In An Age Before – Part 252
Chapter One Hundred fifty-four
Dol Guldur – The Third Age of the Sun
After Elvish grooms had taken their horses, Lindir had shown Helluin, Lainiel, and Annuihír to the Lord Elrond's study. Húveren trailed along behind the prince, sniffing e'erything and admirably controlling his impulse to scent mark the doorframes and newel posts. They found the Peredhel seated at his desk, but he rose to greet his guests. Helluin marked the look of relief on his face when he first beheld the prince and princess.
One would think them returned from the dead rather than from Gondor, she thought ere recalling that her old friend perceived much in the minds of others.
As if on cue, Elrond briefly met her eyes and silently said, some have feared them dead and only hoped that they had followed thee to Gondor.
Helluin actually blinked upon hearing his words and gaped at him. She desperately desired to question him further, but he had turned to welcoming his other guests.
"Welcome Prince Annuihír, Princess Lainiel, 'tis good to see ye again and returned safe after your absence," he said, gesturing them all to seats before his desk.
E'er the proper host, the Lord of the Hidden Valley offered goblets of a deep red wine and the ubiquitous white, seeded cakes. Believing she would need the fortification, Helluin downed her wine in a few gulps and then immediately refilled her glass from the decanter. She took up a seeded cake and bit deeply into it.
"Our thanks for thy welcome, Lord Elrond," Prince Annuihír said after a sip of wine. "We are indeed returned safe and very glad of it. We learnt and saw much in Gondor, but there is no place like home."
"Alas, I have sad tidings to share if ye have not already heard them," the Peredhel said, looking carefully from one to the other.
The Rangers cocked their heads to him, but they could not banish the sorrow from their faces whilst recalling the tidings they had heard in Anórien.
"Perhaps ye have already learnt of the passing of your grandparent, Lord Níshír in 2006 and Lady Athelrian this early summer past?"
Lainiel and Annuihír both nodded 'aye'.
"Of these events we have heard," said Lainiel, "for a Ranger, Húrin son of Glavagor, came to us in Gondor bearing those tidings from Eriador. We returned forthwith upon receiving them."
Elrond nodded both his understanding and his sympathy in a single gesture. He took a sip of wine and then said, "the Chieftain and your parents were unsure of whither ye had gone, but hoped that 'twas to Gondor in Helluin's wake, for ye disappeared later the same day she set out. Lord Aranarth, Lord Artamir, Lady Brennil, Lord Gwíthír, and Lady Artanis shall rejoice to see ye. I do not see Húrin accompanying ye, hath he fallen?"
"Nay, he…" Lainiel began.
"He chose…" Annuihír said at the same moment, and then they both faltered.
"Húrin hath fallen indeed, my lord, hard and fast for my chambermaid, and shall ne'er return, having chosen to remain in Minas Tirith lest they both become wights were he to abandon her heart," Helluin interjected.
She then quaffed her second glass of wine in hope of assuaging the shock of finding that the young Rangers' lord and parents had been uninformed of their leave taking five years aforetime. Helluin hastily poured herself a third goblet of wine and then watched Elrond protectively take the decanter and set it on the sideboard behind his desk. At least he gave her a nod in appreciation for her explanation of the missing Ranger. The Noldo gritted her teeth and shook her head in amazement, deeming that she would reap the blame for the truancy of the heir and heiress.
"I shall send a messenger to Celenhár to report your arrival," Elrond said, "and I urge ye to travel thither at your first opportunity."
"Such is our intent, Lord Elrond," Annuihír said, and Lainiel nodded 'aye' in agreement.
The Peredhel nodded in approval and then said, "As ye have arrived but shortly ago, I offer ye the hospitality of Imladris. Rooms have been prepared and the evening meal is still being served in the Dining Hall. Pray make yourselves comfortable."
As if thrall to his will, Lindir appeared at the door to usher the guests hence. It seemed that the Lord of the Hidden Valley was loath to entrust the Rangers to a lesser functionary even for a moment, as if they might vanish again if given the opportunity. Helluin stood as Annuihír and Lainiel rose from their chairs, but the Peredhel stayed her.
"Helluin, pray grant me a moment, if thou will?" he asked, though 'twas not really a question.
With a nod to her host, Helluin resumed her seat and snatched a second seeded cake. She then turned her attention to Elrond as Lindir closed the door of the study behind the departing Rangers, and raised a brow in question, prompting him to speak. Ere doing so, he returned the decanter to his desk.
"I have much to discuss with thee, meldis nín," he said, "and t'would seem that thou may have some questions as well."
"Indeed," Helluin replied, "for though t'would seem that the prince and princess ran away from home, they dissembled admirably, fooling both myself and the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien, then assumed fictitious identities and successfully passed five years in Gondor incognito. Not even King Eärnil and Steward Vorondil saw through their disguises, nor did the Ithryn Luin. I admit to my chagrin and can ne'er again show my face in Celenhár. Indeed perhaps not in all of Eriador."
She groaned and covered her eyes with a hand whilst shaking her head. Elrond chuckled.
"Had thou returned after a month, thy fears might have proved merited, at least for a while, but the chieftain and their parents relented in their wrath as fear and worry replaced it," he said, "and having returned them safely, I wager they shall be more thankful than vengeful, my friend."
"I am relieved," Helluin admitted, "howe'er I would still beg a bodyguard of several hundred of thy knights when I accompany them west."
Elrond laughed and Helluin downed her third goblet of wine. He poured her a refill.
"How I failed to apprehend their deception I cannot fathom," she said, shaking her head at her lapse, "nor how they fooled the Lady Galadriel."
"They are young and were no doubt exuberant in undertaking their great adventure," Elrond said. "Perhaps ye all reacted more to that than regarded them with suspicion?"
Helluin thought back to their initial meeting on the Royal Talan of Lothlórien. She had been shocked at their very appearance and had questioned them about how they had followed her undetected. Then she, Celeborn, and Galadriel had been most concerned o'er the reception and impression they would make in Gondor and the potential upset their status would precipitate. None of them had questioned the young cousins as to whether Chieftain Aranarth or their parents had approved their coming. They had eclipsed any notion of considering that possibility with their own concerns. She groaned as yet another lapse became apparent.
"We questioned them not as to having the leave of their parents or their lord," Helluin admitted, "but were concerned rather with their safety as descendants of the House of Elendil when confronting the blood jealousy of Gondor. They were determined to go forward in spite of any dangers, and so we counseled them to present themselves 'neath assumed identities as common Rangers. In the end, I deem we did 'naught but abet their deceits and I most of all, conveying them hence and even choosing and approving their false names."
Elrond nodded, accepting Helluin's words, then asked, "and yet once thither, they conducted themselves with honor and earned respect in their assumed roles?"
"Aye, they did, serving first as common Rangers, they were promoted to sergeant in three years and to captain in four. They are now known as founding captains of the Dúnedain Rangers of Gondor and have the esteem of the king. In their last mission, they commanded the security detail for Steward Vorondil when he went in embassy to the citadel of the Ithryn Luin."
Obviously impressed, Elrond sipped from his goblet and then said, "Helluin, thou must tell me of e'erything that came to pass."
The dark Noldo was certain that he had been eagerly awaiting Lainiel and Annuihír's absence to ask and his grin was acknowledgment enough to confirm her suspicions.
For the remainder of that night, Helluin and Elrond remained deep in council and the only interruptions were the lord's calls for more wine and a meal to be delivered from the kitchen. The lamps in the study remained lit 'til dawn relieved them of the duty to provide light, whilst Helluin presented the tidings of five years' deeds to an increasingly astonished Peredhel.
"And now thou art concerned about Sauron continuing his search of Anduin for the One Ring," Elrond said after all else had been told and debated.
"Aye, belated as it may be, for from the testimony of Meneldor, 'tis apparent that search has long been known to the Eagles, and yet they told none that I know 'aught of it," Helluin said in irritation. "They say it began 'nigh the start of this Age and for all that time we have been none the wiser. After the Úlairi's occupation of Minas Morgul, I fear that Sauron shall extend his hunt south into Gondor with few to hamper him. For now, only the Rangers constrain the Dark Lord's servants to Imlad Morgul."
"So what intend thou, my friend?" the Peredhel asked.
"After I am run out of Eriador, I shall visit the Vale of Anduin and seek to enlist others to join in a watch upon the river. Already, Celeborn and Galadriel are aware of this danger. I hope to find some of the skin-changers and convince those settlers to aid us in the lands east of the river. But most of all, I hope to find Aiwendil and ask that his friends join this purpose."
Elrond chuckled and replied, "as I said aforetime, I doubt thou shalt be banished from Eriador, and even if the Dúnedain tried to do so, I am sure thy stealth would confound them. Alas that the Laiquendi abide only on this side of the mountains, for none would be finer guardians of Anduin."
To this, Helluin nodded in agreement, adding, "Only the Tawarwaith of Calenglad could approach them, but to Thranduil I shall not go."
To this, the Peredhel sighed and grimly shook of his head. As had Beinvír, he too did not believe that the King of the Woodland Realm bore Helluin a lingering animosity for either his father's death or his wife's, but he knew the dour Noldo was unconvinced.
"Perhaps some of Aiwendil's friends shall deliver word to his halls," was all he said.
"Perhaps," Helluin replied with little conviction.
When Elrond finally adjourned their council, Helluin made her way to the Hall of Feasting to break her fast. On the way, she met Annuihír and Lainiel, come fresh from their night's rest. They were so bright and perky that she was incredulous. It seemed the anticipation of a wrathful chieftain and disapproving parents had been wholly forgotten. She looked at them carefully, but could detect no inebriation. Hope e'er springs anew amongst mortals, I suppose, she thought.
They resumed traveling a few hours later and were soon riding west through the Troll Shaws of Rhudaur on the Great East Road. The woods and abruptly undulating landscape were familiar to the Rangers from patrols ridden prior to their journey to Gondor and they rejoiced in the well-known terrain. The day was pleasant and they went forward at a leisurely pace, alternating walk and trot. In the late afternoon, they met a company of a dozen Rangers of Rhudaur patrolling the road east to the Bruinen afoot. These were o'erjoyed to meet the prince and princess, and after bowing to them, their sergeant bid them a warm welcome home.
"Lord Annuihír, Lady Lainiel, we rejoice in your long hoped for return," he said. "We heard tidings from a messenger of Imladris shortly after dawn and looked to meet ye. As ye know the way and must be eager to reunite with your families, we shall stay ye no longer. Pray be safe upon your road."
"Our thanks for thy welcome, sergeant," Lainiel said. "We are indeed eager to return home."
The sergeant bowed in farewell to the prince and princess and gestured his company to stand aside. As the riders passed, the sergeant bowed again, this time to Helluin, and then they turned east to resume their patrol.
Having had a late start, Helluin, Annuihír, and Lainiel came a score and five miles west on 21 Urui, somewhat less than halfway to the road leading south to Celenhár. During that ride, they met no others, for few had business east or in the 'Neck', that narrow strip of land that ran for fifty miles 'twixt Bruinen and the East Road. They camped just off the track that night and the Rangers slept at ease, for any foes were deemed few and far away.
When dawn came, they broke their fast with victuals from the kitchen in Imladris, far tastier fare than the waybread they had relied on in their earlier travels, though the cheese and sausage were much the same as the rations from Lothlórien. Now they had fresh eggs, butter and honey for fresh bread toasted o'er their trench fire, and sweet cider rather than only water. They broke camp an indulgent hour after dawn and continued west.
Late afternoon found them reaching the inn at the head of the road leading south to Celenhár. In the common room, they received a warm welcome from the innkeeper and found that rooms had been reserved for them. After stabling their horses, they took their evening meal amongst a jovial throng who offered many congratulations and words of welcome. It seemed their coming had been well published and was now a surprise to none.
The Rhudaurim were thankful to have the heirs of their noble houses returned safe, and perhaps for the first time, Lainiel and Annuihír truly felt some guilt for their actions. They had jeopardized the continuity of lineages steeped in tradition and honor amongst their people. That this corner of Eriador boasted a king and a noble house dating from the First Age was a source of great pride to the Middle Men. What had seemed a grand adventure to their youthful minds now had to be reappraised in the light of maturity gained afield. During their years in Gondor, duty had taken on a greater weight and they had come to realize that as nobles, their lives were not wholly their own to spend. They had responsibilities to their people more subtle than wielding arms as Rangers in defense of their homes.
When they took their leave of the inn during the early morn of 23 Urui, Annuihír and Lainiel were more contemplative than aforetime and spoke less lightly as they rode south. The lives they had lived as Draugrán and Dúnriel seemed more distant now that the fields and farms alongside the track were familiar and the folk they met could be greeted by name. Ere they made their camp for the night, the two were grim, enmeshed in internal dialogs wherein they weighed the good they had done in the south against the irresponsibility they had shown in the north. Helluin had watched them through the day, wondering when their emotional dams would break. That floodtide of conflicting feelings o'erflowed 'round their trench fire as they prepared their supper.
"I was so sure that our course was right and we could repay in some small measure the aid given our people by the Men of Gondor," Lainiel said as she stirred a pot of soup. "Yet now I realize the fear our parents must have felt and how we betrayed Uncle Aranarth's trust."
"We have done both and I believe there is a balance, but those we hurt are family, and now I understand that our first duty was to them and our people here," Annuihír said. "What trust shall the Men of Rhudaur e'er feel for a king's heir who ran from his responsibilities to them?"
Helluin held her peace and continued to regard them in silence. If 'aught, she was reminded of the young hunter and sentry of the Greenwood that she had wound up saving from the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur. In the end, Inthuiril had repented of her impulsiveness and realized her greater responsibilities as a courtier and adviser to King Thranduil. Five centuries later, she had married him and borne an heir for her people. Just o'er a century ago, she had made the ultimate sacrifice. The Noldo could easily recall Inthuiril's words after Helluin liberated her from the Nazgûl's dungeon, words filled with introspection and remorse.
Hither have I passed well 'nigh all my days, and these for the most part in peace. Yet more, I have passed such in the company of many dear to me, 'neath the rule and with the esteem of a great king. Many, I wager, have not such fortune. Perhaps 'tis my youth, but the troubles of late have taken on a greater weight to me for having not experienced their like aforetime. Even so, I have allowed them to lead me astray. I have withheld tidings from my king which I should have presented long aforetime save for my doubts and questions, and I have spent less upon serving him than upon serving myself. Even now I am away without leave, forsaking my duties and taking my trail without a word to any, selfishly, I deem it now. I have surely disappointed he who hath aforetime shown me only trust and honor. I have acted no better than a child.
"We have amends to make, cousin," Annuihír said after a long pause.
Lainiel nodded her agreement and said, "Indeed t'would be meet that we be called to renew our oaths of fealty and earn again the trust we so effortlessly set aside."
"Aye, if we are to e'er be accepted again as Rangers," Annuihír glumly said. "And having cast aside so easily our duties, can we e'er again be trusted to lead our houses?"
"I know not," said Lainiel as a tear trickled down her cheek, "but those considerations pale for me before the love we betrayed and the worry we have saddled our families with. We left our grandparents to die in doubt for our safety. It shall be hard for me to forgive myself."
Somber, Annuihír nodded in agreement and sat wringing his hands. Helluin remained silent, still irritated with herself that she had not perceived their duplicity, and wondering what their ability to deceive the Wise might betoken. Lainiel stirred the soup, but her eyes were far away. None of them felt much of an appetite that night.
24 Urui dawned, and if the evening had been somber, the morn was positively funereal. For the first time, Helluin marked that the Rangers seemed sluggish and unwilling to greet the day. Their sleep had been troubled, but oft aforetime whilst afield they had risen sharp and ready for the day despite the toil of their duties. Now they lagged at dismantling the camp and seemed loath to mount and ride. Neither had an appetite to break their fasts, so Helluin nibbled some old lembas whilst she awaited them, standing beside Álfrhestr. He met her eyes with questions.
Is someone dying? Did someone die? the stallion asked after looking o'er the despondent pair.
Slowly, no…maybe later, Helluin replied absentmindedly.
What are we riding into, Helluin? Álfrhestr asked, worry widening his eyes.
Celenhár, the hometown of these two, Helluin said. 'Tis perhaps the most ancient town in all of Eriador, whence the king rules and their parents dwell. They fear the welcome they shall receive and with good reason. Indeed, I am not hopeful for the welcome I shall receive, though at least I can disappear and remain absent for a generation or three… she trailed off, shaking her head at the pathos.
Despite all attempts to stall, Lainiel and Annuihír finally mounted and began walking Bright Spark and Wind Borne down the track towards Celenhár. Húveren trailed along behind, his nose to the ground. Despite that they were finally returning home, the prince and princess rode so listlessly as to appear as wights. Had a company of Yrch attacked the trio, the Rangers would likely have ignored their enemies.
I have ridden to battle in more gleeful company, Helluin thought, and from all appearances, 'tis to the gallows we go. I wonder what the Laiquendi who have been watching us are thinking?
After an hour and a half, they had come but ten miles and had yet another ten to go ere reaching Celenhár when two dozen Rangers, half Dúnedain and half Rhudaurim appeared before them. These stayed their ride at the sight of the trio and held their position, parting into two rows bracketing the track. Helluin, Lainiel, and Annuihír rode up to them and halted a fathom from the heads of their columns. The Rangers then bowed to the royals.
"Prince Annuihír, Princess Lainiel, welcome home. By order of Chieftain Aranarth, we are to escort ye to Celenhár," the captain leading the Dúnedain Rangers announced. He then offered Helluin a dip of his head and added, "Welcome, Helluin Maeg-móremenel, Lord Aranarth would have thy counsel."
Helluin dipped her head to the Dúnadan as Lainiel and Annuihír nodded in acceptance of the summons, but ere she could reply, the Rhudaurim captain addressed the truant nobles.
"Lord Annuihír, Lady Lainiel, welcome home at last. By order of King Gwíthír and Lady Brennil, we are to escort ye to Celenhár," he said. "Welcome, Helluin Maeg-móremenel, our ancient friend and ally. The lord and lady would have thy counsel."
Speaking quickly ere she could be interrupted again, Helluin said, "I shall be glad to offer what counsel I can to the chieftain and the lord and lady. Pray lead on."
Thereafter, the trio rode at a trot 'twixt the Ranger companies and covered the remaining ten miles in just o'er an hour. No further words were exchanged, for which all three were thankful. When they entered the town, the companies broke off and returned to the barracks whilst the captains accompanied them to the town hall. There they dismounted and passed the sentries at the door.
Entering their home, Annuihír and Lainiel might have been mistaken for a pair of felons pacing to their gibbet, so dour did they appear. Awaiting them in the hall were their parents, Gwíthír and Artanis, Brennil and Artamir. Accompanying them were Chieftain Aranarth and Lady Almiril, and surprisingly, Mithrandir. All remained silent during the two Rangers' approach and stern were their faces.
Helluin paced along behind the two, thinking, and so into the maw of the dragon we traipse, tra-la-la. She marked the Ithron suppressing a grin at that and she groaned softly to herself.
Now Helluin, Lainiel and Annuihír came before the lords and ladies, and stopping a fathom before them, bowed and waited to be addressed. The first to speak was King Gwíthír, for in Celenhár his authority was paramount. As lord of the town and King of Eriador, his station was reckoned higher even than the Dúnadan Chieftain.
"Great is our joy at thy safe return, my son. Long we have awaited this day and many have been our prayers to the Valar that our hope was not in vain. When word came from the Lord Elrond, we rejoiced. Ere 'aught else is considered, your mother and I welcome thee home."
Ridden with guilt at their words of unconditional love, Annuihír stood with head bowed, and in a voice hitching with sorrow said, "Father, mother, I feel I deserve not the generosity of your welcome and for all the grief I have caused ye, I am sorry. Foolish now I deem myself, for I sought to give aid to Gondor in consideration of the aid they gave to us, yet in doing so I have betrayed the trust given me in my own land. For the sake of strangers, I have brought pain to my family."
"That may be, yet still thou art our son and we love thee," his mother Artanis said.
"And thou art still our daughter despite 'aught that has come to pass, and we love thee and welcome thee home," said Lady Brennil to Lainiel.
"Aye, we have longed for thy return and prayed for thy safety each day, sweet girl. Thank the Valar thou hast come amongst us at last," Artamir said.
By then, Lainiel had been reduced to tears and she stumbled forward to embrace her parents who received her with grateful hugs as her father kissed her forehead.
"I am sorry, so very sorry. I love you both," was all she could say.
Through all this, Aranarth stood by silent as his nephew and niece were reunited with their parents. Helluin marked the look of love that warmed his eyes and the happiness that lit them as well. Mithrandir watched the scene with a smile of approval.
I deem that went far better than they had expected, Helluin said when the Ithron met her eyes.
'Twas only their guilt that blinded them if they thought their reception would be otherwise, he replied silently. Thou too wast a mother once, Helluin. Wouldst thou or Vëantur have condemned Almarian for some youthful indiscretion?
Nay, we would not, though I wager such official sanctions as may be forthcoming shall be Aranarth's responsibility.
Aye, Mithrandir agreed, and a loathsome task it shall be. Of course, there shall also be some unofficial family sanctions.
At their ages, no doubt some things more grave than the withholding of biscuits with which Vëantur and I sanctioned our daughter, Helluin agreed, prompting a chuckle from the Ithron.
Eventually, the outburst of emotions was subdued and Annuihír and Lainiel stood facing their chieftain, awaiting his judgments. They seemed resigned to accept whatsoe'er justice he meted out, for the gravest doubts of their hearts had been assuaged. Now he looked them o'er sternly and critically, marking their increased maturity and measuring the strengths they had gained. At last, Aranarth sighed and then spoke.
"I too would welcome ye back, for many who love ye have missed ye in your absence, and great is our joy at your safe return. I pray ye doubt this not. Yet ye are also accountable for absenting yourselves from duty without leave and for failing to report on your well-being for the duration of your absence. These are breaches of your duties as Rangers and must be addressed," Aranarth said. "How do ye answer these infractions, yea or nay?"
"Guilty in both, my lord," Annuihír admitted.
"Guilty in both, Lord Aranarth," Lainiel said.
"Ye accept fault for your actions and so demonstrate truthfulness," the chieftain observed with a nod of approval. "I mark that ye now wear the stars of captaincy such as I saw aforetime in some of the Rangers of Lebennin. For now, I bid ye do off the emblems of those ranks, for they were not earned in the north, though ye may attain to them again one day.
This is my judgment. Ye shall take up again the ranks of graduating trainees as if no time had passed since. Ye shall walk patrols, aid in the harvest 'nigh at hand and the planting in the spring, accepting such commands as are given ye by your sergeants and higher officers. If ye pass a year's probation with honorable conduct, then ye shall become eligible again for advancement. I also require ye to reveal all that was done since the day ye took your leave. Do ye understand my judgments and accept their terms?"
"Aye, Lord Aranarth," Annuihír said.
"Aye, Chieftain," said Lainiel.
"Pray join your families for the evening meal and I shall hear your rede on the morrow. There is much I would know of the south," he said, dismissing the two chastened young people.
Now Gwíthír, Artanis, Brennil, and Artamir led Annuihír and Lainiel through the door beside the dais and into their apartments, there to gather 'round the kitchen table for supper, and all rejoiced to have the empty seats filled. Yet there were some diners absent now when the returned Rangers looked 'round, for Níshír and Athelrian had gone to their eternal rest. Lady Brithil, King Níshír's widow, had also passed, in 2007, barely a year after her husband.
Helluin, Mithrandir, and Aranarth remained in the hall, for the Ithron and the chieftain both sought the Noldo's counsel.
"I deem thou hast much to tell, old friend," Mithrandir said, "of owls and horses, Ringwraiths and slaves, to name a few."
"Thou hast heard tidings from the Lady of Lothlórien, t'would seem," Helluin remarked, and the Ithron nodded 'aye'. "Indeed there is much to tell and I wager ye shall both find profit in learning of the doings in the south. Let us speak then."
"Aye, but not here," Aranarth said, "I would give my brother and sister's families their peace. Let us adjourn to the tavern whither I sometimes 'hold court' whilst in Celenhár." He said the last with a wry grin.
The chieftain had no shortage of memories of times o'er the past five years when he had offered comfort to his younger brother with sympathy and counsel, or held his baby sister as she cried for the absence of her only child. 'Twas also interesting to him, that King Gwíthír, who by some accounts of his youth had craved to add his sword to the war against Angmar, and yet had remained in Celenhár at the decision of his father King Níshír, was now so understanding of the youthful desire for adventure that had prompted his son and niece to run off to Gondor. The years have granted thee wisdom, both as father and as king, he thought of his brother-in-law.
Shortly later, the trio had occupied a booth along the side of the tavern's common room. 'Twas neither 'nigh the door, nor the bar, so as not to tempt random patrons to provide unsolicited counsel after too many drinks. Helluin, Mithrandir, and Aranarth nursed tankards of ale and the Noldo spoke of the five years she had spent in Gondor, accompanying the Rangers. She told of their travels to and from the South Kingdom and answered many questions. At times, she bid the Chieftain and the Ithron to gaze into her eyes so that she could share her memories directly and so the hours passed. Ere they were aware of how late it had grown, the room emptied, the others patrons staggered home, and the proprietor extinguished the lamps.
"Pray help yourselves to ale, my lords and lady, and when ye take your leave, extinguish the lamp and pull tight the door," he said ere climbing the stairs to his rooms on the second floor.
"Our thanks, Rohthól¹," Aranarth called after him, "I know the drill." ¹(Rohthól, Foam Head = ros(foam) + dól(head) In proper nouns, the –s becomes –h, and the –d becomes –th at the partition. Sindarin)
The tavern keep mumbled what sounded like 'fair night' as he disappeared into the hall above, probably exhausted from his long day's labor. Their council continued 'til sunup. By then, Aranarth was yawning and Helluin was eyeing a ring of pipe smoke that had grown to a ranga in diameter and lingered o'er their table for several hours after being idly expelled by the Wizard.
"I deem we have heard all we can endure for this night," Mithrandir declared, to which the chieftain nodded in agreement. "Helluin, I may have some further questions once I have digested all thou hast already said."
"And I as well, once my wits are no longer addled by weariness," Aranarth said apologetically. "My thanks also for thine accounting of Húrin son of Glavagor, Helluin. I shall inform his kin."
"I can tarry in Celenhár a while, my friends," she replied. "Pray feel free to ask 'aught that ye deem relevant."
They took their leave of the tavern, Aranarth blowing out the flame in the oil lamp on their table and then making sure the latch fell on the inside of the door when he pulled it closed. The chieftain had even cleared their table, leaving their tankards and dishes on the bar by the entrance to the kitchen. He and Mithrandir parted from Helluin, they returning to the town hall and she walking out of the town to seek a pleasant place outdoors to settle and rest her mind. The past couple days had been fraught with tension and she desired the peace of the countryside as a balm to the drama of mortals, and so she let her feet determine her way without conscious thought.
Of course, she wound up walking slowly through the cemetery, passing headstones that grew older with e'ery step. 'Twas the one place where she expected to encounter none, even so early in the morn. Along the way, she passed the carved monuments of King Galor and the original Lady Lainiel. To the north lay fields of crops grown tall with ripening heads of grain, whilst to the east lay the woods and beyond, the river Bruinen.
Eventually Helluin reached the verge of the trees and picked her way 'twixt exposed roots and crumbling headstones. The morning light faded to a cool and soothing twilight. After a short ways, she looked 'round. A mature, mixed hardwood forest spread north and south along the west bank of the Bruinen, contiguous with the woods of the Troll Shaws and continuing south all the way to the confluence with the Hoarwell.
She chose a tree at random, a tall oak of many years whose lowermost branches began three fathoms above the ground. Thankful for its rough and furrowed bark, she shinnied up and into the canopy. At four fathoms up, she found a seat on the base of a sturdy branch where her back could rest comfortably against the trunk. The surrounding leaves were smoothly lobed and grew in bunches directly from the stems. Clusters of ripening acorns clung to their cupules at the ends of long stalks, promising food for squirrels and perhaps new trees by which the forest could spread. As e'er, seeing such proved a balm, reinforcing the notion that some of the Valar's works remained unchanged. Helluin leant back and absented herself from the present, and there she rested 'til mid-afternoon, ensconced in memories of comforting times.
The Noldo was eventually roused by two things coming to pass. The first was the increasingly delectable scent of someone roasting a grouse. The second was the presence of someone sitting on the next branch.
Helluin jerked out of her stupor to find herself staring face to face with a smiling elleth of the Laiquendi who had marked her presence and climbed the tree to appear silently beside her. Her stealth was second nature. The Noldo well 'nigh leapt out of her skin and Anguirél was half unsheathed ere she recognized Calenvír, the scout she had met atop Amon Sûl. With a groan, Helluin relaxed and shoved Anguirél back into her scabbard, muffling the weapon's words of disappointment at not drawing blood.
"Suilad nín, meldis Calenvír," Helluin said after recovering herself. "Thine appearance here is…unexpected." Probably evening the score 'twixt us for the shock I gave her with my hug after hearing her tidings of the sailing of Gondor's navy, she thought.
"Mae govannen, meldis Helluin," she replied with laughing eyes. "I had come hither to invite thee to dine with us. I am with two others who have witnessed the long hoped for return of Hír Annuihír and Híril Lainiel."
"Ahhh, so 'tis thee and thy company roasting the grouse," Helluin said. "The scent had led me to the memory of a camp in the spring of 1851 whereat my beloved and I had hoped to share supper with Dálindir, Tórferedir, Gérorn, and Celegaras. Alas, our meal of pheasant was preempted by a messenger."
"Perhaps a meal this afternoon shall be compensation for thy tummy," Calenvír said. "Shall we descend?"
With a nod 'aye', Helluin and the Laiquende climbed down together. Once on solid ground, Calenvír introduced the pair of scouts she was accompanying.
"Helluin Mórgolodh, here are Áhún and Fláhbarahól¹," she said, indicating each of the two ellyn with a tilt of her head. ¹(Áhún, Beef Heart = aes(cooked food/meat) + hún(physical heart) In proper nouns, the –s becomes –h and the diphthong –ae becomes á. The resulting duplicate –h is elided. Fláhbarahól, Fever(lit. fiery sickness) Dream = flae(sick/ill) + -as(n on adj suff, sickness) + baras(fiery) + ól(dream) In proper names the diphthong –ae becomes á and -s becomes –h at the partition. I have also elided the duplicate vowel –a. Sindarin)
The two scouts greeted her with, 'Mae govannen, Mórgolodh', and looks of thinly veiled awe.
Helluin resisted rolling her eyes and replied, "Suilaid nín, Áhún a Fláhbarahól. I thank ye for the opportunity to join your camp."
Knowing but little of their mission and not wishing to appear prying, she asked 'naught of them. Instead, she said, "Calenvír, 'tis good to see thee again. I hope the years since the war have been peaceful for thee."
"Save for a few skirmishes with errant Yrch and Tor 'nigh the mountains, we have done little save wander and enjoy these lands. We rejoice in the peace of our home," she said, offering more than Helluin could have expected. "And hast thou enjoyed the peace since thy defeat of the Witch King?"
"Not so much," Helluin admitted. "Since the end of the war I have been to Gondor with Annuihír and Lainiel, destroyed two Nazgûl, freed a gross of Sauron's slaves, aided in Steward Vorondil's embassy to the Ithryn Luin, and helped train some Dúnedain of Gondor as Rangers."
'Twas a far more comprehensive account of her time than any of the Green Elves had expected or would have dared ask. For her tidings, they were both thankful and amazed, and they dipped their heads in gratitude. They would now have somewhat more to report.
Eventually, they deemed the grouse cooked and pulled the spit from o'er the trench fire, then set a kettle there to heat water for tea. Having not expected to join any others for a meal, Helluin was only able to offer some lembas of Lothlórien, already o'er a fortnight old, but remarkably fresh within its wrapping of mellyrn leaves. The Laiquendi found it perplexing, more filling in the belly than its quantity should have provided and with a taste that grew sweet after chewing.
"'Tis a peculiar waybread," Áhún muttered to himself after swallowing a bite.
"'Tis crisp, yet I crave not from thirst after partaking of it," Fláhbarahól remarked.
"One could march long on this, I wager," Calenvír said, examining the uneaten portion she held and marking that though thin, 'twas tan without and creamy within, yet uniform in texture.
"I remember that in times of hunger on the Westward Journey, we relied on a similar wafer devised with the counsel of Yavanna. Maiar of Oromë brought her words from Aman to our lords, along with her gift of seeds to grow the grain from which came the flour. I have heard that this recipe comes of Queen Melian who taught it to the Lady Galadriel during her stay in the Guarded Realm."
Áhún had been critically examining one of the leaf wrappers and Calenvír another. Neither could identify the species and that in itself was confounding, for they had long known e'ery kind of tree growing in Eriador. Helluin had to provide a long and detailed description of the mallorn.
"After the Whelming of Númenor, I know of none growing in the Mortal Lands save in Lothlórien," she said with certainty, "and I doubt ye shall e'er see one in Eriador," yet in this she was mistaken, though t'would be long ere she was proved wrong.
Eventually, they consumed the grouse 'til 'naught but the bones, beak, and keel remained. These they buried, along with some organs and such feathers as found no use for fletching or décor. After sipping tea and extinguishing their fire, the Green Elves bid Helluin farewell for that time and disappeared into the woods, deeming it a fair night for walking. Helluin made her way back to Celenhár an hour ere evening and came to the town hall in the fading light.
There she found the royal families gathered, along with Chieftain Aranarth and Mithrandir. They had already been holding council for several hours by then, with the Ithron and the chieftain seeking Annuihír and Lainiel's accounts of their sojourn in the South Kingdom. By suppertime, two things had stood out foremost in the impressions gleaned from their words. They had acquitted themselves well and had won the respect and esteem of the Lords of Gondor. Though the North Kingdom had fallen and the Heir of Isildur had chosen obscurity, the nobility of even the common Dúnedain of the North was unquestioned. In this, perhaps their people had profited by the young Rangers being of the generation after their realm's fall, for 'twas seen in the South Kingdom that the character of their brethren in Eriador bred true.
The second impression Mithrandir and Aranarth had received was that Sauron, for all his might and the terror of his Nine, could be assailed, even if not definitively as yet. His power was far from absolute and the Men of Gondor and Samara challenged him regularly. Save that he should recover his Ring, perhaps the free peoples could ward him off for a time and know some years of watchful peace. Despite all their setbacks, there was still hope.
"And so we are met by my current concern," Helluin said, understanding that she was earning her reputation as a bearer of ill tidings. "I have learnt that for long, Gorthaur's servants searched the banks of Anduin in the river's vale 'nigh Calenglad. The Eagles knew of this and foiled such parties as they found, yet I fear that search has been renewed, or soon shall be, 'nigh both the forest, and now also in Ithilien and the Brown Lands to the north. Sauron shall e'er covet what was taken from him, and he must not recover it."
To this, all parties agreed.
"I shall take my leave and make my way to Anduin, there to seek allies and take up a watch o'er the river banks. I deem the precincts 'nigh the past abode of the Sorcerer should be examined most closely, and I know just the place whereat to base my watch," Helluin declared.
"So thou shalt go again to Dol Guldur?" asked Mithrandir.
"Celeborn and Galadriel claimed that 'twas deserted still," she replied, "yet she keeps watch for the great evils whilst I trust not that no Yrch or Easterling Men have returned after my visit with Prince Fram. A mortal generation has passed since then; surely long enough a time for the Nazgûl or their master to command a renewal of their minions' efforts."
"'Tis possible I suppose, that some few lesser servants have snuck back into Dol Guldur and came thither 'neath the lady's sight," the Ithron acknowledged. "We know that the Nazgûl hold Minas Morgul whilst some remain in Mordor, but of Sauron we are still unsure. We know only that his fortress in Rhûn was destroyed and have assumed that he hath abode in the Black Land since.
Perhaps thy notion is sound, Helluin. From the host that assailed Isildur's city, he would have many slaves to disperse. Fewer would be required to defend than were needed to invest the city. 'Aught that can be done to foil the Dark Lord's search for his Ring I deem worthwhile."
"Then with the satisfaction of your questions, my lords, I shall take my leave," Helluin said.
"We shall first take our evening meal," said Gwíthír, "and perhaps further questions shall occur to us with full stomachs."
To his suggestion, all agreed and the party retired to the kitchen behind the hall. With the additions of Helluin, Mithrandir, and Chieftain Aranarth, the seats at the table were 'nigh filled again, if but for the night. There the company dined on the good, basic fare of a rural town, lovingly prepared and consumed in the company of kith and kin. There too, loyal Húveren was rewarded with many tidbits as he patrolled 'neath the table.
Indeed, even ere the meal was finished, a few further questions were discerned and asked, and with all three parties present, Helluin, Lainiel, and Annuihír were able to provide satisfying answers from several perspectives. When they adjourned, all felt that they had learnt so much as could be from the testimony of the three who had dwelt for a time in Gondor.
"Then with your satisfaction, I shall take my leave on the morrow," Helluin said, and 'round the table, the heads of the lords and ladies nodded in agreement, for 'twas not as if she needed to ask leave of any of them.
To Be Continued