Chapter 6 - The Red Star

Arreion cast himself to the ground. He was shivering to the core, though not with the cold. Curses spun through his mind, but he was rendered mute, as though the hollow despair welling up inside him had stolen his very voice. He hated that silence. It was huge; heavy. It left him alone with his troubles, the series of foolish decisions which had brought him to this ruinous pass. How simple life had been once. During the bright days of his youth, Annariel had shimmered like a dazzling star in his arms, and his love for her was new and strong. He closed his grey eyes.

His mind was near overthrown, and the darkness magnified each precious memory of Tinuial before his eyes - each soft word she had spoken to him, each stolen glance of her sweet face, each smile. In secret his love for her had grown, and of late his heart had pounded to the point of bursting at the mere mention of her name. The briefest glimpse of her eyes, the very scent of her, struck a furious longing through his soul. For this was no innocent child's love such as he had felt for Annariel; it was somehow dark, and clandestine, seething through his veins like a secret venom. His heart throbbed with it, hot and heavy within him like a corrupt and burning jewel. It was a tawdry and sullied love, to be sure, yet it seemed to cling to his very bones, tormenting him as his pure and gentle adoration of Annariel had never done. Yet naught was there to be done. He could never forsake Annariel, any more than he could wed a mortal. And now even his love for Annarial, once so pure, grew daily more embittered, mingled with remorse, and his guilt and sorrow had become an inescapable burden. It shamed him beyond endurance that he should so taint these two maidens - these two sisters, he thought forlornly - with his cruel and jaded love. He opened his fevered eyes. Gazing into the dark distance, he started as he beheld a faint glimmer on the Eastern horizon. he dragged himself uncertainly to his feet, and peered at the distant glare.

'This is no light of dawn, unless my eyes are deceived!' He said aloud in his surprise. 'More like to flame it appears.' He stood for some time in silent thought, and as he regarded the ominous light, it appeared to creep closer, to brighten as the minutes passed. He knew not what this might mean, yet it did not seem to bode well. With his mind and soul in tatters, he turned from that place and stumbled away in search of his companions.

The heavy darkness lay all about, and a tear rolled silently down Tinuial's cold cheek. She sat huddled in the dell, and her companions lay asleep nearby, save Arreion. He had not yet returned. Tinuial sobbed at the memory of the kiss, for she could think only of the pain she would cause Annariel, were she to discover what had befallen. She surely had no choice but to suppress her own growing feelings for Arreion, to nip them in the bud; for how could she steal the love of Arreion from her sister without shame? In any case, she could never love him as Annariel did, with such true and ceaseless devotion. Yet she longed now for his touch, and for that sweet, forbidden kiss to become more than a bitter memory. Tinuial could not bear to think on it too deeply, to fully probe the magnitude of her feelings towards Arreion. She had no wish to fathom the depths of her agony.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and recognised the firm, steady stride of Arreion. She hurriedly covered herself in a blanket and lay upon the ground, in the hope that he would believe her to be asleep. Yet she was wakeful, and wept still in the mournful silence. Arreion said nothing, and appeared not to move, yet he stood nearby, and Tinuial perceived that he watched her. And so he did, though he was soon distracted. For soon, the distant noise of the approach of galloping horses could clearly be heard.

'Awake!' Cried Arreion to his companions. Annariel and Thaliondil stirred dreamily, and Tinuial pretended to wake. When they all were fully alert, they each heard for themselves the strange sound.

'What are we to do?' Annariel asked, gazing fearfully into the West, from whence the sounds came.

'We must flee!' Thaliondil urged, 'Or hide at the least. Thus far we have travelled in secrecy, and I do not wish to be discovered now. We know not the nature of those who approach.'

'I cannot guess what is afoot in these lands,' Arreion replied, his brow furrowed as he gazed into the shrouded West. 'Yet I have beheld a light in the East that is not dawn. I guess it is a fire. It may be that we are beset with evils.'

'Whoever these Riders may be, swifter than the wings of Eagles they ride!' Annariel exclaimed. She spoke the truth, for the clatter of the hooves was now almost upon them. Arreion listened with interest.

'I believe we should meet with them.' He said, 'They ride from the West, and may be come from our own land. I know, Thaliondil, that you would keep your departure a secret, yet mayhap these folk will have news of the approaching fire, which I would learn more of. The very sight of it made me shiver with dread, though I know not why. Some dark foreboding lies in that flame.'

'Your words do naught to comfort me,' Thaliondil sighed. 'Yet I deem that you are correct. If we were to conceal ourselves then the Riders would swiftly pass us by. I too would hear more of this fire, for I do not like the sound of it. It would seem that they ride to meet it.'

'Where is the fire?' Annariel asked, 'for I can discern nothing.' She surveyed the brooding darkness to the East

'I felt I had no need of rest, and I wandered a short way into the hills,' Arreion answered quickly. ' I stood in a high place, and from that vantage I beheld it. It's source was hidden by the shadows of the hills, and I could discern merely the red glimmer of its presence. Yet it was drawing closer, I think.'

The sound of galloping hooves echoed now amid the hills, and seemed to glance upon each stone and blade of grass. Despite this, Arreion noted that the number of the approaching riders was not great - two, perhaps, or three. Thaliondil unveiled the lantern, and the bright gleam fell upon their intent faces. Arreion turned from the light, and peered into the West. When the swift Riders were almost at hand, he cried out to them in his clear voice.

'Hail, strangers!' He shouted, 'What goes forth?'

Two large shapes halted in the gloom - tall men upon great steeds. One figure dismounted, and strode into the light. He was cloaked and hooded in dark grey, and his shadowed face was barely visible, though the occasional glint of sharp eyes could be seen. He was tall and proud, and held himself like a King.

'Who might you be?' He demanded, his voice none too soft.

'I am a huntsmen of Nargothrond.' Arreion answered courteously, 'My name is Arreion.'

'Well, Arreion of Nargothrond, I would advise you to leave this place as soon as may be, unless you are skilled in battle. A company of Orcs approaches whom it is our task to defeat, and if you value your life, you will flee. Soon enough will the swords of Nargothrond be needed elsewhere.'

'I would gladly fight! Though I wield rather the bow than the sword,' Arreion chided. 'Yet at this time we have other matters to attend to.'

'I doubt it not.' The stranger replied shortly, 'Yet if you can be of no help to us, we must away.' He turned to leave, but Thaliondil strode forward.

'Wait!' He cried, 'I will fight - hopeless as it may seem.' The stranger turned to Thaliondil, and stood looking into the Elf's sharp grey eyes. It was some time before he spoke.

'We are in need of aid - that I cannot hide from you. What is your name?' He asked thoughtfully. 'Your face is strangely familiar to me, though we have not met, I think.'

'I am Thaliondil, son of Durthol.' He replied proudly.

'As I thought!' Cried a voice from the shadow, the remaining rider dismounted and came forward. He drew back his heavy hood, and stood a little behind his tall companion, who was still cloaked in secrecy. As the man strode into the light, Thaliondil looked hard at his uncovered face, and recognised him as the rider with light flaxen hair who had approached their house some days before, calling Durthol to battle. He stared aghast at the stranger, as though unsure of how to react.

'Who are you?' Thaliondil asked at last, his eyes hard and cold in the clear light of the lantern. The two strangers exchanged glances, and the tall man who had first spoken drew his hood from his face, standing before Thaliondil. The stranger's face was proud; stern, though not unfriendly.

'Hail, son of Durthol,' the stranger said slowly. 'I am Carnil. This is my companion, Erdal '

Tinuial almost cried aloud, for this was not her first meeting with Carnil. In the deep shade of the sombre forest she had beheld him first, and in that shadow he had foretold that they would meet once more. She studied him intently now, absorbing every detail of his appearance. She had not noticed before, but he was young, perhaps only a few years older than herself. He wore his proud posture, his stern and stoic manner like a glamour; yet his grim expression, along with many days' worth of grime and weariness, could not utterly conceal the trace of youthful softness to his face. Tinuial had been slightly in awe of him at their first meeting, but now she straightened herself up and looked him in the eye. He was no better than she was; and only a little older. And he was certainly no gentleman.

'Have you any news of my father?' Thaliondil half-whispered. Carnil's face fell; his sudden sorrow was like the slipping of a mask.

'I am sorry,' his voice was low and gentle as he spoke. 'Your father was slain. Yet he fell valiantly, and with much honour.' A sudden cry erupted from Annariel, muffled as she flung herself into Arreion's arms. A spasm of anguish crossed Thaliondil's features, and he turned away from the strangers. Tinuial's eyes brimmed with tears, though she herself was rendered mute with the pain. She had known it, of course. There had been no question in her heart as to whether Durthol had perished. She had known already that he lay dead, somewhere. She wasn't sure precisely why this news should fill her with such dismay, such shock; but it did.

'Needless was his riding to battle,' Thaliondil rasped after a heavy pause, his throat constricted by emotion, 'I hold you not to blame, for his own folly it was which drove him to such a fate. Death was indeed his only desire, in the end. Yet neither do I regard you as friend - nor any who had a hand in my father's death. My grief does not allow it.' He turned to face Carnil squarely. His face was pale and sorrowful, but his eyes were dry, bleak. There was a shadow of defiance in his stance.

'I see your pain,' said Carnil, 'And I do not ask you to fight alongside us.'

'Yet fight I shall,' replied Thaliondil determinedly, 'For my death lies not at the hands of any Orc.' Carnil looked intently at Thaliondil as though measuring his strength, though his gaze strayed once to the face of Tinuial, which was now streaked with silent tears.

'Perhaps it will be so.' He replied steadily, 'In any case, your father would be many times avenged, ere you fell.'

'My brother!' Annariel wailed, clutching furiously at his shaking hand. 'Do not err as our father did! It is madness to fight! We must flee!' Hot tears streamed down her fair face, and her blue eyes glistened fitfully. Carnil met her frenzied gaze, and took a step forward.

'You cannot escape, Lady!' He warned her. 'When Orcs are attacked by a fierce enemy, and the battle goes ill for them, they think more of saving their own skins than of fighting! Though some will give battle, many will turn and flee. In the confusion they will scatter far and wide - you cannot outrun them! This land will not be safe for many days! To fight is as good an option as any.' So stern and was his gaze that Annariel did not argue, but wept anew. Never in her life had she known such fear. She clung tightly to the hand of Arreion, her cries now tinged with hysteria. Tinuial joined Arreion in the comforting of her sister, though her own tears were now falling thicker than ever. Carnil glanced at them with wide eyes, and shook his head.

'Never have I understood womenfolk.' He murmured aside to his companion, 'I would sooner battle an entire army of Orcs, than incur the wrath of a hysterical maiden.' Erdal nodded with quiet empathy. Tinuial frowned. Rude, insensitive man! Had he any notion of their fear and anguish at all? Did he merely think them weak and foolish to weep when he had just informed them of their father's - and very likely their own impending - death? But of course, he was naught but a wandering vagabond. Why had she expected better of him?

Thaliondil strained his eyes fearfully into the East, where he thought he could hear the distant cries of harsh voices, though as yet he could see nothing.

'They are not far.' Erdal murmured in a hushed voice. 'Yet will they reach this place for some hours. Stony hills lie between them and us, and all paths in this land wind about the hollows.'

'We must go forth to meet them.' Thaliondil declared coldly. The news of his father's death had affected him strangely. After his initial emotional response, something appeared to have frozen within him. His fair grey eyes were blank, his features bore no trace of expression. He was like an empty husk of grim purpose.

'Such was our intent. We should follow yonder path ' Carnil asserted, pointing towards the hills. 'We must lure them to the higher ground and set our ambush in some advantageous location.' Thaliondil nodded curtly.

'Annariel and Tinuial should remain in this place of relative safety. Perhaps Arreion should remain to guard them, and slay any Orc that comes near, for my sisters cannot fight.'

'Can they not?' Carnil shot a quick glance at Tinuial, but said no more. She glared back steadily at him.

'I shall protect them.' Arreion affirmed slowly. He seemed deep in thought.

'Urgency is needed,' Carnil explained hurriedly, 'We must depart at once, and travel swift. Thus we will be far from this place ere battle commences. We leave the horses here, or else the Orcs would hear our approach, and be ready for us - our hope lies in secrecy!' He led his grey horse close to where Annariel and Arreion sat huddled together. Thaliondil bade them farewell sombrely, and never had Annariel been so sorrowful as in that hour. She wept bitterly, though she was calmer now, and lucid.

'I am afraid, Thaliondil. A shadow looms before us, and I fear there can be no escape.' Her once merry face was now pinched and pale, weary and desperate beyond endurance.

'Fear not for my safety.' Her brother whispered softly, 'My fate leads me on, and no Orc can defeat me. Though I would cast aside my own life to preserve yours, I must away. I vow, upon your very life, my sister - I shall return!' Tinuial frowned, but did not seek to dissuade him. She knew as well as any how incredibly stubborn her brother could be when he had made up his mind.

As he was about to depart, unmarked by the others, Carnil took the hand of Tinuial and kissed it. She did not resist his touch, slightly to her own shame, but remained silent and cold as he gazed into her face. She met his eye steadily, her expression one of frosty disdain; she was determined not to display any of the weakness he probably expected from her. Nor would she simper and smile like a foolish child. She neither liked nor trusted him, and didn't care if he knew it. A feeble and belated show of chivalry was not going to win her over.

'Farewell.' He murmured softly, and smiled as he turned and strode away, dissolving into the shadows from whence he came.