In An Age Before – Part 222
Chapter One Hundred forty-three
The Destruction of Sheol and the Closing of Nehemoth, Rhûn – The Third Age of the Sun
The Yrch stilled their bickering and their heads jerked up in a collective spasm. She loomed o'er them, elevated on the dais and standing before the throne, black robed and black armored, a Black Sword in her hand. 'Neath the deep shadow of her hood, no face was to be seen.
A few of them gasped in shock and then absolute silence hung o'er the great hall. None dared move. For what seemed an eternity, all partook of a frozen tableau. A Nazgûl! It had appeared out of thin air! If their master was the God of Fire, then surely his most favored servants were his demons of fire.
The Nine had been absent from the east for centuries and not one of the living Yrch had seen any of them, yet they all recognized this one from lore. Then awe and fear gripped them, their guilt cowed them, and in a hastening wave from front to back, the gathered Yrch bowed.
"Goth zemaraumuurz! Uruk-hai mushof. Nazgûl thrak gijakudob!¹" Helluin declared, her voice now both harsh and accusatory. ¹(Goth zemaraumuurz! Uruk-hai mushof. Nazgûl thrak gijakudob! Master angry! Orcs hide. Nazgûl brings bloodshed! = Goth(master) + zemaraum(anger) + -uurz(adj. suff) Uruk(Orc) + hai(coll. pl., Orc folk) + mushof(hide) Nazgûl(Ringwraith) + thrak(bring) + gijakudob(bloodshed) Orkish)
The Yrch cringed before her. They had intended to flee. With their fellow deserters they had shied from battle and hidden 'neath the citadel rather than defend their master's fortress. The rest had sought to escape through the spider's tunnels, but worse than the spider must lurk in those depths, for all they had heard was screaming. Then they had fled upwards to the hall in the desperate hope of surviving. Deeming themselves safe there, they had stopped to argue o'er whether to bolt immediately or await nightfall, yet it seemed that their master saw all and they had been caught. He had sent his Nazgûl to deliver his wrath and chastisement.
The Yrch broke from their horrified paralysis and did as their nature dictated. Some lied, claiming they had fought, some made denials, claiming they were faithful, some tried to blame others, pointing out cowards and traitors, and some simply prostrated themselves and pleaded for their lives. They watched the black hood swing back and forth, as if taking their measure. They heard the sniffling, characteristic of the Ringwraiths, or so their tales told. They heard three explosive sneezes in rapid succession.
Accursed dusty throne, Helluin groaned silently in thought, and then sneezed twice more. I wager even their twisted lore speaks not of the Nazgûl suffering allergies. Ahhh well…
The Yrch were staring at her now, and she could read the doubts growing on their faces. The Noldo knew her gambit had failed miserably when a few sneered at her and cries of 'Fake!', 'Liar!', and 'Imposter!' rose from the assembly. Weapons were drawn, and with cunning grins, they began to advance.
Helluin did the only thing she could. Blue fire rolled from her eyes and a blinding ril of Light burst from her. She fired the knocked arrow into the press of the Yrch and slung the bow o'er her shoulder. Then she lifted the Sarchram in her left hand and leapt down the steps of the dais in a sudden attack.
"Draut gijak-ishi!¹" She cried out. "Vrasubatlatuk!²" ¹(Draut gijak-ishi, Light in the Blood Orkish) ²(Vrasubatlatuk!, (I) will kill you all! = vras(kill) + -ub(future tense suff., will kill) -at(inf. v. suff.) + lat(you) + -uk(all) Orkish)
The Yrch were squinting and shading their eyes with their hands, trying to see her through the glaring corona she projected. Helluin met them at the bottom of the dais, Anguirél slashing in swift and deadly strokes. With the Sarchram, she sliced throats and clove skulls. The Noldo hewed her half-blinded foes without mercy, and rapidly they began to fall. With a quick glance, she marked more falling at the rear of their press. Shadows moved in the hall, firing their bows with deadly accuracy. Facing the blazing Noldo, the Yrch took the arrows in their backs. Indeed, so focused were they upon her that they marked not any other attackers.
Now the battle in the citadel raged for 'nigh the half part of an hour, and despite their numbers, the outcome was ne'er in doubt. Concealed in the shadows 'twixt the piers, the Umanyar fired with impeccable skill, and 'twas little challenge for each to slay three or four foes when they were gathered tightly in a press facing Helluin. So intimidating and deadly was the bright Noldo that the Yrch dared not break from their focus upon her. She stood before them, embattling them face to face, and the foe within sword range was e'er more compelling of their attention than those unseen who assailed them from a distance.
Not 'til the end was 'nigh did those Yrch at the front mark that their advantage in numbers had disappeared. They had been solely fixed on avoiding Helluin's blades and seeking a target for their strokes within her blaze of Light. They had paid no heed to the dwindling count of their own that stood behind them awaiting their turn to assail the false Nazgûl. And only 'nigh the end did the last combatants realize that to them, the imposter was no less deadly than a real Ringwraith.
Now the sounds of fighting, the battle cries and curses, the shrieks of the wounded, the ringing of steel on steel, and the thuds of blade on body fell silent at last. The groans of the dying faded away. The victors relaxed their muscles and recovered their breath. Weapons were cleaned and sheathed and bows shouldered. Helluin ceased her ril, doffed her coif, and shook the dust from her cloak, prompting a couple more sneezes and a few muttered curses about Sauron's failed housekeeping. The Umanyar drew knives and began cutting their arrows from the bodies of the slain Yrch, returning them to their quivers.
"Well, that was different," one of the Moriquendi captains remarked to Helluin when they met before the dais. "Open battle at last."
"Aye," Helluin agreed, nodding, "and for thy timely aid, I offer my thanks. The combat found its end far more quickly by virtue of thy shooting."
The captain perceived that she deemed the outcome preordained and only hastened with his aid. She believed that even alone, she would have slain them all in time. He cast a glance 'round the floor; aforetime, his company had ne'er found so many foes in a single place.
"What make thee of these, pray tell?" He asked, a sweeping gesture of one hand indicating the fallen Yrch. "Dost thou reckon them the guard of the citadel, or this a last stand of the defense?"
"I have the impression that they were deserters seeking salvation in flight," she said. "When I accused them of cowardice, they cringed with guilt. I reckon they lay hid 'neath the tower and chance only brought them to light whilst I tarried above."
"'Neath the tower," he mused. After a moment he asked, "Think thou that more lurk there still?"
"I should be little surprised," she said, "and I reckon there is but one way to learn the truth."
"Then we shall accompany thee, for we are charged to clear the east side of the fortress and cannot in good conscience ignore the chance of foes roaming at liberty behind our backs."
Helluin nodded to him, for she had entertained the same thought.
"My thanks again for thy aid, noble captain. We shall proceed when thy troops are ready."
"I am Orothvídh¹, Lady Helluin," he said. ¹(Orothvídh, Mountain Dew = orod(mountain) + mídh(dew) At the partition of proper nouns, -d becomes –th and –m becomes -v Sindarin)
Now following the recovery of their arrows and a short respite for a few mouthfuls of waybread and water, the Umanyar followed Helluin through the entrance behind the throne to the descending staircase. For a while, they did 'naught but carefully listen for any tell tale sound of foes rising from the depths, but they heard only silence. The Noldo gave the captains a nod and then began her descent. The Umanyar followed, their tread on the steps as silent as hers.
They came first to a landing whence a short tunnel led to a vast storeroom with a low ceiling, where a couple torches still burned. 'Nigh its entrance was a well with windlass and bucket. Water barrels were set to one side and trestle tables to the other. A hearth with glowing embers was set amongst them. Toward the rear, casks and crates stretched off into the gloom. A glance into one that stood open revealed slabs of dried meat, but none could determine from what kind of animal. Not for any price would one of the Elves have sampled it. They deemed that they had found a mess hall for the Yrch attending the tower. It seemed to have been abandoned but shortly aforetime. After ensuring that none lurked in the shadows, they returned to the stairwell.
The company descended further and with each switchback of the staircase, their apprehension increased. The air grew warm and the stench of ammonia and putrefaction grew as well. Deep were whatsoe'er chambers that lay 'neath the tower, and they were befouled. Helluin slipped Anguirél from her sheath and the Umanyar knocked arrows on their bowstrings. The silence that had originally seemed welcome for its lack of threat had come to be oppressive.
One hundred feet down they descended, and then two. A small door stood on the landing at that depth, strongly built, its face reinforced with bars of steel. 'Twas barely large enough to allow the passage of one bent double at the waist. Joining door to frame was a stout hasp, secured with a comically massive padlock. The hinges would have sufficed for a broad door double Man high. The Elves traded looks. All pondered whether such measures had been taken to exclude any from entering, or to constrain the escape of 'aught from within.
Helluin bent and set her ear to the door. At first, she heard 'naught. She closed her eyes and concentrated more deeply, seeking for any telltale sound. She marked that the scent of ammonia was stronger 'round the seams of the doorframe. Finally, the notion came to Helluin that as the door had stood long and was no more likely to fall now than aforetime, she could safely give free reign to her curiosity. With Anguirél's pommel, she tapped experimentally on the steel. Beside her, the captain flinched slightly and shook his head in disapproval.
At first, 'naught came in response and so she tapped thrice, more firmly. She heard the distinct sounds of the impacts and perceived an echoing from the empty space beyond. At a guess, the Noldo deemed that space must be quite vast to produce such sounds. Then indistinctly at first, she heard muffled footsteps approaching with haste. Again she tapped, and now she received an answer. Blows resounded from within. They were softer, as if struck with a bare fist, but insistent. She returned them to confirm her presence.
Then, from the thither side of the door, she heard the words of a Man speaking the eastern tongue of the Wainriders, and there was panic in his voice.
"Please, help us! We are trapped! We cannot get out!"
"What place is that?" Helluin asked.
"'Tis the lair of the spider! We fled the 'light sabre' of the Elves and sought refuge 'neath the ground. Now the webs have closed behind us. We cannot get out."
"Can thou not cut thy way out? They are but spider webs that block thee."
"They are unnatural. They stretch 'neath our blows, then rebound uncut. Please, help us. Something is here, some terror. It took our lieutenant Shamak and many others. We hear drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out!"
The Easterling's panic was 'nigh palpable and Helluin imagined the terrified Man with eyes wide, shaking in fear. His words reeked of despair and he begged, knowing not who or what stood on the other side of the door. Yet Helluin deemed it folly to open that door, even if she could, to release not only an unknown count of Wainriders, but whatsoe'er else abode in that space and preyed upon them. She looked up to meet Orothvídh's eyes and saw that he too had heard the Man's plea. As if they were of one mind, both he and she shook their heads, 'nay'.
The Man continued to beseech her from the far side of the door, and then, more faintly behind him, she heard screams and cries, and the Wainrider desperately whispered, "They are coming," then a gasp of abject terror, and a final whimpered, "they are here…"
The sounds of a brief scuffle came from the thither space and another scream, and then silence.
For a while, Helluin continued to listen, but no more did she hear from beyond the door. At last, she drew her head away and looked to the captain.
"Not Yrch," he muttered.
"Nay," Helluin agreed. "'Twas something worse, something unknown."
"He spoke of drums. Did thou hear drums?"
"Nay, I did not."
The Umanya looked to her and she read the uncertainty in his eyes. She was uncertain herself. She cast a glance down the continuing switchbacks of the staircase. Only silence and the stench of death came from those depths. Finally, she sighed, recalling Alatar's words.
"We need not tell ye to be wary therein, for those tunnels may communicate with the realm of the spider and lead down into Nehemoth."
"I deem that we have come whither the tunnels of the spider communicate with Nehemoth of which the Ithryn Luin warned," she said. The captain gave her a grim nod. "In truth, I know not what that means. I know not what may abide there, nor how to fight it, if fight it we may. I deem our cause best served by reporting this to the Ithryn. Perhaps their wisdom shall provide succor from our doubt."
The captain gave her a nod of agreement and she saw the look of relief in his eyes. With a hand gesture, he directed his troops back up the stairs and they climbed, as silently as they had come. Helluin followed, straining her ears for the slightest sound of pursuit, but 'naught came to her and the company regained the level of the great hall unmolested.
Shortly later, they stood in the sunlight on the threshold of the citadel. The relief of the Umanyar was well 'nigh palpable. Helluin gazed 'round, marking that for all that had already been done that morn, 'twas still but two hours ere noon of 17 Urui.
Now the clearing of the fortress continued unabated and by the eve of 19 Urui, all the buildings within Sheol had been emptied of foes. Though 'twas expected that a contingent of unknown count remained in the nether precincts that honeycombed the spur 'neath the citadel, the methods by which these could be exterminated were much debated and remained unresolved.
That night a council was held to trade tidings and observations. All the principals and captains of the allied host were present. For the most part, they spoke of battle reports, accounts of engagements, tallies of enemies slain, and casualties sustained. These were recorded by scribes to document the campaign for the archives of both the Ithryn Luin and the Mâh-Sakâ. 'Twas only during the later accounts that 'aught unexpected was told.
"Some aspects were observed that beg wiser counsel," Helluin said. At a nod from the Blue Wizards, she continued saying, "In the God of Fire's temple, the mechanism of human sacrifice escaped me. The nature of the fuel too I could not fathom. I sought for a cache of whatsoe'er was used to immolate the victims and uncovered 'naught. No ashes of wood, burning stone, charcoal, or oil did I find. Examining the altar revealed some details that I could not decipher. Six vertical posts of iron there were upon which Men were shackled and burnt. Each post was hollow and perforated many times with circles of small holes."
The khātūn and the generals of the Mâh-Sakâ looked bewildered and Helluin could read the curiosity and lack of comprehension on the Wizards' faces. They looked to each other, but none had any suggestions. Alatar shrugged.
"Perhaps if we examined Sauron's altar for ourselves we might find some enlightenment," Pallando ventured, "but for now, I am confounded."
"Very well," Helluin said, "then on to the next."
The principals looked at her with expressions that clearly said, 'More? Is not one mystery sufficient?' Ignoring that, she plunged ahead.
"Some peculiar events went forth 'neath the citadel, as Captain Orothvídh may attest," Helluin said, nodding to acknowledge the Umanya. "Some two hundred feet down a stairwell 'neath the great hall there was a landing whither we came upon a small door, very strong, but no more than waist high. 'Twas secured fast with a massive padlock. Curious, I set my ear to the door, but heard 'naught at first, yet tapping upon the door soon provoked a response. Within was an unknown count of Wainriders who had fled into the spider's lair to escape E-ngúrglaw. T'would seem that they had become trapped therein and beseeched us for deliverance from some mysterious predators. These, he claimed, came from deeper 'neath the citadel and were heralded by drums. I heard 'naught of drums or predators save that our conversation was cut short by the Wainrider's screams. 'Naught was heard from him after and I believe he was slain by parties unknown."
"Knowing not what lay beyond the door, nor what might lurk deeper 'neath the citadel, we withdrew to seek counsel," Captain Orothvídh added. "The only lair of Yrch we found was but four fathoms 'neath the great hall, and we marked no evidence of them deeper. I deem they too avoided the further depths and the tunnels of the spider."
"We found 'naught deeper than a few fathoms in the western precincts," a Mâh-Sakâ captain from Lipoksai's host reported. "There was a dungeon, some prisoners, and a lair of goblins."
The other captains from Kolaksai and Lipoksai's hosts nodded in confirmation of his report.
"If Helluin and Orothvídh's company encountered some of the demons from Nehemoth, then I count it a blessing that their evil is confined to a single entrance into Arda," Alatar said.
"And I am more than glad that they are still constrained thither," Pallando added, the relief obvious in his voice. "We have no way of knowing what they truly are, or how to oppose them."
"One mystery at a time, I reckon, shall leave us well occupied," Alatar said. "On the morrow I shall accompany Helluin back to the temple and view this altar. I am hard pressed to believe that the sacrifices depended on Sauron's command of fire alone."
"I do not believe it either," Helluin said, "for ere entering the temple, I burnt the contents of a dormitory that I deem was home to his clergy. I wager they did most of the labor."
"Thou discovered not these priests?" Tahmirih asked.
"Nay, Khātūn, I did not," Helluin answered. For the first time, she realized that someone should have seen them at some time. They had not been difficult to find in Wahat Binya.
"I recall no reports of their cadavers, nor any accounts of them being slain," Targitai said.
"Absent the raiment of their priesthood, I wager they would appear like any other Men," Orothvídh said. "Were any Men slain in the fortress, or was it only Yrch within the walls?"
All remained silent and none made claim to have slain any Men within the walls of Sheol. That left e'eryone unsettled. Were Sauron's priests still hiding somewhere in the fortress, or had they escaped? Had they doffed their robes and slipped away? Those given to darker imaginings wondered if they had actually been Men at all.
The council adjourned thereafter and all departed feeling apprehensive. Despite having the victory, captains ordered the sentries and watchmen doubled. The officers rested poorly that night and the troops began to speculate on just what the status of the campaign truly was. The dawn was welcomed with relief, even by those dull witted and bleary-eyed from lack of sleep.
At the first hour after Anor's rising on 20 Urui, Alatar, Pallando, Helluin, and Maglor leading a company of archers, made their way through the fortress and came to the temple. All appeared unchanged from when Helluin had taken her leave on the morn of 17 Urui.
Ere they entered, Helluin took a quick look into the burnt dormitory 'cross the street. 'Naught had changed and no footprints disturbed the fall of ash carpeting the floor. If any of the priests remained 'nigh, they had not tried to reenter their previous home. With a nod of approval, the Noldo rejoined the company on the steps of the stylobate and together, they entered the temple.
Now although there was no way to know beyond doubt, it appeared that all within was as Helluin had last seen it. The Blue Wizards spent a short time appraising the statue of Sauron, the reliefs on the domed ceiling, and the other architectural features of the edifice. They expended neither time, nor energy in commentary, simply shaking their heads at the tedious self-aggrandizement and obsessive malice of Gorthaur's worldview as illustrated in the decoration of his temple. 'Twas as if they regarded it all as childish, a juvenile display that they dismissed as unworthy of serious contemplation.
In the meantime, Helluin had taken to scraping the burnt residues from the post she had examined a few days aforetime. For this, in order to spare the edge on the dagger she had forged in Khazad-dûm, she had taken a dagger of little value from the armory of weapons confiscated from the dead Wainriders that was being stored in the allied camp. The scraping of steel on iron focused the attention of the rest of the company, and they gathered 'round to watch.
"This may take some time," she told them, for whilst much of the residue was crusted and easily fell away as scabs of carbon, in some places it remained greasy and had to be scraped off with effort.
Eventually, Helluin had cleaned the lower portion of the post, but could not reach higher than what would have been just o'er knee height for the victims. To ease the completion her chore, she leapt up onto the altar and knelt in the circular depression from which the six iron posts arose. 'Twas not long ere she felt light-headed, and shortly thereafter, the dark Noldo reeled and tumbled from the altar, crashing onto the floor. Maglor and the shocked Wizards hastened to attend her, yet after but a short span of time; she shook her head and struggled to her feet, still breathing hard.
"I know not what came o'er me," she muttered, still foggy-headed and gasping. "I had sufficient rest and broke my fast acceptably…"
"What felt thou?" Pallando asked with concern.
"I felt as if I could not breath, as if I was drowning in plain air," she shook her head, understanding it not. "Perhaps the altar is bespelled?"
"Perhaps," Maglor allowed, though whether he was humoring her or sympathetic, she could not tell, as her thought remained somewhat foggy still.
The Wizards had moved to the altar and were probing it with their staves, waving the magical implements o'er the upper surface and 'round the posts. They muttered a few phrases that might have been spells or words of power, and then conferred softly 'twixt themselves whilst the rest of the company stood by. During that time, Helluin felt increasingly recovered, as if the effects of whatsoe'er spell had affected her was wearing off. She walked o'er and prepared to leap back up onto the altar, but Alatar stayed her.
"Helluin, remain grounded awhile longer, I pray thee," he said.
"I feel well and deem myself fully recovered," she replied, thinking he reckoned her health still frail.
"That is good, yet Pallando and I have descried some logic to thy mishap," he said. "Pray allow us time to conduct an experiment and prove cause and effect."
She could but acquiesce and nod her agreement, as e'er, respectful of the wisdom of the West.
Meanwhile, Pallando had engaged the archers of Maglor's company to procure some 'props'.
"Pray provide us with rubble of masonry," he requested. "Nine stone should be sufficient," he added after giving Helluin a calculating glance and estimating her weight.
The archers nodded and started for the entrance, but Pallando called after them, saying, "and pray bring a torch as well."
Now whilst they awaited the return of the archers, Helluin and Maglor asked after the Wizards' hypothesis. But the Ithryn Luin would say 'naught, being reticent to voice untested possibilities or speculate on their theories whilst awaiting the execution of more rigorous science.
"Patience, my friends," Alatar said. "'Tis truly a rather outlandish notion that we entertain, and either we shall eliminate it as a flight of fancy, or have our proof forthwith,"
'Twas 'naught for the Noldor to do save bide their time and look to what tests the wizards had deemed would be revealing. Their wait was not so long, though boredom made it seem so. The Umanyar returned straightaway bearing a score of cobbles uprooted from the street, and a spear with what Helluin identified as part of an Orch's cloak wrapped 'round one end. From the stench of it, she reckoned the fabric had been doused with the foul liquor sometimes carried by the Yrch. 'Twas fetid, but flammable and would make a serviceable torch.
The Wizards greeted their return with approval and instructions to begin piling the stones in the depression atop the altar. The archers set the cobbles 'round the six posts and then one stroked a flint down the spine of his knife and drew a spark to ignite the torch. This he passed to Pallando, and after exchanging nods with Alatar, he thrust it towards the post that Helluin had scraped clean.
Ere the flames touched the post, there was a fireball o'er the altar and when it receded, jets of flame came from the holes Helluin had uncovered. A few holes in the other five posts that were not plugged or crusted o'er also sported jets of flame. Pallando had ducked down at the fireball and now rose to his feet. With the rest of the company, he stared at the flames.
"So, t'would seem our suspicions were correct," Alatar said.
"Pray explain this enchantment to me," Helluin asked, "for I understand not what feeds the flames."
"Nor I," Maglor said, "though I deem it a dark spell meant to immolate the shackled victims."
"Well, my friends, 'tis surely some volatile gas flowing from within the posts that feeds these flames," Pallando began. "It must be supplied from 'neath the altar with pressure. See, these flames are as jets, not free flames as in a campfire. 'Tis not by virtue of its lightness that it rises into the posts for if t'were so then Helluin would not have been suffocated, but rather t'would have risen to disperse into the air."
"We may also be convinced that 'tis weight, usually the weight of the victims, that presses down the circular depression and causes the gas to flow into the posts," Alatar added, "and when the victims are burnt to ash, they weigh so little that the gas flow ceases as the depression rises back to its resting position. I deem 'tis the work of an evil genius and requires 'naught but a spark to run its course."
"Aye, 'tis twisted and ingenious," Pallando agreed. "Much effort was made to achieve these theatrics for the sake of awing Sauron's worshippers."
He had scrubbed the burning Orch cloth from the end of the spear and now used it to dislodge the cobbles and roll them off the altar. One by one they fell to the floor, and when but three remained, the depression 'round the posts rose slightly and the flames sputtered and died.
So, the Lord of Lies has his own charlatans just as did Targitai, Helluin thought.
"'Tis ingenious, aye, in lands with little wood and constant sacrifices to be burnt," Maglor said.
"So whence comes this volatile gas?" Helluin asked.
"How comes it to be 'neath pressure?" Maglor asked.
The Wizards looked to each other, but had no answers for the Noldor. They had discerned the method, but not the means. Indeed, they had only partially apprehended the mechanics. Still, for practical purposes, they did not need a complete understanding of the phenomenon.
"I cannot say by what means the gas is pressurized, nor whence it comes save from 'neath the temple," Alatar finally said. "I do have an idea of how it may be of aid though."
Now the company returned to the host and mapped out a safe route for horses along the way as they left the fortress. Outside the walls, they met with the other leaders of the host and reported on their discovery. By early afternoon, the withdrawal of the allied host was underway.
"Move the camp back to within a half-mile of the encircling ridge," Alatar had ordered, intending to create a buffer of a mile in all directions from the walls of Sheol.
"Think thou that 'tis sufficient?" Tahmirih asked.
"Think thou that 'tis not excessive with so much still known?" Kolaksai asked.
"If what thou suspect comes to pass, how then to arrange the ignition?" Maglor asked.
"Perhaps we should just set a bonfire at the gate and take our leave," Helluin muttered.
"That is actually not a bad idea," Pallando said, having o'erheard her. Then to the gathered companies, he said, "We shall send a hundred from our citadel to gather 'aught that may burn and pile it just inside the gate."
Now these things were done during that afternoon and evening, in preparation for the festivities the principals hoped would occupy the 21st. On that morn, Helluin, the Blue Wizards, and Maglor with the cavalry company, rode their chosen route back to Sauron's temple. They began by passing an impressive heap of furniture, window frames, doors, wooden foot bridges, and firewood that had been collected in the bailey just beyond where the gate had once stood. Each of the two dozen riders had brought thirty ells¹ of rope and some old cloaks no longer required by the dead. ¹(The English ell was typically 45" and was primarily a measurement for fabrics. The length was defined by a standard brass rod kept by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I's Exchequer and is said to have been in use since before her time, (1533-1603). Thirty ells would equal 112 ½ ft.)
Upon arriving at the temple, they found that 'naught had changed o'ernight. The cobles still lay by the altar with the discarded Orc spear. The two dozen Umanyar were instructed to make one end of their ropes fast 'round the posts, four horses to each, and tie the other ends to their saddles. The length of the ropes gave the horses a clearance of 'nigh twenty feet from the entrance. Subtracting the breadth of the stylobate, that left them standing in the center of the street. There a final preparation of the horses was made. The riders wrapped their steel shod hooves in several layers of cloth, strips of fabric taken from the cloaks of fallen Wainriders that removed the chance of sparks being thrown from the cobbled street.
"We know not how rapidly the gas may come from its source, nor 'neath how much pressure 'tis. I deem it prudent that we retreat down the street," Pallando told the company.
By then, all understood what was to be attempted and they were only too happy to comply with his counsel. The Blue Wizards, along with Helluin, and Maglor, rode their horses to the far end of the burnt out dormitory of the priests. There they waited, hopeful, but unsure if they were to witness some mayhem.
At Alatar's signal, the riders set their horses to straining at the ropes. At first, 'naught happened save that the ropes pulled taught. The horses set their hooves and leaned into the lines. After a minute of making no headway, the riders allowed their horses to rest. After a couple minutes, they resumed their efforts, and this time, they were rewarded by the sound of sharp crack that reverberated in the empty street. Again, the riders allowed their horses to rest.
Now whether the third attempt was charmed or no, 'twas indeed that on their third pull that the horses lurched forward, some barely catching themselves with a hasty step ere their riders sat back in their saddles and halted them. From the temple had come an ominous crash of metal and stone, followed by what sounded like the hissing of a giant serpent. Almost immediately, a cloud of dust and ash was blown out of the temple entrance. Pallando was calling urgently for the riders to untie the ropes from their saddles and distance themselves from the temple.
Rather than take the time to untie their knots, the riders slashed the ropes with their daggers and then urged their steeds to a trot. They needed no further encouragement, for the last things they saw were dust devils and gusts blowing down the temple steps and into the street. The company rode in haste and soon passed the bailey and the heap of wood, marking that in their absence someone had liberally oiled the pile.
"Pray tell, how far can thou launch an arrow with thy bow, Helluin?" Alatar asked as they came to the gate.
"I am not actually sure," the Noldo said, "for in battle, I simply shoot the target."
The Ithron nodded and then said, "Pray launch a shaft that we may know the range of thy weapon."
Helluin nodded and set an arrow to her bowstring. Then, raising the weapon to launch the shaft in a ballistic arc for distance, she let fly towards the distant camp and the encircling ridge. The arrow took flight and whistled slightly ere it passed beyond hearing. The Maia and the Noldo watched 'til it passed out of sight, then set out in the direction it had gone.
"Would thou reckon one hundred fifty fathoms?" He asked, when they came to it at last.
'Twas sticking from the ground and Helluin dismounted to retrieve it. After setting it back into her quiver, she stood and turned back to the fortress, squinting into the distance.
"Aye, three hundred yards," she agreed with his estimate, "or close enough. Whyfor art thou concerned with the range of this bow?"
"I had thought to have thee launch a flaming arrow from the safest distance to ignite the bonfire, if thou would care to do the honors," he said, to which Helluin laughed.
"I shall be pleased as punch to ignite Sauron's abode, save that I shall share the honor with Maglor."
"Ahhh-ha," the Wizard said, chuckling as he understood her intent. "Very well."
"How long think thou that we should wait? I reckon the gas needs time to reach the gate."
"In truth, I know not, though I deem a fire is most dramatic at night."
He looked to Anor and reckoned the remaining daylight at some eight hours. Helluin nodded to him and they parted so that she could find Maglor and arrange to place E-ngúrglaw with a direct line of fire to the gate.
They chose to set the weapon on the westward road two furlongs from the cutting through the encircling ridge. At that place, they were surrounded by elements of the allied camp, and particularly, the Mâh-Sakâ host who had entered from the west and remained there with their supply train. The two Noldor greeted Targitai, Tahmirih Khātūn, Lipoksai, and Kolaksai, and then explained their presence o'er a shared noon meal. The principals were enthusiastic and word quickly spread throughout the host.
Now the warriors awaited nightfall in hopes of seeing something remarkable. Helluin and Maglor prepared the weapon and then had 'naught to do for many hours. To assuage their boredom, they returned to the eastern side of the crater where the Ithryn Luin's host was gathered. There they spent some hours inspecting the remains of the spider's exoskeleton.
The sections Helluin had chosen to save had been cleaned a week past and were now dried. Helluin made several attempts to cut the shell of a tarsus. 'Twas already known that swords were of no use and even Anguirél could not leave so much as a nick. Now she made an attempt with the Sarchram. With Maglor looking on, she hewed the shell by hand with the mithril blade and found that indeed t'would bite upon it. The Ring could not cut cleanly through, but t'would with repeated slices, cleave the spider's armor. She found the Sarchram's edge was not dulled in the least from the effort. The dark Noldo wondered if casting the weapon at the shell might be more effective, but for her needs, 'twas not sufficiently controllable to precisely cut pieces for a suit of armor.
Whilst they were there, Helluin sliced several sections of the spider's tarsi lengthwise, finding the resulting pieces sized well for grieves and vambraces. She was preparing to slice sections from higher up a leg, from a tibia, to make cuisses, when Alatar and Pallando hastened to her. They seemed agitated, and she and Maglor gave them their attention.
"Helluin, Maglor, we are glad to find ye," Alatar said, coming to a halt before them, laboring to recover his breath.
"What goes forth, my friends," she asked.
"The watch has reported some shadows rising from the citadel," Pallando said.
"Shadows of what?" Maglor asked, as confused as Helluin by his claim.
"Shadows of evil, we deem them," Alatar answered, pointing to the airs 'round the tower. "They are not easily seen."
Sure enough, it took a while ere the two Noldor could mark the pale darker areas gliding o'er Sauron's decapitated keep. They had no certain edges, nor definite shapes. They seemed not the result of forms impinging on the light of the sun, but rather things unto themselves. Helluin checked the higher airs and saw 'naught that could have cast them.
"Are they seeking for something?" Maglor asked, but the two Wizards only shrugged.
"Only have we marked that they have not strayed from Sauron's chamber, for they circle it, though whyfor, we have not discerned."
"Who knows the thoughts of such," Pallando said, "yet we deem them spawn of Nehemoth, for what else could they be?"
To that, Helluin and Maglor could only shrug.
After some moments thought, Helluin finally said, "I deem we should return to E-ngúrglaw on the chance that those…things…have been driven hence from the understories of the citadel by the leaking gas."
Maglor nodded in agreement, saying, "T'would be prudent to prepare ourselves to light our fire. Perhaps we have a chance of vexing those shadows whilst they remain 'nigh the temple, whate'er they may be."
"Aye, ere they lose interest in it and come to harry us," she said, tossing the sections of spider legs onto the cart and going to mount Red.
So we return to the west side of hell? Barq's son asked.
Aye. The Wizards worry that some evil spirits are floating 'round the tower. We shall ready E-ngúrglaw in case they attack.
The horse eyed her with a doubtful expression.
Perhaps 'tis simply shadows, reflections, swamp gas, or mass hallucinations? Red asked, sounding both reasonable and dismissive.
Perhaps, Helluin allowed, though doubtfully. The shadows had looked convincingly like evil spirits to her. In any case, we return to the weapon. Perhaps there shall be some excitement.
Perhaps, Red allowed, though doubtfully. So, we go to shoot at shadows that threaten the excitable mind though they shall probably prove benign if they exist at all. Very well.
He sighed dramatically as Helluin climbed onto his back, and with Maglor and the Blue Wizards, they set out for the west road and the camp of the Mâh-Sakâ.
Now when they arrived amongst the host of the Mâh-Sakâ, Alatar cast his eyes to the tower and marked a darkening of the floating shadows. This development alarmed all when they reported it to the khātūn, her brothers, and father. Helluin immediately retrieved her viewing tube from her travel bag and surveyed the airs about the tower. Sure enough, the shadows were darker, and worse, they seemed to be more constant in their form. With a groan, she handed the tube to Alatar who confirmed his fears. Pallando was next to look, and in the meantime, Targitai, Lipoksai, Kolaksai, and Tahmirih were all watching through their own telescopes.
"Haste now, my friends," Pallando said to Helluin and Maglor, "Pray ready the weapon, for fell deeds await."
Pallando handed the viewing tube back to Helluin and she looked again. It seemed that even in the few minutes since last she had looked, the shadows had further concentration their darkness.
Perhaps once begun, their transformation hastens to its conclusion, she thought as she began to doff her armor. Sure enough, Pallando voiced the same suspicion.
"They quicken! From the husk of intent to the husk of being, they descend into Arda. We are witnessing the birth of daemons!"
Upon receiving his words, a great uproar took the Mâh-Sakâ. Evil was condensing from thought to flesh right before their eyes. Those standing 'nigh looked nervously to the Noldor as if willing them to hasten their preparations.
Now Helluin climbed onto the seat 'twixt the curved mithril mirrors and Maglor took hold of the cart shafts and sought for the bonfire through the sighting scope.
"My lords, they are spiders!" Lipoksai cried out to the Ithryn Luin.
E'ery eye and e'ery viewing tube turned to watch. Helluin seized her telescope and cast her gaze to the tower. Though still vaporous, the spirits had attained to forms, bulbous bodies with segmented legs radiating from their centers. She watched as they continued to solidify.
"They are not spiders! They have too many legs!" She exclaimed.
"They take inspiration from the one they knew, the one that dwelt closest to their own realm as they bequeath themselves forms," Pallando said in horror.
As the Mâh-Sakâ and the Wizards watched in petrified fascination, the daemons began to make physical contact with the tower, and soon they no longer floated, hovering 'round it in the air, but rather clove to it as creatures of the world.
"Should the bonfire not trigger a conflagration, pray target those daemons, meldir nín," Helluin called out to Maglor.
"Thou needs not ask twice, meldis nín," he said, his lips set in a grim line as he panned o'er the tower with his sighting telescope. "By the Valar…" he whispered.
Helluin felt him lower the cart to target the gate of the fortress, and when the weapon steadied, she burst into a ril of Light. The beam of The Death Ray blasted from the glass rod and struck the pile of oiled wood, yet even ere it could catch, ere it kindled or hint of smoke could rise from the fuel, a massive gout of flame exploded out of the gates. Suddenly, a roaring lake of fire filled the bailey and the open space before walls where o'er an acre of ground disappeared 'neath the conflagration. It lasted barely long enough for a gasp to rise from the throats of the gathered host.
The initial ignition birthed a storm front of flames that raced away down twisting streets and narrow lanes, all filled shoulder deep with flammable gas. The advancing tidal bore of fire boomed in a constant detonation whilst behind it, the flames were extinguished as its vacuum sucked in e'ery available breath of air. The fire shot through the fortress, encompassing all within the walls in a conflagration the likes of which even the Wizards had not imagined. Then the explosions of gas trapped in lairs, basements, dungeons, tunnels, and storerooms began. In a rapid progression from south to north, the blasts rocked the plain. The walls of Sheol were shivered and the host was shaken so that 'twas difficult to remain standing. The beam from E-ngúrglaw winked out as Helluin ceased her incandescence.
In what had been only heartbeats, the racing flames reached the temple and the tower. In the temple, a font of fire rose to erupt from the oculus in the dome. The pressure of the expanding gasses ruptured the masonry, sending a mushroom cloud of fire skyward as the dome collapsed.
A blink only passed as the leaping fire breached the citadel. The great hall, 'nigh filled with flammable vapors, rocked with a massive detonation, launching the tower upward like a missile that disintegrated as it rose. The sight of it lasted barely long enough to register in the mind ere the fire blasted its way down the stairwell.
Deep in the black depths 'neath the crater of Sheol, vast chambers 'twixt layers of rock had been forced open by the influences of Nehemoth and the husks 'neath it, Gamaliel, Samael, Harab Serapel, Thagirion, Golachab, Gamchicoth, Sathariel, Chaigidel, and Thumiel, that sought to undo all that had been wrought in the First Song. The very malice and contention they coalesced brought changes in the rock itself, making it as volatile as the evil that radiated from these primal spheres. The source of the flammable gas was there, and the pressure of evil forcing its way into Arda was reflected on the physical plane in the pressure of the gas.
The ground within the crater heaved in torment and Men and Elves were thrown to the ground. For a fraction of a moment the walls and buildings of Sheol seemed to sink, and then they were blasted skyward, all launched in a ball of fire that encompassed the spur. Rocky missiles whizzed 'cross the intervening half-league to rain down upon the host. In a deafening blast, the guts of the subterranean husk of Nehemoth erupted upwards with devastating violence in the greatest explosion of that Age.
In the aftermath, Elves and Men raised their heads, astonished that they had survived. They lay 'nigh the brink of a vast sinkhole two miles 'cross, sheer-sided, two furlongs deep, and filled with fire. The heat of its exhalation was stifling, as were the rising fumes of sulfur and ammonia. The host needed no encouragement to prepare to take their leave, and ere nightfall, all had withdrawn a league beyond what little remained of the encircling ridge.
Ere they rode away, Helluin, Maglor, and the Ithryn Luin had edged as close as they dared to the precipice and gazed upon the maw of hell.
"I wager Sauron shall not be returning," Helluin finally said as she looked down into the fiery pit. "Just wish I could do the same to Dol Guldur and the Barad-dûr."
Maglor chuckled, but the Blue Wizards look grim.
"That is not the bottom and this is not the end," Pallando muttered as he pointed to the molten rock that lined the floor of the sinkhole.
"Nay, 'tis not," Alatar replied, shaking his head. "I wonder if those escaping daemons perished, or if they even can perish in so worldly a cataclysm."
No one there had answers to his questions. There was no way to know the endurance of the shadows, whether having taken form in Arda, they had been destroyed, or whether they had retreated, back into a non-physical sphere to bide their time. Perhaps, like Sauron in the Whelming of Númenor, they had survived as disembodied spirits. There were certainly no carcasses to find, for the destruction of Sheol had been too complete. Indeed, 'naught from aforetime had survived, not even stones from the outer wall.
"Ye deem that Nehemoth and the husks 'neath it yet persist," Helluin said.
"Aye," Alatar answered with certainty, "and whether here or elsewhere, they shall resurface in their time, for their contention in Arda is from of old and endless."
"'Tis easier when a foe has a face and a finite life," Maglor said.
The Wizards nodded in agreement. 'Twas 'naught that they could do more that day, and so with the hosts, they took their leave.
Now the Mâh-Sakâ returned to their lands and continued to prosecute their holy war against the worshippers of the God of Fire in whatsoe'er places they were to be found. The Ithryn Luin did the same further to the south. O'er the next two years, Helluin took counsel with the armorers at the Blue Wizard's citadel and contrived to build a suit of armor from the shells of Ungolúróg. That armor would dull a normal sword's edge on impact and turn the thrust of a spear. Arrows could not pierce it. 'Twas lighter than plates of steel, and with the wealth of articulations that Helluin wrought, 'nigh as flexible as mail.
On 6 Gwirith of 1996, she rode north to deliver it to Tahmirih Khātūn at Didā Artāvan. Riding Red and leading a packhorse at a leisurely pace, she covered that distance of two hundred twenty-five miles in nine days and arrived at the Blessed Fortress on the 14th.
She had not set foot in the fortress since Ivanneth of 1980, ere seeking for the Blue Wizards, and though Arpoksai's host had not joined the assault on Skator, all had heard of her actions at Sheol but two years aforetime. There were also still some who knew her from the campaigns she had fought beside Targitai two decades past. These recognized her as 'that Nazgûl looking Elf woman' and admitted her at once.
Straightaway, she was taken to the citadel, having only paused long enough to unload her packhorse and see it and Red taken by a groom to the stable.
Pray eat them not out of house and home, she admonished Barq's son.
I shall avail myself only of such rations as are presented to me, Red said.
Uh-huh, Helluin said, making a 'V' of her first two fingers and pointing them first to her eyes and then to his. He offered a grin that reassured her not at all ere being led away.
In the citadel, Helluin was conveyed to the great hall where Arpoksai was engaged in holding court. She was dusty from the road and carrying a large sack o'er her shoulder whilst bearing her full complement of arms. The Noldo hardly felt herself presentable.
The Sultan of Didā Artāvan sat before his court on a plain wooden chair identical to those of his advisers and counselors as he decided disputes and heard petitions. At the announcement of her name, he stopped dead and looked up. Helluin offered a bow, which he acknowledged with a dip of his head, but then he rose from his chair and walked past the throng to greet her with a hug. His reception was uncharacteristically demonstrative, but she deemed it the lord's prerogative and accepted it in friendship.
"My thanks for thy warm greeting, Arpoksai Sultan," Helluin said. "I apologize for my appearance, but I have just come from the citadel of the Magi Lāžaward."
Much as his father had done in years past, he waved her apology aside and said, "'Tis my privilege to greet thee again after so many years, Lady Helluin. I rejoice to see thee safe."
"And I thee, my lord. I hope that thou and thy family and all my allies here have flourished in the years since I last stood in Didā Artāvan."
"I thank thee for thy concern, most formidable ally of the Mâh-Sakâ. My father remains hail in his advancing years, and my brothers and sister flourish indeed," he said.
He cast a quick glance back o'er his shoulder and said, "I crave to ask after thy exploits and to hear firsthand thy tale of Sheol, but as a host and sultan, I deem that we may both be best served by a recess ere taking up that conversation. Pray follow my chamberlain to the quarters reserved for honored guests whilst I attend the business of court. May we meet for the evening meal?"
Helluin bowed and said, "T'would be my honor to accept thy hospitality and thy invitation, sultan. I thank thee for thy consideration as I crave to present myself in cleaner fashion."
They shared grins and the sultan bade his chamberlain lead the Noldo hence to the 'flying sultan' suite. Helluin raised a brow in question at that, but Arpoksai was already returning to his chair.
Now the chamberlain, an Avar who introduced himself in Silvan as Sindavan¹, led Helluin to a spacious room higher in the citadel with windows on all four sides that gave a stunning view of the fortress. ¹(Sindavan, Grey Goose = sinda(grey) + van(goose) Quenya sub. for Silvan)
"Pray enjoy the accommodations, Lady Helluin," he said. "They are informally known as the 'Flying Sultan Suite' in honor of the unintentional fall of a prior sultan from this window."
"I see," Helluin said, stifling a grin at his inaccurate recitation of local history.
The original citadel had been torn down and the whole of the fortress rebuilt following the fall of Wahat Binya, whilst Helluin herself had kicked the past sultan out of a window facing in a different direction.
"Thou hast my thanks, noble Sindavan," she said, adding a dip of her head.
"I shall return to lead thee hence when the evening meal is served," he said, ere offering a bow and withdrawing.
Now whilst she waited on his return, Helluin first availed herself of the basin and pitcher of water to wash the dust from her face and hands. She doffed her weapons save for her dagger, setting her sword belt, bow, and quiver on one of the weapons stands, those ubiquitous furnishings she had seen in all Mâh-Sakâ accommodations. She then emptied the sack that her packhorse had carried and arranged the spider shell armor on a second weapons stand. The chitinous plates had a native sheen, black, and though originally velvety of surface, after polishing had revealed an oily satin gloss that repelled water as if 'twas waxed.
Beside the armor, she set the shield that she had made from a larger convex curved section of the spider's body. Though neither she, nor the Mâh-Sakâ typically bore shields, this one was so light that she had deemed it worthwhile as an option for combat afoot.
As sunset came, Sindavan returned and led Helluin to a private dining chamber. There she found Arpoksai already seated, and also Targitai and Tahmirih. A broad smile lit her face as she offered the room a bow. Three heads dipped in acknowledgement and the sultan gestured her to a chair at the table on his right and next to the ex-khan.
"Welcome, my ally," he said. "I hope you found your accommodations acceptable."
"Very much so, Arpoksai Sultan. Thou hast my thanks," she said. "'Tis my honor to also greet my old friends and allies, Lord Targitai and Tahmirih Khātūn. I had hoped to meet with you here."
"And we are glad to have returned in so timely a fashion," Tahmirih said. "We have been in Ürgenҫ for the past week, at the spring conclave of the confederation, and only returned an hour past."
"Good fortune smiles upon us then," Helluin said. "Is all well amongst thy people?"
"Aye," Tahmirih said, "all is well. Of late, General Lipoksai has cleansed the lands in the south of devil worshippers all the way to the forest on the western shore of the Sea of Rhûn and south to the Mountains of Ash. We continue the offensive, but I deem thou knows this."
'With the forces of the Magi Lāžaward we have campaigned at whiles with the host of General Lipoksai. They are strong allies, highly esteemed for their prowess at arms and their commitment to cause. More effort we have made further south and now hold the lands west of the Rā, south to thy southern border 'cross the river. To the west, we have campaigned so far as the border of Núrn and Khand and the foothills of the Mountains of Shadow. We too continue the offensive."
The Mâh-Sakâ greeted her tidings with smiles and nods of approval. By their estimation, Rhûn would be free of the God of Fire ere their own tenure as leaders ended.
"Has 'aught been seen of the devil since the destruction of Sheol?" Targitai asked.
"Nay, lord, nor has any attempt been made to reoccupy the site of his fortress. The fires in the pit of hell burn still. We deploy a company there to keep watch and 'naught has been seen, even of those dark spirits risen from Nehemoth. We hold to hope that t'will remain so," Helluin told them.
"That is good tidings," Targitai said, nodding in approval.
"So what brings thee to Didā Artāvan, Helluin? Hast thou tidings from the Magi Lāžaward?" Arpoksai Sultan asked.
"Save that they send their regards and good wishes to their great allies in the north, the Magi have no specific messages at this time. I came hither to deliver a spoil of war to the khātūn."
Her words were greeted with a questioning rise of Tahmirih's eyebrows and a restrained smile and nod from Targitai.
"Let us dine first and then Helluin may present this spoil of war to my sister," Arpoksai said.
After receiving nods of agreement all 'round the table, and he beckoned forth the servers to present the meal. Many trays and platters were brought containing an inviting variety of fare, accompanied by a stack of pita, hummus, palov, and various sauces. After observing a silence of thanksgiving, the diners consumed their fill o'er the next hour and a half, whilst enjoying much conversation on many topics. They finally finished the meal sated and in good spirits.
Now Arpoksai brought his party to a meeting chamber, and he sent two attendants to aid Helluin in bringing the armor from her rooms, though she had assured him that she could bring it herself. It seemed that he expected it to be far heavier.
When the three returned to the 'Flying Sultan Suite', they were astonished at how light the plates were. With ease, the two attendants hefted it, stand and all, and carried it back to the meeting chamber in which their lords waited. There, Helluin presented the armor with a short commentary whose claims left the Mâh-Sakâ amazed. Of course they were eager to see Tahmirih don the suit of plates and to test their virtues.
So 'twas that shortly later, the khātūn was clad in the armor of spider chitin, and accompanied by her father, brother, Kiana, Ashti, and Helluin had adjourned to a small courtyard beside the citadel. Guards looked on whilst Tahmirih held the shield up and received blows from Anguirél that left no mark on its lustrous surface.
"'Tis wondrously light, Helluin," she praised. "Ne'er aforetime would I have endured a full suit of plate armor. I would swear that 'tis also not so hot to wear as steel."
The Noldo nodded in agreement. During the time she had spent fabricating the plates, she had marked that they seemed to repel some of the sun's heat, unlike steel that conducted heat to and from a knight's body.
"We shall make a further test," the Noldo said. "Pray set the shield against the encircling wall."
Tahmirih did as requested whilst Helluin readied her steel bow. They had all seen the power of that weapon long aforetime and doubted not the validity of such a test. Should the shield hold, t'would certainly resist the shafts from the shorter and less powerful bows wielded by the Mâh-Sakâ and their foes in the east. As they watched, Helluin knocked an arrow, drew, sighted, and let fly. The arrow crossed the intervening distance in a blink and slammed into the shield where it rebounded with a sharp 'ping'.
Whilst one of the citadel guards retrieved the shield and presented it to the khātūn, Kiana retrieved the arrow. Upon examination, they could find 'naught but a faint mark upon the shield's surface. Helluin displayed the point of her arrow, one of the armor piercing bodkin points, blunted by the impact.
"I deem thou art protected from any weapon common in these lands, daughter," Targitai said.
"'Tis perhaps the second best armor in all the lands," the Noldo said, "and has greater coverage than my own."
"This is a mighty gift, Helluin, and thou hast my sincerest thanks for thy efforts. I shall drill further to learn its flexibility and limits," Tahmirih said, "as well as to see how it feels during the heat of the day. Most of all, I am curious to learn if it shall affect my archery whilst ahorse."
"I shall remain in Didā Artāvan to hear thy impressions, my friend. 'Tis still possible to make adjustments," Helluin replied. "In any case, 'twas conceived as melee armor for fighting afoot and should hinder thee little whether mounted or not."
Thereafter, Helluin remained at the Blessed Fortress for a fortnight. True to her word, Tahmirih drilled each day wearing the armor, and with each day that passed, she was more impressed. In the courtyard, she held off multiple attackers, wearing down Kiana, Ashti, and several of the guards as they saw what blows they landed skip off the black plates and bring no harm. The khātūn found the heat of high noon barely different from her armor of leather, mail, and a few steel plates. 'Twas easily tolerable in light of the greatly enhanced protection it conferred.
The next day, Helluin and the trio of Mâh-Sakâ rode out past the fortress walls. There, targets were kept for the practice of mounted archery. Tahmirih rode the straight path and the winding path, firing her bow and piercing the targets with her arrows. She seemed to have no difficulties drawing and firing, whether to the fore, the sides, or even twisting 'round in either direction to fire behind.
"I am truly impressed," she said after riding back to join her friends. "My own armor had always dug a stitch in my left side when I turned back in that direction to shoot, yet now, I feel 'naught of hindrance at all. Ne'er aforetime to my knowledge has so fine a fit been achieved, and this whilst I was far and not available for fittings. Aside from this most special material, I deem thee the greatest armorer I have e'er known. Again, thou hast my sincerest thanks, Helluin."
The Noldo dipped her head to honor the khātūn's praise. I marked thy form upon the first day I met thee, she thought, and after millennia at war, I know the requirements of armor as it were a second skin.
"It brings me joy to know thou art better protected, my friend," she said. "So is there 'aught that thou would have me change?"
"Helluin, if there is any improvement to be made, I cannot discern it," Tahmirih said.
"Then I hope that it keeps thee well and safe in combat. 'Tis the only one of its kind and I doubt its like shall e'er be crafted again. Pray wear it well, meldis nín."
Now Helluin prepared to take her leave of Didā Artāvan, and on the 28th of Gwirith, she shared a last evening meal with Targitai, Tahmirih, and Arpoksai. Also present were Kiana and Ashti. The six diners shared abundant fare and great friendship. Towards the end, Targitai drew Helluin aside and spoke of things to come.
"Helluin, my most formidable ally and friend, a score years have come and gone since we met. In those years, our people have benefitted from thy aid in many ways. I know that for one of thy kindred, the time has passed swiftly, and shortly those here who know thee and call thee friend shall pass as well. I shall be three score and fifteen when the long days come again to the steppe. 'Tis a venerable age for a leader of the Mâh-Sakâ, for in the past, most fell in battle rather than living to see the twilight of their years. In this, I have been blessed.
Blessed too I deem myself to have children to carry on my labors for another generation, for in this time and place, family is of the greatest importance. They have brought confidence and continuity to our people and soon, perhaps the security of peace as well.
I have seen to it that thou art recalled in our lore and that in generations to come, if thou hast need of aid against the idolaters and blasphemers, our people shall know thee and aid thee. Be well, my friend, and may heaven bless thee with victory."
"I thank thee, my friend. Ere I had met thee, I had heard whispers of the 'Red Khan' and ominous I deemed that title, yet upon meeting thee, I was immediately impressed by thy dedication, honor, and restraint. Few leaders I have met have had the responsibility to not only attain power, but to wield it with conscience in service to the greater good. In thy lifetime, thou hast achieved more for thy people than any I have heard tell of, taking them from persecuted clans to an empire that stands against the great evil of our Age. I am honored to have offered my aid in our common cause.
Once I leave Rhûn, I know not when or if I shall return to these lands. It had been ten thousand years since last I trod the east ere I came to meet thee, and that is a long time even to the Elves. What shall not change is my memory, and as thou know, that lives unchanged and undiminished so long as I have life, whether here, or in the Blessed West. E'er shall I recall thee with great esteem, my friend."
The Noldo took her leave of Didā Artāvan on 29 Gwirith, and ne'er again did she see Targitai, Khan of the Red Mountain Clan and Lord of the Mâh-Sakâ.
Now for the following seven years, Helluin continued to aid the Ithryn Luin. With their host, she continued her prosecution of the war against Sauron's forces in the east. Much success they had and many battles they won, yet a growing unease had taken root in her mind.
'Nigh a decade has come and gone since we put Gorthaur to flight and in that time, 'naught has been heard of him. Surely, he was not destroyed, and so he must be about his malice, for 'tis his nature to bedevil the free peoples and the Dúnedain foremost. His Nazgûl too are not accounted for. Now the east hosts no redoubt and Dol Guldur was emptied. I deem they must lurk in Mordor, but to what end? The years pass and I see no further great victories to come, for Sheol is defeated, the way from Nehemoth closed, and Sauron fled. Red is now fourteen and grows no younger. My dear friend Barq passed in '99. The time to ride west approaches.
Helluin had finally determined to take her leave of Rhûn when word came from the Mâh-Sakâ. Lord Targitai, aged four score and one, had passed away in his sleep on 2 Nórui. The old warrior had died at peace. The messengers had arrived at the fortress of the Ithryn Luin on 7 Nórui. On the 8th, Helluin saddled Red and rode north with them on their return. On the 12th, they arrived at Didā Artāvan with the last of the sultans who had come to pay their respects. 'Twas TA. 2003.
In the great hall, she greeted Lipoksai, Arpoksai, Kolaksai, and Tahmirih Khātūn and offered her sympathy for their loss. On the following day, after the receiving line that had stretched out of the citadel and into the streets of the fortress had passed, they brought their father's body beyond the walls to a great pyre. There they set Targitai's body high upon a scaffold and then Tahmirih lit the kindling. Through the rest of the afternoon and well into the night, the people of the Blessed Fortress lined the walls and streets in silent reflection as the flames rose, consumed the Red Khan's earthly remains, and then faded at last to ash.
With the dawn, a single chanter raised his voice from atop the fortress gate, singing in praise of the departed. He recited Targitai's lineage, the sultans of the Red Mountain Clan, and recalled his great victories. Throughout Didā Artāvan, the streets were filled with people. Citizens looked out windows and from their doors. A quarter million soldiers stood at attention on the walls and before the gates. Not a one moved. Not a one made a sound 'til the chanter was done. Then, after their late lord's life was celebrated, they raised their voices as one and gave a great salute, hoping his spirit had heard their nation's final accolade.
At the gates of Didā Artāvan, Helluin bid farewell to Tahmirih, Lipoksai, Arpoksai, Kolaksai, Kiana, and Ashti. They parted with sorrow, friendship, and great honor. In the last fortnight, an era had come to its close. Helluin rode west bearing sorrow and a great foreboding.
Through Calenglad on the Men-i-Naugrim, we go, and then 'cross Anduin at the Old Ford and o'er the High Pass to Imladris, she told Red at their first break for water.
I look forward to seeing these places, he replied. My sire spoke of them long ago. He told of a green country of war.
When I met him, he was new come to the west. Now, thou shalt make the same journey, O Red. There is much to see. I believe the war is done and the enemy gone from those lands, but I believe there shall be fighting, for when is there not?
Only in heaven, O Helluin, only in heaven.
To Be Continued