Tuor woke me up the next morning. The sky above the cliffs was lightened but we couldn't see the sun. I crawled out of my sleeping bag and stretched my legs. My feet were very sore from all of the running and jogging yesterday. I stretched as best as I could and put on my boots.

Voronwë was missing but Tuor explained that he was scouting the nearby area so we could leave safely. The climb out of the area will be a little difficult the same as when we came in. I packed up the rest of my stuff and Tuor and I began walking towards the narrow pass.

Voronwë was waiting for us at the other end of the narrow pass. He offered a hand to Tuor and then me as he pulled us up the rocky ledges. Once on top, I could see the mountain looming over our heads. The sun was shining over the horizon and it seems like they let me sleep in.

Voronwë led us and he told us as we walked over the jagged rocks "The hidden pass should be less than a half of a day's journey. However, the magic will make it difficult to find and we might miss it and have to double back. I hope that we will find it the first time, I will let you know when we get close so that we can all keep an eye out."

We nod at him and keep walking. The terrain makes the walk probably the most difficult so far. There are small patches of open plain as well as jagged rocks and hills. We have to keep close to the mountainside to search for the hidden pass. Voronwë helps us up over the rocks and back down. It is slow going for most of the morning.

Before midday, we stopped for lunch. We ate and Voronwë said now we have to look for the passage as we walked. I had no idea what I was looking for but Voronwë said that a path into the mountain will appear and will be wide enough you wouldn't miss it. Only though, if we could see through the magic guarding it. The doorway will be covered with vines, but with sharp eyes, you can see a door. That ruled me out completely.

We walked at a slower pace now, the three of us eager to find the pass. We walked on for an hour or two before Voronwë shouted "Alas, I see a passageway up ahead. There is a great break in the cliffside all the way to the ground. I did not see it before, but my eyes do not deceive me now."

I sighed a loud sigh of relief. Our journey has finally ended. As we walk closer to the wall I don't see any opening, just a vine-covered wall. Voronwë takes my hand and he pulls me and Tuor through the wall. I close my eyes as Voronwë pulls me through. I open them but it is pitch black inside the passageway. I look behind me and see the wide-open passageway, some magic I think. He keeps hold of my hand tightly and Tuor is eager to lead us on, however before we can move forward we hear footsteps.

"We must hurry, I hear the footsteps of the enemy in the passageway. We must outrun them and make it through, led us Tuor. I will keep hold of lady Kierra and follow," cries Voronwë.

Tuor didn't need to be told twice and took off down the passageway. He must be able to see because I could barely make out the outline of Voronwë. We ran and ran as the footsteps continued to get louder and louder.

We passed passageways and took quick turns around corners. I didn't think Tuor knew where to go, but we are just trying to outrun the orcs behind us now. We came to a large clearing in the caverns and Voronwë exclaimed "we must keep moving. We cannot stop, for the enemy is right on our tail."

"I do not know the way. I can see the passageways, but we are running blind. Which way is the right way?" Tuor asked Voronwë.

"I know not, we must outrun the orcs before we worry about the way," he exclaimed.

Tuor huffed and we picked up the pace again and led us through one of the passageways off of the cavern. We ran and ran, zig-zagging between the passageways and making quick turns. The footsteps never ceased and sometimes they felt like they were right behind us, but Voronwë could see nothing.

One of our passages led us back to the main cavern and we all stopped. Huffing and puffing out of breath.

"We cannot keep running blindly. I say we wait and attack our pursuers. I have seen no way out and all of the passages look the same. I cannot keep running," cried Tuor.

"We have only knives and one sword. Lady Kiera is not skilled with a blade, we would be ambushed. We must keep going. I will take the lead, with lady Kiera behind me. You shall go to the rear. Perhaps my elf eyes will see something that you missed," Voronwë suggested.

Too tired to say anything, I nod and we all take off again. Voronwë is gripping my hand tightly again and is pulling me along. Tuor's ragged breath is hot on my back. Voronwë has us stopped at each intersection and passageway for a moment. He doesn't find anything and shortly after stopping the footsteps get louder each time. After a long time running, we came out to the same cavern again.

Voronwë cries "I am sorry my friends, but I cannot see anything. I have found nothing on the walls or in the passageways. We are surely lost and the enemy is creeping in all around us."

I think for a moment between the huffs and puffs. I have an idea but it seems like madness. "Maybe it's the magic of this place. To get us lost and to drive us back out. Every time we stop in a passageway or corner, which way do we go? Towards the footsteps or away?" I ask.

"Away, we should not run towards the enemy," replies Voronwë.

"That is what we should do. We need to run towards the footsteps. This place was designed to trap and make people lost. People run away from the enemy. Not towards. We should try it and see, but I think it will work."

Voronwë looks skeptical but Tuor just shrugs. "I cannot run for much longer. The enemy will find us either way. We should try her way and see if it works. If not, we will be facing orcs one way or another," suggested Tuor.

Voronwë just nods and we start off again. At every intersection and open passage, Voronwë listens and quickly pulls me towards the footsteps. As we are running, the footsteps get quieter until we reach another passageway or intersection. It looks like my idea works and Voronwë mumbles in elvish between his pantings. After a short while of twists and turns, we finally see light at the end of the passageway.

All of us cry out in relief and we make a last sprint for the exit. The passage opens up to a wide grassy clearing. We all breathe out a sigh of relief and Voronwë picks me up and swings me around in happiness. As he drops me back down he kisses me on the cheek and hugs me tightly.

"I never thought that it would work. Bless you, for being with us. We would have been lost forever," he exclaims happily.

"I'm so happy it worked," I say as I hug him back. We stood in the clearing wrapped in each other until a voice called out from the distance.

I blinked and elves were surrounding us instantly. I had no idea where they came from, but Voronwë released me and stepped forward to greet them. They are speaking in rapid elvish and they seem to be arguing. Tuor also steps into the conversation and his voice raises. While the three of them are arguing, I take a moment to get a good look at these elves.

They are all finely dressed with armor and shields. Some are caring swords while others have longbows almost as tall as them. Most have brown or black hair, but a few have blonde hair. Maybe 15 elves are standing around us. All of them were very attractive and a few were giving me long looks like I was giving them.

I got the feeling they were talking about me as they all turned to look at me at the same time. I didn't like all of the attention on me, so I waved and said hello. The leader gave me a passing look and went back to talking to Voronwë. Tuor cut in again and his voice raised up. His words got louder as he talked and the leader kept glancing between Tuor and myself.

The first thing I'm doing once we get to the city is learning elvish. I hate that I can't understand them. Finally, after a very long and heated conversation, the leader nodded to the surrounding elves and they disappeared.

He looked at me and said "Forgive me, my lady, we usually do not allow humans in our realm. I have not spoken the common tongue in many years, but Voronwë and your companion Tuor say you have the blessing of Lord Ulmo. I shall permit you leave to see the king. I am called Elemmakil, well met my lady."

"I'm Kiera and it's nice to meet you. I'm sorry I don't speak elvish," I say as I reach out my hand. He grabs and shakes it and says "Come, I will lead you through the doors."

We follow Elemmakil and Voronwë sighs with relief. There is joy on his face now and he leans over to whisper to me "I am so glad we were permitted to enter. It brings my heart joy that you and Tuor will be able to see the city and hopefully stay. Elemmakil is my friend but he has orders from the king to kill any humans that come. However, Tuor has convinced him of his errand and that you and him have the blessing of Lord Ulmo."

I look in horror at Elemmakil. He was going to kill us just for being human. When Voronwë said that they didn't allow humans in Gondolin, I just assumed that they were told to leave. I get sick at the thought that it probably means they kill them. Before I can stop myself I blurt out "you were going to kill us? Just for being human?"

Elemmakil looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "You are trespassers in our realm. Our king has decreed no humans are allowed. Would your people not kill trespassers or take them prisoner?"

"No," I say meekly. "Not in my world we don't. Have you killed humans that have come here? Why not just send them away?"

"And risk the dark lord finding out where Gondolin is? Nay, no trespassers shall leave. Although I have not had to kill any humans since I have been stationed at the gates. Many pass by the hidden doors. The few that do find it, get lost in the tunnels and find their way out or perish. You are the first humans I have seen since the war. While I met many men I have not met a human woman before," he answered.

I give him a half-smile. My mind is now racing with the thought that the king might kill us. Elemmakil must have thought something else as he said "fear not, I will not harm you. You are a friend to my friend Voronwë. If you truly have the blessing of Lord Ulmo, no harm will come to you from me. The king will decide your fates."

I look at Voronwë who now has a grimace and I realized he doesn't really know what the king will do either. Maybe he never allowed himself to think about it until we got here. I ask him "will the king kill us? Even with the blessing of Lord Ulmo."

Voronwë answers with a sad smile, "I truly do not know. I hope that my testimony and Tuor's errand will spare his hand. I promise that I will not allow anything to happen to you."

Elemmakil is looking between us and with a smirk, he says, "you can always tell the king that she is your betrothed. You two were certainly close when you came out of the tunnels. He might spare her for you. I don't know about your friend though, but perhaps he is her older brother and escort."

Voronwë glares at him while his cheeks turn a soft pink. Elemmakil lets out a laugh and it breaks the tension. I find myself laughing with everyone and I just let my fears go. It was no use worrying about what is to come.

Tuor laughs and says "I would be honored to be considered your brother. We shall use that if he does not believe my errand. I have faith in Lord Ulmo though but I'm sure you too could pass as two people in love." He finishes with a smirk at me.

Elemmakil picks up on Tuor's statement, "you must tell me what has happened on your journey. I must know what has transpired between your companions," he claps Tuor on the back and moves him towards the path. "Come, tell me all about it while we walk to the gates." He turns back to Voronwë and gives him a wink.

Voronwë rolls his eyes at him and smiles at me. We walk behind them as they gossip about us. I cannot hear their hushed whispers, but I'm sure Voronwë can as his face keeps the same blush on his cheeks as we walk.

I offer him a smile and we walk down a dirt path between the two cliffs. Patches of grass and flowers line the road as we walk. The flowers are beautiful and have many different colors. I'm surprised that grass and flowers grow here with little sunlight, but I wasn't going to complain.

I'm startled out of my flower gazing by Elemmakil laughing a tinkling laugh like Voronwë's. He looks behind us and says something to Voronwë in elvish. Before he had a small constant pink blush on his cheeks but now his entire face beat red. Elemmakil is doubling over himself laughing and even Tuor's face is beat red. Before I can ask, Voronwë is swatting at Elemmakil who is dancing around him in the path.

I asked Tuor "what did he say?"

"I shall not repeat it, my lady. Perhaps it would be best if Voronwë told you later in private."

I narrow my eyes now on Elemmakil who has Voronwë dancing around him still. He sees me looking and tells me "I shall tell you later my lady. For now, let us continue to the gate. We are almost there."

Voronwë says something to him again and he huffs off down the path. Elemmakil chases after him laughing and I shrug at Tuor and we follow. After a short while and a small bend in the cliffside, we reach the first gate.

The columns were built with wood and the doors that were hanging open were delicately carved. On top were small walls with two elves stationed there. I wanted to stop and admire the craftsmanship, but my companions were walking quickly. Elemmakil said something to the elves on the wall and they nodded back to him.

We breezed through and very soon we came upon another doorway. The dirt path turned to cobblestone and up ahead I could see a stone archway. As we approached I saw a few elves cloaked in gray walking along the top of this wall as well. Elemmakil called again and they let us pass. I noticed as we walked Voronwë couldn't look at me without blushing so I let him continue in front of me.

We walked a little farther for the next gate. This one was larger and doused in red light. The doorway was at the center and the walls were made of a copper or bronze material. Upon, the top, there were three towers that had many elves in each. Elemmakil called out to them and they opened the gates. As we passed through, I looked behind me and noticed all the elves were dressed in red and carried large axes. They reminded me of dwarves from the hobbit but I kept that thought to myself.

As the pathway was getting darker and we also had a dark gate coming up. The walls were the tallest yet and they looked to be made out of iron or steel. Elemmakil stopped us at the door and spoke to the elves at the top. It took a while for the doors to open, and we passed through a very thick steel wall. There was a second wall just a little ways past the first. Three doors lined that wall instead of one. There were stairwells carved into the cliff walls on each side that led up to the top walkway of both walls. The surroundings looked like a fortified square box made of steel.

Elemmakil stopped us in the center and said "We will rest here tonight. I will send word to the king so someone will meet us tomorrow at the end of the gates to take you into the city. There are a few beds inside the tower wall and some food for you to eat."

We followed him to the second wall and he opened one of the doorways into a long room. A few elves were eating at a round wooden table and multiple beds lined the walls.

I followed Tuor and Voronwë to the beds to drop off my pack and rest a minute. The elves at the table left through a side door and came back with a platter of dried meat, berries, and bread. We walked over to the table and sat down for a meal. My stomach was growling at the food with all of the running and excitement of the day.

I grabbed a few berries and savored the flavor. I was so happy to have something other than bread and meat. Tuor was pigging out on the dried meat and Voronwë is eating some berries and chatting to Elemmakil in elvish. They seemed to have a good banter going and I was sure by now that these two were great friends before he left.

I glanced around as I ate and noticed all the other elves had left. They must be soldiers stationed here, so I'm sure they have got a job to do. All the beds were empty, so I'm not sure where they would have all gone. After I had my fill and drank some water, I asked if there was a bathroom of any sort.

Elemmakil points to the door on the far end and I walk over to it and open it. Inside is an open area with stall doors made of wood. I go over to one and open it to reveal a medieval toilet. It is a round open seat made of wood with a lid. A woven basket is attached to the wall with large soft leaves. I do my business and am thankful I don't have to shit in the open fields anymore. At least there is some kind of plumbing here which is nice.

I leave the stall and see a stone basin with a pitcher next to it. I wash my hands with the soap bar and let them air dry. There is no tub for a bath so I will have to wait for that. I leave the bathroom and walk over to my bed. The others are still at the table, but I am exhausted. I sit down and pull off my boots. I undo the soft covers and crawl into the bed. It feels like I am sleeping on a cloud, and within minutes I am asleep.