Sorry this has taken so long. My muse seems to have taken a rather long
break. Any questions can be sent to my e-mail or asked in the review
column. So read on and PLEASE review!
The rest of the week passed rather uneventful. It was already nearing the middle of the second week and anticipation was high for the return of Elrond. The sound of the horses grazing in the field near the cabin was often mistaken for the expected men. Glorí had taken it upon herself to assist the others as much as she was able, even taking a trip to the storage cave for supplies. Gil-galad was healing still, though his arm was getting better it would still be a while before he could use it as he once had.
Glorí looked up from the task at hand, cleaning her sword near the lake. She didn't know what made her look up but she did. There were ominous storm clouds coming from the south, moving slowly. Glorí finished what she was doing as fast as possible and sped back towards camp. There was something she did not like about those clouds. She entered the cabin at a run, the door being left open to allow the fresh summer air to enter. Gil-galad was sitting up in bed reading a book and looked up when she entered. "Something the matter?" He asked as a look of concern crossed his face, identical to the look Glorí returned. "I fear I may have some bad news. There is a fierce storm moving in, from the south. If your friends were able to make it back by now, they would have to arrive here before tomorrow night." "How close is it?" "Less than a hundred leagues off. I doubt that the company will try to brave the storm under consequence of getting stuck here for a while." Gil-galad seemed to contemplate this information for a moment. "How bad, in your opinion, is this storm going to be?" "The summer storms around here can get pretty fierce, and I do not doubt that this one will be a lamb." She said with her eyes glued to the floor. "Well, you are the expert. What should we do?" Immediately Glorí pulled her eyes away from the floor. "I-I believe it best if we leave on our own. Try to make it over the mountains before the storm hits. If not, you may get stranded on this side of the range for as long as a month." Gil-galad said nothing in reply but did not like the idea of being imprisoned on the far side of Lindon. "When can we leave?" "Are you sure you want to? I mean, your arm." "My arm is fine." His voice slightly raised at being treated like a child by a child. "Pray, call Glorfindel." She went to the door and peeped her head outside only to find Glorfindel a few feet away staring intently at her. She motioned for him to enter and he obeyed. Once she and the older elf were seated about the bed Gil-galad shared the plans to depart. "Now, once again I ask you, when can we depart?" "I need a few hours to get the horses prepared and packed, but in the morning at the earliest." "Good. Then we leave in the morning. Glorfindel." he addressed the other elf almost demanding him. "Inform the others of the plan. Pack camp this evening. Glorfindel nodded as he took his leave of them and went to relay the message. Glorí stayed a moment longer. "What if they try to come after we leave?" "Pray that they don't." Leaving far from satisfied she went to the field that the horses had been moved to. She could see the eyes of many dogs watching her as she passed into the grass covered opening. She whistled a small tune, far different from that used on the dogs; more peaceful and relaxing. The nine horses were grazing in a small knot, the foal dancing about them. She approached cautiously, talking to each in her gentle voice. Then she mounted the same horse she had earlier, Mandeg. She led the horses back to the clearing. She did not trust the others as well as she probably should have, but she knew that each would need his own horse. She stopped once they had reached the clearing and dismounted. The others were busy packing things into saddlebags and small packs, leaving what they did not need behind. The trunks were discarded and exchanged for lighter boxes that could be carried by the baggage pony. One horse and the foal would remain behind, the foal being too young for the dangerous journey over the mountains. They would be led to a cave near the clearing. There was food and water in plenty there to sustain them until her return. Every elf went to bed early that night, anticipation and emotions running high at the prospect of going home.
*** Everyone was up before Aron was even peaking the mountain crest. Final preparations were made and the horses were loaded, the elves dressed in their armor, weapons shining coldly at their sides. Glorí felt a surge of power come over her as she stepped out from the cabin, dressed in her father's old armor, still shiny and strong from years of good maintenance, the mithril coat shining under the breastplate. It was a bit too large for her skinny frame but it served its purpose. Gil-galad followed her, his own armor shining in the newly risen sun. Together they approached the horses. She was to ride upon Mandeg and he was waiting patiently next to the others. The others had already mounted and she looked upon them all as she bent to retrieve her sword and quiver from the ground. She slid the sword into her scabbard and slung her quiver over her back. Then she bent again to take up her bow before she placed that upon her back as well. She felt like she was one of the warriors that sat watching her, brave and strong, ready to face all evils for her lord, whom ever that may be. Finally she pulled herself onto Mandeg as he neighed gently in reply. Her gaze fell upon Gil-galad as he too mounted, then to the others gathered, finally resting upon Theo who stood near her horse, waiting patiently for the word to commence. It came with a wave of Gil-galad's good arm as he spurred his horse to begin. She too nudged Mandeg in the ribs to get him moving, pulling up next to Gil-galad's mount. Glorfindel was on his other side and turned to speak to her. "You do know a safe passage from here to the mountains, do you not?" "Of course. There are some old paths near here, a mile or so ahead that take a route parallel to the peaks before heading straight towards them. In that way we can hopefully avoid the orc caves." Glorfindel once again turned his gaze forward with a silent sigh of content. Glorí saw this and looked behind her to find the others keeping up well before gazing up at the sky behind them. The ominous clouds had progressed much during the night. She turned to the elf beside her, a look of anxious fear in her eyes. "Gil-galad, I think it would be best if we pressed on hard for the day. The oncoming storm worries me." Gil-galad glanced behind him before turning towards her. He nodded at her before turning to face his comrades, waving his hand in a gesture to follow. With that Glorí spurred her horse into a quick canter before urging him into a gallop.
Throughout the entire day she had pressed the group with little mercy, a quick break some time after midday for a bit of food and rest. In fact the elves seemed to be faring worst than the horses. About an hour before nightfall she had called a halt near a stream. They started to set up camp, though she advised them to not build a fire. They were outside her borders, the safety of them left far behind. Now they were near orc country.
Dinner that night was cold and dark. The lookouts took up their positions as the others turned in early. Glorí lied her sleeping roll under a tree, Theo lying just inches from the edge. She was to be summoned for her watch in a few hours time and decided she might as well get some rest while she could. Watching the stars she soon fell into a deep slumber, wearied by the days ride.
The rest of the week passed rather uneventful. It was already nearing the middle of the second week and anticipation was high for the return of Elrond. The sound of the horses grazing in the field near the cabin was often mistaken for the expected men. Glorí had taken it upon herself to assist the others as much as she was able, even taking a trip to the storage cave for supplies. Gil-galad was healing still, though his arm was getting better it would still be a while before he could use it as he once had.
Glorí looked up from the task at hand, cleaning her sword near the lake. She didn't know what made her look up but she did. There were ominous storm clouds coming from the south, moving slowly. Glorí finished what she was doing as fast as possible and sped back towards camp. There was something she did not like about those clouds. She entered the cabin at a run, the door being left open to allow the fresh summer air to enter. Gil-galad was sitting up in bed reading a book and looked up when she entered. "Something the matter?" He asked as a look of concern crossed his face, identical to the look Glorí returned. "I fear I may have some bad news. There is a fierce storm moving in, from the south. If your friends were able to make it back by now, they would have to arrive here before tomorrow night." "How close is it?" "Less than a hundred leagues off. I doubt that the company will try to brave the storm under consequence of getting stuck here for a while." Gil-galad seemed to contemplate this information for a moment. "How bad, in your opinion, is this storm going to be?" "The summer storms around here can get pretty fierce, and I do not doubt that this one will be a lamb." She said with her eyes glued to the floor. "Well, you are the expert. What should we do?" Immediately Glorí pulled her eyes away from the floor. "I-I believe it best if we leave on our own. Try to make it over the mountains before the storm hits. If not, you may get stranded on this side of the range for as long as a month." Gil-galad said nothing in reply but did not like the idea of being imprisoned on the far side of Lindon. "When can we leave?" "Are you sure you want to? I mean, your arm." "My arm is fine." His voice slightly raised at being treated like a child by a child. "Pray, call Glorfindel." She went to the door and peeped her head outside only to find Glorfindel a few feet away staring intently at her. She motioned for him to enter and he obeyed. Once she and the older elf were seated about the bed Gil-galad shared the plans to depart. "Now, once again I ask you, when can we depart?" "I need a few hours to get the horses prepared and packed, but in the morning at the earliest." "Good. Then we leave in the morning. Glorfindel." he addressed the other elf almost demanding him. "Inform the others of the plan. Pack camp this evening. Glorfindel nodded as he took his leave of them and went to relay the message. Glorí stayed a moment longer. "What if they try to come after we leave?" "Pray that they don't." Leaving far from satisfied she went to the field that the horses had been moved to. She could see the eyes of many dogs watching her as she passed into the grass covered opening. She whistled a small tune, far different from that used on the dogs; more peaceful and relaxing. The nine horses were grazing in a small knot, the foal dancing about them. She approached cautiously, talking to each in her gentle voice. Then she mounted the same horse she had earlier, Mandeg. She led the horses back to the clearing. She did not trust the others as well as she probably should have, but she knew that each would need his own horse. She stopped once they had reached the clearing and dismounted. The others were busy packing things into saddlebags and small packs, leaving what they did not need behind. The trunks were discarded and exchanged for lighter boxes that could be carried by the baggage pony. One horse and the foal would remain behind, the foal being too young for the dangerous journey over the mountains. They would be led to a cave near the clearing. There was food and water in plenty there to sustain them until her return. Every elf went to bed early that night, anticipation and emotions running high at the prospect of going home.
*** Everyone was up before Aron was even peaking the mountain crest. Final preparations were made and the horses were loaded, the elves dressed in their armor, weapons shining coldly at their sides. Glorí felt a surge of power come over her as she stepped out from the cabin, dressed in her father's old armor, still shiny and strong from years of good maintenance, the mithril coat shining under the breastplate. It was a bit too large for her skinny frame but it served its purpose. Gil-galad followed her, his own armor shining in the newly risen sun. Together they approached the horses. She was to ride upon Mandeg and he was waiting patiently next to the others. The others had already mounted and she looked upon them all as she bent to retrieve her sword and quiver from the ground. She slid the sword into her scabbard and slung her quiver over her back. Then she bent again to take up her bow before she placed that upon her back as well. She felt like she was one of the warriors that sat watching her, brave and strong, ready to face all evils for her lord, whom ever that may be. Finally she pulled herself onto Mandeg as he neighed gently in reply. Her gaze fell upon Gil-galad as he too mounted, then to the others gathered, finally resting upon Theo who stood near her horse, waiting patiently for the word to commence. It came with a wave of Gil-galad's good arm as he spurred his horse to begin. She too nudged Mandeg in the ribs to get him moving, pulling up next to Gil-galad's mount. Glorfindel was on his other side and turned to speak to her. "You do know a safe passage from here to the mountains, do you not?" "Of course. There are some old paths near here, a mile or so ahead that take a route parallel to the peaks before heading straight towards them. In that way we can hopefully avoid the orc caves." Glorfindel once again turned his gaze forward with a silent sigh of content. Glorí saw this and looked behind her to find the others keeping up well before gazing up at the sky behind them. The ominous clouds had progressed much during the night. She turned to the elf beside her, a look of anxious fear in her eyes. "Gil-galad, I think it would be best if we pressed on hard for the day. The oncoming storm worries me." Gil-galad glanced behind him before turning towards her. He nodded at her before turning to face his comrades, waving his hand in a gesture to follow. With that Glorí spurred her horse into a quick canter before urging him into a gallop.
Throughout the entire day she had pressed the group with little mercy, a quick break some time after midday for a bit of food and rest. In fact the elves seemed to be faring worst than the horses. About an hour before nightfall she had called a halt near a stream. They started to set up camp, though she advised them to not build a fire. They were outside her borders, the safety of them left far behind. Now they were near orc country.
Dinner that night was cold and dark. The lookouts took up their positions as the others turned in early. Glorí lied her sleeping roll under a tree, Theo lying just inches from the edge. She was to be summoned for her watch in a few hours time and decided she might as well get some rest while she could. Watching the stars she soon fell into a deep slumber, wearied by the days ride.