I have redone the end of the last chapter, as I have grown unhappy with it. Thank you all for your wonderful support!
The forest of Lorien loomed large as the company closed in on it, it was then that Gimli began his monologue about the Elven "Sorceress" that ruled the forest. Bessimar, whose face was now set again in a grim frown, made quite a show of half-cocking his pistols, ready for any magical goings-on. Urban simply hefted his blood-caked hammer over his shoulder and carried on.
As the edge of the forest faded out of sight, Aragorn found his way to Bessimar's side, "Your strange devices easily felled many goblins, I was wondering what they are? I have seen you fiddling with them many times on our journey."
Bessimar still didn't necessarily like the taciturn ranger-king, but had grown to respect him after seeing him fight, he took on an Ogre for Sigmar's sake! So, this time, he decided to answer, "They're called pistols. Dwarves invented them, they shoot small lead balls", Bessimar reached into his pocket and pulled out several small spherical pieces of lead, showing Aragorn then putting them back, "A charge of blackpowder is ignited by this flint-and-steel mechanism", a small click is heard, "Ignites the powder and propels the shot out of the barrel."
Throughout the explanation Aragorn kept nodding, showing that he understood what Bessimar said, after Bessimar finishes Aragorn says, "The dwarves of your land seem to have a few more tricks than those of Erebor."
If Gimli hears this he doesn't react, Bessimar for one merely shrugs and they continue on.
An hour later… Gimli was still going on with his "Elven sorceress rant" while the others, specifically Legolas, have long tuned him out. His only audience was the Hobbits, and strangely, Bessimar. Who wanted to know everything he could about this foe.
Urban, who was walking next to Frodo, suddenly had the niggling feeling of someone, or something, trying to enter his mind. He quickly called upon his faith and the feeling stopped.
Urban looks down to Frodo, only for Frodo to jolt, as if someone had snuck up on him and began to speak. Urban quickly thought back to the feeling he had just experienced, and readied himself to ask Frodo a question.
Bessimar heard Gimli say, "The eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox. Oh!" as he nearly ran, point-blank, into an arrowhead.
Elven archers had seemingly appeared out of thin air, Bessimar and Legolas training weapons on them but knowing that it was futile. Bessimar sighs as a memory of an encounter in the Laurelorn forest seems to replay itself.
What appears to be the leader of the archers walks forward, rather arrogantly I might add, he says, "The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark."
Gimli growls as Aragorn and Legolas walk forward to speak with the lead Elf. They quickly begin to converse in Elvish until Gimli, already quite angry, says, "So much for the legendary curtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can all understand!"
"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days" says the lead Elf in a cool, haughty voice.
"And you know what this Dwarf has to say to that?! Ishkhagwi ai durugnul!" spits Gimli.
Bessimar and Urban, who both speak Elvish and Dwarvish, unbeknownst to the others, both hear Gimli's expletive. Bessimar smiles and Urban rolls his eyes.
Aragorn grips Gimli's shoulder and whispers, "That was not so courteous."
"You bring great evil" says the lead elf, seemingly having made up his mind with Gimli's outburst, "You can go no further."
Aragorn returns to trying to reason with the Elf as the rest of the company look on.
At last, after several minutes, the lead Elf looks them over one final time, then grumbles, "You will follow me."
Several more hours of walking ensue, eventually leading to a tree, which Bessimar had to admit, was awe inspiring. If from its girth alone.
A spiral staircase led up the tree, the company took several minutes to walk up its winding steps until they entered what could be loosely called a 'throne-room'.
Bessimar and Urban didn't have to wait long, for as soon as the company had gotten to the center of the room, two figures of shining light appeared and descended towards the company.
The pair look over the company slowly, their gaze stopping on the Witch Hunter and Warpriest before resuming their survey of the group.
With the female Elf's eyes glued to Frodo, the male elf spoke, "The Enemy knows you have entered here, what hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Ten there are here yet, yet eleven there were, set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him, I can no longer see him from afar."
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land, he has fallen…into shadow." The female Elf intones quietly.
Legolas interrupts by saying, "He was taken by both Shadow and Flame, a Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life, we do not yet know his whole purpose" continues the female Elf, "For the world has grown full of peril, and in all lands love is now mingled with grief."
"What now becomes of this Fellowship, without Gandalf, hope is lost." The female Elf continues.
"Sigmar walks with us, we shall not fail." Replies Urban in a very self-assured voice.
The quest stands upon the edge of a knife, stray but a little and it will fall, to the ruin of all." the woman continues, seemingly not hearing Urban's interjection, "Yet hope remains, while the company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled, go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep in peace."
After that the company was guided from the throne-room and back down the tree before being given a large glade in which to make camp and rest.
Bessimar, once again, began to clean his pistols. While Urban began to wash the gore from his hammer. Both not knowing what would soon transpire.