes on, there will be less and less of them.
The Valar (singular : Vala) are grosso modo the spirits sent by God (= Eru = Illuvatar) to shape earth and watch over it. And Maiar (singular : maia) are their servants. e.g. Gandalf aka Mithrandir, as well as Sauron.
Good reading!
Chapter 2: Turmoil
Harthadî was sitting once again at the table of Beorn's veranda, thoughtful. Her guest, overjoyed by the death of the Great Goblin King, had offered her soon-to-be comrades everything they needed -and more- to cross the Dark Forest. He even landed them his ponies. She sighed. She really had no wish to antagonize Thranduil. It was better to keep a low profile. That was the key to freedom and harmony. She really shouldn't involve herself with someone else messed up business. It was like being the messenger between two quarrelling high born lovers! She had not wish to be the collateral damage of their little adventure. There would be no noble sacrifice, nor would she fight their dragon for them. Would who be mad enough to go and defy one in its very den? Thirteen dwarves and a hobbit certainly didn't weight much against one fat dragon, no matter their bravery or their skills. And no matter how much they ate… Anyhow, all she had to do to get Glamdring and satisfy the old maia was to help them cross the damn forest. She wasn't naive enough anymore to believe she had to go further. That Mithrandir was one or two ages late to fool her. As if it was worthy to defy a dragon for a sword -and perhaps approval of the Valars, whispered a little voice in her mind-… Her life had more worth than any weapon, no matter whose sword it was.
You wonder then why Harthadî agreed to cross Mirkwood? Well, I suppose immortal beings must fill their eternity with dangerous quests lest they die of boredom? I think that no matter what she let on, she was quite interested by their adventure. And… well… it simply did not do to turn down an emissary of the Valar, the Guardians of the World.
While the elf ruminated in peace, the Company was busying itself with preparations. There was much to do. Beorn had provided food in quantity, as well a water-skins, ponies and advices. They now had to pack up everything. Their morale was low now that Beorn had explained them how dangerous the old forest path was. Hope remained still in the person of Gandalf, who in their minds, would help them cross Mirkwood. Little did they know…
Later that day, they ate one last meal with Beorn and Harthadî. A golden carafe had now pride of place on the large table. Beorn went on about what the Company should and should not do. He said there would be almost nothing to eat, and nothing to drink in the Woods. None should approach its dark enchanted river! He also added that they wouldn't shoot anything without straying from the path. But that they MUST NOT stray from the past, for any reason. "You mustn't leave the path, AT ANY COST", he had said twice.
After the meal came the time to say farewell. It was then that Harthadî surprised everyone by saying she would accompany them until the entrance, so that nothing happened to them or to Beorn's beloved animals.
"But why did you pack so much food then?" Asked Dori. "It makes no sense".
She glanced at Mithrandir. It wasn't her job to tell them he would leave them soon.
"But my good master dwarf, we are to travel for at least three days, I for six, and what would I do if I got stuck between you and the goblins?" Indeed, the goblin army was in hot pursuit of the Company, hence their hurriedness. "This is an elementary safety measure."
Remembering wargs and goblins followed them made them quite uneasy. They asked no more question, brooding about what could happen next.
"I thank you for your care", said Beorn as she mounted her stallion, "thought I still don't understand why you would leave so soon? You did quite a lot of miles to get here." He looked at her pensively for a moment. Then added: "Bah, it must be the magician's doing."
"Ah! My good friend, didn't you say yourself elves were weird? I changed my mind, I shall keep you company later! Enjoy my gifts well and take care of my things till I return, that's all I ask." Laughed she, perched on top of Giliath, her current stallion (In Sindarin, it means "hosts of stars").
"Till I return. Ah, I wonder when that will be!" Thought she.
After that came the moment of parting. "Be off now as quick as you may!" Advised Beorn one last time.
They had been riding for three days now across the grassy and smooth land, with the mountains dark on their left. The air was chill today. It was the morning of the fourth travel day. Right in front of them stood Mirkwood: they could see it as if it was coming to meet them, or waiting for them like a black and frowning wall before them.
The land began to slope up and up, and it seemed to the hobbit that a silence began to draw in upon them. Birds began to sing less. There were no more deer; not even rabbits were to be seen. By the afternoon they had reached the eaves of Mirkwood, and were resting almost beneath the great overhanging boughs of its outer trees. Their trunks were huge and gnarled, their branches twisted, their leaves were dark and long. Ivy grew on them and trailed along the ground.
"Well, here is Mirkwood!" said Gandalf. "The greatest of the forests of the Northern world. I hope you like the look of it. Now you must send back these excellent ponies you have borrowed."
The dwarves were inclined to grumble at this. The elf , the wizard told them they were fools. "Beorn is not as far off as you seem to think, and you had better keep your promises anyway, for he is a bad enemy."
Gandalf went on: "Beorn may be your friend, but he loves his animals as his children. You do not guess what kindness he has shown you in letting dwarves ride them so far and so fast, nor what would happen to you, if you tried to take them into the forest."
"What about the horse, then?" said Thorin. "You don't mention sending that back."
"I don't, because I am not sending it."
"What about your promise then?"
"I will look after that. I am not sending the horse back, I am riding it!"
Then they knew that Gandalf was going to leave them at the very edge of Mirkwood, and they were in despair. But nothing they could say would change his mind. […]
"It is no use arguing. I have, as I told you, some pressing business away south; and I am already late though bothering with you people. We may meet again before all is over, and then again of course we may not. That depends on your luck and on your courage and sense; and I am sending Mr. Baggings with you. I have told you before that he has more about him than you guess, and you will find that out before long. So cheer up Bilbo and don't look so glum."
"I don't think Mr. Baggings' company will help us much in this dark, haunted forest!" Protested Thorin.
"That's right Gandalf!" Exclaimed Dori and Ori, frightened. "It won't do".
Harthadî, caressing Giliath's nervous head, pondered on Mithrandir's words. He still hadn't made any mention of their little deal. She wondered when he would break the news to the dwarves. The poor fools, they looked like they could wet themselves at any moments. Even the small Bilbo looked so glum it was pathetic. That one looked like he never left his house before this quest. What was the old wizard seeing in him that she could not? And that very fat dwarf to his left -Bombur was his name, she thought-, what was he doing in such an adventure? Both would be better at home than on the road… As for the younglings… what else was there to say?
"Cheer up Thorin and Company! This is your expedition after all. Think of the treasure at the end, and forget the forest and the dragon, at any rate until tomorrow morning!" Exclaimed Mithrandir.
Was he playing with them on purpose, not telling she would come with them? Surely they would feel better is an elf went with them in an elven forest? No matter how illusory it was.
After a while, she had enough of this nonsense.
"Be more at ease Thorin Oakenshield, I will cross the Forest with you…" She said.
"I beg your pardon?" Replied the dwarven prince, caught short.
"Well… Your Gandalf cares about your success more than he let on. We stroke a deal at Beorn's. I am to help you cross the forest. However, if I were you I wouldn't hope for too much leniency from the Elvenking who rules in there…"
"Gandalf! Old wizard! Why didn't you say it sooner? Besides I am the head of the Company. You shouldn't have done that without my consent… Those elves, they are unpredictable!" Stormed Thorin, vexed.
"What are the clauses of the contract?" Asked Balin, concerned. Dwarves were very fond of contracts; therefore, they were also very cautious about its content.
"Peace my friends." Said Gandalf soothingly. "Never did I intend to anger you. Only… it was our elf friend's decision, not mine. Our contract is based on reciprocal obligations, the usual mercenary deal."
"What if there is breaching of the contract?" Went on the old dwarf, who could not easily be fooled on such topics.
"What about honour?" Asked the lady thoughtfully.
"Is honour in your country the same as in ours?"
"I wonder" Answered she, dismounting. She patted affectuously Giliath's side.
Balin frowned.
"Mr. Balin, from one elder to another, be at ease. I shall not leave you to die on the forest floor if I can help it. But you see, I am a mercenary, not your sworn sister. And my life is worth more than what was promised to me."
"What a fine aid you arranged for us, Gandalf" Said Thorin sourly.
Gandalf smiled cryptically. "It was the best I could find."
She raised her eyes to heaven.
The next day, neither Gandalf, nor Harthadî had changed their mind. So the Company had nothing better to do than fill its water-skins at a clear spring they found close to the forest-gate, and unpack the ponies. The packages were distributed as fairly as possible, though Bilbo thought his lot was wearisomely heavy, and did not at all like the idea of trudging for miles with all that on his back.
"Don't you worry!" said Thorin. "It will get lighter all too soon. Before long I expect we shall all wish our packs heavier, when the food begins to run short."
Well, guessed the elf, the travel promised to be very joyful.
At last, they said good-bye to their ponies, and turned their heads for home. Off they trotted gaily, seeming very glad to put their tails towards the shadow of Mirkwood. Giliath, Harthadî's stallion, followed them, just as glad as them. As they went away Bilbo could have sworn that a thing like a bear left the shadow of the trees and shambled off quickly after them.
Now Gandalf too said farewell. Bilbo sat on the ground feeling very unhappy and wishing he was beside the wizard on his tall horse. He had gone just inside the forest after breakfast (a very poor one), and it had seemed as dark in there in the morning as at night, and very secret: "a sort of watching and waiting feeling," he said to himself. "Good-bye!" said Gandalf to Thorin. "And goodbye to you all, good-bye! Straight through the forest is your way now. Don't stray off the track!—if you do, it is a thousand to one you will never find it again and never get out of Mirkwood; and then I don't suppose I, or any one else, will ever see you again."
"Do we really have to go through?" groaned the hobbit.
"Yes, you do!" said the wizard, "if you want to get to the other side. You must either go through or give up your quest. And I am not going to allow you to back out now, Mr. Baggins. I am ashamed of you for thinking of it. You have got to look after all these dwarves for me," he laughed.
"No! no!" said Bilbo. "I didn't mean that. I meant, is there no way round?"
"There is, if you care to go two hundred miles or so out of your way north, and twice that south. But you wouldn't get a safe path even then. There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go. Before you could get round Mirkwood in the North you would be right among the slopes of the Grey Mountains, and they are simply stiff with goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs of the worst description. Before you could get round it in the South, you would get into the land of the Necromancer; and even you, Bilbo, won't need me to tell you tales of that black sorcerer. I don't advise you to go anywhere near the places overlooked by his dark tower! Stick to the forest-track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best, and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes lying below you, and beyond them, high in the East, the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he is not expecting you."
"Very comforting you are to be sure," growled Thorin. "Good-bye! If you won't come with us, you had better get off without any more talk!"
Harthadî could not agree more. But she had been to the South and she knew Gandalf was right.
"Good-bye then, and really good-bye!" said Gandalf, and he turned his horse and rode down into the West. But he could not resist the temptation to have the last word. Before he had passed quite out of hearing he turned and put his hands to his mouth and called to them. They heard his voice come faintly: "Good-bye! Be good, take care of yourselves—and DON'T LEAVE THE PATH!" Then he galloped away and was soon lost to sight.
"O good-bye and go away!" grunted the dwarves, for once seconded by the elf. They were all the more angry because they were really filled with dismay at losing him. Now began the most dangerous part of all the journey. They each shouldered the heavy pack and the water-skin which was their share, and turned from the light that lay on the lands outside and plunged into the forest.
To be continued…
I hope you enjoyed your reading! It is a short but necessary third one is already on its way, don't worry!
Thanks for reading, I would enjoy feedbacks!
Haneshiro
