In An Age Before – Part 246
As they passed through the gate tunnel, Helluin cast a meaningful glance to the massive steel fittings mortised into the flooring timbers at each end that protected the great pivots, making sure that Vorondil marked her eyes. Soon, they rode out 'neath the inner portcullis and gate and came back into the sunlight.
After passing the formidable defenses of the gatehouse, the ambassadorial party entered the outer bailey, or outer ward, of the citadel. There they found a settlement of Men and a few Elves, both military and civilian. The buildings and mundane activities were reminiscent of Minas Tirith. They saw shops and smithies, stables and taverns, artisans' workshops and soldiers' barracks. These hedged the periphery, backed against the outer curtain wall and leaving the central area of the outer ward clear for the mustering of companies, the training of warriors, or as a killing ground in case of a successful breach. To their left, an archery range hosted a company practicing their shooting, whilst in the courtyard of a U-shaped barrack, paired soldiers drilled with swords. The Gondorim took it all in with great interest, finding more there familiar than not.
Waiting for them were a mounted company of Elves. Orchal's company broke off, leading their mounts to the stable and then making their way to the barracks. The tall ellon traded salutes with the leader of a waiting company and bid Helluin farewell for that time. The new escort approached and introduced themselves as soldiers of the inner ward. They offered Helluin, Lord Vorondil, and the Rangers bows and words of welcome.
As they rode at a walk through the encircling settlement, the Gondorim marked the outer walls and strong towers enclosing that space, whilst before them stood the even taller inner curtain wall, and within it, the keep of the Ithryn Luin. Both curtain walls were topped with crenellated battlements where sentries paced the wall walks 'twixt intervening towers. Some of the Rangers were surprised that they were not immediately confronted by the inner gate, but the wall facing them was pierced only by numerous arrow-loops, some of them large enough for ballistae, to help cover the exit from the outer gatehouse.
Steward Vorondil was not surprised by the lack of a gate directly ahead. For not even in Minas Tirith do the gates of the City Circles align, he thought. Should a foe break through the outer defenses, the defenders would not ease their passage further by presenting them with a second gate to be broken by the same ram. So he was not at all surprised when the Elvish escort led them on a paved way to the left, 'round the north side of the inner wall. Down a shaded lane 'twixt the inner and outer walls they rode, 'til they came to the midpoint of the inner curtain wall. There stood another strongly defended gatehouse with flanking towers and a bridging section to house the mechanisms of the portcullises and a drawbridge.
Constraining the approach to the gate stood a ramp that rose a fathom to a switchback. From there, it continued to climb ere it reached the outer end of a drawbridge that spanned a three-fathom gap at a height of two fathoms above the ground. The gate was otherwise inaccessible. The ramp was broad enough for four horses to pass close abreast, and perhaps the wagon too with inches to spare, but the squires, and even the Rangers, could see that t'would ne'er make the turn. Nor would a ram of sufficient size to jeopardize the gate, the steward realized. The top end of the ramp adjoined the drawbridge at a right angle, further complicating the passage of any engine of siege.
Though they were required to leave the wagon behind, (much to the squires' consternation), the escort led them up the ramp and 'cross the drawbridge. At this passage, Vorondil's eyes took in all with the sharpness of a hawk. Later, he would have much to ask of Helluin regarding the engineering of such an entrance.
Now having passed o'er the drawbridge, 'neath a raised portcullis, past opened doors, through another deadly tunnel, then past another portcullis and doors, the party arrived at the inner ward. There all dismounted and grooms came to take the horses to a stable hard by the gate. The Gondorim marked that, whereas they had seen civilians and many businesses in the outer bailey, all the personnel they saw in the inner bailey wore uniforms of dun cloth, loose pants and a quilted gambeson, with belt and boots of matching tan leather. The core of the citadel was a purely military stronghold.
'Cross the inner ward lay the entrance to the keep with guarded doors atop a rise of three broad steps. Now afoot, they paused a few moments to speak.
"Helluin, rinnech tular mín gel¹, meldis nín," the leader of the Elvish escort said. ¹(Rinnech tular mín gel, Your return brings us joy = rinno-(v return) + -ech(2nd pers sing pron suff, your) + tulo-(bring) + -ar(3rd per pl v suff) + mín(3rd pers pl dir obj pron suff, us) + gel(joy) Sindarin)
Helluin dipped her head and offered the Úmanya a smile.
"Non meren noad rinnant¹, Brilgon²," she replied. (Non meren noad rinnant, I am glad to be back = no-(be) + -n(1st pers subj pron suff, I) + meren(joyous, glad) + no-(be) + -ad(inf v suff, to be) + rinno-(v return) + -ant(past v suff, returned/back) Sindarin) ²(Brilgon, Glittering stone = bril(glittering) + gond(stone) The final –nd becomes –n in proper nouns. Sindarin)
She had recognized him immediately as one of Lord Kanafinwë's warriors. In 1984, he had been amongst the first scouting party to behold the accursed circular plain of Sheol, and in 1994, he had held a captive Mede during her interrogation outside of the encircling ridge, prying his lids open so that she could enthrall him by invading his eyes.
Then the ellon bowed to the steward and said, "Lord Vorondil, I am Sergeant Brilgon of the Guard of the Inner Ward. The welcome of the Ithryn Luin is extended to thee and thy party. Word came to us two days past foretelling thy coming and now my Lords Alatar and Pallando await thee. I am to lead thee hence."
"Well met, Brilgon," Vorondil said, offering a dip of his head. "We offer our thanks for thy welcome."
Then Brilgon nodded to the Rangers and an elleth from his detail came to stand before them. She too was familiar to Helluin, for she had been amongst Captain Orothvídh's company of archers sent by Maglor to her aid in Sauron's tower in Skator. After joining Helluin in a battle against the deserting Yrch, the elleth had been amongst the group that had descended the stairs 'neath the great hall and come to the small, iron-bound door that led into Ungolúróg's tunnels and communicated with Nehemoth.
"Lodgings have been arranged for thy company in the citadel 'nigh thine own so that they may continue their duties, if they have been so charged by their king," Brilgon said to the steward.
"Thou hast my thanks for thine attention to these details. The arrangements for my party are greatly appreciated, Brilgon, and indeed the Rangers have been so charged," the steward said. "I shall also express my appreciation to the Lords Alatar and Pallando, along with my king's thanks for accepting his embassy."
The elleth spoke to Draugrán and Dúnriel then, offering to lead the Rangers and squires to their accommodations.
"I am Híswen¹," she said, "pray follow me, noble captains, that your company may be settled." ¹(Híswen, Mist Maiden = híth(mist) + gwen(maiden) At the partition of proper nouns, -th becomes –s and –gw becomes –w. Sindarin)
When they had departed, Brilgon gestured Helluin and Vorondil up the steps and into the keep. They followed in the wake of Híswen and the Rangers, entering the large, square hall with its lofty ceiling and surrounding mezzanine. Híswen had led the company up the narrow encircling staircase, and eventually, they withdrew through the exposed upper level and were lost to sight.
Helluin watched them go and cast a glance to Brilgon, catching his eye and asking, "So, meldir nín, they are not to endure the Iant Ithryn¹?" ¹(Iant Ithryn, Wizards' Bridge(lit. Bridge of Wizards) = iant(bridge) + ithryn(wizards) Sindarin)
"They are not being led to meet the Ithryn, meldis nín, and so they take a more direct route to the guest suites," he said, and then with a smirk added, "Perhaps later."
Helluin rolled her eyes and followed Brilgon and Vorondil through the portcullis-guarded door in the center of the hall's right wall. They walked down a dim passage where their footfalls rang hollow on the floorboards and passed a second raised portcullis, ere exiting into a smaller, circular hall whose floor was a 'bottomless' wormhole of 'nigh a dozen fathoms' breadth, spanned only by the narrow wooden Wizards' Bridge.
Vorondil looked all 'round the space and then down into the inky depths of the wormhole. He seemed most curious.
"Brilgon," he asked, "how came this pit to be, pray tell? I can see no bottom to it and the sides are 'nigh perfectly dug, smooth, straight, and even all 'round. I admit I have ne'er beheld its like."
As the surprised ellon watched, the steward paced out onto the span, hands clasped behind his back, leaning to stare o'er the edges of the bridge and then at the walls of the wormhole, marveling at the perfection of their excavation. Finally, he shook his head in wonder and turning, looked back to Helluin and their guide.
"Are we to cross?" he asked, being already 'nigh a third of the way to the far side.
"Aye, my lord, we must cross to come to the Ithryn's chambers," Helluin answered, not trusting what Brilgon might say.
Vorondil nodded to her and turned again, walking 'cross the remainder of the bridge, still unable to resist staring down into the abyss. Helluin followed and Brilgon brought up the rear.
"Ne'er aforetime have I seen a mortal so wholly unimpressed, Helluin," Brilgon whispered from behind as they walked 'cross the bridge. "Surely he must be mad to feel no fear."
At the Úmanya's words, the Noldo stopped and turned to face him. Then she offered a whispered explanation, hoping that the steward had not o'erheard 'aught that had passed 'twixt them.
"Nay, Brilgon, he is simply long accustomed to heights," Helluin said. "As steward, and the son of the past steward, he hath spent 'nigh all his days in the Seventh Circle of Minas Tirith, oft staring down seven hundred feet upon his city from the sheer drop of the Court of the Fountain."
"Doth he know 'aught of how this hole came to be?"
"I may have failed to mention the were-worms to him as yet," she admitted as she turned away, increasing her pace to catch up with Vorondil whilst leaving Brilgon behind.
The Úmanya rolled his eyes at the Noldo's lapse, but then hastened to catch up with his guests. He found them lingering at the entrance to the corridor leading out of the Hall of the Wizards' Bridge. A single glance at their faces assured him that the steward had many questions and the Noldo would be providing many answers. He had to stifle a smirk at that.
"Pray let us continue onward, mellyn nín," he said, gesturing them hence 'neath the entry's portcullis.
They passed through the corridor and entered the rectangular, lamp-lit library with its many bookcases lining the longer walls, its reading tables in the center, and the openings revealing staircases in the shorter walls on either side. Brilgon led them through one of the openings in the left wall and up a staircase to the floor above. 'Twas the same stair that Maglor had taken when he had first conveyed Helluin, Tahmirih, Kiana, and Ashti to their initial meeting with the Ithryn Luin in 1980.
So now, after climbing those familiar stairs, Brilgon led Helluin and Vorondil into the room directly above the library. It seemed that 'twas regularly used as a reception chamber by the Ithryn Luin, for as aforetime, Alatar and Pallando waited there for the arrival of their guests. This time, rather than Alatar standing, gazing out a window, and Pallando seated as he perused the contents of a book, both were standing facing the entrance. Helluin marked that Pallando was holding a book and puffing on a long-stemmed pipe of carved wood, whilst Alatar was wearing a peculiar conical turban more elaborate than the one worn by Alun, the freed Sultan of Xzûwing. They set their hands o'er their hearts and dipped their heads to greet their guests in the eastern manner, and then offered their welcome.
"Heldalúne Maica i móremenel, well met, old friend," Pallando said, setting his book down on the table. No smoke came from the pipe, and after giving it a look of minor annoyance, he set it aside as well. "Lord Steward Vorondil, son of Pelendur, 'tis our honor to greet thee. Pray be welcome amongst us."
"I hope that your long journey east has been without undue hardship," Alatar said. "We offer the hospitality and welcome of our citadel, Lord Vorondil. With honor do we receive thee as embassy from King Eärnil II and would hear thy rede. I deem we share many concerns and shall find much to discuss."
After offering each of the Ithryn a bow, Vorondil said, "Lord Pallando, Lord Alatar, I am most appreciative of your welcome and of the hospitality extended to my company. Ye have my thanks for receiving my embassy on behalf of Gondor. Having learnt from Helluin somewhat of your campaigns, King Eärnil esteems your stance against our common foe, Sauron Gorthaur."
"There are many who oppose him," Pallando said, "and all are worthy of esteem when they do so in hope of making a better world. We are proud to stand amongst them."
"We do our part as do others of worthy heart, and whether the deeds be great or small, 'tis one's determination in accordance with their measure that makes them worthy," Alatar said. "I believe the deeds of the Men of Gondor may be counted high in the ledger of Sauron's eventual defeat."
"With our allies, the Mâh-Sakâ, we have freed much of the east from his influence and denied his servants succor in these lands," Pallando said.
"Yet in doing so, we have driven him west, both literally and figuratively, and in doing so, we have increased the jeopardy to Gondor and thy brothers the north," Alatar said. "This we regret, yet the presence of the two northern Rangers gives us great hope. The sons of Elendil have been too long sundered. One day their alliance shall be paramount in the fight against the Dark Lord."
"T'would seem we have much to speak of indeed," Vorondil said.
"Aye, that we do, and yet thou art newly come from a long journey and we would be remiss for holding a council of such gravity ere thou can rest and sup and recover," Alatar said. "I shall bid our chamberlain convey thee to the accommodations that have been set aside for thee and at this evening's meal, we may engage in matters of diplomacy. Heldalúne…Helluin, thou art to have the same apartment as aforetime, and the steward the one adjacent."
As if on cue, they heard the th-thump, th-thump, th-thump of the Nandorin chamberlain's peg leg and cane resounding on the floorboards in the hallway outside the reception chamber. The ellon was unchanged and as dour as Helluin recalled him being. He offered the Ithryn Luin and their guests a solemn bow. Helluin he acknowledged with a quirk of his upper lip that might have been mistaken for a sneer save for the smile in his eyes, and the Noldo offered him a dip of her head and a grin in greeting.
Pallando shifted to his native Silvan tongue and bid him lead Vorondil and Helluin hence. This the chamberlain did with a sweeping gesture, and the two followed him down the corridor. He led them on the same course, but in the reverse direction, that he had taken whilst conveying the Noldo and the Mâh-Sakâ to their initial dinner with the Wizards twenty-eight years aforetime. The peculiar architectural details they encountered along the way also remained unchanged and drew many questions from the steward. These he addressed to Helluin, for he did not speak the Silvan tongue, which differed from Sindarin sufficiently to leave him confused by the chamberlain's replies.
"Helluin, whyfor do so many staircases end blindly at the ceiling?" he asked.
"They had nowhere else to go," the chamberlain answered in his native tongue.
"They are for those who walk too slow?" Vorondil guessed, looking to the Noldo for confirmation of his translation.
The chamberlain cackled. Helluin rolled her eyes. The steward chanced a glance through a window in the hallway and saw 'naught but a blank wall beyond the pane.
"They had no other destination," she finally replied.
"I see," the steward said, accepting her explanation, odd as it sounded to him. "And what of this window that provides no view save of the masonry behind?"
"Obviously, 'tis for those who are blind," the Nando answered in Silvan.
"Ahhh, 'tis for seeing with the mind, a Wizard's scrying tool then," Vorondil reasoned.
The chamberlain rolled his eyes. Helluin cackled.
"They have been provided for the sightless," Helluin corrected after mastering her mirth.
Vorondil raised his brows in surprise at that, wondering why anyone would bother. The next window he looked through revealed a richly appointed chamber without any doors. He paused there a moment, staring 'round at the walls to make sure he had not missed an entrance. Finally, he looked to Helluin who could only shrug. She had ne'er understood the purpose of that room herself.
"Why is there so fine a room that none can enter?" Vorondil had to ask.
"It saves us most from having to dust, of course," the chamberlain answered, straight-faced.
"It stays our ghost from having to lust for a horse?" Vorondil proposed, looking surprised at the translation he had come up with. "Perhaps I misunderstand?"
"'Tis in truth 'naught but a housekeeping measure," Helluin managed to clarify, though she was laboring hard to maintain her composure. The chamberlain's shoulders were shaking as he desperately tried not to guffaw at his noble guest's mangling of his words.
"Seems a bit radical, doth it not?" the steward asked, serious. "Could our hosts not simply engage an added domestic?"
"They could try, but none would enter," the chamberlain said with certainty.
Wishing to preclude any further guesses by the steward, Helluin immediately translated, saying, "he claims that none would enter."
"Whyfor?" asked the steward.
"Because that room is haunted by the ghost of a blind horse that has no place else to go."
Helluin had already translated half the Nando's words ere she actually realized the whole of what he had said. Then she fell silent in shock with her mouth agape. The steward raised an eyebrow in question and canted his head, bidding her continue.
"…the ghost of a blind horse that has no place else to go," she finished, scarcely believing that she had said it.
"I see," Vorondil replied, as if by reflex. Then he pondered why a blind horse had died in a sitting room on the second floor of the keep.
Meanwhile, the chamberlain was clasping his sides and leaning against the wall, no longer able to contain his mirth. It seemed that dour as he had always appeared, he had a wicked sense of humor. Helluin shook her head, realizing that she had been the instrument of his jest. Vorondil eyed him with concern.
"Helluin, whyfor is our guide afflicted so? Is he feeling poorly? A pernicious hysteria, perhaps?"
Being but moments from breaking down in a fit of laughter herself, the Noldo realized that only by escaping the convulsing chamberlain's presence would she stand a chance at retaining her comportment.
"Come, Lord Steward, we must away at once," she struggled to grind out. "I know the way."
They managed to reach their rooms, and only by strictly banishing all thought of the Nando had Helluin contrived to restrain herself from violent hilarity.
"My lord, here thou shalt find thine accommodations," she said, opening the door onto a spacious sitting room, "and I shall be next door should thou require 'aught not found within."
She indicated the next door in the hallway with a glance and Vorondil nodded to her.
"I shall have many questions for thee on several topics," he said, "but I deem there shall be time for that later. My thanks, Helluin. I hope the chamberlain shall not be long indisposed."
"I am sure he shall feel better shortly, Lord Steward. Pray take thine ease a while. I reckon we shall be summoned when the Ithryn's board is set." She started to turn away, but then turned back, warning him, "That door at the end of the hall. Pray open it not."
Of course, as soon as she had closed the door to her own apartment, Vorondil tiptoed back out into the hallway and went straightaway to the door. This he opened slowly and with great care, only to find a dead drop of three stories to the inner ward.
'Twas an hour and a half later, with evening reddening Anor's light in the bailey beyond the windows, that the chamberlain rapped on Helluin's door. He appeared fully recovered, (which the Noldo hardly found surprising), and he gestured her into the hallway. He then knocked on the steward's door and Vorondil appeared forthwith.
"Ahhh, master chamberlain, 'tis good to see thee recovered," the steward said.
He looked to Helluin to translate for him. Helluin rolled her eyes, deeming it obvious that the chamberlain understood the Common Tongue and Sindarin as well as Silvan, yet she indulged the steward and spoke his words in Silvan.
"The steward says that he is glad to see thee recovered."
"Hanta-nya, Héru Vorondil,¹" the chamberlain said in Quenya as he set his right hand o'er his heart and offered a restrained bow. ¹(Hanta-nya, Héru Vorondil, My thanks (lit. gratitude), Lord Vorondil = hanta(gratitude) + -nya(2nd pers poss pron suff, my) + héru(lord) + Vorondil Quenya)
Helluin gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. Belatedly perhaps, she realized that he had not suffixed a single curse of Sauron or the Yrch to any of his statements, though he had been quite consistent in damning both on her prior visit.
The chamberlain's expression remained unchanged and he gestured them forward, back down the hall whence they had originally come. This time, no comments were made and no questions were asked regarding the details of the architecture they encountered. It seemed that all parties were disposed to forget their earlier passage.
Towards the end of their walk, they turned off into a corridor they had not traversed earlier after leaving the reception chamber. There, Vorondil's mouth dropped open upon seeing the room filled with water and marine life. Still, he made no mention of it, nor of the skylights offering views into rooms on the floor 'neath them.
They arrived shortly later at the Wizards' dining hall. The chamberlain opened the door and ushered them 'cross the walkway to the short staircase of three steps that rose to the dining hall's floor. Along the way, they passed the two-foot high windows and door that offered entrance to the low chamber 'neath it. This Helluin studiously ignored, whilst the steward actually stopped and tried to view the interior, pressing his face to the windowpanes and shielding his eyes from reflections with a hand.
When they climbed the stairs, they found the Ithryn Luin awaiting them, already seated side by side at the center on one side of a long dining table surrounded by comfortably padded chairs. They rose to acknowledge the arrival of their guests. Helluin and Vorondil offered bows to their hosts.
"Pray seat yourselves wheresoe'er ye see fit," Alatar said.
He gestured them to the expanse of the table, and they took the chairs directly 'cross from the Blue Wizards. Helluin marked that Pallando still held the curved wooden pipe, though as aforetime, no smoke came from it, a thing for which she was glad enough. Alatar still wore his conical turban. She resolved to ask about these new acquisitions of fashion as time allowed.
"I hope ye found your accommodations comfortable," Pallando said.
"Indeed so, my lord," Vorondil answered. "They proved quite spacious and well appointed."
Helluin nodded in agreement and offered her old friends a smile.
"I was most gratified to find a tub of steaming water to bath in," she commented. "I was quite glad to be rid of the dust of Rhûn. T'would seem the time of our arrival was well anticipated."
"The tubs in the guest apartments are e'er filled, Helluin, so the water needed only to be heated after thine arrival," Pallando said, prompting a surprised widening of the Noldo's eyes.
"I feel the pangs of hunger, my friends," Alatar said. "I must be getting old."
Helluin rolled her eyes at his claim. He is Maia, tens of thousands of years old, she thought.
And ne'er to grow a day younger, she heard him reply in her head. She groaned. He chuckled.
Alatar prompted Pallando with a pointed look. The other Wizard reached for the braided silk bell cord and they heard the muffled ring of a bell summoning the servers. As aforetime, these appeared almost immediately, a mix of Men and Elves clad in richly embroidered livery of blue and bearing all the paraphernalia of a banquet.
They had entered through a door on the far side of the dining hall. Swiftly, places were set for the diners with lap cloths and silverware, plates, saucers, cups, and bowls of fine, translucent porcelain accented with a glossy cerulean glaze and bands of gold. Stem goblets of faceted crystal appeared along with decanters of red and white wine, all borne on broad salvers of silver incised with flowing designs based on the Two Trees. Next came pitchers of pale ale and dark beer with steins of clear molded glass featuring hinged and sculpted pewter lids.
Servers rolled in carts with covered dishes whilst others bore platters and serving bowls. There were fruit, salads, grains, and vegetables. Side dishes of potatoes mashed with sour cream, chives, and crumbled bacon, sliced and candied carrots, several varieties of mushrooms sautéed in butter with wine and savory, the hearts of artichokes au gratin, and the broiled sprouts of asparagus all tempted the diners. A trencher of deviled eggs with the aroma of curry and topped with a sprinkle of paprika was offered. Shallow tureens of couscous steamed o'er cubed beef with peppers, barley and wheat berries simmered with herbs, and red wehani rice that featured a sweet and nutty aroma, were set before them.
Next, the heavier courses were presented. There were platters of pungent grilled goat and lamb kebabs and others of chicken, all marinated in yogurt, cumin, paprika, onion, garlic, cinnamon, and lemon juice. A broad platter held a pit roasted camel's hump. Helluin recognized the sliced beef tongues with root vegetables, the grilled songbirds on skewers, (which she had e'er found depressing), and the whole goose in aspic from her first banquet, but the centerpiece octopus stuffed with lobster meat and breadcrumbs was new.
Now the servers withdrew save for their captain who remained a while to slice the camel hump and octopus with panache ere bowing and taking his leave. As aforetime, the meal was served and enjoyed as a family style banquet, rather than as more formal, separate courses. The Wizards began by pouring beverages into their steins.
"Pray help yourselves to food and drink," Pallando invited Helluin and the steward as he topped off his dark beer to a foamy head.
Vorondil, whose mouth had been watering from the savory aromas and the impressive variety of dishes, was swift to avail himself of a skewer of songbirds and a heap of mashed potatoes. Helluin began with salad greens and a curious piece of fruit that she did not recognize. 'Twas a knobby oblong of yellow, with small scale tips of yellowish-green. After a fruitless attempt to peel it, she broke down and sliced it in half, discovering the interior to be white with black speckles. She spooned the flesh out of its colorful rind, finding the flavor not o'erly sweet, and reminiscent of both pear and melon. The Noldo washed it down with a mouthful of white wine and then proceeded to her salad.
Meanwhile, the Ithryn were lading their plates with slices of beef tongue and octopus, and heaps of couscous and mushrooms. The steward crunched another songbird and then delicately spat the beak into his lap cloth ere taking a swig of ale. For a while, conversation died in favor of eating and all found the fare delectable.
For the sake of initiating table conversation, Steward Vorondil asked the Wizards, "I marked a low chamber 'neath your dining hall and could not apprehend a purpose. I am curious whyfor 'twas created."
Helluin's eyes shifted to the Dúnadan at her side, wondering if 'twas taboo to ask, for aforetime, the Ithryn had mentioned it not. Yet the Wizards were forthcoming with answers.
"'Tis but our mushroom farm," Alatar declared, as he helped himself to slices of camel hump.
"Forty-seven varieties we cultivate thither in the humidity and dim light, for culinary, medicinal, and martial purposes," Pallando elaborated. "We employ a third generation mycologist to sort them, toxic and pharmaceutical from edible."
"So ye grow such as grace your board then?" he asked, indicating the bowl on the table with a thrust of his fork.
"Aye, and many others besides," Alatar said with a hint of pride.
"Pray tell, has the office of mycologist become a hereditary station?" Helluin asked.
"It hath indeed," said Pallando. "Chwesdgoron¹ has studied the world of fungi all his life." ¹(Chwesdgoron, Puffball = chwest(puff) + cor(o)n(ball) At the partition of proper nouns, -t becomes –d and –c becomes –g. Sindarin)
"So he is a sage then, long practiced in his field of expertise," she said, nodding in approval.
"Um, he is still young for such an august station, but gains daily in wisdom," Pallando hedged.
"How then came he to inherit his office if he is still young? Should his father not continue his tutelage yet a while?"
The Wizards looked to each other, and the Noldo would have sworn 'twas with discomfort.
"Chwesdgoron's father passed recently and untimely, alas," Alatar finally admitted.
Helluin raised a brow in curiosity, beseeching him to continue.
"Thavlewig¹, Chwesdgoron's father, was but thirty-seven and yet already preeminent in his field, a Man wholly devoted to his scholarship," Pallando said. "Alas, he was given to sleep walking, and whilst perambulating late at night, found his way to the mushroom farm and consumed some ill-advised species. The effects were deemed swift and irreversible." ¹(Thavlewig, Wood Ear = thav(wood) + lewig(ear) Sindarin)
"We found him several days later, for none had thought to seek him there," Alatar explained. "By then, he was already sprouting…" The Wizard shook his head and a look of sorrow shaped his features.
"Thou hast my sympathies, Lord Alatar," Vorondil said, dipping his head to honor the deceased.
"My thanks, Lord Vorondil," the Wizard said. "'Tis always hard to lose a faithful retainer."
The steward nodded to him in agreement, but Helluin asked, "How old is Chwesdgoron, pray tell?"
"Ahhh, he hath recently celebrated his fifteenth birthday, though 'twas somewhat subdued for it fell not a week after the discovery of his father's cadaver," Pallando answered, shaking his head at the pathos of it all.
The Noldo resolved to abstain from the mushrooms, whilst the steward offered praise saying, "A precocious talent he must be, to hold at so tender an age such a vital an appointment."
"We deem him so indeed, and have yet to find any reason not to accord him our trust," Alatar said.
Now thereafter, the diners continued their banquet and long they spent eating and drinking 'til all were well sated. 'Round the table, other topics were explored in conversation and many points of interest were revealed. The Wizards were jubilant when Vorondil offered tidings of Helluin's victories o'er two more of the Ringwraiths, and were likewise glad to hear of the training of Southern Dúnedain as Rangers. Yet finally, after the span of a couple hours, Pallando rang the bell again and the servers were summoned to clear the table. At last, o'er water crackers and cheese, and cordials of a sweet plum wine, the official business of Vorondil's embassy was heard at last.
Now many of the formalities of the steward's embassy were tedious to Helluin and she awaited those topics dearer to her heart and more in accord with her purpose. It seemed long ere the Lord Steward broached his king's desire to assail the Dark Lord in Mordor.
"My lords, 'tis the will of King Eärnil that Gondor undertake to strike at last against Sauron Gorthaur, for by Helluin's tidings, we have learnt of a weapon proven deadly against him. This ye hold stored in your citadel, and Gondor begs the loan of it, for Helluin has agreed to empower that weapon. I speak of E-ngúrglaw that ye fabricated aforetime and used to such good effect at Sheol."
At the steward's request, the Ithryn fell silent and shared expressions of dismay.
"Come now, mellyn nín," Helluin said, "whilst Sauron is bereft of two of his Úlairi, we reckon a window of opportunity opens to encompass his downfall. He is e'er a threat to Gondor and as ye said aforetime, 'twas by our own campaign to deny him the east that he was forced west to jeopardize the South Kingdom. Surely the weapon benefits none whilst sitting idle."
Alatar looked down at the tabletop and Pallando groaned and shook his head.
"My Lord Steward, meldis nín ifant, we cannot provide ye the weapon for any purpose," Alatar finally said in a voice softened by sorrow, "in despite of how strongly we esteem your purpose."
Vorondil shook his head in disappointment and Helluin sat silent in shock.
"Whyfor can ye not release to Gondor the single weapon capable of laying low the Lord of Lies?" she asked. "Are ye not charged to aid in his downfall?"
"We are…we are," Pallando affirmed, "and 'naught is more dear to us than his defeat."
Helluin regarded him with a sharpened glance and the beginnings of blue fire edged her eyes as rage built within her.
"Whyfor then…" she began, but Alatar broke in.
"We are constrained in this, specifically and categorically forbidden…" he claimed with such a downcast expression that the Noldo was nonplussed.
"Ye are amongst the Great and the Wise, mellyn nín," she said. "Few are those that might compel your compliance in so grave a matter."
Disconsolate, Pallando nodded in agreement.
"So we are, and yet none in Arda are paramount, for the greater authority comes from 'cross the Sea," he said, and Helluin's eyes widened in shock.
"Manwë?" she whispered. "Ye are forbidden by the Elder King?"
Beside her, Steward Vorondil was shocked to silence and his thoughts spun, fraught with worry. Had the request of his king already been expressly forbidden by the King of the Valar? Simply by asking, would his people again be deemed blasphemers?
Heldalúne Maica i móremenel thou know that we are tasked by the Elder King as an order, she heard Pallando say silently to exclude the steward, and as such, the Heren Istarion¹ are part of a hierarchy. The White is the head of our order, for in Valinor he was of Aulë's people and knew best the foundation of Mairon's fall. So 'twas that not two years past, he journeyed into the east and came to us. ¹(Heren Istarion, Order of Wizards Quenya)
Curumo…Curumo came to ye? He was here? Helluin asked, just to be sure.
Aye, he came as Chief of the Istari, and as the first amongst us, promoted Manwë's Will that no such weapon be deployed against Sauron. We are forbidden from the overt exercise of power in our struggle against the Dark Lord, and the creation of E-ngúrglaw was so deemed, an overreach forbidden by our dispensation from the Valar.
But 'twas my inspiration, my desire that birthed the concept for the weapon, Helluin protested. Surely ye cannot be held in contempt by the Powers simply for aiding me!
Were thou as others of thy people, that might be accepted, for then thou would be incapable of quickening it, yet thy power too comes from 'cross the Sea, Pallando said. Then he continued, saying, Heldalúne, even thy partitioning of thy fëa to create the Sarchram is regarded with doubt, for of it came Sauron's inspiration for his One Ring.
We were forbidden to deploy E-ngúrglaw, or perhaps more truthfully, forbidden to rebuild it, Alatar said, silently joining the conversation for the first time.
Rebuild it…whate'er dost thou mean? Helluin asked, becoming more perturbed by the moment.
Curumo demanded that we demolish it, and he supervised its destruction personally, Alatar revealed. 'Naught remains. We are sorry.
With a long, slow exhale, Helluin sat back in her chair, fuming, her hopes of destroying Sauron crushed. Beside her, Vorondil sat unmoving, unblinking, his lungs stilled. Had she paid him any heed, she would have wagered the Man's heart had stilled as well. Alatar snapped his fingers and the steward 'came back to life'. He looked back and forth 'twixt the Wizards and the Noldo.
"My king shall be greatly disappointed," Vorondil conceded, "yet if in your wisdom the use of E-ngúrglaw is forbidden, then we must abide the Elder King's will. Ne'er again shall the Men of the West stray from their duty before the Valar."
"I bid thee steel thy heart and maintain thy struggle against Sauron, Lord Steward," Alatar said. "The light of hope and courage are Gondor's most powerful weapons."
His words struck Helluin as an empty platitude, but if the steward deemed it so, he gave no sign, only dipping his head to honor his hosts. More pertinent in her thought was how Curumo had divined the existence and mechanism of the weapon they had built. Mentally, she reviewed the years since she had returned west. Of all those with whom she had spoken of E-ngúrglaw, the one foremost in her suspicions had to be her old friend Mithrandir. He was of the Istari and he had been horrified at the memories she had shared. And he had been the most suspicious of the source of her inspiration. The Noldo gritted her teeth.
Ere thou take thy leave, we must speak, she heard Pallando say in her head. The urgency of his voice caused her to snap her eyes to his face, but he gave only a subtle nod to acknowledge her. I know at least a part of what he fears.
To Be Continued