Chapter 15 – Mask of Rain
Gone were the high azure skies and the golden rays, which had blessed the emerald canopy on their first days of travel to reveal the delicate veins in summer's leaves. The strains of distant birdsong had ceased to lift their spirits, for the sweet notes were drowned out by the ruthless rain, which seeped through the branches overhead and cast a dreary darkness over the group. With the loss of their song, conversation suffocated, and all withdrew into the shadow of their hoods, alone to their own troubled reflections.
Two days into their journey, when the crumbling forest path had at last been found, whereupon it crackled and clinked against the horses' hooves, an uncanny fog gathered, and obscured it once more. A woodland fog, as many of the Wood-Elves knew, was more than a white, creeping spectre. There was a sickly air which shadowed its visits; something stifling, unpleasant about its pallid fingers. The Elves remained silent.
As day drew on, Eroth found herself searching for her friend among the procession. She could no longer rely on the flash of golden hair under an indigo hood; all colours appeared grey through the rain and mist. She smoothed a hand over Haradar's damp mane, turning to an Elf riding beside her.
"You are a guard, my lord?"
The ellon slowed the pace of his horse. "Ay, my lady. I joined the Home Guard three summers ago. Forgive me; I do not recall you from our patrols."
"'Tis no wonder, I am no member of the Guard," Eroth replied. "Do you trust this path?"
"My experience is limited, but I believe that this path is correct. We have never strayed far from the River Running; I could hear its rushing waters last morn."
"I had not meant the route." Eroth felt an inexplicable rush of frustration; she tried to mask the harshness in her tone. "The fog feels filthy, and the very air seems tight. Has it ever been so on your patrols?"
"Nay, it has not. But Greenwood is vast, my lady, and wild. One cannot say what lurks within such a forest."
Eroth's reply died in her throat. A hush had passed through the company; there was a deathly pause. Then, cutting through the still air, came a faint cry of alarm.
More followed; chilling sounds they were, growing louder as it rippled through the group. Over the sound of the rain came the sickening clink of incisors.
In the disorientating instant weapons were drawn, hoods thrown back, and the woods rang with Elven cries. "Spiders," the guard hissed, his dark eyes upon the branches overhead. "tira ten' rashwe!" (look out!)
Eroth screamed as something fell from the trees. A huge, writhing mass of dark, thick legs had landed before the guard's horse and, as it reared up, began to tangle itself onto his saddle. The ellon struggled, trying to extract his bow from under its heaving form.
Snapping from her terror, Eroth fumbled for her weapons, managing to unhook her bow. In a flash the arrow was nocked, the string drawn, and the creature tumbled to the ground. The elleth stared at the feathered shaft imbedded into its head; her arrow. She let out a fast, trembling breath.
"Dree!" She felt a whisper of her name in the unbearable din. "Dree – Eroth!"
Eroth turned to meet the gaze of dark, horrified blue eyes. "Eroth," Legolas cried, "fight."
She felt a sting at her ankle. Suddenly, in the heat of the moment, the elleth felt an unnamed cold clarity spread through her body. With deadly precision, she had struck an arrow into the creature's beady eyes, unheeding of the murky blood which sprayed onto her leggings.
Heaving the twitching body from her horse, Eroth twisted. Another arrow pierced the underbelly of the spider above her. The elleth ducked as it collapsed from the branches, an out-flung limb grazing her arm. She hissed in disgust.
Looking up, her brief glimmer of hope vanished. The trees hummed with malice. From the end of the path, dark shapes were writhing among the branches. The elleth dragged her eyes from the depths of the shadows, reaching for her quiver. She saw black.
Blindly, she thrust the arrow outwards. The great spider shrunk back momentarily and bared its milky incisors. Eroth felt a brief bout of nausea as an indescribable odour wafted from its gaping mouth. She wondered briefly what its last meal had been, before a strong force pulled her from her horse.
And Eroth Dree knew no more.
The guard survey the trees before him, his trained eyes dwelling briefly on every shadow, every leaf which seemed to stir in the hooded dusk. His observation of the surroundings assured him that no malice still lurked on their path, yet Arandrin knew that there were things that could escape even Elven eyes, things which had learnt deceit before their first glimpse of daylight.
Cautiously, he loosened the tension in his bow and returned the arrow to its quiver, gesturing silently with his fingers. A hooded figure slipped from the trees behind him, saluting his superior with a hand to his heart.
"Permission to rest, Arandrin?"
Arandrin turned from the path before him. "Accepted. Braern will keep watch."
At this, another of the group approached soundlessly, performing the customary greeting. The figure removed its hood, revealing fair hair pulled into a brusque knot and feminine features. Her brow was creased in worry. "What of the King's son?"
"Our search has assured us that he is alive, as well as the elleth accompanying him," replied the guard, his tone flat, "we will search West of the Road tomorrow."
"And if our search turns up nothing but dead leaves? What then? The King will strip us of our livelihood." The enquiry was pronounced in fierce, hushed tones, the elleth's flashing eyes betraying her ire.
"The King will be just, Braern. It is our duty to protect those assigned under out watch, and there will be consequences to our failing." His brow clouded. "Speak no more of the matter, Braern. This I command you."
Braern cast her eyes away. "Amin lava." (I yield)
Author's Note:
What are your thoughts on the fight scenes? Are they too brief? Should they be shorter? Or does the goddamn author ramble too much and you just want to get on with the story? All suggestions are welcome!