Forochel. April 7
ELROND sighed with relief when Baldor emerged out of the freezing water with Bodvar, now in his human form, clutched in his arm. While Thoron and Durion pulled the two people out of the water, Elrond spread the blanket he had warmed over the campfire, enfolding Bodvar's body and laid him on the floor with the help of Neldor, the hunter from Taurobel.
The sinking sun threw a deep red shadow onto Bodvar's unmoving body. Taking a long breath to calm himself, Elrond felt Bodvar's pulse, then let out a long sigh of relief.
"Well?" Baldor asked.
"He lives."
Baldor grinned before wiping off the freezing water and putting on his mithril mail and the gray leather armor again, standard armor and mail issued to all Silmacil warriors. Elrond fingered the mithril mail he wore under his armor. It was slightly tight as it was fitted for Thoron, but the Silmacil had given him no choice.
"Why are we helping him when he is one of the Skin-changers?" Durion asked.
"I am of the like-mind with Durion. Bodvar's father almost killed you," Thoron said as he helped Baldor put on his armor.
Neldor stirred the fire, adding more dry bushes he had collected. The fire ignited instantly, rising into a high flame. Elrond pulled Bodvar's body closer to the fire as he dared, welcoming the much needed warmth.
"He didn't kill me. If Bjorn did not stop the people from attacking me, I would have died."
"Yes, but his people tried to kill you." Thoron's eyes were dark and stormy gray.
"Only because they thought I was trying to burn their chief." Elrond shuddered, remembering the fire that engulfed the enormous bear Bjorn turned into.
As a bear, Bjorn's strength was beyond what the Half-elven could counter. When Bjorn threw Elrond, the bear chief had knocked over the stone basin containing the fire from the mountain. Elrond's nimbleness spared him the danger of the spilled fire. But when Bjorn lunged, Elrond picked up one of the burning logs with his spear and threw it at the Skin-changer. It was more reflex than the desire to kill the chief. But the fire had engulfed Bjorn instantly when it caught on his fur.
Bjorn changed back to his human form, but there were fires on his beard and the furry body. Had Elrond not threw him down on the ground and rolled him over, Bjorn may have burned to death. But saving their chief had not stopped his people's anger and horror.
If Neldor had not intervened, followed by Thoron, Baldor and Durion, the people at the village would have torn him into pieces. With no way to communicate with them, the Elven warriors had been prepared to kill. It would have been a massacre. Elrond's stomach churned at the thought. But Bjorn, still smarting from the burns to his face and body, had stopped his people and allowed Elrond to leave.
"He turned into that bear. If he didn't mean to kill you, why did he change?" Durion said.
"If I didn't leave that gash across Bjorn's face, he may not have turned into his bear form." Elrond winced, remembering Bjorn's physical change in front of him. Unlike other bear warriors, Bjorn was a skilled spear-wielder. It had taken all of Elrond's effort to counter him. He was fighting for his life, at least it felt like that. But he had not meant to strike Bjorn on the face. The bear chief had reacted by changing into his bear form in front of him.
"That was disturbing," Durion said. "I have seen the Skin-changers when they used to live along the Great River under the Misty Mountains, but I have never once witnessed them turn into a bear. It was a gruesome sight."
Elrond could not agree more. Hearing those bones crack and pop as the man's hair grew and increase in size, there was something terrifying in it.
"Bjorn's actions should not be pinned to Bodvar. I don't know why his father attacked you, but Bodvar fought with us against the Orcs. Any man who does that is a friend, even if his father acted otherwise." Baldor peered down at Bodvar. "And Bjorn did let us leave the village with you."
Thoron picked up one of Bodvar's arm and scrutinized. "I find it strange that he was drowning. Bears are excellent swimmers. It would take a lot to knock out someone like him."
Nodding, Elrond took Bodvar's other side. When he beheld the cuts inside Bodvar's elbow then at the back of the man's knee, he looked up.
Thoron met Elrond's eyes. The Half-elven knew what Thoron was thinking even without him uttering a word.
"What's wrong?" Baldor asked.
"The cuts. Someone knew exactly how to incapacitate this man." Thoron closed his eyes briefly.
"He slashed the inside of Bodvar's arms and the back of his legs," Elrond said quietly.
"I can't imagine anyone getting that close to the Skin-changer to be able to do that. And the speed and the accuracy required even if he was close enough. I don't know of any Orc that is skilled enough." Durion moved over to look.
"It's not any Orc. The cut is too clean. Too precise." Thoron let out a sigh. "It's our weapon that did the cut, and only another Elven warrior would be quick enough to do this. A highly skilled one."
Elrond swallowed, then examined the wounds again. The cuts were deep enough to disable, but not so deep to make the damage permanent. It was no mere Elven warrior. Few had the skill necessary for the restrain or the accuracy to cut like this.
"Didn't you say Bodvar was with Thranduil the last time you saw him?" Thoron asked.
"What are you suggesting?" Durion's face turned dark and fierce.
"I am just trying to piece together what happened." Thoron shrugged without looking up at Durion who stood over him. "Your friend is more than skilled enough to do this, and he was seen last with this Skin-changer. That is all." Thoron looked up.
As far as Elrond knew, Thranduil was with Bodvar before they disappeared. But why would he do this to the Skin-changer? Thranduil would not have. Elrond was certain.
"We don't know if Thranduil did this, and even if he did, I am sure there is a good explanation." Elrond would not believe it. Bjorn and his people attacked him. The Skin-changers had behaved differently than what Elrond had originally sensed. Perhaps it was his senses that had been wrong.
"This man attacked him. That would be the only explanation." Durion's eyes turned into the gray of the winter sky.
"I said nothing about his motive. Just that Thranduil is most likely the person to have done it."
"Come, come. We shouldn't assume anything," Baldor said as he padded Durion's back. "We are all friends here. We all share the same goals, do we not? As Mablung used to say, 'we ought not fight among us when we are in front of Morgoth's doorstep.' He was a good friend. Was he not, Thoron?" Baldor laughed as he pulled Durion away, inserting himself between the two warriors. "By the way, I always wondered, how is it you look more like your maternal uncle than your father or your father's brother?" Baldor pointed to his hair. "Didn't both Beleg and his brother had white hair?"
Durion shrugged. "They say dark hair always wins over the light ones. Unfortunately, none of my siblings had my father's white hair." Durion smiled, pulling at his warrior braid. He was a lot like Baldor in temperament, Elrond noticed.
The Half-elven marveled at the seamless way Baldor reminded them of their need to work together while changing the subject. "My family as well. Look at me and my brother. My father has golden hair and my foremother on my mother's side had silver, but we both ended up with a dark-hair."
Thoron started singing the healing spell, and Elrond sat across Thoron to help heal the other side.
"Well, it is now up to him to heal. Skin-changers are quick healers compared to other Men I had seen so he may wake up soon enough." Thoron got up. " I am going to take a look around and see if we can determine the whereabouts of Lord Gilmagor."
"I'll come with you." Baldor got up.
Darkness descended onto the snowy ground. There were no stars in the sky tonight.
"What is that light? It is moving?" Elrond pointed to something that flickered then disappeared.
"Bats, I think," Neldor said. "Probably from the caves in the mountain."
Thoron turned to Elrond. "Do not wander alone. Please." There was almost a pleading look in his eyes. A needle punctured his heart, and Elrond nodded.
When they left the bear village, Thoron made Elrond solemnly pledge that he will obey their commands. Even then, Elrond knew that if Thoron could, the Silmacil warrior would rather that Elrond returned to the East Fort. But with Durion insisting on going to the mountain to look for Thranduil and Aron, Thoron decided it was safer to bring Elrond along with them rather than leave him to return with only Neldor as a company.
When Thoron and Baldor returned to the village, just in time to witness Bjorn's transformation into his bear form, only Durion had accompanied them.
According to Durion, the first battle was a chaos because of the sudden rush of fogs that had blinded them. They had pursued the Orcs, but the fog hindered them and they had gotten lost. By the time they caught up to the main Orc force and destroyed it, it was days later. They had traced their steps back and came upon the battle scene of the Orcs and the wolves. Having seen the scale of the battle there, the lieutenant thought it prudent to return to the East Fort for more troops.
Durion had left them and he was tracking the trail to the bear village when Thoron and Baldor found him.
When the two Silmacils left, Elrond turned to Durion. "Do you think they made it back safely?"
"They have Eryn with them," Durion said, his eyes turning soft. "That woman can find her way anywhere as long as there is the sky above her and the earth below. She will keep them safe. You need not worry about them. I had hoped she was with Thranduil. Then, I wouldn't have worried." Durion sighed, looking down at his feet.
After hearing about Eryn and the other soldiers, Durion had decided to come with them rather than go after his wife saying he was confident that she could take care of herself.
"Thranduil is a good tracker, too. I never had to worry about finding my way when he was with me."
"Yes, he is a good tracker. But that is not what worries me." Durion turned to look down at Bodvar.
"There are several Silmacils here. You know about them?"
A corner of Durion's lips crept up. "Yes. I worked with them for a while when they were at the east. Quite formidable warriors, they are."
"I heard your father was a special agent like the Silmacils. At least Thranduil said so."
"Did he, now?" Durion laughed. "Yes, I suppose he was that."
"Quite an honor to have people like that in your family. But, then, you have famous uncles, don't you? Both Beleg and Mablung. Are they not the two most famous Sindarin warriors?"
"Well known to the outsiders, certainly. But to be the last of both their lines, it is a burden." Durion picked up his weapon, a small axe head on one side and a circular hook on the other, a strange weapon for a Sindarin warrior.
"I know what you mean." Elrond met Durion's eyes when the Sinda turned and gazed at him. Elrond understood what it meant to be the last of the line of those who were considered great by others. It was a burden indeed.
Neldor got up where he sat stirring the fire. "I go gather more fire sticks."
"I will go with you. We shouldn't wander alone around here," Durion got up and followed after the hunter.
Elrond wondered if he should not have mentioned Durion's father. Thranduil had said they never had a definitive word about Durion's father who worked for the king gathering information around Dorthonion after the Battle of the Sudden Flames. The last thing they learned was that he was taken by Sauron's hunters. He never returned and no words of him ever came back to Doriath.
Just then, Bodvar groaned.
"Bodvar?" Elrond lifted the Skin-changer's head and pushed a waterskin to his lips.
"Hairy-chest?" Bodvar opened his eyes. Elrond grimaced at how it sounded. He rather preferred the 'bear-chest' over the hairy one. Bodvar whispered. "You not friend?"
"I am your friend. Yes, Bodvar and I friends." Elrond asked who, the word he did not know, so he looked about with his hands to his side. "Hurt you?"
"Flower-head hurt Bodvar, ya."
Elrond shook his head. Couldn't be. "You hurt Flower-head?"
Bodvar shook his head. "Flower-head Bodvar friend. Bodvar no hurt Flower-head." Bodvar tried to get up, but he could not use his arms or legs. "Bodvar go home. Skuld hurt Bodvar home. Sif, Yrsa. Fa. Home need." Bodvar struggled, trying his hardest to get up from where he lay.
"Skuld?" Elrond asked, but instead of saying another word, Bodvar struggled to get up.
Elrond shook his head as he pushed Bodvar down. "Bodvar hurt. You sleep." He pointed to Bodvar's arms and legs. "Better sun up."
Bodvar shook his head hard. "Flower-head bad. Skuld bad." Bodvar tried to move his hands, but the cuts were not healed and he could not lift them. He looked up at Elrond. There was fear there. The bear man looked down at his arms then at his legs. "No good?"
"Sleep. Sun up, good." Elrond smiled, hoping Bodvar understood.
Durion and Neldor walked over with armload of dried bushes.
"What in orc is he saying?" Durion asked as Neldor stirred the fire. "You understand that?"
"Very little. He is afraid he may not be able to use his arms and legs."
"Did he mention who did this to him?"
Elrond met Durion's eyes. The Sindarin warrior's face turned dark. "There must be a good explanation. The cuts are one thing, but leaving him like that. That is not Thranduil."
"I am certain you are right." Elrond pulled at his braid. There had to be a good explanation.
They found Bodvar because Neldor heard the cries of a panicked bear as it was drowning in the icy water. When they found it, the bear had stopped moving. They had not known it was Bodvar until the bear's body turned back into Bodvar as Baldor jumped into the water.
What disturbed Elrond was the fact that the bear was thrown into the water after his arms and legs were slashed. The cuts were shallow enough that the injury will heal, but if there was no intent to kill, why was Bodvar thrown into the water and left there to drown? It was unusually cruel. It couldn't be Thranduil. Elrond had never known his friend to be cruel. Ruthless, perhaps, when provoked, but never cruel.
Suddenly, Durion snatched his weapon, and Neldor threaded an arrow onto his bow. Elrond smothered the light of the campfire. Over the snowy ground, darkness reached over, filling the space in front of them.
A low whistle and a series of clicks came. They relaxed and Elrond snapped his fingers, bringing the fire back on. Baldor stepped into the light, someone leaning heavily on him. It wasn't Thoron.
The Elf was someone Elrond met once or twice. Many of the Silmacils who were out in the field rarely came to Lindon.
"This is Rusco. One of us," Baldor made the introductions as he brought Rusco to a seat near the fire. "Remember him, Elrond?" Then he gestured toward Elrond. "Remember Lord Elrond? Lord Gilmagor's second in command. That's Durion, Beleg and Mablung's nephew from Doriath. Neldor the hunter from Taurobel." Once the introductions were done, Baldor continued. "We found him bleeding not too far from the cave opening. He was trying to enter the cave in his condition. Can you check his injury?" Baldor pulled away Rusco's cape covering one leg. There was a broken Orc arrow protruding from the Elf's thigh. Elrond noticed several slashes and the spattered black and red blood on his gray leather armor.
"I was ambushed." Rusco said when Elrond looked up after examining his wounds. The warrior looked worn and haggard.
"What happened? Where's Thoron?" Elrond asked. Something ominous touched Elrond's finely tuned senses.
"Thoron is following Rusco's lead. How is the injury?" Baldor asked.
"Not too bad. Once cleansed of the Orc poison, he should be well enough." Elrond cut open the wound to remove the arrowhead.
"I told you I was fine." Rusco gritted his teeth as Elrond sewed the wound and applied one of the poultices Thoron had left him. "I should be out there. They are all taken."
"You stay put, Rusco. Take care of Lord Elrond for us. Once we ascertain what exactly is happening, Thoron and I will be back."
"Just the two of you…there are too many Orcs, Baldor, and too many chambers to cover. You will need more hands." Rusco switched to Quenya and added, "Don't forget about Sadron."
Baldor's face hardened.
"I will go with you." Durion who had taken a seat got up and hefted his weapon.
"And I," Neldor the hunter got up as well.
Baldor hesitated. "That would be welcome, but…" Baldor looked at Elrond, then at Bodvar.
"I will be fine once my wound is healed. You heard him. It is not so bad. Give me some time and I will join you."
"No. Stay here with them, Rusco. I will feel better. Hell, Thoron will feel better."
Elrond wanted to go with them, but knew even without asking that Baldor would not allow it.
The new Silmacil turned to Baldor. "Remember, Baldor. Remind Thoron to be wary."
Baldor's face was uncharacteristically grim as he nodded before he disappeared into the dark with Durion and Neldor.
"What about Sadron?" Elrond remembered Sadron because he was one of the Silmacils who had never given up trying to find Astalder. He remembered Lord Gilmagor telling the Silmacil warrior to stop going to the mountain to search for Astalder.
"I think he may be working with the Orcs."
"Impossible!"
"I thought so, too, if I didn't see him with my own eyes and heard him command the Orcs..."
"What exactly happened?"
"I arrived here five days ago. I got to the designated location and received a command from Lord Commander. We spread out around the base of the mountain. There was supposed to be a cave somewhere, but we didn't find one. We had been looking for it for the past four centuries. And the cave entrance that we didn't find all these years, it appeared." Rusco grimaced again as Elrond's healing song took effect. He took a breath before he went on. "Sadron came by where I was stationed early afternoon today. He said they found the cave and Lord Gilmagor wanted us there. I should have known better. Why would Lord Gilmagor call all of us into one location?" Rusco shook his head. "I had been unwise. I saw Lord Gilmagor there, and I stepped into that contraption without thinking."
"But, how do you know that Sadron…" Elrond felt all energy escape him. He could not believe Sadron betrayed them. The Half-elven did not know the Silmacil warrior well, but he seemed so earnest in his pursuit of Astalder's whereabouts.
"Lord Gilmagor saved me by pushing me out before that thing closed on me. I rolled down a hill when I heard Sadron commanding the Orcs to shoot me. He said to either capture me alive or make sure I was dead. I dug myself in the snow to avoid the pursuit. There were too many Orcs and only one of me. I thought it best to stay hidden until more of us arrived. Observing was all I could do. Sadron had taken my pack and I had no medicine or food with me. I subsisted on water for the past five days."
"I cannot believe it." Elrond felt his chest close. It was difficult to breathe. The Silmacil warriors were the most loyal of the King's soldiers.
"You think I could? I still cannot believe it myself." Rusco shook his head. "Sadron, of all people."
Just then, Bodvar growled as he turned over where he lay.
Rusco looked at Bodvar. "Who is the man?"
"He is a friend." Elrond examined Bodvar's wounds and was satisfied that they were healing nicely. Combined with Elrond's healing spells and Bodvar's ability to heal rapidly, the Skin-changer's wounds were almost healed.
"Sun come up, you good, Bodvar."
"What are you saying to him?"
"Look up."
Rusco scowled obviously not understanding. It was understandable. It was a secret word between Thranduil and himself when things didn't go their way, when bad things happened. When one of them is down, the other would say, 'look up'. It was their way to remind each other to have hope, to look up and have faith that things will work out. Trust in Eru. And right now, Elrond wanted to tell that to Bodvar, and perhaps to himself.
Rusco nodded. "But why are you here? Lord Gilmagor did not mention you joining us."
"My companion and I were tracking a prisoner taken by the Orcs. Have you observed any prisoners?"
"There were several. Some hunters. A Sinda. And…" Rusco hesitated. "Well, I saw someone strange today."
"Someone strange?"
"He wasn't a prisoner. A strange lad. I don't think I have seen his like."
"An Elf?"
"Yes, a very tall one. Tall as you, or slightly taller, and young, no more than seven centuries or so."
A dread took hold of Elrond's heart.
"Did he…did he have a strange colored hair?"
"How did you know? I have never seen the color like that. A pale crimson."
Elrond shot up.
"Elrond?"
"What was he doing?"
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
"He came riding a white bear."
"Are you sure it was not a black bear?"
"No. I would know if it was black. The bear was definitely white."
"What happened to him?"
"He went around the side of the cave entrance. Ai, I should have told Thoron and Baldor about it. A company of Orcs came, and I got distracted. When I looked again, he had disappeared. Perhaps he hid?" Rusco shrugged. "Just before Thoron and Baldor found me, I thought I saw his red hair, but then I was relaying to Thoron what happened, and I suppose I was so exhausted, I forgot to tell them about the Elf."
Elrond glanced at Bodvar. He was tossing and turning, maneuvering his arms this way and that.
"How long ago was it that you last saw him, the Elf with the crimson head?"
"Just now, before Thoron. About an hour or so ago?"
Elrond asked and committed to memory the location Rusco described. Then, he got up, picking up his sword. "Rusco, will you attend to Bodvar for me? You need not do anything except to watch him."
"Where are you going?" Rusco looked worried when Elrond picked up his sword. "It is dangerous to be out here alone. Wait until my wound heals, then we could all go."
"I am only going to take a moment to check something. I will return soon." With that, Elrond hurried. He didn't want to give Rusco a chance to think.
It was less than an hour later when Elrond heard a movement behind him as he hid behind a boulder directly across the entrance to the cave Rusco mentioned. There were several Orc-patrols stationed at the entrance.
With his hand on the hilt of his sword, Elrond turned slowly.
Rusco looked winded as he pulled his injured leg which had left a mark on the snow next to Elrond's footprints.
"Why would you move your leg so soon?" Elrond whispered when Rusco crouched down next to him. "And how could you leave Bodvar?"
"I know it sounds incredible, but that man turned into a bear and just ran away after striking me." Rusco pulled away his cape to show a large claw mark on his leather-bound chest.
"It's all right, Rusco. He is a Skin-changer, a man who can turn into a bear."
"Ah. So they do exist. I did not know what to do after the bear left. Then, I remembered that Thoron will have me for supper if he knew I let you go off alone. So, did you find what you were looking for?"
Elrond shook his head. "Where did you say that Elf with the crimson head went?"
"He disappeared among the crevices on the north wall of the cave. Here, follow me."
"Are you well enough to move quickly?"
"Even with my bad leg, I will be faster than any Orc."
Crouching low, they moved closer to the side of the cave. Hidden among the rocky crevices, there was a gap large enough for an Elf to pass. Elrond wondered how Thranduil even knew about this. And he hated the dark thoughts that started to take shape within him.
Inside the cave was a large chamber, bigger than Elrond thought. Several tunnels seemed to lead into several chambers. On the walls, iron torches threw dim lights. A group of Orcs patrolled the chamber.
Hidden behind a jutting wall, Elrond whispered to Rusco. "Is there a way to pass the guards?"
"There is, but are you sure you want to do this? We could just wait until Thoron and Baldor return."
"If my companion passed through here, then I must find him."
"I gave Thoron and Baldor this passage I found. They should be ahead of us. Perhaps we could catch up to them?"
"Please, lead the way."
Rusco led Elrond along a narrow ledge built along the walls of the chamber. With the light of the torch not reaching the ledge, they were passing above the heads of the Orcs who seemed not to notice them as they noiselessly stepped over the ledge. Their progress was slow as Rusco could not yet run.
When they entered a chamber with an ice walls and floors, Elrond stopped.
"Elrond?"
"I know this place. I have seen it."
"You have been here before?"
"No." Elrond dropped down onto the floor when he saw no one about. Something shiny flew past him as he did so.
"What was that?" Elrond looked around. Something was not right. His stomach tightened.
"That's probably just a bat. There are many in the caves around here." Rusco jumped down next to him. "There is a chamber just ahead of us. Thoron and Baldor may be there. Perhaps even Thranduil."
Elrond stopped walking. "What did you say?" Rusco had never met Thranduil, and Elrond was certain he had not mentioned Thranduil's name. "How do you know Thranduil? I didn't mention his name."
"Everybody knows him, Elrond." Rusco laughed. "Don't forget you are talking to one of the Silmacils."
Was it his nerves that made him think there was a slight hesitation before Rusco laughed? Elrond frowned when he saw that Rusco walked faster and more erect as if all pains were gone. Even for the Elves, that was an unprecedentedly swift recovery.
"You seem already healed."
It should be a good thing, but it did not gladden his heart.
"How do you know this area so well?" Elrond hated this suspicion he was feeling.
As they reached the end of the chamber where an ice platform rose above the floor of the chamber, a bat flew over and landed on a large block of ice that looked strangely like an elaborate chair. Elrond stepped closer, but the creature did not fly away.
"This bat seems unafraid" Elrond stepped closer for a look when the bat shimmered.
"Welcome to my place, Elrond, son of Earendil."
In front of Elrond, a most beauteous creature he had ever seen stood, an Elf yet not an Elf. His hair was like a flame, redder than the blood and glowing like the sparks of bonefire in the wind. A breath caught in his throat and Elrond stood lost for words, fear chocking him. It was their first real meeting, but no one needed to tell Elrond who the person in front of him was.