Chapter 68

Sowing the Seeds

~o~

The council met an hour after dawn. Galadriel heard him and called for Elrond and his staff. After spending the night in his wife's arms, they joined the lords.

Nag Kath had become good at explaining his queer adventures, completing just the facts and circling around to opinions with the questions. It still took two hours from start to finish. His ability to stun even people thousands of years old held. They knew more than they had explained about the two large gardhs agitating against the exiles. Morgoth was new.

After his presentation, most of the conversation was about tactics and preparation. Nag Kath told Galadriel his vision of the field in her mirror before he left. Now he knew exactly where it was and had a good idea of when. Even if that knowledge meant an advantage of two thousand men, they were still badly outnumbered. Between the two small gardhs they could force four thousand infantry and five hundred horse on the line. Meliath had ten thousand alone.

Althunë, Elrond's chief of staff asked, "Was the soldier you questioned any more specific about the timing?"

"No sir, he wasn't. They are short of horses. I saw no supply wagons. If the Lord thinks to invade a distance of nearly a hundred leagues on foot through their fallow eastern hill-country, they have to eat their way on local crops. Build stores now and burn the fields when the first ohtar crosses the border."

Curiously, Caliquendi soldiers here did not eat Lembas. That was a Middle-earth convention from Galadriel who learned it from the Maiar Melian. They ate lightly, but in the manner of conventional Gondor soldiers with beasts to slaughter behind them. For grains they had either supply wagons or used the ohtars' backs. The lords talked another hour with Inariel patiently listening to every word and Nag Kath answering occasional questions. They broke at the Hobbit elevenses for the lords to talk among themselves.

Nag Kath took his wife to a stream and watched the water lap the bank. She knew he wanted to be with her. She knew he wanted so much to make a normal life for them here in paradise over the sea. That did not seem possible with the coming storm. Nag Kath did not bring this to their world, but he had the uncanny ability to step in the middle. Inariel put her head on his shoulder and watched the water. As Elrohir was discovering, rivers knew.

Lords assessed their resources. They had a one-to-three disadvantage at best. Enemy troops would not overrun support and get trapped like the last time. Lord Felaour to Elrond's east was neutral but he despised Meliath. If his neighbor was now a dark lord's servant, that might tip the scale to join the allies. Cirdan would have already told the northern capitals about the training and the darkness but not where the hammer would fall.

They had to find Gandalf. The changeling had done as he asked. There was no doubt the wizard was deep in this pit. Messengers would scour every corner of the free lands. Then there was Thranduil. He could make noises on his border but if he was going to interfere with Lindareth's advance, he needed to cross the river and drive for Raniegal, some two hundred miles into hostile territory. He could do it. Would he?

~o~

There was one embassy only Galadriel could take. King Finarfin and Queen Eärwen ruled the Ñoldorin Elves from their capital in Tirion and had done for over seven thousand years. He was the wisest and last of the family that had caused the Kinslaying and the exile of most Ñoldor to Middle-earth. In their story lay the greatest tragedies of Elvendom. He and his followers heeded the Doom of Mandos and returned to Aman to avoid being banished with the Exiles.

Galadriel was Finarfin and Eärwin's last surviving child and had only just been pardoned by the Valar from her exile. She chose to stay in Middle-earth against Sauron. When she returned in honor, Galadriel could have lived with her parents but she was long used to rule and came to the lands her husband's retainers had tended awaiting his arrival with the twins. She visited her mother and father after landing. They told her that the rogue Teleri Meliath would object, so she prepared.

As she sat in the council, she looked at her hands in her lap and wondered how it was thus. After those same seven thousand years, Morgoth had started the war over the Silmarils all over again, among the very same people! How could they have learned so little? The vast majority of the pain and suffering had been in the east. They knew their monsters in Middle-earth. Here; out of sight, out of mind. She would go north with Elrond. Celeborn would stay and prepare their people for the horror.

As she decided to ride, people viewed Nag Kath strangely. No one dared admit it, but when he showed his Elf-Lord face for the first time answering military questions, he looked like he could be Finarfin's much younger brother. No one remembered Nomaral, the poor Elf ancestor of the Uruk-hai, but young Nag was a ringer for the Lord of Tirion, the only blonde child of King Finwë.

~o~

Within the week, everyone who was leaving had gone. Polite society was not ready for Nag Kath so he and Inariel stayed with Celeborn. The changeling worked with the military, advised on what he had seen of the Naitë formations and practiced slow-swords every morning to steel his mind. He and Celeborn knew his true use would not be as a line soldier, but he would not seem shirking preparations as a pampered lordling.

Inariel made herself useful. With training come injuries. She healed the cuts and breaks, flowing in the field applying remedies. Occasionally they dined with Lord Celeborn but had spare time for privacy, and for learning. Gandalf's tedious lessons of the various Elvish factions and wars became relevant. A wise Elf, blinded in the Last Great Alliance, gently poured lore into Nag Kath's thick head. The Quendu cautioned him not to be like those Elves falling into despair seeing the circle repeating. In his perverse, orcish way, Nag Kath expected the same people to fight over the same things.

They shared a quick dinner with Celeborn a few weeks after his Lady and the others rode to find allies in the north. The great Lord was learning to like Nag Kath and he already loved Inariel. The changeling complimented him on the quality of his ohtars. They never really stood-down after the tussle with Meliath. They were also better skirmishers and guerilla fighters than the traditional full-wave Elvish assault troops. That might matter in those hills.

Celeborn allowed himself a small smile and said, "Thank you. In our counting, they are not that far from the war. I confess; they do not know quite what to make of you."

Nag Kath considered that and replied, "That is for the better, My Lord." The deliberations of the high were not shared widely. Nag Kath was simply a guest, husband of the important Lady visiting here. He had never shown any sorcery or even mentioned it to anyone not of the inner circle. The mystery guest took a sip of tea and continued, "What will you do with Lieutenant Aurthil, sir?

"I understand he is distinguishing himself."

"He is a spy."

It was just the three of them and two attendants who surely heard that. Nag Kath took the Lord's silence as permission to continue, "There is a hint of blackness about him. Has he visited kin or traveled lately?"

Celeborn was still for a moment and said, "I do not know. That would not be unusual. He is Sindar, of my own people." The Lord's great grandchildren could see the thought behind those gray eyes.

Nag Kath was sure he was thinking how someone so close could have betrayed him, so he offered, "I do not think he knows, My Lord. He is like your daughter, influenced against his will with a touch of latent sorcery. It is reversible. There may be others. I think we must plan on corruption by the enemy.

"Here is where I am at a loss, Lord Celeborn; you may want him reporting the obvious and keep him away from our knowledge of Melkor's involvement. This seems an entirely Elvish dispute. If I restore him, our knowledge of the sorcery is revealed."

Celeborn was angry. He bore into Nag Kath, "Have you been doing this to all my people?"

Inariel was uncomfortable but kept her face calm. Her husband was unconcerned, "No, but I have become so sensitive to it after Arnost that I can divine that humor from being close. That said; I have been with line troops who stay here. If I were looking, it would be with the drovers and scouts on the periphery."

The Lord lost none of his intensity, "We are already sweeping those areas, but not for sorcery."

"May I make a suggestion, sir?"

"You will whether I permit it or not."

This was a yarn so he began slowly, "The day after I found the field, I happened into a village that had taken half a company of Meliath's men in after their defeat at the border. They were shamed and would not go to a bad home for judgment. I told them their peace was ending and that the chance was coming to redeem themselves. You need eyes and you need allies. The contested lands needed to defend themselves no less than any other people.

"I will go to them and see if they are ready for their own lordship rather than Meliath's … or yours. They must choose soon."

The contested lands featured prominently in the first circle discussion, especially since the changeling identified his vision in the mirror. The isolated folk there kept the same leadership structure in the counties and towns but they acknowledged no supreme gardh lord. They were also amicable and other than the usual border squabbles, got along well and went to each other's fetes. The mood was against Meliath as he became hostile not only to the exiles but anyone in his sphere. The fallow lands along the border had kept them from the thinly populated end of the dark lord's rule but now they knew as surely as the sun would rise that the Eastern tyrant was coming. Quendi were friendlier towards Galadriel who visited them but did not try to control them. She and Celeborn had more land than they could use now.

Celeborn considered that quickly and said, "Yes, please go. I expect you will want to do that without an escort."

"I do this best quietly, sir, though I think my lovely bride would enjoy the countryside." He smiled at her. She was ready for something new.

The Lord returned to the spy, "I think we let him lie for now. There are two wars here. Let everyone think we ready for the one in plain sight. Your preparations for the Contested Lands might take you past our transports." He lilted the last word to make it a question. From him it was an order.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

Inariel was excited. It had been a year since they were on the road together. As they were leaving, the thick-headed in-law made a goat's breakfast of rummaging through the stores and supply wagons while his long-suffering lady-wife patiently waited. He smiled and shook his head after a fruitless search.

This was still business but they stopped at every inn and town and haystack, saying hello to farm-folk on their side of the border and into the lordless lands. It took an extra day to reach the village of the shamed. One of the original three diners was a leather-crafter for harnesses and traces. The Kath's visited him at his home which was also the tack shop. When they walked in, the fellow pulled a coin from his pocket and handed it to his wife saying, "My dear, these are friends. We may need a little extra meat tonight." She got his drift and her husband paying cash was to be celebrated, so she curtsied and said she would be back after a while.

The Quendu did not rise or stop stitching a set of reins but he did say, "Hartharn told us what you said. We have been watching. There is nothing new, but deeper into Naitë the militias have not disbanded."

Nag Kath thought some introductions were in order. "I was not my courtly best last time. I am Nag Kath and this is my wife Inara. We are here about the same business."

"My name is Eämiul, a pleasure. Tell me of your business."

The changeling answered, "First, on your children's heads, who among you are still loyal to Meliath?"

"None. He abandoned us and cursed us for his own stupidity. He is a lesser lord than his father, which is not saying much. I tell you this for nothing; we do not want to be lorded by the witch either."

Inariel took that initiative, "She does not want to rule you, but Meliath will when he runs roughshod through this valley. War is when lordship is needed. Can these lands form a high council to defend?"

He looked closely in her eyes and said, "You speak wisely, but you are a child. How is this possible?"

It was time to find out, "Forgive me, Eämiul, how can you tell?"

"The ring around your pupil is not fully formed. You cannot be twenty."

Inariel laughed, "Fifteen, but this is my second life. Nag Kath had also lived before. We know things we should not. One of those is that the Dark Lord Morgoth is inciting Meliath's intended conquest."

Eämiul glanced between the immature eyeballs and said, "Bless us all."

Nag Kath built on that, "More to the moment, Meliath does not have enough horses to haul his supplies. We expect them to march when they can strip the fields on the way. The allies will have to burn them first. How are your grain reserves?"

"Good. We have all of last years'. With the new crop in they are usually destroyed against rats, but that will not be done until after the autumn festival."

The changeling sighed in relief. "Then it will be a good year for the rodents. You must know every inch of the troop-way in here. I make it five miles wide on the Naitë side of these hills."

"Wider, I should think. Naitë farmers are plowing poor fields near the border even now to plant winter-wheat in March for the early harvest. Now we know why."

Details could come later. Nag Kath said more amiably, "Inara and I will take our leisure in this fair village for a few days. Perhaps you could arrange a meeting of those you trust away from the ears of that lovely tavern."

The leather-man said, "You will stay with us tonight. Tomorrow some of us will take time from our labors to give thanks for our blessings."

~o~

Dinner was relaxed. It was just the four of them. Three of them ate a beef haunch. This household did not keep wine or ale but enjoyed it at the tavern. Eämuil went out for a pint and was back within the hour. The next morning after chores, the Kaths followed their host to a barn a quarter mile away where they joined five more Quendu and two Quenda. Nag Kath recognized the males from the tavern.

This was his show. "Good morning and thank you for coming. I did not introduce myself last time but I am Nag Kath and this is my wife Inara."

One of the women looked in her eyes and seemed scandalized. He realized he was a babe too as these people aged. It was the message that mattered. "I returned to tell you what I told Hartharn last time; the forces of Naitë will invade Thornost next summer. They will do so right through these lands, turning the northern corner of the barrier hills. Lindareth of Farnëmar will come from the south in a pincer. You must hide your grains and foods, but not all. Plant your crops as usual in the spring but they must burn before Meliath can dine on them."

The scandalized woman's husband said, "You seem very sure of yourself, young Quendu."

In his usual, nonchalant way, Nag Kath responded, "Reasonably. They till along their path even now and you all know troops are digging in a few days south, far enough from the border not to challenge."

The farmer nodded, "Aye, you have me there."

Even more scandalously, Inariel added, "Galadriel has no designs on your lands. She and Celeborn are content with what they have, but they intend to keep what they have. We told honored Eämuil that Meliath is in league with dark sorcery of an almost forgotten evil. This is not about any one land here. Morgoth wants it all. I am sorry for your losses but they march only a day's ride south. You will organize and fight or you will be the first slaves."

That was blunter than her husband would have couched things, but disregarding her relative Elf-youth, she was the daughter of the King of the West. They knew how to explain things. Nag Kath returned to his point, "You told me you were here from defeat. I told you I was survivor of a terrible war. We understand each other. Make it your pledge to tell others in these lands they must prepare. I do not tell you to form great councils or find a leader. Done well, quality folk will rise to the top and you can take your pick after the threat."

He looked at his glowing bride and said, "My Lady and I are going to go catch some fish and leave you to discuss your course. We will return here two days hence to hear your decision. Thank you again for listening."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

They rode to the valley. It was hard to imagine such a serene place would host the carnage he imagined. He had not seen that. He felt it. That was worse. Orlo's seed area was dry so he watered it again. They caught two fish and cooked them for dinner on his Trum Dreng frying pan.

That night, after a week of stress and planning and carrying the weight of the world, they were urgently intimate and truly alone. She observed Elvish couples enter the time of joining in Thornost and Harvién. It brought forth new feelings that went past her human desires. Inariel incorporated those into her movements and pleasures. He noticed. Perhaps that was what it would take to bring a new Elf into this world. She was now healthy, more so than they could have noticed in Middle-earth. The call of the Undying Lands might have dampened fertility in her fragile state as both a woman and an Elf. The night was not the time to question that. In the morning, they lay together as they often did. He was expecting sweet banter. What he got was, "Darling, just how evil are you?"

"Fair to middling. Why?"

"You have three lots of grain; the old, the fresh and the unsown."

"Aye, plenty for all."

She said in a voice that belied no gravity, "Plenty for invaders too?"

"If they find it."

"Maybe they should."

He had to let that sink in a few moments before his face froze in the perfect mating of horror and humor. She added in the same tone as Queen Delatha of Dale said of her fingernails, "It would be a pity if it was not to their taste."

Nag Kath grinned, "Was that why I married you? And all this time I thought it was your saucy figure."

~o~

It was almost flawless in its simplicity. Strategic depots of captured grain would be contaminated with sorcery to produce an effect, not strong enough for to enemy sorcerers to detect, but ohtars would be disoriented with empty bowels when they trudged to the line. He had done it before, just not on this scale. He never had this kind of lead-time either. Morgoth's man in Farnëmar had a belly full of Lostorin. Nag Kath needed to speak to Galadriel about that. Against it; Nag Kath did not know the local binding plants. He knew who did but she was safely in Cirdan's port. There must be other healers. Galadriel was a pure sorceress of mind and spirit. This called for someone elemental. There was time. He rolled over and rewarded his helpful bride.

They spent the morning riding to the crest just to the southeast, looking at how a large host must march up and around. That presumed Lindareth was taking the inside route straight along the foothills. They made it to the edge of the shamed village and set a fireless camp. He had said tomorrow morning and that was soon enough. That night he simply held her. There might be coming days when that was not possible. Both of them savored just the touch.

With the light, the Kaths rode to the little barn hoping for company. They were early. After listening to rattling buckets and well-cranks for a while, folk made their way individually and sat silently in the straw. Eämuil arrived last and spoke for the thirty-eight, "One of our number chose not to return but will keep his peace. We are agreed that our home is in peril by those we served. We will not bear arms, but we will do as you ask and tell others our view of the situation in these counties."

The next words came harder. Eämuil said gravely, "We also understand that we cannot feed the coming invaders and will prepare to destroy the crops, some of us taking the initiative for those who will not know. They will share in the cache."

Nag Kath broke the long silence saying, "I need the ohtars to find your food." He answered the blank stares with, "It should be badly hidden here." With that he rolled out a crude map of the swath he expected the invaders to take with two dots twenty miles apart. The first was ten miles into Naitë Mélamar. He looked up and said, "I saw this town from the hills. Does anyone know it?

Hartharn answered, "Hastëste, about the same size as here. They grow better sweet beets. We have the melons."

"How are their grain stores?"

Another Quendu who had not been introduced said, "Good, same as ours. Last year was strong. Not so good further into the plains for lack of rain and poor soil. That is why so few folk live within twenty-five leagues of the border, and much of what is grown is sent towards Arnost. Their horses have not borne well either."

Former ohtar Eämuil saved time, "Do not bother with the town. The last army granary is only a mile north of it."

Inariel said, "Then we can ask no more. Expect us back before year's end." As they parted, she noticed the scandalized woman was with child and joined her walking back into the village while Nag Kath took a ride for a view of the land from the last northern hill. As the Quenda were walking, the pregnant woman said, "Forgive me for staring the other day. It was none of my business to judge your experience."

Inariel was disarming, "Please, do not give it another thought. I am older than I look, nearing fifty-eight."

In two hundred years she would still be a child-bride. Her tall husband was barely older than her. What queer circumstances could have created this union? When her uncomfortable companion said nothing, Inariel filled the gap with, "I am a healer much experienced in birthing. So is Nag Kath. That is how we met."

So she was under-aged and familiar with the joining and bringing forth? Precianal wondered that this demonstration was invented from whole-cloth and thought to test it, "You met while you were having a child?"

Inariel giggled, "Dear me no. He came to my aid as a healer and not three days later, we helped turn a breach-baby. My mother, father and grandfather were all healers. It runs in the family."

"I see. Of course you are too young for the joining."

Now what would the Princess say? These people did not associate either the prurience or the pleasure with that aspect of children. There was no hidden meaning in the observation. They had no notion of how men brought forth their generations. Inariel would learn more, "I lost my mother quite young. Would you mind telling me when a lady could expect to be so blessed?"

Precianal confided, "I was four hundred and twelve for my first. That was only a hundred and sixteen years ago, so, you see, you are younger than my little girl."

Four hundred! Perhaps her transition earned special dispensation. This was a land of infinite patience. It would seem that long. She still had work to do, "Precianal, are there healers in this region, those who are adept with herbs and caring?"

"I see you are from the city. Out here, we stitch our own cuts and set bones. I am told there is a woman near the Thornost border who has those skills, or did. She came here from the east with her queen. Now the witch-queen in Thornost, she is the one who would know!"

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

Inariel took her man in the hayloft like it had been months. When he caught his breath he whispered, "Something happened?"

"I found I cannot have children for four hundred years."

He grinned at the roof, "I would have guessed sooner."

"Quiet, silly. You are supposed to be supportive." She became more serious, "That is a terribly long time."

He held her closer and replied, "I am happy now. I could stand a lot of this."

She changed the subject, "There is a healer on the way home in Thornost. We passed her village coming here. The Quenda with child told me the healer came with great grandmother so she is recently of Middle-earth. Does that not seem to be away from most patients?"

"Oh my dear; man or Elf, that is a hard business. No one trusts you. Finding welcoming folk is half the battle."

"Hughmmm." He took that to mean they should get closer to their four hundred years.

~o~

He would not break his arm this time. Like most towns in Penethornost, this one had a name. The pregnant lady underestimated the size and Inariel was uncertain about the location. Teleponis was on the road towards Farnëmar ten miles below their turn to the capital. It was large enough for an inn. The Solvanths heaved their bags on the cot. Except for luxury accommodations, Elvish inns usually had comfortable chairs for sitting rest and a cot or blankets to lay down. Arriving after dark, they took chaste rest and would ask about herbs with the sun.

This was not the cobwebbed shop of Mrs. Hürna. The lady lived in a pleasant cottage just off the edge of town with a small herb garden and a larger area for vegetables already in for the year. Nag Kath knocked on the door. No one came. He knocked again and then they walked around the back to see a woman grinding meal for bread.

You can't sneak-up on an Elf. She heard them and turned saying, "Oh, hello dears. I won't be a moment. Go around to the front and I'll let you in." She scooped her meal into a bowl and went in through the back. With clean hands, she opened the unlocked door and invited them inside. The home was quite Elvish but there were elements that rang of Middle-earth. Drying her hands on her smock she said, "You don't look hurt. Have you an ailment?"

Inariel smiled and said, "No, we wanted to ask you about your services."

A human healer would have thought of ways to get them out the door with a minimum of breakage but she just smiled and asked, "What kind of service, child?"

He answered, "We are healers ourselves and in need of counsel. The plants of this land are unknown to us."

Now she became leery and wondered, "Can't say as I remember you. Neither of you are old enough for the last ship."

Inariel agreed, "No, we are more recently arrived."

"When?"

Her Ladyship answered, "Last year."

The healer muttered to herself then said, "Better sit down." Tea would have to wait until she made the fire for the bread. The Quenda lived alone. Nag Kath asked, "Ma'am, can you heal by induction?"

He got the same answer he would have in Osgiliath, "Depends on who wants to know."

With a flash of silver, a stone candlestick holder lifted off the low table and hovered in the air for a few moments before finding its way back."

"Am I in trouble?"

Inariel answered, "No, dear lady. We need help. Very soon we will all need help."

"Is this about that mud-spider to the east?"

Nag Kath replied, "I could not have put it better. I intend to give them things to snack on so they don't arrive hungry. You don't need to mention that, by the way."

She cackled. Witches of any breed cackle. "Well, aren't you a pair. You are a babe and he a child, a child who looks like Lord Finarfin."

They hadn't heard the comparison before. Princess Inariel misinterpreted, "I am King Finarfin's only great, great grandchild. The rest of my family is already entreating allies for the mud-spiders, Mrs …?"

"Garritholan, and it's miss."

Nag Kath took the reins, "Miss Garritholan, Morgoth now commands Lord Meliath's mind and is near to Lord Lindareth. They march this way next summer. I plan to spike the grain they forage to induce, shall we say, discomfort. In Middle-earth I had long experience with binders and draws but do not know their like in Aman. I ask your help now that you know the generals will scorch the earth and all who stand on it."

"Well, since you put it so nicely. Can you stay the night? This will take a while."

They spent the rest of the day going over what was available, how it was similar or not to substances in Middle-earth and about everything the healer knew. She even knew a few of the spells he did though she drew through air. There were equivalents for most of the plants Nag Kath used, though in unexpected places. He needed quantity too. Stores over the border were the binder. Found local caches were the trigger. Put them together too soon and any sorcerers in the ranks would sniff them out. He also had the problem of tainting the supply ten miles into enemy lines. That would take some old-fashioned, scholarly fraud. First he needed to know what he could do.

By late afternoon the healer hadn't laid the fire so she looked to Inariel saying, "Would your Ladyship mind going into town and getting us some dinner. My cook has the day off." When Inariel rose she added, "The Swan Tavern will have something." She was off. Nag Kath took the opportunity to unsaddle the horses and water them in a stream a little further out of town.

When he walked back in the healer asked, "Will it work?"

"Probably, but more important things have to work first. I don't suppose you have seen any traveling wizards lately?"

"You mean Orórin?"

"He'll do."

"Not lately. He was on the ship with his long beard. It fell out. That was before your time."

"No, he was my mentor when I was very young. I saw him last year and need to see him again. On the subject, let me tell you what we are up against. First, a sorcerer powerful enough to change bodies is servant to Morgoth, a bit like the Witch-King. His name is Talifür if that matters anymore. The dark one has his claws in a lord of Farnëmar too, and certainly more in high places."

"Yahch! Here I thought we were quit of them."

Inariel let herself in with a basket and set it on the cluttered table. She smiled, "They had fish."

~o~

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~o~