Chapter 3

Mirkwood

Galador leapt down from the horses back. She was tired and had traveled many days without rest and she was breathing heavily as she layed down. "Sorry girl." Galador said as he gave her a drink of clear water from a small bowl he had in his pack.

He rubbed her back and drew his hands through her white mane that seemed to shine silver in the moonlight. Galador sat up his back to a rock as he waited for her to calm down. Then he left her for a brief moment to get some firewood.

When he returned she was fast asleep and all seemed peaceful, he stooped down and layed the firewood down on the dusty ground.

Placing a few small stones in a circle, and then placing wood down in the middle he tried his best to start the fire but he saw no sparks as he rubbed two pieces of kindling together. He looked up angrily at the sky and then with a loud voice he called out: "Naur!"

A small flame sprang up from the kindling as he put the sticks on the wood.

He looked happily at the stars and whispered in a low voice: "Hannad!"

The fire crackled and flames danced along the now blackened wood. Galador looked proudly at his small fire as he sat hands behind his head back to the large boulder. He thought sadly about his journey ahead. What was his purpose? What was he to do when he reached Mirkwood? Who was he?

The last thought pondered on his mind as he again looked to the sky as if for answers. He looked back down at his fire and saw the gleaming embers dance as his eyelids drooped.

He got up sleepily and threw some water on the fire. Then turned back to the boulder and layed down covering himself with his cloak and using a rock for a pillow he closed his weary eyes. He hoped that Alastruiel would feel better in the morning so that they could continue. He pondered on what he would do if she were not, when his thoughts faded and the last thing he remembered was the soft breathing of Alastruiel and the chirping of the crickets.

A darkness surrounded him shrouded mist flowed about the floor. He stood alone none were near, nothing stirred. No crickets, no horses breathing, no nothing! All he saw was black and ominous darkness around him as he starred into the mist waiting for someone to come and find him.

He heard a small but clear voice calling out to him from afar; it was worried and seemed to be in much agony and sorrow. "Galador, Help!" it shrieked.

Galador covered his ears at the sharp highness of the screech. He now heard heavy breathing, and sharp sighs. As he moved forward it became clearer. He saw before him a girl, beautiful but mortal. Her soft green eyes racked with pain as her chest rose and fell quickly with each painful breath. He wanted to rush to her side and touch her beautiful fire red curls. Suddenly her shape faded into the darkness and he saw her no more, then by her side an old gangling gnarled old woman stood. Her hair was white and she did not please Galador. He looked at her suspiciously and she smiled cruelly at him, her eyes had an evil look as she glared at him. She spoke not and suddenly just like the girl disappeared into the darkness. He tried to go forward but he could not, a wall stopped him. An invisible wall, he tried hard to push against it he tried everything he knew but all faded and with a sudden rush he awoke. He sat up and looked around, he was alone still in the middle of a plain. Alastruiel stood chewing on some grass as she watched Galador sleep.

The sun was already high in the air and it seemed to be near noon as he got up and got on Alastruiel. He whispered something in her ear and after he was done she leapt forward and quickly dashed off to the north towards Mirkwood.

The sun was setting and Galador could see the edges of the dark and ominous forest as Alastruiel jetted forward growing ever closer to the forest.

Finally after a few long hours of riding they reached the rims of Mirkwood, dark fog seeped from the inside and came out to meet Galador as he strode closer on foot.

Galador was awestruck as he inched closer to the forest hand on the hilt of his sword and his staff in the other hand he walked slowly eyes darting back and forth at the sound of the crack of a twig or the rustle of leaves.

His elven eyes starred deep into the depths of the dark forest but saw nothing because of the lack of sunlight, the forest had an evil feeling about it.

Crack! Rustle! Rustle!

Sounds came from the bushes clear as day to Galador's ears. He raised his staff and yelled out in a firm and clear voice: "Calad oll!"

A stream of electric light came down from the sky through the dark trees and struck behind the bushes. Loud screeches came from them as the luminous light stopped and three burned and blackened orcs fell forward through the dark ominous bushes, they were dead.

Galador smiled with satisfaction as he strode forward feeling ever more confident with himself.

He trudged on through the mud, slime, leaves, and whatever else was there. His path was becoming more difficult as he went on, now he was made to jump over logs and kill a few orcs while doing so. The forest grew ever darker and the smell became sickly. The tree leaves were on the ground but it was still dark as night, but it was even darker because there was no moon. He looked forward and while walking rubbed the gem around his neck hoping it would light up soon.