Chapter 4 – A Dream Of Darkness
The following day was cloudless and warm even on the heights, and Morthir and Astamir were able to bring two good sized carcasses back with them which the cook wasted no time in butchering and mounting on spits. Far below the plains had temporarily become an uncharacteristic shade of green following the rains and long dormant seeds burst into life but it would not take long for them to bake and parch again now the weather had returned to its normal pattern. Watch as they might though they saw no riders or wains approaching on the road from the south, and to the north and east the Vale Of Udun and its abandoned forts and Gorgoroth remained empty and lifeless.
As was often his habit Morthir was alone on the wall of the first circle later that evening taking the air and watching the shadow of the mountains lengthen across the plains below when Belchanar approached him and stood for a moment admiring the same view.
"Still nothing from Cirith. We're going to have to send someone down there to find out what's happening, goat is nice for a change but I doubt we'll be able to shoot enough to keep us from starving. Any volunteers?" The last was said with meaning, which Morthir took.
"I'll go if I have to, but isn't there anyone else we can send? I've barely recovered from my last patrol and you know Lord Arathan and I don't see eye to eye"
This was an understatement, Morthir had served for a number of years under the current commander at Cirith Ungol, who had always been exceptionally hard on him, something which he had always suspected was a result of his background rather than his ability.
"Hmmm, you have a point. I suppose I could just send a couple of lads with a letter, and they can always turn round and come back if they meet anyone coming the other way. Or I could go myself?"
"Our new master, whoever he ends up being, might take a dim view of you leaving your post and barking yourself instead of sending one of your hounds. Better to send a couple of the younger lads in your squad like Rumil and his pals, they're all chafing at the moment and nearly came to real blows in the practice square this morning. I had a job pulling them apart and calming them down"
Belchanar stroked his chin thoughfully. "Good thing it wasn't me that found them at it or I'd have laid the lot of them out. They're not the brightest but they'll do, surely even they can carry a letter and find their way unaided to Cirith. Let's get them on their way tomorrow, I'll go and write the letter now"
With that he turned and left and Morthir remained where he was for a little while longer. The shadows below spread further and further and the distant lands that still hadn't been consumed by the ever lengthening shadow of the mountains became tinged with gold.
After a rather sparse evening meal Morthir and his men settled down for the night in their dormitory as they always did. Shortly after midnight however Morthir's sleep was disturbed by his neighbour, who gave a low cry and sat up in his cot panting and remained upright for some time.
"You OK Galdir?" whispered Morthir after it was clear he was not just going to lie back down and go back to sleep. It was not entirely unusual for a soldier to relive old horrors in their sleep, especially veterans who had seen and done much in their time. Galdir had been with him at Pelargir and they were firm friends so it grieved him to see him so obviously distressed. He mumbled something in the affirmative in reply and then settled back down.
In the morning Belchanar dispatched the three young soldiers on their way with his letter and dire warnings as to what would befall them at his hand if they failed in any way. Morthir watched them disappear down the road from the wall and then noticed Galdir on his own nearby. He approached him and laid a sympathetic hand on the other man's shoulder.
"How fare you this morning? Bad dream last night"
"Yes indeed, sorry I disturbed you" He glanced around to make sure nobody else was within earshot. "It was like no other dream I've ever had before though, passing strange and I'm not ashamed to say it frightened me terribly, more than any night terror I have ever had before" He shuddered at the memory.
Morthir felt a little knot of apprehension in his stomach, for he half guessed what he was about to hear.
"I dreamt that I woke in the night, or thought that I had for so real did it seem, and rose troubled from my bed. The moon was bright and I had no trouble finding my way up to the walls on the second level, and I stood for a while looking out over the plains and the shadow of the far mountains. Then the darkness of their shadow began to rise, eating the stars and moon as it came until all light was extinguished and there was nothing but a bottomless black pit full of evil and I was certain I would fall into it. Then I awoke. It sounds foolish under the bright sun but it completely unmanned me".
Morthir shuddered a little remembering the fear and hopelessness for himself, but disconcerting as it was decided not to tell his friend that he too had dreamt of the same thing.
"Passing strange indeed, and no ordinary dream, but we are here under the sun and all is well. Or at least it will be when we get news from the south and some provisions!" He gave his friend's shoulder a final reassuring squeeze and then they both made their way back down to the courtyard in silence. But despite his cheerful words he remained uneasy, remembering afresh his own dream and wondering at the strangeness of it all and what it might mean.
