Chapter 4: The company of hunters

"So that is all we can tell you so far!", Gandalf finished his tale.

For the last hour they had sat at Lord Elrond's library around a polished marble table, while the wizard and Selina had explained the reasons for this urgent meeting, including all the information there was to know about Tulrah and the threat he posed to Middle-Earth.

Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Elrond had listened with great interest, asking some brief questions now and then. Now a depressing silence had sat in, while all of them thought about a solution to this serious problem.

Finally Lord Elrond decided to speak. "So you say he aligned himself with all the totem animals?

"Not with all of them as far as I know! He hasn't been able to join with mine!", Selina answered evenly.

"Which one would that be?", Gimli asked her curiously, forgetting for a moment about his dislike for the Selvadage'tok woman.

"The panther.", answered calmly.

"So you want to tell us that he can actually control every animal, except that one?", Aragorn asked.

"I fear it is a little bit more complicated than that actually.", Selina paused briefly to think about the best possible explanation she could offer to an outsider.

"It is true that we can communicate with our totems, but they will only do as they themselves wish in the end. We can only make suggestions, if they accept or decline them is their decision in the end.

You must also now that most animals lack the ability to distinguish between good and evil, because those concepts are alien to them. They only act out of instinct, out of their will to survive. So the majority of them will be easy to influence.

There are yet others, who choose sides and who are very well aware of what they are doing. We call them the Leaders and those are the most dangerous and potent ones."

"Do you have any idea how we might be able to stop Tulrah?", Legolas asked her.

His question went unanswered and once again. An almost unsupportable silence, that seemed to stretch on forever, sat in.

Gandalf broke the tension by speaking his thoughts out aloud.

"I know of no spell or magical weapon that could help in that matter and I fear that we can't rip those powers away from Tulrah without killing him.", he looked at Selina sympathetically.

The Selvadage'tok woman let out an exhausted sigh. "I feared that it would turn out to be this way! But I'm also aware that the true Tulrah, the one I knew and loved for all my life, wouldn't have wanted to be the cause of destruction and death.

I know that this monster, this thing stands against everything he ever believed in. It is his dark and perverted mirror image and if we have to kill it in order to stop it, so be it. That day on the shore of the lake, when he slaughtered the shaman he sealed his own fate. I know that he has to be stopped and had my time to make my peace with that thought!"

The men looked at her compassionately and marvelled had her grim determination.

"So does anybody have an idea how we should handle this matter?", Elrond asked.

"I would have a suggestion to make.", Gimli offered.

Everybody looked at him expectantly and the dwarf actually surprised them with a well thought-out plan.

"Well Tulrah incorporates the abilities and characteristics of almost all animals.

So I suggest we act as my people usually do, when it comes to dangerous wild beasts - We hunt him down and kill him!

We have to try to attract as little attention as possible and infiltrate the camp at which he stays. As we will probably be a little group we might have success in doing so.

If we get him alone and strike quickly, his then leaderless army will dissolve, as they only stand united because of him, and can be easily beaten."

"A small group will still draw to much attention if we want to enter the camp secretly! It would have to be two people tops!", Selina added when the dwarf had finished.

All nodded in agreement. The plan seemed to get clearer and clearer.

"What about his position? Do we already possess any information about it?", Legolas asked matter- of- factly.

"Not yet but I sent out some scouts, as soon as I got to know about this situation. They should report to me in a few days. His trail is very easy to follow, as he leaves only burned land and death behind him.", Elrond answered.

"But our task will still be very dangerous and involve many risks. Are you aware that this could very well turn into a suicide mission if we are discovered before we get a hold of Tulrah?", Aragorn asked.

Gimli was about to protest, but before he could, Selina spoke up. "What is there to think about if we can save the lifes of many by our death? I see no other way we could stop him. We have no time to gather an army. By the time we would have a sufficient force, his already numerous followers would have doubled. Not to mention all the havoc he can wreak in the meantime. There is no other way!"

There was no protest to be heard. Selina looked from face to face and was only greeted by determined and grim expressions. They had just sealed their one fates. The plan had been made.

"As nobody can be forced to participate in this mission, I will have to ask you who of you agrees to go.", Elrond explained.

"Count me in!", Selina said firmly.

"As well as me!", exclaimed Legolas.

"I will guide you as far as I can!", assured Gandalf.

"And you will have my ax in the hunt! ", Gimli boomed with pride.

"I will go to protect my people! ", Aragorn said.

"Than it is settled! The Company of Hunters has gathered!", Elrond announced.