Chapter
2
The End of Carasdolen
The next day she forced the events of the night before away from her thoughts for a more enticing need; the river. She rushed her chores, with the water foremost on her mind and with song on her lips. By mid-morning she was done so she kissed her Mother and Father softly and told them she loved them. Her Parents misunderstood thinking her happiness was for Giliath and they smiled at one another with knowing but unknowing eyes. Then she was off, not as they thought to her secret spot by the felled tree, but in reality to slip out of Carasdolen to her beautiful river.
She swam deep and long savoring every inch of the pool, taking in the colors as the morning sun pierced the water with shimmering rays. But through some unknown power, the dream began calling to her, pulling her, tugging on her heart to come and see. Looking around, anxious to find a way, she found a large flower bush to crawl under. The fragrance of the soft pink flowers gently lulled her and soon she was deep asleep well hidden from any eyes that may come upon her paradise.
The dream was different this time. It began with the ship, a very large ship; enough to hold many and white as the snow she had seen on the mountain peak. It had two cabins, a small one above for a stable at the bow with beautiful stained windows high on the back wall which caught the sun with bright colors. The other cabin which sunk part way below the deck was closer to the stern. A great hall it was with steps at the back of it leading further below to sleeping compartments. She dreamed of dining and singing in the hall with great happiness as the warmth of the fire in the hearth licked her face.
Then she found herself on the center deck with beautiful horses in the stables. There were many beautiful Elves about, but she could not see their faces. All were very tall like the Halladur she had seen in the woods, but she was not afraid. She began to sing, from her heart as the words spoke to Ilúvatar, the creator. There was a tall handsome Elf singing with her. She could not see his face but his presence left her feeling safe and content. As they finished the song she looked up across the deck; and there he was, a soft shadow but still she could not see his face. And without knowing how, she felt she knew him.
Then the dream shifted and it was dark. Not a fearsome dark, but a soft grey darkness with many clouds. Her favorite star, the brightest of all, was peeking through the clouds high above, watching over her. She turned and once again, he was with her on the bow. They were alone. He approached her, and she could barely see his eyes glistening in the light of the star. He put his arms about her and held her a while. Then he raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. Then once again she felt his kiss, soft on her lips, so sweet and comforting, so familiar as if he were part of her very soul. She was at peace and at home. But she felt tears on his unseen face and tears of her own and it made her wonder.
As the vision faded, she heard a voice from the water, speaking to her, "This gift shall be yours, but with cost in much pain, toil and risk. If evil wins all, all will be lost." And in her dream, the star shed a single tear and it splashed down upon her in a cloaking light. It felt warm and secure as if to hug her with love and protection. But in sadness, her star was pulled away into shadow and a cold dark crept into her dream; an evil revealed in the form of a great eye, writhing in flame. Then to her horror, she felt as though she was lying upon rock and dirt in pain and fear struggling up a massive mountain. There was a great struggle, but she could not see for the smoke and flame blinded her and the fume choked her. Searing pain came to her and suddenly it cleared just enough to see, and she felt herself fall into the great abyss towards fire. And then darkness consumed her.
With that she awoke. Breathing heavily, she slowly crawled out of the bush and sitting on the edge, of the riverbank, slipped her feet into the water. She sat there long feeling shaken and thinking about the dream. She wondered what events would unfold, what fate would carry her into the unknown enduring pain with the hope of living with love thereafter. Somehow she understood the evil eye was that of the horrible spirit she had heard the Elders speak of in whispers and it made her shudder with fear. Closing her eyes she could once again feel the kiss, the safety of his arms around her and his eyes looking upon her warmly with the tears sparkling on his unseen face. "Were they happy tears?" She wondered aloud. "Was it Giliath?"
Giliath had his mind on Meli all through the night; sleepless he tossed and turned. He had watched her for many years as they grew into full stature together and in time her place in his heart had grown. She had a soft quality to her and when she spoke, his heart lightened, and when she sang, his heart sang with her. His soul was truly hers. He set out at dawn with the pretense to hunt, but really seeking the solitude and peace of the woods. He hoped to think of a way in which he could approach her without scaring her away. But he could not sit idle waiting for game. Frustration simmered in him revealing his impatience as he pondered and paced. The more he thought about the previous night, the angrier he became. His thoughts drove him to further aggravation, "Why did she run? Surly she has known all along my intentions! Am I not the best choice, the best hunter, the most important Elf in all of Carasdolen?" Then suddenly he cried out, "Why must she be so demure?"
Giliath was off his guard and unaware of danger and danger was near. If he had been as furtive as was natural for a Colter Elf, he would have heard and seen, but his conceit consumed him for a moment; he was distracted and overwrought and dangerously so. Little did he know that a band of Orcs had been sent by the evil spirit at Dol Guldur to spy the river and small woods along the western banks to make their way to Moria where they intended to produce weapons for his army. A scout saw Giliath and aware of the keen ears and eyes of the Elves he concealed himself from discovery while watching him. But Giliath in his pent-up mood missed many signs as the clumsy Orc followed him all the way back to Carasdolen, thus learning the secret of entry to the small Elven home.
Quite some time had passed and Meli began to feel nervous that she had been away too long. It was more the disappointment in her parent's eyes that she dreaded than any punishment. She had swam to the eastern side of the river and sat on the bank meditating to relieve her stress. How much time had passed, she had not noticed, but now the sun was sinking low in the afternoon sky. She slipped back into the water for the swim back, then carefully she made her way home hoping her hair and dress would be dry in time.
As she neared the entrance to Carasdolen the feeling of fear grew in her. Her instincts told her to be wary, for something did not feel quite right. Nothing unusual could be seen, but her instincts continued to grow hot with dread causing her to go with much more care and caution. She looked behind her and all around but it was clear and her keen ears could hear nothing. That was the problem! She could hear nothing. Not even her own people who, although generally imperceptible to outside ears, should have been heard by her own ears after entering the gate. There was no one within sight. As she walked along the paths her fear intensified with each step.
At last she came to the door of the great hall; it was open wide and there was no one to be found. Chairs were overturned; food and dishes still littered the tables as if the diners were interrupted during the midday meal. She ran back out and to her Parent's room, but it was empty. Thick dread came over her as she furtively made her way back to the great hall. Slowly, looking all around she walked through the room, overstepping the disarray. She went out the back entrance and suddenly there she saw them, near the entrance to a large storage room. Dead bodies of Orcs and Elves lying in a great pool of blood, black mingled with red! She gasped unbelieving her eyes when suddenly she realized one of them was Giliath! A great, deep wound was seeping from his chest. He was still and peaceful. His brown eyes were open and sad. His quiver and arrows were strewn at his side. His lifeless hand still tightly clutched a single arrow and his broken bow was several feet away.
Frantically, she looked around at the other elves. It was only then that she realized that the other dead elves were three of the strongest of her people. Their hands still clutched their wooden dinner knives as if in desperation they had sought to protect their people against the unanticipated ill that had befallen. She looked over at Giliath. Sobbing, she fell to her knees and cried out though barely able to make a sound. Her thoughts reeled trying to make sense of it. Suddenly, she remembered the secret cellar where they were all trained to hide if the need ever arose. With thoughts of her parents foremost on her mind, she quickly ran into the storage room and flung open the hidden door. Empty. There was no one there. They must have been taken totally by unawares, or perhaps were in hiding elsewhere. Her thoughts reeled, "Where would they all have gone? Adar, Nane!"
She heard a sound from outside. Fear griped her as she quickly hid behind a counter. She was shaking so bad she was afraid it would give her away. Was it Orcs come to cause more harm? Or was it her people coming back to find her? Hope began to swell inside her, but she remained hidden to be sure. Then she heard them. They had the most horrible grinding voices her ears had ever heard. They spoke words that she did not understand that were equally unpleasant to the ears as the voices that spoke them. Two were sniffing the air as if they were searching for her. She closed her eyes and crouched down low. She heard sounds of chopping, breaking, crashing, and smashing! They screamed disgust from their fowl lungs and cried shrilly with hideous laughter. The sounds of destruction pounded her deeply as they tore through the small city as if in sport.
Finally, to her relief, they left mumbling in argument. She sat still for very long afterward. Her limbs ached but she was too afraid to move. Darkness began to shadow the window and the evening was getting cold. At last, she quietly crept out of her hiding place. Once more she came upon the dead lying outside. Gasping for air, as she fought back tears, she saw the destruction that had ripped through her ears. Horror stricken at the shocking sight, she could not believe her eyes. Wearily, she knelt down next to Giliath. The memory of their last moments came back to her and sorrow, intensely deep, crept into her heart; sorrow for his short life and the suffering he must have felt in death. She softly stroked his brow and suddenly she knew; she could have grown to love him.
Danger was still thick upon her instincts and she knew she must leave, but she could not leave the dead bodies exposed and vulnerable to defilement. One by one with great resolve she gently dragged the three great Elves to their rooms and lifted them onto their beds. They were heavy for her, being a tiny female, but her grief and tenacity aided her. Then she sang a soft prayer to each to be at peace and be undisturbed forever. She sealed each song with a soft kiss to each forehead. Each door was closed and each window shade drawn in hopes of no invasion.
Lastly, she took Giliath. Slipping her arms under his, his head gently fell onto her shoulder. Her face against his, she felt the coldness that had seeped into his body and stopped for a moment as a sob forced its way from her heart. She pulled him to his room and placed him gently upon his bed. She covered him with a blanket, then began caressing his face. In a voice that bespoke her grief, she sang a soft prayer for him. When the song ended, she laid a kiss upon his lips, her last tear bathing his cheek.
The thought of the Orc bodies rotting in her beloved home disgusted her. Quietly and furtively, she dragged them out of the circle and far into the woods. As soon as that task was done, she stole away cautiously to the river where she proceeded to wash herself free of the stench of the orcs.
The waters of the river seemed as if they warmed especially to comfort her. Her mind seemed to clear a little although she was still quite in shock. She knew that she would not be able to stay at Carasdolen for the danger was too great and all was in ruin. But where could she go? Her heart's desire was to search for her people. Were they fleeing in hopes of making their way to the havens? Or were they held captive in some horrible, evil place? Or were they even alive? She shuddered with a chill.
When she was younger she would listen to the conversations between the Elders as they planned their route to the havens. They saw no harm in her presence so she was allowed to remain with them while they drew up their plans. Though the conversations greatly interested her, her main motive for staying was due to her desire to be near her father, who was often present at these meetings. Fortunately, however, she had learned a bit of their plans. Her memory recalled something about heading north along the river and then west over the mountains through the pass, Andrath. Hopefully she remembered correctly. They were to go on from there until they came to a place called Imladris. It was said tall Elves, the Halladur, lived there and they were friendly to all but those of evil races, and could offer safe passage the rest of the way.
For now, Meli understood their words too well, of the dangers there would be if that voyage were made. But they were speaking of very many, and she was only one. Perhaps she would have a chance if only she knew the way. When should she turn west? Would she recognize the pass? This she did not know, but there was no other choice; she would have to try. Heading back to Carasdolen she ran through her mind everything she needed to pack. Very softly, taking much time and care she entered her home for the last time in her life. She quickly packed and headed out before the break of daylight revealed her to the world, unaware that night is an Orc's day. A very long journey lay ahead.