The Study of Ælfroond
I do not own any of the places of characters from LotR... but do you even recognize any? (evil cackel) Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Chapter 1: Findings
The young woman brushed dust off the lid of what appeared to be an ancient wooden chest. The once strong and polished wood had deteriorated, making the chest difficult to remove without causing damage or even destruction.
Deep in the ruins of what once had been a grand castle, Loviisa marvelled at the intricate patterns etched into the metal that bound the chest together – she traced a vine lightly with her fingertip. This was a marvellous find, most of the relics found in the hidden ruins were so badly aged that it was nearly impossible to see the beautiful designs on them. Pulling out her walkie-talkie, Loviisa Calinaclari Kielo pressed down on the button and took a deep breath.
"Professor Rempel, I found something. I think I'll need some help moving it."
"Miss Kielo? Ah yes, I'll send a few people over to help... where are you?"
Loviisa looked around her, "I went through a tunnel in the back of the fireplace in the hall of fire. It leads strait to where I am."
There was a pause, "and where are you, exactly?"
"I'm not sure," Loviisa held her lantern up higher so she could see more of the expansive vault around her. "Some sort of chamber – I've only just started looking around."
Again a pause, this time though, when the archaeologist's voice came back over the radio it was highly excited, "Don't do anything else until I get there, this might be the mother load!"
Loviisa grinned and held back a girlish squeal of delight, "where do you think I am?"
"The old stories tell about a secret study that the magic lord of Karnigul kept all his spell and potion books in, as well as his history books. Ælfroond was supposedly the greatest of the historians and healers. I believe these ruins to be Karnigul – the home of the magician Ælfroond, the second Master of the Air."
The young archaeologist knelt, stunned, in the dust of the chamber, barely registering the presence of another team of students as they entered through the tunnel.
Surely it couldn't be true? Ælfroond, lord of the hidden realm of Karnigul, master of the air, magician, healer, historian... this was his personal, secret study?
The others had started setting up tower lamps and, after a warning was called to cover their eyes, a switch was flicked and light flooded the enormous chamber.
Loviisa, who hadn't paid heed to warning, was blinded for a moment, then, once her eyes adjusted to the light, uncovered her eyes and gazed around her.
The high walls were covered with book shelves, the floors with carpets at various stages of decomposition. There were several small tables with what once might have been comfy chairs littered around the room, and at the far end near a large set of boarded up windows was a large, ornately carved desk.
Indeed, it was a study.
In a daze, the archaeology students wandered around the room, looking at the ancient books on the shelves, the dim, faded paintings and tapestries on the walls, and the elegant tables, chairs, and couches.
But Loviisa, she was drawn towards the desk.
At first glance all one noticed was that it was beautifully made, patterns of leafy vines twisted around it, and a bright star was carved into the centre.
On second glance she noticed that there were moulty feather quills, bits of crumbling parchment and bottles of long-ago dried up ink on the desk.
It took her at least until her eighth or ninth glance that she realized that the desk, unlike everything else in this treasure trove of artefacts, was completely untouched by the countless millennia it had sat unused. The wood gleamed like it had been recently been polished, and there wasn't even a trace of dust upon it.
This must be made with magic; Loviisa marvelled at the sheer impossibility of her thoughts.
This must prove that the ancient lords were sorcerers. Or, she thought, at least this Ælfroond was.
One of her fellow students, Hal, came up and stood beside her.
"Amazing! This place has to prove that the old myths are true – that there really were Haltija! Can you imagine? Magic? Amazing!"
Loviisa smiled at her companion, "You've believed in the Haltijatar since you first heard the myths. You're granny was so taken with the old tales and she passed that down... why else would your mother have named you Ælfhald?"
The young man grinned.
"How did you find this place, Lov?"
"There was a strange pattern to the stones around the hearth – I merely touched a star-shaped rock and this passage opened. Lucky break, eh?"
Hal snorted, "lucky, indeed! You must be the luckiest person I've ever met! This has to be the biggest find since old Stephenson discovered the catacombs underneath Valkolinnake – the sarcophagi of the ancient kings of Vanhamaa. You'll be in the history books for this, Lov."
Loviisa smiled, her exhilaration causing her too let out a 'whoop!' of excitement.
"Sweet Eru," a voice exclaimed from the entrance.
All turned to see the short professor Rempel gaping in amazement.
"I've seen this room before!"
Ba-dum dum dum............... oooh, this looks interesting, eh?