An atypically short chapter this upload, but the natural cut point in the story determined that.
In An Age Before – Part 239
On the morn of 19 Hithui, Helluin found those Rangers not on guard duty gathered in the blind alcove, breaking their fasts at their morning mess. The horses were standing amongst them, cropping grass or drinking from the pool against the back wall. All was as expected. Sergeant Orodben came to her and reported that the night had passed in peace with no disturbances and no signs of any others, friends or foes, though the likelihood of finding any friends in Harondor was slight. Helluin bid him summon his dozen and Sergeant Húbion's dozen so that she could brief them on her discoveries.
The Rangers gathered 'round as Helluin ate some waybread and cheese, sliced from a block coated with red wax. They sat before her in a semi-circle and hearkened in anticipation of hearing some revelations regarding their mission.
"I have spent the night conducting a more thorough scouting of the pass," she announced, "ascending some twelve miles in that time. Along the way, I saw neither Yrch nor Haradrim, though I did find some cairns marking the trail."
The Rangers greeted her words with smiles and nods of appreciation and she prepared to share her account of the unexpected advice she had received.
"At the furthest extent of my foray into the pass, I met and received sage counsel from one who lives and hunts that high way, and thereby found a place I deem suitable for our ambush."
Now the Men of Lebennin regarded her with curiosity. They had yet to see any Men in Harondor and could not imagine a lone hunter stalking the Nargil Pass, whilst Draugrán and Dúnriel traded furtive looks 'twixt themselves and small smiles, or perhaps smirks of anticipation.
And here we go, thought Prince Artamir and Lady Brennil's daughter as she and her cousin recalled the Noldo's conversation in Anórien with the wolf.
"I have spoken at whiles with a great horned owl that told of small parties infrequently fleeing Mordor by the pass," Helluin said, straight-faced, and watching as incredulity bloomed on the faces of the Rangers. "The owl was quite reasonable and I felt no taint of evil upon it. It led me to the best site for waylaying the pass that I have seen. From its tidings, I deem that the travelers were Yrch, most likely deserters from the Black Land seeking sanctuary beyond Sauron's grasp, for they ne'er return to Mordor. T'would seem that we have some truths to discover."
There followed a flood of comments, questions, speculations, expressions of amazement, and looks of bewilderment, all conducted in the hushed whispers and minimal body language of Rangers in the field. Helluin and the sergeants allowed this to continue 'til it petered out and all their doubts had been aired.
"Additionally, I promised the owl that we would not hinder its nightly hunts," the Noldo added mildly. "I bid ye esteem it for freely sharing its tidings and accommodating our mission whilst in its territory. I wager it hath long dwelt in the pass and I deem 'tis large enough to carry off a Man."
One would have had to know Rangers to understand that their widened eyes and cacophony of whispers indicated a floodtide of uncertainties, suspicions, and foreboding. Helluin's statements had generated a troubling level of tension in which their illustrious First Guardian had bid them act on the counsel of an animal for the execution of this most grave and hazardous undertaking. Myriad doubts arose. Were they about to partake of a deadly travesty? What would their king think? What would the steward say? Would their reputation survive intact? Would they survive intact? As aforetime, Helluin remained silent and let it pass, deeming the catharsis valuable for morale. Unlike how she had during her recitation before the military council in Minas Tirith, she had not influenced the Rangers in the least. Helluin shifted her gaze to the horses and caught Álfrhestr's eye. The young stallion had obviously listened to e'ery word she had spoken.
I am glad to be absenting myself from this mission, he said gravely, and I must wonder if this owl thou met is truly an owl at all.
Huh, Helluin thought as she looked back to the Rangers, my best counsel comes of a horse.
Now the Rangers found themselves in a quandary, for to air their questions was to question the wisdom of their peoples' ancient teacher. O'er the centuries since Helluin and Beinvír had abdicated their rule of Lebennin in favor of the native Middle Men, this had become 'nigh viscerally repugnant. Not a one of that people, and certainly not a Ranger of that land, would think to question the decisions of a First Guardian since they had been the Chief Guardians of their realm in an Age before. And yet, now they were being asked to follow the intelligence that Helluin had gleaned from an owl, and risk their lives and the success of their king's mission on the words of an animal. 'Twas the closest thing to an existential predicament that they could imagine. They looked to each other, hoping that one amongst them had found some tactful solution for addressing their dilemma, but none had any inspiration not shared by the group at large. Helluin watched their growing uncertainty and shook her head. She knew the necessity of settling their doubts ere leading them into the Nargil Pass. Alone amongst the Rangers, she marked Dúnriel and Draugrán beginning to check their rations and gear in preparation for a march. Yet they were Dúnedain and not subject to the same doubts.
"I understand that my claims may seem to border on the…outlandish," she ventured, "yet I assure ye that such did indeed come to pass but a few hours ago. For ye who may know it not, we of the Elder Children are able to share in thought with other Elves, Men, and some creatures of good heart. I have done so with many kindreds aforetime. In lieu of such proofs as may seem yet more…outlandish, I shall share my memories of my meeting with the owl, and so if ye would learn the truth, I bid ye look into my eyes."
The simple fact was that the Rangers were already looking her in the eyes, hearkening to her and trying to discern the veracity of her words for themselves. 'Twas no great feat for Helluin to capture their deep attention in full.
Now after the brief sensation of plunging into a bottomless azure pool, the Rangers found themselves absented from the coomb and the early morning's light. They were encircled by black rock, hard, harsh, and jagged, as 'naught but Ithil and the stars lit the surrounding mountainscape of the Nargil Pass. To their nostrils came the scent of dust. 'Neath their boots lay unforgiving stone. The air was chill and not a sound save the breeze came to their ears. They saw what Helluin had seen and felt what Helluin had felt. Astonished they were when, by some sense they possessed not, the awareness of another living spirit came to them and they agreed with her that 'twas no Elf, Man, or Orch. Then they felt the reassurance that she had felt when she discerned no evil upon it.
With whom do I share this night in so remote a place? They heard Helluin ask after subtly revealing her presence. Her query was acknowledged and before her, each of the Rangers saw the horned owl, still as the rock upon which it stood. They marked its heavily bespeckled whitish plumage and its size. They saw the moonlight glint on its beak of jet and the starlight reflect from its golden eyes. Then to their minds' ears came the conversation 'twixt the creature and their First Guardian. Ere Helluin blinked and released them, they knew all that she had learnt and had witnessed all that she had seen.
There followed a short silence so comprehensive that only the fall of a horse's dung broke the stillness. Helluin deemed that the Rangers were in shock, poor things, and rather than browbeat them with command, she essayed to offer them reason and to appear as reasonable as the owl.
"Unto each kindred, Eru has given gifts with which to perceive this world. Some are shared by all whilst others are unique amongst his Children. Such as lies beyond our gifts and experience may seem strange, unbelievable, or unnatural, yet they are aspects of a world whose entirety none may apprehend save the One who wrought all," Helluin told the troubled Rangers. "So it falls to we who live within Arda, to share and to accept that which lies beyond our natal ken, thereby to increase our understanding of the wonders that surround us."
"I ask not that ye trust only in me," she continued. "Ye have seen what I saw and heard what I heard, and ye have each a will of your own to follow. 'Tis far from foreign for me to trust the lore of other creatures who are blessed with their own gifts and their own experiences of the world. They too are born of the wisdom of the One, and I have not the wisdom to gainsay Him.
A mission has been laid before us and I shall proceed according to the information I have gleaned, for I possess no lore to reject it. I pray ye strive to accept that which comes from the experiences of others, just as a wise captain accepts the reports of his scouts and narrows not his strategies to only that which his own eyes have seen."
I hope that my arguments shall prove convincing, for I am loath to browbeat them with words of command, Helluin thought to herself as she marked some of the Rangers subtly nodding in agreement and others whispering amongst themselves. They sat straighter and held themselves more at ease. Perhaps I have succeeded in appearing reasonable rather than outlandish.
After a few minutes, in which the Rangers considered all that they had heard and amalgamated Helluin's perspective with their own, the company faced forward and attended their sergeants.
"Draw rations for a fortnight," Sergeant Orodben ordered, "and then form up with weapons and kit by the entrance of the coomb."
'Twas with relief that the Noldo marked the Rangers rising to their feet and moving to their preparations with purpose. They loaded waybread, cheese, and sausages into their packs and some hastened to top off their water skins. Then they donned their weapons, cast their cloaks 'round their shoulders, and headed out of the alcove, dipping their heads in respect to her as they passed.
Shortly later, when Helluin and Sergeants Orodben and Húbion came to the entrance of the coomb, they found the two dozen Rangers standing in paired rows of six, twelve on the right and twelve on the left. Ere starting their march, Helluin spoke with Sergeant Renidir.
"Any sign of movements, sergeant?"
"Nay, no signs of friends or foes to be seen, First Guardian," he answered.
She nodded to him, certain now that none would oppose them in the seven furlongs 'twixt the coomb and the foot of the Nargil Pass. When they marched forth, they went with haste and only minimal stealth, covering the three furlongs Sergeant Renidir had led them from the place a half mile west of the pass where Helluin and Sergeant Orodben's dozen Rangers had gathered after her first scouting trip, seven of eight parts of a mile all told. They crossed that land quickly even without the horses, and came to the entrance of the Nargil Pass scarcely an hour past dawn. As expected, during that time, they saw none.
"Now we have a climb of some six hours ahead," Helluin reminded the Rangers, "and as I deem the pass deserted, we shall go hence with only moderate stealth. I reckon we shall come whither we shall set our ambush by the third hour past noon."
The Rangers nodded to acknowledge her words. They tightened the straps on their packs and prepared to follow her into the pass. For the next three hours, they followed in silence and at a steady pace. They climbed two leagues 'twixt the irregular walls of dark stone, making their way o'er bare rock and fallen boulders. The pass ne'er widened during that time and when they broke for their noon meal, no more than a pair could sit abreast. They maintained their silence, loath to birth a tell tale echo in that forbidding place, even though they deemed themselves alone.
In Sergeant Orodben's company, Dúnriel finished a mouthful of waybread and stuffed her remaining rations back into her pack. She cast a glance skyward, finding only a narrow, broken ribbon of blue peeking 'twixt the rock walls that hedged either side of the pass. She looked o'er to her cousin who sat with Sergeant Húbion's dozen as he stared back whence they had come. When Draugrán abandoned listening for any sign of pursuit after hearing 'naught but the soft breeze, he turned back to look ahead and caught his cousin's eye. They traded grim grins and nods as the sergeants gestured the Rangers to their feet to resume their march.
Helluin continued to lead the companies hence. After four hours, they began to find openings in the walls to either side of their trail, and the way broadened to allow a third Ranger to walk abreast. In places, those openings in the cliffs provided views of the surrounding lands. 'Neath the sunlight were revealed jagged spurs, saw-toothed ridges, and deep canyons, some filled with vapors. Harsh shadows painted that landscape in stark relief, making it seem yet more forbidding, whilst all knew that beyond lay Nurn and the desolation of Mordor. Almost, they wished for a return to the enclosed trail of the prior miles, despite its claustrophobic and dangerous nature.
Now when the afternoon was half past, Helluin came to the col that the owl had shown her the previous night. There she halted and conferred in whispers with the sergeants, and after, she bid Sergeant Húbion deploy his company amongst the boulders and amidst the folded land surrounding the trail.
Then Helluin chose six Rangers to accompany her forward with Sergeant Orodben. These made their way 'cross the col and out of sight 'round a bend, scouting ahead for any better place to waylay the pass. It soon proved that the owl's advice was sound. They found no more desirable location, but after a furlong, they espied an elevated space, well concealed off the path, wherein to set a watch of two who would have a good view down the pass beyond the col for half a mile ahead. The sergeant assigned two Rangers to hold that post and charged them to report any movements. They would be relieved in three-hour intervals, night and day.
Sergeant Orodben, Helluin, and the four remaining Rangers returned o'er the col to the ambush and rejoined their comrades. The sergeant explained all and then with Sergeant Húbion, they set the watches. Two Rangers were dispatched back down the pass to maintain a watch post for security against any that should come after. Then the company settled in for the duration of their assignment, anticipating days of boredom, silence, increasingly stale rations, rotations on watch, the possibility of sudden action, and perhaps success. In the evening, some looked west towards the rugged, up thrust ridges of the Ephel Dúath, and beyond, to the lands of Harondor whence they had come. Finally, Anor sank, shadows darkened, and the sky grew dramatic in color as a bank of clouds rolled in from the west, portending possible precipitation in the lowlands.
That night, the Rangers sat hunkered down 'neath their cloaks. The temperature dropped as a chill breeze flowed in from the east o'er the highlands. To the west, lightning could be descried splitting the darkness, the bolts softened by the intervening rain. Even the rolling booms of the attendant thunder sounded distant to their ears.
'Naught of rain fell in the mountains and the company remained dry, for which they were quite thankful, for the rise in elevation wrung all the moisture from the o'ercast as it impacted the outer scarps of the Ephel Dúath.
One further factor left the Rangers of Lebennin apprehensive, that being the owl that they had seen in Helluin's memories. Each of them sat unquiet, their eyes darting to and fro through the darkness, trying to mark the silent hunter, large enough to carry off a Man. They all sought for a glimpse of that creature, if not with fear, then with the desire to prove by their own senses that it existed indeed. Alas, they were not rewarded.
With dusk, the owl had poked its head from its burrow higher up amidst the rocks o'erlooking the pass. It marked the presence of strangers, recalled the 'bright one's' promise of the night past, and so took flight to survey its range. 'Twas thankful that the strangers had kindled no fires, nor stomped 'round their camp. They spoke not in loud voices, nor, (thankfully) sang. It seemed that the Elf had spoken true and the mortals were doing their best to hinder not the hunt.
On silent wings, the owl flew beyond the rock forms that bracketed the pass, 'naught but a swift blur passing far lower than the patches of sky that the Rangers nervously searched. When the land dropped precipitously on either side of the col, the owl dove, remaining out of sight. Not 'til the col fell a mile behind did the owl climb on the far side of a ridge to hunt.
That night's activities were repeated each night in the Nargil Pass. The Rangers rotated their watches and held their ambush, silent and unmarked. None came from Mordor. None came from Harondor. Each night, the owl left the pass and hunted its fill in the neighboring highlands. During that time, the Men ne'er saw the owl and the owl became impressed at the persistence and discipline of the Rangers. They maintained their vigilance by day as well as by night, though all knew that Yrch traveled only after dark.
Now on the night of 28 Hithui, after maintaining their posts for ten days, the owl went to hunt after nightfall. By then, the Rangers had ceased seeking for it, deeming that 'twas either stealthy beyond their ability to mark, or had moved elsewhere, if it had e'er existed at all. So 'twas that they were cast into a state of shock and dismay when, just ere midnight, a silent shadow stooped upon their camp, snatched up their First Guardian, and dove o'er the edge of the col into the darkness of the adjoining canyon. Though some had held bows with arrows knocked, none had been so quick as to find a target. 'Twas done in a heartbeat and Helluin was gone without a sound.
The owl was apologetic after it came to alight atop a bare spire of rock a couple miles away. There Helluin was released and the owl turned to face her, finding her eyes. A sickening drop surrounded that roost on all sides and the Noldo remained unmoving beside the great raptor.
My regrets, O bright one. I bear grave tidings for thee, and sought not to test the restraint of thy bowmen, the owl explained silently.
I understand, Helluin replied, and I wager more dis-ease was felt amongst the Rangers than by myself. I had wondered if I would meet thee again. I am Helluin of the Host of Finwë.
Well met then, Helluin. I am Glohsúl¹, said the owl. ¹(Glohsúl, White Wind = glos(dazzling white) + thúl(wind) Sindarin The –s becomes –h and the –th becomes –s at the partition in proper names. Sindarin)
Well met, Glohsúl, Helluin replied. What hast thou seen this night?
A company of seven flee the land beyond. I deem them the kind thou seek. They shall come upon thee in the morrow's night, Glohsúl declared. Helluin had begun nodding her thanks when the owl continued, saying, but they are not alone.
They are pursued?
Aye, Glohsúl confirmed with a restrained head bob that retained their eye contact, by soldiers twice thy company's count.
Do they flag, or maintain their lead? Helluin asked.
They shall not win through the pass.
I thank thee for thy tidings, noble Glohsúl. Pray deliver me beyond the lookouts past the col?
Aye, the owl agreed. I shall deliver thee beyond bowshot.
Helluin set her right hand o'er her heart and dipped her head to the owl in thanks. Glohsúl leapt into the air, wheeled, and snatched up Helluin by the pauldrons on her shoulders, then bore her back towards the col where the Rangers waylaid the pass. A furlong ere they reached the end of the col, the owl dropped to but a furlong above the ground ere releasing the Noldo and then banking to drop into the adjacent canyon. All this was done at the owl's full speed and left Helluin to hit the ground in a full out sprint, attempting to absorb her velocity and avoid planting herself face first on the path. She managed to do so, barely, but finally had to dive into a forward roll to bleed off the last of her speed. Her undignified return saved her from being shot by the forward watchers' reflex releasing with their bows.
"Oh for crying aloud," she sputtered as a pair of arrows narrowly passed o'erhead, "pray cease thy shooting! 'Tis I, Helluin."
Chagrined, the lookouts were apologetic after Helluin regained her feet and approached their post. She simply shook her head as she passed them and then made her way 'cross the col to where the Rangers had waylaid the pass. The Men of Lebennin were jubilant at her return and thereafter believed wholeheartedly all she had said. 'Twas well, for Helluin immediately conferred with Sergeant Húbion and Sergeant Orodben, informing them of the new tidings she had learnt from Glohsúl the owl. The biggest uncertainty was not knowing how closely the seven fleeing Yrch would be pursued by the time they reached the ambush on the following night. That distance would make all the difference 'twixt fight or flight.
Helluin and the sergeants did their best to create contingencies to address several possibilities, but all knew that such plans, built of the shifting sands of supposition and hope, were as likely to be irrelevant as they were to be successfully implemented. In the end, all they could do was ready themselves for the appearance of their potential hostages, and prepare for battle.
29 Hithui was fraught with great anticipation and uncertainty. These grew as sunup passed to sundown and only increased further after dark. The Rangers set arrows to the strings of their bows and swept the open col for the least rumor of movement. They kept their eyes peeled for any sign from their forward watch post. Through the early hours of the night, they could do 'naught but maintain their vigilance.
'Twas not 'til shortly after midnight had come and gone that the Rangers in the forward watch post marked the approach of staggering feet and muttered curses. Soon, the seven Yrch foretold by the owl appeared, gasping for breath and hastening forward, completely heedless of the possibility of foes lurking ahead. They were wholly focused on outpacing the larger party dogging their steps as they sought to run them down. Glances they cast behind in increasing despair, for not a hundred yards behind came a but little less exhausted gaggle of fifty-odd Orkish soldiers of Mordor. These shouted curses and taunts, dire threats, and barks of gleeful laughter at their desperate prey. They brandished their weapons and carried on in delight for they had been gaining on their quarry for hours. After finally drawing within sight of them earlier that past evening, they felt that the coming slaughter was inevitable.
Now the forward Ranger sentries had allowed both companies to pass. The small group they hoped to take captive in their ambush, whilst the larger company was far too numerous to be opposed by two. The seven hauled themselves forward 'cross the col, their lungs heaving for breath whilst fear powered their feet more surely than air. They struggled uphill towards the possibility of sanctuary amongst the shadows and dark rocks that lay ahead. As the Yrch soldiers continued to close on them, the seven disappeared from sight into the pass and there they found themselves surrounded by Tarkish bowmen. In abject despair, they threw themselves down on the rock of the pass and lay gasping for breath.
The fifty-odd pursuers had marked 'naught awry and continued their fey chase 'cross the col at an unwary, loping jog. The Rangers marked them clearly and took aim with their bows, feeling confident, for the Yrch of Mordor were doing everything any well-trained infantryman would avoid.
Helluin shot the first arrow with her Númenórean steel bow. Packed together in a dense mob with none scouting ahead and none guarding the rear, the thirty-inch broadhead arrow came from slightly above the col and took the lead Orch in the base of the neck from a distance of five fathoms. It retained enough force to explode out of his upper back and lodge in the chest of the Orch most closely following him. Ere the others even marked their fall, twenty more arrows had been loosed from the Rangers' bows and eighteen more Yrch had been struck. Some were killed outright whilst others fell wounded, tripping their comrades and creating confusion with their thrashing and screaming. Then shock held sway. Ere the rest could come to a halt and prepare to counterattack, a second volley of arrows slammed into their midst.
Thereafter, all their previously minimal battle order broke down. The few Yrch that had survived the initial moments of the encounter unscathed became targets for the Rangers ahead and behind when the two forward lookouts began shooting into the rear of their company. Those not already wounded drew attention to themselves by defiantly standing and shouting threats whilst brandishing their weapons in the direction whence the arrows had come. Not two minutes passed ere none of the Yrch remained afoot. Then, Helluin and a detail of a dozen Rangers broke cover and came down from their firing positions to complete the slaughter with their swords. The dead were searched for documents or any other tokens of value ere their bodies were thrown off the col into the adjacent canyons and their few tracks obliterated.
In the aftermath, Helluin returned to the ambush site where four Rangers held the seven exhausted prisoners at arrow point. By then, most of them had managed to sit upright, but none had attempted to escape. They simply sat breathing heavily and suspiciously eyeing their captors. The Noldo appraised them carefully.
Helluin had to admit that these seven were amongst the most emaciated and unkempt Yrch she could recall seeing. They were dressed in little more than rags, wore no armor, and bore only clubs and a few short knives. Compared even to the hosts from Angband in an Age before, these appeared starved. She could only imagine that they had been slaves in Nurn, first to labor and last to feed and regarded as 'naught more than dispensable and deposable by their masters. She regarded the welts and scars from the lash that laced their arms, legs, and bodies.
"Mirz gashn latu-ûr?¹" Helluin demanded of them. ¹(Mirz gashn latu-ûr? Who speaks for you? = mirz(who?) + gashn(speak) + latu(you, pl) + -ûr(for) Orkish)
This simple question had upsetting implications for the Yrch. In asking who would speak for them, they felt that Helluin was really demanding that they name a leader. Yet they had been bred as slaves and none had e'er been a leader amongst them. That role was for their slave masters, those who applied the goad and the whip, and 'twas a role wholly foreign to them. They looked to each other in confusion and fear. Helluin watched them carefully, marking their increased nervousness and reluctance. They had seen oft enough that leaders were displaced by ambitious underlings, cruel superiors, or contrived accidents, and there were no second chances. Ambition consistently thwarted had been replaced by self-preservation, and that imperative was best exercised by remaining as close to invisible as possible.
When the silence had lingered long enough that the Noldo realized no answer would be forthcoming, she tried a different tact.
"Mal ukh?¹" She asked. ¹(Mal ukh?, Where (you, pl) go? = mal(where) + ukh(go) Orkish)
And now all the Yrch suddenly began gesturing down the pass, to the south, to the east, to themselves, and with obvious fear, back towards Mordor. At the same time, they spoke o'er each other, voicing a bewildering array of declarations that Helluin was hard pressed to sort out.
"Radghizgu!¹" ¹(Radghizgu!, We go away! = radgh-(go away) + -izgu(1st pers. pl. suff., we)Orkish)
"Rethrizgu gothbûrz!¹ ¹(Rethrizgu gothbûrz!, We flee black master! = rethr-(flee) + -izgu(1st pers. pl. suff., we) + goth(master) + -bûrz(black) Orkish)
"Rethrizgu Latanu-hai!¹" ¹(Rethrizgu Latânu-hai!, We flee to South folk (Haradrim) = rethr-(flee) + -izgu(1st pers. pl. suff., we) + Latân(South) + -u(prep., to) + hai(people) Orkish)
"Latânu-hai udahok!¹" ¹(Latânu-hai udahok!, South folk guide! Orkish)
"Rethrizgu ghân!¹" ¹(Rethrizgu ghân, We flee east! = rethr-(flee) + -izgu(1st pers. pl. suff., we) + ghân(East) Orkish)
"Strok-ghan!¹" ¹(Strok-ghân, East Sanctuary = strok(sanctuary) + ghân(East) Orkish)
"Rethrizgu Dûshatâru-u Ulbu!¹" ¹(Rethrizgu Dûshatâru-u Ulbu, We flee to Blue Wizards = rethr-(flee) + -izgu(1st pers. pl. suff., we) + Dûshatâru(wizards) + -u(prep., to) + Ulbu(blue) Orkish)
The shock on Helluin's face was well 'nigh comical.
To Be Continued