Chapter Sixteen

It was well that Callysta was not aware of her peril. It would have quailed her spirits. Ignorance can sometimes be blissful. She and Legolas had set out searching the western spurs of the mountains for the secret entry. They studied the map again and began to search the western slopes. The map indicated that somewhere high above the cliff lies the secret passage.

At last unexpectedly, they found what they were seeking. Callysta came on what looked like a rough path going up the slope. Following these, they found traces of a hidden narrow track that meandered on to the top of the steep sided ridge and brought them finally to a ledge. They crept along the ledge until they came upon the entrance of a cave. It could not be seen from outside because it was a narrow opening and was shrouded by scraggly shrubs.

Legolas kissed the top of her head and said, "Well, here we are at last!"

Legolas lit a pine-torch and led Callysta into the cave; swallowed into the dark yawning mouth leading in and down. The tunnel into the cave was pitch-black and there was an unpleasant smell in it. The path was rough and littered with sharp pebbles. Callysta tripped over her own feet a few times but every time she slipped, Legolas was ready by her side to save her from falling.

After walking forward for quite some time, they finally came to the end of the tunnel. It opened up to a great hall. The vast expanse of the hall could not be guessed and the light from the torch only lit up the path a few paces ahead of them. Callysta felt smothered by the darkness that engulfed both Legolas and her.

"Which way now?" she asked.

"We'll just have to scout around a bit." Legolas said, as he lit another torch for her, "There must a way out of this hall."

They groped around in the darkness, like two little blind mice, searching for an exit. Callysta groped her way along the wall. She ran her hand along the hard wall and pushed it at certain points, hoping the wall might give way to a secret passage. There was none to be found.

She was just going to turn back, when a black shape swooped at her, and brushed her face. She shrieked, stumbled backwards and fell. The torch fell from her hand and went out.

"Callysta, where are you?" Legolas called out. His voice echoed through the hall.

"Here, I'm over here by the wall. I'm alright, I think. Just bruised."

She saw a flicker of light appeared in the gloom and then, Legolas was by her side.

"What happened?" he asked, his face filled with concern.

"I don't know. Something brushed my face, it had claws."

"Most probably a bat. Come now." He said, as he pulled her to her feet and then, he stopped short.

"Look behind you!" Legolas said, pointing over her shoulders. Callysta turned and lo, behold! There was a slight crack on the wall behind her. She must have pushed a secret button by accident when she fell back. They pushed the door open but it would only open to a crack large enough for Callysta to squeeze through sideways.

All of a sudden, they felt a gust of strong wind blew from behind them. The air was filled with the loathsome noise of flapping wings. Holding the torch aloft, they saw, to their horror, huge bats flying towards them. The bats screeched and reeled. They were almost as large as the bat-fell, Thuringwethil.

"Go now!" Legolas cried, pushing her through the gap and out of harm's way.

Callysta loathed leaving him but she knew she must go on. She had no choice but to plod on and she hoped the end of her Quest is near. As she went forward through the passage, wisp of vapour floated up and past her and Callysta found cold sweat trickling down the back of her neck.

Soon, she caught a glimpse of another larger passage, which opened out from the smaller passage she was in. This one led deeper into the mountains. She peered into it, all the while debating with herself whether it was safe or otherwise. She could only see the dim beginnings of a wide stone stair going up into the gloom. She followed that route.

At length, she came to a great cavernous hall. All about her hung the darkness, hollow and immense but at the end of the hall, she could discern a faint glow, red and throbbing. Intrigued, her feet brought her to the other end of the hall and she found herself looking into another wide square chamber.

In the middle of the chamber lay a huge slab of marble and a golden gryphon sat on it. In the grasp of its right talon was a fiery red jewel. Its brilliance was almost blinding and it pulsated like a steady heartbeat. Callysta reached out like one caught in a dream and touched the cold gem. No sooner had she done so, she heard a loud crack. The gryphon had come to life!

"Who dares lay hand upon the Heart-jewel of Valinor?" The gryphon cried.

"It is I, Callysta." Callysta said, in a rather meek voice but even as she spoke, something stirred in her and she felt a strange sense of pride welled up inside her. Then, she added, "I am the Thief, the Chosen One! I am chosen to wield the Red Stone and to summon the Seven Dragons of the Valar!"

As soon as she spoke those words, the gryphon gave a high shrill shriek and shattered to many pieces. Its spirit, free at last, rose and fled through the entrance that brought Callysta into the chamber.

Callysta turned back to the stone. Its beauty was beyond words and as she lifted the gem, she felt it seared her hand a little. She turned it over and wondered what she ought to do next. She became the old Callysta again and she knew no secret password to arouse the Dragons.

Legolas will know what to do, she thought, quite optimistically.

So, she started her journey back once again to the little secret door. When she reached it, all was quiet and dark. No sounds of flapping wings or the twang of the Elvish bow. She held out the jewel with her outstretched hands. Immediately, a red glow bathed the four walls of the hall. The bats were nowhere to be seen, much to Callysta's relief but red light showed her an inert figure lying on the ground and that sight made her heart leapt to her throat. It was Legolas!

She hurried to his side and tried to turn him over. His skin was cold and clammy. Callysta took it as a bad sign.

"Wake up, Legolas! It's me, Callysta! I've got the stone! We made it!" Callysta cried, shaking him by his shoulders.

Legolas did not respond.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she continued her efforts to rouse the Elf. "Wake up, please! Legolas, I can't go on without you. I can't do this on my own. Please, you can't die. You can't die!" Callysta pleaded with him.

When he showed no signs of revival, she beat her fists against his shoulders in an act of frustration, screaming, "You can't die, Legolas! You're an ELF! AN ELF! You can't die! You're supposed to be IMMORTAL!!"

Slowly, the cold truth began to set in. Slumping down against the wall, Callysta felt dejected and spent. All their efforts have been in vain. Lorgast and Laurëwen were lost and now Legolas is dead.

She held one of his hands to her cheek and sobbed, "You can't die, Legolas. You can't die because I love you."