In An Age Before – Part 107
Chapter Seventy-three
Eriador – The Third Age of the Sun
Now at the end of Lothron (May) T.A. 1057, the two ellith came o'er the Hithaeglir by the High Pass which leads down to Rivendell, and thither they repaired for several days, holding counsel with Elrond for to hear the tidings of the western lands. Good company they shared too with Lady Celebrían, the twain Elladan and Elrohir, and young Arwen, now 816 years of age. They spoke also with their old friend Glorfindel, and with Elrond's counselors, Erestor and Gildor Inglorion.
In T.A. 1029, Mallor had taken the throne of Arthedain as its third king. In T.A. 1015, Ciryaher, became the fifteenth King of Gondor, following the death of his father, King Ciryandil, in the siege of Umbar. In T.A. 1050, King Ciryaher had broken that siege and subjugated the Haradrim, taking thence the title Hyarmendacil I, signifying South Victor.
Yet when all their lore was shared and all their tales told, they had learnt 'naught of the whereabouts of Mithrandir. In fact, of Eriador little tidings did they hear, save that some of the Periannath had settled thither, mostly east of Weathertop about the Great East Road. These folk called themselves Harfoots, lived in burrows, farmed quietly, and kept to themselves. Indeed the Men of all three North Kingdoms had marked them not at first, clustered as they were about the confluence of their borders, and when indeed these subjects were reported to the lords of those lands, their homesteads and fields were already established. In that time the kings of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan gave them leave to settle and then ignored them thereafter. They had no riches, seemed to have no real ambitions, and appeared useless as warriors. As for taxing their crops, 'twas pointless, for one family of Men could farm three to five times the land tilled by a family of Hobbits.
So 'twas that after a week in the Hidden Valley, the two ellith found themselves upon the Great East Road, making their way west into Eriador. The Ford of Bruinen they crossed, and passing thence through Rhudaur 'twixt the Troll Shaws and The Angle, came three days later to the bridge o'er the Hoarwell, as Men called it, which was to the Elves, the Mitheithel.
"When last we saw him, 'twas to the west and 'nigh Baranduin," Beinvír observed that afternoon, "and off this road, I wager, our chances shalt increase."
Helluin said 'naught for some moments, weighing the value of seeking for the Istar in those locales in which they'd last met him…54 years aforetime.
"He could be anywhere," she finally replied. "Indeed 'twas to Lindon and the Havens that I had thought to go, for to ask of Círdan after his whereabouts…unless upon some of thy folk we should chance"
Upon that thought did the Green Elf concentrate for a moment, and then her face brightened with something remembered.
"The day Mithrandir sought our aid, he intended also to request 'aught of Tórferedir and Dálindir as well," she said, and to Helluin's questioning look she added, "'twas to protect the Periannath who would come to Eriador that he wished to enlist my people."
"…and those art now 'nigh to hand," Helluin said to complete the thought as a wry grin grew upon her face. "So we art to hunt the new-come wee mole-folk in hopes of finding the Laiquendi and thence Mithrandir, for to report the failure of our mission. I can imagine 'naught that I should enjoy more. At least t'will make for a shorter walk, I wager."
They turned then their steps from the road, making their way north into the country east of the Weather Hills. Thither they sought not for the actual burrows of the Harfoots, but rather for evidence of their tillage. This they eventually came upon; small fields of a few acres, close furrowed, with many kinds of crops already in fair growth, for 'twas now mid-Nórui (June).
"As farmer folk they seem successful enough," Helluin remarked after examining a few carrots, onions, and potatoes. Though small in acreage, the yield from this Periannath's field would be high as 'twas, (by comparison to the fields of Men), well 'nigh fussy in its planting and weeding. Somewhat undersized plants of impeccable quality grew in closely ordered ranks and files. All in all 'twas evidence of loving attention and extensive practical knowledge of the agrarian way of life. For a moment the Noldo wondered if she'd see milk cows the size of large dogs.
"Company comes," Beinvír announced with a shift of her eyes to her left.
A moment's concentration from Helluin confirmed the approach of another.
"Ho there," a slightly high-pitched voice called out in the Common Tongue from 'nigh shortly later, "don't be botherin' me crops, I say."
The ellith turned to the voice and were met with the sight of a barefoot Perian in rough trousers and shirt, hastening towards them in an agitated state. He came up to them huffing and puffing, and they marked his somewhat advanced age, ruddy complexion, and corpulence. No lack of food has this one suffered of late, they observed…nor hath he any estimation of the potential danger he hath charged in to.
Short-lived this short one shalt be if he makes a habit of confronting thus armed strangers, Helluin remarked to Beinvír silently with a quick glance into her eyes.
Blessed with a farmer's wisdom of the land and ignorance of 'aught else he is, I deem, the Green Elf replied. Still, we shan't be murdering him this day o'er a carrot.
Nay, we shalt not…this day.
"A pause, I beseech thee, good farmer," Helluin said to the Perian, "we have no designs upon thy crops, I assure thee."
The Perian had come to stand before them, hands on hips and a stern expression upon his face. The Noldo's courtly speech had given him pause indeed, for he had expected the guilt of a thief caught red-handed, or the begging of a hungry vagrant. This new land he had come to but a few years aforetime held strange folk, and 'twas not the first time he'd found such wandering his fields. The fact that little e'er went missing he chalked up to good fortune and his own vigilance. Now he marked that these were Elvish folk, and wanderers too if their attire told their tale.
"Elves ye be," he said, nodding to agree with himself. "Jus' as well then, I say. I had thought ye be highwaymen or criminals when I first saw ye. I seldom see Elves."
Many a highwayman he hath seen hither, no doubt, Helluin said silently to Beinvír in a glance.
"Have ye seen any other Elves than us o' late?" Beinvír asked.
"Ahhh, lost ye friends have ye?" The farmer asked seriously. He paused a moment to recollect, actually scratching his head to prompt his memory. "Well then, I last saw some other Elves three days past, sneaking through the hedgerow yonder," he said triumphantly whilst pointing to a place some 30 yards away. Sure enough, a narrow gap 'twixt adjacent plants could just be seen.
"Thank ye kindly, good farmer," Helluin answered. "We'll seek for 'em that way."
After she and Beinvír had moved several paces towards the hedgerow, the farmer bade them, "good luck findin' yur friends."
Then he turned to walk back to his home and the quick glance he cast o'er his shoulder a few strides later showed that the Elves must have made their way already through the hedge, for 'twas no sign of them. He didn't see the two ellith following in stealth.
"So, 'tis the town of the Periannath," Helluin said, "and it could go long unmarked."
"Aye, 'tis little enough to be seen," the Green Elf agreed as she gazed toward the series of rough plank doors set into a steep bank just ahead. The bank was well shaded by shrubbery and a few low trees downslope so as to be semi-hidden; very likely to be bypassed by the casual observer. 'Naught but a few small prints were to be seen upon the well-packed earth of the trail passing 'nigh, and all was far off any beaten track.
Beinvír took in the surrounding land with a long-practiced eye.
"Were I to keep watch upon thither settlement, I should do so from yonder copse, for I wager 'tis a stream close by downslope, and t'would be easy to come and go unmarked amongst the bordering rushes."
Helluin nodded in agreement with her lover's conclusions. Who but a Laiquendi could better seek for other Laiquendi? Yet she knew that if 'aught of that folk were 'nigh, then already they would have marked her and her beloved. Indeed t'would be the only reason they would find any such watchers, if they wanted to be found.
"Come then, let us return to the hedgerow and make our way thence down the creek to thither copse," said the Noldo, for to approach the Green Elves directly would only give away their position and ensure that they found none, nor any signs of them.
Now some time later the two ellith did indeed find the three Laiquendi who had watched them from the very copse that Beinvír had marked earlier. 'Twas a comfortable vantage from which to espy any coming or going 'twixt the row of burrows and the fields. To date they had seen a total of seventeen Periannath.
"Four holes there art thither," reported an ellon named Calengolv¹ whilst pointing them out, "each with a back door hidden upon the far side of the slope. Thither art another six such homes o'er which another company keeps watch. The wee folk do little save come and go from their fields. They have but few livestock as yet, and seldom do they hunt or travel to market. Indeed they art dull to watch, and whyfor our king has commanded us to do so, I have no idea." ¹(Calengolv, Greenbranch, Sindarin)
To that report, Helluin and Beinvír could but nod in agreement. The few Periannath they had met pretty much bore out the watcher's description. The two other members of the detail were staring off into space, obviously resting their minds upon memories infinitely more engaging.
"How long hast thou been deployed thus?" Beinvír asked.
"Indeed we have been hither but a fortnight," Calengolv sighed, "and have a season's duty ahead. The full summer we shalt pass saddled with this chore, and ere Cerveth's ending we shalt long for 'aught to distract us. Even a tragedy should be welcome." He cast a longing glance to the bows and quivers leaning against the nearest trunk.
"How many Periannath in total think thou hast come to hither lands?" Helluin asked.
"By the latest count we reckon there art some six hundreds and three score in this precinct of Cardolan, running some score leagues east from Weathertop. They art thin spread for now and their migration has stilled, near as any can tell. We deem that all came in the year 1050, o'er a span of six to eight months."
The Noldo nodded, accepting the observations.
"'Tis one thing further still," Calengolv said, and at the Noldo's glance he added, "these Periannath seem to breed as do rats and rabbits. Each spring for the past seven years we have seen new broods in spring. Cardolan shalt be o'errun in a century, I wager."
Now whilst Calengolv and his fellow ellyn could point them not to Mithrandir, they had some guess as to the whereabouts of their king.
'Twas his intent to pass the month of Nórui 'nigh the precincts of central Eriador whereat in S.A. 1261 Helluin had first met him…and Beinvír. Thither, east of the Baranduin and north of Sarn Athrad, lay the Old Forest, 'twixt the river, the South Downs, and the ancient Barrow Downs. Both ellith recalled the night of their meeting, and of their stay in the strange house of Iarwain Ben-adar at the edge of the downs. 'Twas with no slight misgivings that they made their way thither.
The third week of Nórui was 'nigh done when they came again to that glade in which Helluin had first met Dálindir and his company in Eriador. The day was much akin to that day long aforetime, with warm yellow sunlight filtering through a green canopy of gently fluttering leaves. Helluin and Beinvír seated themselves, with their backs against the now massive and ancient girth of the very same willow upon the bank of the placid Withywindle, whither Helluin had sat upon the 23rd of Ivanneth, (September 23rd), S.A. 1261. Dragonflies and butterflies, perhaps the descendants of those who had flown upon that far gone day, went about their business tracing colorful and iridescent patterns in the air o'er a stand of iris and growing cattails 'nigh the sodden margin of the bank.
From her travel bag the Green Elf brought forth a simple flute, and she set to playing a slow and tranquil tune for to compliment the laziness of the afternoon. Helluin whistled an absentminded accompaniment whilst searching carefully the woods beyond the further bank. 'Twas thither that she had first seen Dálindir appear, and though 'twas now some 3,235 years later, the memory of that day and the feel of the one at hand had such kinship that to Helluin, 'twas a small stretch to imagine him come again just as he had aforetime…for 'tis not a theme repeated the mechanism at the heart of The Song? With such expectations, she spent some time each day at gathering and hunting.
So indeed 'twas that upon an even more similar afternoon, and that being the very last day of Nórui, when the ellith had been waiting thither but a week, that Dálindir did indeed appear, and with him his companions Gérorn, and Celegaras.
"Well met, my friends of old," the King of the Laiquendi said in greeting whilst hiding well his surprise at seeing them, "'tis a joy to find ye hither, so…unexpected."
At his words, Gérorn, the big coppery-haired ellon laughed loud and added, "'tis the understatement of the Age I am sure, for I feel history repeating itself. Alas we have no strange host awaiting us with supper this day."
"Alas my ass," Celegaras muttered. "As a good omen shalt I take it that on this day Beinvír comes hither with Helluin rather than with us, and so history repeats itself not so precisely as to presage our disappearance for another dozen yéni."
"Upon this night I hope 'tis with us thou shalt sup," Beinvír told her old friends, "for hither we have camped a week in hopes of finding ye."
"Or of ye finding us," Helluin added, glad to forestall any possibility of Dálindir and his company spending another 1,733 years trapped in the house of Iarwain Ben-adar.
Now that night they shared good company and good fare, and many were the accounts of their wanderings they told. Dálindir spoke of the coming of the Periannath, whose appearance his people had marked but a few years afore.
"'Twas as if the wee folk came hither and dug in o'er night, for 'twixt one day and the next it seemed, a bank here or a hillside there sported suddenly a small round door. How they excavated and so quickly tunneled to make their burrows became a point of astonishment," he said, shaking his head, for the wonder of it was still upon him. "All 'round the precincts of the East Road 'nigh Weathertop, my folk contested one with another for to be first to mark another settlement. Thence in short order appeared fields and hedgerows, fences and such other structures as that folk contrived."
At the looks of wonder upon the faces of the two ellith, Celegaras added, "fine farmers they art with a good sense for growing things, yet few crops have they grown so fast as their own farmsteads."
"Indeed 'tis just so," said the king, and then with a grimace he added, "and thereafter they art wholly boring. Those who watch o'er them shalt soon take up the sleep of mortals, for the activities of these Periannath art so bland and predictable as to be mind-numbing."
"Aye, this service that we have undertaken at Mithrandir's behest is one of grievous toil and hardship," claimed Gérorn whilst suppressing a smile. "Rather would I watch the growth of their crops than their own comings and goings, for of the kelvar I expect more, whilst of the olvar I expect 'naught."
To this, Helluin and Beinvír nodded in understanding. The complaints of the sentries they had met aforetime rang true. For a moment they traded in thought, eye to eye.
Indeed I have aforetime met such of the olvar as behaved unexpectedly, noted the Noldo, recalling her meeting with the Entwives on the eastern slopes of the Ered Wethrin, in the Woods of Núath long aforetime.
As have I, meldanya, replied the green Elf, recalling the vexatious behavior of the roots, (not to mention the kelvar: earthworms, millipedes and spiders), of Calenglad i'Dhaer, a questionable welcome foisted upon her and her fellow travelers by the humor of Oldbark, Lord of the Onodrim.
"Thou spoke of Mithrandir," Helluin said to Gérorn, "and we seek him for to hear his counsel regarding the Men of Rhovanion. Know thou 'aught of his whereabouts?"
To this, the big ellon shrugged. Neither Celegaras nor Dálindir could add anything more. Mithrandir was free to come and go as he pleased so far as they were concerned.
"Whither and whence did thou see him last?" asked Beinvír.
After a few moments' thought, Dálindir offered with certainty, "'twas 'nigh Sarn-Athrad upon Baranduin, some 12 years past."
After a few more moments, Celegaras nodded in agreement and said, "that too is my recollection," and after a further moment's pause, he added, "'twas in the rain."
To this, Helluin groaned and Beinvír shook her head.
"Surely some have seen him since then," the Green Elf reasoned. The Istar couldn't have disappeared completely from the eyes of her people.
"I am sure some have," Gérorn agreed, "but we have heard 'naught of it, for we have had no reason to ask. I am also sure that many would choose not to meet him lest they find themselves watching o'er crop plants, rocks or the weather at his behest."
Celegaras chuckled and Dálindir suppressed a grin, both imagining their fellow Laiquendi hiding themselves from the Wizard. Helluin threw up her hands and Beinvír shook her head. It seemed their quest had found a dead end.
Now after several days sharing company, the groups went their separate ways to wander for a time and to meet again upon some future day.
"Should thou see him, pray tell Mithrandir we seek him," Helluin asked at their parting, at last more sympathetic to the searches of her late high king.
Dálindir nodded his head in agreement to her request ere disappearing into the woods with Celegaras and Gérorn.
"And so having done 'aught as we could, I deem we art now free to do as we like," Beinvír reasoned.
"I agree," Helluin replied, "and after 55 years I find myself thankful to have the drunken North Men and their failed migration off my mind at last."
To Be Continued