Chapter 7 – Fear And Death

The remainder of their watch passed off uneventfully and at Artamir's prompting Morthir had snatched a precious couple of hours of sleep between first light and the beginning of the day watch. He told himself it was reasonable in the circumstances, and the least Artamir could do to make up for his earlier misdemenours.

He was just finishing his meagre breakfast when Belchanar approached him.

"Well? Did you see any more ghosts?"

Morthir cleared his throat.

"The boy was right, there was something out there. It came back, though we couldn't really see anything I had no doubt about it, nor did Artamir. He loosed a shot, but didn't hit anything, though it seemed to be enough to drive it away. I didn't tell you at the time because it didn't seem to matter but we both thought we saw something up on the high shelf in the mist the other day when we were hunting. Both Artamir and I think it was the same thing and I closed doors on the long passage when we came back down just in case".

It was clear from Belchanar's expression that he had been about to jest but Morthir's serious tone had brought him up short, and for a rare moment he was lost for words.

"Very odd. Perhaps I was too hard on the boy then, there are some strange things going on at the moment like Rumil and the others going missing. I've just sent that patrol down the hill to see if they can find any trace of them. Our carrot haired friend left with them. Strange times altogether with what's going on at home, all very worrying. Did you get any sleep?"

"A little, enough"

"Good, I need you around today. First things first, can you oversee the doling out of the rations for the march first? It's going to be touch and go whether we can make the distance on what's left and nobody will dare to accuse you of being unfair." He gave one of his customary winks but it was a little half hearted.

Morthir spent the rest of the day working tirelessly to prepare for their departure, and despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead it felt good to have a purpose again. It put him in mind of the preparations for a campaign, it made men feel more alive and put a spring in their step despite the impending danger. By late afternoon all was ready and he and Belchanar had their all their men save those watcing on the gate form up in the great hall for inspection. They were both satisfied with what they saw there and the men were dismissed and given the rest of their final day in the castle to dispose of as they wished.

"Well, that's that then Mort, strange to think that we've ended up being the ones who'll finally abandon it after all these long ages. What a place, I'm not the sentimental kind but it's certainly seen some stories. Wonder what'll happen to it now?"

"I'm sure we'll be back when this all blows over. Leastways I probably won't given my years but you know what I mean"

Belchanar chuckled. "Don't be so sure old man, wouldn't be the same without you to keep me on the straight and narrow. I'm not so sure though, what good are we doing here really? Once we go I can't see them sending anyone back here afterwards, there's no purpose to it".

Morthir was about to reply when they were interrupted by the clang of the bell. "The patrol must be back".

When they emerged into the yard there was no patrol, just a trembling riderless black horse, drenched in sweat and wild eyed. Pelendur's horse.

"What in the name of the Valar is going on here?" bellowed Belchanar. "The messenger has gone missing now and the patrol are overdue. I'm getting weary of this!"

Morthir stepped forward.

"With your permission I'll take a dozen men down the road and return before dark. Six of you, to me!"

Belchanar nodded his assent. "Good man, as ever. Just make sure you damn well come back".

The first shadows of evening were just beginning to creep down from the heights as they set off down the mountain. Morthir was more agitated than he allowed himself to show, something which had always been a useful skill when leading men into battle, but any opportunity to act rather than just sit around and wait made him feel better. He sincerely hoped they would meet the missing patrol coming the other way around each bend but as one followed another with no sign of them hope began to diminish. It was warm beneath the cliff, sheltered as it was from the breeze and Morthir once again began to feel his age and lack of sleep the previous night. The shadows were now spreading far across the scrubby plains of Gorgoroth far below.

"Enough" called out Morthir and they came to a halt. "We go no further. Time for a breather and a drink and then we will go back uphill".

With that he sat on the low stone parapet at the site of the road, seemingly impervious to the vast gulf of air immediately below him. As he scoured the road and plains for any sign of the missing men something, a shape or colour out of place caught his eye down the cliff below amongst the shadows. He bent over to look more closely and let out a low groan. Even in the poor evening light it was possible to make out the twisted shapes of at least two bodies and possibly more on the scree hundreds of feet below.

"Any of you who aren't bothered by heights, I think I've found some of our missing men".

Back at the fortress, Belchanar received the news with a mixture of dismay and disbelief.

"I could see two for certain. There may have been more down there but the light was too poor. They were too far down for me to be able to say who they were and there's no hope of recovering them. We have to assume that they're all dead".

"But how? Men don't just jump off a cliff in broad daylight!"

Morthir thought about the horse that had turned up earlier that evening in a state of abject terror, and then collapsed and died of exhaustion shortly afterwards. He thought of Artamir and Galdor and how two taciturn men had been frightened like small children.

"Perhaps they do if they're driven mad with fear" he said quietly.

"What are you suggesting?" Belchanar looked shaken.

"I'm afraid this gets worse. There's something else I need to tell you about. The night we were at Barad Dur during the last patrol I had a dream. It was no ordinary dream, nor like any I have ever had before or since. It was so vivid I thought I truly awake and as I watched darkness rose into the sky behind the mountains swallowed the stars and the world and I thought I would fall into the void. I have never known fear like it, nor felt anything like the malice that was in that darkness. I know others here have had the same dream too, and I cannot help but wonder if it has a bearing on all these strange events. Perhaps some ancient evil has awoken in this land?"

Belchanar shook his head violently for a moment as if to try and make everything go away, and his voice cracked when he spoke. "No, no, this cannot be. I would rather face ten thousand Haradrim or all the fleets of Umbar and a clean and certain death than this. I cannot fight rumours and monsters in the dark. I don't know what to do".

His voice tailed off and there was fear in his eyes, something Morthir had never seen before and which he found deeply unsettling. He summoned his own strength and tried to reassure his fellow.

"We must do as we have planned. We spend one last night here, and stand a full watch on the gate. In the morning we march north to Carach Angren where we can take shelter in the forts if necessary. There are still twenty five of us, we do not know what manner of thing it is that threatens us but that may be enough strength to ward it off"

Morthir left his next thoughts unspoken, imagining them being harried night after night out in the wild by unseen monsters, with nothing and no walls to protect them. There was no certainty the old forts would still be secure or offer them any protection and they faced a long and arduous journey, first through the gloomy vale of Udun and then the barren wastes of the Dagorlad with dwindling rations. The road south offered just as little hope.

"Our only other choice is to remain here and starve, so it is no choice at all"