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The Hidden Kingdom

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Through stretches of woods and grasses of the open plains the travelers walked along the banks of the Narog. But they no longer pushed hard miles in their marches, for after some days Gwindor was confident they had been seen by the lookouts of the kingdom. At last they came to a large tree surrounded by a small thicket next to the river, where outpost guards were stationed in low flets and a well-camouflaged hut, where they were taken for questioning.

Here Gwindor vouched for his mortal companions, though he would not yet give their names. The soldiers at the outpost were in great wonder by the presence of all three, but still wary, and committed them to come before their king under guard. But they were provided with horses at least, much relieved to be off their feet for a while. They continued onward alongside the river, passing through more checkpoints, and from the last station at the towering hill overlooking the plains the guards led them through the secret paths to the hidden entrance that faced southward over the Ringwil. From here Mírian looked out over the south of Beleriand, seeing much from the heights of the hills, wondering how far it was to the havens.

At the cave entrance was a portcullis gate of iron, guarded by the tall hunters of the Sindar in their gray cloaks. At a light touch the guard lifted it open without so much as a soft creak. After this they passed through a long large tunnel which was kept dark but for an array of soft lamps starting many steps beyond the opening. This tunnel was heavily guarded by several wardens, scarcely seen in the low light, yet richly uniformed in gleaming armor and embroidered fabrics. At the end of the tunnel was another gate of steel - two large fence doors, which also opened silently by the same lightness of touch. Coming out to the wider cave beyond it Mírian and Túrin now saw that which no other mortals had yet seen: the guarded cave realm of Nargothrond. The sun was setting, and through shafted windows in the sides of the hills the fading light illuminated the broad avenue leading to the courts of the palace, with statues and fair fountains and pools sourced from some great pure lake deep underneath the thick bed of mountain rock upon which they walked. Glittering chandeliers of many colored gems hung low from the high ceilings, casting the light into many colors on all the surfaces, and there were homes and columns and curving staircases and balconies cunningly carved from the bones of the hills. As the sunlight faded the underground city was soon graced with a dazzling display of the incomparable lanterns of the Noldor, along with the warm glow of the lamps of the Sindar, casting in all directions their fair blue and yellow light onto bejeweled works of building and art.

The three travelers came to a large yard for festivities and training, and stopped there, standing not far from great doors of bronze decorated with images in gold and silver and copper and many gems large and small, beneath a grand balcony. They all knelt as the doors opened and King Orodreth came forth, with his family and counselors following, all finely dressed in fair garments and fine jewels. The guards presented the bereft looking guests to their lord. Mírian did her best to straighten up and stand tall and proud before these majestic folk, in spite of, or perhaps because of, her pitiful appearance of which she was now feeling keenly aware. The king and his court looked on amazed, both at the waned elf warrior, long assumed dead and returned nearly unrecognizable, but also at the presence of the two mortals in his following.

Some had some doubt that the elf was who he said, but the princess looked on in rejoicing. She stepped up to the king's side. "Indeed it is he, father!" she said quietly. "Our lost knight and prince still lives! I see this in him clearly."

She prepared to go forth and welcome him, but the king stayed her a moment, and bade the warden presenting the visitors to continue. The warden then deferred to the elf in question, who gave a brief account of himself these past many years, and then turned to introduce his companions.

Túrin interrupting gave his preferred name, but then Gwindor came to the girl. "This, my king, is the lady Mírian, daughter of Huor son of Galdor, and Rían daughter of Belegund. I bid her come with me for safety and healing, but also she claims an errand of message to you."

The growing crowd in the court looked on in surprise. The king was inclined to gladly welcome her as kin of Galdor and Barahir, but he was wary, and he held cool and grave. "Welcome, lady. It is my honor to host the child of Huor, and any who hold kinship with Beren and Barahir, dearest of friends to my brother Felagund. But first, I think, we should hear this message."

Mírian looked up at the king and around apprehensively at his court, and over to her companions. Gwindor nodded at her, now a little nervous that she might prove unsound in her claims, after he had brought her all this way to vouch for her. But slowly she lifted the cord from around her neck and drew out the brooch from under her layers. All were struck by the sight of the dark stripes of chain-link burn marks across her hands and neck which they now noticed as she reached up from under the cloak for the necklace.

"Lord, if I may ask, do you know this token?" she asked in perfect Sindarin, holding it out in her palm.

Then King Orodreth was astounded, as were most standing near to see, for they all indeed knew it well. But with the keen mind and sight of his people the king looked into her eyes, in a cautious probing of mind, and the light of the West was bright and fierce in his piercing Noldoli eyes. But the courage of her house was lit in her heart, and the grace of Ulmo strengthened her, and she held steady his gaze.

At length he answered. "Yes, child," he said slowly, "I do know it. How came you by it?"

"I found it, in the surf of the Great Sea," she answered, "on the beaches at the Firth of Drengrist. Not more than two months ago now, I believe."

A murmur went up through the crowd looking on, but the king held up his hand and the din hushed. But he could read no lie in her, nor any mistake of a fey heart. The chill in his face and voice softened. "This was given by my father's brother as a gift to their mother when he was yet young, upon achieving mastery of his craft. That lady remains in the West with her people, and was still wearing it when we left. There is a most interesting tale behind finding it, I deem. Come then, lady, to the throne room where we may be seated for our comfort, and you shall tell it to us."

And so they were all led into the throne room upstairs and provided cushioned chairs, and small tables with cups of water. Then Mírian proceeded to tell them the tale of fleeing her home by Lake Mithrim with some of her foster folk of the woodland elves, and of finding the brooch on their journey to refuge in the south. But when her tale reached the eaves of the forest she faltered, loth to recall the event of her capture. She began clasping at her wrists as she trailed off and her gaze drifted to the floor. Gwindor with understanding set a hand on her shoulder, and she let out a deep breath.

Orodreth was moved with pity, and gently he said, "My knight and prince Lord Gwindor said you have a message for me? Surely there is more to your tale than you have yet told?"

Then Mírian stirred again, and looked up. "Yes, lord," she replied, "for the meaning of this token, and what I was meant to do with it, was revealed to me slowly in dreams. By them shall I deliver my message." And so she proceeded to tell them of the strange dreams that came to her upon reaching the firth. Amazement anew came over the court, for she gave a detailed description of Eldamar Bay in springtime, of which no mortal would have any knowledge. A portrait of the lady on the bridge she also described, and the voice of the Lady of the Seas. At last she came to the final dream, and she rose to standing, and recited the riddling rhyme of warning.

"Lord Orodreth," she continued, now with a certainty in her heart she had not known before, and all the court noted a shift in her tone, and she seemed to stand taller, no longer seeming a lost and forlorn young mortal but a stately ruler among the high elves, "I have come to convey that there is no hope in this war by might of arms, and the defenses of the great elf kingdoms will fail at the last, and Ulmo urges you all to remove to the refuge of Lord Cirdan's realm in the havens of the south. The Lord of Waters has spoken."

A hush fell over the room. None now knew quite how to respond, and might otherwise have scoffed at such an insulting notion, from such a young mortal no less. But, such was the gravity in her voice and majesty in her countenance, in that moment they all perceived that the grace of the gods was bestowed upon her, and she was truly the Vala's chosen messenger. After a long silence the king spoke again.

"I am left with no doubt that you were indeed given such a task," he said to her. "For that token belonged to Lady Indis, Queen Mother of the Second House of Finwë, who dwells still in the Uttermost West, wrought and gifted to her by her son, Fingolfin who was high king of the Noldor after his father fell. It has not been seen by any here since we departed that place long ago. And there it would still be, but for Ulmo the Vala and Uinen Maia of the Seas, if she had indeed cast it so to the waters."

"Your father and the warriors of the House of Hador served the kings of the Noldor with loyalty and valor," he continued. "And now, it seems, do the Valar task their children to our aid with their guidance. But this is a delicate matter, for our fair kingdom has long been secure here beyond the guarded plain, and it is much to ask of the proud hearts of the Noldor to flee thus from their sworn enemy, whom all our hearts hold in hate and vengeance. In the meantime I welcome home my long lost knight, and invite both of his new friends to stay as my honored guests."

"The honor would be mine to remain in this realm, lord," Mírian replied, "the most fair and wondrous place I have yet seen in Middle-earth."