Back in Zudrugund to make the potion, and an unexpected visitor arrives. Read on to find out what happens next!

Chapter 40

When we entered Zudrugund once more, I noted everyone but the twins had returned, and I felt a flicker of worry. I knew how capable they were, but even the most skilled person can get into trouble.

Luckily, I did not have long to wait, but when I saw Elrohir dragging an injured Elladan through the door, I became alarmed. "What has happened?"

Elladan replied, sounding pained, "Ah, nothing to worry about Gwin. Just a little mishap while gathering the herbs." Elrohir rolled his eyes, but he could not hide his distress from me.

"Did you get into a fight with the Dunlendings?" I asked, scanning both of them for injuries.

Elrohir shook his head, "We were able to collect the herbs without trouble, until a massive warg attacked us, one of the largest I have seen in this area. It almost pulled Elladan down the bank into the river, but I was able to shoot it fast enough." He gestured to Elladan's leg, "Unfortunately, he did not get out unscathed, but thankfully the wound is not serious." Yet another mishap involving the river; apparently it was something we should stay far away from in the future.

I sighed in relief, "We will get you some athelas salve and it will fix you right up." I walked closer and examined it. "Did you lose much blood?"

Elladan shook his head, "Thankfully the warg did not bite too deeply, but I may need some stitches." He looked at his brother, "I am sure you can assist me, muindor."

Elrohir smiled, "Of course. Let us move further into the hall and find a suitable spot."

After stitching him up, Elrohir looked at me closely. "I sense your journey was also not free of trouble?"

I huffed a laugh, "You have always seen right through me Elrohir." I looked at Calenglad, unsure of how to put it into words without alarming them overmuch. I did not wish to lie, but the twins tended to be very protective of me.

Calenglad took the initiative, "Gwinthilnel mentioned she ran into a worm matron while collecting her ingredient, but had no difficulty in defeating it." He paused, hesitating to continue. "However, I got into a spot of trouble. Two Dunlendings snuck up on me and tried to drown me in the river." A gasp came from Corunir, and Calenglad continued. "Thankfully, Gwinthilnel was nearby and rescued me, although it led to more…difficulties." He stopped there, and I noticed he was waiting for me to chime in.

"I killed one of the two, and restrained the other. He told me he was of the Draig-luth clan, and apparently, they are loyal to Saruman. He did not appreciate me telling him that Saruman was a lying traitor, and he turned the tables on me with a well-placed elbow to the head."

Elrohir raised an eyebrow, exasperated. "Was it really the right thing to say to him Gwin?"

I shrugged unapologetically, "I may not have used those exact words, but I wanted to at least try and explain that Saruman cannot be trusted." I rubbed my slightly aching head. "The results were not what I was hoping for."

I hesitated; the twins had worried looks on their faces, and I could see them rapidly assessing me for injuries. Plowing on, I averted my eyes and said, "He was able to restrain me, and said he was going to bring me to his village, but if Calenglad tried to save me, he would kill me instead. He...ah, he happened to have a knife to my throat." I flicked a glance up to Elrohir's face, which was pale, but whether it was from fear or anger I could not tell. "However, I tricked him by pretending I was cursing him with some made-up spell, as the Dunlendings are very suspicious of Elves. It frightened him so much, he let me go and ran for it." My face reddened, "I happened to use some of the Quenyan curses you both taught me." Both of the twins rolled their eyes, but I could still tell how upset they were.

"Do you think he will tell his village of you two?" Corunir said softly. He seemed a little troubled, but sounded calm.

I shook my head, "He believes I cursed him and his village; he may assume if he tells anyone, disaster will strike them. At least, I hope so. Besides, he does not know where we are stationed. We will just have to be more careful, just in case I am wrong in this."

Elladan limped over to me and assessed my neck and head. Apparently, there were no visible markings. He pulled me into a hug and whispered, "I am glad you are safe penneth." I thought perhaps I should be annoyed at him and Elrohir for continuing to call me a child, but it comforted me.

Frithgeir had been doing something on the 2nd floor, but after hearing our voices, he came over to us. He looked delighted when he saw all of the ingredients on the table. "Well done! I will begin making the brew in just a moment."

True to his word, it was only a short time before the water was boiling. "Now I will add the ingredients you collected. The odor will be quite pungent, so perhaps you should speak with the rest of your friends that have come to Zudrugund while it steeps," Frithgeir suggested to me.

Unfortunately, it really was quite terrible-smelling. "As I said, the odor is rather unpleasant, though I find that it does clear the cobwebs away when I am feeling under the weather," Frithgeir said, looking a little contrite. "It will be some time before the brew is ready."

Corunir moved closer and frowned, "How long?"

Frithgeir shrugged. "It seems to vary each time, but I would say a few hours."

I raised an eyebrow, but did not comment.

"I would take some time to talk amongst yourselves if I were you," Frithgeir repeated, looking at us oddly. It made me suspicious.

Not sure what to make of this, I turned back towards our group and we moved far away from the brewing potion, to try and lessen the odor.

Corunir was clearly deep in thought, and before I could ask him about it, he spoke, "I do not know what to make of this dwarf Nar. Where did all of his people go? Why would they leave him behind? And what could he have seen that might leave him so...addled?"

I nodded in agreement, "Frithgeir seems to be kind-hearted, and it seems to me that Nar would be hard-pressed to survive here for any period of time without him, but there is something not quite right about these two."

"We need to figure out what that is; trusting Frithgeir is difficult because of this missing information." Elladan added. "So many books, and none of them taken when Nar's people left him. It puzzles me. It is clear that many dwarves once lived here, but where they have gone and why is a mystery. I suspect that even Frithgeir's brew will not clear Nar's mind sufficiently for him to provide us all of the answers we seek."

Calenglad sighed, looking suspiciously at Nar, who was currently sitting on the floor and having a deep conversation with the air next to him, and warming his hands on an imaginary fire. "I understand why we have taken this brief excursion into the mountains, for if Nona is satisfied by what we learn here, our dealings with the Uch-luth should be made easier. But what can we really learn from this dwarf? He does not seem even to notice us!" It was indeed frustrating.

Nar became suddenly distressed, and started crying hysterically. We all turned to him, alarmed. He cried, "Oh, I cannot go in there! Please, my lord Thrór, do not make me!"

"Thrór? Can he mean the late King Thrór?" Elrohir said, astonished. "I cannot believe he can be so old as to have known him!"

I was watching Nar closely, and replied, "Dwarves can live several hundred years; we do not know his age. Perhaps he indeed did know the King…perhaps this was the home of his people when they were in exile?" It was difficult putting the pieces together. What was he begging Thrór not to make him do?

Before I could approach him, someone was banging loudly on the door to Zudrugund. Worried it was an enemy, all of us armed ourselves and approached cautiously, including Frithgeir. "Who is it that knocks on the door of Zudrugund?" the dwarf yelled, and I was surprised at the commanding tone of his voice.

"Where is the leader of this place? I demand to speak with your chief!" the voice yelled, and I noted it was a woman's voice; it sounded familiar…

…was it Nona?

"What is your name? I will not allow you to enter without answering!" Frithgeir replied firmly.

I noticed the person pause, and then say, "It is Nona, daughter of Sulvuch, of the Uch-luth, and I demand to hear about what happened to my brother Wadu!"

I glanced at Frithgeir and noticed he had gone quite pale. Clearly, he knew something more about Wadu than he had said. He was frozen in place, and I decided to take things into my own hands. I opened the door, and Nona stormed in. She looked quite surprised to see us all there, but her surprise turned to anger when she laid eyes on Frithgeir, and then Nar, who was still crying by the fire. Assuming Nar was the leader due to his elder status, she shouted, "You! Dwarf!"

Nar turned to her and wiped his tears, looking confused. In that moment, I felt quite sorry for him. His face suddenly broke into a wide grin, and he turned to the person he thought was next to him and said, "Bring a spare mug, Hervin!"

Nona took it as an insult and stormed over to him, "Do you mock me, dwarf?"

I moved quickly and grabbed her arm, for she looked about to strike Nar. She whirled around, and her eyes were full of both anger and fear. "Gwinthilnel, what is going on here?"

Side-stepping that for the moment, I asked, "How did you find this place? How long have you been looking?"

Before Nona could answer, Frithgeir jumped as he noticed the color of the smoke of the potion change from a light green to a deep purple. "It is ready!" he exclaimed.

"What is ready?" Nona asked, wrinkling her nose. "What is that foul-smelling liquid?"

I gestured to Nar, "It is a potion which is supposed to clear the mind of this dwarf, whose name is Nar, so he can answer questions clearly. As you can see, he is very confused, and we need information on your brother and if Saruman is involved."

Nona huffed, "Well, that is why I am here."

Frithgeir walked up to Nar and said, "Look Nar, I have this for you!"

Nar looked at it curiously, "Wow, that is strong-smelling stuff!" He grasped the stone handle and raised the mug into the air, saying "To your health!", and took a small sip. I noticed his eyes suddenly begin to clear, and he looked around, confused but more aware. "Who are all of you? When did you arrive in my hall?"

"Tell me what you said to my brother Wadu!" Nona yelled, unable to wait a second longer.

Nar's brow furrowed in thought, "Wadu...I know that name. We went to the father-lode, where rang the sound of hundreds of dwarf-hammers, far below Zudrugund." He thought some more, and added, "It is curious. I remember walking with Wadu among the great turning water-wheels of the Old Father, but I have not seen him since. He is not still down there, is he?"

"Wadu has been slain," I said quietly, and Nar frowned.

"Ah, that is a shame. He was most brave, wasn't he?" At this, Nona bowed her head, and I could tell she was trying very hard not to cry. "I can take you to the mine, if you'd like."

We all agreed, with Nona being the most passionate of them all.

Nona is back, and everyone is looking for answers. How well and how long will the potion work, and where is the mine? What did Wadu and Nar do down there? Or is Nar still confused and speaking nonsense? Find out next time! Thanks for reading, and review/follow/favorite if you'd like; it makes my day!