Kiera
Voronwë woke her up in the early morning and was quite distraught. "Lady Kiera, we must move now. There is a pack of orcs in the forest headed our way. We must make for the fords of Brithiach and hope that Lord Ulmo will protect us."
His words made her jump out of her sleeping bag. She was wide awake when she packed and saw Tuor was already up and ready to go. He was spreading the ground with his feet again to cover their tracks, and once she was ready, Voronwë did the same where she slept.
They were off quickly and burst through the tree line into the open plain. They didn't run but kept low to the ground as they jogged through the tall grasslands. The moon was still in the sky, and Tuor led them while Voronwë followed behind, watching the woods.
None of them spoke as they ran. Voronwë informed them that the orcs were still nearby, but they still moved along the forest's edge. While they were going north, the orcs seemed to remain in the woods, but they could easily follow if they spotted them. Without talking, she could feel and hear her heart racing in her chest. Her body raced with adrenaline despite the lack of food and sleep.
An hour or so passed before they saw any change in the scenery. The forest became smaller and smaller in the distance as a rocky ledge rose out in front of them. As they approached, large rocky boulders littered the landscape next to a wide winding river.
Once they approached the river's edge, the sharp rocks made it hard to run. They slowed down to avoid slipping or falling in. Voronwë turned them north towards the mountain range as they followed along the river. The moon had started to sink beneath the horizon, and dawn was fast approaching. Her feet felt heavy, and her eyes struggled to stay awake as they walked. It must have been hours they jogged, and now that the danger had passed, her body craved sleep. She didn't want to stop, though, as she didn't want to slow them up.
The sun finally rose above the horizon, and she saw that the river was getting smaller and smaller. The vast rushing waters finally gave way to a smaller stream. Voronwë called for a break, and her legs gave out as she flopped on the grass.
"We are close to the fords," Voronwë told them. "Once we cross, if we hurry and jog, we should be able to reach the edge of the mountain by nightfall. We can rest the night, and hopefully, we can find the entrance to Gondolin tomorrow. I don't want us to run, but we are so close now. With the orc pack behind us, I don't want to stay here longer than we need to."
"Let us keep moving if we are as close as you say. I would rather run and jog for the day if that means tomorrow we might have a chance at a safe place and warm bed. I, too, would like to put some distance between the orc pack and us. Many travelers and enemies use the ford crossing. Let us leave this area quickly," states Tuor.
They both look at her, and she's honored they consider her opinion. With a slight grin, she added, "yeah, I can jog and run if it means we can get there faster. If I need a break, I will let you know. My feet are starting to swell from running and jogging, but I will be alright."
Tuor offers his hand and pulls her up. Moving quickly, they arrive at the fords within less than an hour. The area is covered with smooth small stones, and the water is barely trickling. Voronwë helps Tuor and her step over the rocks to ensure they don't slip and fall. Once they reach the other side, they turn north and continue following along this side of the river.
Before midday, they stop for a break to fill the water packs and eat. Running made her famished, but the meat helped. Their break was short, and when they started their journey again, they turned away from the river toward the mountain ranges.
They were far off in the distance and seemed to stretch forever. After jogging for a few hours at an average pace, she noticed that Voronwëappeareds to be just as tired today. Unfortunately for them, Tuor has a determined look on his face as they get to the base of the mountain.
She needed to rest a few times in the afternoon, but they didn't stop for long. It has been years since she ran this much. She was more accustomed to long hikes and
lifting weights. The thought of seeing the city and having a place to rest and be safe helps her push through the pain.
Towards the evening, the plains start to turn into small hills, and they have to slow down to a walk. The large hills and uphill slopes let them know they are approaching the foot of the mountains. Voronwë said there is a small stream nearby where they can bathe and make a camp. It takes a while to find it as the area is rocky, and they must climb up and over large rocks to pass between the cliffs.
However, once they arrived, the area was secluded. A small stream flows between two large cliff walls, with a small waterfall flowing down at the back. The ground was covered with rocks and bits of grass, but a flat surface was near the stream's edge. Voronwë checked the surrounding area and back behind the waterfall for hidden creatures. There was only one way in and out, but the high cliff walls protected them from the wind.
"We are hidden but also trapped if any orcs or goblins come by," Voronwë says. "I think we will be alright here for one night. This area is not well known, and a small amount of magic hides it. When I left Gondolin, I found it on my travels, and there were no signs of any orcs or goblins. We should bathe here and rest. I will need a few hours of sleep, but then I can take watch the rest of the night."
Kiera offered to keep watch, but Tuor shut her down and bid her to bathe first. There was a small pool behind the waterfall for privacy, and she took her pack over. She brought out all the clothes and smelled them to find the best ones. After stripping off quickly and stepping into the pool, the water was quite warm. Finally able to have a decent bath, she spends extra time washing. Hopefully, it would help so she wouldn't smell bad in front of the elves and the king.
Seeing as the journey was almost over, and she never planned on being there, her products were running low. After drying off, she pulled on leggings and a warm sweater.
She brushed out her hair, and they let it hang dry. The air was warmer in the canyon as they were out of the wind. Heading back to the camp, Tuor steps up to bathe. Voronwë had laid out one of her blankets and was sitting on it as he went through his pack. She set her stuff up next to him and rolled out her sleeping bag.
As she sat on her sleeping bag, he handed her dinner of bread and meat. There was a question that had been on her mind, and now that Tuor was gone, she could ask him. "Do you have any friends or other family waiting for you in Gondolin? I kissed you on the cheek the other day, and I didn't even ask if you have a wife or lover waiting for you at home. It had been bothering me all day, but we were too busy for me to ask. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable, as that wasn't my intention."
He laughed a tinkling laugh and said, "no lover or wife, and I didn't mind the kiss. It was quite nice. I am young for my kind and haven't met anyone to marry yet, but there is still time. I have many friends in the city, and my father's brother is still living. He is part of the house of the heavenly arch as a jeweler. He and my father were great craftsmen, and people often came to them to make jewelry and adorn their armor. I'm sure he will be delighted to see me, and I will introduce you to him. I know you spoke of no husband, but did you have a lover in your world, or were you courting anyone?"
Kiera smiled warmly at him and replied, "I would be happy to meet him. I hope I have the chance to see the city. No, I had no lover, and I'm not courting anyone. My last relationship ended rocky, and I needed time to myself. I was almost done with school and didn't want to start something with someone if I moved away to take a job."
Voronwë looked at her with a frown and asked curiously, "what do you mean by a rocky relationship? Were you courting, and it ended, or were you engaged to be married? We elves marry for life, and if we court someone, then we can walk away after a year if we are not compatible. Are humans similar to that?"
"Kind of, I guess," she replied with a shrug. "My world is a little different. I think here; relationships mean more. I was dating someone, which I guess is like courting here. He cheated on me or wasn't faithful to me, so I left him. We were never married."
"That man lacks all honor," Voronwë spat with rage. He looked at her with sadness and bitterness. "I had heard of some human men being unfaithful, but I'm sad to hear that it extends to other worlds as well." He reached over and patted her leg softly. "I am glad you left him, as you deserve better. We elves are faithful for life and beyond. That is why we only court our true hearts' desires. We court for a year minimum, but sometimes longer. If the connection isn't strong enough, the courtship ends, and each goes their separate ways. We break off the courtship because to be bonded means to be together until the unmaking of this world."
Before she could reply, Tuor responded first. He had come back to camp while Voronwë was talking. Her back was to the waterfall, so she didn't see him coming.
"I am saddened to hear about how that man treated you. I am glad you left him, as you do deserve better. I am sad to say that I have heard of men here that have also strayed and a handful of women. I hope you find someone that will treat you well."
Voronwë gave her shoulder a squeeze as he got up and left to bathe. He took his pack with him as Tuor sat next to her and ate his dinner. Curious, she looked over to Tuor and asked, "so, are there any lovers or a wife for you?"
He barked a laugh and guffed, "no, I did not have the chance to meet many women in my years as a slave and then as an outlaw by myself."
Kiera chuckled with him and told him, "maybe we will meet people in Gondolin. You never know. I am looking forward to seeing the city and meeting all the elves. I just hope Turgon accepts us."
Tuor continued to eat and said, "I wish for that, but tell me, what about our guide? You both seemed cozy the other morning. Is there something between you two? Is that why I came back to questions about lovers and wives?" He smirked at her and then winked.
She felt her cheeks flush as Tuor's smirk grew. Biting her lip, she replied, "I'm not sure. For the moment, I just want us all to get to Gondolin in one piece. Perhaps, once we get there, we can spend more time together. For the moment, I am content with just being friends. The conversation started because I kissed him on the cheek, but I realized as we walked today that I didn't know anything about elves. I didn't want to make him uncomfortable, so I apologized."
Tuor accepted her answer with a nod. "I know a little about elves as they raised me. I believe our friend Voronwë likes you and cherishes your friendship. I certainly am glad to have met you both. Perhaps there can be more between you, too; only time will tell."
"I am glad to have met you both," she smiled warmly at him. As she spoke, the words were true. Being in a strange world had terrified her, but having Tuor and Voronwë with her made her feel safer. Whatever happens in the future, she was glad to have them as friends. "I hope that we can all be friends for years to come. I haven't thought about the future much or a relationship, but maybe I can figure it out when we get to Gondolin. I hope we all find someone to love and marry. Only time will tell."
Voronwë returned shortly after, and he laid down to rest. She sat up with Tuor for a bit longer. They whispered about the difference between humans in her world and this one. Tuor said he didn't have a lot of good experiences with his fellow men so far in his life. Many have turned towards serving the enemy, and he was fostered by the elves. He told stories about his youth with the elves and his years as an outlaw.
Kiera shared a few stories about her family and childhood. They continued talking into the night until she started to get drowsy. She crawled into her bag and rested her head against the pack. The ground was hard, so she spent a long time tossing and turning to fall asleep.
Tuor woke her up the following day. The sky above the cliffs was lightened, but they couldn't see the sun. Her back was sore as she crawled out of her sleeping bag and stretched. Once she stood, her feet ached, and she knew today would be a struggle. Hoping for anything that would help, she spent a long time stretching and tying her boots tight.
Voronwë was missing, but Tuor explained that he was scouting the nearby area so they could leave safely. The climb out of the site would be just as challenging as when they came in. It didn't take her long to pack up the rest of her stuff. Then she and Tuor began walking toward the narrow pass.
To her surprise, Voronwë was waiting for them at the other end. He offered a hand to them both as he pulled them up the rocky ledges. At the top, the mountain loomed overhead as the sun began to shine over the horizon. It was a later start than previous days, so it looked like they let her sleep in.
Voronwë led and spoke as he helped them over the rocks. "The hidden pass should be less than half of a day's journey. However, the magic will make it difficult to find; 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 we can keep an eye out."
The terrain made the walk the most difficult so far. There were small patches of open plains and jagged rocks along the hills. Voronwë helps them up over the rocks and back down, but they all keep an eye open for the hidden pass. It was slow-going for most of the morning, which she was thankful for.
Before midday, they stopped for a small lunch. When they started again, Voronwë said they would have to focus more on the mountain to find the pass. She had no idea what to look for, but Voronwë said a path into the mountain would appear wide enough that you couldn't miss it only if they could see through the magic guarding it. The doorway will be covered with vines, but they could spot it with sharp eyes. That ruled her out completely.
They walked at a slower pace now, but all of them were eager to find the pass. It was close to another hour before Voronwë shouted, "alas, I see a passageway up ahead. There is a great break in the cliffside to the ground. I did not see it before, but my eyes do not deceive me now."
Kiera wanted to cry and jump out with joy, but she settled with a loud sigh of relief. Their journey had finally ended. As they walked closer to the wall, she didn't see any opening, just a vine-covered wall. Voronwë took her hand and pulled her and Tuor through the wall. She closed her eyes as she was basically walking towards a solid wall. When she opened them, it was pitch black inside the passageway. Looking behind her, she saw a wide passage with vines hanging down. Some magic, she thought. Voronwë kept hold of her hand tightly as Tuor was eager to move on. However, before they can move forward, they hear large footsteps coming from behind them.
"We must hurry," cried Voronwë. "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 Kiera and follow,"
Tuor didn't need to be told twice and took off down the passageway. He must have been able to see because she could barely make out the outline of Voronwë. They ran and ran as the footsteps continued to get louder and louder.
They passed passageways and took quick turns around corners. Kiera didn't think Tuor knew where to go, but they were just trying to outrun the orcs first. They came to a large open cavern with a high ceiling and large area. It was empty, and Tuor stopped to give us a moment to rest. Voronwë exclaimed, "we must keep moving. We cannot stop, for the enemy is right on our tail."
"I do not know the way," Tuor huffed honestly. "I cannot see the passageways, but we are running blind. Which way is the right way?"
"I know not. We must outrun the orcs before we worry about the way," Voronwë cried.
Tuor nodded, but his face dropped a little in defeat. He picked up the pace again and led them through one of the passageways off the cavern. They ran and ran, zigzagging between the passageways and turning off in odd directions. The footsteps never ceased, and sometimes it felt like they were right behind them, but Voronwë could see nothing.
One of the passages led back to the main cavern, and they stopped again. She was huffing and puffing out of breath but also extremely exhausted.
"We cannot keep running blindly. I say we wait and attack our pursuers. I have seen no way out, and all passages look the same," offered 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 bring up the rear. Perhaps my elf eyes will see something you missed," Voronwë suggested.
Too tired to say anything, she and Tuor just nod. Voronwë gripped her hand tightly as they started running again. Tuor's ragged breath was hot on her back as they ran. Voronwë had them stop at each intersection and passageway for a moment. He didn't find anything, but shortly after stopping, the footsteps got louder each time. After a long time running, they came out to the same cavern again.
Voronwë slumps near the wall in defeat. "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."
Keira thought for a moment. Seeing as magic is real in this world, it wasn't a stretch that there might be some more enchantments surrounding the place. No matter which way they went, they somehow always ended up in this same cavern. She had one idea, but it seemed 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?" She questioned.
"Away, we should not run towards the enemy," replied 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 looked skeptical, but Tuor just shrugged. Tuor replied, "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."
Voronwë agreed, and they started again. At every intersection and open passage, Voronwë listened and quickly pulled her towards the footsteps. The footsteps get quieter until they reach another passageway or intersection. It seemed like her idea worked as Voronwë mumbled in elvish between his panting. After a short while of twists and turns, they finally see the light at the end of the passageway.
They all cried out in relief as they sprinted for the exit. The passage opened up to a wide grassy clearing with the sun overhead. All of them breathe out a sigh of relief. Voronwë didn't wait as he picked her up and swung her around in happiness. As he dropped her back down, he kissed her on the cheek and hugged her tightly.
"I never thought that it would work. Bless you, for being with us. We would have been lost forever," he exclaimed happily.
"I'm so happy it worked," she said as she hugged him passionately. They stood in the clearing, wrapped in each other's arms until a voice called out from a distance.
Kiera blinked, and then elves surrounded them instantly. She had no idea where they came from, but Voronwë released her and stepped forward to greet them. They were speaking in rapid elvish, and they seemed to be arguing. Tuor also stepped into the conversation, his voice rising as they spoke. While the three of them were arguing, she took a moment to get a good look at the elves.
They are all finely dressed in armor and shields. Some carried swords, while others had longbows almost as tall as them. Most have brown or black hair, but two have blonde hair. She counted 15 elves standing around them. All of them were incredibly attractive, and a few gave her long looks, just as she gave them.
She felt they were talking about her as they all turned to look at her simultaneously. She wasn't fond of the attention, so she just waved awkwardly and said hello. The leader gave her a passing look and resumed talking to Voronwë. Tuor cut in again, with his words getting louder as he spoke. As he yelled, the leader glanced between her and Tuor.
Once they got to the city, the first thing she promised to do was learn elvish. She hated that I couldn't understand them. Finally, after a very long and heated conversation, the leader nodded to the surrounding elves, and they disappeared.
He looked at her 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," she replied as she reached out her hand. He grabbed it and shook it.
"Come, I will lead you through the doors."
They followed Elemmakil, and Voronwë sighed with relief. There was joy on his face now as he leaned over to whisper to her, "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. However, Tuor has convinced him of his errand and that you both have the blessing of Lord Ulmo."
Kiera stared at Elemmakil in horror. He was going to kill them just for being human. When Voronwë said they didn't allow humans in Gondolin, she assumed they were told to leave. Her stomach rolled at the thought that it probably meant they had just killed them. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "you were going to kill us? Just for being human?"
Elemmakil looks at her 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," she said 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," he answered. "However, I have not had to kill any humans since I have been stationed at the gates. Many pass by the hidden doors. The few who managed to find it get lost in the tunnels. They either 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."
She gave him a half-smile. Her mind was now racing with the thought that the king might kill them, and her anxiety was through the roof. Elemmakil must have thought something else as he added, "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."
Kiera looked at Voronwë, who now had a grimace on his face. She realized then that he didn't know what the king would do either. Maybe he never allowed himself to think about it until they got here. She asked him softly, "will the king kill us? Even with the blessing of Lord Ulmo."
Voronwë replied 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 was looking between them with a slight smirk. He offers some advice. "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, but perhaps he is her older brother and escort."
Voronwë glared at him while his cheeks turned a soft pink. Elemmakil let out a loud laugh, and it broke the tension. Kiera managed to laugh with everyone and just let her fears go. It was no use worrying about what was to come.
Tuor laughed and said, "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, but I'm sure you could pass as two people in love." He finished with a smirk in her direction.
Elemmakil picked 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 clapped Tuor on the back and moved him towards the path. "Come, tell me all about it while we walk to the gates." He turned back to Voronwë and gave him a wink.
Voronwë rolled his eyes at him but smiled at her. They walk behind Tuor and Elemmakil as they gossip about them. She couldn't hear their hushed whispers. Yet, she was sure Voronwë could, as his face kept the same blush on his cheeks as they walked.
Offering him a smile, they walked down the small dirt path between the two cliffs. Small patches of grass and flowers line the road on either side. The flowers were beautiful and had many lust colors. She was pleasantly surprised that grass and flowers grew there with little sunlight, but she wasn't going to complain.
Kiera was startled out of her flower gazing by Elemmakil. He was laughing a tinkling laugh like Voronwë's. He looked behind them and said something to Voronwë in elvish. Before, Voronwë had a slight pink blush on his cheeks. Now his entire face was beat red. Elemmakil was doubling over himself, laughing, and she noticed even Tuor's face was red. Before she could ask, Voronwë began swatting at Elemmakil, who was dancing around him in the path.
With an arched brow at Tuor, she asked, "what did he say?"
"I shall not repeat it, my lady. Perhaps it would be best if Voronwë told you later in private."
She narrowed her eyes on Elemmakil, who still had Voronwë dancing around him. He saw her looking and told her, "I shall tell you later, my lady. For now, let us continue to the gate. We are almost there."
Voronwë said something to him again as he huffed off down the path. Elemmakil chased after him, still laughing. She shrugged at Tuor to follow. After a short while and a slight bend in the cliffside, they reach the first gate.
The columns were built with wood, and the open doors were delicately carved. On top were small walls with two elves stationed there. She wanted to stop and admire the craftsmanship, but her companions walked quickly. Elemmakil said something to the elves on the wall, and they nodded back to him. They breezed through, and shortly after, they came upon another doorway. The dirt path slowly turned to cobblestone, and up ahead, she could see a stone archway. As they approached, this gate had a few elves cloaked in gray walking along the top of this wall. Elemmakil called again, and they let them pass. Kiera noticed as they walked that Voronwë couldn't look at her without blushing, so she let him walk in front of her.
It was a little longer walk to the next gate. This one was larger and doused in red light. The doorway was at the center, as the walls around it were made of copper or bronze material. At the top, three square towers stood evenly spaced, which had many elves in each. Elemmakil called out to them, and they opened the gate. As they passed through, she glanced behind and noticed all the elves were dressed in red and carried large axes. They reminded her of the dwarves from the hobbit, but she kept that thought to herself.
The cliff walls closed around them as they walked, making the pathway darker. It wasn't a surprise that the next gate was as dark as the surroundings to blend in. These walls were the tallest yet, and they looked to be made out of iron or steel. Elemmakil stopped at the door and spoke to the elves at the top. It took a while for the doors to open. They passed through a very thick steel wall with two double doors made of steel. There was a second wall just past the first, with three doors instead of one. On the sides, there were stairwells carved into the cliff walls. At the top, all around the area, was a walkway. It looked like a fortified square box made of steel.
Elemmakil stopped them 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 along with some food."
They followed him to the second wall, and he opened one of the doorways into a long room. A few elves were seated at a round wooden table, eating. There were long rows of beds on the far wall.
Kiera followed Tuor and Voronwë to the beds to claim one and drop off her pack. She sat to rest a minute as the elves at the table left through a side door. They returned with a platter of dried meat, berries, and bread. Kiera rushed over to the table and sat down for a meal. Her stomach was growling at the food, and she was starving from all the running and excitement of the day.
As she bit into a few berries, she savored the flavor. It was wonderful to taste something other than meat and bread. Tuor was pigged out on the dried meat while Voronwë ate some berries and chatted to Elemmakil in elvish. They seemed to have a good banter going, and she was sure that these two were great friends before he left.
She looked around as she ate and noticed all the other elves had left. They must be soldiers stationed here, so she was sure they had a job to do. All the beds were empty, which was odd, but she wouldn't complain. Perhaps, there were more sleeping areas. After she had her fill and drank some water, she asked if there was a bathroom of any sort.
Elemmakil pointed to the door on the far end, so she excused herself and walked to it. Inside was an open area with stall doors made of wood. Opening one of them revealed a medieval toilet. It was a round open seat made of wood with a lid. A woven basket was attached to the wall with a pile of large soft leaves. She was so thankful they had some kind of bathroom, so she didn't have to shit in the open fields anymore. Hopefully, the rest of the city had plumbing and perhaps running water.
After leaving the stall, she saw a stone basin with a pitcher next to it. She washed her hands and cleaned up a little. There is no tub for a bath, so she would have to wait for that. The others were still at the table when she left the bathroom, but she was exhausted. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she quickly pulled off her boots. After pulling back the soft covers, she crawled in and almost cried at how comfortable the bed was. It felt like she was sleeping on a cloud, and within minutes she was asleep.