In An Age Before – Part 139
The morn of 24 Narbeleth dawned with broken clouds drifting south on a slight breeze and cooler temperatures, not unseasonable for the waning days of the tenth month of the year. The Rangers broke their fast with little conversation, and that barely above a whisper, as they had been taught. Ere the second hour past dawn, the teachers gathered the company.
"Your goal now is to learn 'aught that ye can of the enemy, their count, their readiness for battle, and their organization," Helluin told them, "and then regroup hither safely at this time upon the morrow. Do so in stealth. If none art the wiser for your presence, t'will be a success."
"Engage none save at the last resort," Lainiel said, "for 'tis assured that ye shalt be outnumbered greatly and t'would not be a battle of choice, with surprise and distance in your favor."
"In many ways this is the harder mission," Beinvír added, "to stay your hand when the foe is 'nigh, being now the eyes and ears of a strong force. Yet to know the enemy is to begin to understand him, and in understanding, the eventual victory is brought the closer, for this war shalt be a campaign of years; indeed 'tis already so, and what ye may learn hither can shorten it and save lives."
"Ye art soldiers no longer, but Rangers," Helluin said, "to be regarded as much for your knowledge as for your prowess. Your purpose is the safeguarding of your people and your homeland. Knowing what passes at home and abroad makes both the more secure."
The company was broken into six groups of four, with the three teachers and Celegon making a seventh. One by one the groups moved off to the west, choosing paths apart so that no two groups traveled within sight of one another. Last to leave were the teachers, and Celegon, who considered himself fortunate to have such company. Ere they took their leave of the ridge, they spoke softly together.
"Know thou that we ourselves art watched?" Beinvír asked Helluin.
"Aye, since yestereve at least," Helluin agreed, "though I felt 'aught of some o'ersight as we crossed the third valley."
"I felt only a vague unease in the night," Lainiel said. "Who espies us, pray tell?"
Celegon said 'naught, for though his senses were attuned after the fashion of a Ranger, he had not the gifts of the Elves, nor, it seemed, the Lady, though even as a child she had seemed to him a case apart.
"One kindred only in this time and place could so fully conceal themselves, even from our sight," Helluin said.
"They art my people," Beinvír said without a doubt. "Of our training the Rangers they art surely aware, and t'would surprise me 'naught if they have dogged our steps since we left Celenhár. Indeed t'would surprise me even less if they have long kept watch upon the town, for 'tis very likely that they delivered its people aforetime."
"Should we not have warned the others?" Celegon asked.
"Nay, t'would have been but a distraction," Helluin said. "They shalt see 'naught of the Laiquendi whether they seek them or no."
"I wonder only why they have come," Beinvír mused. "Whether they safeguard the fledgling Rangers of Celenhár, or have some purpose of their own."
That thought at first left them in some doubt, but the Noldo cast her thought back to memories of a battle sixty-three years aforetime.
"Hold them, Tórferedir," Helluin beseeched him now, "allow them not to move beyond the borders of Cardolan."
"Fear not," he told her with a chuckle, "indeed t'will be harder to restrain my warriors from driving them back to Rhudaur. We have slain already well 'nigh eight thousands."
Thus she had spoken with the General of the Laiquendi in the Weather Hills in 1409. And whilst the war had ended for Arthedain with the defeat of Angmar in that same year, what of the Green Elves? The enemy still roamed parts of Eriador, their home. Had her beloved's people been fighting this whole time? They had both wondered at the absence of that kindred whilst seeking for Lainiel's history o'er a score years past. Could they have been engaged in a war unmarked by all others? The Laiquendi had already been at war in Cardolan when the two ellith had trained the Rangers, and though Cardolan was freed by 1427, the lands of Rhudaur were still occupied to this day. And now she was sure. Of course the Green Elves had continued conducting their campaign, for though the Witch King was long gone from the north, his thralls remained. She wondered why she had realized it not aforetime.
"My love, for thy kindred the war of 1409 ne'er ended. Sluggards we have been for not aiding them since," Helluin said to Beinvír.
The Green Elf's eyes widened in surprise. Then she too realized that she should have known.
Ten years we spent in Cardolan and then another sixteen in Gondor, and now a score and four in Eriador again, she said to Helluin silently, eye to eye, and in all that time we gave no thought to Rhudaur 'til now.
We should have gone to Hollin long ago, Helluin agreed, shaking her head at their lapse.
Somber they were now as they began their stealthy march west. Diagonally downslope they made their way, finally crossing the stream at the valley bottom and then disappearing into the forest on the northern slope. By noon the source of the column of smoke they had seen was revealed. Thither, not a mile ahead, and but a half-mile from the mouth of the valley, lay a settlement of many wooden buildings lining a muddy track, newer and less well built than even the ruined farms they'd passed. Well 'nigh the only stonework comprised the chimneys. Figures they marked, moving to and fro, and several carts stood on the street. 'Twas a permanent settlement of Hillmen. But most disturbing was the open maw of a dark hole bored into the slope of the northern ridge, 'cross the stream and slightly further up the valley from the village. It lay little more than a furlong west of their position. About the entrance lay heaps of filth, and by the stench that wafted from it, they knew this was no stronghold of Men.
"Too small for trolls, I wager," Lainiel whispered.
"Yet from it I deem none shalt come or go ere nightfall," Helluin said.
"'Tis little wonder the Laiquendi have come hither," Beinvír added. "Though we came only to espy the foe, in a few hours a battle shalt be fought."
"Aye, and our companies art spread 'round knowing 'naught of it," Celegon said. "And hither we have no way to warn them or to pull them back."
For a while they thought on the turn of events. Caught 'twixt deadly, hereditary foes, how would the novice Rangers react when the unexpected fighting erupted? 'Twas a certainty that none of them had aforetime faced companies of Yrch. Indeed t'would be no surprise if none of the Men of Celenhár had even laid eyes upon on Orch. At the least, the chance was now very great that their presence would be revealed. It seemed a safe bet to foresee that whilst the Green Elves fought the Yrch, the Rangers would be forced into a disadvantageous battle with a town full of Hillmen.
"This will ne'er do," Beinvír finally groaned. "Bows and stealth serve well in open country, but my people art not armed or accustomed to fighting underground."
"Aye," Helluin agreed, "t'will be a most hazardous undertaking, indeed well 'nigh fey, I reckon it."
The last time they had fought in a warren of Yrch was T.A. 109. It had been within the east face of the Hithaeglir whither they had gone to rescue a party of Naugrim traders, but then they'd had as an ally, Bartan son of Brayan, a deadly skin-changer. And still the battle had ended with Beinvír gravely injured, and only by Elrond's skill as a healer had she survived a morgul-wound.
"Perhaps they plan not to enter yonder tunnels, but rather lie in wait and shoot any who show themselves," Celegon offered.
"In such case they shalt leave many unharmed," Lainiel said, "and who can know how many lurk within?"
"'Tis but one way to know their count," Helluin said, "and but one way to be sure all art slain. The battle must be won underground, yet when have we known the Yrch to tunnel from one entrance only?"
Beinvír nodded in agreement. That evil folk always maintained at least one route of escape, and in warrens they had long inhabited, or in places whither they achieved much mischief, they might build many entrances, the better to appear close by their prey and disappear quickly with their spoils.
"Do we agree that they art in league with the Hillmen?" She asked.
"I would deem it so," Helluin said.
"Then perhaps but a single escape route they have built, and that one small and hidden," the Green Elf reasoned. "Foes waiting 'nigh art few, and so they would not access many places needlessly, for they art by nature lazy creatures."
"Again, I agree," the Noldo said, "leaving then only the question of whether or not thy folk have discovered it."
Again they lapsed into silence. 'Twas a grave situation, for so much was unknown.
"We must warn off our people," Celegon said.
"The only way to do thus would be to enter the town ourselves, and hope to encounter them whilst remaining unseen as they themselves have sought to do," Lainiel said.
The Ranger of Cardolan groaned. T'would be no easy task, for the Rangers of Cardolan had waged a war of stealth for decades, and even the fledgling Rangers of Rhudaur had performed admirably during their engagement with the Hillmen just north of the road.
For a while they thought on how to proceed; discovering the bolt hole of the Yrch and aiding the Green Elves was also a desire. For Helluin and Beinvír there also stood their charge to safeguard Lainiel. And for Helluin there was the visceral displeasure of being separated from Beinvír, though she saw no way 'round it now, and so she chose to set for her beloved the less hazardous task.
"I will take Celegon and enter the town to warn off the Rangers," she said, and to this the Ranger nodded in thanks. "Take Lainiel and seek for the hidden entrance, meleth nín, and perhaps too thou shalt find the Green Elves, for thou know them best."
Now 'twas Beinvír who grimaced. Just as displeased was she to be separated from Helluin, and yet she saw the necessity of her beloved's choice. They could not opt to send Lainiel into the danger of the town, and Helluin, who could not die in battle, stood the best chance of accomplishing the tasks needed thither. By default she must then be entrusted to safeguard Lainiel, and for a Green Elf to seek for other Laiquendi made sense as well. Finally she nodded her agreement and canted her head to Lainiel, directing their path upslope and away from the settlement. When they had gone, Helluin turned to Celegon.
"Use all thy wiles, meldir nín, and we shalt accomplish what we must and survive," she told him. "I shalt not have thy company or the Men of Celenhár fall upon this day."
Unsaid was that the Lord Galor of Celenhár was somewhere ahead, as well as their old friend Dorondon. When they moved they stayed well upslope of the Yrch warren 'til they were downstream from the village, and only then did they make their crossing.
"We now know that none of our company linger upon the northern slope," Helluin whispered.
"Good fortune then," Celegon answered, "for rather would I have them face Men than Yrch if they art forced to battle."
"Ware!" the Noldo suddenly hissed, shifting her eyes west whither a wagon slowly turned onto the track entering the valley. About it many Hillmen walked, and with ease they marked their angry strides. Behind it another wagon entered the valley, and then a third. All three were piled with bodies.
Helluin and Celegon melted into the foliage and with utmost care made their way some dozen fathoms upslope. Thither they stayed whilst the wagons passed 'neath them and into the village, bearing the dead from their encounter 'nigh the road two nights past.
"Very ill is this turn," Celegon whispered, "for now shalt more villagers take to the streets and their watchfulness be raised in their wrath."
"Better indeed could this timing have been," Helluin agreed, "ahhh well…"
Just as Celegon had predicted, the calls of the wagoneers brought the denizens of the village into the street, and from the gathering throng came wails of mourning and shouts of anger. Many were the declamations of vengeance loudly voiced and oaths were sworn to the sky. Weapons were unsheathed and shaken in rage, and the wrath of the people ran on undiminished, for t'would not be amended save with bloodshed and slaughter.
"I wager the attention of every Ranger is now focused thither," Helluin remarked, to which Celegon responded with a cold chuckle. "We should move whilst this distraction continues."
They carefully made their way east, remaining upslope and coming behind the first buildings of the settlement. Thither they stopped, searching for any telltale movement and hoping to mark some of their company, yet all that should have been still remained still, and no rumor of the Rangers did they find. Again they moved, making their way behind the next pair of buildings. Through the gaps 'twixt them they caught glimpses of the throng below, still consumed in venting their wrath. Of note was a gathering of many Hillmen encircling the makings of a bonfire being laid in the midst of the street.
After remaining still for some minutes they finally marked that which they'd hoped to see. Behind the dwelling to their right they detected a slight movement in a hedgerow that was not in rhythm with the breeze. Celegon and Helluin were poised to approach when a door at the rear of the building burst open and a woman staggered out into the yard. After only a few paces she fell to her knees and then collapsed, lying face down in the coarse grass, her body shuddering with heartrending sobs. A glance revealed another movement in the hedgerow, now drawing away from the yard and towards the slope. Helluin and Celegon sighed in relief and prepared to intercept the withdrawing Rangers. In the next moment there came the sounds of a commotion within the building and three men strode through the door. They knelt beside the grieving woman, trying to comfort her, but finally lifted her by the arms and supported her as they all made their way back inside. During that time of distraction, Helluin, Celegon, and whoe'er had been hidden in the hedgerow all took their leave, Helluin and Celegon moving east, further into the settlement, the others disappearing and giving no further sign of their presence.
"Afresh now must we start our search," the Cardolan Ranger groaned.
So it seemed, and Helluin could not but nod in agreement.
Chapter Ninety-four
Allies Unexpected, Rhudaur – The Third Age of the Sun
Now when Lainiel and Beinvír had taken their leave of the slope 'nigh the Yrch den, they had made their way upslope, deeper into the forest, for the Green Elf reckoned their chances the better in both their purposes by going further from the village. Any such escape route should lead away from the main entrance, and she wondered if t'would not be best if it opened into another valley entirely, but such would be a long tunnel indeed, and this foe put forth no effort if sloth would serve instead. So they carefully sought for any cleft in the slope, any cave, or even an undercutting 'neath tree roots or outcroppings perhaps, which could conceal a sufficient space.
"T'will be well hid, I deem," the Green Elf said softly, "and perhaps not to be seen by casual perusal, yet I believe such must exist, the closer, the better."
"We have seen 'naught save the leaf littered slope and a few outstanding boulders amidst the trees," Lainiel said, shaking her head. They were already o'er halfway up to the next ridge.
Beinvír stopped and thought for several moments ere realizing her mistake.
"I suspect I have led us wrongly," she said. "A much greater effort it requires to tunnel upwards rather than straight ahead. The bolt hole we should be seeking along the valley bottom, upstream from the village."
Thereafter they made their way diagonally downslope and back west, towards their starting point. Further downstream to the west they marked a great disturbance in the village. A throng of Hillmen crowded the street, obscuring a trio of wagons, and angry shouts carried to their ears, yet the behavior of the Hillmen was not that of a search or a fight. 'Twas rather like a raucous town meeting.
"Perhaps some supplies have arrived, or maybe some new orders," Lainiel guessed.
"Perhaps so," the Green Elf agreed, "but at least 'tis unlikely that any of the Rangers have been discovered. Come, we must examine the hither banks and lower slopes. The unrest shalt be a boon, fixing thither all attention in the village."
Still 'twas warily that they made their way upstream, carefully marking each foot of ground from the water to a dozen fathoms upslope. They had come 'nigh a furlong when Beinvír froze, laying a hand on Lainiel's arm to still her. Then in an instant she raised her bow and knocked an arrow. A moment later Lainiel did likewise and both sought for targets in the empty woods.
"Too close," the Green Elf whispered urgently. "I deem us met upon three sides."
The stream lay but two fathoms from their backs.
Then, 'twixt one heartbeat and the next, six figures dressed in mixed greens arose from the littered leaves and shadows as if conjured out of a dream. Lainiel had to blink. She had seen none and felt none, though the closest was but two body lengths to her left. A Ranger's stealth she had learnt from childhood, and yet hither stood proof that all she knew was an imitation only, and true stealth confounded her eyes as easily as t'would the eyes of a foe, for surely these were Laiquendi.
"Mae govannen, meldis nín, Beinvír," a tall ellon said barely above a whisper, ere casting his eyes to Lainiel and asking, "nohé en Híril Adaneth mín lastant nia?¹" ¹(nohé en Híril Adaneth mín lastant nia? is this the Lady of the Three Houses we heard about? = no-(be, is) + hé(sing dem pro, this) + en(sing def art, the) + híril(lady) + adaneth(woman of the 3 houses, genitive constr, Lady of the Three Houses) + mín(1st pers pl dir obj pro, we) + lasto-(listen) + -ant(past suff, heard) + nia(about) Sindarin)
"Mae govannen, meldir nín, Gwilolrán." Beinvír replied to the Lieutenant of the Laiquendi as she replaced her arrow. "Aye, 'tis she, the Lady of the House of Balan."
"Then we must away, for 'tis not safe hither," he told them whilst gesturing uphill.
Lainiel was about to speak when she realized that the other five Green Elves had vanished, well 'nigh right before her eyes. She shook her head and followed Beinvír and Gwilolrán into the cover of the trees.
When they had put half the slope 'twixt themselves and the place of their meeting, Gwilolrán halted them and sat in the lee of a boulder, gesturing for them to join him. Now they could speak more freely and he began.
"'Tis well 'nigh a black comedy that has brought thy companies hither," he said with a grimace, "at just such time as we intended to destroy this den of Yrch. We have kept watch for some weeks, learning their count, their habits, and the entrance and exit of their tunnels. Then, two nights past, we learnt thou intended to come hither as well, seeking thy foes, but finding 'aught else lying in wait, I wager." He shook his head, still astonished at the chain of events.
"'Tis as thou say," Beinvír said. "We were surprised to find Yrch as well as Hillmen, and sought for the back door of their lair in hopes of alerting thee, for we also knew that some of our folk were 'nigh."
"Thou hast my thanks," he said, "but more trouble yet has come upon thy companies. Indeed the timing could not be worse. Into the village but a half-hour past rolled three wains bearing the dead from thy battle, and now the Rangers art in greater peril, for the Hillmen seek any foe upon whom they may take revenge."
"We saw some disturbance thither, but knew not its cause," Lainiel said, her worry evident in her voice.
"Helluin and Celegon went into the village seeking to warn the other Rangers, for all must now be in danger with so many of the Hillmen railing for blood," Beinvír said.
"So, the Mórgolodh has invaded the village seeking them. That is good tidings," Gwilolrán said. "If worst comes to worst, she shalt slaughter them all."
Beinvír groaned.
"The Mórgolodh?" Lainiel asked in confusion.
"The Black Exile…Helluin, of course," the Lieutenant of the Green Elves said.
Lainiel's eyes widened in surprise. Gwilolrán chuckled.
"Indeed, I should withdraw my people and let her cleanse this valley of all our foes, Men and Yrch alike," he jested, ere adding, "though t'would not serve in finding or safeguarding thy Rangers, I suppose."
"I would not stand by whilst she fought all those we deem lurk hither," Lainiel declared, "t'would be faithless and a needless jeopardy with o'er two dozens for aid."
To this even Beinvír shook her head. Newly trained Rangers, and indeed mortals of any kind, would be 'nigh as much a hindrance as a help, but 'twas the ellon who replied.
"Lady Lainiel, thou speak of one who aforetime defeated the Nine in Mt Doom, invaded the Barad-dûr, and faced even Sauron Gorthaur in his own keep."
Lainiel gaped at him, silent.
"Deeds 1,500 years past came not foremost to mind during thy instruction," Beinvír muttered.
"Such foes as lurk hither art no threat to her," Gwilolrán continued. "Indeed they have not a weapon amongst them as could bite on her. Sitting hither with two score Laiquendi about thee, still thou art in the greater jeopardy."
For long moments Lainiel could only stare at him. Finally she said, "t'would seem I have much to learn of my guardians."
"So t'would seem. Indeed thou hast much to learn of thyself and thy people as well," Gwilolrán declared, "and of these things we shalt speak, O kin of Balar, Aran Eren Eriador¹." ¹(Aran Eren Eriador, First King of Eriador Sindarin)
After some moments 'twas Beinvír who asked, "so against our peoples' long held doctrine of battle, thy company shalt indeed war underground against the Yrch?"
To this the Lieutenant of the Laiquendi smiled and said only, "we art not alone."
Now after moving away from the house of the grieving woman, Helluin and Celegon made their way east, further into the village, whilst remaining concealed upon the southern slope. Stealthily they progressed, marking the growing clamor in the street and the apparent absence of Rangers.
At least we have trained them well, the Noldo thought, for better or worse t'would seem…ahhh well.
Another ten minutes passed in the slow survey of the village and they saw none of their own, for which they were increasingly both thankful and irritated. Finally, when they had come to the middle of the row of buildings on their side of the street, Helluin sat, motioning Celegon to join her.
"'Naught is right, I deem," she whispered, "for by now, despite their stealth, we should have met at least one company. They should have been spread throughout this settlement, and yet we have covered three-quarters of it and found none. Even of thy comrades, stealthy as they art, being mortal I should have marked some rumor greater than the suspicious motion of a hedge, which could have been 'naught but a hedgehog, for all we know. 'Tis as if they have withdrawn, or came not at all."
"I find myself baffled as well," Celegon replied, "for as thou say, after searching so long, some we should have marked, or at least found traces of their passing."
"Another thing out of place I sense," the Noldo said, "for we art not alone in our stealth. Now I doubt not that the Laiquendi also roam 'nigh."
"Think thou that they have come for the Hillmen as well as the Yrch?"
"'Tis possible of course, yet by choice they would slay Yrch first, and certainly they would not choose to fight upon two fronts. Still there is 'aught afoot, I am persuaded of it." After a few more moments the Noldo sighed and said, "come, meldir nín, I deem we shalt find 'naught hither."
Though they still kept sharp their search for others, they moved now faster, past the remaining few buildings on the south side of the street. The uproar of the throng in the village fell behind them, coming more distant to their ears. Finally they turned upslope, seeking for a higher vantage point from which to assess the situation. This they found shortly, a place hidden by outcroppings some third of the way up the slope. Thither they waited and watched for the third part of an hour, seeing no trace of the Rangers, but marking the continuing upset in the village, and finally the kindling of the bonfire amidst the throng in the center of the village.
"Reasonably certain am I now that none of our companies linger hither," Helluin said.
To this Celegon nodded in agreement, just as baffled as to whither his folk had gone.
"I deem a return to the ridge is warranted," the Noldo said, "for 'twas the rallying point agreed upon aforetime, and 'tis the only meeting place known to all."
Reluctantly Celegon said, "loath am I to abandon the search with hours of daylight remaining, yet I have no better suggestion, and so I shalt follow thy course in this."
Having decided their path, the two began a careful retreat eastwards, moving higher up the south slope of the valley and leaving the settlement of Hillmen behind. Above the trees Anor was already westering when they made the ridge, and they continued east towards that place in which their company had spent the night, yet long ere they came thither both sensed the presence of strangers.
"T'would seem our company has preceded us," Celegon said. "Thou reckoned true."
"Too many wait ahead," the Noldo said with some concern, "and though we have heard no fighting, I know not if our company has found friends or art held hostage. Be thee ware."
With the greatest care they advanced, more slowly now. Indeed the last half-mile took 'nigh a half-hour, yet they arrived undetected and a sight most unexpected awaited them. Thither, at ease in each others company a short ways downslope in the next valley, were gathered the Rangers and three score heavily armed warriors girt in blackened armor, plus a handful of others to be seen only when they moved. Celegon was relieved, but Helluin was joyous and burst from hiding, striding forward quickly to join them.
To be Continued