As much to sooth myself as to sooth Carenloth, I got her brushes down and thoroughly curried her until her coat shone (well as much as it could with her thick winter hair). And the steady work of grooming her made it easy for me to do some thinking.
But not much came to me save the peace and quiet taking care of Carenloth gave me.
Shaking my head, I went back down between the roomy box stalls back to the House. I hurried past Rhean's empty stall and went back to my room to come up with a plan for Lord Elrond's Yule gift.
My calligraphy example was sadly botched as I mentioned. Besides, well, it wasn't really that special a thing. Not as special as it needed to be for the elf lord. It was all I could think of. I haven't much in the way of "crafty" skills (Not too clever with a needle and thread, or bead work, woodwork; that kind of thing). I needed to find something Lord Elrond really wanted, something that was not just hanging about the House, something…rare. He deserved it.
I sat up with that thought and a slow grin crossed my face.
Then I slumped down again: But how would I pull it off? I glanced toward my little patio, the fountain frozen into stillness. Snow was still softly falling from a uniformly grey sky. I imagined out on the road it was probably a good foot thick.
I got up and quickly went to the library. Hunting through the stacks I knew so well, I found what I was looking for with a minimum of searching.
Taking it to the long table in the center of the library, I pulled a lit branch of candles over to me and opened the large volume. A book on the flora and fauna of the North: Plants, beasties and all.
Ah…halenmyr. I read a good detailed description of it. I winced slightly as I realized I certainly had had ingested my share of the fungus. But what I was really looking for, I found at the bottom of the entry: generally where it grew.
I closed the book with a grin and took it back to the shelves. Going to the closest window, I looked up at the Misty Mountains. Chingyr Pass was the closest place to find it, though several other places were mentioned, including some caves near the Grey Havens. It did caution that permission was needed to harvest the fungus in several areas because the source of this rare herb was understandably protected and guarded. It seemed this fungus grew best in places that the elves frequented.
Luckily, Chingyr Pass was just up behind the high lake where the swans raised their cygnets each spring.
It wasn't that much of a ride, maybe a ten miles. Granted up a narrow twisting mountain trail, but still not terribly far. It should only take a day or so. Okay, well, maybe three.
I nodded to myself. I could go get the halenmyr for Lord Elrond! And wouldn't he be surprised! It was perfect. It fit all my criteria: It was something special, Elrond needed it and it was rare.
Hot dog! I rubbed my hands briskly together and went into my closet and pulled out my leather pants, thick wool tunic and the leather jerkin to go over it. I pulled out my rucksack and shoved a hasty drawing I did of the trail, got my dagger (sharpened just a few days ago), a water flask and with a small sigh, the first aid kit that the elf lord insisted I always take with me.
Gee, I wonder why…..
I woke while it was still dark and dressed quickly and warmly. Gathering my supplies, I heaved my rucksack over my shoulder and hurried through the House. Luckily, I did not pass anyone I knew well.
Saluting the guards cheerily, I headed off to the stables. As I saddled Carenloth, I knew my departure had not been done with much in the way of secrecy. Any elf who passed me knew who I was. But I was hoping, since I had not told anyone of my specific plans, that it would take a while before they had figured out what I had done and where I had gone. And by the time that happened, well, I planned to be right back in the House, with my Yule gift all prepared.
I decided to take a roundabout route to the Chingyr Pass, too, so it wouldn't be obvious where I was going. Instead of due east, I headed out south, towards the high sheep pastures. Once I reached them, I could cut across east and follow this track I saw on a map that joined up with the path that cut through the Chingyr Pass.
The weather outside was frightful----all right not going to sing a Christmas carol here, but several crossed my mind as Carenloth and I made our slow way through drifted snow up to the sheep pastures.
I was warm, there was no wind and the air was crisp and cold. Only a few flakes of snow drifted down.
We stopped when we reached the highest pasture. A breathtaking blanket of snow stretched for hundreds of feet: pristine, white, not a creature on it, not even any bunny or bird tracks….but I cocked my head in surprise as I noticed a pair of horse tracks. Who else would have come up this way? The sheep were all snug in their barn, a good mile behind me. Hm. Perhaps a guard or a hunter?
About to shrug it off as inconsequential, I looked off to the oak trees to the south, where the sheep usually gathered to get out of the sun, and noticed there was a horse beneath the bare boughs. But there was no equipage on it.
I urged Carenloth forward and she snorted in interest and picked up her heels, letting out a whinny as we got closer.
The strange horse threw up its head and I could immediately tell this was no elf or ranger's mount, but a wild or abandoned stallion. Its ruddy bay coat was matted with knots and dried scratches and scabs. His ribs showed through the winter fur. And its left front hock was held off the ground. I could see dried blood on the hoof. There were some bare streaks of earth where the animal had scraped the snow hunting grass.
"Poor lad! Where did you wander from?" I slipped slowly off Carenloth, who reached out to touch noses with the animal, who jerked his head back after a brief sniff and hobbled away.
I cautiously stuck out my hand, but the stallion laid back his ears. I stepped back and then noticed, as the stallion turned his head, he had an unusual ivory white hank of hair in his long tangled mane. There was no other white hair on him, save where his hair had undoubtedly grown back over injuries.
I didn't know what to do. Poor guy. I debated about going back to the stables and telling Cerwal about this lone stranger, but decided, surely here he would be all right for a few days until I got back from collecting the halenmyr.
Remounting, I saluted the skinny horse and slowly made my way off to the east as I intended, clouds of our steaming breath encircling us. About to shut the gate on the pasture, I heard a whinny from the bay. Carenloth whinnied back. Shaking my head, I turned my mare towards the Chingyr pass.
As we steadily ascended, I noticed that the sky and the light became greyer. Sighing, I hunkered down in my fur-lined cloak as the snow flakes began to fall faster.
Less than half an hour later, I could barely see beyond Carenloth's nose.
I pulled the mare to a halt and balancing on her rump, I looked back through the falling snow. Her hoof prints were rapidly being filled. Sighing, I urged her onward. From the map I had perused, the path widened enough for a small hut used by the guards for weather conditions such as these. There wasn't much to them, but it would be big enough for both me and Carenloth to get out of the snow for the night.
It seemed like a half an hour or so more before I could tell the path had widened. We halted and I stiffly slid out of the saddle. Holding the reins I began to walk slowly to the right, being very careful not to take a misstep. The memory of my journey with Lord Elrond two winters ago was fresh in my mind.
Shivering suddenly, I brushed the snow off my face and peered in the darkening shadows before me. It was a stand of stunted pines. As I got closer, I could make out the shape of what looked like a small cabin. Smiling, I walked faster and with relief I saw it was indeed, one of the perimeter huts.
I pushed on the door, but it wouldn't budge. Probably had not been used in a long time. I pushed harder. I heard the wood creak, but it did not open. Exasperated (and cold) I went around the hut, leaving Carenloth. There was a small window. I jumped up and tried to grasp the deep sill, but my hands slid off as if there was nothing there to hold onto. I tried three more times and then stood there staring at the window.
Quickly I went back to Carenloth and got back in the saddle. We went around to the side of the hut until I was parallel with the window. I leaned over and pushed my hand through the dark square. I felt resistance; as if I was pushing on stone, but my hand was centered through the window. Dropping my arm, I slumped in my saddle. Was this some kind of joke? Was I hallucinating?
I leaned over and pounded on the window "wall." "Darn it elf lord! How can you have a hut out here no one can get into!" I yelled in frustration. Carenloth shook her head. "Yes, you think Lord Elrond is an old silly, too; don't you?"
About to pull the mare back, I noticed the window sort of shimmer and then I knew it was really there. I quickly stuck my hand through the opening, and did not meet a stone wall!
"Magic!" I exclaimed out loud. It was magic and apparently saying the elf lord's name was the key to unlock it, or at least this particular hut; lucky for me. And I suppose using his name makes sense too. Otherwise, why would you be up here if not on his business? And the hut needed to be protected from being used as a den by animals (And if you were a creature of the dark, elvish things would probably repel you.)
Delighted the two of us wouldn't be stuck outdoors any further, I dismounted and led Carenloth to the front of the hut and pushed on the door. It still stubbornly refused to move. "Lord Elrond!" I shouted and I heard the click of the latch. I grabbed Carenloth's reins and pulled the mare into the hut.
Once inside, I closed the door and I couldn't help myself: I thumbed my nose at the worn oaken planks.
I settled Carenloth in the convenient area provided to the left side of the hearth. There was even straw on the ground and fresh straw in the manager (I could tell it was fresh by the color and smell). I got all Carenloth's equipage off and brushed her thoroughly. She nibbled on my hair as I took good care of her feet, my thoughts going to that poor stallion out in the meadow.
Finished, I found there was even a good-sized bag of oats. I gave her some and debated about boiling some for myself. But as I went to the fire, a yawn split my face. No, sleep is what I wanted. I hadn't ridden this long since late fall and I was a bit stiff and sore. The small hearth had kindling and logs already laid in it, so using the tinder and flint provided, I got the fire burning. Ahh, how wonderful the heat was! I rubbed my hands and then set out my bedroll near the flagstone hearth. A small rug lay there, which helped to keep the bone-chilling cold of the floor from seeping through. A few minutes of settling myself, and I was fast asleep.
So, are you amazed yet? I mean here I am, on my own, no elf lord or outriders, in a snowstorm and I haven't succumbed to frostbite or hypothermia or even a cold! I felt so empowered!
And the next morning, well things had only gotten a little worse. Nothing I couldn't handle, but, the storm had not let up much during the night and I really had to move a lot of snow away from the door so Carenloth and I could continue our journey.
But---the weather was fine once the sun had risen. The sky was filled with moving clouds and the snow sparkled everywhere. It was lovely.
So after plowing our way through some drifts, we finally reached the main trail up into the mountain, and though the snow was thick, the way was fairly clear and we climbed up into the Misty Mountains steadily.
Once past the midday meal, after rubbing my eyes for the hundredth time because of the snow glare, I realized we had actually been traveling through Chingyr Pass. Again, I congratulated myself on my ability to stay on the path. And so looking into the shadows, I kept a lookout for anything resembling a cave or caves.
I just wished the sun would get covered up with clouds, because my eyes were getting a bit blurry and crusty from tearing up a lot. Damn. It certainly would be silly to have gotten this far, only to go snow blind.
Finally, the sun settled far enough down that the mountainous outcroppings around us blocked the direct rays. The snow still sparkled, but it was more intermittent. Leaning over Carenloth's neck, I finally spied what looked like caves to my left!
Hot dog! I had done it! I'd found the caves! I stiffly dismounted and led Carenloth slowly to the largest opening which hung with glittering spears of icicles, making the cave look like the wide open mouth of the Abominable Snowman or something. I stood just inside the deep shadow brushing my sore eyes. I could not smell anything odiferous. Nothing but the hard sharp smell of cold stone and damp. A bit of dirt, perhaps. But certainly nothing indicating any animals lived in there. I peered closely at a protruding stone and noticed the Tengwar symbol for an "h" scratched into the stone. There were other letters, but I could not make them out. This definitely must be the right cave.
Patting Carenloth, I stepped into the dark. I paused and got my lantern off my saddle and taking a few moments, I got it lit and held it before me. Nothing but darkness stretched before me. Dropping Carenloth's reins, I walked cautiously forward, listening hard. All I could hear was my breathing and Carenloth's. I looked at the ground beneath my feet, but it was just soft grey, a rivulet of melt water running down the middle, glittering with ice on the edges.
Rubbing my eyes again, I brushed the tears away and looked about carefully. Halenmyr apparently grew in protected niches. But luckily, it was, when alive, a very bright green with an undercoat of purple. It would be hard to miss.
I heard Carenloth snort behind me and I turned, but the brightness of the light outside made her shape indistinct. Shaking my head, I crept further into the cave.
I walked along for about fifteen minutes, following the sound of water dripping. Hard to believe in the dead of winter there would be water dripping, but maybe there was a hot spring nearby.
The notes in the book I'd found in Elrond's library had said a great deal about the appearance of the herb, it's uses and where it was found, it didn't say much about the surrounding environment. So, heck, there could be anything in this cave.
Hopefully, nothing nasty!
Naw, there was that Tengwar "h" outside. Elves had been here. There was nothing nasty hiding in here.
My previous experience in a cave with Yko made goose bumps rise on my skin, but I pushed those memories away, straightened my back and moved more confidently forward. I knew no dream-eater hid in here. He or she wouldn't dare!
When I reached the dripping water, I gasped with delight as I looked about. There was indeed a heated pool of water and water dripped down off several stalagmites. And surrounding this pool, in tight bunches everywhere I swept with lantern light, was halenmyr. I had reached the mother lode as they say.
I set the lantern down and pulled out my dagger. Going to the closest bunch, I began to saw and scrape at it with my blade. Soon I had a tidy little pile of the fungus, which I stuffed in a cloth bag I had brought for just such a purpose.
Deciding that the warmth of the pool was enough, I gladly took off my thick gloves. Ah, it was much easier to cut the fungus grabbing it with bare hands than awkward gloves.
Soon the bag was full. I tied it up and set it aside. About to start filling another bag (I was going to get three) I heard far off, the whinny of Carenloth. Puzzled, I just shook my head. I think she missed that wild stallion.
As I scrambled over the rocks near the pool to get to another large growth of fungus, a breath of cold winter air swept through the cavern, and 'poof!' my lantern went out!
"Damn." I said, irritated. I turned around very carefully. It was pitch dark, but I had a sort of mental picture in my head of how I had gotten to where I was and so I carefully felt for the rocks I had climbed over.
The intermittent steam around me was filled with a slight mineral smell. I stopped to rub my eyes, actually kind of soothed by the utter darkness.
Then two things happened: I slipped and fell on my bum and then half-fell into the hot spring. And as I cursed and tried to get up, my hands inexplicably burning from my contact with the hot spring, I became gradually aware of a sickly green light coming from the center of the pool.
Elrond's book had said nothing about a haunted hot spring!