Chapter I: Fire and Darkness

Mornatoron stirred in his sleep. He was uneasy, and the roots sticking into his back did not help the situation. He tilted his blonde head to the side and saw Latriel sitting by the fire.

"What are you doing now?" Toron asked in their native Elvish tongue.

"Trying to stay warm in this accursed forest." Latriel said, looking at the dark forest roof above his head. "What would I give to be back in Mirkwood.."

"Well, you know why we're here."

"Yes, yes. We have to follow orders."

"You wouldn't want Celeborn putting a price on your head, now would you?"

"Of course not!"

Toron pulled himself out of his Elven blankets, and looked at the dark forest roof. The stumps of the trees were mangled and growing over eachother, as if they were wrestling for their lives.

"I despise Fangorn." Toron spoke softly.

"It isn't so bad once you get used to it." Latriel responded, taking a small bite of Lembas.

"That's just it. I'm not used to it."

"And you never will." Latriel laughed, pointing his square piece of lembas at Toron.

"You know, you complain more than.. a complaining thing."

"Thanks." Toron said as he walked to a tree nearby. It's grey bark stood out against the utter darkness of the forest. "Do you remember that song that we used to sing on our first night on a journey?"

"The one about unseen roads and such matters?"

"Yes.. let's see.. how does that go?

Down from the doorsteps

Onto the road

Down from the Elven flets

Into a darker world

Down from the lives we had

Into a world of danger

Down from the kin we love

Out to smite foe's anger



'Was that it?" Toron asked, looking into the fire.

"Yes, I believe so. I have not heard those words sung in long years."

"Come, let us get some rest." Toron sighed as he picked up his pack and set it at the head of his blankets. "We have a long road before us tomorrow."

Latriel stood and gathered his things, then he laid himself down to rest. He lay on his back, peering into the dark roof of the forest. He could see the flickering red from the fire in the bottom of his eyes.

"Down from the doorsteps.." Toron began to mumble as he drifted off to sleep.

Latriel closed his eyes. He began to think of Mirkwood, and of his home high in the trees of Mirkwood's forest. He saw the flowers, smelt the air, and felt the ground. He could hear the animals scurrying to and fro in the brush. It all felt so real.

Suddenly his eyes jerked open. He lay tense, listening. He had heard something move.

"Seama!" He whispered to Toron, who opened his eyes immediately. "Seama!" Latriel whispered again. Toron understood what he was telling him. His arm slowly crept to his side, where his sword lay. Latriel's hand slowly moved to the handle of his bow.

Latriel looked at the fire again. It was burning happily, but behind it there were flickers of read that did not die out. That is no fire. That's a reflection of the fire! He suddenly jumped to his feet and let an arrow go. It met it's mark, right between the two red eyes of whatever was watching them.

"Toron!" Latriel shouted. The two ran over to the corpse of a dead goblin. Toron quickly investigated the dead Goblin's gear, and looked at Latriel.

"A scout. Just as I feared.. Grab your gear! Get into the trees, quickly!" He dropped to the ground. He was listening to the ground. He then ran over to Latriel, who was already climbing a gnarled tree trunk. He soon joined him in the tree next, and they stood in their separate trees, watching.

"What did you hear?" Latriel whispered in Elvish.

"A troop of Goblins.. less than 50 meters away. 10 to 15. Latriel.. arm your bow brother!" He said as they heard scurrying in the distance. "Silence!"

"Hurry, hurry! We're supposed to reach old Isenguard before the next morn'." Said a goblin.

"I'm hurryin as fast as I can. Calm down!" Yelled another.

"I am not going to tolerate slackers," The leader yelled as they entered the circle of trees where Toron and Latriel had just been. The two stood silent in their trees. "What is this? A fire?"

"It would appear so. You're dumber than you appear!" Yelled an orc from the rear rank.

"You be quiet! Who dares insult me?"

"I do!" yelled the same goblin, as he stood aside from the rank. "and I am sick of you!"

The leader pulled a knife from his belt, and threw it directly at the goblin. It caught him right in the neck. He fell to the ground dead. "Any others?" asked the leader. There was silence. "Spread out. We'll take a few minute break."

The goblins arranged themselves around the fire, drinking and eating merrily. Shouts and chants rose from the drunken goblins, who were growing weary. One goblin bumped into another.

"hey! What do you think you're doing!?" asked the goblin who was bumped.

"nu-nothing! Just a mistake!" Mumbled the other.

"Not while I can help it!" yelled the angry goblin as he grabbed the other by the throat.

Before long there was a brawl. Goblins fighting themselves. From Latriel's point of view, it was quite entertaining.

"Come, now is the time!" Toron whispered. He then jumped from the tree, wielding his sword and holding it high. "For Mirkwood!" He yelled. Latriel was beside him in a flash.

The Goblins were startled and shocked. Before half of them could get to their swords, they were slain. Toron screamed as the took down another, and Latriel shot three with his bow. The two were slaying the Goblins until only one stood.

"Any last words?" Toron asked the trembling goblin.

"Ugh." Said the goblin.

"That's good enough for me!" Toron yelled as he charged. He raised his sword and brought it down for one final swipe, when he heard a sharp twang!. He looked at the goblin before him, and he had an arrow between his eyes. He fell to the ground in a heap.

"Aww, Latriel! That one was mine! Alas, you do have the quicker weapon."

"It is true." Replied Latriel.

Toron looked at the roof, and noticed that the sun had crept through cracks in it's leaf ceiling. It was morning.

"Come, Latriel. We must be on our way! The sun is rising! Onwards to Mirkwood!"