CHAPTER V: DWELLING IN DARKNESS

It was chaos.

Teroth grit his teeth as he brought his sword up against the soldier that attempted to strike him down. Beside him, he was aware of Dagadan fighting against the other salamanders but he was unable to keep much focus aside from the single one he was fighting. Behind him was Chasianna and Aelinor with Halor covering the other end. The dwarf that had broken his nose - a thing the prophet had decided was something he would discuss with the short fellow once all is said and done - was finishing off their foes provided they stall long enough.

Teroth could see the frustration in his face every time they have to call to him and the young prophet could not blame him.

Being in the company of unguarded prophets and oracles alike must be grating to an experienced warrior.

'Teroth!' Aelinor's voice brought him out of the battle he was in and he ran from the soldier when he saw his companions leaving. Glancing behind, he saw the salamander brought down by their short companion. Assured that the experienced warrior among them will be alright, Teroth followed the others through the halls.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Aralas had managed to locate the King's private study.

Granted, it was at the price of further lives the oracle had had to take but he found that he no longer flinched whenever a salamander was felled. The oracle knew the price he had to pay, he also knew that night terrors of what he had done shall come back to haunt his dreams. But for now? He cast his gaze at the injured monarch and the oracle felt his nausea at the sight of King Adanion's burnt flesh and singed scalp return.

As of the moment, he was resolved to see to it that his king would live through the night.

Setting King Adanion down on the settee pushed against the wall of the study, Aralas hurried as he began pushing the King's desk towards the door. It was a blessing that the table was not made of any heavy stone or any such weighty material. As he finally settled it in front of the doors, Aralas looked around the study in search of more things to barricade the door with when the King rose up and waved him away.

'That should be enough, Aralas.' King Adanion told him, his voice rasping and weary. 'I am certain that we will not have to stay here for too long.'

Aralas was about to object to the King's decision to exert any sort of energy but Adanion only moved past him and towards a tapestry telling the tale of Visal's Founding. Tense, the oracle watched as his king brought up a shaking hand to his burnt flesh shining red with blood and though the oracle feared for the monarch's consciousness, he stood still as Adanion pushed the tapestry aside and smeared his blood-stained hands across the white marble wall.

'Your Majesty, what-'

Aralas' inquiry died in his lips as the wall slid open revealing a tunnel leading to Blind Father only knew where.

'A safeguard.' Adanion rasped out as the oracle rushed to the king's side to help support him. 'Only in times of trouble will this door be opened, what other reason would I have to readily smear my blood upon the walls?' The king asked with a humourless smile.

'How long is the tunnel?' Aralas asked as he helped Adanion into the tunnel, about to find a way to close the opening.

'Long enough to take us to the forest.' Adanion replied as he smeared his hand against the wall once more, closing the opening. 'Our allies await us, though the dryads must return to their wards come moonfall.'

Aralas grit his teeth and nodded.

'Then we haven't time to waste.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

'Are you even sure you know where to go?' Frerin panted out as he struggled to catch his breath.

'I swear to you, I know where I am leading you all!' Halor snapped back as he took yet another turn.

The chaotic battle against the reptilian beasts felt unending to the exiled dwarf prince and the longer they ran, the more convinced he was that these oracles and prophets had not set out of the palace walls in a long time. Halor, the one leading them, had taken several turns through the halls and all they had come across were more of the fire-breathing beasts he had had to dispose of the moment they came near any of his companions. Their next turn, however, proved to have a more hopeful outcome as Frerin caught sight of a gate in the far distance.

His hope was crushed when he caught sight of the salamanders standing guard, multiple corpses littered the ground near them.

'That is not where we shall go to.' Halor's voice cut through his thoughts and Frerin frowned in confusion as the oracle guided him and the others into a chamber.

Frerin was about to protest the decision when he met the oracle's harsh gaze. He recognised that surety in a life that felt too far for him to grasp. Those eyes made him recall his elder brother and he pressed his lips together before he entered the room as well.

It was nothing remarkable. A storeroom filled with wine barrels, preservatives and dried nuts and fruits with some sacks of flour piled on top of one another pushed at the corner. Frerin highly doubted there would be an escape for anyone in this trap. This concern he relayed to Halor who only looked at him incredulously before turning his focus on the others who had sat down on the ground save for the pink-haired lad who was groping around in the dark.

'The servants had shown Teroth a path they had made long ago to shorten their journey in here.' The oracle explained to him. 'He told this to me while we were running from the fire-breathers.'

'Teroth is quite an amiable young man that he was even shown this path.' The female oracle, Chasianna, added with a small smile.

'A gift that proves advantageous to us now.' A prophet, the one Aelinor had called Dagadan, muttered. 'Provided Teroth develop the skills needed to see in the dark.'

Frerin raised a brow but held his tongue in regards to their helplessness in the dark. He knew full well that the elves of Arda were capable of seeing in the dark but the elves of this realm seemed to be missing a great many gifts Eru's children had been gifted with. It was only fortunate that they had a son of Mahal with them.

'What path are you seeking, boy?' Frerin called out as he marched towards Teroth.

The pink-haired boy turned his head towards where Frerin stood though the dwarf prince could tell he was not seen by the prophet.

'The servant boy I spoke to, Faelar, he told me that he sneaks out of the palace through a stationary barrel into a tunnel that had been made by servants from long ago to have a few moments of respite.' He explained haltingly.

The boy prophet, Dagadan, let out a derisive snort. 'Teroth, the boy might have just deceived you.' The youth told him wryly. 'Has it ever occurred to you that he only told you this so that you would stop pestering him?'

Already, Frerin could feel the tension growing between both men and he sighed. 'Whether it is a lie or not, we must at least affirm its existence or lack thereof before mocking Master Teroth.' He said as calmly as he could.

Turning to look at the young prophet, Frerin gestured for him to go first before he recalled the youth's inability to see in the dark. Sighing to himself, Frerin simply moved past Teroth and toward the wine barrels stacked against the wall. It is likely one of those and seeing as the dwarf prince figured it might be expected for the rest of the barrels above the bottom would be more or less wine so that the higher ranks would not grow suspicious, Frerin took to rapping his knuckles against the bottom-most barrels in search of a hollow-sounding knock. It took him six tries before he came upon a hollow barrel and Frerin felt hope flare up within him as he began checking the barrel for any way to open it if it was the door that shall lead them out to safety. It took him a fair while of groping about the barrel before he felt something akin to a latch. Holding his breath, Frerin carefully unlatched the barrel and he watched with a relief he had been unable to feel ever since this accursed night began as the barrel opened and he saw a tunnel that looked large enough for he and the other elves to crawl through.

'I have found it.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Aralas and Adanion had been shuffling through the tunnel for a fair while when the oracle heard something moving in the darkness as well. Stiffening, Aralas held tightly onto his king and tried to move him along as quickly as possible, the weight of Adanion's sword heavy in his hand.

The sound in the darkness drew closer.

Aralas felt his jaw clench as he brought up the king's sword and prepared himself to fight whatever foe had come to threaten the life of his king. Closer still the sound came and the oracle identified it as the sound of footsteps. It was sure and measured and Aralas narrowed his eyes in the darkness, praying for the gift of sight in the abyssal dark so he may protect his companion without fail.

'Who comes?' He called out, pointing the king's sword out, praying it will be enough to deter the intruder.

There was silence.

And then, a boyish chuckle filled with the confidence of youthfulness. 'Peace, Oracle Aralas,' Crown Prince Larethian said, 'I had only come here to fetch my father in hopes that he yet lives.'

Aralas dropped his sword in relief.

'Come,' Larethian said, 'our people await us.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

'How much longer must we crawl in this blasted hole?' Dagadan muttered as he pulled himself along with the use of his elbows.

I pressed my lips together as I tried to stop any complaint from leaving my lips. It was difficult enough to try and avoid touching the walls with my bare hands, I had no right to complain about anything.

'Child,' Sir Thráinul called from behind me. 'how do you fare?'

I faltered for a few moments from where I was crawling behind Chasianna. I did not know how best to answer this inquiry. Especially right now. I still lived, but my heart constricts at the thought of what I had witnessed. I had no reason to have such horrors impact me, yet I feel it deep within my very soul as if I had gone through such a pain as well.

'I do not know.' I finally told him as I kept my gaze ahead though I saw nothing but a blinding darkness that threatened to suffocate all in its path. 'I genuinely do not know.'

Sir Thráinul kept silent after that.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Aralas stumbled out of the tunnel, his eyes taking time to adjust to the world bathed with moonlight. Beside him, he could hear the Crown Prince speaking to his father and the oracle found it unnecessary for him to keep listening to what father and son had to tell one another. Muttering an excuse, Aralas left the two and looked over where they had come upon.

Wherever they were, they were no longer in the palace.

Looking behind him, Aralas caught sight of a wall, but it was in no way the same texture or appearance of the palace walls. In fact, it looked like they had managed to find their way nearer to the forest.

'We best continue on our way.' The Crown Prince told him, surprising Aralas at the silence of his footsteps. 'Father is injured and weakened and I would rather not have him collapse too far from help.'

Looking at Larethian carefully, Aralas wanted nothing more than to ask the prince what help they had managed to find but he chose not to. Their current location may be far from the palace but one can never be too safe. After everything that had happened in this lone night, he did not doubt that the likelihood of them encountering a salamander may still be as probable as when they were still within the palace. Gesturing for the prince to lead the way, Aralas returned to the king's side and offered himself as support to the king.

'Thank you, Aralas.' His Majesty told him, his voice quiet. 'Had you not saved me, I would not have seen my son again.'

Aralas was silent and only offered the king a smile in response to his gratitude.

'I can only wish that Chasianna and Halor had managed to rescue the little ones.'

The oracle stopped in his tracks.

'I...beg your pardon, Your Majesty?' He asked, ignoring the tightening in his chest at the thought.

A grim expression came upon the king's face before he met Aralas' gaze. 'Chasianna was in mediation, waiting for Aelinor to return to bed when the first attack took place. Halor, Teroth and Dagadan were all in seclusion.'

'Do they have any guards posted at the doors?' Aralas asked, his voice coming out in a rush of fear. 'They may be facing their death!'

A hand came up to cup his face and he was met with King Adanion's gaze once more and he saw a sorrow deep within his eyes. 'Aralas, it may already be too late.'

For a moment, Aralas was willing to believe his king. To leave it be and pray that the Kind Lady retrieves their souls to take them to the After.

For a moment, he allowed the beginning of grief to curl its tendrils round him.

But then he remembered his Sight and he sucked in a sharp breath.

He was Tainted.

Spoiled.

Cracked.

But he would have no visions if the ones he thinks of are already dead and that is a hope he can cling to.

Closing his eyes, Aralas thought of his fellow oracles, reaching for the faint curling wisps of the Future and grasping it best he could. Clenching his jaw, Aralas stood still, waiting for the vision to come.

And come it did.

With eyes of glowing white, Aralas witnessed Chasianna being felled by a fire-breather, Halor fighting to protect Teroth and Aelinor with a hand amputated, half his face burnt and what appeared to be a crossbreed of a dwarf and a gwyllion laid dead before him. Abruptly, he pulled himself out of his vision, trembling at the carnage that he had already seen and he took in as deep a breath as he can manage.

'I must go.'

A disbelieving expression was the answer the king gave him. 'Aralas, you had just escaped-'

'And I will do so again.' He interrupted. 'Forgive me, Your Majesty, but my conscience will never be silenced if I do not do anything to protect my kin from our foes.'

For a moment, Aralas was certain that the king shall object.

But all he did was bow his head. 'Then you make a finer warrior than I had.' King Adanion murmured quietly.

'Bring them here, Aralas.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

As I managed to come out of the tunnel, Teroth was right behind me as he helped to steady me after what felt like an eternity of crawling through the crudely made tunnel with the use of our forearms. Smiling in thanks, I turned my attention to where we ended up in.

'It seems to be the path to the capital.' Teroth said, his eyes fixed on the blazing city that was once lively with lights and jubilation only a day ago. 'The servants must have used this for whenever they just wanted a night out.'

'And now it's no more.' It was undeniable for any of us.

Visal was no more.

And yet I found myself unable to cry at the sight.

I felt the tightness in my throat that precedes my tears and my chest hurts as if a hand had come and gripped it tightly with an iron fist, but no tears fell. Somehow, the inability was something that either did not bother me or has not yet sunk into my mind. The sight of the burning capital was a captivating horror, an abomination that marred beauty but an abomination that captures your sight. And we were witness to it.

'What now?' I heard myself ask softly.

'Now?' Sir Thráinul echoed. 'Now we move forward.'

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

Teroth took the lead with Halor and Dagadan guarding him when he explained how he knew the grounds decently.

'Remember the uncharted forest that was separated by the wall of our private gardens?' Teroth asked me, looking behind for a moment. I nodded.

I don't think too much of the uncharted forest but we knew of its existence. I suppose at this moment, it is a blessing that such a forest existed so close to us. As I walked, I noticed Halor constantly looking behind him to check on Chasianna and I bit my lip. Ever since we were reunited, Chasianna and I had kept close, neither of us wanted to lose each other and I suppose I was being selfish for doing so. Speeding up my steps, I began walking beside Teroth and ducked my head down.

My abrupt approach was not unnoticed by my friend and he brushed the back of his hand against my sleeve with a small smile.

'We'll be alright, 'Linor.' He told me softly. 'We are not in the immediate sights of the fire-breathers, I highly doubt they would have even thought of checking our storeroom for that secret path.' Teroth continued reassuringly.

I nodded and kept close to him as we continued to walk on. I did not know what else to say in a moment like this. A moment of loss, of ruin and destruction. Teroth looked hopeful as we walked and as he took a turn towards what I recognised was the uncharted forest, he began talking about the future. I felt a small, hesitant smile growing on my lips as I listened to him.

'-could be a baker, you always did say you liked that pastime.' Teroth suggested with a smile. 'As for me, my mother told me that I had a way with farming like my elder brothers and fathers so perhaps I will do just that!'

My brows went up when I heard him mention his family. In the two centuries I had spent in the palace, I had never heard of a single tale from any of the Prophets' pasts, not even the Oracles or Seers. It was like an unspoken rule to leave behind all that was past and to move forward. To hear him speak of his family was something personal and yet, he looked like he had told me something that was not as private as it had been.

'You are from a different kingdom, then?' I asked softly as I hid my hands within my sleeves. 'Visal had not yet legalised polygamy for all our peace and acceptance.'

Teroth shook his head. 'My parents are not married. They all just live together, share the taxes, raised us all. We are no lesser a family than any other.' He replied easily. 'Knowing my mother, she would have foreseen this war and I am positive that they are far from Visal now.' Turning to face me, Teroth smiled widely. 'Someday, 'Linor, you will meet them! I just know Father, Mama and Baba will love you!'

I ducked my head and tried to tamp down the smile that threatened to overcome me. 'Oh, I highly doubt that, 'Roth.' I mumbled.

'Honest, 'Linor!' Teroth insisted, his pale grey eyes shining with eagerness. 'Knowing Mama, she would-'

'Teroth!' It was Halor's alarmed cry that stopped our gradually lightening moods and before I knew it, Teroth took me by the arm and pulled me away as we began running.

Behind me, I could hear Chasianna screaming and Halor shouting, I could hear Sir Thráinul saying something in the alien tongue of his home, I could hear the enraged hissed shrieks of the salamanders. But all I saw was the forestry engulfing me and Teroth as he pulled me into the forest, the centauroi guard sword held tightly in his untrained hands.

~~oOoOoOoOo~~

It did not take too long for our legs to give out under us but when it did, we had managed to get reasonably far that we took comfort in our distance. Clutching onto Teroth's robes, I closed my eyes and let out a trembling breath.

'You don't think Oracles Halor and Chasianna are...'

Teroth looked at me and for a moment, I thought that he would affirm my worst fears before his grey eyes glowed with an unearthly light before dimming in only a few seconds. He had a reassuring smile as he held me close against him.

'Don't worry, 'Linor,' He told me, his voice quiet as he allowed me to curl against him, 'all will be well. You'll see.'

I was not even given a moment to believe my friend's words before the forest was set ablaze above us.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: So just in case you guys are curious about everyone's heights, here they are!

Aelinor: In Sestavar - 7'6"
Teroth - 7'11"
Dagadan - 8'0"
Halor - 8'5"
Chasianna - 7'10"

Thorin - 4'10"
Frerin - 4'8"
Fili - 4'6"
Kili - 4'8"
Balin - 4'5"
Dwalin - 4'11"
Bofur - 4'8"
Bombur - 4'5"
Bifur - 4'10"
Oin - 4'9"
Gloin - 4'7"
Dori - 4'7"
Nori - 4'11"
Ori - 4'5"
Bilbo - 3'10"

ANSWERING REVIEWS:

ro781727 - I love your headcanon on how that is! That's an interesting take on how I did the gods of Sestavar!