In An Age Before – Part 263
Chapter One hundred fifty-seven
The White Council of 2463 – The Third Age of the Sun
Now on 7 Lothron in T.A. 2463, the Council of the Wise was reformed at the behest of the Lady Galadriel, and 'twas named for its Second Age predecessor, the White Council. That earlier council had been held in S.A.1710¹, in the aftermath of the War of the Elves and Sauron. Eregion had been ravaged, Ost-in-Edhil destroyed, Imladris was newly founded, and most of the western lands were recovering from the predations of the Glamhoth. The northwest of Middle Earth had been reeling in the wake of the victory of Lindon and Númenor and the reconstruction had taken many years. ¹(Note that in Unfinished Tales, THoGaC, it is only said that the first Council was held shortly after Sauron was driven out of Eriador. No specific date is given. As The War of the Elves and Sauron ended in S.A. 1701 and the destruction and loss of life had been very great, I have set the date as 1710, to give people time to recover, loss of life to be accommodated, rebuilding a chance to proceed, and realms to stabilize. It is not strictly canon, but seems reasonable, at least to me.)
Whilst the surviving Men and Elves of Eriador tried to reclaim their lives, the High King Ereinion had given Vilya, the Ring of Air, to the Peredhel for safekeeping. Celebrimbor was dead so he could not return it to the smith, and with Narya in his own custody, ('til he ceded it to Círdan in the time of the Last Alliance), having a second Ring in Lindon was simply too close and too great a jeopardy should Sauron come again seeking for the Three. Now 'twas to be hidden with his vice regent, well 'nigh as far away from the Gulf of Luin as 'twas possible to get whilst still remaining within the High King's realm.
By T.A. 2463, Gil-galad was long gone, yet many of the principals from S.A. 1710 remained. Elrond was again the council's host, but 'twas at the inspiration of the Lady Artanis that the council was convened. A Shadow was growing in southern Mirkwood, and of course, 'twas centered at Dol Guldur. She had not forgotten Helluin's tidings that Yrch had long been searching the banks of Anduin, nor that Sauron had been driven from the fortress by Helluin and Mithrandir in 2063. Four centuries had passed since then and she deemed that Sauron recovered was still Sauron deprived of his Ring. He would not cease seeking for it, and woe be to all the free peoples should he find it. Such a disaster could not be allowed and gathering her allies to take counsel together seemed the most sensible first step in opposing him.
To the White Council were invited the remaining rulers of the Edhil in the western lands, Círdan, Elrond, and herself, and those of the Heren Istarion that could be readily summoned. To Imladris from their wanderings came Saruman the White, and Gandalf the Grey. With Lord Círdan from the Grey Havens came his chief counselor Galdor. Supporting Elrond were Erestor and the Lord Glorfindel. The two Istari arrived alone. Seats and a table had been set on the terrace outside Elrond's study, and there Lindir poured wine and served seeded cakes whilst they awaited the appearance of Galadriel.
They assumed that she would be present as an astral projection, just as she had appeared to each of them in their own domains whilst making the arrangements for the council. She alone would have had to brave the crossing of the Hithaeglir to appear in person. They did not expect the 'thump' of air displacement heralding her arrival, nor did they expect her to be accompanied, not by her husband Lord Celeborn, but by Helluin Maeg-móremenel. The dark Noldo offered a bow to the gathering of the Wise. Galadriel nodded to them and took a seat at the table.
Saruman's eyes well 'nigh started from his head as the warrior sat beside her, set the small leather roll that she bore down on the tabletop, and took up a goblet of wine. They were not astral projections; they had teleported! He had ne'er seen such sorcery aforetime in Middle Earth and had not believed it possible upon the Hither Shores by any being less than an undiminished Maia. He also marked that amongst them, only Elrond and Mithrandir showed little surprise, and he deemed that somehow they were already familiar with this enchantment. He could not help but feel a touch of pique that no one had thought to inform him, head of the Order of the Istari that he was. He felt an even greater measure of envy at this unexpected capability that he himself did not command.
"Welcome, my lady," Elrond said to his mother-in-law. "Well met, Helluin."
"Suilaid nín, Lord Elrond, my friends," Helluin replied, casting her eyes to each of those seated 'round the table. Most regarded her with curiosity. Only Curunír twitched.
"And I had thought thee resolved not to travel by such means again," Mithrandir said, a glint of humor in his eyes. Helluin groaned and gestured vaguely to the Lady of the Noldor. Galadriel chuckled in response, but then quickly sobered.
"We are gathered hither to address a rising threat," she declared, casting her bright eyes to the others. "I have felt the growth of a Shadow in Dol Guldur. I fear that Sauron has returned."
At that, a soft bubbling of voices rose to create an undercurrent as Círdan whispered to Galdor and Erestor muttered to Glorfindel. Artanis allowed this to continue so that they settled their initial reactions of alarm, the better to concentrate on the further tidings.
"I would first know whyfor thou hast brought Helluin, my lady," Curunír asked. "I had thought this council was formed to debate issues of deep concern amongst the Wise. Why then a warrior?"
At Gil-galad's preference, Helluin had not been present at the council in S.A. 1710, despite her having been instrumental in achieving the victory o'er Sauron. Although it had been long ere the appearance of the Ithryn, that history was known to the Wise. Instead, Helluin and Beinvír had traveled east to spend time in the Greenwood with Lord Oldbark. Afterwards, they had gone down to Umbar and met Tindomul.
"Ahhh," replied Galadriel. "My causes are twofold. Only with Helluin's aid could I join ye, hröa and fëa, and 'tis only she that can affirm my suspicions."
Silenced for the moment, the White Wizard dipped his head to Galadriel in acceptance of her points, but regarded Helluin thereafter with a calculating glance.
"She bears tidings of renewed activity on the east bank of Anduin," the lady continued, casting her eyes to Helluin and prompting her to speak.
"At the turn of each century, I have gone to Dol Guldur to ensure that it remained unoccupied. In 2400, it still lay empty." She shook her head, regretting not checking the fortress each decade.
"With my allies, we have twice foiled the coming of companies of Yrch in the last two years. Whereas aforetime they appeared in groups of six, now they march in groups of two dozen," she said. "As in the mid-2000s, they march from Mirkwood and 'nigh certainly from Dol Guldur."
"Hast thou been able to question any of these Yrch?" asked Mithrandir.
"Alas not," Helluin replied, "for in these larger companies they are a greater and more violent threat. So far, to suppress them has required their slaughter. I have only been able to recover this token."
With that declaration, Helluin drew from the leather roll she had brought what appeared to be a small section of crude parchment. This she flattened and presented to the council. 'Twas the face of an Orch, flayed off and blackened by its mummification in her smokehouse, much as Celebrimbor's body had been preserved o'er the campfires of the Glamhoth in an Age before.
"Upon the foreheads of the Yrch is carved the mark of the Lidless Eye of Sauron. There can be no doubt of who sent them or what master they serve," she said.
Aghast at such barbaric evidence, the Wise shuddered at Helluin's proof. 'Twas some time ere they calmed and the uproar of comments stilled. In the end, all had to accept that Sauron was again deploying his Yrch to the Vale of Anduin. Whether or not he abode again in Dol Guldur remained less certain. Afterwards, more mundane questions were addressed to the dark Noldo.
"I would ask what allies thou hast enlisted, Helluin, for no Elves abide outside the forest, nor so far south as Dol Guldur," asked Erestor. "Are they Men perhaps? Some riders of the Éothéod patrolling their old homelands?"
"Nay, meldir nín," said Helluin. "They are the wolf pack that claims those lands west of Dol Guldur as their home range. They are no friends to Orcs and defend their hunting grounds with vigor."
"Hounds of Morgoth?" Curunír uttered in astonishment. "They oppose the Yrch?"
"Thou hast allied thyself with wolves? Truly?" asked Gildor.
"Wolves from a couple of packs, Eagles, owls and other raptors, horses, songbirds, and even lynx from time to time," Helluin said, shrugging. One worked with what they had. She mentioned not the cows, sheep, and chickens on the farm, though the livestock had been of little aid. "I would enlist the wild pigs as well, but they have proven uncooperative thus far."
There followed another uproar of comments and muttering, doubts and opinions. Helluin groaned and Galadriel briefly covered her face with her hands.
Perceiving that she should speak to keep the council focused lest it degenerate into idle curiosity, Galadriel said, "We still have deep matters to discuss, mellyn nín, and foremost amongst them is our opposition to Sauron's search of Anduin for his Ring. We cannot allow him free rein to seek what he lost aforetime lest our peril grow beyond redress. As Mithrandir and Helluin did in 2063, I deem us best served by again driving the Dark Lord hence."
The councilors nodded with varying degrees of conviction save only Curunír who regarded her with a non-committal expression. Helluin looked Mithrandir in the eyes and silently asked, ready to burn thine other hand? The Grey Wizard grinned and shook his head 'nay' in response.
"I would propose that, having had prior experience with this cause, we elect Mithrandir to head this council and lead our resistance," the Lady of Lothlórien said. A flash of anger crossed Curunír's features ere 'twas swiftly suppressed.
Again, there was a general sense of tepid acceptance amongst the councilors save only Curunír who remained expressionless and Mithrandir who shook his head in refusal. The lady regarded him with a questioning glance whilst Helluin rolled her eyes thinking, I could have told thee so.
"Why wouldst thou withhold thy counsel, meldir nín?" Galadriel asked, her dismay but poorly suppressed. Mithrandir sighed and Curunír smirked.
"I would withhold 'naught of these affairs from thee, my lady, and thou art e'er welcome to my counsel, but my vigilance is best served by wandering," he said. "I cannot effectively oppose the plots of the Enemy in such sundry places as I find them if I am constrained to one place, nor can I in good conscience split my allegiance 'twixt those who sent me and this council."
Though disappointed, Artanis nodded to accept Mithrandir's reasoning. He cared 'naught for power, influence, or titles, only for the fulfillment of the charge laid upon him by the Valar. And that is just why I desired him to head this council, the Princess of the Noldor thought. A nudge of her toe 'neath the table caused her to glance at Helluin. The dark Noldo met her eyes and a thought was exchanged. After a moment, the lady nodded 'aye'.
"Though I am not accorded one of the Wise," Helluin said, "I would propose that Curunír be named head of the council, for he should perceive most clearly the ways of the Enemy, having in common with Mairon his service to Lord Aulë."
She met the eyes of each of the councilors and saw their subtle nods of agreement. When she met the White Wizard's eyes she saw curiosity, but also the expected hint of gloating at being requested to take a title he could not claim for himself without appearing to grasp for power.
One by one, the others gave their approval of Saruman to head the White Council, and with an appropriate measure of hesitancy, he accepted. In the session that followed, he asked the opinions of the others, appeared diffident and considerate of what they said and exhibited no haughtiness or dismissiveness. He seemed the clear choice 'til he made his proposal.
"By his continued search, we may ascertain that the Enemy knows not whither his treasure lies. That he hath found it not, we can be sure, else his schemes would have turned to war. O'er two and a half thousand years have passed since Isildur fell and 'naught has come to light of the One Ring. I must believe that Sauron shall seek long and find 'naught, for reason dictates that it shall remain lost to all knowledge, ne'er to be found 'til the breaking of the world. Therefore, I say, let him spend his time enslaved by his desires and fruitlessly seeking for his Ring, thus to remain the lesser threat."
'Twas not what any of them wanted to hear, and yet, despite the misgivings of their hearts, his reasoning seemed sound and none knew 'aught to gainsay him. After refuting the few doubts that were expressed, the council could not but accept his wisdom and abide by his determination. Though some lesser matters were debated thereafter, none of those rose to a level of sufficient import as to be remembered in lore. Anticlimactic as it had been, the business of the first White Council was swiftly concluded and the participants prepared to disperse back to their own realms.
Afterwards, in Elrond's study, Helluin, Galadriel, Mithrandir, and the Peredhel sat before the hearth sipping glasses of wine. Ere Helluin and Galadriel took their leave, they discussed their impressions of the council.
"He hath now more questions than answers, thou know," Elrond said, shaking his head.
"He had questions immediately after our appearance," Galadriel said, glancing to Helluin, "and I wager he shall spend more time on those than on Sauron."
"Aye, Curunír is irked by witnessing a power he cannot name unto himself," Helluin said. "After being worsted in Dol Guldur, I wager Sauron pondered Mithrandir's beam of Light for much the same cause."
"I should like to know whither Sauron retreated thereafter," Mithrandir said, a worried expression on his face.
"As would we all, my friend," said Elrond. "Is it possible that he hath rebuilt Skator?"
They fell silent for some moments, recalling the crater filled with fire that Helluin had shown them when she shared her memories of E-ngúrglaw and the destruction of Sheol. The site had seemed irreclaimable.
"I wager he would hath expended a lesser effort in raising again the Barad-dûr," Helluin said, "for there at least he would hath had a foundation upon which to build."
"Then perhaps he went to Mordor, or Minas Morgul whither he hath allies," said the Peredhel.
But Mithrandir said, "my heart tells me he went not to Minas Morgul or to Mordor. I know not why, but somehow I feel certain that he fled elsewhere."
Again they fell silent in contemplation, but finally, 'twas Lady Artanis who spoke.
"I was surprised when thou refused the leadership of the council, Mithrandir. Now I am concerned that Curunír shall advocate 'naught but inaction."
"I was more surprised when Helluin of us all put forward his name," Mithrandir said, eyeing the dark Noldo. "Pray share thy reasoning, Helluin."
Elrond turned to her as well, for 'twas known by them all that he was not her favorite amongst the Istari. Galadriel smirked, but waited in silence, already privy to her thought.
"As he was not present, I could not nominate Aiwendil," Helluin jested, receiving chuckles from Artanis and Mithrandir. She then turned to the princess and explained, "In the days of Ost-in-Edhil, I perceived the frustrating weight of rule 'neath which thou and Lord Celeborn labored whilst Celebrimbor fell to the wiles of Annatar. I felt much the same when Beinvír and I 'ruled' Lebennin. Now Artanis, Elrond, and Círdan are engaged in ruling realms. I thought it well that Curunír be constrained by the welcome fetters of duty and a title. So I proposed to saddle him thus and he seemed quite pleased with that bit and bridle, and that alone assured me that I was correct."
Elrond and Mithrandir chuckled and Artanis snorted a laugh, but she swiftly abandoned her mirth and eyed the Wizard with a worried glance.
"He begrudges thee after my attempt to name thee head of the council," she said.
Mithrandir nodded grimly, accepting her assessment.
"He was the first chosen and is the head of our order," he said. "Such a position he deems his due. Yet his grudge against me comes from o'er the Sea and thine action birthed it not. I pray thee remain untroubled, my lady."
Helluin and Elrond raised their brows in question at his claim, but he would say no more regarding it at that time. Instead, he chose to change the subject.
"So, ye shall return to Lothlórien?" he asked of Helluin and Galadriel.
"Aye, just so," Artanis said, "as I require Helluin's aid to make that leap."
"And from Lothlórien I shall take a boat 'cross Anduin. Guarded by wolves, a horse shall await me by then on the eastern bank. Thereafter I shall continue my watch, foiling such Yrch as come to search 'nigh the river and questioning those not slain outright. Should I find any change in their memories, I shall send messages, yet save for an outright invasion, I bid ye worry not."
"Yet thou thyself are worried," Mithrandir said.
"Aye, for o'er a year has passed since I left and companies of Yrch came each year since 2060. I fear the last has spent a year about their mischief and another company may come ere I return. Alas, much work likely awaits me." She shook her head in annoyance.
Mithrandir nodded to her, accepting her fears and reassurances, for he knew well what she was capable of. Ere he had arrived at Dol Guldur in 2063, she had slain 'nigh four hundreds of Sauron's Yrch in a swift and efficient assault. They were no threat to her, nor did he fear for her in a confrontation with the Úlairi. What he feared was her desire to confront Sauron and Sauron's apparent interest in her. The Noldo had been enveloped in the black cloud of his manifestation long enough that they had surely traded words and not just blows.
What had been spoken of, the Noldo had not revealed, for at first, they had been frantic to treat his wounded hand and afterwards, Helluin had become silent and morose. Mithrandir admitted to himself that ere he had assailed the black cloud, Sauron had already begun to withdraw, leaving her unharmed. 'Twas unlike Gorthaur to abandon a foe unscathed, especially one so threatening, and that left the Ithron greatly disquieted.
Had I my way, Helluin would have more aid than a pack of wolves. Khazad-dûm is emptied, Lothlórien lies 'cross the river, Thranduil is far to the north, and the Éothéod further still, he thought. I am uneasy with our eastern front guarded by only a single warrior, no matter how fell she may be. The Grey Wizard had much to consider and he was glad he had refused the call to head the council. He felt sure that in the future, the retention of his independence would prove critical.
Now whilst Elrond, Mithrandir, Galadriel, and Helluin held their private conclave, another of the attendees was reviewing his impressions of the White Council. In a suite of guest rooms, the Ithron Curunír meditated on the day's events, several of which he had found troubling.
"E'er impressive was Finarfin's daughter in Aman, for of all the ellith of the House of Finwë, from the first she radiated the Holy Light as no other. Findis, Írimë, Írissë…none so captured the blessings of the Two Trees as did Artanis. Forward she was, whether in counsel, or in the hunt, and then she came to Middle Earth," Curunír whispered softly to himself. For many moments thereafter he was silent, recalling what he had learnt from one that returned to Valinor towards the end of the First Age of the Sun.
"Long Artanis dwelt with Melyanna in Doriath, yet ere it fell she went to Nargothrond and then o'er the Ered Luin into Eriador," he muttered. "What learnt she thither within the enchanted girdle, or discovered later in the uncouth lands of Dwarves and Men? When next I beheld her, she was much enriched, and now she hath ascended to the powers of the Maiar, moving fëa and hröa by her will alone." But then he paused, recalling the lady's words, Only with Helluin's aid could I join ye, hröa and fëa…
"Alone she came to me as a projection of her fëa only, bidding me join the council in Imladris, yet when she desired to appear in body, 'twas only with Helluin's aid that she accomplished it. How then does their partnership achieve that which the most powerful Noldo still on the Mortal Shores cannot achieve alone?" he asked the silence of his chamber.
He gave thought then to his memories of Helluin in the Undying Lands during the Age of the Trees. After the arrival of the Noldor in Aman, Heldalúne Maica i móremenel had been mostly absent from the civilized settlements in the Calacirya, and later from Tirion after its building. He had only glimpsed her on a few occasions during the first one and a half millennia as she endlessly roamed the lands of Valinor. Somehow, during those wanderings she had managed to become known to all of the Valar and most of the Maiar, visiting their halls and making their acquaintance, yet ne'er tarrying for long, nor seeking their instruction, nor currying their favor.
Curunír had heard that after a thousand years of the sun, she had begun making many visits to Tulukhedelgorûs and Ibrîniðilpathânezel¹, and there she had committed what could only be to his eyes a great blasphemy. The vagabond commoner had dared to stand 'neath their falling dews, her pauperous raiment discarded on the hallowed turf of Ezellôchâr². This grievous trespass he had ne'er witnessed with his own sight, yet he had oft heard tell of it, and most astonishing to him, both Elentári and Kementári, (and by extension Mânawenûz³), had permitted it. She had been allowed to continue without adjudication 'til the Darkening of Valinor. ¹(Tulukhedelgorûs and Ibrîniðilpathânezel, Laurelin and Telperion Valarin) ²(Ezellôchâr, Green Mound (Ezellohar) aka Corollairë, site of the Two Trees. Valarin) ³(Mânawenûz, Blessed One aka Manwë Valarin)
'Twas only in the last centuries ere the Flight of the Noldor that she had sought counsel and instruction from the Valar, but unlike most who learnt a particular craft and clove to the teachings of a particular Vala or Valie, (as did the Maiar themselves), she took counsel with well 'nigh all of them. A decade she spent in one mansion or a century in another, seemingly without rhyme or reason, and with no order that Curunír could discern to the tutelage she craved. She had seemed as disorganized as she was dispossessed.
Only a couple centuries ere the Darkening of Valinor, she had finally appeared at the Great Court of Aulë, and rather than making straightaway for the smithy as had the other Noldor, she spent the time of her first coming tarrying amongst the trees with which Aulë's spouse had surrounded the mansion. Eventually she had essayed to learn somewhat of smithcraft and those Maiar who had made her acquaintance aforetime aided her as they had all the others of her people. Yet from the first day of her training, she had been unlike them.
Helluin had appeared in the smithy at the opening of the first hour, lugging a rock.
"For ore I have found this, the scrap of a star fallen from the firmament of Ilmen, I deem it," she had said. "I saw it crash in the Pelóri whilst speaking with some Eagles and then spent three decades seeking for it. 'Tis iron, is it not?"
Along with Aulë's metallurgists and alchemists, even he had been forced to admit that she was correct. 'Twas the first time that meteoric iron had been used to forge a weapon, for Helluin had sought to create for herself a blade of the highest quality, as if she had known aforetime that on the Mortal Shores she would have need of it.
Whilst Helluin had spent three years and made five trials ere she achieved the result she craved; most spent decades learning sufficiently of forging and tempering to render an unbreakable blade that glowed blue in the presence of evil. After honing it to a flawless, razor-sharp edge, she had not even bothered to decorate it with fitting inscriptions, engravings, or the setting of gems to guard or pommel. Only a simple curving figure she had etched upon the blade to learn the technique. Then she had riveted together some scraps of hard leather to make a sheath and taken her leave, abandoning the remainder of the meteorite to whosoe'er might care to use it.
Helluin had traipsed off to learn armed combat from Eönwë, a thing astonishing simply for that he would deign to teach her, and yet 'twas rumored that he had been commanded to do so.
Several decades after, she had returned to Lord Aulë's halls, this time to receive instruction in finer metal crafts. Curunír recalled a tin squirrel she had fabricated with great effort that would sit up and flick its tail whilst clasping and gnawing an acorn cast in gold. Eyes of carved jet it had and whiskers collected from those shed by real squirrels. Its subtle clockwork mechanism had produced life-like movements and chitterings that had delighted the children of Tirion, and Helluin had simply left it with them ere returning to attempt the creation of some jewels.
In this endeavor too she had taken an unconventional path. Rather than the brilliant, faceted gems of myriad colors that were so relished by the Noldor, she had spent years to fabricate opals, pearls, moonstones, and asteric corundum¹. These had taken the form of spheres or cabochons, domed shapes approximating droplets of rain and dew. Helluin had gifted most of them to her mother and sister and the rest to her friends amongst the Teleri. She had kept none for herself, deeming them but baubles infinitely inferior to those found in nature, and of value only for the knowledge learnt in their creation. In her actions, Curunír had only perceived the height of arrogance, to value so lowly what all the other Noldor craved, pride in ownership and the esteem of their peers for the subtlety of their craft. ¹(asteric corundum, star sapphires and star rubies)
When Helluin had left Aman, she had borne but one item that she had not arrived with 3,600 years aforetime; the dagger she had forged that hung at her side. She owned little more now and most of those things were accoutrements of war. Curunír honestly believed that the blessings of Aman had largely been wasted on her and that she was much as she had been in the beginning, a violent, war-mongering savage at odds with the nobility and civility of her people. Today she had shocked them by bringing the tanned face of an Orch to the council. Gil-galad had been just in disregarding her. So why then was the presence of a semi-social vagabond like Helluin necessary for the Lady Artanis to teleport? Though he spent hours deep in thought, the new Head of the White Council remained confounded and no insight came to him. Like much else about Helluin, he found it vexing.
One further incident involving her during the council had left Curunír disconcerted.
"Ne'er aforetime have we been close, she and I, so whyfor then would Helluin have put forward my name to be head of the council?" he wondered softly. "Much as I appreciate her initiative, I find I comprehend not her reasoning. E'er hath her thought been strange to me, and though she is as she herself admitted, not one of the Wise, she is no fool or death would long ago have claimed her. Only can I reckon that she recognized that I was the best suited to this office."
Curunír shook his head, but despite his efforts, no further enlightenment came to him and so he passed to the next topic, the Enemy.
Sauron seeks again for his Ring and he can ne'er be allowed to recover it. The others are right to dread that notion, yet where they see only a cause for fear, I sense the offering of much information, the White Wizard thought. We may take somewhat from Sauron's intent, and if he searches Anduin, then 'tis there that we must continue to oppose his efforts. This Helluin shall do, a part well suited to her proclivities…she and her wolves. He chuckled at that.
As Isildur was slain 'nigh the Gladden Fields, we may assume that Gorthaur has learnt of his fate, whilst in our opposition of his efforts, he shall see the confirmation of his suspicions, hopeful fool. After two thousand five hundred years of spring floods, Anduin has swept his trinket far downstream. He shall ne'er find it 'nigh the Loeg Ningloron.
Yet what if against all odds it should be found one day? Such potent sorcery must come to those with sufficient wit to safeguard it against the Enemy. As head of the council and a disciple of Aulë, this work of infernal craft should come to me. Isildur has already proven Men lacking and Elves have not the mettle for so formidable an artifact. Not since Fëanor was driven by his oath and the fire in his heart has one of the Elder Children attained to power and had the will to wield it. None of those upon the Hither Shores in these latter days has the desire or the capacity to master the One Ring. And on this night, by his refusal to lead this council, Olórin has proved himself the same.
Yet I deem this is all but empty speculation and vain hope; the Ring shall not be found and none shall come to wield its potency. Perhaps 'tis a good thing…and yet still a waste, for power is meant to be used.
By then the sun was rising and Curunír yawned and blinked, for his raiment of flesh knew fatigue. He rose and crossed the room, coming to the nightstand, and there he poured water from a ewer into a basin to lave his face and hands. Refreshed, he decided to break his fast and then examine the library of Imladris for information concerning the One Ring, teleportation, and Sauron on the chance of finding 'aught that he knew not. Thereafter, he resolved to make his way to Gondor, for there were many ancient scrolls and tomes still preserved from the time of the Last Alliance in the Royal Library of Minas Tirith. Unacknowledged even in his own conscious thought was the possibility that should the Ring have indeed rolled down Anduin, 'twas in the realm of Gondor that 'twas most likely to surface. Valar forbid that the feckless Dúnedain gain a second chance to endanger them all.
'Round midnight, Galadriel and Helluin took their leave of the Hidden Valley. Mithrandir and Elrond watched them vanish after a pale glow had suffused them. They appeared in the garden of Caras Galadhon with a 'thump' of air displacement. Immediately, Celeborn, Arwen, and a company of Galadhrim archers surrounded them and the Lord of Lothlórien warmly welcomed his wife home. 'Twas 21 Lothron, 2064, and again a year and a fortnight had passed.
"We have missed thee this past couple years. How went the council?" he asked.
Galadriel grimaced and shook her head in disgust.
"After arranging it and leaving for Imladris a year and a fortnight in advance, we have acclaimed Curunír head of the council and accepted his recommendation for inaction," she said. "For the time it hath taken, I may as well have not bothered."
"How came that to pass?" Arwen asked.
"Mithrandir refused the office and Helluin suggested Curunír," Galadriel said. At Celeborn's expression of dismay, she added, "she had her reasons."
The Lord of Lothlórien gave the dark Noldo an accusing look and asked, "Should I banish thee now or later?"
Helluin shrugged and said, "I deem it matters little who rules the council. It shall not meet oft and its decisions bind not upon those who are not members. I fully intend to ignore Curunír's notions in any case and shall act as I deem the situation requires. Sauron has been my enemy far longer than the Ithryn have walked Middle Earth and I shall oppose him howsoe'er I can. At the least, I shall not have to endure Curunír's meddling now that he is preoccupied with his office."
Celeborn's mouth dropped open in shock. Curunír was a Maia, sent apurpose by the Valar to oppose Sauron as head of the Ithryn, and Helluin intended to disregard him. Galadriel chuckled.
"I intend to take my leave and return east shortly, m'lord," Helluin continued. "If thou choose to banish me, pray make thy decision known to Curunír. I reckon that the more marginalized I appear the better."
"I have heard that thou followed the same wisdom with thy late High King Gil-galad," Celeborn said.
Helluin nodded in agreement and after a grim stare, Celeborn finally gave in and grinned at her. "I am glad thou art not my subject," he said. "I shall not banish thee tonight…maybe later."
Helluin returned his grin and offered him a bow. She traded smiles with Galadriel and Arwen and then asked, "Might I impose upon ye for the services of a boat and oarsmen?"
'Twas again Lónadhor and Cabordál that rowed Helluin 'cross Anduin. Swamp Rat and Frog Foot seemed just as jovial as they had been centuries aforetime as they delivered her to the east bank. They deemed it a fine night for being on the water as the reflections doubled the stars in the sky. Upon standing on dry land again, Helluin gave a howl and the sixth part of an hour later, her horse arrived with an escort of a half-dozen wolves.
Greetings, bright one, thine accent is still as awful as e'er, the pack's alpha said with a grin.
Greetings, grey hunter. I deem my snout too short to perfect my diction, Helluin said. Thou hast my thanks for keeping Dugr¹ company this night. ¹(Dugr, Fearlessness Old Norse)
'Twas our pleasure, he said, we have passed the time in a game of riddles.
Helluin raised a brow in question at that and her horse answered.
We stayed our contest at thy howl, O Helluin, and at a draw no less, the dun stallion said, then turning to the wolf asked, shall we continue at the next opportunity?
Aye, we shall and long shall we recall thy riddle, 'some go on two legs and others on three, but both are needed to make one that goes on four'. We still dispute the fairness of a riddle requiring three answers.
I am sure ye shall both find new riddles for your next meeting, Helluin said. 'Til then, we should be on our way. Many miles lie 'twixt us and home.
Dugr nodded to Helluin, touched noses with the pack alpha after which the Noldo mounted and they trotted away to the north, farewelled by wolf howls.
"Thou know that there are at least four answers to thy riddle, O Dugr," Helluin said when they had left the pack behind.
The stallion came to a halt and twisted his neck 'round to look her in the eyes ere asking, Four answers? Neither of us knew of more than three, Elves, Men, and Dwarves.
I reckon ye both know 'naught of the Periannath, Helluin said, for their kind are few east of the mountains and they have little place in lore.
I have ne'er heard of them. What are they, Helluin?
The Periannath are a people of small stature that live close to the land in Eriador. They are simple folk, farmers mostly.
So they are farmers and simple much like thyself, only shorter?
Helluin groaned, but rather than try to explain the differences 'twixt Elves and Halflings, she simply said, if we should cross the mountains some day, perhaps thou shalt see them for thyself.
Dugr nodded, then turned and resumed their ride. In the evening of their second day, they arrived at Norðr-vestandóttir Bý.
Helluin, I am glad that I was on time, neither early, nor late, for dates and calendars are strange to me, Dugr admitted.
Thou felt compelled to go south on a particular day, I wager," she replied. Dugr nodded. Thou did well, O Dugr, following thy nose on the day prescribed in thy mind. Pray take thy rest now and enjoy good fodder.
The stallion bobbed his head and trotted off to the stable where lucerne and oats waited. Helluin was glad that the 'suggestion' she had implanted in his mind ere they had parted in Lothlórien after she had ridden thither to meet Galadriel had triggered his compulsion to gallop south a month and two years after she and the princess had teleported to Imladris. In this, she had bespelled him much as Sauron had done with his Yrch, save that no terrifying wall of fire stood in Dugr's memories. He had simply felt the need to run on the correct day.
Now Helluin spoke with the local wolves and learnt that companies of Yrch had indeed come west to the river in the summers of 2462 and again in 2463. Though it had taken some time, both parties had been attacked and slain by the wolves to the south. The next party could be expected in mid-Cerveth, just shy of two months hence. Helluin thanked them for their tidings, offered her regrets for not being present to help, and returned to her life as a simple farmer much taller than any Perian.
On 12 Cerveth 2464, a dark shadow in a ragged black cloak waited at the verge of the wood just north of the exit of the footpath that led east through Mirkwood to Dol Guldur. At dusk on the 13th, a company of two dozen Yrch took their leave of the forest. Helluin trailed them through the night with the stealth of the Laiquendi so that they would be too far from the trees to flee back into Mirkwood. Whilst they rested during the day of the 14th, she shot eight. That night, she had shot another four as they ran west, always taking the hindmost in their line.
Helluin shot six more as they hid from the sunlight 'neath their cloaks on 15 Cerveth. When evening fell, the company was reduced to six and five of these were swiftly slain when Helluin loomed up before them out of the grass beside the north-south track and assailed them with Anguirél, and the Sarchram. She hamstrung the last and then subjected him to questioning. This time, she had managed to preserve a hostage from the wolves who howled from the west side of the north-south track where they had met Dugr.
Rather than bothering to ask his name or listen to his lies, Helluin simply stared into his terrified eyes and paralyzed him with fear, then sifted through his mind as he lay on his back bleeding and shivering. He still thought she was one of Sauron's Nine. Appearing as one of the Nazgûl had its benefits.
Now the memories of the Orch included the expected petty schemes, backstabbing, feasting, rivalries, rapes, and resentments to be found in the past of well 'nigh any of his kind. Whate'er he had done in Dol Guldur had been expunged. Helluin encountered the now familiar wall of fire and breached it as she had aforetime. She found that the orders he had been given were identical to what she had found four centuries ago in the mind of Urgûrz, and again his master remained invisible. The Noldo was about to snap his ethereal neck when she detected a black smudge, like a patch of soot on a wall that revealed whither a torch had once been set in a sconce. This she examined out of curiosity.
To her surprise, Helluin found 'twas a memory. Either it had been o'erlooked by, or hidden from the Orc's master. It had not been erased and she wondered if a simple Orch could truly conceal 'aught from Sauron. Helluin picked at it as one would an errant strand of yarn dangling from the hem of a sweater. Eventually it unraveled and she viewed his memory of a place of horrors.
Thither lay a vast chamber of dingy stone, dim and dank, which stretched off 'twixt squat columns into blackness. 'Twas populated by armless, legless female torsos bound to boards that lay on the floor. Amongst these strode naked male Yrch, their turgid members standing upright against their bellies as they made their way from torso to torso, pausing for violent copulation ere moving on to the next. Then she realized that one amongst them was no Orc, but rather a Man, and he no less vigorous or wanton than the Yrch. She marked that there was no competition 'twixt them and no hostility; he and they were equally preoccupied and equally indiscriminate. When he came 'nigh, Helluin marked that it seemed he was of Dúnedain stock, tall, athletic, pale skinned, and dark of hair and beard. She saw that he bore a mouth filled with steel teeth and a Ring in his nose, a slender gold band with a red gem. His face was twisted with eagerness and lust and he grunted and slobbered as his hips thrust. A fey light lit his eyes as one bespelled or insane. 'Twas a complete shock to her, to find this Man in a breeding hall of Yrch, and 'twas all the worse for that he seemed vaguely familiar.
Ere the memory ended, Helluin could only hazard that he had been of Black Númenórean stock and the events derived from a time that the Orc had spent in Dol Guldur long ago. The dark Noldo set the abominable recollection aside and snapped the Orc's ethereal neck. Her mission complete, Helluin spoke briefly with the wolves and then returned to the farm.
Now the next incident of remark came in the autumn of that year, T.A. 2464. The fields of sere grass whispered tidings on the breeze that, a party comes 'nigh walking softly and offering no ill to olvar or kelvar in their passing. They come from the north. Hearing this, Helluin was perplexed at first. In the past, the olvar had discriminated 'twixt those that walked on two legs, (or perhaps three, she thought with a chuckle), and all other kelvar that she assumed included e'erything from snails on one foot to millipedes on hundreds. 'Twas 3 Narbeleth.
Beyond this was the limited counting ability of the olvar. She knew that they could discern at least one and two, (as in one comes on two legs), but beyond that were many, (such as an army of Dwarves on many legs), and now a party. Helluin could only assume that she was not dealing with one, two, or a host. That left an annoying degree of latitude.
To the north dwelt the Éothéod, but their people rode rather than walked when afield and would have hunted along the way, so she deemed they were not Northmen. They might have been a family of the skin-changing settlers, natives of the Vale of Anduin who hunted not, yet they too were not soft afoot and sometimes rode. 'Twas unlikely that they were other Men or Dwarves, for both kindreds were given to hacking and hunting. They were certainly not Yrch, for these would have destroyed or burnt 'aught they could for sport. That left Elves.
Helluin reckoned that Eldar from Imladris would have arrived ahorse, whilst Galadriel would have astral projected if some tidings needed to be delivered from the Galadhrim. 'Twas only Thranduil's folk that were likely to have walked from the north.
Helluin donned her armor and weapons and rode forth on Dugr to meet them. She had decided to forgo her cloak, so to appear less like a Ringwraith. She halted the stallion on the north-south track where the path branched off leading to the farm, and there they waited. Expecting to meet an unspecified party of Tawarwaith from Mirkwood, she groaned when she recalled Eryniel. That elleth had first arrived with a company of six and perhaps she would do so again. Later, when she arrived alone, Helluin and Galadhon had brought her to the farm. No others from Mirkwood knew firsthand where lay Norðr-vestandóttir Bý.
Now an hour passed and whilst Dugr lowered his head to crop grass, Helluin absentmindedly bit into an apple she had brought from the cabin. At the scent of it, the stallion raised his head and twisted his neck 'round to regard the Noldo.
Ahhh, that smells delicious and I am so bored, he intimated. Helluin eyed him a moment as she spat out a couple seeds and swallowed the rest. Finally, she leant forward o'er his neck and handed him the remaining half of the apple, which he captured with his lips and delivered to his molars. Yummmm, he hummed as he swung his head away and chewed.
The unknown party was close now, said the grass, and Helluin's senses concurred. She cast her sight towards the northeast, the whole circle of her vision well lit by the afternoon sun that shone down o'er her right shoulder. She marked slight movements in the grass a furlong and a half off that were contrary to the prevailing breeze, a mistake the Laiquendi would ne'er make if they were intent upon maintaining their stealth. She sighed. They were certainly Elves and numbered a dozen at least.
She set two fingers to her lips and produced a piercing whistle, then called out, "Mae govannen, if ye seek for Norðr-vestandóttir Bý then ye have come 'nigh. What purpose calls ye hither?"
One by one, fourteen Elves clad in subdued green cloaks o'er tunics and trousers of similar hues and limited leather armor rose to stand in a loose group. They were equally divided 'twixt ellyn and ellith and bore bows and spears, with single-handed axes or studded clubs as secondary weapons, and knives on their belts. Each carried a travel bag as did the Laiquendi. Helluin marked that they were dark-haired and grey-eyed, hardly a surprise as most Elves were save the Vanyar and some amongst the Teleri. She also had the impression that none of them were young even by Elvish standards, and all of them were vaguely familiar.
The group came forward evincing neither threat nor rejoicing at their meeting. Indeed, they seemed to treat this encounter with profound earnest, a sober matter, yet not a cause for fear. If 'aught was to be perceived of their emotions, Helluin thought 'twas respect touched with both chagrin and awe. At a dozen paces, they came to a halt and bowed, right hands placed o'er their hearts. When they straightened, an elleth stood forth.
"Helluin, Savior of Old, we greet thee again after many yeni. Having learnt from Mage Halatir that thou continue thy battle against the God of Fire and his servants, we came west with hopes of aiding thee," she said, and Helluin could only dip her head in respect to these far-ranging warriors. The ellon who stood beside the elleth spoke next.
"Helluin Maeg-mórmenel, long ago thou came to our king with counsel and training, yet when battle came, we fled in horror for we had not then the knowledge of what we truly fought for. Only much later, during our thralldom in the Black Land, did we endure the wages of evil unconstrained. In the years after and slowly, we came to understand that 'tis the part of all who may to stand against the Darkness, and so we who began craving only peace have learnt that peace must be won and defended, to be held as a blessing earned, not as a due expected. I am Ngandáro¹ and my melisse² is Arinya³," he said, casting a glance to the elleth who had spoken first, ere adding, "Winding has been our road, yet we have learnt what thou hast long understood. Now we would stand beside thee. Despite the years, upon a time, we and thee were all Tatyar⁴." ¹(Ngandáro, Harper Quenya) ²(melisse, f. lover Quenya) ³(Arinya, Morning Quenya) ⁴(Tatyar, the second original tribe of the Elves of Cuiviénen, some of whom became the Noldor whilst the remainder were numbered amongst the Avari.)
Almost five and a half millennia ago, Helluin had led King Telpeapáro's people against invading Yrch in Calenglad i'Dhaer to forestall Lord Oldbark's deployment of his Huorns. In the final battle, the Noldo's allies had been o'ermatched by the weapons and ferocity of the Yrch. Then Helluin had joined the fighting in a frenzy of bloodthirsty mania that left the Orcs annihilated and the Avari fled from the Greenwood, shocked and horrified at her violence. Even as the war was won, Helluin had counted the campaign a failure and had been beset with guilt e'er after for destroying the blood innocence of an entire people.
That had been in S.A. 415. In S.A. 3435, Helluin had rescued many of those same Avari from the dungeons of the Barad-dûr, and though she had been thankful to deliver them from Sauron, it had not assuaged her understanding that they had suffered for her mayhem aforetime. Now they stood before her, willing in heart and mind to take up the battle again after 5,490 years. Double or 'naught t'would seem, she mused to herself.
"Ngandáro, Arinya, mellyn, ye are all welcome and I accept your offer of aid with thanks," Helluin said. "There is indeed work to be done and enemies to oppose. We have much to speak of, yet I wager ye have come far and are weary from the long journey. Pray join me that I may provide ye with quarters and sustenance. I hope some of ye know somewhat of farming."
Then Helluin dismounted and walked with the Avari, and she led them to Norðr-vestandóttir Bý and gave o'er the large farmhouse that Ierþling had built for his family to be their barracks. To say that they had been astonished at the farm would have been an understatement of their wonder at the cooperative nature of the plants, and animals. None of the Avari could resist speaking with all of them and the trees and livestock seemed to rejoice at having yet more people taking an interest in their welfare. Helluin wondered how they would react when meeting her allies, the Hounds of Morgoth.
Now the battle prowess of the Tatyar was tested and Helluin found them competent so far as their weaponry allowed. In their first session, she hewed the heads from some of their spears with Anguirél and found their bows pulling roughly thirty-five pounds of force. She groaned whilst they stood silent in shock at the outcome.
"Pray accompany me to the smithy, mellyn nín. T'would seem that we have much to amend," the Noldo told them, and they followed her to the forge that Böðvildr Arngrímdóttir had established beside the river four and a half centuries aforetime.
O'er the following month and a half as winter descended on the farm, the Avari learnt the rudiments of ironmongery 'neath Helluin's tutelage. With their aid, she collected scrap wood and deadfall and burned charcoal, refined clay into 'sponge iron', and then folded and carburised that iron into steel with the aid of the helve hammer. From the steel, Helluin forged heads for long-bladed hewing spears such as the Éothéod bore, 'nigh two feet in length of which two thirds was the leaf-shaped blade and one third was the tapering socket for attaching the pole. Butt spikes for the opposite ends of the poles she forged as well.
"The length of such a blade threatens a foe ere they are able to close and hew the head from the spear," Helluin explained, "and with it, ye shall slice as well as stab whilst keeping thy foes at bay. Should the blade be lost, the butt spike serves as a secondary weapon, very effective, for example, against the feet of enemies."
For the spear poles, there were really only two options in the forests lying 'nigh the farm; hickory or ash. Of the two, Helluin chose to use hickory, for though 'twas far heavier than ash, 'twas also more rigid and far stronger at resisting impacts as when warding off an enemy's blows. 'Twas also a far more durable wood, a boon to warriors who might live fore'er. Helluin deemed the added weight would help build up their arm muscles and add authority to the spear when thrust through leather armor and 'twixt ribs.
Alas, there were not a sufficient number of saplings of the proper diameter available. They felled a recently dead snag, cut the trunk to length and used a froe and club to split it into staves. Afterwards, these were roughly shaped round with drawknives, and then smoothed with a series of progressively finer grained stones. Finally, they tapered the ends to fit the sockets of the spearheads and butt spikes, cemented them in place with hoof and hide glue, and then pinned them through the shafts.
The new spears were half again heavier than the lighter spears they had arrived with, but far sturdier and potentially, far more deadly. Helluin stacked bales of hay against tree trunks and set the Avari to practicing thrusting.
"Keep the flat sides of the head horizontal so it can slip 'twixt your enemy's ribs," she kept reminding them. "Mind your balance when ye thrust. Ye can loosen the grip with the front hand and drive the spear forward with the rear hand as well as thrusting with both hands tight whilst advancing with a skip-step. When ye parry, keep the rear hand still and make small motions with the front hand, and always, protect your centerline."
They spent the winter at practice and gained strength, but also confidence. 'Twas easy enough for them to imagine the fatal damage a lunge with such weapons could deliver. They found parrying away Helluin's sword strokes required only small movements whilst remaining safely beyond its range and not becoming o'er committed to either side. Finally, they practiced tactics for acting in unison, in pairs, in trios, and as a group.
"Do not cross each others' spear shafts," Helluin admonished, "ye need only defend the space 'twixt ye and your comrade to each side. When flanked, the end warriors turn to face those foes with support from the next in the line. Remember, the line is flexible. Close into a circle if necessary, but mind your butt spike and who stands behind ye." Ere spring, the Noldo could not break their circle with any tactic she had e'er seen from Yrch and only being badly outnumbered or confronted by archers would pose a threat.
Thereafter, they passed to training with axe and club, and even the knives they bore. During that same time, the Avari aided Helluin with the spring planting and weeding, as well as the tending of birthing amongst the livestock. The Noldo was pleasantly surprised in this, for though the Tatyar had not been farmers as she was, their sensitivity to the natural world stood them in good stead when aiding the olvar and kelvar. They seemed to know innately what the crops and livestock needed, and for the first time, Helluin felt confident that the farm could function in her absence. Thank the Valar I shall not receive the acrimony of the chickens and the soft recriminations of the sheep at each return, she thought. Now we shall see how well they ride.
If she had been glad at the sensitivity of the Avari to the plants and animals on the farm, she found that virtue extended to their relationships with the horses. The horses showed no reluctance to bear them, though by that time, Helluin had spent centuries training her mounts to being ridden bareback and now they aspired to be warhorses, an identity reclaimed in the years following Álfrhestr's return from Gondor. The Elves enjoyed riding as much as the horses, developing partnerships as their mutual trust grew. They sensed what their steeds could and would do, offering them friendship and respect, and thanks for allowing them to mount and ride. The horses were thankful to have new friends with whom they could speak, and who desired their health and happiness and understood their needs. And next shall come bows worthy of mounted archers of the Elder Children who shall go to war.
When they had come to Norðr-vestandóttir Bý, the Tatyar had borne relatively short self-bows carved from staves that pulled 'round thirty-five pounds. They were sufficient for most hunting, but compared to the bows of the Galadhrim or the Laiquendi, they were deficient, having neither the range nor the power to easily penetrate mail or leather armor at distance and produce fatal wounds. With the spring, they set about building new bows in the manner of the Green Elves.
"I shall instruct ye in the bowyer's art as 'tis practiced by my beloved's people, the Laiquendi of Eriador, a people who live by the bow," Helluin told them.
Now to begin their fabrication, Helluin chose a birch tree, recently dead but sound, and after felling it, saved the bark and again used the froe and club to split the wood into staves. These they carved down with the drawknife to make 'cores' for the limbs upon which both horn and sinew would be carefully laminated. The fourteen Elves watched Helluin's demonstrations and hearkened to her explanations, and then performed those same steps. A few corrections had to be made, but they proceeded slowly and with great care for they honored the tree and were loath to waste 'aught it had provided.
The limbs cores were flattened in cross-section, up to two inches in width, but tapered from the ends in thickness to as little as a quarter inch. Additionally, the hand grips and 'ears' to hold the string nocks were carved of stiffer, plain sawn maple with specially carved joinery for attaching them to the limbs. The pieces were assembled with glue and clamped together to dry.
Of the horn sheaths readily available at Norðr-vestandóttir Bý, only those from sheep or goats were acceptable. Cow horns were known to delaminate and they had not the horns of antelopes or water buffalo. Some hunting would be required.
Helluin summoned the wolf pack and led them to Hafrland 'cross the river, and there she spent a week shooting fourteen goats. Indeed, she could have culled that number in a few hours, but the wolves could only eat them so fast.
We shall be bloated beyond all reckoning, the pack alpha had muttered. We shall lie in sloth a week at least for the digestion.
Feast or famine, feast or famine, Helluin said, pray ye ne'er attend a feast given by Dwarves.
The wolf had looked askance at her.
Thrice a day they ate as if the world were to end in moments. Celebrations were far worse, she claimed, recalling feeling as bloated as a fatted calf when she and Beinvír had come to Khazad-dûm as war heroes in an Age before. They had barely escaped afterwards to Lórinand.
He regarded her with disbelief, but she nodded 'aye' to him with such a look of horrified sincerity that he finally grinned and said, surely, such excess cannot be healthy.
Tell them that, Helluin replied.
The Noldo had brought three of the Tatyar with her to aid in the butchery and to carry home the spoils of the hunt, horn sheaths, 'backstrap' tendons, and pelts from which to make quivers. These were two ellyn, sensitive Castalda and histrionic Vorsaira¹, and a very pale elleth named Nieninque² who said little. Initially, they had been nervous 'round the wolves, but their horses greeted the pack nose to nose, were obviously familiar with and trusting of them, and so their hearts were set at some ease in the company of these Hounds of Morgoth. ¹(Castalda, Tree tender = casta-(v. tend) + alda(tree) and Vorsaira, (lit trans) Continually Wise, (vern trans) Stable Genius = vor(continually) + saira(wise) Quenya) ²(Nieninque, Snowflake Quenya)
Witnessing the savagery of the proceedings was less a cause for relief though. Helluin would shoot a goat or two, the wolves would descend on the prey with the Noldo frantically running after them to flay off the hide ere they could rip the carcass to pieces. She would also slice away the tendons lying along the spine ere turning o'er the remainder to the pack.
Sorry to stay ye, mellyn nín, but I require these parts, she apologized to the wolves.
Done at last are we? the alpha asked as the other wolves attacked the goat's belly and chewed off parts of its limbs.
Aye, for now, but I pray ye gnaw not on the horns, Helluin added with a worried glance. The wolf rolled his eyes and gave her a look clearly asking, Really? Wouldst thou gnaw on horns?
Eventually, all the necessary parts were gathered and the Elves took their leave. The pack lay in the grass, bellies full to bursting, some on their backs with paws in the air, and all somewhat lethargic and dull of eye.
Upon returning to the farm, they set about processing the material they had gathered. Strips they cut from the horns, then steamed these, flattening and straightening them. Once dried, they were sanded flat and smooth. The tendons were beaten to separate the fibers and then combed to remove any remaining meat and fat. Then the sinew was washed thoroughly and set in a pot of glue.
Now that same glue was liberally applied to the strips of horn and the belly side of the bow's limbs and then joined, and rope wrapped tightly 'round both to clamp them firmly together. After drying, the edges were trimmed and all excess glue ground away. Then the sinew was drawn from its soak in the glue pot and bundles were combed out flat and smooth. These were laid onto the backside of the limbs and smoothed so that not an air bubble remained. The process was repeated thrice to build a strong layer and after, more sinew was wound tight 'round the joints 'twixt the grip and the limb ends, and the joints 'twixt the limb ends and the attached 'ears'. When all the glue had dried, the surfaces were smoother, the edges cleaned, and finally, a layer of birch bark was laminated o'er all to protect the bow from moisture.
The whole process yielded a relatively small bow with a strung length a hand's width o'er four feet and a draw weight of fifty-five pounds. It shot arrows with a length of 30 inches. They were deadly weapons, no heavier and only slightly smaller than the bows the Avari had arrived with, and Helluin hoped that they would need little practice to gain proficiency. They began fabricating arrows immediately whilst Helluin busied herself forging broadhead arrowheads. After a fortnight, there were enough completed arrows to begin practice
Although they needed some time to adapt to the added draw weight, 'twas not beyond them and they were soon happily surprised by the speed of the arrows and the strength of their impacts. The advantages required no explanation. They could shoot on a flatter trajectory at all distances and retain accuracy at greater distances than they had dared aforetime. The difference would allow them at least one more shot against charging foes, and that extra arrow could mean the difference 'twixt life and death.
As the spring of 2465 turned to summer, Helluin watched the Tatyar shooting targets whilst charging down a trail in the woods beyond the old cemetery north of the farm. 'Twas one of two training courses she had created to allow the new horse archers to practice their skills. On the ground where Nýr Vera had stood, the Noldo had set forty-eight logs, Man high and embedded in the ground at irregular intervals that approximated the battle disorder of a Yrch charge. The fourteen riders essayed to shoot them all in one pass whilst riding by at a gallop.
She left them to discern the proper tactics, but after a third day of frustration, she counseled them to begin loosing arrows sooner and to fire their last whilst turned backward in the saddle as her Mâh-Sakâ allies did. After a couple more attempts, the new cavalry was able to shoot all their targets as intended. 'Twas then the first week of Cerveth and Helluin deemed the timing perfect. If the past years' habits held true, in a week a company of two dozen Yrch would again march west from Mirkwood. She nodded to herself in satisfaction as she watched the Avari practicing another pass, and when they had completed their attack, she whistled and beckoned them o'er.
"In five days, I shall ride south," Helluin told them as they gathered 'round. "In the second week of Cerveth for each of the last five years, a company of two dozen Yrch has come west from Mirkwood in hope of searching the banks of Anduin for what the Dark Lord lost at the end of an Age before. I need eight of ye to ride with me to destroy them whilst the rest mind the farm. As ye are all proven able at mounted archery now, I leave it to ye to decide who shall go and who shall stay."
The first four raised their hands at once. The remaining ten looked to each other in uncertainty and the Noldo deemed that they would needs hold council 'twixt themselves to decide. She gave them a nod and rode off towards the farm, leaving them behind on the land that she had once burnt.
To Be Continued
Guest: Thanks for your review. Utumno, Morgoth's first fortress, was also called Udûn, or Hell in Sindarin. Udûn was the site of Melkor's creation of the Orcs and a place that Sauron would have known well. Follower that he was, Sauron emulated Melkor as much as he could.
Berúthiel/Zôrîphêl was a princess of the surviving Black Númenóreans. As such, she believed in the supremacy of the royal blood of the fallen kings. She would have been both a racist, (assured of her own natal superiority), and a willing pawn of Sauron, (emulating his acceptance by Ar-Pharazón of Númenórë). Additionally, her people had rejected the Elven tongues and would still have spoken Adûnaic as their official language. The name Zôrîphêl is not canon, but she would not have had a Sindarin birth name, so Berúthiel must have been a Gondorian appellation.
Berúthiel was Queen to King Tarannon Falastur through a marriage that seems to have been political, for there was no love between them and they produced no heir. She was loathed and feared by the people of Gondor and Tarannon eventually banished her along with her cats. Canon goes no further, so her story was ripe for continuation. Here, her racism and craving for immortality, (inherited sins of the fallen kings), were rewarded with the role of eternal breeding mare and whore. Sauron made good his promise that she would become a 'foremother of kings' in the reigns of Castamir the Usurper in Gondor and a succession of incestuous sovereigns in Azūladathâni.
Eärnur son of Eärnil II was a Dúnadan preoccupied with his pride and skills at arms. Humiliated by his flight from the Witch King during the Fall of Angmar, he was far more eager to redress his disgrace than serve his realm. He never married or produced an heir. The Lord of the Nazgûl easily manipulated Eärnur into riding to his doom by denigrating his pride in his challenges. Canon offers no account of him beyond his disappearance in Imlad Morgul. To initiate the Ruling Stewards, JRRT specifies that Eärnur's fate was uncertain.
I believe that Eärnur sought to surpass his father's great victory at the Battle of the Camp, and so fell prey to the same imperative of outshining the reign of his father that preoccupied the fallen Kings of Númenor. He had already liberated Arthedain and he believed that he could defeat the Witch King in single combat. Easily inflamed, he succumbed to Sauron's wiles, and rather than becoming a conquering warrior king, became a broken Man serving his enemy by procreating to advance the perfection of the Dark Lord's Yrch.
"Sauron and the Tale of Zôrîphêl" reveals the 'hells' endured by Zôrîphêl and Eärnur that addressed their flaws in life. Both wound up eternally damned by, and fittingly punished for their sins in life, so your comparison with Dante's hell is apt. More to come…stay tuned!