Angmar Bound, Chapter 2: Where Shadows Lie

[Eonwë]

Auros:

It was late in the evening when Auros finally crossed his threshold, and sleep was still far from him. His first task was to return to his armory, and setting the bundle with the sword on a table, he opened the hidden compartment in the back of the shelf, retrieved the bundle and stashed it away inside. He paused for a moment on the way out of the room, looking back and thinking on what he had discovered there the previous night. Heading now to his own quarters, he sat for a while by the fire in the antechamber, deep in thought, before retiring.

Rising early the next morning, he dressed and prepared to depart, but paused for a moment at the door exiting the antechamber. Looking back, he thought for a moment as his eyes lay on the parcel delivered by Aldawë that he had left sitting on the table. Closing his eyes for a moment, he decided it was time to open it. He retrieved the parcel and carried it back to his bedchamber. Placing the parcel upon his bed, he retrieved a long wooden box from underneath the bed and placed that next to the parcel. The box was ordinary, bearing no ornate design save for some flourishes on the hinges that fastened the lid to the body. Lifting the lid, he first retrieved and set aside a small box containing a silver ring, a ring second in value to him only when compared to the gold one he wore. That box now set safely, he cast open the cloth that lay within the box to reveal a sword, forged by him the winter before riding north to free Arthedain from the Witch-King. Lifting the sword, he drew it partially from its scabbard to examine the blade. The blade still shone, the light of day glinting off the edges and accenting upon the runes Auros carved into the blade the day it was forged. The Noldo resheathed the sword and set it down into the box.


Auros now turned his attention to the parcel, unfurling it to reveal that it was a cloak, still bearing the scent of elanor and niphredil. Bound within it was another sword, the mate to that which Auros had kept. Unsheathing this one showed it had been well-cared for. The blade eagerly reflected the light of day, as if it had been in seclusion for so long and now wished to be revealed to all. The runes it bore somehow managed to carry the unmistakable accents of she who had inscribed them, the same hand that had written the copy of the Ainulindallë that sat on Auros' table nearby, the song that had drawn him to the collapsed vestiges of a once glorious gazebo where he found her, her hair somehow even in the clear pale light of the full moon catching enough of Rana's radiance to reflect a hint of a fiery hue when otherwise it would be subdued.


***

The ride through the old lands of Rhudaur towards Angmar was mostly uneventful, fortunately. The remnants of the Men who lived there did not hinder their journey, and indeed, the group had not come across them. Auros had adopted the use of the Silvan hwerme of Mirkwood, with which he had some experience over the years, in order to communicate silently at a distance with Fainan and Calion when they spread out at times to check for signs of Telperos. Frali would remain with whichever of the three took the central path. So far there had been no fresh signs of anyone in the area, let alone an Elf.

Finally, about half a day's ride from the borders of old Angmar, a makeshift campsite was found, that while old, appeared to have been used recently. Auros rested his left hand upon his left sword-hilt and motioned everyone to dismount. While he examined the campsite, he signaled Fainan to check eastward and Calion westward for signs of recent arrivals or departures.

After several minutes of scouting the area, the two gathered back at Auros.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Fainan stroked the fur of Hithceleb's neck, wondering how long she would be able to do that, as they walked back to the group to report. She nodded to fellow scout, Calion, gave a reassuring smile to Frali, and stopped by Auros. She gave him a hello, reporting hand-gesture as a way of showing her pleasure that he used the hwerme with them. Aloud, she said, "This time we have sightings of undesirable traffic. Well to the east is sign of a small foraging party of goblins and Wargs. On their return to the north, they were met by heavy tracks of a few orcs who must have worn armor even in this lightly traveled area. The group went ahead towards some small ruins, so we can expect company upon reaching them. Since this campfire was recently used, I made a short check ahead. Two sets of good boots as of Men walked side by side towards the ruins, the tracks light as if wearing leather but not armor, possibly scouts unconcerned that they might be seen. The land rises steeply ahead as expected, considering the mountain ridge running from here towards the east."

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali slid from Hithceleb behind Fainan as Auros dismounted, his hand on his sword as well. While the Noldo looked around the campsite he kept his eyes on the mainroad . Never take your eyes from your back .. you never know what comes from there as he had learned so painfully many years ago.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Walking west with Quessëlómë at his side, just in case he needed to hurry back, Calion looked around and ahead. It didn't seem fruitful to scout very far. The ground here sloped down slightly, and was bare of most vegetation. A few dry grasses, shrubs, an occasional dead tree. He frowned. After spending most of his life in the forest, such a scarcity of life annoyed him. Not even the sound of a bird to be heard in the air. This didn't just feel like a matter of altitude and cold climate. The rot of Angmar was close, and it had never left these parts. And so there was no place for orc or man, or elf, to hide. Still, to find tracks, he'd need to look closer. So he went on.

No tracks, no paths that weren't fully overgrown. No remnants of a camp. No footprints. The only signs of any disturbance were the soft prints of the horse's hooves behind them. Calion left none. There was a ridge ahead, running from north to south. Leaving his companion behind for a bit, he crept down to the ridge and looked over it. A short drop of about 5 yards, down to another slope going down as far as he could see. For a moment he stared at the wide distance. The ancient kingdom of Arnor lay down there. Ruins of the cities of the Dúnedain. Forests, hills. If he looked really far, could he see the ocean? No. It was much too far, even for Elven eyes. What he saw was merely mist. The fading of distance. Forcing his eyes downwards as he leaned ever so slightly over the ridge, hidden behind an overhanging bush, he looked at what was directly below him. Nothing here either. Just rock. Dirt. No tracks here.

Calion looked to the sides. On his left, to the south, the ridge slowly grew in height, or rather the ground below it sloped down. Far away it looked rather like a cliff, but if there were caves, they were too far away to be seen or to be a threat. To the north, in contrast, as expected, the ridge shrank and disappeared as the ground sloped up to merge with the terrain on this side. But somewhere along the way, not too far, Calion spotted what looked like a cave. Dropping down lightly and moving along the ridge to the cave, it turned out to merely be a shallow hole. A rock shelter, covered from the west by shrubbery. A natural camping site or hiding place, but not even this place showed signs of use. No prints, not even a broken stick. But there was grass here, like the shrubs fed by a small, almost unseen trickle of water which had apparently also hollowed out the wall here over time. Calion made a note of the location. If they ever needed to retreat or recuperate from a bad encounter, this might be a good place to hide.

After having checked out the entire western area to his satisfaction, a task which had not taken more than several minutes overall, he took Quessëlómë back to Auros at the campsite, where Fainan was just arriving as well. Nodding at his traveling companions, he listened to Fainan's report. When it was his turn, he relayed the poor state of the area to the west, as well as the lack of any enemy presence in recent times. "But," he concluded with a smile, "I may have found a good place for us to rest for the night."

[Eonwë]

Auros:

The Noldo nodded at the reports. Motioning to a spot on the ground. "Some old frayed strands of a rope. If I had to hazard a guess this close to Angmar, perhaps someone trying - unsuccessfully - to cut themselves free. I don't suppose it would be a horse or other animal, as there's nothing here to fasten the rope to. Either way, this would not be a wise place to set our own camp tonight. I think we shall see what accommodations Calion has found for us. We will be riding into Angmar tomorrow, and it would be prudent to be rested, ourselves and our horses. Frali, you will have first watch, followed by Fainan, then Calion. I shall take the last watch. We shall see tomorrow about these ruins Fainan saw."

Auros gave a last look into the distance before calling everyone to mount and following Calion to the covert he had found, and after the night's rations he did not immediately rest. His eyes glanced for a moment at his pack before he walked over to check it was secure, then retrieved a map and began plotting in his mind the lay of the land.

He traced the mountains of Angmar as they curved southeastwards, joining with the Ered Mithrin at Mount Gundabad and continuing southward into the taller peaks of the Hithlaeglir.

These lands on the eastern side were occupied by the sires of the Rohirrim before they moved to Calenardhon. They drove out the peoples of Angmar that remained after the Witch-King's fall, and spent more than 500 years in those lands. This weapon certainly predates their arrival in the north. They would've discovered what we're looking for had it been there. Our objective then must be on this side of the Mountains. That at least will narrow our search. Now if we can obtain some information from the party Fainan saw evidence of, perhaps we can narrow our search further.... if we catch them. Otherwise we could be searching every ruin and every hut from here to Gundabad. If we can find Telperos, maybe he has learned something useful. There's been no sign of him thus far. He must be ahead.

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

It was near the end of his watch, and Calion stared into the west. The moon was low, shining its light on the hollow. It was nearly full, but betrayed nothing but greenery as the lone guard stood hidden and alert for any sound or movement. But the night had been quiet. The only sound besides the minimal flow of water had been a small lizard shuffling among the rocks. Calion assumed that it had been equally uneventful during the watches before his, or he'd have been told.

Looking at a full moon always reminded him of wolves and their howling. He knew that it was a mere superstition of men that wolves howled at the moon, rather than at each other, but Calion smiled at the idea. And as the relief of the watch came, and he prepared to sleep, he let his thoughts go towards Helvy. What had become of the wolf when Calaron fell? Was he still alive? And if so, where had he gone? If Calion focused hard, he thought he still felt the faintest spiritual connection with his old companion, and he hoped that rather than it being some wishful thinking, it meant the wolf was still alive, and strong, and with purpose. He smiled faintly as he fell asleep, and let his mind drift to the east.

---

Helvy:

Slowly they made their way through the mountains. The momentum had been lost, but the determination remained. Helvy was the undisputed leader, but the sorcerer's foul stench of corruption was now clear to all the pack, and as one they made their progress. They had left the forest behind and even the valley of the river Anduin, straight up into the Grey Mountains. Calaron had visited several orc camps and strongholds there, likely to give orders and prepare them for a full invasion of Mirkwood, after his business in Angmar was finished. But many of these orcs would not see that war. During the day, the wolves would overwhelm any scouts they found, and ravage the orc camps at night. As a well streamlined lupine army they overtook the unsuspecting orcs and feasted on their corpses and supplies. Sometimes a wolf would fall, but still their numbers grew for every new comrade they found among the enemy forces and released from the darkness. And with every new member of the pack, their strength grew, as did their hatred of the prey they chased.

Now the pack of at least several dozen had reached the mighty orc stronghold of Gundabad. No longer did they have the advantage of numbers, and more scouts had been set to compromise the element of surprise. No doubt the lack of communication with forces to the east had been noticed, and the orcs were wary. The wolves did not think as far, but they were intelligent enough to sense the danger, and take greater care with their progress. They silently made their way along the slopes at night, continuing to take on small groups for food, safety and perhaps pleasure, while lying hidden during the day. They would edge their way along orcish architecture and take care to stay away from any entrances. Charging into the mountain at this time would be a quick suicide. So they kept their distance and roamed outside while seeking the sorcerer's exit trail to the west. The pack was patient. As long as there was food to plunder, they could wait.

Running off from another small and now ruined orc watchpost with part of the latest meal, Helvy also stared at the moon, starting to set. Time to find another hiding place for the day.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

The Noldo rose from his resting place and tapped Calion on the shoulder. It was close enough to his turn, and he needed some air. It was quiet enough in the night before dawn. The air bore no tension. Angran sat with Sulenar's saddlebags, but Auros had never taken off the twin blades. He checked the secureness of his bracers, made of metal finished with a dull grey coating to reflect no light. After some time he stepped out into the night, and adjusting his leather gloves surveyed the land. Shadows danced on the far edge of his vision, cast by the last vestiges of Isil as it gave way to Anar. Auros looked towards the ruins they were expecting to survey later that day. Auros rested his right hand upon the hilt of his sword. The one she had sent him, positioned so that it was the sword he drew first. Stepping more into the open, Auros shifted his right hand to the sword's scabbard, and placing his left hand on the hilt tilted the scabbard. In a flash, he drew the blade and struck at the air in front of him. His draw with this sword was still as fast as ever. The blade eagerly immersed itself in the waxing light of Anar. Auros took two more swings with the sword, feeling the weight,... or rather the lack thereof. The sword was scarce shorter than Angran but it moved for him with such ease. He drew the sword on his left hip, and there sat the weight. He could wield either sword by itself, or together easily enough, but the one he had kept felt heavier in his hand.

Auros resheathed the swords and looked again towards the ruins. He couldn't see them in the low light at this distance, but he thought he saw movement in their direction. Quietly rousing the group, he instructed them to be ready to move quickly. He directed them to give a wide berth on the ruins on each side to come upon them from different directions. When everyone was prepared, they separated, with Auros taking the center, and Fainan with Frali taking one flanking position, and Calion the other. When they converged on the ruins under the fuller light of Anar, they found....


Nothing.

[Varda]

Fainan:

"Well, not quite nothing." Fainan pointed out scuff marks in front of a rather small hole. "Might be two pairs of feet. Either they were dragging something or covering their tracks, except for a couple of stray marks." If one can track a spider, one has to be able to spot light marks.

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali jumped off the horse .. how glad he was to be on the firm ground again. Curiosly he followed Fainan and stood with the Elves in front of the hole. "Orcs in that small hole? I know they can duck quite low but it seems a bit tight for them and their armor." He looked down on himself quite satisfied. His dwarven armor was made from the light arrow prove metal that was forged at the lonely mountain and while it was quite long for his sturdy body it was not bulky, and he wore light mail leggings over his leather trousers and plated leather boots. "Let me try and find out what this hole is for." He nodded. "That's what i am here for, isn't it?" He looked pleadingly at the Elves.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

With a grimace, the Noldo said, "There would be no way for us to follow you. If there were danger on the other end, we would not be able to aid you. And if you get stuck...."

[arienv]

Frali:

"If .. If .. If I don't go we never find out anything. And i'll be careful, Master Elf - do not fret. If I smell danger I shall return immediately." With this assurance the young dwarf climbed down the hole.

Even Frali had to walk a bit ducked as he followed a short tunnel that was blocked by what looked like a natural rockfall but he could still guess that the path continued under the rabble and would have led to some doorway maybe but it would be suicidal to try and dig the rocks away. The tunnel walls didn't seem that stable to him and there was not enough airflow to allow safe digging. Carefully he retuned to the entrance and climbed up to the Elves.

"Nothing much to see down there. It is safe to assume though that the tunnel wasn't dug by Orcs or Humans .. goblins maybe. But there is a rockslide not quite 100 meters in and there is neither air nor room enough to dig any further."

[Eonwë]

Auros:

With a sigh, the Noldo relented. In this case, he had to trust this Dwarf to be aware of his own limits. When Frali came back with the report, Auros considered it carefully. "I suppose we cannot know the extent of the tunnels, so we must be sure if any of the party Fainan saw yesterday travelled aboveground. Spread out, keep looking, carefully, and let us see what we learn."

Auros left them each to conduct their own search, and walking in the direction Frali indicated the tunnel went, sought if he could to see any indication of the cave-in at ground level. He came to a dip in the stones that so far looked like they had not fallen in. He studied each of the buildings, looking for anything that appeared that it may have housed a forge. The ruins were not large, so there would likely be no formal library or other repository of knowledge. Hopefully though the forge would reveal any secrets used by the smiths who may have made use of it. And yet, he knew for what he needed, there needed to be more. He would know when he got close enough. If he got close enough. He could tell though; he could feel it hadn't been here. Whatever lay on these lands at the furthest edge of Angmar had long since relinquished its grip, and while there may be powers reaching to touch this land again, they not yet reached this far. Sauron was far more concerned with the South and could well afford for the time being to leave this land and what was left of its peoples to petty chieftains who deemed themselves mighty. He'd already long ago toppled his greatest resistance in the North, which sadly was not as far from the truth as Auros wished. The Noldo grimaced and refocused on his task.

After a moment, along the wall not far from the sunken stones, he came to what appeared to be a ventilation shaft, collapsed inward. The remains appeared just wide enough for a Man or Elf to get through. Still, he thought nothing of it until he saw, pinned under a large stone, a tattered cloak after the fashion of the soldiers of Imladris. He leapt over to the stone, and almost tossing it aside as he wrenched the cloak from under it, he found the cloak had been rent many times. Some smaller scraps were folded inside the larger remains, seemingly discarded for being too small. Auros came as close to the edge of the shaft as he dared and placed his hand on one of the nearby stones almost buried in the dirt, just the barest leverage to pull on. He could almost see Telperos pulling his way through that shaft, forcing himself upward, bruised and bloodied as it collapsed and slid downward into the tunnel below, reaching the top still burning hot in wrath at whatever left him trapped. He looked to the large stone he had pulled the cloak from under, now on its side. Sitting up facing the sky, etched defiantly into that side was the tengwa noldo. He was sure now that it was Telperos, and he was daring anyone to see he had been there.

Auros stood up and looked around for Sulenar. Not seeing his horse, he stepped a few feet away from the ruins and recking not for who else heard, he gave a shrill whistle. Sulenar answered, having darted off on his own, and galloped up from a distance with another horse following. Inspecting the horse, he found it to be one of those from Imladris, having been injured but treated, and the wounds were now several days old. There were the remains of claw marks on its right flank and what seemed to be an attempt by an orc to get a bite in on the left shoulder. The wounds had been well tended to, bound where needed with strips of the rent cloak, which was a good indication Telperos had taken a moment to consider things and cool down, but that he did not think he had time to wait for his horse to recover. The horse would not be riderless otherwise.


No doubt curious as to the reason behind Auros' whistle, the others gathered around. Patting this new horse, Auros said, "We have some good news at least."

[Varda]

Fainan:

"This fine horse wasn't in the tunnel, was it?" she asked with a smile.
Approaching the magnificent animal slowly, she let it sniff her. "Is your name Good News? Will you let me check your old injuries while your discoverer tells your story? You could stand brushing as well. Perhaps you would even let someone small like Frali ride you?"

[ArPharazon]

Calion:

Stepping forward, Calion made eye contact with the horse, and smiled. "Another horse from Rivendell, I see. And it has been out here for a while. It is your friend's, I assume?" Comparing the bandages Fainan was checking out to the cloak Auros had discovered, he frowned for a moment. "Then that must be his cloak. But where has the rider gone without his ride?"

After a moment's thought Calion looked at Auros. "Did you find tracks leading underground? I do hope he wasn't captured."

[arienv]

Frali:

Frali walked off deeper into the ruins. He was too much dwarf not to be fascinated by old buildings or any construction made of rock -stone is rock in the furthest sense afer all. The young dwarf searched for remnants of walls or other buildings , for hints that might tell him of the purpose for this settlement or whatever it was. Or, of course, traces of more recent visitors, something that might be useful. Frali was just digging in an interesting looking pile that possibly might be hiding somw construcion work when he heard a sharp whistle from the edge of the ruins. Disappointed he looked around for a last timee and made his way back to Auros.