Unexpected Guest

Meanwhile, Meridion and Grunthor were pounding closer to the mountain. Thanks to Grunthor ability to sense the Earth they were able to know which way would be fastest and easiest. They knew that they would get there much faster than it took for Meridion to originally make it from the Mountain to the Nain capital.

They had been riding solidly now for nearly a day before they came to their first stop. Meridion couldn't help but think how much faster they could make it back to Ylork if they could change for fresh horses, but they too were riding through a very desolate land.

"So sir, 'ave ya got any O'dea wha' we're gonna do once we get'dere?" Grunthor asked Meridion as they stiffly dismounted.

Pausing, Meridion thought for a moment. "Yes, I do." But that was all he said.

"Ya mind cluin' me in?"

"I think it's better if you didn't know. You won't like it, but it's the only way that I can think of to stop the demon."

"Fair 'nough," Grunthor said, surprising Meridion. "t'ere 'ave been plenty o' times it's been better Oi don't know wha' the plan is. Jus' le' me know wha' Oi need ta do 'fore I need ta do it," Grunthor told him.

Smiling to himself, Meridion took both the horses to take care of, leaving Grunthor to find some fuel for a fire. It wasn't long after that that Meridion and Grunthor found themselves before a small fire, staring into the flames, lost in thought.

At first, Meridion was concerned with thinking through his rather sketchy plan once they reached the mountain. But he quickly realized that he needed to see exactly what the situation was there before he could put any real plan into motion.

Abandoning his train of thought, Meridion glanced across the flames to his companion. Grunthor was obviously someplace else. He wasn't one to sit and brood, but right now, with a friend in mortal danger and nothing he could do about it, he couldn't get his thoughts away from what might be happening.

"Grunthor," Meridion broke the silence. "You know I can't promise anything, but I'm sure that they will both be alright."

He made no reply.

"You know my mother better than anyone; do you think she would give up on him very easily? Knowing her, she'll kill that F'dor herself if she has to save to his life."

"That's wha' Oi'm afraid o'" Grunthor muttered.

Suddenly Meridion realized that he had been wrong. He thought that it was Achmed whom Grunthor was fearful for, but in truth, it was Rhapsody. Meridion thought about what it was he had just said and knew that it was completely true. There was really no telling what insane deals Rhapsody would make with the demon to save Achmed's life. Now that he thought about it, there was a true concern for his mother here.

But no, there was something they were forgetting. "No, Achmed would never let her make such a foolish move. He'd rather die than see the F'dor free, let alone harm Rhapsody."

Nodding, Grunthor decided that the conversation was through and lay down to go to sleep.

"Oi 'ope your right," he muttered as sleep quickly took him.

Meridion stared into the flames for a while longer before he too laid down to rest. "So do I," he whispered.

It was just after midnight the following night that they reached the mountain. Fear had propelled them all the way at what they might find when they reached it, but all seemed perfectly normal. If the guards were a little jumpy, who could blame them? There had been no one to give them orders for the last few days and now here was their Sergeant Major riding in with a fury.

As Grunthor was busy dressing down the first guard who they met for imagined lax security, Meridion took the horses and found one who could help him. "Gurg," he call to the Bolg who was waiting in the shadows.

The Bolg quickly came over to Meridion. "Lord Meridion, I'm so glad to see you and the Sergeant are back," he said breathlessly.

Gurg was one of the Archons; he was the new message runner. "Tell me what has been going on since Grunthor left?" Meridion demanded.

"The Lirin Regent Rial arrived just after the Sergeant left. He claimed to have come to see Lady Rhapsody but he had no intention of leaving when we told him she wasn't here and that the King would be unable to receive him."

"Hmm, not surprising," Meridion muttered.

"Well, we didn't know what to make of it and, having no one to tell us otherwise; we put him up in one of the ambassador's rooms and have had heavy watch on him since."

"Good; that is the best that you could have done in the situation," Meridion said. "Now, what has he been up to?"

By now, Grunthor had joined them and was listening intently.

"Mostly just walking about. At times he will ask questions about what a place is or what it was in the old days when Gwylliam was Lord."

Nodding, Meridion finally said, "Alright, we must meet with the Archons right away. There is much that we must discuss and very little time to do it in."

Gurg nodded.

"Does Rial know that we have returned yet?" Meridion asked.

"I don't believe so, but he is aware that Duke Gwyndion Navarne arrived a few hours ago." Gurg answered.

"Gwyndion?!" Meridion asked in surprise.

"Yes sir, he came riding in just after sunset. He said that he needed to also see the Lady Rhapsody and was concerned when we let him know she wasn't here. He is in the room just down the hall from Lord Rial."

Meridion looked quickly up to Grunthor, not entirely sure what all of this meant. When he had used his power over time to view the mountain, there had been no sign of Gwyndion and none that he was going to arrive. He had no idea if this was good or bad.

"Ok, let's keep it that way for now. I'll need to talk to duke Navarne before we meet with the Archons. Wake him and have him meet me in the thrown room as soon as possible. Then in one hour, I want all of the Archons assembled in thrown room as well, got it?"

Gurg nodded again and looked quickly to Grunthor for confirmation. The Sergeant quickly nodded and said, "You're dismissed."

As the Archon left, Meridion turn to Grunthor, "Ok, so it doesn't appear we are too late. But Gwyndion's arrival is not something that I had foreseen which adds a whole new twist. I don't now whether if this is a good or ill sign for us, but the sooner I am able to talk to Gwyndion, the better.

"An' wha' if 'ee's been demon possessed too?" Grunthor asked.

"Then may the All God help us."