I know it won't work cause of ff.net's formatting but I got this part
where's there's a letter being read near the end, and I found this cool
handwriting script and I really wish it would show up. Anyway, here's the
next part. Sorry about the wait, school just started, I'm sure you can
empathize. But it's a pretty long chapter, with some important plot points,
and it gets the ball rolling for the real important stuff in the story. So
here's the next chapter of ....
The Stone of Malinya
The rest of the morning passed without incident. The entire company had breakfast with Lord Vecery and several of the Brelan men. Throughout the meal Risorine could not help but shoot contemptful glares in Legolas's direction. Seeing this, and deciding to at least attempt to stop it, Aragorn halted his captain with a look of his own; one that rulers of great cities had trembled before. Risorine immediately left Legolas alone, but no one knew how long it would last.
After breakfast the company was split up. Aragorn had been correct, the King of Brelan did indeed wish to take him on a tour of the great city of Miscalanth, and it would take up most of the day. Gimli, being their great Dwarf guest, used his influence with the men to earn himself a tour of his own. That is, a tour of the pubs and common places that Aragorn would not be visiting. He also asked if his good friend 'Salogel' could accompany them, and the men of Brelan readily agreed. With their paths set before them, it seemed sure that the day would be eventful for all.
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While Aragorn was begrudgingly accepting the King's invitation to view the city, Legolas and Gimli were changing for their own trip. The Elf was pleased to be back in casual clothes, even if they were Men's they were far more comfortable than formal wear. In private they spoke of their plans, to be friendly and courteous and be sure to ask of any stories of the Stone of Malinya but only in passing. It could not become known that they were searching for the Stone, for their quest depended greatly on secrecy. When breakfast was only several hours behind them Emilil knocked upon their doors, beckoning them to come for their tours. The friends eagerly accepted.
"This is our finest pub. I believe you will find the ale to your satisfaction, Master Dwarf." Emilil said with a smile as he indicated the building before them. They had walked through the city for near an hour, being shown various landmarks, when they finally arrived at 'The Happy Horseman'.
"I must first taste it to be sure, but I have a feeling I won't be disappointed." Legolas rolled his eyes from under his hood as the group followed behind the Dwarf, into the pub.
There was a good group of men inside. It was a little past noon and most were enjoying their lunches and speaking with friends. The establishment was a good size, built to fit many comfortably on a busy night, and the lighting was better than most, with several windows to allow the sun entrance and even more candles burning above their heads. Upon the group's entry many heads turned, and remained turned at the welcome and surprising sight of a Dwarf. A questioning look was passed around the room, and Emilil smiled with delight at being this great guest's escort. No sooner had they walked through the door than Gimli was assaulted with greetings and handshakes, far too many to follow. The Men were eager to talk with him, for they had never seen or met a Dwarf, and immediately began peppering him with questions. He was given a central seat at the bar, so he may speak and be heard by all, which suited him just fine.
Though he was speaking to many he directed his speech towards Emilil, the only man he truly knew, "You have a fair city, and it has been a great delight of mine to walk through it." Gimli said, then swished back a great mouthful of ale, "But its beauty pales in comparison to the quality of your ale." This brought with it a great roar of agreement. Legolas sat at the bar, near the edge of the group, unnoticed. He ordered a drink to keep up appearances, but drank little of it. The plan had been for both to engage in conversation with the Men of this city, to double their chances of hearing a tale of the Stone, but Legolas knew this would now be impossible. Every man in the pub was listening closely to the Dwarf's speech and the Elf would not be able to tear any of them away to speak with them.
Gimli was also thinking it would be unlikely they would learn anything of the Stone from this course of action. No man seemed eager to speak of himself or their land. They wanted only to hear the Dwarf's tales. This normally would have been a fantastic thing to Gimli, for he loved to speak long and be heard attentively, but on this occasion he found it disappointing that for once Men did not wish to speak of themselves. Long they stayed at the bar, Gimli pushing down his disappointment to enjoy the attention, and Legolas taking the time to think over all they knew and determine their next course of action. Little came to mind. He supposed he would have to sneak out of the castle afterall, late at night, and perhaps see what he could learn.
When many men had come and gone the group decided they must return to the castle, much to the disapproval of the Dwarf's listeners.
"I will return my friends. I need time to think of more tales to tell and must rest my weary tongue." Gimli assured them as he stepped out the door of The Happy Horsemen, followed shortly by Legolas and Emilil.
"Fine people you have here, very attentive." Gimli commented, as they made their way back to the Castle of Hileris.
"They think the same of you. Coming here has given them much to speak of for the next long while." Emilil said, pleased with the people's reaction to the Dwarf.
"They shall have to speak of it for long. Gimli spoke at such great lengths they will not be able to tell the entire tale at one sitting." Legolas replied, not putting much enthusiasm into their banter. Both were disappointed they had found no information, but could not openly share their feelings.
As they walked back they passed, for the second time, a great, guarded building that stood brightly in the city square. As before they gave it no notice, as their lowered spirits bid their feet to walk straight for the castle. But if they had asked, or even noticed the building they would have found the answers they seek. As it turned out, it was lucky for them that Aragorn was much more attentive to his surroundings, for later that night their hopes would be lifted once more.
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Aragorn only half listened as Lord Vecery explained in full detail the history of each milestone in his fair city, effectively making their official tour guide simply another spectator in their tour. The King of Gondor would normally give such things his full attention, but he could not seem to be able to force himself to listen. His mind was greatly disrupted with thoughts of the Stone of Malinya, and he could only hope that Legolas and Gimli would be able to find the necessary clues to locate it. This being the case his mind was unattentive as Lord Vecery displayed his great city. That is until they arrived at the great guarded building. Aragorn's attention was immediately drawn forth simply by the guards' presence for he had seen nothing else in the city, other than the Castle of Hileris, where guards were present, and he wondered what the building contained. There were few guards though, and he knew it would not be overly difficult to sneak in if one should want to, but still the fact that it was guarded seemed promising to him.
"Lord Vecery," He began, so intrigued that he didn't notice he had interrupted the King, "If I may, what is that building over there?"
Vecery seemed pleased that he had asked, and told him so, "That is our hall of records. All that was and is Brelan is stored within its walls, as will be all that comes to pass. Of course, some records are fragile and others secret so they are not for general public use, unless special permission is provided. Would you like to take a look inside?"
"Very much so. I am greatly intrigued by the history of nations; an entire hall of records to me is as valuable to mithril to a Dwarf." Aragorn replied, exaggerating a bit in hopes of a longer look in the hall.
Passing by the guards Aragorn noted it would be quite easy to sneak in, the two front guards were the hall's only protection. The ceiling stretched quite high, some ten feet, and there were windows set high in the stone walls. The building appeared to be only one vast room, filled with shelves of parchments, scrolls, and books. It was clearly more than just a hall of records, it was a great repository of knowledge.
"How do you go through it all?" Aragorn asked quietly and absently as he ran his hands along several book casings.
"We have historians for that. It is their job to read and learn about our past and knowledge, and if information is needed they are called upon immediately." Lord Vecery said, walking down a parallel aisle, enjoying the writings as much as Aragorn. He was proud of his city, and enjoyed showing off and learning of its past.
Aragorn could have stayed in the hall for years, not to learn of Brelan's history, but to search for any passages or clues about the Stone of Malinya. His heart constricted as he realized that somewhere in this room there most likely laid the answer he seeked, but he also knew it may take forever to find it.
{{Perhaps I can locate one of these historians,}} he thought, {{Surely they will know if there is any information about the Stone in these halls.}}
He turned away from the bookshelf to search for one of these historians, but his eye quickly became fixed on a case near a far wall. It was glass and locked tightly; filled with several scrolls, all tightly sealed. All were clearly marked with an Elvish symbol. Looking closer he realized the symbol was unknown to him, and gathered it came from the Elves who had once lived in the regions of Brelan but had long ago moved on to the Gray Havens.
"Lord Vecery, what is kept in this case?" He asked, wishing greatly to be able to hold and read the papers. In a kingdom that despised Elves it was a rare event to find anything with the symbols of the Eldar race, and he knew they must be important.
"In truth, we do not know." Vecery replied. Aragorn turned then, a look of confusion set upon his features, "Those are scrolls of old, dating back nearly six millenia. But alas, we cannot read them. They are written in a script unknown to any that now live within Brelan's borders. They are records kept long ago, when we once aligned ourselves with the Elves," he seemed to spit this word out, "We know that they are records of our past but we have none now that speak or read the language."
Aragorn nodded, noting the sadness in the King's voice. Not sadness for the Elves' departure, but for possibly having a piece of his land's history kept from him, never to be known.
Lord Vecery composed himself almost immediately and spoke with lighter words, "Come, I'm afraid we've no time to learn of past deeds now, but perhaps you can return here at a later date. There is much left to see."
"Of course." Aragorn reluctantly pulled himself away from the glass case, still wondering what secrets it held.
They departed the building and continued on through the busy streets, people moving from their path wherever they turned. Aragorn resisted the urge to look back longingly at the hall of records, and turned his attention back to Lord Vecery who was droning on about the construction of a tower in the city square. If he had been distracted by his thoughts before then now he had no chance of following the Lord's words. Aragorn listened patiently, waiting for the time when they would return to the castle and he could inform Gimli and Legolas of what he may have found. He only hoped the hall indeed held the answers they sought.
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Slightly later than usual the company from Gondor ate lunch in the halls of the Castle of Hileris. The meal had been delayed due to the length of Aragorn's tour, which had started earlier and ended later than Legolas and Gimli's. Having arrived late Aragorn had yet to speak with his companions about his findings. Having nothing of signifigance to report in return the Elf and Dwarf did not seek out a reason to speak with Aragorn, and had only the chance to speak in polite company at the noon meal.
Aragorn would not get a real chance to speak to his friends until much later that night. While Legolas and Gimli were having quite a fair afternoom, hunting with the Brelan men, Aragorn was forced to spend the greater portion of his day with Lord Vecery. He seemed forever cursed with the responsibilities of his title, as they spoke of trade possibilities and alliances of the two lands. Still nothing was yet confirmed as to a full alliance.
Finally able to take his leave after many hours with the Lord, Aragorn immediately headed for his chambers. He was disappointed to find that Legolas, Gimli, and the rest of his men had yet to return. Sighing in frustration he quickly wrote a note for each of his friends and slid them under the doors to their rooms. Having nothing else to do for the time he retired to his room and for a long time stood staring out his balcony, lost in thought.
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Gimli entered his room, content for the moment. Though the day had produced no clues as to the location of the Stone, he had enjoyed a great meal at 'The Happy Horseman', as well as a few ales, and the evening with the Brelan men had been pleasant, though uneventful. He had had little chance to speak with Legolas all day, having often been in the company of so many others that demanded his attention. But now the hour was late, and all were turning in for sleep. He was sure the Elf would be by later, perhaps through the window once more, and they could talk then.
It was only when he began to search the room for his bag of pipeweed that he even noticed the note on the floor. He unfolded it quickly, immediately recognizing Aragorn's handwriting.
~ Meet me at midnight in my quarters, I have much to tell you. ~
Gimli's eyes widened in surprise. He and Legolas had found nothing that day, but it seemed as though Aragorn had discovered something, and he hoped it was the Stone. Looking outside he noted it was near another hour until midnight, which was fine for it would mean everyone else would be asleep, but it also meant the Dwarf would have to wait that long to hear of Aragorn's news. Folding up the note and depositing it in his bag, Gimli once again began his search for the lost pipeweed. He found it a few moments later and happily filled his pipe. He sat and smoked quietly, lost in thought and enjoying the quiet of the castle. Once he found his eyes starting to shut as his thoughts calmed and his body relaxed, but he brought himself to full alert immediately. Legolas would never let the matter go if he missed their meeting because he fell asleep.
Deciding it was close enough to midnight, and confident the rest of the men were asleep, Gimli crept quietly from his room and down the hall. He took his time so as not to make a sound and soon reached Aragorn's door. Making only the faintest of noises he tapped on the door. It opened almost immediately and Aragorn quickly ushered him into the room, taking a habitual glance down the hallway after he was inside.
When the door was carefully shut the two moved to the balcony, so as to be as far from prying ears as possible.
"I am anxious to hear this news of yours." Gimli commented, still whispering despite the distance they put between themselves and any others who may be listening.
"In a moment, we must wait for Legolas." Aragorn said, leaning against the balcony railing and listening for another knock on his door. As it was he was very surprised when he felt a tap on his shoulder from behind him.
"You need not wait long then." Legolas commented, gracefully jumping down from the railing of the balcony.
Aragorn sighed, though smiling. Of course the Elf could not do the sensible thing and walk through the hallway, he would need to make his way over by traversing the outer wall of the great castle.
"You could have been spotted my friend." Aragorn reprimanded, though is heart was not in.
"There was none who could see me, I assure you. Unless you think there are more Elves in Miscalanth than just I." Legolas said, also taking a spot against the balcony railing. Pulling back his hood, his hair and skin glowed in the moonlight, his human disguise having worn off.
"Well, there was Algoral." Gimli mentioned, his mind immediately spotting an opportunity to prove Legolas wrong. It was not until he noted the shadow that passed across his friend's face that he realized his grave mistake, "Oh blast. I ..."
The Elf halted his words with a raised hand, but said no more on the matter. Legolas was dealing with his grief, and it would all be well in time. Until then the subject was closed.
Knowing he would need to be the first to speak after such an awkward moment in their speech, Legolas asked, "What did you find this day on your travels?"
"More than you two it would seem." Gimli grunted at this but said nothing. Aragorn continued, "Lord Vecery showed me much of his city but the only structure that truly caught my eye was the great hall of records, near the city square."
"I do not believe we were shown this hall." Gimli commented, thinking back.
"Of this I guessed, or at least, that you had not gone in, for it is forbidden unless special permission is granted. But this is unimportant, what I may have found in the hall is though."
"May have found? You are not sure what it is?" Legolas asked, grasping at understanding.
"I had not the chance to look," Aragorn said, "There were shelves and shelves, as high as the ceilings, all filled with records of the country's past and its knowledge. But this was not what I needed to tell you. I spotted a case nearly hidden in the shadows of the farthest corner. It was glass and contained the only documents in the structure that were locked away. When I asked what they were Lord Vecery informed me that they contained scrolls written by the Elves that once lived within Brelan's boundaries, but they know not what they say for no one that remains in Brelan now speaks or read the language. I would have tried to read them myself but Lord Vecery wished to move on and I did not wish to seem suspicious."
"What do you believe them to say?" Gimli asked, now very curious.
"I do not know, but would hope that within perhaps lay some secret about the location of the Stone of Malinya. There are historians whose only job is to read and learn about what is written in the normal scrolls, if the Stone's location was in them I believe they would have found it. I think our only chance of finding anything about the Stone, that is not general knowledge, is to open these scrolls and discover their contents." Aragorn said emphatically.
"I will go." Legolas offered immediately, not giving Aragorn a chance to continue.
"Not alone you won't." Gimli countered, just as quickly.
"Alas, I feel he should," Aragorn said, gaining both their attention, "The scrolls are locked away and to read them I fear it will be necessary to sneak into the hall in secret. Alone an Elf is quick and silent, not to mean any disrespect or judgment Gimli, but I believe it would be safer for him to go alone."
"Besides my friend, you cannot read Elvish script, I feel you would be of little help." Legolas commented softly, his head bowed in thought.
Gimli nodded, and crossed his arms, "When would you go?"
"I can go tonight. It is now late enough and I could return long before the sun shows itself." Legolas said, eager to read the scrolls.
Aragorn was unsure he liked the Elf going out and doing this so abruptly, he liked to have a plan and back-up plan when attempting something such as this. But these were rare circumstances; they would be in Brelan for only so long, and if they did not discover what the scrolls said now they might never get a chance. Aragorn would never again risk bringing an Elf, even Legolas, to this land that so hated them, and he doubted there were any others he could bring that would be able to read the Elven script.
"Very well. But be careful, and do not leave right away. I wish you to return to your chambers, and please, use the hall, and think of your course of action. The chamber of records is large and guarded by two centries at each doorway, but there are high windows set in the wall that it may be possible to climb in. I will leave it up to you to choose your own course of action, but I pray you be careful about it."
Legolas nodded, his face a stern mask, taking his mission with all seriousness, "If there is nothing else I should go prepare."
"That is all for now. I shall have to hear of your exploits of this day at a later date, but I heard many of Vecery's men speak of your day at 'The Happy Horseman'." Aragorn said.
"It was a fine day, but we both better leave. Already we have stayed longer than may be safe." Gimli commented and made his way to the door with a curt nod of his head to say good-bye. Aragorn watched him walk quietly across the room, his eyes straying for only a second. But when he turned around once more he found himself on an empty balcony. He spun around just in time to see a flash of gold hair as Legolas leapt to the next balcony and out of sight.
"Will Elves never understand the concept of doors?" He asked aloud, shaking his head as he went into his room. Laying on his bed he knew he would not find sleep that night, for his head would be filled with thoughts and wonderings of the Stone and Legolas's findings. But still he lay there, thinking, trying to dream but never quite making it.
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For near an hour Legolas stayed in his room after leaving Aragorn and Gimli. He changed into the darkest outfit he could find to make it easier to slip around in the night, though he doubted anyone would spot him anyway. Upon reflection he believed he did recall the building Aragorn had mentioned, and was confident he could find it again. He tucked a few things into his belt, his knives for one, and put on the Elvish boots he had packed away at the bottom of his bag; he would not be able to creep around quietly in Men's footwear. Having a not so clear, but usable, plan in his head, Legolas took off for the Brelan hall of records.
Weaving quietly through and out of the castle would take too much time, he decided, and instead scaled out his window. He was several stories up but the brick was thick and he got down easily. A few minutes later he had reached the ground. He hid behind several bushes, crept around the strangely alert guards, and then scaled a desolate spot of the guarding wall, all without making a sound.
His journey to the hall lasted nearly an hour, but involved nothing that needs telling. When he reached the hall he stopped, and observed for several moments. He would not be able to slip by the guards, for they were alert, and he did not wish to harm them unnecessarily for that was cruel and also would bring forth too much attention later on. The windows high in the walls seemed his only choice. Still creeping about, he made his way to the side of the building that was closest to the hall. He reached the roof rather easily, there having been a staircase to use, and then judged the distance from the roof of this building to the next. It seemed a simple enough jump, and with that thought he sprang forward and leapt through the air, landing firmly and silently on the roof of the hall.
From there he dropped to the edge and swung himself in through an open window. He was beginning to feel like a spider, jumping and sticking to walls, threading his web. But that was not a fair description, he did not stick to walls, he only found foot and hand holds that many Men would miss, or find unusable. Inside the building, he now only had to find the case and discover what secrets were hidden in its text.
His Elven vision was a wonderful blessing as he saw things in the pale moonlight that most would not see. It took him a few moments to find the case; Aragorn said it was in a shadowed, far off corner, so knew to look around the edges of the room. The walls filled with scrolls of knowledge and history impressed him, but he did not wish to read them; the knowledge of Men meant little to him. But a scroll of unknown Elvish origin would be a wonderful treat.
When he found the case, he briefly studied the scrolls that he could not yet touch. The seal was that of an Elf with high-standing military power, but he knew not whose it was. He then had the problem of opening the treasure chest, and stealing his gold without anyone knowing he had been there. The lock was old, and would crack if forced open, someone would surely notice this, though perhaps not right away.
Any fracture made in the glass's structure would be extremely obvious and he could not repair glass, alone, on this night. Sighing, knowing this would take some time from his eternal life, he knelt down and began to pick the lock with a small piece of metal. He was not surprised by the construction of the lock, it took several tries to get the pick in just right, then he had to carefully turn it until it clicked. It took nearly ten minutes, for the pick kept slipping out of place as he turned, until he finally heard the satisfying clang of metal as it seperated itself from one another.
Legolas took the lock off with an air of satisfaction, then carefully removed the coveted, ancient papers. He carefully removed their rope bindings, making sure not to damage the seal. He was forced to light a small candle in front of him, for even with Elvish eyes he could not read well in pure darkness. There were four scrolls in all, and the first he opened was long, but not full. It was written in an Elvish script unknown for some time, though there were a number of Elves who could still write and speak it, there was little to no use of it, and it was learned only in respect for the days of past. Fortunately, of the few that were forced to learn it were the royal princes of Mirkwood.
~I hope all the scrolls are not as this, for it is useless and says little.~ Legolas thought to himself. The page was a single long list, filled with many things. Duty schedules for guards, an inventory of supplies, a list of supplies needed, and so forth. It seemed nothing more than a simple 'To do' list. Shaking his head, Legolas returned the scroll to its bindings and replaced it exactly. The next scroll held nothing of importance either; it was clearly a journal, and private, so he only skimmed for the words 'Stone of Malinya', but did not read it. The third scroll would prove to be a revelation though, so much so that Legolas forgot that there was a fourth scroll that he would never read. It was the first line that stole his attention completely.
It was long and said much, but here are the parts of importance;
"The Confessions and Failings of the Elvish Race,
It was us. We are the thieves who stole from the thieves. The Brelans stole the Stone of Malinya, and kept it well hidden, but we recovered what was lost, and hope to one day return it. There is much chaos and hate in this world, but we do not believe it is yet time to return the Stone to the people. Perhaps someday soon. Until that time it will remain hidden, from all Men, Dwarves, and even Elves, until such a time that these races unite, and are able to trust each other without the help of the Stone and its power. Peace and love should be something shared willingly, without help, not forced upon races by the power of the Elves. This will be the only account of its location, but even this is useless without the alliance of the races, so the information matters not."
Below this paragraph was a map, precisely drawn, of Brelan, mainly focussing on the area Miscalanth was now built upon. There was an Elvish rune marking the page; it was the symbol of Malinya. Legolas smiled brightly. He had found what they needed, it would be so simple to use this to find the Stone. They could return the peace to Middle-Earth, he thought, pushing back the words written that spoke of not using the Stone, thinking them folly. He began to wrap up the scroll when he noticed another paragraph that greatly interested him. Though he did not read the entire scroll, this passage needed to be read immediately as it pertained to a friend he had known for far too short a time.
"Why did he make such a promise, knowing we could not keep it? Why would he promise the Men of Brelan our assistance in their war when he knew we could not interfere. I believe I know the answer, but wish for a different one, for I do not wish to put so much blame on this one Elf for the loss of so many lives. Being the chief advisor to Brelan's King for so long, he obviously felt sorry for the Men of their fine country, but he should not have involved himself the way he did. He promised them archers to aid them in their battle, 500 strong. We could not do that though, it would be wrong. A slaughter against the Men who challenged Brelan in the first place, and it was not our place to act. Of course, he could not understand this.
The Brelans hate us now, all of us, and their Elven chief advisor has gone into hiding, where even his kindred cannot find him. I hope he is well. There is nothing left for us here, so we shall travel to the Gray Havens, and perhaps there we can find peace in the land. Oh, why did he do it? Why Algoral? You knew we could do nothing."
"Algoral?"
TBC
Okay, same post really, but here's my thank-you's to my reviewers.
betrayedoceans - hope you weren't waiting for too long Trinity girls - are you three people? Anyway, thanks for reviewing. All of you. shopndrop85 - thanks for sticking around Helen J. Crumpholt - it's good to be back. The snoring bit was inspired by my father. Peridot Pooka - HA! Hooked another one. I'm such a great fanfic fisherwoman. MeShelly - I love getting your reviews, they're so enjoyable to read. Koku Kung - keep reading. I think you may be surprised at some of the things I have in store for Risorine. Blayze - many thanks. It's great reviewers like you, and many others, that keep my passion for writing and posting alive.
The story should be moving along faster now because I have the next sequence of events very well planned out. Hope you'll be sticking around. Diana ^_^
*cries as she looks at calendar* Two Towers release is soooooooooooooooo far away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Stone of Malinya
The rest of the morning passed without incident. The entire company had breakfast with Lord Vecery and several of the Brelan men. Throughout the meal Risorine could not help but shoot contemptful glares in Legolas's direction. Seeing this, and deciding to at least attempt to stop it, Aragorn halted his captain with a look of his own; one that rulers of great cities had trembled before. Risorine immediately left Legolas alone, but no one knew how long it would last.
After breakfast the company was split up. Aragorn had been correct, the King of Brelan did indeed wish to take him on a tour of the great city of Miscalanth, and it would take up most of the day. Gimli, being their great Dwarf guest, used his influence with the men to earn himself a tour of his own. That is, a tour of the pubs and common places that Aragorn would not be visiting. He also asked if his good friend 'Salogel' could accompany them, and the men of Brelan readily agreed. With their paths set before them, it seemed sure that the day would be eventful for all.
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While Aragorn was begrudgingly accepting the King's invitation to view the city, Legolas and Gimli were changing for their own trip. The Elf was pleased to be back in casual clothes, even if they were Men's they were far more comfortable than formal wear. In private they spoke of their plans, to be friendly and courteous and be sure to ask of any stories of the Stone of Malinya but only in passing. It could not become known that they were searching for the Stone, for their quest depended greatly on secrecy. When breakfast was only several hours behind them Emilil knocked upon their doors, beckoning them to come for their tours. The friends eagerly accepted.
"This is our finest pub. I believe you will find the ale to your satisfaction, Master Dwarf." Emilil said with a smile as he indicated the building before them. They had walked through the city for near an hour, being shown various landmarks, when they finally arrived at 'The Happy Horseman'.
"I must first taste it to be sure, but I have a feeling I won't be disappointed." Legolas rolled his eyes from under his hood as the group followed behind the Dwarf, into the pub.
There was a good group of men inside. It was a little past noon and most were enjoying their lunches and speaking with friends. The establishment was a good size, built to fit many comfortably on a busy night, and the lighting was better than most, with several windows to allow the sun entrance and even more candles burning above their heads. Upon the group's entry many heads turned, and remained turned at the welcome and surprising sight of a Dwarf. A questioning look was passed around the room, and Emilil smiled with delight at being this great guest's escort. No sooner had they walked through the door than Gimli was assaulted with greetings and handshakes, far too many to follow. The Men were eager to talk with him, for they had never seen or met a Dwarf, and immediately began peppering him with questions. He was given a central seat at the bar, so he may speak and be heard by all, which suited him just fine.
Though he was speaking to many he directed his speech towards Emilil, the only man he truly knew, "You have a fair city, and it has been a great delight of mine to walk through it." Gimli said, then swished back a great mouthful of ale, "But its beauty pales in comparison to the quality of your ale." This brought with it a great roar of agreement. Legolas sat at the bar, near the edge of the group, unnoticed. He ordered a drink to keep up appearances, but drank little of it. The plan had been for both to engage in conversation with the Men of this city, to double their chances of hearing a tale of the Stone, but Legolas knew this would now be impossible. Every man in the pub was listening closely to the Dwarf's speech and the Elf would not be able to tear any of them away to speak with them.
Gimli was also thinking it would be unlikely they would learn anything of the Stone from this course of action. No man seemed eager to speak of himself or their land. They wanted only to hear the Dwarf's tales. This normally would have been a fantastic thing to Gimli, for he loved to speak long and be heard attentively, but on this occasion he found it disappointing that for once Men did not wish to speak of themselves. Long they stayed at the bar, Gimli pushing down his disappointment to enjoy the attention, and Legolas taking the time to think over all they knew and determine their next course of action. Little came to mind. He supposed he would have to sneak out of the castle afterall, late at night, and perhaps see what he could learn.
When many men had come and gone the group decided they must return to the castle, much to the disapproval of the Dwarf's listeners.
"I will return my friends. I need time to think of more tales to tell and must rest my weary tongue." Gimli assured them as he stepped out the door of The Happy Horsemen, followed shortly by Legolas and Emilil.
"Fine people you have here, very attentive." Gimli commented, as they made their way back to the Castle of Hileris.
"They think the same of you. Coming here has given them much to speak of for the next long while." Emilil said, pleased with the people's reaction to the Dwarf.
"They shall have to speak of it for long. Gimli spoke at such great lengths they will not be able to tell the entire tale at one sitting." Legolas replied, not putting much enthusiasm into their banter. Both were disappointed they had found no information, but could not openly share their feelings.
As they walked back they passed, for the second time, a great, guarded building that stood brightly in the city square. As before they gave it no notice, as their lowered spirits bid their feet to walk straight for the castle. But if they had asked, or even noticed the building they would have found the answers they seek. As it turned out, it was lucky for them that Aragorn was much more attentive to his surroundings, for later that night their hopes would be lifted once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn only half listened as Lord Vecery explained in full detail the history of each milestone in his fair city, effectively making their official tour guide simply another spectator in their tour. The King of Gondor would normally give such things his full attention, but he could not seem to be able to force himself to listen. His mind was greatly disrupted with thoughts of the Stone of Malinya, and he could only hope that Legolas and Gimli would be able to find the necessary clues to locate it. This being the case his mind was unattentive as Lord Vecery displayed his great city. That is until they arrived at the great guarded building. Aragorn's attention was immediately drawn forth simply by the guards' presence for he had seen nothing else in the city, other than the Castle of Hileris, where guards were present, and he wondered what the building contained. There were few guards though, and he knew it would not be overly difficult to sneak in if one should want to, but still the fact that it was guarded seemed promising to him.
"Lord Vecery," He began, so intrigued that he didn't notice he had interrupted the King, "If I may, what is that building over there?"
Vecery seemed pleased that he had asked, and told him so, "That is our hall of records. All that was and is Brelan is stored within its walls, as will be all that comes to pass. Of course, some records are fragile and others secret so they are not for general public use, unless special permission is provided. Would you like to take a look inside?"
"Very much so. I am greatly intrigued by the history of nations; an entire hall of records to me is as valuable to mithril to a Dwarf." Aragorn replied, exaggerating a bit in hopes of a longer look in the hall.
Passing by the guards Aragorn noted it would be quite easy to sneak in, the two front guards were the hall's only protection. The ceiling stretched quite high, some ten feet, and there were windows set high in the stone walls. The building appeared to be only one vast room, filled with shelves of parchments, scrolls, and books. It was clearly more than just a hall of records, it was a great repository of knowledge.
"How do you go through it all?" Aragorn asked quietly and absently as he ran his hands along several book casings.
"We have historians for that. It is their job to read and learn about our past and knowledge, and if information is needed they are called upon immediately." Lord Vecery said, walking down a parallel aisle, enjoying the writings as much as Aragorn. He was proud of his city, and enjoyed showing off and learning of its past.
Aragorn could have stayed in the hall for years, not to learn of Brelan's history, but to search for any passages or clues about the Stone of Malinya. His heart constricted as he realized that somewhere in this room there most likely laid the answer he seeked, but he also knew it may take forever to find it.
{{Perhaps I can locate one of these historians,}} he thought, {{Surely they will know if there is any information about the Stone in these halls.}}
He turned away from the bookshelf to search for one of these historians, but his eye quickly became fixed on a case near a far wall. It was glass and locked tightly; filled with several scrolls, all tightly sealed. All were clearly marked with an Elvish symbol. Looking closer he realized the symbol was unknown to him, and gathered it came from the Elves who had once lived in the regions of Brelan but had long ago moved on to the Gray Havens.
"Lord Vecery, what is kept in this case?" He asked, wishing greatly to be able to hold and read the papers. In a kingdom that despised Elves it was a rare event to find anything with the symbols of the Eldar race, and he knew they must be important.
"In truth, we do not know." Vecery replied. Aragorn turned then, a look of confusion set upon his features, "Those are scrolls of old, dating back nearly six millenia. But alas, we cannot read them. They are written in a script unknown to any that now live within Brelan's borders. They are records kept long ago, when we once aligned ourselves with the Elves," he seemed to spit this word out, "We know that they are records of our past but we have none now that speak or read the language."
Aragorn nodded, noting the sadness in the King's voice. Not sadness for the Elves' departure, but for possibly having a piece of his land's history kept from him, never to be known.
Lord Vecery composed himself almost immediately and spoke with lighter words, "Come, I'm afraid we've no time to learn of past deeds now, but perhaps you can return here at a later date. There is much left to see."
"Of course." Aragorn reluctantly pulled himself away from the glass case, still wondering what secrets it held.
They departed the building and continued on through the busy streets, people moving from their path wherever they turned. Aragorn resisted the urge to look back longingly at the hall of records, and turned his attention back to Lord Vecery who was droning on about the construction of a tower in the city square. If he had been distracted by his thoughts before then now he had no chance of following the Lord's words. Aragorn listened patiently, waiting for the time when they would return to the castle and he could inform Gimli and Legolas of what he may have found. He only hoped the hall indeed held the answers they sought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Slightly later than usual the company from Gondor ate lunch in the halls of the Castle of Hileris. The meal had been delayed due to the length of Aragorn's tour, which had started earlier and ended later than Legolas and Gimli's. Having arrived late Aragorn had yet to speak with his companions about his findings. Having nothing of signifigance to report in return the Elf and Dwarf did not seek out a reason to speak with Aragorn, and had only the chance to speak in polite company at the noon meal.
Aragorn would not get a real chance to speak to his friends until much later that night. While Legolas and Gimli were having quite a fair afternoom, hunting with the Brelan men, Aragorn was forced to spend the greater portion of his day with Lord Vecery. He seemed forever cursed with the responsibilities of his title, as they spoke of trade possibilities and alliances of the two lands. Still nothing was yet confirmed as to a full alliance.
Finally able to take his leave after many hours with the Lord, Aragorn immediately headed for his chambers. He was disappointed to find that Legolas, Gimli, and the rest of his men had yet to return. Sighing in frustration he quickly wrote a note for each of his friends and slid them under the doors to their rooms. Having nothing else to do for the time he retired to his room and for a long time stood staring out his balcony, lost in thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gimli entered his room, content for the moment. Though the day had produced no clues as to the location of the Stone, he had enjoyed a great meal at 'The Happy Horseman', as well as a few ales, and the evening with the Brelan men had been pleasant, though uneventful. He had had little chance to speak with Legolas all day, having often been in the company of so many others that demanded his attention. But now the hour was late, and all were turning in for sleep. He was sure the Elf would be by later, perhaps through the window once more, and they could talk then.
It was only when he began to search the room for his bag of pipeweed that he even noticed the note on the floor. He unfolded it quickly, immediately recognizing Aragorn's handwriting.
~ Meet me at midnight in my quarters, I have much to tell you. ~
Gimli's eyes widened in surprise. He and Legolas had found nothing that day, but it seemed as though Aragorn had discovered something, and he hoped it was the Stone. Looking outside he noted it was near another hour until midnight, which was fine for it would mean everyone else would be asleep, but it also meant the Dwarf would have to wait that long to hear of Aragorn's news. Folding up the note and depositing it in his bag, Gimli once again began his search for the lost pipeweed. He found it a few moments later and happily filled his pipe. He sat and smoked quietly, lost in thought and enjoying the quiet of the castle. Once he found his eyes starting to shut as his thoughts calmed and his body relaxed, but he brought himself to full alert immediately. Legolas would never let the matter go if he missed their meeting because he fell asleep.
Deciding it was close enough to midnight, and confident the rest of the men were asleep, Gimli crept quietly from his room and down the hall. He took his time so as not to make a sound and soon reached Aragorn's door. Making only the faintest of noises he tapped on the door. It opened almost immediately and Aragorn quickly ushered him into the room, taking a habitual glance down the hallway after he was inside.
When the door was carefully shut the two moved to the balcony, so as to be as far from prying ears as possible.
"I am anxious to hear this news of yours." Gimli commented, still whispering despite the distance they put between themselves and any others who may be listening.
"In a moment, we must wait for Legolas." Aragorn said, leaning against the balcony railing and listening for another knock on his door. As it was he was very surprised when he felt a tap on his shoulder from behind him.
"You need not wait long then." Legolas commented, gracefully jumping down from the railing of the balcony.
Aragorn sighed, though smiling. Of course the Elf could not do the sensible thing and walk through the hallway, he would need to make his way over by traversing the outer wall of the great castle.
"You could have been spotted my friend." Aragorn reprimanded, though is heart was not in.
"There was none who could see me, I assure you. Unless you think there are more Elves in Miscalanth than just I." Legolas said, also taking a spot against the balcony railing. Pulling back his hood, his hair and skin glowed in the moonlight, his human disguise having worn off.
"Well, there was Algoral." Gimli mentioned, his mind immediately spotting an opportunity to prove Legolas wrong. It was not until he noted the shadow that passed across his friend's face that he realized his grave mistake, "Oh blast. I ..."
The Elf halted his words with a raised hand, but said no more on the matter. Legolas was dealing with his grief, and it would all be well in time. Until then the subject was closed.
Knowing he would need to be the first to speak after such an awkward moment in their speech, Legolas asked, "What did you find this day on your travels?"
"More than you two it would seem." Gimli grunted at this but said nothing. Aragorn continued, "Lord Vecery showed me much of his city but the only structure that truly caught my eye was the great hall of records, near the city square."
"I do not believe we were shown this hall." Gimli commented, thinking back.
"Of this I guessed, or at least, that you had not gone in, for it is forbidden unless special permission is granted. But this is unimportant, what I may have found in the hall is though."
"May have found? You are not sure what it is?" Legolas asked, grasping at understanding.
"I had not the chance to look," Aragorn said, "There were shelves and shelves, as high as the ceilings, all filled with records of the country's past and its knowledge. But this was not what I needed to tell you. I spotted a case nearly hidden in the shadows of the farthest corner. It was glass and contained the only documents in the structure that were locked away. When I asked what they were Lord Vecery informed me that they contained scrolls written by the Elves that once lived within Brelan's boundaries, but they know not what they say for no one that remains in Brelan now speaks or read the language. I would have tried to read them myself but Lord Vecery wished to move on and I did not wish to seem suspicious."
"What do you believe them to say?" Gimli asked, now very curious.
"I do not know, but would hope that within perhaps lay some secret about the location of the Stone of Malinya. There are historians whose only job is to read and learn about what is written in the normal scrolls, if the Stone's location was in them I believe they would have found it. I think our only chance of finding anything about the Stone, that is not general knowledge, is to open these scrolls and discover their contents." Aragorn said emphatically.
"I will go." Legolas offered immediately, not giving Aragorn a chance to continue.
"Not alone you won't." Gimli countered, just as quickly.
"Alas, I feel he should," Aragorn said, gaining both their attention, "The scrolls are locked away and to read them I fear it will be necessary to sneak into the hall in secret. Alone an Elf is quick and silent, not to mean any disrespect or judgment Gimli, but I believe it would be safer for him to go alone."
"Besides my friend, you cannot read Elvish script, I feel you would be of little help." Legolas commented softly, his head bowed in thought.
Gimli nodded, and crossed his arms, "When would you go?"
"I can go tonight. It is now late enough and I could return long before the sun shows itself." Legolas said, eager to read the scrolls.
Aragorn was unsure he liked the Elf going out and doing this so abruptly, he liked to have a plan and back-up plan when attempting something such as this. But these were rare circumstances; they would be in Brelan for only so long, and if they did not discover what the scrolls said now they might never get a chance. Aragorn would never again risk bringing an Elf, even Legolas, to this land that so hated them, and he doubted there were any others he could bring that would be able to read the Elven script.
"Very well. But be careful, and do not leave right away. I wish you to return to your chambers, and please, use the hall, and think of your course of action. The chamber of records is large and guarded by two centries at each doorway, but there are high windows set in the wall that it may be possible to climb in. I will leave it up to you to choose your own course of action, but I pray you be careful about it."
Legolas nodded, his face a stern mask, taking his mission with all seriousness, "If there is nothing else I should go prepare."
"That is all for now. I shall have to hear of your exploits of this day at a later date, but I heard many of Vecery's men speak of your day at 'The Happy Horseman'." Aragorn said.
"It was a fine day, but we both better leave. Already we have stayed longer than may be safe." Gimli commented and made his way to the door with a curt nod of his head to say good-bye. Aragorn watched him walk quietly across the room, his eyes straying for only a second. But when he turned around once more he found himself on an empty balcony. He spun around just in time to see a flash of gold hair as Legolas leapt to the next balcony and out of sight.
"Will Elves never understand the concept of doors?" He asked aloud, shaking his head as he went into his room. Laying on his bed he knew he would not find sleep that night, for his head would be filled with thoughts and wonderings of the Stone and Legolas's findings. But still he lay there, thinking, trying to dream but never quite making it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For near an hour Legolas stayed in his room after leaving Aragorn and Gimli. He changed into the darkest outfit he could find to make it easier to slip around in the night, though he doubted anyone would spot him anyway. Upon reflection he believed he did recall the building Aragorn had mentioned, and was confident he could find it again. He tucked a few things into his belt, his knives for one, and put on the Elvish boots he had packed away at the bottom of his bag; he would not be able to creep around quietly in Men's footwear. Having a not so clear, but usable, plan in his head, Legolas took off for the Brelan hall of records.
Weaving quietly through and out of the castle would take too much time, he decided, and instead scaled out his window. He was several stories up but the brick was thick and he got down easily. A few minutes later he had reached the ground. He hid behind several bushes, crept around the strangely alert guards, and then scaled a desolate spot of the guarding wall, all without making a sound.
His journey to the hall lasted nearly an hour, but involved nothing that needs telling. When he reached the hall he stopped, and observed for several moments. He would not be able to slip by the guards, for they were alert, and he did not wish to harm them unnecessarily for that was cruel and also would bring forth too much attention later on. The windows high in the walls seemed his only choice. Still creeping about, he made his way to the side of the building that was closest to the hall. He reached the roof rather easily, there having been a staircase to use, and then judged the distance from the roof of this building to the next. It seemed a simple enough jump, and with that thought he sprang forward and leapt through the air, landing firmly and silently on the roof of the hall.
From there he dropped to the edge and swung himself in through an open window. He was beginning to feel like a spider, jumping and sticking to walls, threading his web. But that was not a fair description, he did not stick to walls, he only found foot and hand holds that many Men would miss, or find unusable. Inside the building, he now only had to find the case and discover what secrets were hidden in its text.
His Elven vision was a wonderful blessing as he saw things in the pale moonlight that most would not see. It took him a few moments to find the case; Aragorn said it was in a shadowed, far off corner, so knew to look around the edges of the room. The walls filled with scrolls of knowledge and history impressed him, but he did not wish to read them; the knowledge of Men meant little to him. But a scroll of unknown Elvish origin would be a wonderful treat.
When he found the case, he briefly studied the scrolls that he could not yet touch. The seal was that of an Elf with high-standing military power, but he knew not whose it was. He then had the problem of opening the treasure chest, and stealing his gold without anyone knowing he had been there. The lock was old, and would crack if forced open, someone would surely notice this, though perhaps not right away.
Any fracture made in the glass's structure would be extremely obvious and he could not repair glass, alone, on this night. Sighing, knowing this would take some time from his eternal life, he knelt down and began to pick the lock with a small piece of metal. He was not surprised by the construction of the lock, it took several tries to get the pick in just right, then he had to carefully turn it until it clicked. It took nearly ten minutes, for the pick kept slipping out of place as he turned, until he finally heard the satisfying clang of metal as it seperated itself from one another.
Legolas took the lock off with an air of satisfaction, then carefully removed the coveted, ancient papers. He carefully removed their rope bindings, making sure not to damage the seal. He was forced to light a small candle in front of him, for even with Elvish eyes he could not read well in pure darkness. There were four scrolls in all, and the first he opened was long, but not full. It was written in an Elvish script unknown for some time, though there were a number of Elves who could still write and speak it, there was little to no use of it, and it was learned only in respect for the days of past. Fortunately, of the few that were forced to learn it were the royal princes of Mirkwood.
~I hope all the scrolls are not as this, for it is useless and says little.~ Legolas thought to himself. The page was a single long list, filled with many things. Duty schedules for guards, an inventory of supplies, a list of supplies needed, and so forth. It seemed nothing more than a simple 'To do' list. Shaking his head, Legolas returned the scroll to its bindings and replaced it exactly. The next scroll held nothing of importance either; it was clearly a journal, and private, so he only skimmed for the words 'Stone of Malinya', but did not read it. The third scroll would prove to be a revelation though, so much so that Legolas forgot that there was a fourth scroll that he would never read. It was the first line that stole his attention completely.
It was long and said much, but here are the parts of importance;
"The Confessions and Failings of the Elvish Race,
It was us. We are the thieves who stole from the thieves. The Brelans stole the Stone of Malinya, and kept it well hidden, but we recovered what was lost, and hope to one day return it. There is much chaos and hate in this world, but we do not believe it is yet time to return the Stone to the people. Perhaps someday soon. Until that time it will remain hidden, from all Men, Dwarves, and even Elves, until such a time that these races unite, and are able to trust each other without the help of the Stone and its power. Peace and love should be something shared willingly, without help, not forced upon races by the power of the Elves. This will be the only account of its location, but even this is useless without the alliance of the races, so the information matters not."
Below this paragraph was a map, precisely drawn, of Brelan, mainly focussing on the area Miscalanth was now built upon. There was an Elvish rune marking the page; it was the symbol of Malinya. Legolas smiled brightly. He had found what they needed, it would be so simple to use this to find the Stone. They could return the peace to Middle-Earth, he thought, pushing back the words written that spoke of not using the Stone, thinking them folly. He began to wrap up the scroll when he noticed another paragraph that greatly interested him. Though he did not read the entire scroll, this passage needed to be read immediately as it pertained to a friend he had known for far too short a time.
"Why did he make such a promise, knowing we could not keep it? Why would he promise the Men of Brelan our assistance in their war when he knew we could not interfere. I believe I know the answer, but wish for a different one, for I do not wish to put so much blame on this one Elf for the loss of so many lives. Being the chief advisor to Brelan's King for so long, he obviously felt sorry for the Men of their fine country, but he should not have involved himself the way he did. He promised them archers to aid them in their battle, 500 strong. We could not do that though, it would be wrong. A slaughter against the Men who challenged Brelan in the first place, and it was not our place to act. Of course, he could not understand this.
The Brelans hate us now, all of us, and their Elven chief advisor has gone into hiding, where even his kindred cannot find him. I hope he is well. There is nothing left for us here, so we shall travel to the Gray Havens, and perhaps there we can find peace in the land. Oh, why did he do it? Why Algoral? You knew we could do nothing."
"Algoral?"
TBC
Okay, same post really, but here's my thank-you's to my reviewers.
betrayedoceans - hope you weren't waiting for too long Trinity girls - are you three people? Anyway, thanks for reviewing. All of you. shopndrop85 - thanks for sticking around Helen J. Crumpholt - it's good to be back. The snoring bit was inspired by my father. Peridot Pooka - HA! Hooked another one. I'm such a great fanfic fisherwoman. MeShelly - I love getting your reviews, they're so enjoyable to read. Koku Kung - keep reading. I think you may be surprised at some of the things I have in store for Risorine. Blayze - many thanks. It's great reviewers like you, and many others, that keep my passion for writing and posting alive.
The story should be moving along faster now because I have the next sequence of events very well planned out. Hope you'll be sticking around. Diana ^_^
*cries as she looks at calendar* Two Towers release is soooooooooooooooo far away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!