Chapter Four: The Shadow of Weathertop

The place now know as Amon Sûl too had changed since Niphredil had walked this road thirty-five years ago. Then, there had been only a small watch tower and some barracks. Now there was a fortress on the hill-top and a sprawling town circling the hill. A manor-house on the hillside belonged to the Duke, who also commanded the fortress. The wizard, however, was not interested in the Gondorians – her mission had nothing to do with Elessar's realm. Therefore she decided it was best if they avoided the town entirely – there might be people there who would recognise Prince Mircal, and unnecessary courtesy would only slow their journey. They drove the wagon through the outskirts of the town to the eastern side of the hill, where a forest remained. They made camp just like all other nights in the wild. Narannon was now one of the group, for although he was older than the others, he liked young company and was glad the other mixed bloods accepted him. He had been told of the mission, of course, and was proud to be a part of it. He said he had wandered some when he was younger and wouldn't mind returning to a life outdoors. None of the ailments of age bothered him – but he was even older they had thought, about seventy, born in Saruman's Isengard. One of the fallen wizard's experiments.

Niphredil took the first watch after supper. Elena went to climb part of the way up the uninhabited side of the hill, and sometime after she had gone, Gilliam also walked into the forest. Niphredil wasn't worried; it was good the siblings kept together, for after all, they were the Morningstar together.

Elena climbed as high as she dared without coming into the view of the watchmen who must stand on the fortress walls. She breathed deep and looked at the familiar stars above her.

I am elen-a, she thought, Elena the Morningstar. I wonder what it means. Eärendil be with me and Elbereth guard my path, she prayed, putting her hand on the pocket that held the Phial. I am the Morningstar and so is Gilliam. What is it that awaits us beyond the Misty Mountains, beyond the Elven Woods and the Long Lake, far in the East? Somewhere there the mountains must be, she stared into the eastern horizon, and beyond them is our adventure. Shall we slay spiders like Bilbo, and must we too outwit a dragon? I'm glad we have a grand company. Mircal has a spear and a shield he keeps in the wagon, Neldohír an elven sword that glowed a bit when Narannon touched it. Narannon, he has a two-bladed axe, one blade for woodchopping and the other for battle. Neldohír and Narannon get along well, and they joke their weapons are mortal enemies – an orc-hating sword and an Ent-chopping axe. Gala has a dwarf weapon the like of which I have never seen – a battle-hammer. She holds it either two-handed or in her left hand, which is the stronger. Her right hand is the precise one. And Gilliam has Sting, Niphredil the bow Cúlind. I am the only one unarmed. But I think I would be more afraid if I had some sharp weapon I couldn't use anyway. At least I have the mithril mail.

Elena stood long under the stars, thinking about the road ahead. Then she made her way down. Niphredil stood at the edge of the clearing, staring into the darkness, perhaps waiting for Elena.

'Here I am', the girl said, stepping into the circle of firelight.

'Elena? But I thought you went to bed already. I heard somebody going into the wagon. Where is Gilliam?' The half-Maia asked.

'Gilliam? Is he missing?' Elena asked, worried now.

'I thought he followed you uphill. And then I heard a hobbit going into the wagon, and I thought it was you, and so I wondered where Gilliam was and have been waiting for him.' Niphredil explained.

'Then Gilliam must be in the wagon and there is no need to worry.' Elena assured Niphredil.

'Is there? He has been there a long time. Alone with Gala.' Worry darkened the wizard-woman's features.

'So what? My brother is a honourable person.' Elena said defiantly.

'So is Gala. Yet I worry. But it is not my business. It is your brother and your sleeping place, so go there and talk with them. I'll be keeping watch – for all dangers.' Niphredil returned to the fire.

Elena obeyed, reading more alarm in Niphredil's eyes than her voice betrayed. She walked to the wagon. Inside, she heard no voices, only the heavy breath of two people. Perhaps Gilliam had fallen asleep? She climbed up, making the floor creak. When her eyes accustomed to the dim light, she saw Gala and Gilliam lie down in a tight embrace. Their breathing was heavy, but also fast in a disturbing way. Gilliam's body was on top of Gala's in a strange position, and the floor creaked under them as they moved in a steady rhythm. They hadn't noticed Elena.

Elena screamed.

Then Gala screamed, and Gilliam threw himself away from the dwarf-girl and up.

'Elena! I can explain!'

'Why do you have to explain? She is your sister, not your wife.' Gala pointed out.

'I mean, we did nothing!' Gilliam said.

'At least, nothing forbidden.' Gala softened the claim.

'Yes. We love each other so we wanted to hold each other, for once. That is all.' Gilliam's face was flushed, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

Elena was puzzled. Of course it was all. What did they think she had thought? But she forced herself to say:

'I see. Now, would you mind if I went to sleep? In my own bed, please.' She said firmly.

'Of course. Good night, Elena. Good night, Gala. Sleep well.' Gilliam said, and went out before the girls had time to reply. Elena and Gala stared after him in silence. Suddenly the dwarf girl started giggling in spasms.

'Gala?'

The other managed finally to control herself. Wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, she explained:

'I'm sorry, Elena. These are no laughing matters. But don't you think Gilliam is a bit funny when he's embarrassed?'

'Oh, yes, he is! More than a bit. But I don't get it. Why was he so embarrassed?' Elena was truly confused now.

'Why did you scream?' Gala threw back.

'I don't know. I thought, like, something was wrong with you – some kind of nervous attac, the way you moved.'

Gala started giggling again. Elena blushed, knowing she had said something silly.

'Nervous attack! Gosh, you Hobbits amaze me! You really didn't think that we might be making love?' Gala was trying hard not to collapse into another giggle fit.

'Making what?'

'Love.'

'I heard you. But how can one make it? I thought one either loves or doesn't. Not even magic can make you love someone you don't, except in fairy stories.' Elena tried to be logical about it.

'Sweet little Elena. You really don't know? Hasn't your mother told you? I thought she was a midwife.' Gala asked, patiently-

'What has that got to do with it? Of course I know what to do to help a woman giving birth. You're not pregnant.' Elena didn't understand Gala's meaning.

'No. But didn't you think that I might be getting myself pregnant?' Gala was getting frustrated at having to explain things as if to a child.

'Oh.'

And for a while, Elena said nothing more.

'So that's how it happens. Being close like that. I always thought – I thought that it would hurt, like giving birth does. And that it has nothing to do with love, but it's kind of a duty after one is married. I never thought somebody would do it for fun, or when it was forbidden, except evil men.' The hobbit lass finally mused, half to herself.

'Is that what your mother told you?' Gala asked, fascinated now.

'No. She never told me very much. She said I wasn't ready yet, that she would tell me when I was of age.' Elena admitted. She was thirty-two, and hobbits came of age at thirty-three.

'She was probably right. You are almost a child still, Elena. But you are also my friend. I love you as much as I love Gilliam. We have been talking, he and I, and we plan to get married if we survive this adventure. We don't know where we will live, but we thought that if you wish, you could live with us. I mean, I'm quite affluent and likely to get more money than one family can spend once I become a master smith. So if you like we could all live together, and your husband, too.' Gala offered generously.

'Oh, Gala! I would love it. Especially if I never marry. I've been kind of thinking I might rather not.' Elena said.

'Despite what you just learned from me?' Gala asked, smirking.

'Yes. I would like to be free, like Niphredil. She goes where she wants to go and does whatever she wants to do.' Elena's eyes shone.

'Well, she is a wizard.' the dwarf-maiden sounded doubtful.

'Yes, but she was like that already as a child. She left Tol Eresseä at the age of twenty-six, finding it too small a world for her, and the Blessed Realm too close a temptation. Before that, she says she was a troublesome child. I was always nice and polite, but I don't want to be too nice and polite the rest of my life. I'm on my way to adventure!' Elena declared defiantly.

'Monsters beware! We are coming for you!' Gala flexed her tool hand.

Now they both giggled.

Niphredil heard the merry sound as she came from watch duty; Gilliam had taken the early morning watch.

'What? You are still awake at this hour? Gala, might I remind you that you have the watch tomorrow evening. You should be getting rest.'

'Oh. Sorry. I forgot. We were just talking.' Gala apologized.

'Of course you were. But I know what you and Gilliam did before that. You girls woke all the others with those screams, but I managed to convince them that Gilliam had played a ghost-prank on you. Then he came to me and whispered his confession.' Niphredil looked furious now.

'Please, don't be angry.' Gala begged.

'What for? Because you hugged a bit too passionately? I am in no position to be angry for that. But please be patient. We have a long road ahead, and that means a long engagement, if indeed you plan to marry.' Niphredil's face broke into a wide grin.

'Engagement?' Gala stared at her elder friend.

'I think that might be a good idea. Help you be faithful in your love and all that. You are a jewel-smith, so you could make the rings yourself. You shall find all materials you could wish for in Rivendell, and I might be able to negotiate some mithril as a gift.'

'Oh, Niphredil! That is too much!' Gala was taken aback.

'You mean you are not serious enough to get engaged?' Niphredil frowned again.

'No, I mean you are far to kind.' the young dwarf explained.

'Generousity is in my blood, from the Baggins side.' The wizard-woman grinned.

'I will tell Gilliam tomorrow.' Gala promised.

'Perhaps you had better wait a bit. Let him cool down. His emotions are quite mixed right now. He loves you, but he is also embarrassed. Let his wounded pride heal.' Niphredil suggested.