In An Age Before

by Phantom Bard

Part 298 posted, in which Helluin and the Riders of Norðr-vestandóttir Bý aid the Third Marshal Haleth in Rohan's defeat of the Easterling invaders. Brutal weather, disease, and failing morale play a part. Aldburg is no sooner freed of the eastern threat when tidings come of the Dunlending's invasion from the west. OCs galore as usual.

167. In An Age Before Chapter 167

In An Age Before – Part 167

Chapter One Hundred-eleven

The Further Defense of Fornost Erain – The Third Age of the Sun

Now in Fornost, at half past the fourth hour after noon, King Araval reconvened his council of war, for evening drew 'nigh and with the coming night, the Host of Angmar would resume its assault on the Northern Fortress. As Helluin had requested, parties of scouts had been sent out, north, south, and west, and these had yet to return. This was no cause for alarm, for they had been ordered to proceed 'til the third hour after noon, so that they could return to offer their tidings ere full darkness fell.

At the table in the general staff's council chamber, the king and the prince were again attended by the commanders and captains of the Army of Arthedain, and their allies, the lords Elrond and Glorfindel. Amongst the Men, some looked to the empty chair beside the Elves, for Helluin Maeg-mórmenel was not present. A low murmur of concern circulated 'twixt them.

King Araval marked this, and to set his commanders' minds at ease, he said, "Lady Helluin has taken it upon herself to scout north, alone and on horseback, taking a path separate from our scouts that she felt must be reconnoitered. Her return is expected ere nightfall."

The captains and commanders nodded to acknowledge the reassurance they found in their king's words. They comprised the newest generation of Dúnedain that had come to esteem their formidable ally, who had aforetime been known to them only from lore.

"Night comes, and with it, battle," the king said. "We must be prepared once again to defend our city and our people. I would hear now your reports of our readiness."

The Captain of the King's Archers rose first and addressed the gathering.

"Your Grace, m'lords and allies, the Royal Archer's Corps again stands ready for battle. One thousand bowmen are to be deployed as aforetime, five hundreds each upon the eastern wall and upon the field behind the palisade. In addition, upon the field to accompany the bowmen shall be deployed five hundred shield bearers. Each bowman has been issued four dozen arrows divided amongst two quivers, including two arrows in each quiver prepared for ignition.

Another one hundred, four score, and four reservists stand ready, sixteen having replaced those lost in combat yesternight. Of the score who took wounds, two have passed, eleven recover afoot on limited duty pending the healing of their wounds, and seven are recovering abed following various surgeries.

We hold in reserve some twenty thousand arrows stocked in the armory, with another one thousand eight hundred being prepared by the Corps of Fletchers. Additionally, the armory holds two hundred and seven steel longbows and six hundred longbows of yew, with sufficient strings, arm guards, and quivers for replacements of equipment damaged in battle, or to equip the reservists for active duty.

On a further note, your Grace, the morale of the Men remains high, and though they expect a longer and more difficult engagement this coming night, they deem victory likely and are eager to confront the enemy."

The king nodded and said, "thou hast my thanks for thy detailed report, and for the readiness of thy Men. I pray thee enjoy victory again this night, and that thy Men return from battle unscathed."

The captain bowed to his king and the prince and then resumed his seat.

Next stood the Commander of the Artillery of the Eastern Wall, and he bowed to the king and the prince ere he began his far shorter report.

"Your Grace, m'lords and allies," he said, "the batteries upon the eastern wall stand ready for defensive actions with all equipment provisioned and their full compliments of artillerymen accounted for. Cores for burning shot recovered following the previous night's engagement have been refurbished and returned to the batteries. We stand fully equipped to launch burning and cold shot as was done yesternight, but we have also chosen to provide six cannisters per emplacement of oiled sand shot, having deemed the solid shot less effective against massed foes. The batteries on the south, west, and north walls will also stand ready."

The artillery commander bowed to the royals and took his seat.

The Commander of the Infantry was the next to speak. After bowing to King Araval and Prince Araphant, and dipping his head in respect to the lords Elrond and Glorfindel, he gave his report.

"Your Grace, m'lords and allies, the infantry stands ready for combat. To this night's anticipated battle, seven thousands will be deployed upon the field, five hundreds bearing pikes to hold the palisade and repel the initial charge, and six thousand five hundred bearing swords and shields to engage the foe on the battle line.

The reserve force of three thousand five hundred shall remain within the outer gate, ready to take the field should any flanking force come upon the battle unmarked. If tidings of such actions come from the scouting parties, we shall adjust the deployment.

M'lords, the morale of the troops is high following their victory yesternight, though they expect not so easy a victory to be repeated. Still, they have great hopes for worsting the Host of Angmar, and much of this comes of knowing they shall not be facing the massed Tor."

When he had resumed his seat, the Knight Commander rose and gave a brief report.

"Your Grace, m'lords and allies, as aforetime, the cavalry corps and our mounted allies shall await the call to battle within the outer gate, either to join the reserve force in suppressing flanking maneuvers, or to reinforce the infantry engaged on the battle line. Four thousand Knights of Arthedain are prepared for such actions as may be required, and our allies numbering five hundreds are prepared as well."

The Knight Commander bowed to the king and his heir and then took his seat. As the scouting parties had not yet returned, the Captain of Scouts had 'naught to report and remained seated. He simply shook his head 'nay' when the king glanced at him.

Having heard the reports of readiness from his commanders, and marking that the fifth hour past noon was now 'nigh, King Araval asked after any further concerns.

"I thank all of you for your efforts in preparing the defense. Pending any tidings from the scouting parties, I deem that we have taken such measures as we may. Pray present now any further concerns regarding the defense or this coming night's engagement that ye may have."

A short silence followed in which the captains and commanders reviewed their preparations and concerns. As aforetime, none spoke, for pending further orders, they had done all they deemed possible. As King Araval swept the table with his eyes, the Lord Elrond groaned, spasmed, then went rigid and finally collapsed face first upon the tabletop.

In an instant, the Lord Glorfindel was on his feet, calling out to him in shock and trying to rouse him. 'Round the table, chairs were shoved back as Men leapt to their feet. A tide of comments and questions filled the air and those closest to the stricken Lord of Imladris moved to offer whatsoe'er assistance they could render. They gathered 'round his chair, but 'naught could rouse the Peredhel and he remained immobile. King Araval turned and ordered a page standing 'nigh the chamber door to hasten and fetch the court physician at once, then he and the prince joined the crowd encircling Elrond.

Now when his queries had gone unanswered and his lord remained insensate, Lord Glorfindel had lain his hands upon Elrond's forehead and the back of his neck. Then he concentrated deeply, seeking for 'aught that a contact with the Peredhel's fëa might tell. Yet ere he could make any definite pronouncement, Elrond gave a gasp and jerked upright, wild-eyed and rigid. Then slowly he relaxed, forcing himself to inhale and exhale gently, and he shut his eyes a while as he recovered his composure. 'Round him, the king, Lord Glorfindel, and all the others stood silent, waiting to hear 'aught that he would say.

Now it took a while, but the Lord Elrond did indeed explain his affliction.

"Your Grace, my friends, I apologize for bringing such shock and upset upon you. I was taken unprepared and at unawares by a blast of feeling most intense, that assailed me from both north and south, and I deem the collision of such powerful emotions rendered my senses absent. Please be at ease my friends, I am now well. I pray ye resume your seats, and I shall tell what I can of this event."

With looks of both relief and skepticism, the captains and commanders, the king and the prince, all returned to their places and seated themselves. Last, Glorfindel resumed his chair beside his lord, a look of concern still etched upon his face. Seeing this, Elrond gave him a reassuring smile. At the door, the page and the physician of the royal court burst into the chamber. Araval beckoned his healer forward, to come and hear 'aught that the Lord Elrond would reveal, for opportunities to study the afflictions of the Elder Kindred were rare and not to be missed.

Now the Lord Elrond took a deep breath, and he composed his thoughts. He reviewed his memories of the moments just past and then he gave an account of what had assailed him. The implications filled him with trepidation.

"First I must tell you that amongst my people, 'tis not uncommon to perceive the state of others to whom we have become closely connected, even if this occurs at great remove. In this case, both of the principals are long known to me. Helluin Maeg-mórmenel I met in the failing years of the First Age, when she came upon me and my brother in the depths of Taur-im-Duinath following our abduction by Maedhros and Maglor as they fled the Sack of Avernien."

The Men at the table grew hushed, trying to imagine that tract of time and the lore that this one who sat amongst them recalled from personal memory. All knew that his brother was Elros Tar-Minyatur, First Lord and founding King of Númenor. Some knew too the tale of the Avenger of Avernien that told the fates of Amrod and Amras.

"Beinvír Laiquende has been known to me since 1601 of the Second Age, when she came with Helluin to council in Lindon at the summons of the High King Ereinion Gil-Galad. As ye know, Beinvír has long been Helluin's melda fëa vesse, and they share an intimate connection of spirit unrivaled by most, even amongst the Firstborn. They are aware of each other at all times. When strongly felt, or when thoughts are conveyed with mutual concentration, what one knows, the other will perceive, and they can trade thus 'cross many, many miles."

At this revelation, the Men stared at the Lord Elrond in amazement. The possibilities were immense, and even in that moment, most marked the potential.

"'Tis by such connections that the Laiquendi may find one another, whilst all others should walk past one of that kindred and mark them not, though they stand but an arm's length away. I deem that what I felt was but a shadow of what Helluin would have felt, for Beinvír's fëa cried out to her in horror and pain, and was then abruptly stifled after, and spoke no more. If receiving such a projection afflicted me as ye saw, then I have no doubt that its impact upon Helluin was far more profound. In that moment, I felt her outpouring of anguish and despair, and so I know that her connection with Beinvír was open and her beloved's plight is known to her."

Though the Lord Elrond had mentioned 'naught concerning the enhancement of his sensitivity that Vilya gifted him, he had also told no untruths. All of the Elder Kindred had a strong perception of the spirits of living creatures, and this was in their nature. Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch were more acute than those senses were in mortals. Atop this natal advantage, amongst the Elves 'twas normal for those who were close, kith and kin, and particularly lovers who shared a deeper connection, to be each aware of the emotional states of the other. And Elrond had shared deeply in thought with both Helluin and Beinvír during the War of the Elves and Sauron, thereby touching their fëar, whilst Beinvír he had healed of a morgul wound, a process that required a spiritual connection for the treatment of a spiritual injury. Still, none amongst the Men marked that Glorfindel, who also knew them well, had remained unaffected.

Seated beside Elrond, the Lord Glorfindel imagined Helluin stricken by that one last outpouring of sorrow, for like the others 'round the table, he deemed that the Green Elf had fallen and her fëa was even now making its way to the Halls of Mandos 'cross the sea. In sorrow he recalled the pair's fierce love, and many meetings through two Ages. He had known Helluin during the Age of the Trees, and Beinvír he had first met at Lindon in S.A. 1675. And he recalled too a softly spoken conversation with the dark Noldo in which he had broached this very possibility.

"Helluin, I knew thee in Gondolin and ere that in Aman. I knew thy brother too. Thou know that I understand the source of thy darkness and what drives thee in battle. I see thee now with Beinvír and I am happy for you both. But I cannot imagine what would come to pass should some doom befall her and leave thee alive, tied then to the world by yet another bond of heartache and memory."

Glorfindel's words had well 'nigh made Helluin choke. 'Twas her worst nightmare.

"She refused passage to Tol Eressëa to stay with me," Helluin whispered. And after a pause, she added even more softly, "I would bathe this world in blood to avenge her."

The Lord of the House of the Golden Flower knew better than most what Helluin was capable of. He had marched with her when the Host of Gondolin had come to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. He had seen her rampages at the Battles of Baranduin and Gwathló, after which she had charged into Sauron's camp craving personal combat. He knew of her actions during the War of the Last Alliance, and in the defense of Fornost in 1409. At all those times, hatred for her enemies had inflamed her to astonishing acts of violence, yet now? Yesternight she had destroyed two score Tor in but a few moments.

If Beinvír had truly been lost to her, what would restrain her thereafter? She would be consumed by an o'erriding imperative to redress a wrong that could not be redressed, and so she would resort to the only option open to her, the destruction of any and all foes, Sauron chief amongst them, but t'would include the Nine and every living Yrch, Tor, Dwarf, and Man in league with the Dark Lord. If there were still Urulóki or Valaraukar on the Mortal Shores, they too would be subject to her wrath. There would begin a personal war that would rage from Age to Age, with no possibility of armistice or resolution. And yes, Glorfindel had long ago learnt of Helluin's doom. She would live on, ne'er to fall in combat, and she would abide in Middle Earth longer than any other of her people.

"We must find her," was all he said. Beside him, Elrond nodded in agreement.

"I want every scout in Fornost dispatched north within the hour," King Araval said. Despite the coming of nightfall and battle, he would do what he could to recover his greatest ally. He deemed that all the Dúnedain since there had been Dúnedain owed her that much, Avenger of Avernien, foremother of kings, Úlairdacil.

"I too shall go north," Elrond said, "for if Helluin is conscious, I wager the intensity of her feelings will make her the more easily marked." And hopefully t'will be we who find her first, he said silently to Glorfindel, for should Tindomul indeed lurk in the north as Helluin believed, then he too shall have marked her outpouring of woe.

So it came to pass that ere the opening of the sixth hour, with twilight approaching, that twelve score scouts rode forth from Fornost, and with them, the Lord Elrond. In parties of a dozen they made their way north, knowing that they had much ground to cover, for Helluin had ridden so much as seven hours ere she was struck down, and in that time she could have covered many miles.

The party to which Elrond had attached himself had resolved to ride in haste for five hours, for the Peredhel deemed that the source of Helluin's anguish had come from many miles away. In fact, she lay unconscious just south of a low ridge some sixty-seven miles to the north. The scouts proceeded through a mix of gaits, mostly trotting, but periodically cantering for short stretches ere letting the horses walk a while to recover. In this way, they covered three to four leagues per hour, and by nightfall, they had come twenty miles from Fornost.

Now with the fall of darkness, Tindomul rousted his host. They broke their fast, and 'neath his spell of concealment, resumed their march south. Yet the very morgul that protected them from sight was a two-edged sword, for it profoundly dulled his senses of the world, a thing already compromised by his nature as a wraith, to whom physical reality was a hazy construct. He had no idea of Helluin's presence a quarter-mile away, and he had perceived 'naught of her blast of anguish. Upon setting out, some of his Yrch had marked a lone horse at a distance, but as it bore neither a rider, nor any tack or gear, he forbade them to give chase. They had already sufficient rations, and his need to advance left no time to indulge their sport. So 'twas that he drove his troops on towards Fornost, and left behind the most valuable captive he could have taken.

At roughly the same time, the Host of Lindon too broke their fast and began their march. They expected to cross the Baranduin towards the end of their 'day', and then encamp beyond the further shore, which lay some forty miles to the east. By then, their furthest scouting parties would have ridden close enough to Fornost to reconnoiter the status of the defense.

With nightfall came also the Host of Angmar, renewing their assault on Fornost Erain with a much lessened enthusiasm than on the night just past. Yet still they were a formidable host and the defense was in earnest. As the Yrch and Hillmen reached a half-mile from the walls, they were subjected to catapult fire from the eastern batteries.

"Odd numbered batteries, ignite and release!" Ordered the Artillery Captain of the Eastern Wall, just as he had on the previous night.

Just as they had on the previous night, the twelve firemen of the alternating batteries touched their torches to the straw wrapped shot in the slings and they burst into flame. The chief gunners released their triggers and the long booms jerked into motion as the counterweights at the opposite ends fell. The burning shot was flung into the night sky, rising in a carefully calibrated arc, to fall upon the attackers and light the field.

"Even numbered batteries, ignite and release!" Called out the Artillery Captain, and this was indeed a different command, for on this night, rather than solid stone, the dozen even numbered batteries had loaded shot comprised of a linen sack filled with one hundred pounds of coarse sand mix. These had spent part of the afternoon in a vat of oil, and had soaked up so much as their sand and pea gravel filling could hold. Now they burst into flame, and the triggers were immediately released, launching the shot skyward.

From their experience of the previous night's battle, the Yrch and Hillmen knew that the flaming shot was intended primarily to deprive them of the cover of darkness, not to cause casualties. Rather, they feared more the archers, whose arrows were sure to follow. As they expected, most of the first volley of burning shot fell to the flanks, and some even landed ahead of their front line, but as they grimly gripped their weapons and continued their advance, they saw the second volley of flaming shot arcing up directly towards them.

The oiled sand shot flew from the wall, and as it flew, the linen sacks burned away, and the varied weights of the sand and gravel within caused a spreading rain of fire to fall upon their foes, for these loads had been aimed, purposefully and carefully, to target the press of the attackers. Now whilst none would die from the impacts alone, the burning sand and gravel covered a wide area with flaming material that coated all it struck, finding its way 'neath armor or into clothing, onto bare skin and into hair, and at the worst, scorching the eyes and even the lungs. Yrch and Men fell to the ground, flailing or desperately rolling in hopes of extinguishing the clinging fire.

On the eastern wall, the Artillery Captain cried out, "all batteries, load sand shot!" And when he saw that this had been done, he ordered, "ignite and release!"

Now two dozen batteries lit their shot and released it at the same time. The volley of flaming projectiles arced up into the dark sky, to spread and rain down upon the Host of Angmar. That host, already advancing more slowly than a night ago, partially faltered as they marked the incoming clouds of burning sand. Some raised shields, others tried to predict whither the shot would fall and dodge away, whilst some followed the previous night's wisdom and charged ahead as fast as their legs would carry them. The next full volley caused the cohesiveness of the host to break, some charging forward, some advancing with shields raised as they had aforetime, and others standing still or barely moving forward at all. From the walls came another dozen loads of conventional burning shot, and a dozen more loads of oiled sand, this time targeting those companies of the foe that charged foremost.

The bulk of the Host of Angmar had come within two furlongs of the barricade when the catapults ceased firing, but this brought no respite. The first volley of five hundred arrows came from the steel longbows upon the wall, tearing into those of the foe leading their charge. From the barricade came a volley of five hundred more arrows concentrated on the same targets. The Archers of Arthedain repeated their volleys twice more on command ere receiving the order to fire at will. By then, the Yrch and Hillmen had again come 'nigh the barricade, to be held at bay by the pikemen whilst the archers fired on them at close range.

In those moments, most of the Dúnedain who fell were shot by the few crossbowmen amongst Angmar's host. Indeed those shot were primarily pikemen, for now the archers took cover behind their shield bearers and revealed themselves only to fire. Facing a cohesive battle line, they weren't even called upon to aim carefully, for any shaft sent towards the enemy was likely to strike. Amongst the archers and pikemen, the infantry had raised their shields, and some hauled back their wounded comrades from the barricade, whilst others tried to share their shield's protection with the pikemen.

Now the order came from the Commander of the Infantry to advance. The archers loosed a last volley and the pikemen drove forward, pressing back their foes. Then the infantry poured forth from behind the barricade to match swords with the Yrch and Hillmen. Though they were still at a numerical disadvantage, the Dúnedain had caused significant casualties resulting from a profound degree of tactical superiority. The Host of Angmar had numbers, aye, but they had been forced to charge through a gauntlet of catapult fire and massed archers, all to come against an immovable barricade protected by pikemen who wielded pole arms of four rangar in length, tipped with leaf points of steel a foot long. Almost none of the attackers had even managed to reach the sharpened stakes of the barricade. The lines engaged, and the foe, already tiring from their charge, faced unfought Men fighting to defend their homes and their families.

Two hours past nightfall, with the battle lines at Fornost just engaged, Elrond and the scouting party he accompanied were riding about forty miles north of the fortress. Though only Ithil's light shone down to illuminate their path, they had found the tracks of a single horse a few hours old, and they had followed that trail for the past hour. Of the Ringwraith or a second host, there had been no rumor, but they deemed that if such moved in those lands, they were still somewhere ahead. Now they rode with haste, but their pace was tempered by the need to follow tracks in the dark o'er increasingly rocky terrain, and to keep watch for a host of foes who might lie before them.

Through the next two hours they continued on their way, following the tracks of the single horse and hoping for the best. Shortly after midnight they had come sixty miles from Fornost, and from the darkness ahead came the neigh of a horse that had obviously sensed their own mounts. Elrond and the scouts stopped and listened carefully. The horse approached, and soon thereafter they marked its hoof falls on the rocky ground. Another five minutes, during which several of the scouts' mounts returned neighs and whiffles, stamped and shifted, the horse came 'nigh, its herding instinct leading it to seek out others of its kind who had evinced no fear. By scent, the horses welcomed one of their own who smelled familiar, for they had long shared the same stables in the fortress.

Two scouts dismounted, and the Lord Elrond joined them. The Men gentled the lone animal and checked it for injury, but finding none, poured water into a hollow in a boulder and set beside it some apples and carrots that they had kept as treats for their own mounts. The drink and snack were gratefully received, and the horse stood still as Elrond approached.

Now the Peredhel spoke softly and soothingly to the horse in the Elven tongue, and he projected feelings of protectiveness and welcome. After finishing the apples and carrots, the horse offered its nose for scratching and Elrond also stroked its neck. Then he set his forehead to the horse's forehead and concentrated deeply. When they broke apart, it seemed to the Men that each nodded in agreement with the other, the Elf and the horse. 'Twas as if something had passed 'twixt them and they had reached an accord.

The scouts watched as Elrond mounted, and the new come horse accepted his weight without distress, reacting agreeably to the gentle pressure of his legs on its flanks. The horse turned back the way it had come and proceeded forward at a walk. The scouts fell in line behind, leading the horse that Elrond had ridden from Fornost.

"My lord, we have departed from the track we followed aforetime," the lead scout told Elrond shortly later as they took a jog west 'round a slight rise in the land.

"Aye, and little wonder is there in that," the Peredhel said. "This noble mount bore aforetime one who rides bareback as do I, and since being left alone by its rider, it hath fled some horror that moves to our east. T'will not approach that source of fear again."

The Man stared a moment at Elrond, but finally accepted his words and fell in behind him again. They rode on another hour, and towards the end of that time, all marked that they were bound for a shallow ravine ahead. There the scouts found many prints of a single horse, muddled by much nervous shifting of its hooves. After a short while, they also marked the tracks of the lone rider, moving off to the north afoot.

"Here she left her mount in the most sheltered place she could find, and then proceeded afoot to reconnoiter 'aught that she had marked lying ahead," Elrond said.

He and two scouts took up that path. They followed what scant trail Helluin had left, and in that way, discovered her a quarter-mile on, 'nigh the top of the ridge. She was still unconscious, lying on her back and staring blindly up at the stars. Great was their rejoicing, but also their worry, for the dark Noldo reacted not a wit to their presence. 'Twas obvious that she neither heard, nor saw them, and that her mind had fled to some other place.

Now the lead scout bared a dagger with a polished blade, and he turned it to catch the moonlight and reflect it back towards the ravine. By tilting the blade back and forth, he sent a coded message in Adûnaic, nakkha li, 'you come'.

Straight away the remaining ten scouts led their horses from the ravine, and they joined Elrond and the two scouts already on the ridge. Then the lead scout sent three to examine the rather obvious trampling of what may have been a campsite, and three more to follow for a short ways the careless trail left from it leading away south.

On the ridge, Elrond knelt beside Helluin and laid his hands on either side of her face. He concentrated deeply, trying to reach her in a connection fëa to fëa, in order to discover whence her consciousness had fled. Long he remained thus, with eyes closed and the strain of his efforts etched upon his face. 'Round him the scouts said 'naught, but watched all, as was their nature, and they wondered what would come to pass.

The Peredhel entered his friend's mind and found there only darkness. This was no surprise to him, as Helluin's consciousness had obviously taken leave of her physical body, despite her spirit having remained. 'Twas akin to a deep state of dreaming, or perhaps a coma in a mortal. Softly he called out to her, and his voice echoed in that netherworld within. Long he searched and called, and he moved within that intangible space, though 'twas no visual proof of motion such as Men might know. Yet still, progress he made and his search led on.

She believes her beloved gone from the Hither Shores. Whither then would she search? Aman, of course, and the Halls of Mandos.

Having now a destination, a problem still lay before the Peredhel. Unlike Helluin, when she had searched thither for Beinvír's spirit after the Green Elf was wounded fighting the Dwarven army of Zärlagab, son of Inkishûsh, Elrond had ne'er lived in the Undying Lands. He had been born in Beleriand and had ne'er seen Aman. Still, he kept hope, for the Blessed Realm was the birthright of every Elda.

By his will, Elrond moved towards the West, upon which he concentrated his thought. He recalled all such lore as he had learnt from those of the true Calaquendi who had described Aman as they had known it in the Age of the Trees, but most of all, he reviewed such as had been told to him long ago by Glorfindel, who had most recently come from the Uttermost West.

Slowly the blackness gave way to visual motion. O'er darkened waves his sight sped, 'crossing that gulf represented physically in Middle Earth by Belegaer, the Sundering Sea. Slowly the vision brightened, and now he could see a dim light ahead that grew e'er brighter. Though since the Whelming of Númenor, the round world no longer hosted Aman, to Elrond's spirit, the Straight Road was represented as an ocean crossing, just as it had been in truth long aforetime. And so Elrond sailed in a ship of his own mind's conjuring, 'crossing a gulf of the spirit, whilst before him, the Light of the Undying West grew as the veils of Ilmen fell aside.

Knowing clearly now his path, Elrond willed the vision of the passage to hasten. 'Neath him, Tol Eressëa flashed past, tempting to his thirst for lore, yet he tarried not. He shot through the Calacirya as a meteor, bypassing Tirion atop the Hill of Túna in a heartbeat. In panic he willed himself to slow and descend, lest he o'ershoot Aman entirely and wind up in Ekkaia, or worse still, the Void. His literal perception of the spiritual journey was the mark of a true novice. Finally, he crashed into the ground of Valmar, bouncing and rolling like a thrown stone, and coming to a halt lying prone in an empty vat 'nigh a withered hill, upon which stood the blighted trunks of two trees. Elrond looked 'round in astonishment and could scarce believe his eyes.

Almost immediately after his clumsy landing, a crowd of Maiar gathered 'round. They pointed at him and muttered 'twixt themselves, speaking Valarin, which he didn't understand, (though some words bore a similarity to antique Quenya), and suppressing no few chuckles. In spite of feeling mortified, the Peredhel recalled his purpose.

"I pray thy pardon for the manner of my arrival, noble ones," he said, "but I seek a friend come hither of late, who in turn seeks tidings of another but lately lost."

They stared at him and said 'naught, as if they had no understanding of Sindarin, and that he deemed impossible following the return of so many from Beleriand. Finally, as he sought for any who might aid, or at least answer him, he marked a Lady approaching in raiment of silver, and with a Light about her that brought tears to his eyes. The Maiar parted before her, and at a glance from the handmaiden who accompanied her, they dispersed. Elrond knelt in reverence and lowered his eyes.

"Rise, son of Eärendil," her voice said in his head. "Helluin came seeking her beloved…again. She has gone to the Halls of Lamentation, for this time, Beinvír came not amongst us."

Elrond rose, still hesitant to raise his eyes. Her words had been a shock, but they brought him hope. "Then Beinvír is not dead?" He asked, just to make sure.

"Nay, she abides still upon the Mortal Shores. I bid thee find Helluin and return together, for she will arise filled with wrath, and having a friend shall be a comfort."

The Peredhel had no idea whither the House of Nienna lay, but it seemed the Valier sensed this, and taking him by the shoulder, turned him west where a vision of the Halls of Lamentation came clearly to his mind.

"I thank thee, most revered Lady Elentári, more than words can tell," he thought. He chanced a glance to her and saw her smile.

In the next moment, absent any intent on his part, he stood before the gates of the House of Nienna, brightly lit by Anor, but with the endless Void darkening the sky just beyond. It seemed that the Lady Varda had given him a 'shove'.

Now he came to the gates and they parted before him, and he walked through a garden with benches and a fountain that barely seeped water down the sides of a black pillar into a broad, shallow pool. Past it lay a modest house, low and unimposing, with a comforting golden light glowing in the windows. Coming to the door, he entered and searched within, but found the rooms deserted. A back door lay at the opposite end of the house, and having no better inspiration, he exited into another garden, surrounded by a low wall. Just beyond it, on the very edge of the world, sat two figures, Helluin, whom he easily recognized, and another clad in a flowing dress of black, girt with a delicate belt of mithril. They were motionless, side by side, staring out into the Void.

Elrond walked through the garden to the gate in the wall. Helluin and Nienna were seated on the ground with their legs dangling o'er the edge. The Peredhel marked that there was no slope below, only a precipice, and it seemed the blackness lay so close that he could reach out and touch it. More disturbingly, he perceived a beckoning and gentle enticement directed by a disembodied will that urged one to step off the edge and into the Void.

"Helluin," he said, "I am glad to have found thee. Many from Fornost sought thee."

The two turned at his words, Helluin with a look of surprise, Nienna with simple curiosity. Elrond marked that her hair seemed at once both black and white, or perhaps sections of it shifted constantly 'twixt those opposites, a thing he would not have believed were he not seeing it. She looked at him carefully, and an expression of sympathy and condolence shaped her delicate features, as if she divined a great measure of heartbreak impending.

"'Tis good that thou hast come, son of Eärendil," she said. "Helluin cannot linger here, fore'er viewing the Void. Her doom demands her departure."

"Here 'nigh this house is the one place in all of creation where I can find a measure of relief from the sorrow and the rage that I know is to come," Helluin said. She seemed more resigned than woeful or wrathful, and this came as a total shock to the Peredhel. "E'er have I found the Void comforting."

"I find it terrifying," Elrond confessed. "It calls, and I would not sit as thou dost for any boon."

The dark Noldo nodded to him in understanding, whilst the Valier hid a grin and said, "'tis the residue of thy mortal ancestry…this fear of oblivion."

It took the Lord of Imladris some moments to realize he was the subject of her humor.

Helluin sighed at the prospect of returning to the waking world, but finally said, "thou hast my thanks for thy hospitality, Lady Nienna. Desperately did I crave even a moment's surcease. Alas, I suppose I must take my leave."

"E'er art thou welcome, Maeg-mórmenel," Nienna said. "We shall meet again, my friend, and thou as well, Elrond."

Elrond bowed deeply to the Valier, but Helluin simply took her in a hug and kissed her cheek. Nienna returned both the bow and the kiss, and then she turned back to the Void, muttering, "whyfor art thou brighter today than yesterday?"

To Be Continued