The Elves were forced to all but crawl along the narrow, stinking tunnel. It was a winding maze of many interwoven passages, delved by the course of time or other, fouler means. Even to the Elves it seemed hopeless to ever find what they sought.

As Lindir glanced at his sister, he saw a wild look in her grey eyes. Her face was drawn in with a mounting terror. Above the stench of yrch and blood, they suddenly caught a sweeter smell of damp decay. Glorfindel paused. "Yes, they are here."

The words echoed ominously around the silent stone.

There was a scream wrought of despair that pierced their ears and their hearts, and then murmurs became perceptible, but the sound was so distorted by echoes they did not understand the words.

They moved swiftly now, and came upon the mouth of a great cavern. Thuringwethil stood with her wings folded about her. Pen-eil was standing rigid and still.

Beyond them Celebrían leaned against the wall, huddled like a wounded beast in utter misery.

Pen-eil turned upon them. Thuringwethil looked round and Lindir saw a glint of horror in her slit eyes "From Valimar!" she snarled.

A surge of icy fear swept over them. Celloth wavered and Lindir held her tight, thrusting out the mithril pendant. Pen-eil shied vehemently away from it, a vicious look of hatred upon her face, and Celloth blanched.

Thuringwethil stood facing Glorfindel, darkness and light. Pen-eil was crouching, unsure but hungry. Celloth stiffened as tumult came to their ears, far away battle that was swiftly growing nearer. Lindir's heart caught in his throat. Celebrían looked up, hope and fear warring in her eyes. "My sons." she whispered.

In that brief second Thuringwethil sprang like a cat. Glorfindel ducked under her spreading wings and in a fluid motion threw her against the wall. Thuringwethil rose, slowly now, black hair twisted and tangled around her. Celloth broke from Lindir's grasp and seized the torch from its metal holding.

Pen-eil watched her with contempt, unheeding of the fire.

Nearer and nearer came the cries of war and the clash of steel upon steel. The screams of Orcs rang deafeningly, but above them were the clear voices of Elves until at last they came upon the group.

Two Elves stood there, tall and fearful in the shadows. Dark blood dripped from their swords and stained their armor. With terrible speed Thuringwethil grabbed the hand of Pen-eil and broke through the ring of Elves. Then she was gone with an unearthly speed, disappearing into the shadows.

The sons of Elrond dashed to their mother. Elrohir held her as Elladan hewed her chains. Yet Celebrían knew no freedom and she lay unfeeling and near to death in Elrohir's arms.

Elladan turned to Glorfindel, his face grim. "What were those creatures?"

"One is known to you as Thuringwethil." replied Glorfindel. He paused, and laid a hand on Elladan's shoulder. "There is no time to soften the blow. The other was once called Arwen Evenstar."

There was silence. The sounds of Orcs were dulled to their ears. Elrohir's hand was frozen in the motion of moving Celebrían's silver hair from her face. Elladan's face was white. "How?" he whispered, his voice harsh with pain. "How, Glorfindel?! How!"

"Thuringwethil." replied the Elf, as Elrohir's face convulsed with horror; he trembled as he lifted his mother's slender body.

They formed a circle around him and pressed forward, swords glinting dimly in the bloody light of Celloth's torch. There were vague rumors of dangers that resounded around the walls but they met nothing. The cave roof sloped sharply done and Elrohir struggled greatly to carry Celebrían. At last Glorfindel halted at the entrance. A bitter wind buffeted him back. Celloth came behind him, huddled against the force of the gale. "Our horses are here yet." she murmured in surprise.

Elladan stalked silently forward and retrieved the horses. Lindir stood by Elrohir. "Let me hold the Lady while you mount."
Elrohir's voice was icily courteous. "No. She is my mother. I will carry her."

Lindir bowed and retreated into his owns thoughts as they rode. He was pulled out by a scream.

"Nana, Nana." whispered Elrohir. "Do not fear."

Celebrían gazed at him with wild, horror-stricken eyes. "No! No! Let me free!" she cried, writhing in his grasp. "You too are cursed!"
"No curse, Nana." soothed Elrohir. "I am yet free."

"My daughter!" wailed Celebrían, seemingly heedless of her son's words.

"We will heal her, I promise." said Elladan, as Elrohir shifted his mother's silver head so it was cradled on his shoulder. Storm clouds gathered as they made their way down the narrow mountains and with the starless nightfall came a blackness far darker. Celloth huddled by Lindir. "The Lady Celebrían's mind is wakened." she murmured, her cloak hood hiding her face.

"Alas! Only the Válar know what hellish torments she suffered." replied Lindir sadly. He glanced through the shadows at the wrecked body of the once stately Lady. The glittering hair was tangled and raggedly shorn, her garments tattered by vile claws. The blue eyes were dim, pale face lined with blood and on her right cheek a deep wound ran down in a jagged line. She murmured snatches of bitter words, her mind fevered with pain and he saw Elrohir's face drawn with grief. At last the Elrondion could bear it no longer. Holding Celebrían in one arm, he sifted through his pouch with the other.

"Wait, brother." Elladan's cool voice cut like a knife in the brooding silence. "If it comes to a battle, it would be wiser if Nana is not senseless."

"She is senseless." said Elrohir, gesturing sadly. "May she not forget her pain for a while? And if it comes to a battle, she will be mistaken for the dead and not bring doom upon herself with mad ravings."

Elladan sighed and said nothing. "Here Nana. Eat this."

"No." It was the first word Celebrían had said evenly.

"It will bring you sleep."

"I do not want sleep." she said, her tone clear and resigned.

Elrohir caressed his mother's slender hand. "Please?"

"No, Elrohir. I will not speak, if that is what you fear." she said, her voice still lucid but her words broken.

"I love you, Nana." he said softly.

There was silence.