Chapter Fourteen

The four companions set off once more towards the Grey Mountains after Callysta had fully recovered from her hurts. The Elves escorted them to the Northern edge of Mirkwood and so, they passed through the forest unhindered. The companions halted and waited for the cover of night to pass through the Dead Lands, that would bring them to the skirts of the Mountain.

Ahead of them, the land grew bleak and barren. There was little grass and before long, there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished. The Grey Mountains loomed ahead on the horizon. All about this bleak landscape lay an unremitting silence, as if the world had stopped; everything was washed in a vast unconsciousness. The stillness was all-pervasive; nothing stirred.

When they started their trek once again, the sky grew remote and cold, curdling to a peculiar faded green. A bitter sky, very eerie. Unexpectedly, Callysta experienced a rush of apprehension and this startled her. Pulling her weather-stained cloak closer to her body, she hurried faster, trying to shake off the strange feeling of foreboding that had just enveloped her. She reached out her hand and slipped it into Legolas'.

"Something is not right." Callysta told Legolas in a low whisper.

Legolas squeezed her hand and replied, "I feel it too. This is a treacherous land. Keep close to me. I won't let any harm come unto you."

Legolas did not realize how soon he would have to prove his promise. No sooner had he uttered those words, they heard a bloodcurling howl of a Warg. All of a sudden, the four of them found themselves surrounded by a band of Orcs and Wargs. The Orcs were screaming and generally making a great deal of racket. The Wargs crept stealthily towards them; the fell lights were in their eyes.

Legolas had already fitted an arrow into his bow and he loosed it when the great Warg chieftain leapt at them. It fell dead to the ground with the shaft of the arrow sticking out from his vile throat. The Wargs, angered by the sudden slaying of their chieftain, growled and pounced on the four companions. The Orcs, with their swords, followed suit.

Laurëwen slew many Orcs and Wargs with her long sword and soon, the ground beneath her feet was stained black with the creatures' blood. Legolas' arrows were almost spent and the others grew weary of the fight but there seemed to be no end to the assault. Just as the spirits of the four companions began to sink, the onslaught halted and the creatures of the Dark withdrew. The ranks of the Orcs opened and they crowded away, as if they themselves were fearful. A great shadow was coming up behind them. It was a dark form upon a black steed. The Hand of Morgoth had arrived.

Lorgast knew they would stand no chance against the Messenger of the Dark Lord himself even if they were strong and fully rested. Right then, they were tired and hurt from battle, he knew they would be made captives without much resistance. However, he was not going to give up yet.

Summoning up the remaining strength and power left in him, he cried out aloud, "Irma haearmon!"

A dark gaping hole appeared in the air. Lorgast had created a portal, a route of escape for them. Quickly, he pushed Callysta and Legolas into the black void. Before he could get Laurëwen into the portal, the Enemy was upon them. He had no choice but to put a closing spell on the portal and the hole disappeared before them. Before he closed the portal, he had neither the time nor the energy to direct where the portal should lead.

Their luck must not fail them now and alas! I have none to give them, Lorgast thought, turning back to face the Dark Messenger, for mine seems to have run out.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Callysta had not the faintest idea how long she fell through the void. It was like falling through a long dark tunnel without a light at the other end. Just as she began to think that perhaps she would be stuck forever in that timeless hole, she felt her body hit against something hard and cold. Slowly, she opened her eyes and found herself lying prone on a slab of cold stone. Legolas lay not too far away from her. She climbed to her feet shakily. She felt rather disorientated.

The wind howled and wailed around her. As she surveyed her surroundings, panic rose in her and she covered her mouth to stifle a cry. Both she and Legolas had ended up at the top of a mountain, possibly the Grey Mountain itself. When she peered over the edge, she found that it was a sheer drop to the ground. She felt giddy and nauseated.

We must be a thousand feet above the ground, she thought.

Legolas came up beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders saying, " That's the trouble with portals. When the spell is not cast properly, one never know where it might lead to."

"We shall never get down from here, unless we sprout wings overnight!" Callysta said, feeling very cold and wretched.

All of a sudden, they heard a noise behind them. When Callysta turned around, she thought she would die of fright. A great shadow fell on her and Legolas and the owner of the shadow was sharpening its beak on a rock.

"What fortune! To barely escape the Orcs and Wargs only to end up as a pair of trapped conies in an eagle's lair!" Callysta groaned.

"Don't be absurd! These are the offsprings of Gwaihir, the Windlord, and King of Birds. They are grim birds but not evil. They came from an ancient race of the northern mountains and they were proud and noble-hearted." Legolas told her.

The eagle cocked its giant head to one side and studied the two in front of him. Then, he spoke, "You seem to know much about my kind but what is your tale? Tell me, leave nothing out!" Looking at Callysta, he added, "And then, I may decide if you might taste as good as conies." This, he said with mirth, not malice.

Legolas told him their tale. He did not leave out the purpose of their Quest, which was wise for the birds may provide valuable help in future. They were valiant birds and were no spies of Morgoth. At length, Legolas came to the end of his story.

"You have strayed far from your course. Now, you are in the southern parts of the Grey Mountains. It will be a perilous journey if you attempt to cross over to the western spurs." The eagle said. He paused and cocked his head to one side again. He was pondering what he ought to do with them. At last, he stirred and spoke to them once more, "Since you are an enemy of the Orcs and a friend of Elrond, I will do you a favour. When the sun shows her face in the sky tomorrow, I will bear both of you to the skirts of the Mountains on the western slope. There perhaps you may find a way into the Mountains."

Legolas and Callysta thanked him profusely.

"But come now! Scaling mountains and finding secret doors need energy. Come and be rested." The eagle said and led them into his eyrie.

The eyrie was nothing more than a hollowed out space at the side of the mountain. It was a good place, no doubt. It was sheltered from the chilling wind and rain. Also, there were straw and twigs in abundance. Legolas stacked the straw on the floor against the corner of a wall and Callysta threw their blankets over it. Using their packs as pillows, they lay down and tried to sleep.

Callysta tossed and turned on her makeshift bed but sleep did not take her. Turning to face Legolas, she whispered softly, "I wonder what happened to Lorgast and Laurëwen. I do hope they managed to escape the Dark Enemy."

"That is my wish too." Legolas whispered back.

Somewhere in the night, Callysta must have fallen asleep because when she opened her eyes again, the sky was bright. Legolas was not by her side and she could see no signs of the eagle too. Fear seized her heart and she sat up straight. Climbing quickly to her feet, she ran out of the eyrie and was relieved to find Legolas standing outside.

"Legolas!" She cried, hugging him from behind. She buried her face in his golden hair and added, "I was afraid when I woke up this morning and saw your bedroll empty."

"You have no cause for fear. Here I am! I rose early but you were still asleep soundly, I did not want to disturb your repose. Did you sleep well?"

"I thought I'd never get a wink of sleep, sleeping in an eagle's nest! I did sleep well, though!"

"Hm, I thought so too when I saw your expression this morning while you were sleeping."

"What expression?"

"Your mouth was gaping slightly and you were snoring." Legolas said.

Callysta stared at him, indignantly and she protested, "I do not snore!"

There was no time to argue for the eagle had returned.

"I found the bodies of the Orcs but there was no sign of your companions." The eagle said.

"What could have happened to them?" Callysta said, and she felt a sick feeling in her gut.

"Let's hope they had fared better than us." Legolas replied. He did not quite believe his words but did not dare to think otherwise.

After they had breakfasted, the eagle did as he promised. Callysta climbed on to the eagle's back and clung between his wings. Legolas sat behind her. The eagle flapped his montrous wings and in a flash, they were airborne. The morning air, crisp and cool, rushed over Callysta and she shut her eyes tight.

The eagles flew north towards the western slopes of the Grey Mountains. At length, he found the spot to set his passengers down. From his great height, he began to go down, circling round in great spirals. The earth drew nearer and below them were wide grasslands and a river running through it all. The eagle set them down on the riverbank.

After the eagle flew away, both of them looked upon the formidable western slope of the mountains.

"If we want to start looking for that secret way, we better start now." Legolas said and Callysta nodded her head.

Slowly, they started to climb.