In An Age Before – Part 22
Chapter Nineteen
Fangorn Forest - The Second Age of the Sun
In the afternoon two days later, Helluin and Beinvír stepped from the grasslands and into the forest, as if in taking that single stride they went from the present into some long ago night. 'Neath the leaves the air was still, and the canopy obscured the bright light of the sun. Little grew on the forest floor; indeed 'twixt the roots and the boles of the trees there lay mostly mosses, humus, and rocks laid bare as the soil was slowly consumed o'er countless years. Because of this, fodder was scarce and few animals dwelt in the forest for lack of low growing and tender shoots. Squirrels and their relatives there were, and some kinds of birds too that favored the hunt, or the nuts and berries of trees. Of larger animals, there were 'naught but a few foxes and cats that preyed upon the squirrels. Helluin and Beinvír also sensed a watchfulness and curiosity about them, as it were a vapor suffusing the air, but no voices did they hear. 'Naught but the sounds of the breeze amongst the leaves far o'erhead and the creaking of branches gave voice to the woods.
(Note: In the early Second Age, the south border of Fangorn Forest lay to the eastern margin of Nan Curunír, east to the Wold and the banks of Anduin, and in the north, to within eight leagues of southern Lindórinand with which it had once been contiguous. The forest had been contracting since the Elder Days, and continued to do so into the Third Age, diminishing from a primeval forest that had once extended into Eriador as far as the Ered Luin.)
"'Tis like standing in a crowd wherein all hold their breath and await some doom," Beinvír observed in a hushed voice. "I feel that I am as much watched as I am watching, and by more eyes, yet 'tis a different feel than in Drúwaith Iaur."
"I have felt such a mood aforetime, but only in the depths of Greenwood, and only then at times when trouble brewed," Helluin said. "I am sure there art Huorns here, and with them no doubt, the Onodrim."
Beinvír nodded. In the forests of her home there were no such creatures, nor was it so…treeish. "The forests of Eriador art perhaps of similar age, but neither so vast, nor so dense. Hither truly is a realm of trees, and I feel out of place in it as I do not in Eriador."
"This forest is indeed of similar age and vast, though not a fraction so vast as Greenwood, and yet I mark thy words," Helluin said. "Here all feels as it were compressed in spirit, a world reserved for trees and their kin, wherein all others art indeed out of place. 'Tis a world of its own, for it lives on the time span of trees, not on those of Elves or Men."
They continued north, so near as they could tell the direction, sighting on some trunk straight ahead in line with ones closer and further, and keeping to that line. Every so often one or the other would climb up to assure themselves that indeed the Hithaeglir still marched to the west on their left. 'Twas some time ere either noted what they hadn't heard.
"No sound of running water do I hear," Beinvír said softly, "no stream or creek, or river's whispered flow amidst this forest."
"There art rivers to the north, or at least I have seen two passing from the forest and eventually down to Anduin," Helluin said, "yet the closer of them lies well 'nigh 100 miles north, though of its path within the forest I know 'naught."
Shortly later they heard from a great distance booming calls that echoed amidst the trees and seemed to rebound back from the very walls of the Hithaeglir to the west. From what bird or beast these came, neither ellith could guess. Only could they tell that the call was answered by other calls from several directions and distances. This recital continued apace ere it ceased, leaving the ensuing silence yet the more profound as evening fell.
That night, when it became too dark to reliably find their way, Helluin and Beinvír stopped and made themselves uncomfortable amidst a group of rocks. This had been Helluin's precaution, to avoid being crushed if some of the surrounding trees decided to wander during the night. At this explanation, Beinvír looked askance at her friend but accepted her advice. She had spent most of her life amidst forests wherein the trees didn't wander. Her own first impulse would have been to seek a night's shelter off the ground amongst the branches.
"Were I elsewhere I would agree with thee," Helluin said, "but 'til I discover more of this forest's mood, I shalt err on the side of prudence and rest amongst the rocks."
Some hours later, the creaking and grumbling they had heard all day picked up apace, as did the sound of wind in the branches. Ere dawn the forest settled down much as it had been the day before, yet when they set off walking, Helluin pointed out that in some places roots had shifted in the soil, or the ground had a look as of something dragged 'cross it. At last she came to a spot much like any other and stopped.
"And what strikes thee as odd about this?" She asked Beinvír, nodding ahead.
Beinvír looked carefully. As aforetime, the ground showed signs of disturbance. Directly ahead stood a stout old evergreen of undeterminable species. 'Twas not so like unto any she knew that she could name it beyond doubt. Aside from this, its crown was quite a bit shorter than the canopy. It rose from twinned trunks to a single bole, and then carried two primary branches dangling at equal height upon opposite sides. A few smaller branches made up its crown, whilst a long fringe of epiphytic moss hung in a mass of tangles 'neath them. It gave an unsettling impression, having a strangeness she couldn't place or identify. She looked back at Helluin with questioning eyes.
"It should not be here," Helluin said, "or leastwise, it wouldn't grow here of its own accord. T'would starve for light 'neath the taller trees of the canopy if 'naught else. I am sure it hath come down from the mountain slopes far to the west, and so 'tisn't truly a tree."
She led Beinvír forward 'til they were standing two fathoms in front of it. At that point she began speaking in a tongue the Green Elf had ne'er aforetime heard, a slow, soft, speech she could only describe as "rustling". Helluin continued on through the next hour whilst Beinvír watched, trying to restrain herself from mockery. Interesting as it had been at first, she found her friend's monologue was rapidly afflicting her with boredom. Finally she could stand it no longer and she interrupted Helluin.
"Pray tell, what lullaby art thou presenting to yonder tree? Surely 'tis as deeply asleep as e'er it shalt be? I pray thee cease ere I join it."
"Patience, my friend, I have 'nigh completed our introduction."
"Our introduction to what? Dost thou now believe thyself in the company of some gôrgbu perhaps? I have harkened on quiet nights to thy tales of conversations with the trees of Greenwood. Even thou admit that oft as not they dozed off mid-sentence. Hither now thou art conversing with one that doth remain asleep. Helluin, sometimes a tree is simply a tree."
"'Tis not simply a tree," Helluin protested.
Her words were drowned out by a great creaking and shifting. Beinvír's eyes went wide as the 'tree' turned 'round to face them and blinked, then leant forward to gaze more closely at them. It had large dark eyes, ancient and sad, and they regarded her dolefully ere it straightened and spoke.
"Hoooo-hummmm, the Hasty Elf and the Hastier Elf," it said in Silvan, "both new to Fangorn, for I know thee not, and I should know thee I suppose, if thou had been here aforetime. Indeed if thou had been here afore I would know thee."
"As I was saying," Helluin began in Silvan, ere she resumed in Entish. The Onod quickly cut her off, much to her chagrin.
"Thy accent is abominable, Hasty Elf. Where'er did thou learn thy Lamb Enyd¹, hmmmmm?" ¹(Lamb Enyd, Tongue of the Ents = lamb(tongue) + enyd(Ents, pl) Sindarin)
Helluin sighed and answered in Silvan.
"At first from a company of Entwives in West Beleriand long ago, and thence more recently from Oldbark in Greenwood. Thou say I have an accent?"
The Onod seemed to study Helluin again, taking his time and perusing her thoroughly.
"Oldbark has an affectation of speech much like what thou would call a lisp. Oldbark, Leaflock, Firpate, Larchtongue, Mapletwig, and all the rest o'er there in Greenwood sound 'that way'," he reported with certainty. "Now, of the Entwives, say thou hast seen them truly? How long ago? Whither? And whence, most recently?"
Helluin sighed. This Onod was more hasty than any she could imagine. He hadn't even introduced himself! And yet he was hurriedly pressing her for tidings of the Entwives. At her first meeting with Oldbark, it had been days ere they'd broached the topic. She shook her head.
"First, I would know thy name, or at least such of it as thou would hear me call thee by," Helluin said. "Thence to the Entwives; I have seen them but once. 'Twas 1,376 years ago that I met a wandering company upon the slopes of the Ered Wethrin in the Woods of Nuath, in the west of Beleriand that now lies 'neath the sea. Thither I taught songs of Valinor to them and they taught their language to me. And they told of how they wandered long and far out of their lands beyond the Ered Lindon, seeking after new gardens and yet e'er west, and in doing thus had lost their way and lost their mates. Shortly thereafter I was commanded by Ulmo to Avernien and saw them ne'er again. I know not whether they came hence from Beleriand, or were whelmed in its drowning, or were lost in the War of Wrath, for indeed 'twas much fire, and many chasms opened in that time."
"And thou hast seen them not in Eriador, nor in any field or garden in thy travels?"
"Nay, I have seen 'naught of them since. Only south of Greenwood, ere the minions of Sauron the Accursed ravished that land, have I seen fields and orchards they might have found fair, yet those lands were then made barren and none dwelt thither."
The Onod seemed to bristle at her words, looming up and clenching his great hands.
"I have lived all my life in Eriador, and in those woods I have seen 'naught of them either," Beinvír added in a placating tone.
"Then they were betrayed by the Valar to wander west to 'naught but their doom," he said, but with sarcasm rather than sadness.
Helluin found this statement made her vastly uncomfortable, whilst Beinvír's eyes widened in shock. 'Twas well 'nigh blasphemy! Unconsciously Helluin and Beinvír backed up several paces.
"Say rather that they were drawn toward the Light of Aman and I should agree, but perhaps they found their doom with the times. 'Tis in the hearts of all noble beings to make their way into the West. 'Twas want of the blessing of the Undying Lands that compelled them thither," Helluin said.
"Nay, they were indeed betrayed as were all who were led astray and went thither to heartbreak and thralldom. Only those of weak mind, standing bedazzled by the Light, found their happiness in that realm. Did thou thyself not choose exile, Golodh?" He asked with condescension. "Did not the treasures wrought in imitation of that realm lead all thy people to heartbreak and death? Thou know of what I speak. Whither now art the great lords and fathers of thy people? In the Halls of the Dead; there only is thy reward. Such is the gift of Manwë to the Children of Ilúvatar, for in seeking dominion o'er Eä he can bestow no boon save death." The Onod regarded her smugly as Helluin ground her teeth.
"I have stood 'neath the Two Trees and I have lived in Aman," Helluin spat, "whilst thou hast lingered in thy forest. I know the Blessed Realm whilst thou know it not. Save thy ill-spirited words! They have no wisdom and they have no persuasiveness. Indeed thou speak with the viper's tongue of Morgoth, may he be a thousand times damned!"
Unconsciously she had taken the Sarchram into her hand, whilst on the Onod's face an expression of rage grew to twist his features. All 'round them a great rustling arose, as of a multitude of branches stirred by a sudden wind. The earth 'neath their feet shook as with the beat of many great drums.
"Take not the name of the true Lord of the Arda in vain, or swiftly shalt thy doom come upon thee!" The Onod threatened. A ghostly pale light glowed in his eyes.
He made to advance; Helluin raised the Grave Wing, her eyes crackling with blue fire.
"What is thy name?" She demanded, cocking back her arm.
"Thou knows my name," he gloated, "and in thy time thou shalt worship me."
"He is no Onod!" A deep voice boomed from the shadowed forest. "Out! Out fell spirit! You have no place here, imposter! This is my realm and I shall strip thee of thy skin!"
Even as the Onod took his first step toward the Elves there was movement, surprisingly swift, from all 'round. A circle of mighty figures broke from the shadows of the forest and converged upon them. In form each was different from the others, yet all were recognizably of one kindred. The nameless one froze and watched them warily as they formed a standing ring of trunks that swayed inward and outward together as if blown to and fro by a fierce storm wind.
To Helluin and Beinvír it seemed a violent and primitive dance, and the figures raised their booming voices in a chant, slow and deep, but with great volume and power. And now Helluin understood what passed, for she had heard its like long ago. The chant found its counterpoint and a harmonic arose, the throbbing hum of a standing wave of sound that shook the ground in pulses, echoing and reechoing, and growing e'er louder. The Elves stopped their ears. The very air beat upon them. And then a blinding flash like unto a lightning strike exploded in their midst and all ended in silence. The nameless Onod had vanished, and in his place lay a scorched depression holding but a few smoldering embers. A thin tendril of smoke rose from it.
"Such were the songs of power of the Mighty from the West," Helluin whispered in awe, "and in the War of Wrath did they level mountains and lay low all their foes."
The Enyd gathered 'round the Elves and looked them o'er with expressions of concern.
"'Twas fortunate I was able to gather a moot," the leader of the Enyd told them, speaking 'hastily' in Silvan for Beinvír's benefit, "for one or two of us alone would not have sufficed to drive forth a spirit of such dark malevolence. You are more brave and more foolish than Elves were in the old days," he told Helluin gravely, "to oppose a Maia thus…detestable, shape-shifting, impersonating, lying, brooo-hooom!"
"Sauron?" Beinvír asked just to be sure.
"Foul-mouthed, black-hearted, life-leeching, soul-stealing, knee-bending, evil-eyed, greedy-handed, meat-eating, blood-drinking, bone-grinding, tooth-gnashing, skin-flaying, eye-blinding, thrall-binding, slave-driving, Yrch-breeding, Tor-farming, war-mongering, craven-bellied, villain of many names…not to be hasty, but…yes."
Helluin groaned. Again she hadn't recognized him.
"Is he gone?" Beinvír asked, looking 'round anxiously.
"Oh most certainly," the Onod assured her, "he knows better than to stay anywhere near so many of us. It has been a very long time indeed since he came hither, but we remember him. An Age or two isn't long enough to forget Melkor's little slave. He has no doubt gone back to whatever evil he was hatching ere he came hither seeking thee."
"Us?" The Green Elf squeaked.
"He certainly didn't come here looking for us," said the Ent. "He would have known the reception we'd give him…just like last time."
Here the other Enyd shook their 'heads' and murmured in agreement.
"I am called by many names, and these art as long as my years, but in your tongue I am Fangorn¹. You see, young Elflings, 'tis like this…" he began. Then Fangorn preceded with a slow recitation, explaining their previous meetings with Sauron Gorthaur, their rejection of him along with his master long ago, and their Ages-long defense of the forest. In the twilight, ere e'er the Eldar marched west, the Onodrim had guarded the mighty woods of Middle Earth against the fell shadows of Melkor, and the shadows had fled before them. ¹(Fangorn, Treebeard = fang(beard) + orn(large tree) Sindarin)
Helluin was busy furiously memorizing everything she heard. Here was a wealth of lore. Treebeard was Fangorn and he was the forest, or at least he embodied its essence and virtues. (The concept, he'd explained, didn't translate well into kelvaric speech since its foundations were olvaric…the slow intertwining of root fibers through soil, and the ceaseless absorption of light and water and minerals, but all within a spiritual realm). With the other Onodrim he kept order in Fangorn, much as Oldbark did in Greenwood. They herded the trees, managed the Huorns, protected the olvar at Yavanna's wish, and kept strangers out of trouble if they sought it not and came without evil intent.
Like their forest, they were more intense than the Enyd of Greenwood, more numerous and more active, and more cohesive as a group in exercising power. Treebeard had claimed that Fangorn Forest held a measure of 'treeness', (the Entish word didn't translate into the Elven tongues, he'd said), equal to that of Greenwood, but 'twas concentrated in a fraction of the space, hence their forest seemed more 'treeish'. It all made sense in a way.
What amazed Helluin at first was that they could sing with such power as to drive off Sauron. Then she recalled Oldbark's belief that in a far and ancient time, the trees had raised their voices in praise of the Valar when they had lived on the Isle of Almaren 'neath the Light of the Lamps. Now after hearing their voices, more than by any other token, did she find credence in his words. And having lived amongst the Valar, a single fallen Maia seemed a manageable threat. Indeed they seemed little impressed or concerned with him. They could be indispensable allies.
"Would thou stand with us in war, should Sauron embattle the free peoples of the world?" She asked hopefully.
Treebeard regarded her for a long moment as if trying to understand her question.
"We shall certainly drive him from our forest, if that is what you mean, but if you ask us to go to battle beyond our borders, then the answer is no. Our power is granted to us for the protection of the forests, and that responsibility was defined in our making. 'Tis our part in the Song of the Ainur. We cannot change our doom."
"But…" Helluin began, but Treebeard cut her off, a rare act for an Onod.
"No buts! It hath always been thus and it will always be so for so long as we can do so. When all the world was forest under stars, Morgoth fled north to the mountains and ice. He burned Anfauglith lest trees come thither from Beleriand. Did you not know? Yet now the forests contract. They have been contracting since ere the sun and moon. We fade, just as your people do. It is the Song…and our parts lasts not until the end. We know this and accept it. Time passes; all things must change."
"I understand," Helluin said. Yet she was already thinking of plans by which to draw Sauron into Fangorn and entrap him there. Somehow Treebeard seemed to sense this.
"It is not wise to overstep your place, Noldo. Ever that was your people's failing. If Sauron comes here, then he shall come. If not, then you shall not compel him hither. Fear not; he was not meant to rule Arda any more than Melkor was, though both shall leave their mark in suffering, and that too was in the Song."
Helluin looked at him. 'Twas against her nature to just sit by and let be, for it irked her to wait deedless rather than to try and shape her times for the better.
"Morgoth was the marring of his age, as Sauron will be to his, the lesser servant of a greater master, and that fitting to the fading of all things in Arda. Ever shall good and evil contest, but with ever lessened power, for the morning of Arda is long past, its noon time come and gone, and the afternoon shall be a long waning to twilight. You shall see much of it, Helluin, if that is your fate."
"I only want to help," she said, sounding more plaintive than she had intended.
"You shall do your part," he told her calmly, "no more, no less. We are all here for a reason, even if that purpose is forever hidden from us. Go forward with faith in the Song; make the best choices you can and follow your heart."
Helluin nodded and fell silent. She looked over at Beinvír and saw that her friend was hugging herself and softly trembling, and that her eyes were wide and fearful. 'Neath Treebeard's watchful gaze she moved behind the Green Elf and wrapped her arms 'round her, settling her chin atop the shorter elleth's head in a comforting way. Beinvír closed her eyes and leant back against Helluin accepting her closeness and warmth.
"'Tis twice now he hath sought thee out," the Green Elf mumbled. "Sauron pays thee particular attention for some reason and we know not why. I fear for thee greatly. I fear for us."
Helluin didn't know what to say to assuage those fears. She didn't understand why Sauron would want anything to do with her. It went without saying that they were enemies fore'er. She had fought against his forces whilst he was Morgoth's lieutenant, but so too had many of the Sindar and all the remaining Noldor in Middle Earth. She was neither royalty, nor had she been a captain in Beleriand. If anything, she had been an embarrassment to the Noldorin armies; undisciplined, ungovernable upon the field, unpredictable, and given to fighting alone in a murderous frenzy. She had made many of her comrades uncomfortable; indeed no few had come to fear her battle mania. And she had always been something of an outsider even in her own culture, for she had been unsocial, a loner. All she could do was give Beinvír a squeeze and softly kiss the top of her head. The last thing she wanted to do was drag her friend into danger. She'd been there, done that.
With the Host of Fingolfin she had marched from Aman. Beside her had marched her younger brother, Verinno, eager for adventure and hoping to see Middle Earth with his older sister, whom he'd believed could do anything. Yet she hadn't even been able to protect him long enough for him to set foot upon the Hither Shores. She had lost him in the Grinding Ice. She had failed him.
Helluin had come to hate the House of Fëanor for abandoning them at the Helcaraxë and burning the Teleri's ships to strand them. They had already inaugurated their rebellion with the kinslaying at Alqualondë whither many of her friends had died, but in the far north they had committed worse, for in causing Verinno's death, the act of kinslaying had become more than personal. Six hundred years and more passed in Beleriand, and finally at Avernien she had slain Amrod and Amras, and she had gone after Maedhros and Maglor intending to spill their blood as well. She had hated them for their part in their father's crimes. She had hated them for killing her brother, but she had hated herself as well. She had failed him and she would not let such a thing happen again. She would not fail her trusting new friend.
"We shalt go back through Eregion," she said. "In the morning we shalt turn south, retracing our steps, but this time fording Angren and avoiding the forest of the Enedwaith. I shalt return thee safely to Eriador, thy home."
"And what shalt thou do then?" Beinvír asked, turning to face Helluin in the circle of her arms. She was e'er so worried for her even though she knew the Noldo had spent centuries wandering alone. "Wilt thou stay or wilt thou journey thither alone?"
Helluin chewed her lip a moment, thinking. T'would be more pleasant to remain in Eriador with Beinvír and let Celeborn and Galadriel fare as they would, but in so doing she would lose the opportunity to solidify the future course of the Nandor of Lindórinand. It wouldn't feel right. She had urged King Lenwin to approach the Naugrim of Khazad-dûm in friendship, and as she had been in Eregion in 992, she was still the best one to broker an alliance with the Dwarves. Her heart told her that she could not abandon this mission, for its success could save many lives and perhaps an entire realm.
"Once I know thou art safely home, I shalt make my way to Lindórinand by the quickest paths, and thither promote an alliance 'twixt that realm and Khazad-dûm. Only I am known to all parties, those of the mellyrn forest, Durin's Folk, and the refugees of Ost-In-Edhil. I must do this." Ere she'd finished half her words, Beinvír was shaking her head, 'nay'.
"Much would I favor returning to my homelands," Beinvír said, "but this I will not have upon my conscience, for to set thee upon the quickest path to Lindórinand means thou shalt take the road through Eregion to Khazad-dûm. Thou would again come 'nigh Sauron without need. Nay, we shalt not turn south. Tomorrow we shalt continue north and I shalt go with thee to Lindórinand. Besides, I desire to meet my long sundered kinfolk and carry tidings thence to their king of his cousin, Dálindir."
"I can carry such tidings to King Lenwin, Beinvír," Helluin protested. "In some future days of peace shalt we go thither, perhaps with Dálindir and all his company. For now, I would see thee safe…"
"No, Helluin! I shalt not leave thee to tread dangerous paths alone and for no need! We art close, art we not?" She turned to Fangorn and asked, "how many leagues lie 'twixt here and the Golden Wood?"
"The Golden Wood…Lórglad," the Onod mused as if sampling the flavor of the words, "Laurelindórinan, Valley of Singing Gold, for they sing in Lindórinand still, do they not? Vale of the Land of the Singers it is now called. Its southern borders lie 50 leagues north and Tuna-i-Aldoen but three more 'cross Celebrant. It is a week's travel to get there through the forest, Hastier Elf."
"One week only," Beinvír admonished Helluin, "but if thou escort me to Eriador, then thou shalt not come thither 'til mid-Cerveth, (mid-July), and this 9 Lothron, (May 9th)…or perhaps not at all should things go ill." She shivered at the thought of Helluin passing 'nigh Ost-In-Edhil. Sauron would certainly sense her presence. He'd found her here in Fangorn even further away.
"But…" Helluin began, yet for the second time that day she was cut off by the Onod.
"Such a course makes sense," Treebeard reasoned, "and Eriador is more likely to become a battlefield than is Lindórinand, I think. In Sauron's malice is lust to ruin first Eregion and Lindon, for there his chief enemies dwell. He cares little yet for the Nandor while the Noldor and the Sindar yet remain. Go to Lindórinand, Helluin. Take your friend to see her kin. There have been some changes you would do well to know."
With a groan Helluin abandoned her protests for that time. Though she still had many misgivings, she was glad to have Beinvír's company. And so they continued on their way after some further advice from Treebeard about his forest.
To Be Continued