Hi there! Thanks for your reviews! They really brighten up my day! This
chapter will be a little (no too much really) gory and I hope you don't
mind. I'm so excited about this story, because these characters sort of
grew on me and I wonder how the things I planned for them, will work out.
Chapter 11: Burned to ashes
The next morning all companions were well rested and ready to continue their hunt on Tulrah. Legolas and Selina had returned to their room after their nightly excursion and had finally managed to get some sleep.
Selina walked up to Gandalf first thing in the morning to tell him about her encounter with the she-panther. The wizard wrinkled his brows and looked at the Selvadage'tok woman with concern written on his face.
"This doesn't sound good and it confirms my suspicions! Maybe there is a specific reason out of which he chose to attack Gondor. He could have picked Rohan or any other human or elfish part of the land as well. There must be something in Gondor that he wants. Aragorn, pray tell us your opinion! Is there anything in Minas-Tirith that could be of interest for Tulrah?", Gandalf inquired.
The king of Gondor frowned, "We do have some treasures, but I can't imagine anything being of specific value to him. Our treasure chamber holds nothing more than some antique weapons, some jewellery, a few works of art. All in all nothing special!"
"There has to be something! Tell us about those objects that you have stored there! Maybe I'll be able to recognize some of them!", the wizard said exasperatedly.
"Well, there is, for example, this beautiful piece of craftsmanship, which I'm particularly fond of myself. It is an eye staff..", Aragorn began.
At the mention of this particular item Selina's head whipped around, her eyes widened in shock. "Did you just say eye staff?"
"Yes, I did! It is made of wood. The staff is beautifully engraved with small and skilfully made images of all sorts of animals. Its eye is a huge amethyst, that has the size of a human fist.", Aragorn explained, while Selina became paler and paler.
"By the Valar!", she exclaimed. "How could we have overlooked that! The Eye staff of Shalakrah! If he manages to get a hold of it we are all doomed! This artefact has been lost for generations! I thought that it was just a legend!" Selina's hands were shaking and she had to take a deep breath before she was able to continue. "In the old times our shamans used it to heal and recreate nature, when the need occurred. Then one day it was stolen. A warrior named Shelragad, who had been jealous of the privilege that our wise men and women enjoyed, took it. He used it to create himself a mighty army. Shelragad could, by the aid of the eye staff, control every living being that came into contact with him. He enslaved elves, humans, dwarves, halflings and animals alike. Fortunately he was not experienced in the ways of magic and our shamans were able to overpower him, but not before many life had been extinguished. After this catastrophe the Selvadage'tok decided to lead their lives in seclusion in order to protect the rest of Middle-Earth. There is no telling what Tulrah could do with the eye staff. He has received a teaching in the shaman ways, as well as I have, and knows how to use his powers efficiently." She closed her eyes. Her features appeared very tired and utterly exhausted.
"All the more reason to hurry! We have to stop him before he can reach Minas-Tirith!", Aragorn exclaimed agitated.
"First of all we have to find him!"; Legolas reminded him.
"Lets not waste anymore time!", Gandalf exclaimed and mounted Shadowfax.
~
Their horses were galloping swiftly over the plains, towards the land of Enedwaith. The landscape flew passed them. Trees and bushes were nothing, but a green blur. The only constant was the rhythmical sound of the horse shoes touching the ground. A grave silence had sat in and everybody was lost in his one thoughts and worries.
As usual Legolas rode a bit ahead, being constantly on the outlook. Suddenly he brought his horse to a stop and rose in his saddle. Selina rode up to him.
"Do you smell it, too?", she asked him.
"Yes, smoke!", he answered his eyes squinted together in concentration.
They took off in the direction of the source of the smoke, the others following closely behind. A feeling of dread overcame Selina and it increased the closer they got to their destination. Behind a hill they could make out a huge cloud of smoke, that was rising angrily in the blue afternoon sky. It carried the stench of burned flesh, death and despair. She gulped down her fear and urged herself to go on. The sight that awaited them on the hill top was truly horrific.
In middle of the valley, that stretched out before them, lay a small human settlement. The ground and the remains of several houses had been tinted black by the devastating fire that had burned them. With her keen eyes Selina could make out at least a dozen bodies lying motionless on the floor. She fought against the rising feeling of nausea. The whole village had been exposed to an act of merciless destruction, that didn't spare any lives.
The travellers were paralysed by the sight of devastation that assaulted their senses. Aragorn, being level-headed as usual, was the first to awake from his trance like state. "We have to check for survivors!", he said with grief and suppressed anger, directed towards those who had caused that massacre, ringing in his voice.
Selina forced herself to approach the village, fearing the terrible sight of destruction that would await them there. The closer they got, the more details she could make out. The settlement looked like a hurricane had swept over it, leaving nothing behind but mutilated corpses and destruction. They hadn't even showed mercy on women and children! She closed her eyes, to keep the tears from falling. Now was no time to give into grief! Selina had to concentrated on the task at hand! She looked at her companions and saw grim determination and at the same time utter despair written on their faces.
Suddenly her eyes picked up a distant sound. It was a soft moaning. She got off her horse and searched the areas for any sign of life. Her disappearance went by unnoticed by the others, who were lost in their own thoughts. She tracked the source of the sound and stepped around the corner of a destroyed house. In front of her on the ground lay the body of a small boy. He could have been no older than ten. His pale skin standing out brightly against the burned, black ground. She froze in tracks and shock was spreading in her veins like an ice cold current. The body was lying in a dark pool of blood. His eyes were opened wide and stared into empty space.
Then she heard it again. A soft moan! Very close by! She forced her eyes away from the boy and discovered a woman, lying on the ground a few meters away from where she was standing. She was still alive! She hurried to her side and kneeled down. "Hush do not worry any more! Help has come!" The woman's eyes shone for joy when she got sight of Selina. "Let me check you for injuries!", Selina said. When she looked her over she discovered a huge gash that spread all over the other woman's stomach. Blood was oozing unstoppably from the wound. There was nothing she could do for her! "So it is true....I'm dieing.", the woman said softly, reading the expression on her face correctly. Selina frowned, fighting out an inner battle about telling her the truth or lying to her to spare her the bitter reality. "Yes.", her voice finally came out shaky and faint. The other woman answered with a gentleness, only a person on the deathbed can muster. "It is not your fault. But tell me just one thing, please!", she paused, her breath heavy and unsteady. "Is my son alright?" The image of the slaughtered boy flashed through Selinas head. She couldn't possible tell her that her child had been murdered and so she nodded without hesitating. A serene smile spread on the woman's features.
"I wish I could be see him now, touch his hand one last time..", she trailed off. "It is so cold here and the light is so bright. Are you still here?", she added her voice filled with a sudden anxiety. "Yes, I am and I will not leave you!" "I'm so afraid. I'm not ready to go!", the other woman said, fear written on her features. "I can not heal your wounds, but I can give you peace if you want to.", Selina said soothingly.
The dying woman nodded in agreement. Selina took her hand in hers and immediately a pleasant warmth spread through the other woman's body. Her spirit felt free and careless. Everything faded into nothingness and there was no sound except the melodious and calm voice of the Selvadage'tok woman that guided her.
"Do you feel the warmth? It is the sun shining on your skin. It will always be there, making the flowers grow, giving life and recreating it. Do you hear the soft dabbling of the river? It is very close. It is the vein of blood that nourishes mother earth. Never seeping away, never ceasing its flow. Eternal like you! You are one with the sun, the water and the earth. Nothing can hurt you because you are part of this ancient and eternal circle of power! You are safe and you will never be alone!"
Suddenly the connection between them broke. Selina opened her eyes and looked at the woman. Her features were relaxed and a serene smile spread over her now lifeless face. Selina bowed her head speaking a silent prayer for the dead, then she got up to search for the others. On her way she was assaulted by the sight of butchered families, severed body parts, corpses that had been burned beyond recognition, slaughtered animals and the ruins of farm houses.
While she walked she registered her surroundings without feeling anything. The world around her seemed to have lost its colour, everything had faded to grey. Her body was running on auto pilot, taking in sounds, sights and smells, but her mind didn't seem respond to them. She felt numb and cold inside.
Chapter 11: Burned to ashes
The next morning all companions were well rested and ready to continue their hunt on Tulrah. Legolas and Selina had returned to their room after their nightly excursion and had finally managed to get some sleep.
Selina walked up to Gandalf first thing in the morning to tell him about her encounter with the she-panther. The wizard wrinkled his brows and looked at the Selvadage'tok woman with concern written on his face.
"This doesn't sound good and it confirms my suspicions! Maybe there is a specific reason out of which he chose to attack Gondor. He could have picked Rohan or any other human or elfish part of the land as well. There must be something in Gondor that he wants. Aragorn, pray tell us your opinion! Is there anything in Minas-Tirith that could be of interest for Tulrah?", Gandalf inquired.
The king of Gondor frowned, "We do have some treasures, but I can't imagine anything being of specific value to him. Our treasure chamber holds nothing more than some antique weapons, some jewellery, a few works of art. All in all nothing special!"
"There has to be something! Tell us about those objects that you have stored there! Maybe I'll be able to recognize some of them!", the wizard said exasperatedly.
"Well, there is, for example, this beautiful piece of craftsmanship, which I'm particularly fond of myself. It is an eye staff..", Aragorn began.
At the mention of this particular item Selina's head whipped around, her eyes widened in shock. "Did you just say eye staff?"
"Yes, I did! It is made of wood. The staff is beautifully engraved with small and skilfully made images of all sorts of animals. Its eye is a huge amethyst, that has the size of a human fist.", Aragorn explained, while Selina became paler and paler.
"By the Valar!", she exclaimed. "How could we have overlooked that! The Eye staff of Shalakrah! If he manages to get a hold of it we are all doomed! This artefact has been lost for generations! I thought that it was just a legend!" Selina's hands were shaking and she had to take a deep breath before she was able to continue. "In the old times our shamans used it to heal and recreate nature, when the need occurred. Then one day it was stolen. A warrior named Shelragad, who had been jealous of the privilege that our wise men and women enjoyed, took it. He used it to create himself a mighty army. Shelragad could, by the aid of the eye staff, control every living being that came into contact with him. He enslaved elves, humans, dwarves, halflings and animals alike. Fortunately he was not experienced in the ways of magic and our shamans were able to overpower him, but not before many life had been extinguished. After this catastrophe the Selvadage'tok decided to lead their lives in seclusion in order to protect the rest of Middle-Earth. There is no telling what Tulrah could do with the eye staff. He has received a teaching in the shaman ways, as well as I have, and knows how to use his powers efficiently." She closed her eyes. Her features appeared very tired and utterly exhausted.
"All the more reason to hurry! We have to stop him before he can reach Minas-Tirith!", Aragorn exclaimed agitated.
"First of all we have to find him!"; Legolas reminded him.
"Lets not waste anymore time!", Gandalf exclaimed and mounted Shadowfax.
~
Their horses were galloping swiftly over the plains, towards the land of Enedwaith. The landscape flew passed them. Trees and bushes were nothing, but a green blur. The only constant was the rhythmical sound of the horse shoes touching the ground. A grave silence had sat in and everybody was lost in his one thoughts and worries.
As usual Legolas rode a bit ahead, being constantly on the outlook. Suddenly he brought his horse to a stop and rose in his saddle. Selina rode up to him.
"Do you smell it, too?", she asked him.
"Yes, smoke!", he answered his eyes squinted together in concentration.
They took off in the direction of the source of the smoke, the others following closely behind. A feeling of dread overcame Selina and it increased the closer they got to their destination. Behind a hill they could make out a huge cloud of smoke, that was rising angrily in the blue afternoon sky. It carried the stench of burned flesh, death and despair. She gulped down her fear and urged herself to go on. The sight that awaited them on the hill top was truly horrific.
In middle of the valley, that stretched out before them, lay a small human settlement. The ground and the remains of several houses had been tinted black by the devastating fire that had burned them. With her keen eyes Selina could make out at least a dozen bodies lying motionless on the floor. She fought against the rising feeling of nausea. The whole village had been exposed to an act of merciless destruction, that didn't spare any lives.
The travellers were paralysed by the sight of devastation that assaulted their senses. Aragorn, being level-headed as usual, was the first to awake from his trance like state. "We have to check for survivors!", he said with grief and suppressed anger, directed towards those who had caused that massacre, ringing in his voice.
Selina forced herself to approach the village, fearing the terrible sight of destruction that would await them there. The closer they got, the more details she could make out. The settlement looked like a hurricane had swept over it, leaving nothing behind but mutilated corpses and destruction. They hadn't even showed mercy on women and children! She closed her eyes, to keep the tears from falling. Now was no time to give into grief! Selina had to concentrated on the task at hand! She looked at her companions and saw grim determination and at the same time utter despair written on their faces.
Suddenly her eyes picked up a distant sound. It was a soft moaning. She got off her horse and searched the areas for any sign of life. Her disappearance went by unnoticed by the others, who were lost in their own thoughts. She tracked the source of the sound and stepped around the corner of a destroyed house. In front of her on the ground lay the body of a small boy. He could have been no older than ten. His pale skin standing out brightly against the burned, black ground. She froze in tracks and shock was spreading in her veins like an ice cold current. The body was lying in a dark pool of blood. His eyes were opened wide and stared into empty space.
Then she heard it again. A soft moan! Very close by! She forced her eyes away from the boy and discovered a woman, lying on the ground a few meters away from where she was standing. She was still alive! She hurried to her side and kneeled down. "Hush do not worry any more! Help has come!" The woman's eyes shone for joy when she got sight of Selina. "Let me check you for injuries!", Selina said. When she looked her over she discovered a huge gash that spread all over the other woman's stomach. Blood was oozing unstoppably from the wound. There was nothing she could do for her! "So it is true....I'm dieing.", the woman said softly, reading the expression on her face correctly. Selina frowned, fighting out an inner battle about telling her the truth or lying to her to spare her the bitter reality. "Yes.", her voice finally came out shaky and faint. The other woman answered with a gentleness, only a person on the deathbed can muster. "It is not your fault. But tell me just one thing, please!", she paused, her breath heavy and unsteady. "Is my son alright?" The image of the slaughtered boy flashed through Selinas head. She couldn't possible tell her that her child had been murdered and so she nodded without hesitating. A serene smile spread on the woman's features.
"I wish I could be see him now, touch his hand one last time..", she trailed off. "It is so cold here and the light is so bright. Are you still here?", she added her voice filled with a sudden anxiety. "Yes, I am and I will not leave you!" "I'm so afraid. I'm not ready to go!", the other woman said, fear written on her features. "I can not heal your wounds, but I can give you peace if you want to.", Selina said soothingly.
The dying woman nodded in agreement. Selina took her hand in hers and immediately a pleasant warmth spread through the other woman's body. Her spirit felt free and careless. Everything faded into nothingness and there was no sound except the melodious and calm voice of the Selvadage'tok woman that guided her.
"Do you feel the warmth? It is the sun shining on your skin. It will always be there, making the flowers grow, giving life and recreating it. Do you hear the soft dabbling of the river? It is very close. It is the vein of blood that nourishes mother earth. Never seeping away, never ceasing its flow. Eternal like you! You are one with the sun, the water and the earth. Nothing can hurt you because you are part of this ancient and eternal circle of power! You are safe and you will never be alone!"
Suddenly the connection between them broke. Selina opened her eyes and looked at the woman. Her features were relaxed and a serene smile spread over her now lifeless face. Selina bowed her head speaking a silent prayer for the dead, then she got up to search for the others. On her way she was assaulted by the sight of butchered families, severed body parts, corpses that had been burned beyond recognition, slaughtered animals and the ruins of farm houses.
While she walked she registered her surroundings without feeling anything. The world around her seemed to have lost its colour, everything had faded to grey. Her body was running on auto pilot, taking in sounds, sights and smells, but her mind didn't seem respond to them. She felt numb and cold inside.
